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- ItemPerspectives of students and staff on the causes of underreporting of gender-based violence at a selected university(University of Zululand, 2024) Mdletshe, Lungelo Cynthia; Makhaye, Mandisa S.Gender-based violence (GBV) is a significant issue in higher education institutions (HEIs) globally, yet research on its prevalence on campuses remains limited. This gap has contributed to underreporting and inadequate responses from institutions. This study explored the factors behind GBV underreporting and proposed interventions to encourage victims to report. The research was guided by two theoretical perspectives: rational choice theory, which explains why victims may choose not to report, and the cultural acceptance of violence theory, which highlights how societal norms can normalise GBV and prevent victims from coming forward. A qualitative research approach was employed, using open-ended interviews and a focus group discussion to collect data from participants selected through purposive and snowball sampling. Thematic analysis revealed that intimidation was the leading factor contributing to underreporting, with victims fearing retaliation, disbelief, stigma, and the lack of trust in institutions. Additional factors included a lack of awareness of reporting procedures, financial dependence, and pervasive patriarchal norms. The consequences of underreporting affect both victims and institutions. Victims may experience mental health issues, poor academic performance, and isolation, while institutions risk reputational damage and perpetuate a culture of silence around GBV. To address these issues, the study recommended awareness campaigns, visible GBV offices, and anonymous reporting options. In conclusion, the research provides insights into the underreporting of GBV in HEIs and suggests practical interventions to create a safer, more supportive environment for students.
- ItemAn exploratory study on crime prevention initiatives at a selected rural University in South Africa(University of Zululand, 2024) Mzize, Noluvo; Dlamini, SiyandaEnsuring safety on university campuses is a matter of utmost importance, with the need for effective crime prevention measures becoming increasingly evident. Studies indicate that the surge in campus crime is a complex issue, influenced by a combination of social, environmental, and institutional factors. Universities, often serving as microcosms of society, are susceptible to the impact of societal norms on crime rates and responses. Therefore, collaboration among stakeholders emerges as a crucial element in addressing this issue, alongside implementing comprehensive campus safety measures such as visible police and security cameras. The adopted Situational Crime Prevention framework stresses opportunity-reducing measures that are directed at highly specific forms of crime by manipulating the environment to make crime more difficult to commit. If these preventative measures are ineffective, they create an unsettling campus atmosphere. This research aimed to explore crime prevention initiatives at the University of Zululand to identify best practices that can be adopted to improve the situation. The research employed a qualitative methodology, utilising semi-structured interviews to collect data from 12 key informant participants who were selected employing a purposive sample technique. To obtain additional perspectives from the viewpoint of the students regarding current prevention initiatives and their effectiveness at the University of Zululand, the snowballing sample technique was employed as well in selecting participants for two focus-group discussions. Data analysis was conducted utilising thematic analysis. The main findings of the study indicated that among other crimes, theft; rape; physical and verbal assaults, and abuse of alcohol and drugs were identified as the most common crimes at the University of Zululand, KwaDlangezwa campus. The research indicates that there are currently implemented crime prevention initiatives; however, several challenges impede their successful implementation, such as inadequate security personnel training, security infrastructure shortcomings, staff involvement in criminal activities, ineffective security measures, and miscommunication between departments. In light of these findings, it was recommended that current crime prevention initiatives be evaluated to identify areas of improvement and generate a holistic approach that will address the institution's unique needs.
