Research Articles (School of Public Management and Administration (SPMA))

Permanent URI for this collectionhttp://hdl.handle.net/2263/2506

The SPMA is well-placed within the Faculty of Economics and Management Sciences to expose students to a multi-disciplinary education.This allows for cross fertilization between fields and the holistic development of our graduates. Domestic and global challenges require that professionals and experts be multi-disciplinary in approach and that they be multi-skilled. Students and scholars of this field of study are experiencing a greater understanding of how international public officials institutions function. Students are now exposed to the possibility of seeking employment opportunities in international organisations like the United Nations, Organisation of African Unity, Commonwealth Secretariat, the World Bank, etc. SPMA commits itself to providing students and its teaching staff the privilege to acquire the knowledge and expertise appropriate for international management and administration.

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'I offered what I have for what I want' : a study of transactional hook-up practices by young females in Nigeria
Ayodele, Austin; Isiaka, Monsurat; Nasirudeen, Ismail Ayatullah (Springer, 2026-02)
In this article, we examine the nature of exchange in hook-ups, a pervasive sexual and erotic service provision-for-money practice in Nigeria. This erotic exchange is portrayed as 'what I have for what I want.' An increasingly viable means of survival for young females that involves trading consensual sex and nudes for money, gifts, and travel opportunities. Using a qualitative method grounded in social exchange theory. The study conducted in-depth interviews with young females and patrons/pimps of hook-ups in four South-western cities of Nigeria. The study established that transactional hook-up agencies and patrons prefer to recruit younger hookers below 22 years old because of their sexual marketability, attract wealthy clientele. In Nigeria, these hook-up agencies often collaborate with hotels and liaise with Mobile Apps such as Bingdum, Bumble, Badoo and Olosho for clientele of various statuses to book young females and even young married females offering erotic services for survival. We found that the desire for survival, opportunities for international travel, social connections with wealthy Nigerians, and dysfunctional households compelled more young females to hook up. Despite the challenges, health risks, and the risk of being used for ritual sacrifices and exploitation by agencies/patrons. The transactional hook-up sector is lucrative, offers opportunities and accommodates newcomers in Nigeria. Imperatively, the study highlights young people's empowerment and regulation of the hook-up sex industry in Nigeria.
Food trade policy coherence for food security in the Southern African Development Community - a case of South Africa
Katiyatiya, Chenaimoyo Lufutuko Faith; Mazenda, Adrino (Springer, 2026-02-21)
Food insecurity remains a persistent challenge in the Southern African Development Community (SADC) despite the proliferation of regional trade and food-related policy frameworks. This study interrogates how incoherence between food trade policies and broader food system objectives shapes food security outcomes, with South Africa serving as a focal case. Employing a systematic literature review guided by PRISMA protocols, the analysis synthesises peer-reviewed studies, policy documents, and institutional reports published between 2004 and 2024. The findings reveal entrenched misalignments across trade, agricultural, nutrition, and environmental policy domains, reinforced by fragmented governance structures and uneven national implementation of regional commitments. Such incoherence constrains market integration, weakens resilience, and disproportionately disadvantages smallholder producers and vulnerable households. Evidence further shows that better alignment between food trade, agriculture, and social policies can improve food availability and reduce vulnerability. The study highlights the need for clearer coordination and stronger cooperation across sectors to support more secure and inclusive food systems in SADC.
