An exploratory study of female labour force participation in South Africa: 1995 - 2010
- Authors: Mahali, Lesala
- Date: 2013
- Subjects: Labor markets -- South Africa , Unemployment -- South Africa , Labor supply -- South Africa , Women -- Employment -- South Africa , Role conflict , Women employees -- South Africa
- Language: English
- Type: Thesis , Masters , M Com
- Identifier: vital:11465 , http://hdl.handle.net/10353/d1007050 , Labor markets -- South Africa , Unemployment -- South Africa , Labor supply -- South Africa , Women -- Employment -- South Africa , Role conflict , Women employees -- South Africa
- Description: The role that women play in the economy of any society is a desirable goal for equity and efficiency considerations. Just as with the rest of the world, the South African women lagged behind their male counterparts within the economic empowerment space and in the formal labour force. However, the role of women has undergone some transformations with issues relating to employment opportunities, such that their labour force participation has risen considerably since 1994. The female labour force participation rate is still seen to be persistently lower compared to the male participation rate even in the second decade of democracy. The rate of women labour force participation is even lower than the average. On the other hand, the increases have also been coupled with the rising rate of unemployment among women. The objective of this study was to investigate the determinants of female labour force participation in the South African labour market. The study uses a regression analysis on a cross sectional panel data covering a period of 1995 to 2010. Unlike most popular beliefs, the findings of this study reveal that fertility though not statistically significant, positively influences labour force participation of women. Other variables that are statistically significant in explaining female labour force are HIV/AIDS, marital status, age, household income and education. Race was found to be insignificant in explaining female labour force participation in the South African labour force.
- Full Text:
- Date Issued: 2013
- Authors: Mahali, Lesala
- Date: 2013
- Subjects: Labor markets -- South Africa , Unemployment -- South Africa , Labor supply -- South Africa , Women -- Employment -- South Africa , Role conflict , Women employees -- South Africa
- Language: English
- Type: Thesis , Masters , M Com
- Identifier: vital:11465 , http://hdl.handle.net/10353/d1007050 , Labor markets -- South Africa , Unemployment -- South Africa , Labor supply -- South Africa , Women -- Employment -- South Africa , Role conflict , Women employees -- South Africa
- Description: The role that women play in the economy of any society is a desirable goal for equity and efficiency considerations. Just as with the rest of the world, the South African women lagged behind their male counterparts within the economic empowerment space and in the formal labour force. However, the role of women has undergone some transformations with issues relating to employment opportunities, such that their labour force participation has risen considerably since 1994. The female labour force participation rate is still seen to be persistently lower compared to the male participation rate even in the second decade of democracy. The rate of women labour force participation is even lower than the average. On the other hand, the increases have also been coupled with the rising rate of unemployment among women. The objective of this study was to investigate the determinants of female labour force participation in the South African labour market. The study uses a regression analysis on a cross sectional panel data covering a period of 1995 to 2010. Unlike most popular beliefs, the findings of this study reveal that fertility though not statistically significant, positively influences labour force participation of women. Other variables that are statistically significant in explaining female labour force are HIV/AIDS, marital status, age, household income and education. Race was found to be insignificant in explaining female labour force participation in the South African labour force.
- Full Text:
- Date Issued: 2013
Substance abuse by women and its effects on family cohesion in rural villages in the Nkonkobe municipality, Eastern Cape
- Authors: Muusha, Prudence
- Date: 2012
- Subjects: Substance abuse -- South Africa -- Eastern Cape , Drug abuse -- South Africa -- Eastern Cape , Women -- South Africa -- Eastern Cape , Families -- South Africa -- Eastern Cape
- Language: English
- Type: Thesis , Masters , M SW
- Identifier: vital:11766 , http://hdl.handle.net/10353/d1005997 , Substance abuse -- South Africa -- Eastern Cape , Drug abuse -- South Africa -- Eastern Cape , Women -- South Africa -- Eastern Cape , Families -- South Africa -- Eastern Cape
- Description: There is a paucity of research in the area of women abusing substances and the effects thereof on family cohesion. Lameman (2008:83) has claimed that “women substance abuse is surrounded by secrecy owing to the societal position and history of women in South Africa and worldwide”. Because women abuse substances in private it is reasonable to assume that there is little known on the effects of such abuse on especially the family and society at large. Mammam (2006:55) points out that “families continue to evolve like any other system as a way of adapting to the environment and responding to the changes around it”. Families continue to survive because of the attractiveness the family has to its members. Studies on family cohesion such as by Grisham and Adele (2008) reflect some of the most important reflectors of family cohesion as respect, sharing values and beliefs, emotional support, trust, intimacy and the ability to confide in each other. The survival of the family therefore rests on cohesion. Since a family is a unit there are different roles played by each member and in rural settings where roles, status and perceptions in terms of gender are slow to change, the question was how substance abuse by a woman would possibly affect family cohesion. The United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime (UNODC) 2011 World Drug Report indicated that South Africa is a major African hub for certain drugs such as heroin and cannabis (marijuana), as well as a major producer of others, including methamphetamines. Large numbers of South African citizens also abuse drugs and alcohol, and the country has one of the world’s highest alcohol consumption levels per drinker. Possibly the greatest negative effect of drug and alcohol abuse is that it slows down or stops emotional and psychological development, preventing people from reaching their full potential, (UNODC, 2011). Added to this is the burden placed on society by health care and criminal justice costs related to substance abuse, as well as the costs associated with decreased productivity in the workplace, increased HIV transmission, domestic violence, injury and death (UNODC, 2011).
