Political corruption in Nigeria : examining the causes and consequences on development from 2010 to 2015.

Masters Degree. University of KwaZulu-Natal, Pietermaritzburg.This study explores the causes and consequences of political corruption on Nigeria's development from 2010 to 2015, focusing on the administration of President Goodluck Jonathan. Utilizing a qualitative approach, this research adopts a desktop study design, incorporating Prebendalism, the Two Publics Theory, and the Political Alienation Theory to frame its analysis. Secondary data sources, including policy documents, peer-reviewed publications, and credible media reports, were methodically examined to uncover the underlying drivers of corruption, its developmental impacts, and the effectiveness of anti-corruption measures during this period. The findings reveal that entrenched prebendal practices, weak institutional frameworks, and widespread political alienation fuelled systemic corruption, resulting in economic stagnation, governance inefficiencies, and heightened insecurity, such as the proliferation of Boko Haram insurgency. Despite existing anti-corruption policies and legislation, enforcement mechanisms proved inadequate, further entrenching corruption. The study underscores the need for strengthened institutional capacity, enhanced political accountability, and measures to address socio-political alienation to achieve sustainable development in Nigeria. By providing critical insights into the interplay between corruption and development, this research offers practical recommendations for policymakers, scholars, and civil society actors committed to fostering good governance and combating corruption in Nigeria

Investigating South Africa’s exposure to potential currency crises.

Masters Degree. University of KwaZulu-Natal, Durban.This study investigates South Africa's potential exposure to currency crises, aiming to identify effective economic indicators for anticipating such crises. Using annual data from 1994 to 2020, a probit model analysis and the Market Turbulence Index (MTI) are employed to facilitate this investigation. The results suggest that none of the 10 variables identified in empirical literature have predictive power in the South African context. The insignificant findings can be attributed to data frequency restrictions, as annual data was used instead of daily, weekly, or monthly data due to limited public access to monthly statistics. The study concludes that the modelling approach employed may not be helpful for policymakers and central banks in predicting currency crises in South Africa. However, the use of higher frequency data and additional variables, such as political instability, may improve the significance and predictability of currency crises. Despite the insignificant results, the study highlights the potential adoption of the MTI in identifying crisis thresholds. With higher frequency data and more influential variables, this study can contribute significantly to the literature, particularly in a country like South Africa with a volatile economic climate

An analysis of the catholic magisterium’s theology of interreligious dialogue and its influence on catholic-muslim dialogue in the archdiocese of Lusaka–Zambia since vatican II.

Doctoral Degree. University of KwaZulu-Natal, Pietermaritzburg.This thesis focuses on analyzing the documents of the Magisterium on interreligious dialogue and Catholic-Muslim dialogue since Vatican II within the kenosis, and peaceful coexistence and friendship frameworks and their influence on Catholic-Muslim dialogue (dialogue between the Roman Catholic Church and Muslims). From the Church Fathers, kenosis or incarnational theology underscores the kenotic nature of the Catholic Church. Thus, the Church must be humble and faithful to its identity – to its singularity. In being humble, she must be open to religious otherness. The growth of Islam in Lusaka, Zambia, provokes a theological reflection on the relevance and influence of the documents of the Magisterium on Catholic-Muslim dialogue in the Lusaka Archdiocese. Through a qualitative research methodology inquiry, this thesis brings to the fore that the documents of the Magisterium on interreligious dialogue and Catholic-Muslim dialogue still need to be brought down to the grassroots. Many Catholic lay faithful are unaware of the different Magisterial documents that promote the coexistence of different religions and hence, unaware of the theological stances of the Magisterium on religious alterity. Therefore, the research proposes a theological shift in document communication from parish-centered to Small Christian Communities (ifitente) centered. This shift highlights three essential elements for a kenotic Church: (I) Interreligious-oriented Small Christian Communities will narrow the gap between the documents of the Magisterium and their knowledge by the Catholic faithful and consequently their translation into the action plan; (II) it will underpin the authentic synodality of the Catholic Church. There is no Synodality of the Church without the involvement of the grassroots in the mission of interreligious dialogue or Catholic-Muslim dialogue; and (III) Small Christian Communities will integrate the teachings of the Magisterium on interreligious dialogue or Catholic-Muslim dialogue and the epistemology of the local people on religious otherness, which provides a framework for Catholic-Muslim dialogue in the Lusaka Archdiocese

Magnitude and characteristics of unsuppressed HIV viral load in children and adolescents on antiretroviral therapy in Sub-Saharan Africa: a systematic review and meta-analysis.

