Expansive Learning and Transformative Agency for Equity and Sustainability: Formative Interventions in Six Continents
- Authors: Engeström, Yrjö , Bal, Aydin , Sannino, Annalisa , Morgado, Luciana P , de Gouveia Vilela, R A , Querol, Marco P , Lotz-Sisitka, Heila , Wei, Ge , Chikunda, Charles , Hopwood, Nick , Virkkunen, Jaakko , Mukute, Mutizwa
- Date: 2022
- Subjects: To be catalogued
- Language: English
- Type: text , symposium
- Identifier: http://hdl.handle.net/10962/436688 , vital:73293 , ISBN 978-3-030-99347-4 , https://repository.isls.org//handle/1/8974
- Description: This double symposium brings together activity-theoretical formative intervention research conducted in six continents. The aim is to illuminate and examine the common threads, important differences, and new challenges of formative inter-vention studies to address “wicked problems” in different cul-tural, political, and economic contexts. Formative interven-tions facilitate expansive learning and systemic transfor-mation led by local stakeholders in organizations and social movements. The formative intervention methodology is based on the principles of double stimulation and ascending from the abstract to the concrete. Its most well-known appli-cation is the Change Laboratory method. Formative interven-tions generate and support expansive learning and trans-formative agency. The current global crises of climate change, poverty and deepening inequalities are giving rise to what is called fourth generation activity theory for tackling fateful challenges by building heterogenous multiactivity coa-litions. The symposium will present the theoretical and peda-gogical challenges and possibilities in Change Laboratories and other formative interventions to develop just and sus-tainable solutions to global crises.
- Full Text:
- Date Issued: 2022
Fishes of Southern African estuaries: from species to systems
- Authors: Whitfield, Alan K
- Date: 2022
- Subjects: Estuarine fishes -- South Africa , Estuarine fishes -- Africa, Southern , Fishes -- Africa, Southern -- Identification , Estuaries -- Africa, Southern
- Language: English
- Type: text , book
- Identifier: http://hdl.handle.net/10962/97933 , vital:31512
- Description: South Africa, despite its relatively small size, is often called “a world in one country”. This phrase arises mainly from the range of oceanographic and climatic features; geological and geomorphological attributes, the diversity of human cultures, languages, races and religions; the mix of developed and developing economies; the wide range in political opinion and parties; the vast array of mineral resources; and finally, what biologists find most interesting of all, the richness of the indigenous flora and fauna. Although southern African aquatic scientists cannot boast an equivalent of the Cape Floral Kingdom, the stretch of coast between northern Namibia and southern Mozambique has a particularly rich marine biota, accounting for almost 15% of all the coastal marine species known world-wide. The richness of the ichthyofauna is due to a number of factors, including the variety of habitats around the subcontinent, ranging from coral reefs, kelp beds, sheltered bays, sandy beaches, exposed rocky shores, coastal lakes to estuaries. In addition, southern Africa is the meeting place of three great oceans and is thus the recipient of species from each of these separate faunas. In comparison to land vertebrates, the world’s fish fauna is by no means well-known, either taxonomically or with regard to the biology of the component species. Apart from the very large number of fish species (estimated to be approximately 40 000), and the difficulties posed by the medium in which they live, there are other reasons for the above state of affairs. An obvious and universal reason is the shortage of funding available for taxonomic, biological and ecological studies, with increasing emphasis being placed on aquaculture, mariculture and fisheries related work. This situation is unlikely to improve and many research institutions around the world are operating on shrinking rather than expanding budgets. The onus of responsibility to disseminate information on the world’s fish faunas therefore rests squarely on the shoulders of those who are fortunate enough to be employed in the fascinating field of ichthyology. This book, which is a major revision and expansion of an earlier monograph (Whitfield 1998), is an attempt to synthesize the available information on fishes associated with southern African estuaries and to highlight the importance of conserving these systems for both fishes and people of the region. Limited reference is made to international estuarine fish research due to space constraints and readers are referred to global ichthyological reviews in this regard. The estuaries of southern Africa (defined as south of 26°S latitude for the purposes of this book) are highly diverse, both in terms of form and functioning. They range from the clear Kosi Estuary entering the coral rich subtropical Indian Ocean waters on the east coast, to the turbid Orange River flowing into the cool upwelled waters of the Atlantic Ocean on the west coast. The estuaries of the subcontinent are fed by catchments with a wide variety of climatic and geological characteristics. For example, the cool-temperate west coast is characterized by good winter rains and relatively dry summers, whereas on the subtropical east coast the opposite rainfall pattern prevails. While most south-western Cape estuaries are fed by rivers with low suspended sediment levels, those of KwaZulu-Natal normally carry high silt loads during the rainy season. Between Mossel Bay and St Francis Bay, rainfall patterns show no distinct seasonal peak