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Welcome to the University of Venda Institutional Repository, an open digital archive of the research output of the University of Venda. Univen IR contains theses and dissertations, research papers as well as conference papers. For further information and assistance please contact Mr Keith Malabi at +27 15 9628564 or +27 15 962 8314 during office hours

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Strategies used by teachers to improve reading in the Foundation Phase

(2026-05-19) Tshidzumba, Zwanga; Mulaudzi, L. M. P.; Mulovhedzi, S. A.

Reading is generally considered a critical skill, both within and beyond the classroom walls. It is an essential skill that is required for good academic performance. This study aimed to explore teaching strategies that teachers use to improve reading in the Foundation Phase. Research has shown that teaching phonics, shared reading, and guided reading are imperative in establishing strong literacy in learners. The approaches in-volve the building of phonemic awareness and decoding to promote fluency in reading. Some other research suggests vocabulary development and using technology in making reading a richer experience, which can engage and interest learners more. Additionally, the research was guided by interpretivism as the paradigm of the study. A qualitative approach, which was exploratory, was used for research. Data was collected through semi-structured interviews, classroom observations, and document analysis. The population for this research consisted of all Grade Two teachers in Nzhe-lele Central Circuit primary schools in Limpopo Province, South Africa. Also, 6 teachers from 3 purposively sampled schools were used. Thematic analysis was used to analyse data from each participant. The study findings revealed effective teaching strategies, which teachers utilise to meet the varied reading needs of their learners. Recommendations stressed the significance of employing a range of these strategies to accommodate different learning styles and enhance reading development.

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The Psychosocial Well-being of Nurses and Psychologists in Africa: A Scoping Review

(2026-05-19) Makhobela, Amukelani; Makhado, L.; Mushwana, M. D.

Introduction: Healthcare systems in Africa have prioritised healthcare recipients, and little emphasis has been placed on the well-being of healthcare professionals, as reflected in the limited available literature on the scope of healthcare professionals' well-being. The present study examines studies conducted in African countries, with a focus on the psychosocial well-being of nurses and psychologists. To answer the research question: What is the psychosocial well-being of nurses and psychologists in the African context? The study contributes to improving working environments within healthcare settings, enhancing pandemic readiness, and enhancing the overall quality of life of healthcare workers in African nations. Methods: A scoping review has been conducted using the frameworks established by Arksey and O'Malley (2005) and Levac et al. (2010). A comprehensive literature search has been conducted, covering publications from 2014 to 2024, across the following databases: PubMed, EBSCOhost, PsycINFO, Google Scholar, ScienceDirect, institutional repositories, and other grey literature sources, as well as a hand search of the reference lists of included studies. Studies included were assessed for eligibility by two independent reviewers. Findings: Fifteen studies are included in this review. Most research on nurses' well-being originates in South Africa, with limited representation from other African countries. There is a notably high psychosocial toll among nurses in healthcare settings with expressions of burnout, severe depressive symptoms, PTSD, anxiety and other stress-related disorders coupled with compassion fatigue. Conclusion: There is an absence of an effective, unified intervention programme(s) to promote nurses’ psychosocial well-being. Irregularities and disparities are highlighted within the organisational structure of most healthcare settings in Africa. There is an urgent need among stakeholders to implement intervention strategies among healthcare workers to support their psychological health and social needs.

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The comprehension of mothers on the nutritional status of children aged 3-5 years in Greater Taung Local Municipality, North-West Province

(2026-05-19) Mogale, Molala Lydia; Nesamvuni, C. N.; Masia, T. A.

Malnutrition, especially in childhood, is a major public health concern globally. It is estimated to contribute to more than one-third of all child deaths globally, with approximately 45% of mortality in children under five years from low and middle-income countries. The study aimed to investigate mothers' comprehension of the nutritional status of their children in the Greater Taung Local Municipality. The study design was cross-sectional, following quantitative methods. The target population were mothers and their children aged 3-5 years in GTLM. Two-stage sampling was used. Firstly, simple random sampling was used to select Early Childhood Development Centres, giving them an equal chance of being selected for the study. Secondly, a systematic random sampling method was used to select 236 mothers with children aged 3-5 years. Data was collected with a questionnaire. Data analysis was done using the Statistical and Data Analysis version 18. Descriptive statistics such as means, frequencies and standard deviation were used to describe and summarise the data. Fisher’s exact test was used for the association between a child’s anthropometric status and the mother’s nutritional knowledge. Anthropometric measurements were analysed using the WHO AnthroPlus software. Proper and due consideration was given to research ethics. The University of Venda approved and provided the ethical clearance certificate. Results showed that most mothers did comprehend the interpretation of the direction of the curves in the Road to Health Booklet. Furthermore, the study showed that mothers had average (n= 125; 54%) and adequate (n= 81; 34.3%) knowledge, which is positive for their nutritional outcomes and those of their children. Regarding anthropometric status, most children (n = 227; 96.2%) presented with a normal weight-for-age. Stunting was a concern (n=33; 14.0%). Underweight and wasting were n=9 (3.8%) and n=20 (8.5%), respectively. A significant association was observed between mothers’ nutrition knowledge and weight for height (p=0.009) and BMI (p=0.038).

