14 October 2021 Volume :9 Issue :44

UKZN Academics Analyse Impact of Recent Looting and Burning in SA

Dr Andrisha Beharry-Ramraj and Dr Pfano Mashau.

College of Law and Management Studies academics analysed the impact of the recent looting and unrest in KwaZulu-Natal and parts of Gauteng in papers they presented at the Political Economy of Protests and Opportunistic Crimes in South Africa Conference.

The academics were Dr Andrisha Beharry-Ramraj of the School of Management, Information Technology and Governance and Dr Pfano Mashau of the Graduate School of Business and Leadership.

The title of Beharry-Ramraj’s paper, co-authored with her master’s student, Mr Linden Singh, was: The Impact of Riots and Looting in South Africa on Human Resource Management.

‘The impact on Human Resource Management has been challenging for businesses and organisations in terms of restructuring, retrenchment, and the laying off of staff,’ said Beharry-Ramraj.

The paper examined how employers and HR managers acted against workers involved in the unrest and looting, or who were active on online media platforms in connection with the unrest.

‘HR managers should tread carefully when assessing workers involved with any criminal activity linked to the unrest and looting, applying action that is fair and just. HR divisions across the country are evolving and adapting to be prepared to effectively handle any future situations similar to the recent unrest,’ said Beharry-Ramraj.

Mashau’s paper was titled: Protests and Business Management: The Effects of South African Protests on Business in eThekwini Municipality.

‘The protests had severe implications for future investment in the country,’ said Mashau.

Words: Thandiwe Jumo

Photographs: Supplied

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