The framing of the informal oil economy in Nigeria : toward epistemic justice of the illegal artisanal oil refineries in the Niger Delta
Ayodele, Austin A. (Springer, 2025-08-23)
The Nigerian oil sector is profoundly challenged by inefficiency and intractable problems, including mismanagement and poor oil governance, which create gaps in the country’s oil industry. This resulted in systemic exclusion, marginalisation, and poverty in the country’s Niger-delta region. A social reality that influenced the development of localised knowledge of artisanal oil refineries in the region’s riverine communities. Previous research paid little attention to the epistemic justice of the oil economy in Nigeria. This study bridged gaps in research by exploring the epistemic discrimination of localised knowledge, which sustains the informal oil business in the Niger-delta. It also investigates how the country’s oil government framed the activity of illegal artisanal refiners to establish a narrative that criminalises the riverine community’s attempt to explore its bequeathed resources. Adopting an exploratory design and a qualitative research method, forty-two participants were purposefully sampled through in-depth and key informant interviews in the riverine communities of Warri Southwest and Nembe Local Government Areas of Delta and Bayelsa States, Nigeria. Data were thematically analysed to form themes and patterns. The study found that, despite the state’s aggressive approaches and the oil government’s criminalisation of localised knowledge, the illegal artisanal refineries of the informal oil industry provide the refined product needs of the Delta region, sustain enterprises, and employ young people in riverine communities. The study contributes to knowledge on the importance of inclusive and equitable acceptance of the roles of artisanal illegal refineries. The oil government must regulate them as a win-win approach to Nigeria’s oil crisis.
Gaming disorder : prevalence and association with psychosocial outcomes in the German general adult population
Threlfall, David; Althaus, Catherine (Wiley, 2026)
This article surveys the arrival of gameful government into Australian public sector practice. Gameful government is a shorthand, descriptive term denoting the interpenetration of (video)games, and design elements and thinking from them, into public sector work. Knowledge of gameful government is limited, in Australia and internationally, due to localised usage, low visibility, and limited understanding beyond informed observers. Our study partially redresses this under-exploration of public sector games and gamification, both empirically and ethically. To do so, we detail the history of gaming for public sector purposes, a story starting with wargaming. Then, we categorise past and current gameful Australian public sector projects into a typology with five categories: recruitment; training and learning; public communication and policy education; engagement; and implementation and evaluation. We analyse the typology categories and characteristic cases within them. Finally, we assess the benefits and risks of gameful government for citizens and public sector practice. POINTS FOR PRACTITIONERS • Knowledge, skills, and practices from (video)game play and development are increasingly prevalent within the Australian public sector. This article descriptively terms this gameful government. • Despite a range of current use cases—for recruitment, training and learning, public communication and policy education, public engagement, implementation, and evaluation—Australian public sector examples are localised, particularly in Defence. • Realising the potential of games for public sector and societal ends will require broader acknowledgement and understanding of this practice, as part of larger shifts in public sector capability and technological transformation.
Multidimensional energy poverty and food insecurity nexus in Gauteng and Western Cape provinces of South Africa
Mazenda, Adrino (Elsevier, 2025-12)
Energy poverty and food insecurity are interconnected challenges that disproportionately affect vulnerable populations in low and middle-income countries. The paper utilised the Tobit regression model to examine the relationship between household food insecurity and various socioeconomic factors, and the Structural Equation Modelling (SEM) to examine the complex interactions between multidimensional energy poverty (MEP), (measured by the MEP fuzzy score) and food insecurity, measured by the Household Food Insecurity Access Scale (HFIAS), mediated by various socioeconomic factors. A total of 6484 households were analysed, categorised by region and gender, in both metropolitan and non-metropolitan areas of the Gauteng and Western Cape provinces of South Africa, using data from the 2021–2022 South African General Household Survey. The Tobit regression findings showed that higher household income consistently reduces food insecurity. A larger household size and increased MEP contribute to higher levels of food insecurity, with the effect of MEP being significant in the Western Cape. Social grant recipients remained more food insecure, suggesting persistent vulnerability. Spatial differences emerged, with higher food insecurity in metropolitan areas of the Western Cape but lower in Gauteng. The SEM analysis revealed that energy poverty has a direct and significant impact on food insecurity, with household income serving as the strongest mediating factor. Education, employment, and household size contributed modest indirect effects, while other socio-economic variables showed weak or inconsistent mediation. The paper highlights the importance of adopting integrated policy approaches that simultaneously address energy access and food security, with a focus on gender and spatial inequalities.
