Examining the effectiveness of sin taxes on unwanted social behaviours.

Masters Degree. University of KwaZulu-Natal, Pietermaritzburg.Sin taxes have long been used as a policy tool to influence social behaviour by discouraging the consumption of products associated with negative externalities, such as tobacco, alcohol and sugar-sweetened beverages (SSBs). These taxes aim to reduce consumption, improve public health outcomes and generate government revenue. However, debates persist regarding their effectiveness, economic fairness and unintended consequences, particularly in relation to low-income populations and illicit trade markets. This study reviews the effectiveness of sin taxes in modifying social behaviour, with a particular focus on their impact on consumption patterns, health outcomes and behavioural adaptations. Utilising a systematic literature review approach, this study synthesises findings from peer-reviewed journal articles, policy reports and empirical studies to evaluate whether sin taxes successfully achieve their intended objectives. A thematic analysis was conducted to categorize findings into key themes, including the impact of sin taxes on consumption, behavioural responses, unintended consequences and overall policy effectiveness. The literature review reveals that sin taxes generally lead to consumption reductions, with studies reporting a 3-8% decline in smoking rates, a 4-6% drop in alcohol consumption and up to a 50% reduction in SSB purchases in some jurisdictions. However, the extent of their effectiveness varies based on price elasticity, enforcement mechanisms and complementary health policies. The study also highlights several unintended consequences such as the expansion of black markets, cross-border shopping and economic strain on low-income consumers. In some cases, consumers shift to cheaper or untaxed alternatives, reducing the intended health benefits of taxation. Moreover, industry resistance through lobbying, price manipulation and legal challenges often undermines the implementation of sin tax policies. Despite these challenges, the findings suggest that sin taxes can be most effective when integrated into a broader public health strategy, incorporating public education campaigns, regulatory enforcement and reinvestment of tax revenue into health programmes. This study concludes that while sin taxes play a significant role in shaping social behaviour and promoting better health outcomes, their effectiveness is maximized when complemented with strong regulatory frameworks and alternative policy measures. Future research should explore long-term behavioural effects, taxation in low-income countries and the intersection between consumer psychology and tax compliance to further refine sin tax policies for sustainable public health benefits

Exploring the lived experiences of women with disabilities and policy response toward mitigating challenges faced during coronavirus pandemic alert levels 5-3: a case study of the city of Johannesburg.

Doctoral Degree. University of KwaZulu-Natal, Pietermaritzburg.Pandemics and outbreaks have different impacts on vulnerable groups, particularly those with disabilities. From the risk of exposure to biological and physical vulnerability to infection to the economic and social implications, individuals’ experiences are likely to vary according to their physical and gender characteristics and their interaction with other social determinants. Women with disabilities stand a higher risk of suffering the consequences of any global pandemic. These challenges faced by women with disabilities during the coronavirus pandemic include issues related to their health and well-being, profoundly impacting barriers already faced while creating new ones as well. In addition, some women with disabilities were at a higher risk of becoming infected or experiencing complications from the COVID-19 pandemic. As a result, global and national strategic plans for COVID-19 pandemic preparedness and response needed to be grounded in solid gender and disability analysis. Through the national government’s response to curb the scourge of the COVID-19 pandemic, however, there were no specific policies aimed at addressing issues faced by women with disabilities during the COVID-19 pandemic. Therefore, their challenges persisted, leaving them in dire situations. The study laid a foundation for this qualitative inquiry and employed the feminist disability theory, agenda setting, policy formulation, public participation, and policy implementation. This qualitative study seeks to bridge the gap between the challenges and the impact of the coronavirus pandemic on women with disabilities. This attempt aims to add other aspects of disability from a marginalized population. In examining this issue, the study seeks to lay the foundation for understanding the lived experiences of women with disabilities during a pandemic. The study utilized a case study approach; data was collected through semi-structured interviews with women with disabilities, state actors, family members, and non-government organizations of Gauteng, the City of Johannesburg. Augmented by extensive literature and policy reviews, the research findings reveal that women with disabilities are more likely to face various challenges during times of emergency, like the COVID-19 pandemic. The results confirm the feminist disability theory’s view that the functioning of women with disabilities is determined by broader contextual, social, historical, and gendered power relations. Therefore, the study recommends that it is crucial for the government to take an intersectional and disability-inclusive approach to mitigate the impact of disasters and should be aware of the effects of their mitigation regulations on vulnerable members of society

Public transport infrastructure spending and provincial economic growth in South Africa: a panel auto-regressive distributed lag approach.

