Political Science & Public Administration

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Browsing Political Science & Public Administration by Author "Isike, C."

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    The nexus between national and student politics: managing student conflicts in four African universities in an era of democratic transition
    (University of Zululand, 2014) Muya, Dominick; Isike, C.
    Students conflict characterized by violent student versus management confrontations and inter political group violence has been a recurring decimal in African universities since the post-colonial era of the continent‟s political history. This has had dire socio-economic consequences for development in the continent. This study therefore sought mainly to establish whether the connection between national and student politics, given the historical background of liberation politics, is a major source of conflict in South African and Tanzanian universities. This is with a view to recommend evidence-based policy and conflict management practices aimed at addressing the perenial crisis of student upheavals in these countries with lessons for the rest of Africa. Using an integrated mix of research approaches and data collection methods and analysis, the study surveyed 318 respondents, conducted 97 key-person interviews and 10 focus group discusions accross 4 selected universities in study areas. These include the University of Zululand and University of Pretoria in South Africa and the University of Dar es Salaam and the University of Dodoma in Tanzania. The study found that student political organizations which often are extensions/youth wings of local/regional/national political parties in both countries are vehicles of the continuation of societal politics by other means. This is not tenable in the light of transition to multiparty democracy where the development issues that define politics today are different form the liberation issues that defined politics in the past. The study also found that although South Africa and Tanzania are still transiting democratically, there is a disparity between democratic consolidation at the national level and the lower levels of the society such as Higher Education Institutions (HEIs) where the national democratic culture is yet to be entrenched. As a result, the practice of student politics on campus is defined by student emotions instead of democratic rationality. Also, on the part of management, universities in the era of democratic transition have played very little role in mentoring students on university values and ethos as well as on the development of the leadership components of their training. Students have in turn placed their trust on politicians rather than the academic community, and have ipso facto, become vehicles of the political contestations of national/regional and local politics which often times are violent in character. The study therefore concludes that is a need to rethink the role of the SRC in a democratic era such that it goes beyond demonstrations over welfare issues to incubating future leaders for a continent in need of all-round educated leaders. In this light, the study recommended amongst others, depeening democracy in our student body politics by restructuring student governance to uphold representative democracy on HEIs campuses, and integrating conflict management measures into institutional renewal initiatives such as Institutional Transformation Program (ITP) in a bid to transform conflict and enable peace and development in Africa.
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    Perceptions of African immigrants in Pretoria on service delivery in the Department of Home Affairs
    (2012) Umezurike, Samuel Augustine; Banjo, A.; Isike, C.
    This study claimed that largely for socio-political reasons as well as the general impact of globalization, information and communication technology, all synthesized as pull or push factors, migration has become a major phenomenon in Africa in the 21st century. Recent studies have also identified South Africa as a major destination for African immigrants since the end of apartheid. It is against this background that the study is aimed at investigating perceptions about African immigrants and attitudes towards them by the officials of the Department of Home Affairs, the official agency that is constitutionally mandated to handle immigrant affairs in South Africa. Theoretically, the study agreed with Neocosmos (2008) that several theories that seek to explain xenophobic attitudes and perceptions have not fully satisfied curiosity, especially regarding the behaviour of some officials. The study therefore turned to ‘Makwerekwere’ theory as propounded by Matsinhe in 2011. To achieve the above stated objective the study adopted both quantitative and qualitative research approaches, specifically the main data collection instrument of a questionnaire, sent to a sample of 300 Tshwane/Pretoria-based immigrants from six selected African countries. After rigorous data analysis, expressed in various tables and charts, the findings indicate that while Xenophobia is not South Africa’s official state policy, from the opinions of African immigrants and their experiences, some officials of the Department of Home Affairs have over time displayed negative attitudes towards African immigrants. In conclusion, the study suggests that corruption exists in the Department (in the views of African immigrants) and African immigrants feel that the government (state authority) has not attended to this phenomenon with the seriousness it requires.
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    The support women in management positions need to be effective managers
    (University of Zululand, 2018) Ngema, Simangele Constance; Jili, N.; Isike, C.
    This study analysed the progression of women to senior management positions in organisations focusing on the support women need to be promoted to senior managerial positions in state owned enterprises in South Africa. It used the specific case of Transnet in Richards Bay, KwaZulu-Natal to understand the phenomenon of women’s under-representation in senior management positions within the framework of Critical Mass Theory. The study’s objectives were; to identify challenges of mainstreaming women into managerial positions in public enterprise organizations such as Transnet, analyse the support structure and systems that women have and need to succeed and recommend strategies that can be implemented for promoting women to senior management positions. The study adopted a post-positivist research paradigm to enable multiple perspectives from participants/target population rather than a single reality. A mixed method was used to benefit the study. In that light, both quantitative and qualitative research approaches were simultaneously used during a single phase of data collection. Primary data was gathered by survey method involving self-administered questionnaires with women employees who were not in the management and through semi-structured interviews with women who were junior managers. The secondary data was gathered by in-depth literature review and document analysis of Transnet policies, and both data were analysed using qualitative content analysis. Confirming findings from existing literature which show that women are still under represented in managerial positions in public and private institutions in South Africa and worldwide, this study found that women face promotion hurdles to senior managerial positions in Transnet. Preference is given to men compared to women and men have senior mentors while women usually do not. Also, there are hidden difficulties in Transnet that women face and prevent them from moving into higher positions such as fearing criticism. While there are support structures in place to enable women to be promoted to senior managerial positions, however, implementation is a problem due to entrenched patriarchal attitudes. Based on its findings, the study made a number of recommendations was such as underscoring the urgent need for women to have matured mentors who will guide those in senior iv management with the skills required in management positions and also mentor those who are aspiring. It was also recommended that previous experience, skills and knowledge should be considered for women to be promoted to senior management positions. v
University of Zululand