This study was designed to explore sexuality, parenthood, identity, and relationships among female and male youth living on the streets of Durban CBD. It sprung from my previous engagement on the street, which suggested the striking impact of gender on the lives of the youth. Much literature on children and youth living on the street ignore the gendered nature of street life, and this study filled the knowledge gap about gender constructions and gendered relationships on the street. Framed by critical theory, this study explored how constructions of masculinities and femininities are played out on the street and impact the youth’s relationships. It specifically focused on intersectionalities with socio-economic and other structures in understanding gender. Focus groups and individual interviews were conducted with 37 youth on the street, of which 17 were female. Approximately 50 focus group sessions and individual interviews were conducted. Due to drug use and lack of sleep, the concentration levels of the youth would vary a great deal, and the analysis is mainly based on approximately 25 of the focus groups sessions and interviews, which provided satisfactory depth. My extensive involvement on the street and the study’s embeddedness in practical, therapeutic, and conscientising social work ensured rich material. With the participants’ permission, the sessions were tape-recorded. The material was analysed according to critical discourse analysis. Four themes emerged during the analysis: Men as providers, violence, sex, and sexuality on the street; Girls’ violence and contestations of femininity and masculinity; Gang culture and constructions of masculinity; and Constructions of motherhood and fatherhood. Male provision was a major construction of masculinity among the youth on the street, greatly compromised by their socio-economic marginalisation. Consistent with international literature, poverty`s assault on masculinity was evident, and violence was a means to compensate for a wounded sense of masculinity and to establish male superiority. Girls’ sex work was a major gender role transgression, contesting hegemonic femininity, males’ control over women, and the provider role of boyfriends, and was violently opposed by the males living on the street. Girls worked hard to present themselves according to acceptable constructions of femininity, and framed their sex work according to the mandate of male provision, as caring relationships with wealthier men. Young mothers on the street struggled with the contradiction between constructions of motherhood and sex work. There was a demand for them to not give up custody of their children, yet the conditions of homelessness and the street made adequate caring impossible, and the mothers were almost inevitably doomed to condemnation and failure as ‘good’ women. Though male provision was a dominant construction of masculinity, it was not reflected in the actual lives of the youth on the street, and violence was by far the most important means to establish and confirm manliness. The significance given to violence was, in addition to the significant impact of poverty and consequent male vulnerability, framed by rules of the 26 gang. Conscientising work among the youth to reveal the real sources of their oppressions is called for, as well as practical and therapeutic work. Their lives reflect dominant structure in the larger society, and work towards egalitarian relations among genders in society overall as well as measures to transform the profound socio-economic inequality nationally and globally are called for. / Thesis (M.A.)-University of KwaZulu Natal, Durban, 2011.

The purpose of this study was to investigate the use of the internet by the Faculty of Humanities, Development and Social Science third year students at the University of KwaZulu-Natal, Pietermaritzburg campus. The study tried to establish how often students used the internet; what did students use the internet for; what internet services did students use the most and why were those services used. Furthermore, the study investigated what information services were relevant and important for students; whether students had the necessary skills to use the internet and what problems they experienced while using the internet. Conclusions were drawn and a set of recommendations were made based on the findings of the study. The study population comprised 330 Faculty of Humanities, Development and Social Science third year students. A total number of 254 undergraduate third year students responded, which gave a very good response rate of 77%. The researcher employed a triangulation approach where both qualitative and quantitative data were collected. For quantitative data collection the researcher used a questionnaire. An interview schedule to obtain qualitative data from the Director of Information Communication and Technology was used. The data from the interview was used to support the data from the questionnaire. The quantitative data was analysed using SPSS and the qualitative data was analysed using thematic content analysis. To maintain validity and reliability the questionnaire was pre-tested to non Faculty of HDSS undergraduate students at the UKZNP. The findings of the study showed that a majority of HDSS undergraduate third year students at UKZNP used the internet on campus with less than half of them also using the internet off campus. The most relevant and important internet services for third year students were e-mail, Web and telnet. However, the most used internet services by third year students were the Web, e-mail, social networks and telnet. A majority of students used GroupWise e-mail even though they had other e-mail accounts. In addition, a majority of students used FaceBook and students preferred Google more than other search engines. There were a number of challenges students experienced regarding the use of the internet. Such challenges included a limited number of computers in the LANs, slow internet connections, restricted access to certain sites and a lack of training on how to use the internet on campus. / Thesis (M.I.S.)-University of KwaZulu-Natal, Pietermaritzburg, 2010.