Ethical dilemmas concerning the management of the shared accommodation industry : the case of Cape Town and Ethekwini municipalities
Ramawela, Mmatšatši Emmah; Holtzhausen, Natasja (Association of Southern African Schools and Departments of Public Administration and Management, 2025-12)
Municipalities face a variety of issues in a sharing economy where the Internet, smartphones and technological applications are changing the global economic dynamic, including the need to reconcile the competing interests of many stakeholders as their jurisdictions expand. Municipalities have emerged as fertile spaces for digital platforms and the growing popularity of the sharing economy around the world. Platform enterprises in the shared accommodation industry (SAI) have changed how people share paid accommodation, affecting municipalities where some of these changes have had mixed results, posing ethical challenges for municipalities. The governance of the SAI and the ethical dilemmas confronting municipalities have been studied, although from a developed country viewpoint. The ethical dilemmas in the economic, social and environmental spheres include gentrification, densification, increased inequality; overpopulation, home-lessness, loss of neighbour-lines; environmental degradation, and water and energy scarcity. Using a qualitative multiple case study in the Cape Town and eThekwini municipalities, the article investigates how the two municipalities manage the ethical dilemmas arising from the competing multi-stakeholder interests in governing the SAI. Semi-structured interviews and field observations were used to collect data supplemented with secondary data from case study records. The article finds that the municipalities of Cape Town and eThekwini are failing to manage the competing interests of their multiple stakeholders. This failure concerning the ethical dilemmas that confront municipalities is attributed to the lack of skills and knowledge to manage the internet-driven SAI and SAEs.
Transforming South Africa’s school nutrition programme for educational success : a review on challenges and prospects
Mazenda, Adrino; Monedi, Aboleleng; Purnama Sari, Ni Putu Wulan; Huni, Chamunorwa (Sage, 2025-11)
INTRODUCTION : South Africa's National School Nutrition Programme (NSNP) was created in 1994 to reduce poverty and unemployment and improve children's learning. It aims to aid disadvantaged children and strengthen poor communities, especially in rural areas. OBJECTIVES : The study examined challenges in implementing Total Quality Management (TQM) in the South African National School Nutrition Programme. METHODS : A qualitative case study design was used based on document analysis extracted through the Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analyses (PRISMA) method. The documents were analysed using thematic analysis. RESULTS : Key TQM challenges affecting the implementation of the NSNP include Customer focus-lack of funding from the Department of Basic Education to accommodate increased enrolment; Employee involvement-role ambiguity due to lack of communication, and at times, the roles of the NSNP players are not clearly defined; Process-centric approaches-lack of school-level infrastructure to store and cook for students, Continuous improvement and training-lack of education curriculum on nutrition education and Relationship management-lack of coordination of the stakeholders on funding, political landscape, nutrition policies, community involvement, programme adaptability. CONCLUSION : Effective monitoring systems should be established to guarantee that students receive the necessary quality and quantity of food. These systems should also oversee food supply, storage, preparation, and hygiene. Additionally, the current targeting system, the quintile system, requires evaluation. This should involve assessing the school's location, available resources, and individual students' social context.
A Bayesian analysis of healthcare information needs among family caregivers to promote cancer adaptation in female patients
Sari, Ni Putu Wulan Purnama; Mazenda, Adrino; Putra, Made Mahaguna; Prasetiani, Abigael Grace; Nguyen, Minh-Hoang; Vuong, Quan-Hoang (Springer, 2025-12-18)
INTRODUCTION : Family caregivers (FCGs) of cancer patients usually utilize healthcare information to assist them in daily cancer care at home. However, there is another significant utilization in cancer care: promoting cancer adaptation. There are limited insights on how the utilization of healthcare information among FCGs may assist their role in promoting cancer adaptation, especially among female patients. In this study, we aimed to examine how types of demanded healthcare information affect the FCG’s role in promoting cancer adaptation. METHODS : This secondary analysis employed the Bayesian Mindsponge Framework and its analytics in the statistical analysis of a dataset on 60 FCGs of female cancer patients (n = 60), in five community settings in Surabaya, Indonesia. RESULTS : Findings showed that among the six types of demanded healthcare information, FCGs with a higher tendency to demand cancer-specific information are more likely to need support in catalyzing the adaptation of female cancer patients (β = 0.28, SD = 0.24). Meanwhile, FCGs with a higher demand for information on alternative therapies are less likely to need support in catalyzing cancer adaptation (β = -0.38, SD = 0.20). Other types of healthcare information have ambiguous effects on the need for support in promoting cancer adaptation. CONCLUSION : on This study reveals that the demanded cancer-specific information, e.g., cancer’s prognosis or likely outcome, must be prioritized during information disclosure to FCGs to promote cancer adaptation among female patients. By setting proper priority in health information disclosure among cancer stakeholders, especially FCGs, the facilitation of the cancer adaptation process can be optimized.