and relatively acidic waters with low nutrient levels enter a variety of estuarine types along this section of the coast. The Eastern Cape is a region of transition between the subtropical and warm-temperate biogeographic provinces, and is prone to both droughts and floods occurring during any season of the year. The southern African estuarine environment is an unpredictable and often harsh habitat to occupy, yet each year millions of larval and juvenile fishes enter and thrive in these systems. The fish species that utilize estuaries as nursery areas exhibit great diversity in size, body form, salinity tolerance, diet, habitat preference and breeding behaviour. There is also a complete gradation in terms of the dependence that each species has on the estuarine environment. These and many other issues relating to the biology and ecology of estuary-associated fish species in southern Africa are explored in the chapters to follow. It is my sincere wish that our improved knowledge of these species and their environmental requirements will contribute to the wise management and conservation of these valuable ecosystems. , 2022 Edition
- Full Text:
- Date Issued: 2022
Fuelwood in South Africa Revisited: Widespread Use in a Policy Vacuum
- Authors: Shackleton, Charlie M , Sinasson, Gisele , Adeyemi, Opeyemi , Martins, Vusumzi
- Date: 2022
- Subjects: To be catalogued
- Language: English
- Type: text , article
- Identifier: http://hdl.handle.net/10962/402275 , vital:69837 , xlink:href="https://doi.org/10.3390/su141711018"
- Description: South Africa has experienced massive urbanisation and socioeconomic development over the past two decades. Concomitantly, the national energy policy focuses on the provision of modern fuels, notably electricity, for domestic use. Given this policy environment and socioeconomic development, we examine pertinent literature and policies from South Africa on fuelwood use, value, and sustainability to understand how it might have changed in tandem with the national shifts in urbanisation and socioeconomic development over the last 20 years. Recent literature shows that fuelwood is still used to some extent by 96% of rural households and 69% of low-income urban ones. We also estimate that the use of fuelwood by rural households alone is valued at approximately ZAR 10.5 billion (approx. USD 700 million) annually, with the probability of an equally high value to low-income urban households. However, despite the extensive use and high value, our analysis of cognate national policies related to energy, forestry, environment, and social development, show that fuelwood and its use is hardly considered, indicating a policy vacuum. This policy vacuum means that there is no strategic or apposite support or interventions in any localised areas where fuelwood demand might exceed supply, thereby undermining the livelihoods and energy security of affected citizens, most notably the poor.
- Full Text:
- Date Issued: 2022
Household dietary patterns and food security challenges in Peri-Urban South Africa: A reflection of high unemployment in the wake of rising food prices
- Authors: Chakona, Gamuchirai
- Date: 2022
- Subjects: To be catalogued
- Language: English
- Type: text , book chapter
- Identifier: http://hdl.handle.net/10962/433943 , vital:73013 , ISBN 978-3-030-93072-1 , https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-030-93072-1_11
- Description: Urbanization is one of the major social changes sweeping the globe, with rapid growth of the urban population and stagnating growth of the rural population, especially in developing regions (UN-Habitat, 2020). In subSaharan Africa, rapid urbanization and poverty are the major fundamental development challenges that are perpetuating and deepening the crisis of food and nutrition insecurity in urban areas (Battersby, 2012). Many people living in urban areas face under-nutrition, mainly due to their lack of income rather than to a lack of capacity to produce food (Satterthwaite et al., 2010). The health and nutritional status of urban populations with very low incomes are at risk from rising prices in staple foods. This became evident with the rising hunger among urban populations after the food price rises in 2007 and the first half of 2008 (Cohen and Garrett, 2009). In South Africa, poverty, unemployment and high food prices are dominant and influence dietary change, which subsequently increases urban food insecurity and malnutrition (Battersby, 2012).
- Full Text:
- Date Issued: 2022
Mixed-species flocks of insectivorous birds (‘bird parties’) in Afrotropical forests and woodlands: a review
- Authors: Craig, Adrian J F K
- Date: 2022
- Subjects: To be catalogued
- Language: English
- Type: text , article
- Identifier: http://hdl.handle.net/10962/449420 , vital:74820 , https://doi.org/10.2989/00306525.2022.2064930
- Description: Mixed-species flocks of foraging insectivorous birds are found worldwide and have been best studied in the Neotropical region. A survey of the published literature reveals that mixed-species flocks (often termed ‘bird parties’) comprised of 2–30 species and sometimes >70 individual birds are regularly encountered in forest and woodland habitats throughout the Afrotropical region. On mainland Africa, >600 species representing 59 bird families have been reported in such flocks, and for at least 300 species foraging in such flocks may constitute an important part of their feeding activity. In Madagascar, >60 species of 19 families have been recorded in mixed-species flocks, with more than 40 species frequent participants. These foraging parties are dominated by gleaning and sallying insectivorous birds, with other feeding guilds represented by fewer species and individuals.