- Full Text:
- Date Issued: 2012
- Authors: Muusha, Prudence
- Date: 2012
- Subjects: Substance abuse -- South Africa -- Eastern Cape , Drug abuse -- South Africa -- Eastern Cape , Women -- South Africa -- Eastern Cape , Families -- South Africa -- Eastern Cape
- Language: English
- Type: Thesis , Masters , M SW
- Identifier: vital:11766 , http://hdl.handle.net/10353/d1005997 , Substance abuse -- South Africa -- Eastern Cape , Drug abuse -- South Africa -- Eastern Cape , Women -- South Africa -- Eastern Cape , Families -- South Africa -- Eastern Cape
- Description: There is a paucity of research in the area of women abusing substances and the effects thereof on family cohesion. Lameman (2008:83) has claimed that “women substance abuse is surrounded by secrecy owing to the societal position and history of women in South Africa and worldwide”. Because women abuse substances in private it is reasonable to assume that there is little known on the effects of such abuse on especially the family and society at large. Mammam (2006:55) points out that “families continue to evolve like any other system as a way of adapting to the environment and responding to the changes around it”. Families continue to survive because of the attractiveness the family has to its members. Studies on family cohesion such as by Grisham and Adele (2008) reflect some of the most important reflectors of family cohesion as respect, sharing values and beliefs, emotional support, trust, intimacy and the ability to confide in each other. The survival of the family therefore rests on cohesion. Since a family is a unit there are different roles played by each member and in rural settings where roles, status and perceptions in terms of gender are slow to change, the question was how substance abuse by a woman would possibly affect family cohesion. The United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime (UNODC) 2011 World Drug Report indicated that South Africa is a major African hub for certain drugs such as heroin and cannabis (marijuana), as well as a major producer of others, including methamphetamines. Large numbers of South African citizens also abuse drugs and alcohol, and the country has one of the world’s highest alcohol consumption levels per drinker. Possibly the greatest negative effect of drug and alcohol abuse is that it slows down or stops emotional and psychological development, preventing people from reaching their full potential, (UNODC, 2011). Added to this is the burden placed on society by health care and criminal justice costs related to substance abuse, as well as the costs associated with decreased productivity in the workplace, increased HIV transmission, domestic violence, injury and death (UNODC, 2011).
- Full Text:
- Date Issued: 2012
Factors affecting rural farming households’ willingness to participate in a proposed irrigation scheme: a situation analysis of Guquka in Nkonkobe District Municipality, Eastern Cape, South Africa
- Authors: Ngwenya, Kwanele
- Date: 2013
- Subjects: Irrigation farming -- South Africa -- Eastern Cape , Agricultural systems -- South Africa -- Eastern Cape , Economic development projects -- South Africa -- Eastern Cape
- Language: English
- Type: Thesis , Masters , MSc Agric (Agricultural Economics)
- Identifier: vital:11198 , http://hdl.handle.net/10353/d1007145 , Irrigation farming -- South Africa -- Eastern Cape , Agricultural systems -- South Africa -- Eastern Cape , Economic development projects -- South Africa -- Eastern Cape
- Description: Previous studies conducted in the study area recommended an irrigation scheme as a much desired intervention in order to reduce poverty levels, reduce unemployment, provide a livelihood for the households and trigger development. The Land Bank of South Africa has shown keen interest to provide funds to set up an irrigation scheme in Guquka. Absence of peoples’ involvement and farmer participation has been identified as one of the causes of poor performance of smallholder irrigation schemes in South Africa. The poor performance of smallholder irrigation projects in South Africa provided a good basis for exploring factors that could possibly affect farmer participation and the success of the proposed irrigation scheme. This knowledge would be useful to providers of extension services, capital providers, policy makers and the recipients of the proposed irrigation scheme. The main objective of this study was to investigate the factors affecting the willingness of farming households to participate in the proposed irrigation scheme. This investigation helped to analyse demographic; socio economic situation; farming practices; economic activities; water sources, uses and management in the study area. The major tool of enquiry in this study was the questionnaire which was used to collect data from the households. Household and farm characteristics were collected using structured questionnaires with the help of locally recruited and trained enumerators. The data used for the empirical analysis was obtained from a survey of 50 farming households in Guquka, in the Eastern Cape Province of South Africa. The following variables were selected to determine the scope of their influence on farmer willingness to participate in the proposed scheme: age; membership in local group; investment in agriculture, educational level of the farmers, knowledge, household size, labour and gender. A logit model was used to determine the extent to which these selected characteristics influence the willingness of farmers to participate in the proposed irrigation scheme. The results showed that willingness to participate in the scheme was significantly