The employment-effects of greening the South African economy
Njokwe, Getrude; Bohlmann, Jessika; Chitiga-Mabugu, Margaret; Omotoso, Kehinde Oluwaseun; Mushongera, Darlington (Taylor and Francis, 2025-07-03)
This study aims to develop a method for classifying occupations into green and non-green jobs and examines the impact of the green economy on employment. It focuses on patterns across industries and the characteristics of individuals employed as the country transitions to a green economy. The study utilises the local Organising Framework for Occupations (OFO) and the International Occupational Information Network (O*NET) to categorise jobs, applying parametric and non-parametric approaches to identify the determinants of green jobs. The proportion of green jobs in South Africa has been slowly increasing, constituting 13.8% of all jobs in 2024. These jobs are mainly found in utilities, mining, construction, and finance. They are primarily occupied by younger individuals with moderate education. Most positions are held by men, with white and black individuals as the main demographic groups, largely within the formal sector. These findings are important for policies promoting inclusive green economy growth.
The devolution of health services at Pixley Ka Seme district municipality in Northern Cape Province, South Africa
Tshiyoyo, Michel; Moloantoa, Nthabiseng (University of Technology Sydney, 2025-12-31)
This policy and practice note analyses the provision and implementation of municipal health services since decentralisation in South Africa, through a case study of Pixley Ka Seme District Municipality in Northern Cape Province. The purpose of the study was to determine whether municipalities are able to render the services they are tasked with since decentralisation was implemented. The findings are broadly positive, although concerns remain about the adequacy of both funding and enforcement powers to discharge the municipality’s environmental health mandate. The paper concludes that all spheres of government should collaborate – and also engage with other stakeholders such as the private sector, community-based organisations, community members and political leadership – to ensure that the function is implemented in line with national regulations.
Strategies and outcomes in school meal programmes : analysing the impact of domestic and international sourcing on feeding modalities
Huni, Chamunorwa; Sari, Ni Putu Wulan Purnama; Duong, Minh-Phuong Thi; Mazenda, Adrino; Budiono, Davy; Nguyen, Minh-Hoang; Vuong, Quan-Hoang (Emerald, 2026)
PURPOSE : The feeding modalities used in school meal programmes – such as breakfast, lunch, dinner, snacks and take-home rations – are influenced by various factors, including supply chain constraints and technical challenges in food distribution. The methods of supply sourcing, whether through domestic or foreign food reserves via in-kind donations or purchases, play a critical role in shaping the feeding options provided. Therefore, this study aims to examine the relationship between various supply-sourcing strategies, i.e. domestic and foreign in-kind donations and purchases and the feeding modalities applied in school meal programmes. DESIGN/METHODOLOGY/APPROACH : The Bayesian Mindsponge Framework, combining the reasoning strengths of Mindsponge Theory and inference advantages of Bayesian analysis, was employed on a dataset of government representatives who manage large-scale school meal programmes across 126 countries. FINDINGS : The findings revealed that sourcing supplies through in-kind donations from neighbouring or distant countries showed a highly reliable negative relationship with the feeding modalities of school meal programmes, while those from the national bodies showed an ambiguous relationship. The purchasing methods – whether domestic or foreign – tended to exhibit positive relationships with feeding modalities, though these relationships were only weakly reliable. ORIGINALITY/VALUE : The findings reveal substantial room for improvement in the effectiveness of supply purchasing strategies in enhancing school meal programmes’ feeding modalities. Further research is needed to examine the impact of sourcing supplies through domestic in-kind donations on feeding outcomes. Additionally, developing strategic plans to optimize the use of in-kind donations from international organizations is strongly recommended to avoid their negative consequences and further enhance programme effectiveness.