- Full Text:
- Date Issued: 2022
Planetary Urgency, Researcher Reflexivity and ESE Research: Questions Arising from an Initial Exploration of Goethean-inspired Phenomenology
- Authors: Olvitt, Lausanne L
- Date: 2022
- Subjects: To be catalogued
- Language: English
- Type: text , book chapter
- Identifier: http://hdl.handle.net/10962/437541 , vital:73392 , ISBN
- Description: Many of the theoretical and methodological frameworks that are currently influential in Environment and Sustainability Education (ESE) research in South Africa foreground interventionist research, activism, causal explanation, critique, social-ecological transformation and decoloniality. These frameworks guide ESE researchers to design, implement and report on research in particular ways, hence influencing how social-ecological phenomena, learning and social change are understood and enacted. In this essay, I present some exploratory perspectives on the relevance and potential contribution of phenomenological approaches to ESE research, especially Goethean inspired observation.
- Full Text:
- Date Issued: 2022
Season and environment modulate aquatic invertebrates’ responses to trout and indigenous fishes in three South African mountain streams
- Authors: Bellingan, Terence A , Hugo, Sanet , Villet, Martin H , Weyl, Olaf L F
- Date: 2022
- Subjects: To be catalogued
- Language: English
- Type: text , article
- Identifier: http://hdl.handle.net/10962/441487 , vital:73893 , https://doi.org/10.3389/fenvs.2022.1004939
- Description: Introduced organisms are seen as one of the greatest threats to resource sustainability worldwide, and aquatic macroinvertebrates are regarded as good indicators of the health of water resources. To explore these two perspectives, the responses of macroinvertebrate faunas to native and introduced fishes in three headwater tributaries of the Keiskamma River system, South Africa, were examined by comparing potential indicator communities in reaches considered to be fishless, reaches invaded by introduced salmonid species, and reaches containing native fishes. Patterns in the macroinvertebrate faunal assemblage data were driven strongly by season and flow rate, and less strongly by the presence of insectivorous fishes and biotope availability, a finding in parallel with several similar studies from the region. This affirms that aquatic macroinvertebrate faunas are responsive indicators of both environmental and biotic factors and leaves room for further studies to resolve the effects of non-native fish in the Keiskamma River system and other similar systems from South Africa.
- Full Text:
- Date Issued: 2022
Small but strong: Socioeconomic and ecological resilience of a small European fishing community affected by a submarine volcanic eruption
- Authors: De la Cruz-Modino, Raquel , Piñeiro-Corbeira, Cristina , Gutiérrez-Barroso, Josué , González-Cruz, Carla , Barreiro, Rodolfo , Batista-Medina, José A , Pascual-Fernández, José , González, José A , Santana-Talavera, Agustín , Aswani, Shankar
- Date: 2022
- Subjects: To be catalogued
- Language: English
- Type: text , article
- Identifier: http://hdl.handle.net/10962/391397 , vital:68648 , xlink:href="https://doi.org/10.1016/j.ocecoaman.2022.106124"
- Description: Small-scale coastal fishing communities are facing many new challenges, such as rapid ecological changes created by anthropogenic and natural events like earthquakes or volcanic eruptions. This paper explores how a coastal population has responded to such an event and highlights the diverse coping strategies used to tackle it. This research was conducted on the island of El Hierro (Spain), where a submarine volcanic eruption occurred in 2011, affecting a multiple-use Marine Protected Area (MPA) and the nearby fishing community of La Restinga. Our study illustrates how the local population coped with this situation by combining multiple monetary and non-monetary activities (e.g., informal exchanges) as well as the role of institutions in increasing local resilience by supporting fishers' demands and allowing their participation in the decision-making process in the immediate wake of a catastrophic event. Local families also exploited various natural resources in and near the MPA, thus ensuring access to crucial marine resources and continued recreational/cultural services. The results suggest that collective action played a key role in the recovery process after the eruption, creating some advantages for different local groups despite the hazardous nature of the event.
- Full Text:
- Date Issued: 2022
Suitably Strange: Re-imagining learning, scholar-activism, and justice
- Authors: McGarry, Dylan K
- Date: 2022
- Subjects: To be catalogued
- Language: English
- Type: text , article
- Identifier: http://hdl.handle.net/10962/371005 , vital:66402 , xlink:href="https://hdl.handle.net/10520/ejc-cristal-v10-n1-a7"
- Description: Using artworks emergent from my career as a pracademic and scholar activist, I attempt to share a ‘tactile theory’ of being and doing, that refer mainly to response-abilities (i.e., abilities to respond in accountable ways) in scholar activist educational sociology. I aim to make visible (and tactile) the sometimes-invisible qualities and practices needed for navigating the eroded and dying ecological relations of our generation, as well as warming up and making pliable the heteronormative, capitalist, patriarchal and anthropocentric conventions that are associated with it. In order to warm and sculpt these normative conventions, I argue for the need for ‘suitably strange’ practice. I present six images and associated prose that aim to optimally disrupt these conventions, towards generative rethinking and embodying learning, scholar activism and justice, and from which I explore a tactile theory, an example and related response-ability for each. I end with a reflection of how these suitably strange artefacts can help us develop a new concept of proactive-cognitive justice or ‘justness’.
