Crop rotation and crop residue management effects under no till on the soil quality of two ecotopes in the Eastern Cape, South Africa
- Authors: Isaac, Gura
- Date: 2016
- Subjects: Crop rotation Crops and soils Soil fertility
- Language: English
- Type: Thesis , Masters , MSc
- Identifier: http://hdl.handle.net/10353/2934 , vital:28144
- Description: The degradation of soil quality due to undesirable farming practices has reached alarming scales in the Eastern Cape and this has had negative repercussions on soil productivity and the environment in general. There is growing evidence that conservation agriculture (CA) practices involving minimal mechanical disturbance, maintaining permanent surface cover and embracing diverse crop rotations increase soil organic carbon (SOC) and therefore has potential to mitigate soil quality deterioration. A study was carried out at two sites located in two ecotopes to investigate the effects of crop residue retention and crop rotations in a no till system on overall soil quality using the Soil Management Assessment Framework (SMAF) as the soil quality assessment tool. The CA study trials were laid out in 2012 at two different locations, one at the Phandulwazi Agricultural High school within the Phandulwazi Jozini ecotope and the other one at University of Fort Hare Research Farm within the Alice Jozini ecotope. The experiment was laid out as a split-split plot arrangement in a randomized complete block design with three replicates. Tillage treatments were applied on the main plots while crop rotation treatments were applied as subplots. Crop residue retention treatments were applied as sub-sub plots. The rotational treatments were maize-fallow-maize (MFM), maize-fallow-soybean (MFS), maize-wheat-maize (MWM) and maize-wheat-soybean (MWS). The initial assessment of the overall soil quality of the two ecotopes using the SMAF soil quality index (SQI) revealed that the soils at the Alice site were functioning at 80% while the soils at the Phandulwazi site were functioning at 79 percent of their optimum capacity. The slight difference in the soil quality of the two ecotopes could be attributed to their different soil organic C contents where the Alice Jozini ecotope had significantly higher soil organic C contents than the Phandulwazi Jozini ecotope. After 3 years of continuous treatment application, crop residue retention significantly improved most of the measured soil quality parameters. Generally across the sites, more soil organic C, microbial biomass C (MBC), ß-glucosidase (BG) activity, mineral N, extractable P and K, Cu, Zn, Mn, Fe, and macro-aggregates were recorded in treatments where crop residues were retained. Crop rotations alone did not have a significant impact on most of the measured soil quality indicators. The crop rotations influenced significantly the availability of mineral N across the two sites, highlighting the importance of using a legume in rotations on available N for the subsequent crops. Most of the measured soil attributes were not significantly influenced after 3 years of continuously applying combined treatment of CA components. Mineral N (NO3 + NH4), K, Zn and Fe were significantly impacted on by the interactions of CA components at the Phandulwazi site, while N, Cu, Zn and Mn were significantly increased at the Alice site. Low response of SOC to combined CA treatments in the short-term prompted the need to examine treatment effects on individual soil carbon fractions. The interaction of crop rotation and residue management techniques were significant on the fine particulate organic matter – C fractions and microbially respired C. These soil C fractions were more sensitive to short-term treatments of combined CA components than SOC and MBC, therefore they can be used as short-term indicators of CA effects on SOM. Soil organic carbon, MBC, extractable P and K, soil pH, EC, b, AGS (aggregate stability) and BG activity were measured and the Soil Management Assessment Framework (SMAF) used to calculate soil quality index (SQI) values for each treatment. The combination of the crop rotations with crop residue retention showed the potential to significantly improve SQI values in the long term. The highest soil quality improvement at both sites was achieved by the maize-wheat-soybean (MWS) rotation with crop residue retention.