No abstract available. / Thesis (M.Soc.Sci.)-University of Natal, Pietermaritzburg, 1999.

No abstract available. / Thesis (M.S.U.R.P.)-University of Natal, Durban, 1998.

Background:- The HIV and AIDS epidemic is a major catastrophe that affects millions of people worldwide. Antiretroviral medication combinations have revolutionised HIV treatment since 1996, transforming the virus from a death sentence to a manageable condition. In order to obtain full therapeutic benefits it is vitally important that patients adhere to their prescribed medication. Being informed about the disease and medication contributes to patient adherence and management. Pharmacists are considered to be the most accessible health professional and can help HIV -infected patients deal with barriers to medication access, manage adverse effects and medication interactions, and adhere to medication regimens by appropriate counselling. The public sector is defined as that part of an economy that is controlled by the state. At the study site, which is a public sector facility, the roll out of antiretroviral medication started in 2006. At the time all patients were counselled by trained counsellors, before seeing a doctor. At the pharmacy the medication was collected with no intense counselling by a pharmacist as the patients would have visited the trained counsellors first. Subsequently it was found that there were many queries regarding HIV and AIDS. It was then decided in October 2007, that the pharmacist support the counselling done by the counsellors in that they should reinforce what was said by the counsellors, together with giving detailed information to patients on their health and medication. This study was therefore undertaken to measure pharmacists' role in the management and adherence of HIV infected patients at this institutional facility. Method: The study was undertaken at a public sector health facility using anonymous structured questionnaires and was divided into 3 phases: Pre-Intervention, Intervention and Post-Intervention phases. After obtaining patient consent the questionnaires were administered during the 1st phase. A month later all patients visiting the pharmacy were counselled intensely on various aspects of HIV and the antiretroviral medication. Thereafter patients who took part in phase 1 were asked to participate in the 2nd phase. After obtaining their consent again, the same questionnaire was administered to them. Quantitative variables were compared between pre and post intervention using paired t-tests or Wilcoxon signed ranks tests. Categorical variables were compared using McNemar's chi square test (Binary) or McNemar-Bowker test for ordinal variables. Results: A response rate of 87.5% was obtained with the majority of the patients being female. Almost 70% of the participants were in the age-range of 21-40 years old. The majority of the participants did not have post school education. Most of the participants (95.4%) did not know that HIV is a virus that causes AIDS in the pre intervention phase, but this decreased to 93.7% in the post intervention phase. The participants knowledge of people who have sexually transmitted diseases are least at risk of getting HIV, healthy food will cure HIV and smoking and drinking alcohol will weaken the HIV virus, increased significantly from the pre-intervention phase to the post intervention phase. Knowledge on the modes of transmission either increased or remained unchanged. Overall the mean knowledge score on the disease itself had increased significantly (SD 6.6%) [p<0.01] after the pharmacists' intervention (pre-intervention was 82.1 %, post-intervention was 86.3%). In both phases, over 40% of all patients stored their medication in the cupboard. The majority of the patients took their medication either with or without food at both phases of the study. After the intervention, the frequency of taking medication with a fatty meal or any time they remember was decreased to 0. A significant improvement was noted in the overall knowledge score with regards to medication taking and storage (p<0.05). Conclusion: Pharmacist intervention had a positive impact on HIV infected patients' HIV and AIDS knowledge on the disease and on the antiretroviral medication use and storage. / Thesis (M.Pharm.)-University of KwaZulu-Natal, Durban, 2011.