- Full Text:
- Date Issued: 2022
The (Slow) Urgency of Socio-cological Justice in ESE–Listening to Children in Marginalized Positions in ESE
- Authors: Jørgensen, Nanna J , James, Anna
- Date: 2022
- Subjects: To be catalogued
- Language: English
- Type: text , book chapter
- Identifier: http://hdl.handle.net/10962/437526 , vital:73391 , ISBN
- Description: As a contribution to discussions about how ESE research respond to increasing urgency and climate emergencies, this essay discusses the relation between education and the pursuit of societal transformation with a view to questions of socio-ecological justice. Our research interest centers on young children’s participation and voice, on the inequalities which constitute barriers to this participation, and on the potentials of a more fine-tuned pedagogy which listens to children’s voices and their relations with the non-human environment in our research practices. This listening is a radical process of unlearning and rethinking ‘urgency’. The essay is based on an ongoing dialogue about how research on sustainability education might respond to the voices of children in marginalized positions across two very different geographical and socio-cultural settings–the Danish welfare state and post-apartheid South Africa (see James and Jørgensen, forthcoming). Here we draw attention to the dangers of assumptions underlying urgency (dualism and instrumentalism) and the voices of young children in research as a practice that resists these dangers.
- Full Text:
- Date Issued: 2022
Standards for the admission of forensic scientific evidence in criminal trials through an expert: Lessons and guidelines for South Africa
- Authors: Chetty, Nasholan https://orcid.org/0000-0002-7053-5831
- Date: 2022-01
- Subjects: Evidence, Expert , Forensic sciences , Crime scene searches
- Language: English
- Type: Doctoral theses , text
- Identifier: http://hdl.handle.net/10353/22467 , vital:52324
- Description: Forensic evidence has always captured the imagination of the public and legal fraternity since science entered the courtroom. The first case of forensic science was heard in the matter of John Boodle in 1832, and criminal courts have now come accustomed to hearing a variety of matters that have some form of forensic science evidence in them. Television shows like Crime Scene Investigation and Making a Murderer has heightened the expectation that is placed on the sciences and the ease of which a conviction can be secured or a suspect apprehended. The spate of wrongful convictions that have been overturned, particularly in the United States of America has raised serious questions regarding the use of forensic evidence in courts. Moreover, the people “in-charge” or the so-called experts for providing this analysis’s have come under intense scrutiny. Many reports have been compiled after investigations were conducted into the state of expert evidence in those various jurisdictions. The use of an expert to provide critical details regarding aspects of a crime that goes beyond the ordinary education of presiding officers and legal practitioners has posed to the court, many questions as to how they are being used and whether their evidence should be used. The use of an expert is not new to the South African legal system, and the same can be said for many foreign jurisdictions, but the problem now experienced by courts is whether these experts are in-fact “experts” and whether the information conveyed to the court can be relied upon especially if the evidence is of a scientific nature. An investigation into how expert evidence is presented and evaluated in South African criminal courts will reveal many appealing aspects regarding the development of how an expert is used and how they should be used as well as how their evidence should be evaluated. , Thesis (PhD) -- Faculty of Law, 2022
- Full Text:
- Date Issued: 2022-01
The use of earth observation multi-sensor systems to monitor and model Pastures: a case of Savannah Grasslands in Hluvukani Village, Bushbuckridge Local Municipality, Mpumalanga Province, South Africa
- Authors: Nduku, Lwandile https://orcid.org/0000-0001-9168-4548
- Date: 2022-01
- Subjects: Climatic changes , Grassland conservation
- Language: English
- Type: Master's theses , text
- Identifier: http://hdl.handle.net/10353/22578 , vital:52470
- Description: Grassland degradation associated with climate change and inappropriate grassland management has been characterized as a global environmental concern driving decreased grassland ecosystem's ecological functioning. More than 60% of South African grassland is degraded or permanently transformed to other land uses and nearly 2% properly conserved. Yet, grasslands are a major source of food for livestock grazing and provide material and non-material benefits to many livelihoods. Therefore, grassland above-ground biomass (AGB) estimation is crucial in planning and managing pastoral agriculture and the benefits derived from it. However, current grassland monitoring techniques used in rural smallholder livestock farms rely on conventional methods, which are destructive, labour-intensive, costly, and restricted to small areas. This study investigated the monitoring and modelling of protected grasslands biomass using current Earth observation systems (EOS), an approach, which is non-destructive, cost-effective, cover larger areas and is a time-saving alternative to conventional methods. Hence, the research objectives were: (i) to map the trends and advances in data and models used in the monitoring of grassland (pastures) with Earth observation systems, and (ii) to assess above-ground biomass estimation in semi-arid savannah grassland integrating Sentinel-1 and Sentinel-2 data with Machine-Learning. This goal was to assess if this approach could provide the requisite information, which could contribute to the long-term goal of developing a semi-automated system for data processing, and mapping grassland biomass to benefit local communities. For this investigation, it was crucial to understanding what research had achieved so far in this area of pasture management. An assessment of the Scopus database showed the recent developments in European Union (EU) programs and Sentinel