- ItemSexual harassment policy at a higher education institution in KwaZulu-Natal: knowledge and perceptions of undergraduate students in two departments(University of Zululand, 2023) Mbatha, Smbatho; Steyn, Jéan and Makhaye, Mandisa NUniversity of uThukela’ is a placebo name used to protect the identity of the University. Purpose - Sexual harassment in higher education institutions remains a persistent and distressing issue for students. This dissertation aimed to develop a comprehensive understanding of the knowledge and perceptions held by students at a rural higher education institution in South Africa regarding sexual harassment and related policies. Additionally, it explored the role of these policies in educating students about sexual harassment, with the goal of preventing and deterring such behavior within the ‘University of uThukela’. Recent credible sources indicate a lack of effective interventions to address the troubling prevalence of sexual harassment within South African higher education institutions. Design/methodology/approach - This study employed a qualitative exploratory design utilising a multimethod approach, grounded in the Interpretivist Paradigm, to investigate sexual harassment issues. Semi-structured interviews, focus group discussions, and a knowledge test served as the primary data collection tools. Research participants were identified through purposive, self-selection (volunteer), and snowball sampling techniques. Thematic analysis was applied to analyse the collected information. Findings - The study revealed the pervasive nature of sexual harassment within the ‘University of uThukela’. While student participants demonstrated a general awareness of sexual harassment, they exhibited limited familiarity with the institution's policy. Additionally, the institution has a deficiency in adequately trained personnel to handle reports of sexual harassment. Feedback from support specialists interviewed indicates that incidents of sexual harassment negatively impact students' academic performance, health, and social well-being. Based on these findings, recommendations include enhancing students' understanding of sexual harassment policies and revising the institution's reporting procedures. Practical and theoretical implications - The study confirmed the prevalence of sexual harassment in a rural higher education institution in the KwaZulu-Natal province of South Africa. While participants exhibited a basic awareness of sexual harassment, they lacked comprehensive knowledge of institutional policies. Moreover, sexual harassment significantly affects students' lives and academic pursuits. Despite the mandate for Higher education institutions to establish and enforce sexual harassment policies, the problem persists among students. Limited research has explored the importance of student involvement in the development of such policies. Originality/value - Despite recognition of sexual harassment within the ‘University of uThukela’, efforts to implement and enforce policies and reporting protocols among students in this rural institution appear inadequate. OKUHUNYUSHWE NGOLIMOKUFINQGIQWE ‘Inyuvesi yasoThukela’ yigama le-placebo elisetshenziselwa ukuvikela ubunikazi beNyuvesi. Inhloso- Ukuhlukunyezwa ngokobulili ezikhungweni zemfundo ephakeme kubonakala kuwudaba oluqhubekayo oludabukisayo nolwesabekayo kubafundi. Inhloso yalolu cwaningo bekuwukuqondisisa kahle ulwazi nemibono abafundi abanayo mayelana nemigomo yokuhlukunyezwa ngokobulili abasesikhungweni zemfundo ephakeme yasezindaweni zasemakhaya eNingizimu Afrika, kanye neqhaza elibanjwe yinqubomgomo kulesi sikhungo ekufundiseni abafundi lobugebengu, ngenhloso yokuvimbela kanye nokunqanda ukuhlukunyezwa ngokobulili ngaphakathi 'eNyuvesi yasoThukela'. Ngokwemithombo yakamuva ethembekile, khona ukungenelela okuncane okusebenzayo ‘ukunqanda uhlobo oluyinkinga lokuhlukumezeka ngokobulili ezikhungweni zemfundo ephakeme lapha eNingizimu Afrika. Umklamo/indlela- Ukubhekana nalezi zinhloso, lolu cwaningo lusebenzise i-Qualitative exploratory design ngokusekelwa i-Multimethod approach, lwaphinda lwagxila ku-hermeneutics paradigm ekuqondeni izindaba zokuhlukumeza ngokobulili, ikakhulukazi, lolucwaningo lusebenzise izingxoxo ezingahlelekile, izingxoxo zamaqembu amancane, kanye nesivivinyo sokuhlolwa kolwazi. Kusetshenziswe amasampula okuhloswe ngawo nowokuzikhethela, kanye namavolontiya ukuze kutholakale futhi kukhiqizwe imibuzo yocwaningo. Kusetshenziswe i-Thematic analysis ukuhlaziya idatha eqoqwe ocwaningweni. Imiphumela- Lolu cwaningo luveze ukuthi ukuhlukunyezwa ngokobulili kudlangile ngaphakathi ‘eNyuvesi yasoThukela’. Abafundi ababambe iqhaza bakhombise ulwazi olujwayelekile lokuhlukumeza ngokobulili. Kodwa-ke, bakhombise ulwazi oluncane