influenced by the afore mentioned variables as well as knowledge about the planned irrigation scheme which is mainly provided by extension agents; and total household income. Age was found to decrease the willingness of farmers to participate in irrigation. A positive association existed between participation and the following variables; membership in local group, investment in agriculture, educational level of the farmers and knowledge. On the other hand, household size, labour and gender were not significant variables affecting willingness to participate in the proposed irrigation scheme. Based on the results from the logit regression model, it can be concluded that membership in a local group, investment in agriculture, education, knowledge and total household income are responsible for increasing the probability of participation. The negative relationship on age and participation indicates that the older the person is, the lesser the chances of participation. It is recommended that stakeholders should improve access to education and farmer training programmes. Support systems to disseminate information, training and knowledge should be enhanced. Improving institutional support and access to financial services should be prioritised by the stakeholders in the study area. Further studies on building institutional capacity and a cost benefit analysis of irrigation options in the study area are recommended.
- Full Text:
- Date Issued: 2013
- Authors: Ngwenya, Kwanele
- Date: 2013
- Subjects: Irrigation farming -- South Africa -- Eastern Cape , Agricultural systems -- South Africa -- Eastern Cape , Economic development projects -- South Africa -- Eastern Cape
- Language: English
- Type: Thesis , Masters , MSc Agric (Agricultural Economics)
- Identifier: vital:11198 , http://hdl.handle.net/10353/d1007145 , Irrigation farming -- South Africa -- Eastern Cape , Agricultural systems -- South Africa -- Eastern Cape , Economic development projects -- South Africa -- Eastern Cape
- Description: Previous studies conducted in the study area recommended an irrigation scheme as a much desired intervention in order to reduce poverty levels, reduce unemployment, provide a livelihood for the households and trigger development. The Land Bank of South Africa has shown keen interest to provide funds to set up an irrigation scheme in Guquka. Absence of peoples’ involvement and farmer participation has been identified as one of the causes of poor performance of smallholder irrigation schemes in South Africa. The poor performance of smallholder irrigation projects in South Africa provided a good basis for exploring factors that could possibly affect farmer participation and the success of the proposed irrigation scheme. This knowledge would be useful to providers of extension services, capital providers, policy makers and the recipients of the proposed irrigation scheme. The main objective of this study was to investigate the factors affecting the willingness of farming households to participate in the proposed irrigation scheme. This investigation helped to analyse demographic; socio economic situation; farming practices; economic activities; water sources, uses and management in the study area. The major tool of enquiry in this study was the questionnaire which was used to collect data from the households. Household and farm characteristics were collected using structured questionnaires with the help of locally recruited and trained enumerators. The data used for the empirical analysis was obtained from a survey of 50 farming households in Guquka, in the Eastern Cape Province of South Africa. The following variables were selected to determine the scope of their influence on farmer willingness to participate in the proposed scheme: age; membership in local group; investment in agriculture, educational level of the farmers, knowledge, household size, labour and gender. A logit model was used to determine the extent to which these selected characteristics influence the willingness of farmers to participate in the proposed irrigation scheme. The results showed that willingness to participate in the scheme was significantly influenced by the afore mentioned variables as well as knowledge about the planned irrigation scheme which is mainly provided by extension agents; and total household income. Age was found to decrease the willingness of farmers to participate in irrigation. A positive association existed between participation and the following variables; membership in local group, investment in agriculture, educational level of the farmers and knowledge. On the other hand, household size, labour and gender were not significant variables affecting willingness to participate in the proposed irrigation scheme. Based on the results from the logit regression model, it can be concluded that membership in a local group, investment in agriculture, education, knowledge and total household income are responsible for increasing the probability of participation. The negative relationship on age and participation indicates that the older the person is, the lesser the chances of participation. It is recommended that stakeholders should improve access to education and farmer training programmes. Support systems to disseminate information, training and knowledge should be enhanced. Improving institutional support and access to financial services should be prioritised by the stakeholders in the study area. Further studies on building institutional capacity and a cost benefit analysis of irrigation options in the study area are recommended.
- Full Text:
- Date Issued: 2013
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