missions, including statistical models and machine learning for monitoring grassland changes at multiple scales. However, Sentinel-1 and Sentinel-2 data, machine learning models, and variable importance techniques were applied for grassland AGB estimation. These techniques have been used in similar studies to determine optimum machine learning models, influential variables, and the capability of integrated Sentinel datasets for mapping grassland AGB, spatial distribution, and abundance. Results showed improved performance with the Random forest regression (RFR) model (R² of 34.7%, RMSE of 9.47 Mg and MAE of 7.68 Mg ). The study also observed optimum sensitivity of Difference Vegetation Index (DVI) and Enhanced Vegetation Index (EVI) in all three machine learning models for modelling grassland AGB estimation in the study area. A further, statistical comparison of all three machine learning models showed an insignificant difference in the predictive capacity for AGB in the study area with Gradient Boosting regression (GBR) model (R² of 27.7, RMSE of 9.97 Mg and MAE of 8.03 Mg ) and Extreme Gradient Boost Regression (XGBR) model (R² of 17.3%, RMSE of 10.66 Mg and MAE of 8.83 Mg ). The study revealed that an integration of Sentinel-1 and Sentinel-2 has improved capabilities for monitoring grassland AGB estimation. This research sheds light on the timely and cost-effective techniques for grassland management strategies to enhance or restore the ecological functioning of grassland ecosystems and promote community sustainability. , Thesis (MSc) -- Faculty of Science and Agriculture, 2022
- Full Text:
- Date Issued: 2022-01
Primordial risk factors and primary prevention framework for overweight and obesity among children of the Prospective Urban Rural Epidemiological (PURE) study participants in the Eastern Cape Province, South Africa
- Authors: Nomatshila, Sibusiso Cyprian
- Date: 2022-00
- Subjects: Medicine
- Language: English
- Type: Doctoral theses , text
- Identifier: http://hdl.handle.net/11260/9904 , vital:74641
- Description: Thesis (PhD) -- Faculty of Medicine and Health Sciences, 2022
- Full Text:
- Date Issued: 2022-00
A framework for transmitting and entrenching values in indigenous black South African family businesses
- Authors: Kupangwa, Welcome
- Date: 2021-12
- Subjects: Family-owned business enterprises -- South Africa
- Language: English
- Type: Doctoral theses , text
- Identifier: http://hdl.handle.net/10948/53991 , vital:46171
- Description: Family businesses are the predominant form of business globally and their importance to the economies of countries and job creation are often highlighted. In comparison to non-family businesses, family businesses are often described as having several unique characteristics such as a long-term orientation, being more emotions-laden, and having multiple family generations work in the business. Family businesses are also more deeply rooted in their cultures and values than non-family businesses are, and it is these values that contribute to their uniqueness and longevity. The dominant cultures and values found in family businesses are often associated with those of the founders and their families, and most founders want successive generations to run their family businesses according to established traditions and core values. Despite their importance in both developed and developing economies, family businesses face significant challenges to survive and prosper across generations. One such challenge involves the transmission of values from business founders and/or current leaders to the next generation of family members. If these values are not transmitted to and shared by the next generation, and not entrenched into the functions and processes of their family business, the functioning of the family and the family business are at risk. Existing research on values in family businesses reveals limited knowledge of values transmission to the next generation of family members. In addition, questions remain unanswered as to how values are institutionalised and entrenched into family businesses, and how these values contribute to their longevity and success. Given the need to understand the role of values in the transgenerational success of family businesses, many research calls have been made to investigate the nature of values, values transmission and values entrenchment among family businesses, including those in developing countries. In response to these calls the primary objective of this study was to provide a framework for explaining how values are transmitted among indigenous Black South African business owning families and how these values are entrenched into their family businesses. Investigating values in the context of indigenous Black South African business owning families highlights the influence of indigenous culture on the transmission and entrenchment processes. This study is positioned in the interpretivism and the postmodernism research paradigm. Both deductive and inductive reasoning to theory development and qualitative methodological approach were adopted to create new and richer understandings and interpretations of the phenomena under investigation. Utilising a multiple and descriptive case study methodology, data was collected from seven indigenous Black South African family businesses through semi-structured interviews. To corroborate the interview findings, observations, document analysis and field notes were also used for data collection, which was then analysed utilising reflexive thematic analysis. , Thesis (PhD) -- Faculty of Business and Economic Sciences, 2021
- Full Text:
- Date Issued: 2021-12
An Entrepreneurial Ecosystem framework for Nelson Mandela Bay
- Authors: Boucher, Marilyn Sasha
- Date: 2021-12
- Subjects: Entrepreneurship -- South Africa , Sustainable development--Eastern Cape (South Africa)
- Language: English
- Type: Doctoral theses , text
- Identifier: http://hdl.handle.net/10948/53562 , vital:45630