Masters Degree. University of KwaZulu-Natal, Durban.This study investigates the relationship between public transport infrastructure spending and provincial economic growth in South Africa using the panel autoregressive distributed lag (ARDL) framework. Set against the backdrop of South Africa’s persistent regional economic disparities and infrastructure gaps, the research explores how transport infrastructure investments impact growth across the country’s nine provinces, each marked by distinct economic structures and historical contexts. Literature examined infrastructure impacts at the national level, this research addresses a critical gap by focusing on provincial-level dynamics in the post-apartheid era. The study employs panel data from 2008 to 2023, covering public transport infrastructure spending obtained from national allocations, provincial budgets, and state-owned enterprise investments. It examines both the direction of causality and the short and long-run relationships between infrastructure investment and economic growth. The analysis adopts a panel ARDL methodology to account for cross-sectional dependence, non-stationarity, and regional heterogeneity. The study further draws on evaluating the channels through which infrastructure impacts emerge; namely, production function effects, endogenous growth mechanisms, spatial economic shifts, network externalities, and reductions in transaction costs. Findings reveal that transport infrastructure investment produces varying economic returns across provinces, highlighting the differentiated impact of infrastructure depending on local conditions. These results provide important empirical insights for improving infrastructure allocation in a resource-constrained environment and contribute to the broader goal of addressing historical spatial inequalities and promoting inclusive, provincial balanced economic development

Accessing audiology: epistemological experiences of newly qualified audiologists.

Doctoral Degree. University of KwaZulu-Natal, Durban.Audiology was introduced in South Africa in 1936, originally to train exclusively White, Afrikaans, and English-speaking students to serve hearing-impaired patients from the same demographics. Although South Africa’s democratic transition has expanded access to higher education, including Audiology training for Black African First Language Speaking (BAFLS) students, the extent of epistemological access (the ability to engage with knowledge, meaningfully) remains largely unexplored empirically. As a result, this study addressed this gap by examining the experiences of newly qualified BAFLS Audiologists as they navigated undergraduate Audiology curriculum and the subsequent impact of those experiences on their professional practice. Guided by the hermeneutic phenomenological approach, this qualitative study drew on semi structured interviews with 10 newly qualified Audiology graduates from a South African university. These graduates were purposively selected to reflect their diversity in terms of linguistic and socio-economic backgrounds. Through content analysis, data were analysed into pre-existing parent themes derived from the theoretical framework. Thereafter, thematic analysis was used to identify emergent themes. Participants reported significant barriers to epistemological access during their undergraduate studies. These barriers included linguicism, racism, classism, and a Eurocentric curriculum that excluded Afrocentric perspectives. Teaching and assessment practices were often perceived as biased against the BAFLS students, leading to surface learning. Hence, the BAFLS students felt underprepared for a more Afrocentric clinical practice, citing insufficient theoretical grounding and difficulty bridging academic knowledge with professional skills. Participants also highlighted positive experiences with BAFLS lecturers, who, in their experiences, exercised more relatable mentorship and teaching approaches. In professional settings, they continued to face systemic exclusion, particularly in private practice, alongside ongoing racism, and classism. The persistence of Eurocentrism in both academic and clinical environments was a dominant theme. Overall, the undergraduate Audiology curriculum at the University of Interest (pseudonym) remains predominantly Eurocentric, limiting the epistemological access for BAFLS students and their preparedness for Afrocentric or contextually relevant practice. Although existing models of transformation have been proposed to recontextualise the profession, they largely remain unimplemented. As a result, this study calls for a Radical Implementation of Fundamental Transformation (RIFT) framework, which emphasises enforcing and operationalising these models to ensure a more inclusive and Afrocentric Audiology curriculum. Such transformation is critical for equipping BAFLS students with the knowledge and skills necessary to meet the diverseneeds of South Africa’s population

Xenophobia in South Africa: the perspectives and experiences of African international students at the University of KwaZulu Natal (Pietermaritzburg campus).