Research paper - H.E.A.R.DHIV/AIDS remains a major health issue in sub-Saharan Africa, especially among children and adolescents, with a substantial proportion of people with HIV having unsuppressed viral loads despite the availability of antiretroviral therapy (ART), complicating efforts to manage and control the epidemic. We aimed to estimate the prevalence of unsuppressed viral load and identify the factors contributing to this issue among children and adolescents living with HIV on ART in sub-Saharan Africa.In this systematic review and meta-analysis, we assessed data from Web of Science, Google Scholar, Scopus, PsycINFO, Embase, PubMed (MEDLINE), EBSCOhost Research Databases, and Wiley Online Library, as well as grey literature searches. We included studies published between Jan 1, 2010, and Nov 30, 2024 that focused on children and adolescents (aged <20 years) on ART in sub-Saharan Africa and reported on factors related to viral load suppression, defined by a viral load of less than 1000 copies per mL. Eligible studies included observational and interventional designs. Data appraisal and extraction were conducted by two independent reviewers from the author group, with summary data extracted from published reports. The primary outcome assessed was the prevalence of unsuppressed viral loads, with meta-analysis performed using STATA software to calculate prevalence and associated factors. The study is registered with PROSPERO (CRD42023451212).From an initial 13 121 identified articles, 52 studies involving 169 949 children and adolescents on ART met the inclusion criteria. Prevalence of unsuppressed viral load among children and adolescents in sub-Saharan Africa was 26·47% (95% CI 23·06-29·87); specifically, 26·01% (20·51-31·52) for studies in children (<15 years), 24·76% (17·36-32·16) for studies in adolescents (10-19 years), and 28·52% (23·33-33·72) for studies in a combined group of children and adolescents. Factors associated with unsuppressed viral load included younger age (<5 years), male sex, rural residence, orphan status, attendance at a level 1 or 2 health-care facility, HIV status not disclosed, poor ART adherence, advanced WHO clinical stage of HIV, low CD4 cell counts, history of opportunistic infections, nevirapine-based treatment regimen, drug substitution history, and not receiving co-trimoxazole prophylaxis. This meta-analysis showed a significant heterogeneity across the included studies, as evidenced by I2=99·66% and p<0·0001.Unsuppressed viral load among children and adolescents is a key concern in sub-Saharan Africa, and is influenced by sociodemographic, clinical, immunological, and treatment-related factors. Addressing these issues through targeted interventions and improved ART adherence strategies is crucial for better health outcomes.HEARD PhD Scholarship, Swedish International Development Agency

Tracing 19th-century scientific racism and its implications for contemporary gender discourses of religion in South Africa.

Masters Degree. University of KwaZulu-Natal, Pietermaritzburg.This study hypothesizes that current Christian religious discourses and attitudes toward the black female body, such as religious identity marked through sexuality, purity culture, (in)fertility rituals, menstruation and the exclusion from communion or prayers, have been influenced and informed by 19th-century scientific assumptions of the black female body as 1) source of pollution, 2) hypersexual/oversexed, and 3) unruly and feral. These scientific assumptions of the black female body can be said to be the genesis of our current realities as (black) women in South Africa of gender-based violence, sexual assault and femicide (Roberts, 1997; Baderoon, 2014). In postcolonial South Africa, the black female body continues to be seen as the measure of moral order, and social order, conversion and civility are maintained through the regulation of (black) women's sexuality. How the black female body and sexuality are defined and controlled using Western and Christian religious discourse calls for the need for a decolonial feminist lens to make sense of the present by searching the past in hopes of constructing a new narrative about the black female body and a new hope for black women living in a world not meant for them. In this study, I am interested in tracing how the Church in South Africa viewed and still views the black female body through the lens of 19th-century scientific racism and sexism. To unearth the interconnections of race, science, and religion regarding the black female body, my study uses the feminist philosophy of science as a framework. Employing feminist philosophy of science will enable the study to illuminate the Black female as a gendered body, how 19th-century science has commodified, dehumanized, hypersexualized, and exploited this gendered body and how the colonial classifications of race and black(ness) have played a significant role in this. Drawing on selected colonial texts and scholars, I hope to show how their ideas shaped how people thought about race, gender and religion in the colonial period. As its methodology, my study employs Feminist Critical Discourse Analysis (FCDA). This methodology hones on social justice issues and transformation. Similar to the aims of Feminist Critical Discourse Analysis, my research hopes to challenge current Christian religious discourses that subordinate black women and repress their agency and autonomy in the name of culture and religion

The possible application of the principles of restorative justice to crimes of violence committed between intimate partners in South Africa.