- Description: In recent years, the concept of entrepreneurial ecosystems increased in status amongst policy makers, scholars, practitioners, and mainstream media as a regional economic development strategy. Yet, despite the opportunities presented by the entrepreneurial ecosystem, it is both under-theorized and lacks data on a sub-national scale. Furthermore, research from an African and sub-Saharan African context remains in its infancy. The limited research within these resource-constrained countries creates a challenge to determine the underlying factors that influence entrepreneurship. As a result, developing economies, as in the case of sub-Saharan Africa, have applied generalizations of the entrepreneurial ecosystem, which undermine the temporal differences of places and reduce the potential to benefit from agglomeration economies. With the National Development Plan: Vision 2030, the South African government strives to achieve an inclusive economy through enhancing the capacity of the state, building capabilities, and promoting partnerships amongst sectors. Motivated by the mandate to redress the inequality caused by economic exclusion, the South African government has taken counteractive measures focused on promoting entrepreneurship as a key driver of economic growth. Despite the measures placed, South Africa struggles with high levels of inequality with a Gini coefficient of 0.63, unemployment of 32.6% and negative GDP per capita growth of - 8.137%. Furthermore, most small businesses in South Africa are informal, which means that a disproportionate concentration of employment exists in the informal sector. Against this backdrop, the problem addressed in this study is based on the challenge of creating productive entrepreneurship that acknowledges the unique structure and resources of Nelson Mandela Bay. To address this gap, a critical inquiry into entrepreneurial ecosystems was motivated. First, the inquiry is focused on a real-world context, namely Nelson Mandela Bay, which is one of the eight metropolitan regions in South Africa, a developing economy. Second, the inquiry uses multiple perspectives through multiple data collection methods. To commence the inquiry, a literature review was conducted on secondary sources to identify the factors influencing entrepreneurial ecosystems and formed the basis of the theoretical framework. The study followed the pragmatism research philosophy and used an abductive research approach. A mixed method research design was utilized and followed a sequential independent process, which was performed in two phases and independently analyzed. , Thesis (DBA) -- Faculty of Business and Economic Sciences, 2021
- Full Text:
- Date Issued: 2021-12
Applying a systems analysis approach to support marine spatial planning in Algoa Bay, South Africa
- Authors: Vermeulen, Estee Ann
- Date: 2021-12
- Subjects: Port Elizabeth (South Africa) , Eastern Cape (South Africa) , South Africa
- Language: English
- Type: Doctoral theses , text
- Identifier: http://hdl.handle.net/10948/54121 , vital:46312
- Description: Ocean health provides the foundation for human health through the provisioning of ecosystem services. Increasing demands on ocean space and resources are, however, resulting in a decline in ocean health, with direct and indirect knock-on effects on marine uses and ultimately on human health. In response, there is a growing need to acknowledge and better manage complex human-ocean interactions. This has been recognised in global sustainable development goals and in integrated ocean management processes, leading to widespread endorsement of an ecosystem-based marine spatial planning (MSP) process, including in South Africa. In support of the national MSP process, significant progress has been made in understanding the spatial extent of marine activities and associated marine pressures, but the temporal dynamics of marine activities and interconnections with the marine environment are less well understood. To plan for the growth of marine activities and associated user conflicts, the drivers of these temporal dynamics and associated feedback effects need to be analysed and potential policy and management interventions identified and tested. To support South Africa’s national MSP process, this study adopts a systems analysis approach, using system dynamics modelling, to explore the temporal change in marine uses under alternative growth scenarios in Algoa Bay. Algoa Bay is an appropriate study area because it is experiencing a rapid expansion of marine activities, coupled with a growing uncertainty regarding marine sustainability outcomes. To assist future marine management decisions, the Algoa Marine Systems Analysis Tool (Algoa MSAT) was developed, comprising seven sub-models. Five of the sub-models represent selected marine uses in Algoa Bay, whereas the sixth and seventh integrate the outputs from each marine use in terms of sustainable management indicators (marine health, marine wealth and marine labour). Model development primarily adopted an expert-based model ling approach, although the involvement of stakeholders, through a collaborative modelling process, assisted in integrating knowledge on different marine sectors’ activities, impacts and planning visions into the model framework. Model results were generated under different scenarios to investigate changes in the growth of marine activities and marine sustainability indicators under different levels of ocean governance. Under the baseline (or business-as-usual) model scenario, marine activities were shown to grow increasingly within their respective management limits, with an increase in marine wealth and labour and a consequential decrease in marine health. This scenario particularly highlights that current ocean governance practices are ineffective in sustaining the projected growth of the marine uses, particularly for those that are vulnerable to negative changes in marine health. Conversely, sectors that hold more value in marine wealth and are more resilient to changes in marine health, may continue to grow regardless of negative knock-on effects of the health of the marine environment and on other uses in the bay. This emphasises that an alternative governance strategy is needed to achieve the long-term goal of an ecosystem-based MSP process, as required by South African MSP legislation. To achieve this will require multiple, adaptive cross-sectoral management interventions that are directed towards the ‘deeper leverage points’ that are able to maintain the growth of marine activities within appropriate limits defined by marine health. Using the model interface developed in this project, decision-makers and stakeholders can use the model to explore the temporal dynamics in marine activities under different governance scenarios. Although the model is limited to Algoa Bay, the model boundary can be adapted to assist in marine planning processes at national or trans-national scales. Such analytical assessments and tools are critical to progress the ecosystem-based management approach in MSP, as is required to achieve global sustainable development goals. , Thesis (PhD) -- Faculty of Science, Coastal and Marine Research Unit, 2021