Climate change risks and climate adaptation in agro-processing enterprises
Mazenda, Adrino; Obi, Ajuruchukwu; Kisaka-lwayo, Maggie; Antwi, Michael (Wiley, 2026-06)
While climate change research has focused mainly on primary agriculture, evidence shows that Agro-processing enterprises also face climate risks affecting resource availability and use. Using Partial Least Squares-Structural Equation Modelling (PLS-SEM), this study analysed how socio-demographic factors (sex, age, marital status, education, and training) influence participation in agro-enterprises and climate adaptation strategies among 113 agro-processing enterprises in Gauteng, South Africa. Results show that direct participation in Agro-processing does not significantly predict adaptation (β = 0.025), indicating profit-driven rather than resilience-oriented engagement. Education significantly enhances participation in Agro-processing (β = 0.325, 95% CI = [0.196, 0.457]) and adaptation (β = 0.325, 95% CI = [0.168, 0.477]), with a positive indirect effect (β = 0.106, 95% CI = [0.049, 0.173]). Sex negatively predicts participation (β = –0.181), showing higher female involvement, while other variables were insignificant. Policy interventions should integrate climate education, targeted training, and capacity-building initiatives to strengthen resilience among Agro-processing enterprises.
Resilience to food insecurity severity among rural, female-headed agrarian households in selected provinces of South Africa
Nkwana, Hunadi Mapula; Mazenda, Adrino (Taylor and Francis, 2025-01-01)
Despite their vulnerability to food insecurity, female-headed agrarian households demonstrate remarkable resilience in ensuring household food production. This paper utilises the Rasch and Probit models to delve into households’ resilience to the severity of food insecurity in 386 agrarian female-headed households, drawn from a sample of 2118 female-headed households in South Africa’s marginalised rural provinces of Eastern Cape and Limpopo, drawing on South Africa’s General Household Survey Citation2021/Citation2022. The Rasch model reveals that respondents who consumed few foods and ate less were food-secure (FS < 4). Those who skipped meals and ran out of food and resources were moderately food insecure (MFI 4-6). The probit findings showed that eating a few kinds of food more frequently can enhance the coping abilities of female-led farming households with food insecurity. A slight increase in consumption of these foods and eating them five or more times can improve their coping abilities by 0.454 and 0.259, respectively. A marginal increase in meal skipping is at odds with a decrease of 0.447 times in the number of female-headed agrarian households coping with food insecurity. An increase in food running out decreased the number of female-headed households practising agricultural activities and food insecurity by 0.635. The study recommends establishing safety nets and food emergency management systems to mitigate the impact of climate change and food shocks in female-headed agrarian households. Consequently, water conservation techniques, food storage, mixed cropping, and animal husbandry are needed for better nutritional outcomes. In addition, marketing and value-addition synergies should be encouraged to increase the sector's income-generation capacity.
A systematic review and meta-analysis of human security threats and approaches in South Africa : policing the known, governing the unknown
Ayodele, Austin A.; Mangai, Mary S. (Taylor and Francis, 2025-10-15)
This study examines human security and policing in South Africa, exploring how traditional and adaptive responses address known and unknown criminality across neighbourhoods. It explores gaps in governance and policing models related to security threats and the ongoing challenge of “policing the known and governing the unknown.” Meta-analysis of 54 studies from various sources (n=7,842)revealed that exposure to violence is associated with socioeconomic challenges, marginalisation, and youth unemployment in poor neighbourhoods. It identified a shift from traditional state-controlled policing to a hybrid security model, with more reliance on private security in wealthier urban areas. This underscores traditional policing’s inefficiency in addressing security needs in marginalised communities, concentrating security efforts in urban zones. Poorer, more volatile neighbourhoods are less policed despite rising risks, creating protection inequalities. The study emphasises that South Africa’s security approach must transition from a state-centric to amore inclusive, human-centric ideal. This involves bolstering state security forces, private security firms, and community-driven security initiatives for equitable access to security for all neighbourhoods. There view advocates for policies that ensure equitable security for all and promote collaboration among communities, public and private sectors, and address underlying socioeconomic issues that promote volatility and threats to human security.