Masters Degree. University of KwaZulu-Natal, Pietermaritzburg.The subject of restorative justice has been one of the driving forces behind the transformation and development of the South African criminal justice system following the apartheid era. The Constitution of the Republic prioritises and gives recognition to the needs and rights of all citizens of South Africa (hereinafter ‘RSA’), including victims of crime. Our legislature has taken significant steps in developing our law to include restorative justice principles and programs which promote the participation of victims in the criminal justice process, through the department of Correctional Services and department of Justice & Constitutional Development. South African case law requires that the interests of society should be considered from the commencement of criminal proceedings (when bail is considered) right up until the conclusion (sentencing) thereof. This is to ensure that the court always bears in mind throughout the proceedings that injustice has not only been committed against the State but also against the actual victim of crime whose rights have been infringed by the crime. The act of unlawfully and intentionally assaulting another, in cases where direct force is involved, continues to be a growing and ever prevalent offence within our country as evidenced by our crime statistics. South African citizens have the constitutional rights to personal dignity and to bodily integrity and to not be subjected to live in fear especially in their homes. The main focus of this dissertation is to determine the manner in which the principles of restorative justice may be able to play a role in crimes of violence between intimate partners, such violence is commonly referred to as ‘gender-based violence

Analysis of the transparency policy review mechanisms within particular regional trade agreements: a specific focus on common market for Eastern and Southern Africa and Southern African development community.

Masters Degree. University of KwaZulu-Natal, Pietermaritzburg.This dissertation examines transparency mechanisms within regional trade agreements, focusing on the Southern African Development Community (SADC) and the Common Market for Eastern and Southern Africa (COMESA). It aims to assess how transparency principles have been integrated and applied within these regional frameworks and compares their effectiveness against global mechanisms such as the World Trade Organization's (WTO) Trade Policy Review Mechanism (TPRM). The research further explores the role of transparency in achieving Africa’s development goals as outlined in Agenda 2063, emphasizing the need for informed decision-making, equitable trade practices, and regional cooperation. Through a detailed comparative analysis of SADC and COMESA’s transparency instruments, this study highlights the institutional and implementation challenges these regions face, particularly in dispute resolution, public access to information, and digital platforms for enhancing transparency. The findings underscore the importance of strengthening transparency for fostering sustainable economic integration and advancing Africa's collective development objectives

A critical evaluation of some of the unintended consequences of the mandatory minimum sentencing legislation in South Africa.

Masters Degree. University of KwaZulu-Natal, Pietermaritzburg.The Criminal Law Amendment Act 105 of 19971 (the Act) requires the imposition of mandatory minimum penalties for specific criminal offences. However, it also allows the presiding officer of the court to depart where is it determined that substantial and compelling circumstances are present. This research seeks to evaluate the diverging interpretations of substantial and compelling circumstances by our courts as an unintended consequence of the mandatory minimum sentencing scheme. Although the legislature has not defined substantial and compelling circumstances, the case of S v Malgas2 provided guidelines that can be used by courts whenever faced with the question of what are substantial and compelling circumstances. Despite the guidelines provided, some cases still show uncertainty regarding this phrase and some judgements tend to completely disregard the importance of the constitutional considerations of proportionality and the need to still consider the traditional sentencing principles, this is an unintended consequence of the Act owing to the lack of clarity regarding substantial and compelling circumstances. The Minimum sentences scheme contains unexplained inconsistencies which have resulted in the diverging interpretations of compelling and substantial circumstances by our courts, this inconsistency can be seen in the lack of gradation for increasing levels of offence severity (sentencing cliffs) that are evident in the prescribed sentences for rape, some courts have required a higher showing of violence in order to not depart from the prescribed sentences. Some cases have used the prospect of rehabilitation as justification for a departure. This is problematic because the latter factor is present in most cases, as a result, this would lead to unnecessary and unexplainable departures which would then circumvent the legislatures intention in ensuring consistent sentences. This raises questions of whether courts are paying attention to some of the inconsistencies that result from their judgements. This research also looks at prison overcrowding as an unintended consequence of the Act, this is because the Act limits the individualisation of cases thus leading to more offenders receiving lengthy sentences. Courts are expected to consider the relevant factors of each individual case however this is not properly adhered to because the act uses few sentences for different crimes without proper explanation thus affecting prison overcrowding