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The impact of the structural and behavioural factors on governance in selected Limpopo municipalities: South Africa

(2026-05-19) Mafuwane, Amukelani Amanda; Nekhavhambe, M. M.

South African local municipalities continue to face persistent governance challenges, which contribute to poor service delivery in areas such as water provision, hygiene, power, and refuse management. Even with the nation’s advanced constitutional and legal structures, the underlying issues of these challenges remain complex and deeply entrenched. This study concentrated on the impact of structural and behavioural factors on governance in selected municipalities within the Limpopo province, focusing on the interaction between governance shortcomings like corruption, poor leadership, and lack of transparency, as well as structural constraint factors like limited resources, inadequate infrastructure, and capacity challenges. The researcher employed a qualitative desktop research design, drawing data from various municipal documents, academic journals, publications, and reports from the Auditor-General of South Africa (AGSA). The data was examined through thematic analysis to uncover important patterns and trends. The Institutional Theory guided this study to explain how both formal and informal institutional structures shape governance practices and service provision outcomes. The findings reveal that the selected Limpopo local municipalities are facing significant challenges including issues in financial management, leadership, inadequate skills, a high level of corruption, and a lack of transparency. These hurdles are linked to non-compliance with financial regulations, poor oversight, and weak institutional capacity, which therefore undermine the ability to ensure effective governance and accountability within the municipalities. Based on the results of this study, the study proposes several recommendations to strengthen governance in the selected Limpopo local municipalities. These include enhancing leadership capacity through the adoption of a leadership scorecard and rotational exchange programme; improving skills through knowledge hubs; enhancing compliance with the MFMA; institutionalising consequence management mechanisms to curb corruption; and promoting transparency. The study further recommends that future studies conduct comparative studies across different local municipalities and employ diverse data collection methods to broaden the understanding of governance challenges and interventions in the South African local government context.

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The Efficacy of E-governance in Promoting Community Participation

(2026-05-19) Tshikovhi, Lufuno; Matloga, S. T.; Maemu, E.

This study examines the efficacy of e-governance in promoting community participation within Thulamela Local Municipality (TLM). As information and communication technology (ICT) becomes increasingly integrated into public administration, e-governance has emerged as a crucial tool for enhancing transparency, accountability, and civic participation. Municipalities are increasingly utilising online platforms to better engage with their communities. To evaluate the efficacy of e-governance portals, including social media, municipal websites, and mobile applications, this study employed a mixed-methods approach. This approach combined quantitative surveys with qualitative interviews involving community members and municipal officials. The choice of mixed methods was made to gain a deeper understanding of the research problem. The study has five main objectives. To accomplish these objectives, the researcher adopted a pragmatism paradigm and utilised descriptive and contextual design. Nonprobability sampling methods, specifically purposive sampling, were employed to select participants. In total, 130 individuals were sampled, including 10 municipal officials who participated in interviews and 120 who completed structured questionnaires. Data collection was conducted through two main methods: structured questionnaires and interview schedules. For data analysis, the quantitative data obtained from questionnaires were analysed using statistical methods with the Statistical Package for Social Sciences (SPSS), Version 30.0. The results were presented in the form of tables, frequencies, and percentages. Qualitative data from the interviews were analysed using NVivo Version 15.0, employing thematic analysis to group the data into themes and present the findings in a narrative format. The study explored how e- governance facilitates community participation, the challenges faced during its implementation, and the municipality's responsiveness to digital feedback. The findings of this study revealed that e-governance has significantly enhanced accessibility and convenience for community participation in Thulamela Local Municipality. The study emphasised the need for improved municipal strategies to incorporate digital feedback into decision-making processes. This research contributes to the evolving field of e-governance and participatory democracy. It offers recommendations to enhance e-governance in local governance and provides valuable insights to policymakers, municipal officials, and community stakeholders on effectively leveraging technology for more inclusive decision-making in TLM. The major findings in this study are: ➢ There are relationships between e-governance and community participation in TLM. ➢ The current e-governance of TLM is ineffective in promoting community participation due to poor network services in rural areas, high data costs, budget constraints, and delays in updating information. ➢ Thulamela Local Municipality still faces several challenges in implementing e- governance to promote community participation, including limited internet access, a lack of digital literacy, language barriers, inadequate training and awareness, high data costs, Trust issues, ideological barriers, and financial and infrastructural challenges. ➢ TLM has several initiatives to strengthen community participation through e- governance, including digital literacy workshops and training sessions, as well as social media platforms, to encourage residents to engage with e- governance. ➢ A dedicated help desk, training sessions for both municipal officials and residents, and expanded internet connectivity enhance participation through e- governance portals. The following are the recommendations based on the study findings ➢ The Thulamela Local Municipality should support community members by providing an opportunity to express their voices through e-governance portals, allowing them to prioritise their needs. ➢ Simplifying e-governance processes further and providing user training or support mechanisms to enhance effectiveness. ➢ Implement multilingual platforms, simplify content, and provide educational support programs to promote inclusivity and equitable participation in digital initiatives. ➢ The municipality’s annual community participation plan should be implemented to ensure continuous learning and participation. TLM should invest in broadband infrastructure, establish public Wi-Fi hotspots, and collaborate with network providers to enhance participation through e- governance.