Tailored paths towards gender equality : insights from South Africa and Australia
Inglesi-Lotz, Roula; Bohlmann, Jessika; Oosthuizen, Anna Maria; Chitiga-Mabugu, Margaret; Bohlmann, Heinrich; Njokwe, Getrude; Cabalu, Helen; Inchauspe, Julian; Suenaga, Hiroaki; Truong, N.T. Khuong (Wiley, 2025-12)
This study examines how context-specific gender equality policies address disparities by comparing South Africa's equity-based and Australia's equality-oriented approaches. Through a comparative lens, it analyses the effectiveness of tailored affirmative action policies, including South Africa's Employment Equity Act and Australia's Workplace Gender Equality Act, in addressing gender disparities. While South Africa emphasises redressing past imbalances and promoting equity for historically disadvantaged groups, Australia focuses on advancing workplace diversity and equitable pay. The analysis explores critical metrics such as the Global Gender Gap Index, employment-to-population ratios, and the Gender Inequality Index to highlight differences in progress and challenges each country faces. Findings reveal that although both countries prioritise gender equality, their approaches reflect distinct sociopolitical and economic priorities. South Africa's policies are deeply rooted in transformative justice and constitutional mandates, whereas Australia's initiatives integrate gender analysis into fiscal and corporate strategies. Despite progress, significant gaps persist, particularly in economic participation and societal gender biases. The study underscores the importance of evidence-based and context-specific policies in achieving Sustainable Development Goal 5. It advocates for exchanging insights and adapting strategies to local contexts, emphasising the limitations of universal solutions in addressing complex gender inequalities. By comparing these two cases, this research contributes to a broader understanding of how countries can advance gender equality while navigating unique historical and socio-economic landscapes.
Assessment of primary school learners' pedestrian behaviour using the theory of planned pehaviour : a cohort study
Van Dijk, Hilligje Gerritdina; Fourie, H.S.; Malan, Lianne Priscilla (Routledge, 2025)
The article presents findings from a research project funded by the South African National Roads Agency SOC Ltd, focusing on primary school learners aged ten to fourteen. According to Schwebel and McClure (2014), pedestrian injuries significantly increase child morbidity and mortality rates. Younger road users are far more vulnerable and have the highest risk of death and injury, with an estimated four times greater risk of collisions compared with adult road users. Pedestrian safety is, therefore, a growing community concern. The cohort study used a mixed method approach, combining qualitative and quantitative instruments. The instruments were conceptualised to determine which factors influence the pedestrian behavioural choices of primary school learners in selected schools across South Africa. The study tracked the learners over a three-year period to determine the influence of the learning on their pedestrian behaviour as they progressed with their education from Grade 4 to Grade 6. Using the theory of planned behaviour, the research further aims to identify what specific indicators could be identified in determining pedestrian behaviour while also attempting to generate a more holistic understanding of a complex phenomenon, which in this case is road safety behaviour.
Reimagining public service delivery : digitalising initiatives for accountability and efficiency
Mangai, Mary S.; Ayodele, Austin A. (MDPI, 2025-12-04)
This study examines the critical success factors for digital transformation in South Africa’s public services, where systemic inefficiency, corruption, and limited transparency have eroded public trust. Using a PRISMA-guided systematic literature review of 64 studies, this study synthesises evidence on digital governance challenges and opportunities through the lenses of New Public Management and Digital-Era Governance, complemented by value co-creation and a citizen-centred design. The analysis shows that transformation efforts often falter because of infrastructure deficits, bureaucratic resistance, and policy misalignment. Successful initiatives rest on five mutually reinforcing pillars: (1) coherent policy and regulatory frameworks; (2) equitable and reliable digital infrastructure; (3) committed leadership with sustained institutional capacity-building; (4) meaningful citizen engagement via co-design and co-production; and (5) data-enabled accountability and process efficiency. Persistent barriers include disparities in access and digital skills across municipalities, cybersecurity vulnerabilities, and legacy–system incompatibilities that impede end-to-end integration. This study proposes an implementation framework that aligns technical solutions with governance reforms, such as depoliticised administration, performance-based accountability, and localised service customization to enhance operational efficiency and rebuild trust. It concludes that bridging the digital divide and embedding context-sensitive, participatory, and ethically grounded approaches are essential for sustainable digital transformation in South Africa’s unequal socioeconomic landscape.