ngenqubomgomo yesikhungo. Okutholakele kuphinde kwaveza ukuthi isikhungo asinabo abantu abaqeqeshiwe ngokuthola amacala okunukubezwa ngokobulili. Ngokusho kwezikhungo zochwepheshe ezibe ingxenye kwi-interview, ezisiza abafundi mayelana nezigameko zabo zokuhlukunyezwa ngokobulilii, kuvele ukuthi lokhu kuhlukumezeka kwabafundi kunomthelela ekusebenzeni kwabo ezifundweni zabo, ezempilo kanye nenhlalakahle yabo. Ngokusekelwe emiphumeleni yocwaningo, kunconywa ukuthi abafundi bafundiswe ngezinqubomgomo zokuhlukunyezwa ngokobulili kanye noshintsho lwezikhungo zokubika ngokuhlukunyezwa kobulili. Okuwusizo-kanye-nethiyori-yemiphumela--Sekuqinisekisiwe-ukuthi ukuhlukunyezwa ngokobulili esikhungweni semfundo ephakeme yasemakhaya kuyaqhubeka futhi kuyenzeka. Abafundi babonise ulwazi olujwayelekile ngokwazi olunzulo kokuhlukumezeka ngokobulili, kodwa bakhombisa ukungayazi ngokwanele inqubomgomo yokuhlukunyezwa ngokocansi. Ngaphezu kwalokho, ukunukubezwa ngokobulili kubonakala kunomthelela omubi kakhulu empilweni yomfundi kanye nohambo-lokufunda.-Zimbalwa-kakhulu-izifundo-eziye-zathola-ukubaluleka kokubandakanya-kwabafundi-ekuthuthukisweni-kwezinqubomgomo zokuhlukunyezwa ngokobilili. Kugunyazwe ukuthi zonke izikhungo ezingaphansi kombuso zishaye futhi zisebenzise-imigomo-yokuhlukunyezwa-ngokobulili.-Nokho,-izigameko zokuhlukunyezwa ngokobulili zisadlangile phakathi kwabafundi. Okwangempela/inani--Izehlakalo-zokuhlukumezeka-ngokobulili-‘eNyuvesi yasoThukela’-seziphawuliwe,-kodwa-kubonakala-kunezinyathelo-ezincane zokusebenzisa-inqubomgomo-kanye-nenqubo-yokubika-yokuhlukunyezwa ngokocansi kwabafundi bakulesi sikhungo sasemakhaya.
- ItemAn empowerment strategy for prevention of crimes with the local communities in Lesotho(University of Zululand, 2023) Isidiho, Pius Emenike; Ras, J.M.This thesis is about an empowerment strategy for prevention of crime with the local communities in Lesotho. In this qualitative study five (5) different districts in Lesotho were visited and feedback was gathered from 89 participants to hear from them what local community members and the local community leaders can do to prevent crime in conjunction with the police. An empowerment strategy (plan of action) was drawn up to assist the different role-players in Lesotho to prevent crime.
- ItemExploring crime prevention measures to address motor vehicle theft in Jozini, Kwazulu-Natal(University of Zululand, 2022) Mthimkhulu, Senzo ThubalethuVehicle crimes, particularly vehicle theft and hijacking, are some of the most challenging crimes in South Africa. Vehicle crimes have tremendous impact on the stability of our country as people have lost trust in the police and related government departments due to their inability to curb these crimes. The main aim of this study was to explore current vehicle theft prevention strategies and to determine what, if anything, could be instituted to deter motor vehicle theft and hijacking in the Jozini area in KwaZulu-Natal. This study utilised a qualitative research approach and data were collection by means of semi-structured interviews. An in-depth interview was used to obtain clear and meaningful data from purposively selected participants. Thematic content analysis was employed to ensure that the processed data made sense and contributed to meaningful and trustworthy findings. Three significant theories underpinned this study, namely the routine activity theory, the rational choice theory, and the crime pattern theory. The study found that a major problem that exacerbated vehicle theft and hijacking in the study area was that the government failed to protect the Jozini community against vehicle crimes. Furthermore, the study confirmed that vehicle crimes were not a new phenomenon as these crimes had been perpetrated in this area for decades. Moreover, despite some measures to proactively try to prevent vehicle theft and hijacking in the study area, the government have failed dismally as vehicles are still hijacked and stolen with impunity. The study revealed that the police are doing very little to curb vehicle crimes, particularly as they are impeded by staffing shortages. Proposed crime prevention measures such as building a new police station in Empangeni, collaborating with a mobile tracker company in the Jozini area, constructing a fence between South Africa and Mozambique, and deploying more police officers can really help to curb and eventually eradicate vehicle crimes in this region. The study will contribute towards eradicating these crimes if the proposed recommendations, particularly the employment of more police officers to ensure strong visibility and effective response, are implemented as a matter of urgency. Moreover, the permanent deployment of the SANDF on the border is a strong recommendation.