Unravelling the Influence of Absenteeism on Business Operations in the South African Public Organisation

High absenteeism rates are a common phenomenon in many South African organisations which organisations are struggling to deal with. As a result, absenteeism continues to cost South African organisations and the government huge amounts of money every year despite numerous attempts by employers to reduce it. South African organisations lose about R25 billion (US1,3 billion) every year due to unplanned absenteeism. The study investigates the causes and effects of absenteeism business operations at a selected public organisation in South Africa. A descriptive research design and quantitative research approach were used in this study. The findings of this study revealed that absenteeism is caused by poor supervision at work, financial challenges, marital challenges, substance abuse, childcare problems and stress. The results of the study also indicated that absenteeism negatively affects individual work output, co-workers, group work, families, society, work productivity, labour cost and morale. The management should utilise more resources to address the causes and effects of absenteeism at the workplace

Formulating sustainable policies to accelerate service delivery

Government policy is the springboard from which all government activity takes place. Policy does not take place in a vacuum, but is usually the result of a need, or perceived need, that originates in society as a whole. When the needs are articulated by society, interest groups and individuals, government is obliged to respond positively where practically possible. When a need has been identified it is incumbent on government to formulate policies to address such a need, and such policies must be sustainable. A sustainable policy will work towards the creation of a healthy environment, equitable society and a sustainable economy. A policy should be regarded as a framework or guideline for achieving specific outputs and outcomes. It should impact positively on the environment and improve or maintain the quality of life of citizens, now and in the future, thereby strengthening the economy in the long-term. The formulation of a policy requires the exploration of issues that need to be dealt with from different perspectives or dimensions. The article argues that within a developmental state such as South Africa, there is an urgent need for government to formulate sustainable policies that will ultimately accelerate service delivery in the local government sphere. Further, the article contends that formulating sustainable policies requires an integrated approach from all spheres of government and various stakeholders, including political functionaries, leading public officials, and interest/pressure groups. These institutions and people cannot play a central role in policy formulation if adequate information relevant to policy is not available

Practising Ubuntu and leadership for good governance : the South African and continental dialogue

The focus of this article is on the role of Ubuntu and leadership as values that can enhance and accelerate service delivery, and ultimately promote good governance. The article considers whether Ubuntu philosophy can assist the public sector in entrenching this philosophy among public servants. Ensuring effective service delivery requires a different approach and a new way of thinking on the part of public service practitioners. One approach will be fostering the spirit of Ubuntu on all who are involved with service delivery in the public sector. Ubuntu is a philosophy and way of life that has held society together due to its beliefs and practices, which have consequently put the person at the centre of all things. There is a clear concept of morality in Ubuntu which contradicts the manner of behaviour which is often prevalent today. Ubuntu has values that are concerned with both the character and behaviour of a person. The article suggests that Ubuntu and principles of leadership and good governance are compatible and complementary

An analysis of the theory and practice of governance in the KwaZulu-Natal Provincial Authority.

Thesis (DPA)-University of KwaZulu-Natal, Westville, 2005.South Africa's negotiated settlement and its transition to a democratically elected government has often been referred to as a small miracle. Despite that, the country faces major governance challenges, ie. it has to embark on a comprehensive governance programme. The main aim of this study is to discuss and review the state of governance in the province of KwaZulu-Natal. The concept of governance has a broader relevance than the narrow and traditional term of government. The latter refers conventionally to the actions of a narrow set of government institutions. On the other hand, however, governance encompasses a wider range of issues and actors and the interactions among them. The interest in and importance of governance has followed a longer interest in the concept of civil society. With the advent of democracy, the South African government, together with its nine provincial administrations, has committed itself to maintaining and working with civil society structures. The design and implementation of public sector projects increasingly reflect : a partnership approach between government at all levels, the private sector and civil society. One aspect of governance in South Africa, which this study has also paid some attention to, is what is called good governance. One hallmark of the new Constitution is that a decentralised political system has been created which allows opportunities for wider consultation and participation by civil society, public sector, and the private sector in promoting good governance. This research is motivated by theoretical and practical concerns. It has attempted to cast light on governance issues of KwaZulu-Natal Provincial Authority by identifying some important and common dynamics of governance processes within this province. Further it has attempted to show how general principles of good governance can guide legislators, public officials, the private sector and civil society as they continue to grapple with governance challenges. The study has revealed that essentially there are four suggested properties of governance: Firstly, it is the degree of trust that exists between classes, clans and political elites about the nature, purpose and the rules of sociopolitical interactions and practices. Without trust, individuals and organised interest groups will see no reason to actively engage in public life. The second element is the extent to which there are effective relations of reciprocity in the public realm. Reciprocity exists if associations and parties are allowed to form, to defend and promote stakeholder interests within the public realm via political competition, pressure, negotiations and conflict resolution. The third element is the degree of accountability, i.e. whether the governors can be held accountable by the governed via institutionalised procedures and processes. This cannot be sustained over time without the eventual implementation of structures of accountability and trust across society. Fourthly, the nature of authority, i.e. how political leaders make policies and implement them in a way that resolves the problems of ordinary citizens and promotes the legitimacy of the public realm - what many in South Africa refer to as the capacity to govern. The conclusion drawn from this study is that if a government wants to promote and practise good governance, it must try to involve all stakeholders, namely civil society, public officials and the business sector, when making decisions concerning the delivery of services. This requires consultation with these stakeholders or their representatives. Leaders in politics, government institutions, private sector and civil society should announce good governance as the only option. Given that governance involves a number of new challenges for everyone, the researcher examined how each segment can contribute to the practice of good governance in the province. The study has identified the quest for good governance as the most formidable challenge, not only facing the KwaZulu-Natal Provincial Authority, but also the country as a whole. All concerned are urged to find ways and means of reversing the trend towards declining governability and institutional decay. In the final analysis the following recommendations were made: • Good governance must result in better delivery of services; • Good governance programmes must change society for the better; • To promote good governance, the KwaZulu-Natal Provincial Authority must consistently implement growth-oriented and market-friendly economic policies; • Legislators must ensure that there are mechanisms for enforcing accountability and transparency; and • Government must encourage citizen participation, and governance must be undertaken to improve the general welfare of a society