Doctoral Degree. University of KwaZulu-Natal, Pietermaritzburg.Xenophobia is a problematic issue that has affected the social, economic, and political atmosphere in South Africa. The end of apartheid and the new democratic status of South Africa have brought substantial economic, social, and political changes that continue to affect the issue of migration in the country. After the apartheid transition, South Africa faced an increase in its migrant population from African countries. A substantial rise in xenophobia and numerous attacks on foreigners have accompanied this increase in migration. This study examines the issue of xenophobia in South Africa based on the views and experiences of African international students at the University of KwaZulu Natal (PMB Campus). This study employs a qualitative approach to collect in-depth and personal experiences and views of African international students at UKZN. The study uses semi-structured interviews by interviewing a total of [33] participants, [17] African international students, [16] local students, and [1] representative from the international office. This study uses convenience, purposive, and snowball sampling techniques to recruit the participants, and thematic analysis was used to analyze the data collected from the selected participants. This study adopts [4] theoretical frameworks due to the complex nature of xenophobia in South Africa; these include scapegoat theory, isolation hypothesis, biocultural hypothesis, and power conflict theory as the main analytical tools to examine the nature of xenophobia in South Africa and institutions of higher education based on the views and experiences of African international students at UKZN. The findings of the study revealed that the nature of xenophobia within institutions of higher education is covert xenophobia, which is a form of discrimination that is disguised and subtle rather than public or obvious. Covert xenophobia discriminates against African international students through often unnoticeable or seemingly passive methods, and it is expressed in xenophobic attitudes and discriminatory practices. It is not expressed in violent attacks like in the South African communities. The study reveals that African international students experience xenophobia on campus through discrimination, institutional exclusion when seeking employment or scholarships/funding, stereotyping, language barrier, isolation and social exclusion from campus activities, and fear of reporting xenophobic practices. However, most of the participants stated that on campus is a much better space than the nature of xenophobia experienced off campus, which is more intense and violent in nature. The findings reveal that African international students face a high level of xenophobia off campus, especially in the healthcare sector, for example, in public hospitals and public clinics, in such a way that some choose to self-medicate to avoid going to clinics of hospitals. The study recommends that it is essential for universities and governments to address these issues by implementing policies and programs aimed at promoting integration, diversity, equity, and inclusion. Educational institutions such as UKZN should offer resources and support for students who experience xenophobia and actively work to create a safe and inclusive environment for all students, regardless of their background or nationality. This study recognizes that xenophobia in South Africa is a complex issue that transcends national boundaries. Therefore, the author advocates for a collective effort by African states to find sustainable solutions to this African problem. By highlighting the need for African nations to work together, the study positions itself as a proponent of African-based initiatives and interventions tailored to the unique socio-political landscape of the African continent. The study recommends that by fostering a sense of shared responsibility within Africa, the researcher encourages the development and implementation of strategies that reflect the various perspectives and experiences within Africa, eventually contributing to a united and effective response to the issue of xenophobia in South Africa and institutions of higher education such as UKZN

The implementation of the monitoring and evaluation (M&E) Ssstem in government departments: a case study of the KwaZulu-Natal department of social development.

Masters Degree. University of KwaZulu-Natal, Pietermaritzburg.The study is centred on “The Implementation of the Monitoring and Evaluation (M&E) System in Government Departments: A case study of the KwaZulu-Natal Department of Social Development”. The Ministry of Performance Monitoring and Evaluation began in 2009, and the Department of Performance Monitoring and Evaluation (DPME) was established in January 2010. The Department of Social Development (DSD) Annual Reports for 2017/18 and 2018/19 contained the Auditor General’s audit outcomes of the Department of Social Development performance information. The audit/s revealed undesirable audit outcomes, with the department. Government departments should be effective in service delivery and efficient in allocating funds for service delivery programmes. The government is expected to report on its budget, programmes and achievements. The South African government has instituted a range of legislative and policy changes. The KwaZulu-Natal Department of Social Development’s mandate is to be delivered according to the South African Constitution and provide an effective, transparent, accountable and coherent intergovernmental system for provincial governments. This study seeks to understand the implementation of the Monitoring and Evaluation System in the KwaZulu Natal Department of Social Development. The study objectives examine the implementation of the M&E system in the KwaZulu-Natal Department of Social Development and understand the role of monitoring and evaluation in the KwaZulu-Natal Department of Social Development. The qualitative research study employed the qualitative research design. This included interviews for data collection and a thematic strategy for data analysis. The study employed the theory of change. The findings show capacity gap between national, provincial, and local government organizations influences evaluations' credibility.The study recommendations support the assertion that M&E contributes to effective programme implementation and a level of good governance; an integrated approach is recommended and emphasised to recognise the multi-faceted nature of social problems

Corruption and state capture : an interpretive reading of the reports of the Judicial Commission of Inquiry into Allegations of State Capture.