This thesis attempts to define the role of tribal authorities in the structures of the democratic government in the South African province of KwaZulu-Natal. However, the major difficulty lies in the nature of the institution of tribal authorities itself. In African tradition, leadership is hereditary. It is not subject to any electoral process. Besides this, the hereditary process is fundamentally male primogeniture and by nature excludes women. This contradicts the principles of democracy and the bill of rights which the democratic government of South Africa has adopted. Nevertheless, the institution of tribal authorities is not new in South Africa. It has existed and worked hand in hand with previous governments in South Africa since the period of the British colonial rule in the early 19th century. During the apartheid era, tribal authorities served as the local government in the rural areas of the KwaZulu Bantustan. Chiefs only lost this status after the formation of the Government of National Unity in 1994. However, most chiefs still have great influence and respect among the traditional people who live in rural areas. Besides this, among the Zulus, the institution of tribal authorities symbolizes Zulu nationalism and culture. Because of their closeness to the people at the grassroots, chiefs have good relationships with different political parties, particularly the Inkatha Freedom Party and the African National Congress. Probably they are seen by these political parties as potential allies and agents for political mobilization and recruitment in rural tribal areas. Consequently, abandoning the institution of tribal authorities in the democratic dispensation is unrealistic and irresponsible. To meet the political realities of KwaZulu-Natal, a certain form of representation in the structures of democratic government at both the provincial and local levels needs to be given to the institution of tribal authorities as part of the democratization process, and also as a means of expanding the scope of democracy in rural areas. This also fulfils one of the precepts of democracy which entails including all the concerned groups of people in a society, irrespective of colour, creed, sex, race, tradition and culture. Nevertheless, to achieve this, some adjustment is necessary to make possible the incorporation of the institution of tribal authorities in the structures of the democratic government. How can this institution be accommodated? What will the status and position of chiefs be in these structures? What will be their new role? How well can democratically elected structures work with non-elected ones? Is the inclusion of tribal authorities in the democratic government not going to conceptualize ethnicity? In other words, does ethnicity have any room in South Africa's democratic dispensation? To address these questions, this thesis assesses a number of aspects, which include examining the role chiefs played in the previous government, their relationships with the people, the Bantustan government and Inkatha Yenkululeko Yesizwe, and other political parties especially in the democratic dispensation. The thesis also examines legislation passed by the Government of National Unity, as well as the constitutional proposals of the Inkatha Freedom Party, the African National Congress and other political parties in the provincial government of KwaZulu-Natal concerning the role of tribal authorities. / Thesis (M.Soc.Sci.)-University of Natal, Pietermaritzburg, 1996.

The overwhelming number of people residing outside country of origin has created anxiety and fear in the immigrant receiving countries over the potentially destabilising effect on the country’s resources. This may provoke controversy because of the fears that they may be competing unfairly with hosts for jobs, housing and other welfare services. Hence, migrants are increasingly becoming vulnerable to racism, xenophobia and discrimination. The justice system protects the rights of migrants. Equal access to justice entails the right of migrants to initiate and proceed with legal matters through the justice system without hindrances. On the side of the state, access to justice also includes the obligation of the state to investigate violations and persecute the perpetrators according to the law. Hence, with this context in mind, this study explored the perception of justice system personnel on the services they provide to non-South African citizens, specifically to Ethiopian Immigrants in the Newcastle area. It also explored the experience of Ethiopian asylum seekers and refugees in interacting with the locals and in accessing justice system within the greater Newcastle area in the KwaZulu Natal Province. In total, 20 interviews were conducted, of which 8 are justice system personnel and 12 Ethiopian asylum seekers and refugees. The findings suggest that the majority of justice system personnel perceive that foreigners are equal in the eyes of the law and get equal treatment as that of South Africans. It was found that the majority of justice system personnel lack knowledge of refugee law and this has been an obstacle in day to day running of courts. The findings also show that language services and Legal Aid are available to locals and as well as foreigners. It was also found that case dockets get lost due to corruption and negligence, and this resulted in impunity for some of the perpetrators of xenophobic violence. The findings also suggested that asylum seekers and refugees agreed that the justice system is fair and that there are good provisions that accommodate everyone. Some, however, expressed discontent and claimed that they faced discrimination. They portray the police as unfriendly and indicated that they have experienced abuse and discrimination. The findings also suggest that police harass and abuse refugees by invading their premises without a search warrant. / Thesis (M.A.)-University of KwaZulu-Natal, Durban, 2012.