Community participation in Ethekwini Municipality with particular reference to ward committees

Local government has been constitutionalised as a sphere of government and this has signified a conceptual shift from serving as administrative service delivery agents to the promotion of developmental goals and principles, namely local democracy, sustainable development, a safe and healthy environment and co-operative government. The White Paper on Local Government mandates municipalities to involve communities in facilitating development. Participation is an integral part of local democracy and it is a legislative requirement for the local community to be drawn into the process through integrated development planning, budgeting, performance management and ward committees. However, there are serious disparities between policy and practice as the success of public participation will not depend on the regulation of the system, but through innovative and creative local policies and legislation. A participatory culture should be inculcated and furthermore the appropriate and relevant mechanisms, processes and procedures should be developed. EThekwini Municipality has created an environment for active participation through ward committees. However, the active participation of the rural populace is still problematic and there are challenges that have to be addressed. Given the fact that the largest percentage of developmental backlogs are in the rural areas, which are inhabited by the disadvantaged communities, it is imperative that they are actively involved in the process of addressing these backlogs through the formal structures of community participation that have been set up

Implementing performance management in local governance in South Africa : case study of West Rand District Municipality

The post-1994 era proclaimed a period of transition for municipalities in South Africa. Within the sphere of local government, performance management has been identified as a tool for promoting accountability. Together with strategic planning, benchmarking and continuous improvement, performance measurement forms the nucleus for managing for results in any sphere of government. The aim of this article is to assess the degree to which performance management has been implemented at the West Rand District Municipality. The West Rand District Municipality (WRDM) is a Category C Municipality, located on the South Western edge of Gauteng Province of South Africa. WRDM comprises four local municipalities namely, Mogale City, Merafong City, Randfontein and Westonaria. The stratified sampling approach was used in selecting the respondents that participated in the questionnaires. The article recommends that, performance management needs to be strengthened such that it measures the actual delivery of services and a formal performance management system needs to be designed. Also, as part of strengthening governance, local government through the councillors should report regularly to communities they serve. Though there is alignment in the process of planning, implementation and performance management, the conclusion of this article is that the systems for monitoring remain a challenge that needs to be addressed by local government

Girls and boys in the early years : gender in an African Catholic primary school in Marianhill, Durban.

Thesis (M.Ed.)-University of KwaZulu-Natal, Durban, 2008.There is evidence that primary schools are important places where gender inequalities are prevalent. The aim of this study was to explore how gender relations amongst grade two boys and girls in an African junior primary are constructed. It investigated how gender relations amongst 7/8 year old grade two boys and girls in an African Catholic junior primary school situated in Mariannhill, Durban, are constructed. It explored the process through which young township boys and girls attach meaning to gender and forge their gender identities. In this study young boys and girls were active agents in the construction of their gender identities. This study adopted a qualitative approach. Observations and unstructured interviews were used as methods of collecting data from grade two boys and girls. Purposive sampling was used in selecting seven boys and seven girls to participate in group interviews. The study focussed on micro dynamics of boys and girls pertaining to friendships, sexualities, play, violence, religion, classroom chores and school subjects in a detailed analysis. It showed that gender equalities are pervasive in the little cultural world of grade two boys and girls