- Full Text:
- Date Issued: 2021-12
Bicultural voice in three works
- Authors: Nkuna, Musa Duke
- Date: 2021-12
- Subjects: Port Elizabeth (South Africa) , Eastern Cape (South Africa) , South Africa
- Language: English
- Type: Doctoral theses , text
- Identifier: http://hdl.handle.net/10948/54607 , vital:46769
- Description: This portfolio of compositions is made up of two parts: Part one is a commentary on the works presented in the portfolio. As required by Nelson Mandela University for the degree of DMus, the commentary is a descriptive narrative, rather than an analysis, of the works. It forms a basic guide for the listener as to how these works were conceived and constructed, and how both African and Western music elements have been used in order to achieve a syncretism. My commentary endeavours to show the compositional techniques applied when writing these works, and how my cultural interactions, music training and experience as a professional opera singer influence my compositional output. Part two contains the creative content of the portfolio: a set of scores of the three works themselves, as well as accompanying recordings of these works, with a total duration of ca. 100 minutes of music. It forms the main part of the submission. , Thesis (DMA) -- Faculty of Humanities, Department of Music and Performing Arts, 2021
- Full Text:
- Date Issued: 2021-12
Demarcation of municipalities and service delivery capacity: a case of selected eastern cape municipalities
- Authors: Sokopo, Johannes
- Date: 2021-12
- Subjects: Port Elizabeth (South Africa) , Eastern Cape (South Africa) , South Africa
- Language: English
- Type: Doctoral theses , text
- Identifier: http://hdl.handle.net/10948/54574 , vital:46715
- Description: The study examines the relationship between demarcation of municipal boundaries and the capacity of a municipality to deliver services. The case of the amalgamation of Baviaans, Camdeboo, and Ikwezi local municipalities which has led to the establishment of the Dr Beyers Naudè Municipality in the Sara Baartman District Municipality in the Eastern Cape has been used to determine this relationship in this study. The amalgamation of these municipalities has led to the redetermination and dismantling of their boundaries and the establishment of the boundaries of the newly created and larger Dr Beyers Naudè Local Municipality. The study investigated whether the demarcation of municipal boundaries has, in this instance, enhanced the capacity of the municipality to deliver basic services. Organisational Theory was used to interpret the amalgamation of municipalities. This theory was used for the theoretical basis of organisational structure and highlighting the need for the alignment of organizational structure with the municipalities’ mandate, of effective and efficient service delivery. The study adopted a qualitative research method and employed a non-probability purposive sampling technique to select participants. Interviews were used for data collection. 38 participants were interviewed, namely 7 councillors, 5 municipal officials, 5 members of the ratepayers’ association and 21 members of the community. Mixed views were expressed by participants regarding the enhancement of the state on basic service delivery after the merger of the three local municipalities. Furthermore, the study did not find evidence of a feasibility study prior to the implementation of the amalgamation process. Subsequently, the study could not find conclusive evidence relating to the enhancement of the capacity of the municipality to deliver services after the redetermination of municipal boundaries. The study recommends, among others, that the demarcation of municipal boundaries should be preceded by an appropriate feasibility study and be done such that there is compliance with the relevant legislation, and it must also have an effective public participation. The study also recommends that the newly established Dr Beyers Naudè Local Municipality should focus on maintaining the service delivery infrastructure it has inherited from the merger of its three predecessor municipalities, enhance public participation in its programmes, and priorities community beneficiation as a critical aspect of its service delivery mandate. , Thesis (PhD) -- Faculty of Humanities, School of Governmental and Social Sciences, 2021
- Full Text:
- Date Issued: 2021-12
Environmental legislation compliance: a strategy to implement a governance framework in Algoa Bay
- Authors: Govender, Andrea Lorrain
- Date: 2021-12
- Subjects: Environmental law -- South Africa -- Algoa Bay , Corporate governance -- South Africa -- Algoa Bay
- Language: English
- Type: Master's theses , text
- Identifier: http://hdl.handle.net/10948/53744 , vital:45722
