Faculty of Economic and Management Sciences
School of Management Sciences
School of Public Management and Administration
Selected Highlights from Research Findings
The growth in child poverty is a major concern in South Africa. The mere fact that the country introduced legislation in the form of Child Support Grants (CSG) in 1998 to address this societal problem does not mean it will disappear overnight. Nor does it mean that legislation will automatically be implemented with success. The aim of this research project was to investigate and identify shortcomings in the implementation of CSG in South Africa with special emphasis on policy implementation.
Findings indicate that unintended outcomes of the policy - for example administrative shortcomings, a lack of institutional collaboration or even the unexpected adaptation to CSG by beneficiaries were at the core of the problems experienced. The researcher argues that CSG will only have a positive effect on child poverty if effective implementation practices are introduced.
In addition, the research found that one of the major stumbling blocks in the effective implementation of CSG policies is the fact that the responsibility for the implementation of CGS has been mainly that of the Department of Social Development and the social development departments in the respective provinces.
The researcher recommends that this typical “silo” approach to implementation should make room for the networks approach to policy implementation. The different departments and other institutions should work together as networks to enhance to outcomes of the CSG. This implies that not only should related institutions collaborate, but also the networks of policies that relate to the CSG.
He cautions however, that this should not be seen as the cure-all, but that it will at least contribute to more successful implementation and recommends that a proper research survey is undertaken, which is aimed at providing meaningful remedial actions and should focus on policy research and implementation. Suggested solutions include correct spending and administrative efficiency in terms of the CSG budget.
The researcher also identified several critical variables that have a negative impact on successful implementation of CSG. These include correct policy content, nature and collaboration of the institutional context and policy context (networks of stakeholders and policies), commitment, skills, and support of the clients (beneficiaries)
Contact person: Prof PA Brynard.
The global spread of HIV/AIDS and especially the burden of the disease on the economies of countries in sub-Saharan Africa show that governments, communities, non-governmental organisations and business need to respond to the growing HIV/AIDS pandemic.
Prof David Fourie and Ria Schoeman, a PhD student, conducted research into the long-distance trucking industry to determine the impact of HIV/AIDS have or may have on their business.
The current and future impact of the HIV/AIDS epidemic on the long-distance trucking industry is unknown. The results indicated that many companies are hesitant to develop and implement HIV/AIDS workplace programmes. This may be due to a lack of reliable data, or a lack of leadership commitment. The survey results however reveal that many operators are already facing the consequences of the epidemic.
The results from this survey propose that most operators in the long distance trucking industry in South Africa have failed to respond to the epidemic. Although 65% of all the operators surveyed have indicated that they have an HIV/AIDS policy, only 25% have implemented the policies in the workplace.
Operators’ responses to the epidemic seem to be linked to the size of the company, where large companies appear to have more resources to develop end implement HIV/AIDS policies and programmes.
The overall perception of most companies seems to be that HIV/AIDS will have a small to moderate impact on their business and some operators have implemented HIV/AIDS policies and programmes to reduce the impact of the epidemic.
These perceptions and workplace-based initiatives may be based on insubstantial or inaccurate information, as less than 10% of all operators surveyed have conducted surveillance or research to appraise the impact of HIV/AIDS on their companies. Many companies participate on a national level in programmes for the trucking industry doing the minimum or nothing at company level, which also give a false sense of security.
The private sector needs to speed up its response to HIV/AIDS. Although AIDS will not have a dramatic impact on the macro-economy, it will have an impact on company level, especially on a vulnerable industry such as the trucking industry.
With the rising HIV prevalence in South Africa and clear indication of the negative impact of the epidemic on companies, operators should be encouraged to develop and implement HIV/AIDS policies and programmes as a matter of urgency.
It is recommended that companies develop and implement HIV/AIDS workplace based policies and programmes to prevent new HIV infection and to mitigate the effect of the disease on the infected and affected. Each company should be encouraged to develop a risk profile of its workforce, involving all employees, to personalise individual risk.
The guidelines, policies and legislation in South Africa relating to HIV/AIDS that are in place should be enforced more rigorously and only if the government provide the necessary political commitment and guidance will the private sector follow suit. South Africa has a vibrant labour sector and labour movements should engage their membership to enforce the laws that are already in place
Contact person: Prof DJ Fourie.
|