Masters Degree. University of KwaZulu-Natal, Pietermaritzburg.State capture and corruption gained ground and became topical during the tenure of Jacob Zuma as the president of the Republic of South Africa. As rumours made their way to the media, the then-Public Protector, Thuli Madonsela, was tasked with investigating corruption and state capture. The Public Protector recommended the creation of a body to further investigate these allegations. As a result, the Judicial Commission of Inquiry into Allegations of State Capture was established. This study analyzed and interpreted the reports produced by the Judicial Commission of Inquiry into Allegations of State Capture. The study answered the following research questions: What is a state according to the Judicial Commission of Inquiry into Allegations of State Capture reports? What are the concepts and theories of state capture that guided the Judicial Commission of Inquiry into Allegations of State Capture? How does state capture manifest itself in the Judicial Commission of Inquiry into Allegations of State Capture? What are the consequences of state capture? As its primary data sources, this study used the Judicial Commission of Inquiry into State Capture Report: Part VI Vol I - Estina, Vrede and the Judicial Commission of Inquiry into State Capture Report: Part VI Vol 2. Books and academic journals were used as secondary sources. This research utilized liberal, neoliberal and new institutional economic perspectives as its theoretical lenses. This qualitative study utilized the case study method to collect data, which was also used to analyze the data

Molecular epidemiology of antibiotic-resistant ESKAPEE pathogens in surface water in proximity to informal settlements: a tale of two cities.

Masters Degrees. University of KwaZulu-Natal, Durban.Drug-resistant Enterococcus faecium, Staphylococcus aureus, Klebsiella pneumoniae, Acinetobacter baumannii, Pseudomonas aeruginosa, Enterobacter spp and Escherichia coli (ESKAPEE) are increasingly identified in wastewater and surface water of rivers and streams, presenting a transmission risk to humans, animals, and plants. Using whole genome sequencing and bioinformatics analysis, we investigated the resistome, mobilome, and phylogenetic relationships of antibiotic-resistant ESKAPEE bacteria in surface water from two cities. Water samples (500 mL) from streams near informal settlements in Durban and Pietermaritzburg were filtered through a 0.45 μm filter membrane. The ESKAPEE were identified on selective media, purified and tested for antibiotic susceptibility using the VITEK® 2 platform. DNA was extracted from isolates for whole genome sequencing, followed by bioinformatics analysis using the open-source CARD, CGE, RAST, BV-BRC and PubMLST tools. Eleven E. faecium, 12 E. coli, four K. pneumoniae and one Enterobacter isolate were molecularly identified. Cephalosporin-resistant E. coli was found in Durban with the AcrAB-TolC efflux pump that conferred resistance to multiple antibiotic classes. The ARGs identified in E. coli were blaTEM- 1, qnrB19 and qnrS1, sul1, sul3, dfrA12, tet(A), cmlA1, aadA1 and aadA2. ARGs aac(6)- Ii, ant(6)-Ia and aph(3”)-III, tet(M) and tet(L), msr(C) and erm(B) and dfrG were detected in E. faecium. The Durban K. pneumoniae isolates were MDR harbouring blaSHV-75, blaSHV-110, blaSHV-81, blaCTXM-14, blaCTX-M-15, blaTEM-1B, and blaOXA-1. E. kobei only harboured blaACT and tet(A) genes that showed phenotypic resistance against piperacillin- tazobactam. ARGs and MGEs in E. faecium were mostly carried on chromosomes. Plasmid-carried ARGs were associated with IS1, IS1B, IS6, IS256 and ISKpn19, and the Tn3 transposons in E. coli. Of all identified ESBL genes in K. pneumonaie, only blaTEM, blaCTX-M-14 and blaCTX-M-15 were co-carried on plasmids and associated with ISKpn25, ISNCY, IS3, IS1, IS5075, IScep1, and Tn3. Phylogenetic analysis revealed close relationships with other South African human, animal and environmental isolates. The identified ARGs and their associations with MGEs present potential transmission routes of these resistance genes within and across bacterial species in aquatic environments, making these surface waters a potential reservoir for antibiotic resistance transmission

Impact on intestinal epithelial and stromal cells in people living with HIV infection.

