Artha Journal of Social Sciences

South African municipal performance through the lens of Batho Pele Principles: A public perspective

2025-07-03T04:50:25+00:00

This study analyses the performance of municipalities in South Africa from the public's viewpoint, using the lens of the Batho Pele principles. Batho Pele, meaning "People First" in Setswana, emphasises the importance of citizen-centred service delivery, characterised by accountability, transparency, responsiveness, and quality services in the public sector. This paper applied a quantitative research method, using data from the South African Social Attitude Survey (SASAS). The study used SPSS version 27 for statistical analysis in four stages. These included univariate analysis, constructing the Batho Pele Index, comparing means across provinces, and conducting multivariate analysis through multiple and logistic regressions. The Batho Pele Index (BPI) findings indicate a prolonged period of public discontent (2007-2020) regarding how municipalities engage with communities regarding basic services. There is a perception that municipalities are slow to address citizens' complaints regarding service delivery issues and to rectify reported problems. The mean BPI score supports these observations, showing a consistent trend of dissatisfaction (2007-2020), with a 40% decrease in satisfaction likelihood. This study proposes significant strategies that could enhance municipal performance excellence and provide valuable insights for policymakers.

Exploring Exclusion: Understanding Marginalisation in the Third Gender Community of Haryana

2025-03-03T04:18:33+00:00

To understand the marginalisation of the Third Gender community, examining the ongoing exclusion despite getting legal recognition and constitutional rights in India in 2014 is essential. They are still confronted with deep-seated expressions of stigma and discrimination. This paper aimed to investigate these challenges experienced by the Third Gender community of Haryana. A Mixed-method approach was employed in the study, combining focus group discussions with 20 respondents and a survey of 105 respondents. The analyses revealed the depth of exclusion, which was shaped by interpersonal rejection and institutional barriers. Findings supported the implementation of awareness programmes for mainstream people alongside welfare schemes or interventions for the Third Gender community to reduce misconceptions and biases towards them. This paper advocates for social acceptance of the Third Gender community, which is crucial for inclusion; without it, these interventions will not achieve their intended goals.

An exploration of the political, economic and social dimensions of South Africa’s bilateral relations with China

2025-06-19T05:43:02+00:00

Despite its contemporary challenges, China remains a dominant actor in world politics as the second-largest economy in the world after the United States. The country is pivotal in global politics and the world economy, representing developing and emerging economies. African nations like South Africa now look to China for political and economic cooperation and developmental aspirations. China remains Africa’s largest trade partner, with South Africa being its most important ally. In this regard, South Africa’s engagement with China has become one of the most debated aspects of its activism in bilateral relations. As the bilateral relations between the two countries intensify, questions are being asked: 'What has South Africa benefited from its relations with China?' ‘Has the country reaped any political, economic or social benefits from these relations?' Many attempts have been made to provide answers to these questions. Problematically, the majority of these attempts have been based on generalisations drawn from media reports and uninformed public opinions. Therefore, this
article explores the political, economic, and social aspects of South Africa’s bilateral relations with China to provide a
more nuanced picture of this bilateral relationship. In doing this, the paper engages 20 participants with knowledge and
expertise on South Africa-China relations. The information gathered from these engagements was supplemented with
a literature review on the relationship between the two countries.

Navigating Global Leadership Models: Empowering Sri Lankan Teachers as Transformative Leaders in Education

2025-07-25T04:55:22+00:00

The research seeks to adapt global leadership models and determine how to apply them in secondary schools in Sri Lanka
to empower teachers to become transformative leaders. The secondary objective is to examine global leadership theories
and how they can be integrated into the socio-cultural context of secondary school teachers, which will increase teacher
leadership and improve student achievement. The research addresses the question: How can global leadership theories be modified for the socio-cultural setting of secondary teachers in Sri Lanka to scale up leadership and student outcomes? The study adopts an advanced literature review methodology, which includes an analysis of various international and local studies on leadership, teacher mentorship, and appropriate conceptual frameworks, with special focus on the Sri Lankan context of education. The paper highlights secondary school teachers who are influenced by the diverse tasks due to the local social and cultural norms. It considers the teachers’ duties in enhancing instructional practices, fostering cooperation, and driving sustainable school reforms, as well as the challenges related to inflexible structures, scarce professional growth opportunities, and poor collaboration. Findings emphasise the importance of contextualised leadership frameworks that facilitate change in education, increase teacher participation, and improve student
outcomes. The study suggests further empirical testing of the proposed model in diverse secondary school settings in Sri
Lanka to assess its practical applicability and effectiveness.

Editorial

2025-09-27T04:57:01+00:00

The Golden Road: How Ancient India Transformed the World

2025-05-26T08:10:47+00:00