Influences on e-governance in Africa : a study of economic, political, and infrastructural dynamics
Olumekor, Michael; Mangai, Mary S.; Madumo, Onkgopotse S.; Mohiuddin, Muhammad; Polbitsyn, Sergey N. (Wiley, 2025-03)
E-governance is considered one of the most important factors in delivering and administering public services in modern societies. However, data show that many African countries are currently lagging behind countries in other parts of the world. This manuscript investigates how various factors, including economic prosperity, government effectiveness, and infrastructural support, contribute to the growth and effectiveness of e-governance initiatives in 54 African countries. We specifically analyze the influence of three factors: economic prosperity (measured by GDP per capita), political competence (measured by government effectiveness), and infrastructural or technological support (measured by access to electricity). Panel data covering a 5-year period were retrieved from databases of the United Nations and World Bank, and a multiple linear regression analysis was used to analyze the data. We found that the three factors influenced e-governance to varying degrees. However, while infrastructural support and political competence were statistically significant, economic prosperity was not.
Validation of an existing racial and ethnic microaggressions scale within the City of Tshwane Metropolitan Municipality in South Africa
Oosthuizen, Marie; Tshiyoyo, Michel; Malan, Lianne Priscilla (Wiley, 2025-08)
The local government workplace in post-apartheid South Africa represents an important environment to examine employee perceptions on the occurrence of microaggressions. However, since the advent of democracy in 1994, the country has faced numerous challenges in its quest for the implementation of rights pertaining to unity, diversity, inclusion and non-racialism. The main struggle is for the country to create an inclusive workforce that responds to fundamental rights enshrined in the preamble of the Constitution of 1996 which stipulates: ‘we are united in our diversity’. This article intends to assess microaggressions and social cohesion at the City of Tshwane Metropolitan Municipality (CTMM) in order to find out whether the Microaggressions Theory developed in the field of psychology in the United States of America (US) could be applied in the field of public administration in South Africa. The aim is to determine whether subtle forms of negative behaviour or environmental indignities contribute to perceptions of enduring racism and discrimination in a diverse workplace. A mixed methods approach was followed. The reliability and validity of an existing questionnaire, developed in the US by a psychologist, were tested in the CTMM. The statistical relationship between types of racial microaggressions and social cohesion, which forms part of the South African government's policies towards enhancing race relations in the country, was also measured. Results indicated that the Microaggressions Theory can be applied in the field of public administration in South Africa.
A framework for made in Africa evaluation and influence of the African peer review mechanism on policy outcomes
Kizito, Martin; Tshiyoyo, Michel; Mazenda, Adrino (Emerald, 2025-08)
PURPOSE : This paper proposes a framework for operationalising the implementation of the Made in Africa Evaluation (MAE) Peer Review Mechanism through the lens of the Ugandan evaluation processes (inputs, activities, and outputs) and the impacts of African Peer Review Mechanism (APRM) on policy outcomes. DESIGN/METHODOLOGY/APPROACH : A case study design was adopted, utilising qualitative data collected from 35 participants through interviews and focus group discussions (FGD) in Uganda. This approach aims to understand the perceptions of APRM stakeholders, who were purposively selected based on their roles in the first and second-generation peer reviews conducted between 2005 and 2021. FINDINGS : The empirical data revealed that APRM’s influence on public policy varies depending on the nature of the process elements, providing guidance to stakeholders and researchers regarding the relevant inputs, activities, and outputs. Lessons from this study emphasise the importance of inclusive planning, adequate resource capacity, timely reporting, a well-domesticated legal framework, and a culture of using findings from evaluations in national plans and budgets. ORIGINALITY/VALUE : Evidence drawn from stakeholders’ experiences informs a context-based operational framework for enhancing the evaluation influence of APRM implementation, thereby addressing the gap in the application of MAE.

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