Masters Degree. University of KwaZulu-Natal, Durban.The gastrointestinal (GI) tract is the largest immune organ in the human body and a critical site for HIV pathology. Dysregulation of gut homeostasis and depletion of GI tissue-resident CD4+ T-cells remain permanent regardless of antiretroviral therapy (ART) and recovery of CD4+ T-cells in circulation. The irreversible depletion of GI tissue-resident CD4+ T-cells may contribute to the dysregulation of gut homeostasis by impacting intestinal stem cells (ISC) and stromal cells through impaired immune signalling. To address this question, flow cytometric analysis of duodenum, colon, and ileum pinch biopsies obtained from uninfected controls and people living with HIV (PLWH) was performed. Flow cytometric analysis of epithelial cells (CD45-EpCAM+) showed an increase in intestinal stem cells (ISC) (CD44+EpBH2+) in the colon, duodenum, and ileum of PLWH. Flow cytometric analysis of stromal cells (CD45-EpCAM-CD235a-CD38-CD19-) showed a significant change in the CD31-PDPN1+ stromal fibroblast population. Across intestinal compartments, PLWH showed increased fibroblast frequencies compared with uninfected controls that were not directly linked to CD4+ T-cell depletion in the gut or blood viremia status. Overall, these results indicate that HIV infection increases the amount of ISCs and fibroblasts in the gut, which may contribute to the overall HIV-associated dysregulation in the GI tract. Further investigation is required to determine the mechanisms by which HIV impacts nonhematopoietic cellular compartments in the gut

Ukuhlaziya iqhaza lesichazamazwi esilimilunye sikaMbatha (2006) nesilimimbili sikaDent noNyembezi (2009) ekufundweni nasekuthuthukisweni kwesiZulu.

Masters Degree. University of KwaZulu-Natal. Pietermaritzburg.Kunezinhlobo ezahlukene zezichazamazwi, kubalwa isichazamazwi esilimilunye, isichazamazwi esilimimbili, isichazamazwi esiliminingi kanye nesichazamazwi esisubject specific. Zonke lezi zichazamazwi zenza umsebenzi ofanayo wokunikeza izincazelo zamagama kodwa umsebenzi wazo awupheleli lapho. Izichazamazwi zinikeza ulwazi oluningi lolimi isibonelo, uhlelo lolimi, ukusebenza kwegama emushweni kanye nendlela yokuphimisa. Uhlobo lolwazi olutholakala esichazamazwini lunqunywa uhlobo lwesichazamazwi kanye nenhloso yaso isichazamazwi. Ucwaningo lubhalwe ngenxa yenkinga etholakele yokuthi abantu abakuqondi ngokuphelele ukuthi izichazamazwi ziyini kanye nomsebenzi eziwenzayo. Ucwaningo lolu luhlose ukuveza umsebenzi owenziwa izichazamazwi zesiZulu kanye nokugqugquzela ukusetshenziswa kwazo njengamathuluzi okufunda ulimi lwesiZulu. Ukuze lufeze inhloso ebhalwe ngenhla, ucwaningo luhlaziye izichazamazwi ezimbili zesiZulu ezivame ukusetshenziswa esikhathini samanje. Isichazamazwi sokuqala Isichazamazwi SesiZulu esilimilunye sikaMbatha (2006), isichazamazwi sesibili iScholar’s Zulu Dictionary esilimimbili sikaDent no Nyembezi (2009). Ucwaningo luhlaziye ukuchazwa kwamagama, ukusetshenziswa kwezibonelo, ukufakwa kolwazi lohlelo lolimi kanye nokuchazwa kwendlela yokuphimisa kulezi zichazamazwi ezikhethiwe ngenhloso yokuveza ukuthi lolu lwazi lubalekelela kanjani abasebenzisi balezi zichazamazwi abafunda ulimi lwesiZulu. Imiphumela yocwaningo ikhombisa ukuthi lezi zichazamazwi ezikhethiwe ziyizincwadi ezifanelekile ukuba zisetshenziselwe ukufunda nokuthuthukisa ulimi lwesiZulu. Ziqukethe ulwazi olumqoka oluhlomulisa abasebenzisi bazo izichazamazwi ngolwazi oluyisisekelo lokufunda ulimi lwesiZulu