No abstract available. / Thesis (M.Sc.)-University of KwaZulu-Natal, Pietermaritzburg, 2004.

Although it is acknowledged in the Southern African literature that children living in conditions of poverty have always assumed more household responsibilities, the AIDS epidemic has exacerbated this and significantly changed the nature of childhood as an increasing number of children face life without parents. The study sought to gain insight into the experiential lives of six “child” heads of households and their siblings and to explore, in particular, how they construct their sense of self and family. For the purposes of the study a child-headed household was deemed a household in which a child of 18 or under or still in school was the household head in the absence of any other dependable, permanent adult figure. The study used a narrative approach and thematic analysis and the results emerging from the children's accounts of themselves were focused around the core themes of adult responsibility in the absence of adult status and relationships with adults in the extended family and wider community. The idea of children or adolescents competently running households, taking responsibility for themselves and their futures and adopting a more democratic and shared means of decision making, further challenges conventional conceptions of the „borders‟ between childhood and adulthood and family structure that have been contested and shifting through history. However, being on the front line of social change comes at a cost. Challenging society's popular understanding of children as passive, dependent and innocent positions these young people outside of the norm and what they report is that they feel alone, unheard and victimised. The findings are discussed within the context of Burman's critique of psychology's traditional theoretical notions of universal and innately driven development and a re-conceptualisation of children‟s experiences in terms of the context in which they live, and Crossley's perspective on narrative which emphasises agency grounded within cultural forms of sense-making. A new way of discussing these unconventionally structured families is also presented through the reconfiguration of relationships between family members, recognising connections that span generations and across different household spaces. / Thesis (M.A.)-University of KwaZulu-Natal, Durban, 2010.

Conservation of streams involves an understanding of their physical , chemical and biological entities. SASS5 is a biomonitoring method developed to monitor the habitat quality of a water body. It is based on differential scores attributed to various macroinvertebrate families with varying degrees of sensitivity to anthropogenic impact. This method , however, does not assess impacts on particular species. Odonata are good candidates for study at the species level as they are well researched and males are easily identified . As adults, they are known to be sensitive indicators of both riparian and river conditions. Yet Odonata cannot be an umbrella taxon for all other taxa . Therefore, the main aim of this study is to determine the complementarity of the two metrics (Odonata assemblages and SASS5), establishing whether Odonata assemblages offer additional information on, or insight into, riverine habitat quality as portrayed by SASS5. To accomplish this, certain objectives were addressed . 1) The variation of SASS5 scores and 2) Odonata assemblages between river systems, structural habitat types (open or closed canopies) and compositional habitat types (indigenous or alien vegetation). 3) Whether SASS5 scores vary to the same extent, and, 4) on the same spatial scale (river system and point localities) as Odonata abundance and species richness . The relationship between these two metrics was determined along three rivers in the Pietermaritzburg basin. Sampling units (SUs) with extremes in vegetation structure (sunlight and shaded SUs) and vegetation composition (alien or indigenous) were selected. Using this range of environmental conditions placed environmental extremes on the macroinvertebrate populations at point localities and having three different river systems added the dimension of variation over a broader scale, thus stretching the two metrics to investigate whether both responded similarly or in different ways. Results indicated that both metrics provide a similar portrait of overall river conditions. At the smaller spatial scale, the Odonata assemblage, unlike SASS, was highly sensitive to the riparian vegetation. Odonata species were less sensitive to vegetation composition but differentially sensitive to vegetation structure. However, landscape context is also important, with point localities being affected by the neighboring dominant habitat type. Larval Odonata alone did not provide this information. Overall, aquatic macroinvertebrates and adult Odonata provide a highly complementary pair of metrics that together provide large spatial scale (river system) and small spatial scale (point localities) information on the level of impact of stressors such as riparian invasive alien trees. / Thesis (M.Sc.)-University of KwaZulu-Natal, Pietermaritzburg, 2005.