Five-country Study on Service and Volunteering in Southern Africa: South Africa Country Report

The aim of the study was to document and analyse civic service and volunteering in South Africa

Investigating off-grid systems for a mobile milking facility

This study examined the possible renewable energy sources that can provide the necessary power for a mobile Off-grid Automated Milking System (AMS) at a grazing pasture. This involved choosing the most cost effective, environmental friendly and sustainable mean for a mobile AMS which aims to be operating between months of May to September at a rate of milking 20 cows per day. The approach involved using weather data, input from the milking system manufacturer-DeLaval along with two models, Insight Maker and HOMER which were used to investigate various renewable energy sources for the mobile facility. Renewables such as Biodiesel, Ethanol, Biogas run generators along with Solar PV panels + Batteries were considered for the current study. Based on site’s specifics and given environment, three main evaluating parameters were used to identify the most suitable renewable energy source. These entailed Net Present Cost, Levelized Cost of Energy, and Levels of CO2 emissions per year. In line with the obtained results and comparisons made, the study recommended the adoption of Solar PV panels + Batteries for the mobile facility. Moreover, the study discussed further means for addressing possible challenges that could be encountered upon implementation. Recommendations provided by the manufacturer DeLaval were also highlighted for achieving better energy conservations and hence a more efficient system. The thesis also highlighted the technological development and the continuing reduction of Solar PV+Batteries costs worldwide along with Sweden’s grid and off-grid projections for years 2030 & 2040 and how these both stand in favor of off-grid systems diffusion and adoption in the near future. Yet simultaneously and in order to achieve a successful off-grid system for a mobile AMS, close monitoring and assessing of other factors was recommended. Factors such as the Milking Frequency, Cow and Grazing management, understanding the effects to and from the surrounding environment, maintaining cattle welfare along with grasping the knowledge of both present and future scenarios would help achieve the resilient environmental friendly off-grid mobile AMS facility aimed for

Five-country Study on Service and Volunteering in Southern Africa

In the context of globalization, civic service and volunteering is emerging as a growing social phenomenon and a field of inquiry internationally. This research was done to strengthen knowledge and understanding of service and to build research capacity in order to develop service as a field of inquiry and to strengthen its knowledge base and practice

The participation of informal settlement communities in city-level policy-making processes in Johannesburg

This study aims at exploring the complexity of involving informal settlement communities in policy-making processes at city-level. The key objective is to extend our understanding of the practice of public participation by focusing on the involvement of one of the most disadvantaged sectors of society living on the peripheries of contemporary cities. Many studies have dealt with the participation of informal settlement communities in the planning, implementation and management of localized development projects. This study explores the involvement of these communities in making policies that not only address their local immediate needs, but also contribute in the future development of the cities where they live. Informal settlement communities generally experience social, economic and spatial exclusion. The informal and/or ‘illegal’ nature of informal settlements often hinders the involvement of their residents in local political processes thus adding to their vulnerability and marginalization. Advancing citizenship rights of these communities contributes to guaranteeing their inclusion and access to what cities have to offer. The thesis consists of two parts in addition to an introduction and a conclusion. Part One looks at theoretical perspectives on the notion of public participation with a focus on the participation of poor sectors of society in policy-making processes. This part also explores various approaches to urban management and examines the extent to which these approaches enable participation of informal settlement communities in city-level policy making. Part One also looks at the possibilities and limitations of informal settlement communities in policy-making by drawing on experiences from the Municipality of São Paulo in Brazil. Part Two of the thesis then shifts discussion to the policy and practice of public participation in the City of Johannesburg and empirically examines the extent of involving the informal settlement communities of one of the city’s administrative regions in policy making processes. iv The study establishes that participation in city-level policy-making processes is very complex due to the nature of issues addressed and the multitude of actors involved. It also shows that participatory approaches to urban management, which seek to combat inequality and realize social justice in cities, provide an environment conducive to the involvement of informal settlement communities in policy-making at city level. However, to achieve successful involvement of these communities in policy-making processes, city governments need to have the appropriate mandate that enables them to deal with issues that matter for the dwellers of informal settlements such as access to urban land, housing, basic services, education and health. In addition, city governments need to be open to and supportive of informal settlements, and have appropriate mechanisms for their participation in policy-making. From their side, informal settlement communities can only benefit from participatory opportunities if they have strong, well connected community structures that seek to make their voices heard. The study also finds that in a democratically open system, the actual practice of participation is continuously evolving through the interplay between policy and legal provisions and elements of micro contexts. Facilitators of this evolution are local officials and community organisations

Five-Country Study on Service and Volunteering in Southern Africa

Five-Country Study on Service and Volunteering in Southern Afric