- Full Text:
- Date Issued: 2016
- Authors: Isaac, Gura
- Date: 2016
- Subjects: Crop rotation Crops and soils Soil fertility
- Language: English
- Type: Thesis , Masters , MSc
- Identifier: http://hdl.handle.net/10353/2934 , vital:28144
- Description: The degradation of soil quality due to undesirable farming practices has reached alarming scales in the Eastern Cape and this has had negative repercussions on soil productivity and the environment in general. There is growing evidence that conservation agriculture (CA) practices involving minimal mechanical disturbance, maintaining permanent surface cover and embracing diverse crop rotations increase soil organic carbon (SOC) and therefore has potential to mitigate soil quality deterioration. A study was carried out at two sites located in two ecotopes to investigate the effects of crop residue retention and crop rotations in a no till system on overall soil quality using the Soil Management Assessment Framework (SMAF) as the soil quality assessment tool. The CA study trials were laid out in 2012 at two different locations, one at the Phandulwazi Agricultural High school within the Phandulwazi Jozini ecotope and the other one at University of Fort Hare Research Farm within the Alice Jozini ecotope. The experiment was laid out as a split-split plot arrangement in a randomized complete block design with three replicates. Tillage treatments were applied on the main plots while crop rotation treatments were applied as subplots. Crop residue retention treatments were applied as sub-sub plots. The rotational treatments were maize-fallow-maize (MFM), maize-fallow-soybean (MFS), maize-wheat-maize (MWM) and maize-wheat-soybean (MWS). The initial assessment of the overall soil quality of the two ecotopes using the SMAF soil quality index (SQI) revealed that the soils at the Alice site were functioning at 80% while the soils at the Phandulwazi site were functioning at 79 percent of their optimum capacity. The slight difference in the soil quality of the two ecotopes could be attributed to their different soil organic C contents where the Alice Jozini ecotope had significantly higher soil organic C contents than the Phandulwazi Jozini ecotope. After 3 years of continuous treatment application, crop residue retention significantly improved most of the measured soil quality parameters. Generally across the sites, more soil organic C, microbial biomass C (MBC), ß-glucosidase (BG) activity, mineral N, extractable P and K, Cu, Zn, Mn, Fe, and macro-aggregates were recorded in treatments where crop residues were retained. Crop rotations alone did not have a significant impact on most of the measured soil quality indicators. The crop rotations influenced significantly the availability of mineral N across the two sites, highlighting the importance of using a legume in rotations on available N for the subsequent crops. Most of the measured soil attributes were not significantly influenced after 3 years of continuously applying combined treatment of CA components. Mineral N (NO3 + NH4), K, Zn and Fe were significantly impacted on by the interactions of CA components at the Phandulwazi site, while N, Cu, Zn and Mn were significantly increased at the Alice site. Low response of SOC to combined CA treatments in the short-term prompted the need to examine treatment effects on individual soil carbon fractions. The interaction of crop rotation and residue management techniques were significant on the fine particulate organic matter – C fractions and microbially respired C. These soil C fractions were more sensitive to short-term treatments of combined CA components than SOC and MBC, therefore they can be used as short-term indicators of CA effects on SOM. Soil organic carbon, MBC, extractable P and K, soil pH, EC, b, AGS (aggregate stability) and BG activity were measured and the Soil Management Assessment Framework (SMAF) used to calculate soil quality index (SQI) values for each treatment. The combination of the crop rotations with crop residue retention showed the potential to significantly improve SQI values in the long term. The highest soil quality improvement at both sites was achieved by the maize-wheat-soybean (MWS) rotation with crop residue retention.
- Full Text:
- Date Issued: 2016
Crop yields from organic and conventional farming systems in South Africa's Southern Cape
- Authors: Mashele, N'wa-Jama
- Date: 2016
- Subjects: Organic farming -- South Africa Sustainable agriculture -- South Africa Agricultural systems -- South Africa
- Language: English
- Type: Thesis , Masters , MSc
- Identifier: http://hdl.handle.net/10948/11637 , vital:26946
- Description: South Africa (SA) is food secure on a national level, however citizens in rural and marginalised areas face household food insecurity due to lack of access to this food. South Africa has low fertility soils and scarce water resources. Climate change reports of unpredictable weather conditions will further exacerbate these challenges. The majority of the agricultural production methods in SA are industrialised and rely heavily on external inputs. Alternative agricultural production methods which are environmentally less taxing, are affordable and yield nutritious food, need to be investigated and adopted. A long-term trial investigating the differences in yields between conventional and organic farming systems was established at the NMMU George Saasveld campus. A baseline study preceded the cropping seasons to establish pre-treatment soil conditions before the two farming systems were be implemented. The trial was a randomized complete block design split into organic, conventional and control plots. In the first cropping season (summer) three crops cabbage (Brassica oleracea var. capitata), sweet potato (Ipomea batatas) and cowpea (vigna ungucuilata) were planted under the different treatments. Soil fertility changes after application of chemical and organic fertilizer were measured. Soil pH and phosphorus increased whilst potassium and soil carbon decreased from baseline levels. The organic plots were found to have higher soil pH, potassium and carbon, whilst P was higher in the conventional plots. The organic cabbages had a yield 12% lower than conventional cabbages, organic cowpeas were 51% lower than conventional cowpeas. Baboons damaged sweet potato plots before maturity. Broccoli (Brassica oleracea var. italica), radish (Raphanus sativa) and green pea (Pisum sativum) were planted in the second cropping season (winter). Organic broccoli yields were 51% lower than conventional broccoli, organic green peas were 18 % lower than conventional green peas. The organic radish yields were 36% lower than conventional yields and this was statically significant. The yield differences were statically significant between control and conventional cabbages (25%) and broccolis (68%). The results indicate that there is on average an initial 25% yield difference between organic and conventional farming systems. Similar studies have shown that the yield gap can be reduced within three to four years. This study presents preliminary results of trials that are to continue for ten years, during which time the yield differences may vary.