Enhancing service delivery through decentralisation : a South African experience

South Africa was one of the last African states to obtain a fully democratic government with its first general election in April 1994. Democratising the system of government required a total transformation of all public institutions and the services provided by the state. The popular view was that this could be achieved by decentralising powers and functions to other spheres of government. The South African Constitution, 1996 established three separate, interdependent and interrelated spheres of governments, namely national government, nine provincial governments and 283 (now 278) municipalities. Each sphere is assigned its own powers, functions and responsibilities. Decentralisation has important advantages since it ensures public accountability and responsibility to a greater extent than centralisation. Moreover there is direct contact between voters and political representatives and offi ce bearers in the provincial and local spheres. The success of decentralisation reforms also depends on consistent and coherent national policies, sound legislative and regulatory frameworks for decentralisation, and effective review mechanisms to resolve disputes among all spheres of government. This article argues that in South Africa service provision and good governance can best be achieved through decentralisation. Decentralisation has also been associated with democratisation. It is argued that municipalities as constituents of local government are more likely to be accountable to its constituency. The major priority of the South African government, as set out in the Bill of Rights, is to ensure the provision of a range of services to meet socio-economic challenges, within the constraints of available resources. Local government is the sphere of government that is closest to the people and is best positioned to identify and respond to local issues. This article supports the view that service provision in South Africa can be achieved effectively through decentralisation. Decentralisation and devolution have been pursued to improve the working environment and to encourage innovative ways to increase efficiency and improve service delivery

A health education model for schools in region "F" of KwaZulu-Natal Province

Submitted in fulfilment of the requirements of Doctor of Philosophy in the Department of Nursing Science at the University of Zululand, South Africa, 1997.The main aim of this study was to investigate the knowledge of, attrtudes towards and practices with regard to the execution of school health education as found amongst school teachers, school nurses, school children and parents. This would help to determine the need for a "Health Education Mode!" for schools in Region 'F of KwaZulu-Natal Province. The study revealed that the nurses were unable to visit schools frequently due to a lack of resources such as transport facilities and manpower. The teachers were not trained to undertake health education and the curriculum did not meet the needs of learners. The school children were aware of needs in respect of school health education that were not met. parents expressed their concern regarding prevailing social problems such as drug abuse, alcoholism, teenage pregnancy, HIV and AIDS, rape and sexual abuse and the need for health education to try and reduce the incidence of these. All four groups recommended a comprehensive approach to health education: for health education that would include all professionals, parents and children. They felt that a participatory approach would increase the responsibility of children and parents, which would improve the quality of school health education and reduce the incidence of preventable conditions among school children. A health education model entitled The 'LAPPPNECT Model was designed. This model will facilitate Learning through active participation of pupils, parents, nurses, educators, communities and teachers

Barriers to ART adherence in sub-Saharan Africa: a scoping review toward achieving UNAIDS 95-95-95 targets

IntroductionWith the 2025 UNAIDS 95-95-95 deadline upon us, significant gaps remain in achieving universal HIV care and treatment targets, particularly in Sub-Saharan Africa. Despite years of intensified global efforts, progress has lagged, partly driven by the multifaceted challenges of non-adherence to ART, shaped by social, economic, structural, and individual factors. These challenges have been compounded by the ever-changing landscape of global HIV funding, further undermining treatment outcomes. Addressing these interconnected barriers is essential to identify and implement targeted, evidence-based solutions.MethodsTo explore these challenges and potential interventions, a scoping review was conducted, searching through PubMed and Dimensions databases for peer-reviewed articles published from 2020 through February 2025. Eligible studies focused on barriers to ART adherence in adult men and women ≥ 18 years old living with HIV, aligning with the UNAIDS 95-95-95 framework in sub-Saharan Africa.ResultsOf the 4,928 articles screened, 21 were included in this scoping review. Although the search period was extended to February 2025, no eligible studies published in 2025 were identified. Barriers to ART adherence were multifaceted, spanning individual-level issues such as mental health issues and substance abuse; social barriers including stigma and intimate partner violence; and economic factors, including food insecurity, transport costs, and income instability. Structural barriers such as health system fragmentation, clinic accessibility, and drug stockouts were also common and often worsened by the COVID-19 pandemic, which disrupted service delivery and exacerbated socioeconomic vulnerabilities. While only peer-reviewed articles were included in the analysis, recent UNAIDS reports and reputable media sources, such as The Guardian, were referenced to contextualize the emerging impact of the 2025 HIV funding cuts, which have not yet been reflected in the academic literature.ConclusionOur findings emphasize the urgent need for targeted, multi-level interventions to address persistent economic, social, psychological, and policy barriers to ART adherence. A sustainable funding framework, combined with financial support, mental health services, and community-based care models, is crucial for improving retention and long-term adherence. These insights are essential for shaping policies, strengthening HIV service delivery, and sustaining momentum toward the 95-95-95 targets amid systematic challenges