- Description: Over the past decades there has been a drastic decline in our ocean’s health that has resulted in fish depletion as well as marine life endangerment. This is largely due to human and economic activities such as commercial fishing, ship to ship bunkering and dumping of waste material at sea. The lack of governance and law enforcement has been a catalyst to the ocean’s fast approaching death. Although many laws and legislation exist to direct and encourage appropriate behaviour to preserve the ocean and marine life as well as ensure equality and equal access, the follow through and adherence have been lacking. This study was guided by the aim to develop a strategy for the implementation of a corporate governance framework to enhance compliance to environmental legislation in Algoa Bay to better protect the ocean, marine life and the rich biodiversity in the region which in extension will be beneficial to society and the oceans economy, as a thriving ocean is good for fishing, investments, imports, exports and tourism which is crucial for a booming oceans economy. The methodology applied in this research is a qualitative approach that used semi- structured interviews targeted at owners and managers of organisations to extract data regarding the level of compliance by those operating in the Algoa Bay region to marine and environmental legislation to decipher where decision making leaned and if it was slanted more towards non-compliance. The findings of the study demonstrate that organisations are not fully compliant to marine and environmental legislation despite being environmentally aware and portraying themselves as such to the public. This has been largely due to poor law enforcement practices and organisations valuing profit over compliance. As a result, African Penguins and many other fish species have become endangered. A corporate governance framework to enhance compliance will benefit society and promote job creation by employing more law enforcement agents to ensure the laws are being adhered to which will improve the socio-economic state for Algoa Bay and preserve the biodiversity and marine resources. , Thesis (MCom) -- Faculty of Business and Economic Sciences, 2021
- Full Text:
- Date Issued: 2021-12
Financial literacy: a conceptualisation in a South African University
- Authors: Smit, Andrew Stuart
- Date: 2021-12
- Subjects: Financial literacy -- South Africa , Universities and colleges -- South Africa
- Language: English
- Type: Master's theses , text
- Identifier: http://hdl.handle.net/10948/54773 , vital:47660
- Description: Financial literacy is increasingly becoming an important and relevant topic in the modern-day world. Due to the complex developments in the financial services industry such as internet banking, mobile banking and online trading, which are also becoming more accessible to consumers, financial literacy is proving to be a necessary skill to have in order to make effective financial decisions. However, in a global and local context, the financial literacy levels of individuals are generally poor. South Africa ranks poorly among other countries in terms of financial literacy levels. A study performed by the Organisation of Economic Cooperation and Development showed that South Africa finished last out of 30 countries tested in their global financial literacy survey. Financial literacy levels vary among different groups in South Africa. For example, age, gender and financial education all affect the financial literacy levels of South Africans. In South Africa, individuals aged between 18-29 display higher levels of financial literacy than individuals aged 60 and above while financial education influences the level of financial literacy for an individual because it assists an individual in making correct financial decisions. Crucially though, financial literacy among South African university students is poor. Literature reveals that South African University students struggle with personal financial management more specifically saving, spending and managing debt. Therefore, based on this, the purpose of this study is to conceptualise financial literacy within Nelson Mandela University and to gain a comprehensive understanding of the factors that affect financial literacy among the students. To achieve the purpose of this study, an in-depth literature review was conducted on the definition of financial literacy, the nature and importance of financial literacy, the dimensions of financial literacy and financial literacy in a local context. Following this was an empirical investigation into the financial literacy levels of university students through the development of a questionnaire that tested the individual’s financial knowledge, financial attitudes, financial behaviours, financial skills and financial well-being. Moreover, the relationships between the financial literacy levels of individuals and the components were tested as well. For the purposes of this study a quantitative research approach was adopted. The reason for this was it was suited to the purpose of the study which was to test the financial literacy levels of university students. This required collecting and analysing large amount of data. The sample for this study were Nelson Mandela University students who were registered for the 2020 academic year. The target sample amount was 500 students. The sampling method used was convenience sampling it was implemented through an electronic questionnaire. The number of usable questionnaires collected was 484 which resulted in an effective response rate of 96.80%. These responses were captured onto an excel spreadsheet which were then analysed through Statistica. To analyse the empirical data collected, an exploratory factor analysis, content validity, inter-observer reliability, Chronbach Alpha and ANOVA analysis were all used. The empirical analysis revealed that amongst the relationships tested, there were generally weak to no relationships between the financial literacy levels of the university students and the components of financial knowledge, financial attitudes, financial skills, financial behaviours and financial well-being. The results of the study led to a set of recommendations being developed for different stakeholders of financial literacy. These are namely, the stakeholders being the individuals, scholars, academics and the government should focus on explaining the importance of financial literacy to university students and how they can use financial literacy to improve their financial well-being. Furthermore, financial literacy programmes need to be developed to assist in improving the financial literacy levels of South African University students. There also needs to be more representative financial literacy studies performed in order to obtain a more comprehensive understanding of the financial literacy levels of South African University students. , Thesis (MCom) -- Faculty of Business and Economic Sciences, 2021
- Full Text:
- Date Issued: 2021-12