On cellularity, closure, sobriety and separation axioms in the lower vietoris topology.

Doctoral Degree. University of KwaZulu-Natal, DurbanThis thesis introduces four new classes of hyperspaces with the Lower Vietoris Topology, allowing for a complete study of various properties in these hyperspaces. One consists of those satisfying the Sub-base Condition, such as the hyperspace 2X of non-empty closed subsets of a topological space X. Another consists of those which are almost finitely natural, such as the hyperspace Fn(X) of n-element subsets of X, generalising the notion of natural families by Ivanova-Dimova. Interestingly, these hyperspaces are used to provide new characterisations of the sober T1 property in X as well as sobriety in the T0-identification of X. Sobriety and irreducibility are characterised in these hyperspaces in terms of X. It is shown that any pair of almost finitely natural hyperspaces have the same closure. A surprising relationship exists between irreducibility and closure for arbitrary hyperspaces. When X is Hausdor!, Fedorchuk showed that Fn(X) with the Vietoris Topology has the same cellularity as Xn and a subspace X[n]; Costantini et al. showed that the projection ˆj n : X[n] → Fn(X) is a local homeomorphism. This thesis shows that X[n] always has cellularity at most that of Xn and that X being Hausdor! is (almost always) equivalent to not only the quotient but also the perfect covering property in ˆjn. The quasi-open property of ˆjn is characterised in X. In this case, if X has infinite cellularity, then the cellularity of every almost finitely natural hyperspace is the same as Xn and X[n]. A non-Hausdor! space Y is constructed where ˆjn is quasi-open and the Vietoris Topology is not the same as the Lower Vietoris Topology on Fn(Y ). Known results on the T0 and T1 properties and the T0-identification in the Lower Vietoris Topology are extended to arbitrary hyperspaces. When X is T0, the TD property in 2X is characterised in terms of X as a corollary of a more general new result. The preregular, TD and T0 properties in Fn(X) are characterised in X; the latter two are shown to be equivalent in Fn(X). It is shown that Fn(X) is Hausdor! if and only if X is Hausdor

The role of trees and the dynamics of tree planting as a climate change adaptation strategy for addressing food and nutrition security challenges in KwaZulu-Natal.

Doctoral Degree. University of KwaZulu-Natal, PietermaritzburgOne of the major environmental problems faced by the modern world is climate change, and its impacts are rapidly escalating. Future predictions indicate that climate change will result in lower rainfall and higher temperatures with increased flooding and drought events in South Africa. Most studies report that the source of livelihood affected mainly by climate change is agriculture, especially crop productivity. Moreover, the agricultural sector is among the most significant contributors to changing climate. Globally, the sector contributes about 20% to greenhouse gas emissions. The effect of climate change on the agricultural sector, combined with the impact of agriculture on greenhouse gas emissions, requires adaptation strategies that will lessen the effects of agricultural production while mitigating climate change. Agroforestry is recognized as the most appropriate adaptation strategy to achieve these objectives due to its high potential for addressing food insecurity, climate change challenges, and ecosystem management. It is defined as a farming system that integrates trees and shrubs with agricultural crops and/or livestock, or both. Rural communities in South Africa have been planting trees, but what they deem important in trees is not well-known. Hence, identifying the different types of trees currently beneficial to them is essential for tree-planting programs to be successful. Moreover, there is insufficient empirical research on the following: the impact of fruit trees on food and nutrition security; the role and plantation of trees as a long-term and sustainable climate change adaptation strategy; and the role of knowledge, attitudes, perceptions, and extrinsic factors in the uptake of agroforestry practices among rural households. The objectives of the study were: to identify the different types of trees beneficial to rural communities and the main beneficial uses of these trees; to evaluate the potential contribution of trees towards food and nutrition security of rural communities; to investigate tree planting as a climate change adaptation strategy; and to examine the role of knowledge, attitudes, and perceptions in the uptake of agroforestry practices among rural households. The study was conducted in Swayimane, Umbumbulu, and Richmond, located in the KwaZulu-Natal province, South Africa. The survey used a random sampling method to select and interview a total sample of 317 rural households from the three study locations. However, only 305 questionnaires were valid and used for analysis: Swayimane (92), Umbumbulu (103), and Richmond (110). The data were collected by trained enumerators in person using a structured and pre-tested questionnaire. In addition, focus group discussions were conducted to complement information collected during the household survey. Both descriptive and inferential statistics were employed in this study. Descriptive statistics included percentages, means, standard deviations, and standard errors. For the inferential statistics, a chi-square test, F-test, principal component analysis, binary logistic, multivariate probit, and ordered logit regression models were employed. The International Business Machines (IBM) Statistical Package for Social Sciences (SPSS) version 28 and STATA SE version 17 were used to analyze the survey data. Moreover, bar charts were created using Microsoft Excel 2019 to organize and summarise data. The results showed that fruit tree species such as banana, peach, and orange played a vital role in improving food, medicinal, and financial security among rural households. Other tree species, such as Melia azedarach L., were used to adapt to climate change. For example, they function as windbreaks during windy weather. Medicinal tree species were used to treat human illnesses such as toothache, fever, and earache. Therefore, this study recommends the implementation of tree-planting programs and the distribution of fast-growing tree species across rural communities to improve their livelihoods. Improved allocation of resources to tree planting and maintenance by the public and private sectors can be a sound decision based on the benefits provided by trees. Regardless of the benefits of various trees, some respondents mentioned the disservices that result from trees. The results showed that ‘attracting snakes’ and ‘littering the yard’ were the dominant disservices across most fruit trees. It is recommended that rural households involved in tree planting be educated about methods of preventing snake invasion. Planting trees was the most common adaptation strategy in the study locations. Compared to other strategies, it emerged as a long-term and sustainable strategy. The multivariate probit model results showed that access to training and climate change information, land size, and psychological capital influence the adoption of tree planting as a climate change adaptation. This indicated the importance of agricultural-related training in climate change adaptation. Raising awareness of the benefits of trees through training programs is crucial in encouraging farming rural households to adopt tree planting as an adaptive measure. Moreover, most rural households indicated a lack of access to training on climate change adaptation strategies. It is recommended that extension officers, non-governmental organizations, policymakers, and other stakeholders support local-level knowledge of climate change adaptation and turn it into effective and sustainable action. The ordered logit regression model findings showed that growing fruit trees and consuming wild fruits influenced household food insecurity and nutrition security. Households practicing fruit farming are more likely to have better access to food and consume acceptable diets. Growing fruit trees was negatively associated with household food insecurity and positively associated with nutrition security. This suggests that households practicing fruit farming are more likely to have better access to food and consume acceptable diets. To improve the plantation of fruit trees in rural households, this study recommends the dissemination of information on the benefits of fruit trees. The level of wild fruits consumption among the sampled rural households was low. This indicates a need for awareness campaigns promoting the utilization and consumption of wild fruits. Encouraging rural households to consume wild fruits may reduce food insecurity through improved dietary diversity. It may also reduce reliance on purchased food items. Knowledge, attitudes, and perceptions towards agroforestry were found to positively influence the adoption of agroforestry practices. The results showed that the likelihood of adopting agroforestry was higher among knowledgeable household heads than those without knowledge. Thus, educating rural households about trees’ economic and environmental benefits could increase tree cover in the agricultural landscape. Implementing training programs with practical demonstration is recommended to increase awareness of the benefits of agroforestry practices and encourage households to protect onfarm trees. Extension officers, climate change champions, researchers, policymakers, and other stakeholders need to join forces in public-private partnerships to collectively participate in distributing adequate knowledge on agroforestry practices and their advantages to rural households. Moreover, addressing institutional and service constraints such as access to tree saplings and agricultural equipment, financial constraints, and water availability is vital to enhance the adoption and expansion of agroforestry practices