- Full Text:
- Date Issued: 2016
- Authors: Mashele, N'wa-Jama
- Date: 2016
- Subjects: Organic farming -- South Africa Sustainable agriculture -- South Africa Agricultural systems -- South Africa
- Language: English
- Type: Thesis , Masters , MSc
- Identifier: http://hdl.handle.net/10948/11637 , vital:26946
- Description: South Africa (SA) is food secure on a national level, however citizens in rural and marginalised areas face household food insecurity due to lack of access to this food. South Africa has low fertility soils and scarce water resources. Climate change reports of unpredictable weather conditions will further exacerbate these challenges. The majority of the agricultural production methods in SA are industrialised and rely heavily on external inputs. Alternative agricultural production methods which are environmentally less taxing, are affordable and yield nutritious food, need to be investigated and adopted. A long-term trial investigating the differences in yields between conventional and organic farming systems was established at the NMMU George Saasveld campus. A baseline study preceded the cropping seasons to establish pre-treatment soil conditions before the two farming systems were be implemented. The trial was a randomized complete block design split into organic, conventional and control plots. In the first cropping season (summer) three crops cabbage (Brassica oleracea var. capitata), sweet potato (Ipomea batatas) and cowpea (vigna ungucuilata) were planted under the different treatments. Soil fertility changes after application of chemical and organic fertilizer were measured. Soil pH and phosphorus increased whilst potassium and soil carbon decreased from baseline levels. The organic plots were found to have higher soil pH, potassium and carbon, whilst P was higher in the conventional plots. The organic cabbages had a yield 12% lower than conventional cabbages, organic cowpeas were 51% lower than conventional cowpeas. Baboons damaged sweet potato plots before maturity. Broccoli (Brassica oleracea var. italica), radish (Raphanus sativa) and green pea (Pisum sativum) were planted in the second cropping season (winter). Organic broccoli yields were 51% lower than conventional broccoli, organic green peas were 18 % lower than conventional green peas. The organic radish yields were 36% lower than conventional yields and this was statically significant. The yield differences were statically significant between control and conventional cabbages (25%) and broccolis (68%). The results indicate that there is on average an initial 25% yield difference between organic and conventional farming systems. Similar studies have shown that the yield gap can be reduced within three to four years. This study presents preliminary results of trials that are to continue for ten years, during which time the yield differences may vary.
- Full Text:
- Date Issued: 2016
Cultural events hosted in Nelson Mandela Bay
- Boucher, Sasha Marilyn, Calitz, André
- Authors: Boucher, Sasha Marilyn , Calitz, André
- Date: 2016
- Subjects: Heritage tourism Special events -- Management
- Language: English
- Type: Thesis , Masters , MBA
- Identifier: http://hdl.handle.net/10948/11823 , vital:26976
- Description: Purpose – This study seeks to explore residents’ attitudes towards cultural events in Nelson Mandela Bay (NMB), South Africa. The study further discusses the cultural values and social realities of the diverse socio-economic landscape inherent to the city. Equally, the extent of stakeholder involvement has been reflected throughout the study as an indispensable requirement towards sustainable tourism in the city. The study presents that customising cultural events according to the cross-cultural typology has far-reaching consequences in enhancing the image of NMB and induces stakeholder engagement. This study is based on the notion of Social Capital and Stakeholder theory and draws on the multi-cultural phenomenon as the thrust of the study is based on attracting residents’ to cultural events. The literature study indicated that the concept of Social Capital and stakeholder collaboration are mutually exclusive and empirical analysis indicates a strong relationship between the factors relative to residents’ attitudes. Design/Methodology/Approach – This study is located in the positivism paradigm and comprises literature and exploratory research to examine the supposition between the independent variables and the attitudes of residents’ in the NMB. The independent variables underlined in the proposed model are embedded in the literature undertaken. Equally, the thrust of the study is underpinned in Social Capital theory and the Stakeholder theory and is evident throughout this study. In this study, the convenience sampling and snowball sampling methods were employed to obtain a representative sample of residents from the NMB. A questionnaire was used in this study to solicit responses pertaining to the biographical information and questions relating to the factors of perceived satisfaction of residents in the NMB in relation to cultural events. A total number of 3,659 residents participated in this study. The researcher conducted this study by means of testing the constructs of the measuring instrument employed, as well as providing a causal model of relationships between the independent variables and the residents’ attitudes of cultural events in NMB. Findings – The results confirm the reliability and validity of the scales tested on a sample of 3,659 residents, collected using the questionnaire in Nelson Mandela Bay Metropolitan area. The empirical analysis indicates relationships among the independent factors; Social Capital and Stakeholder Profile, where a Pearson’s correlation of 0.50 exists. Furthermore, descriptive findings indicate that there is an overall positive tendency in attitudes for cultural events in the city. The practical significance as identified in the Cohen’s d test for significance infers that the moderating factors in the conceptual model prove that age, area code, home language, ethnicity and home language exert influence in determining residents’ attitudes in the city. Practical Implications – This study identifies the importance of leveraging the cross-cultural typology underscored the Stakeholder theory. Equally, for destination marketing organisations (DMOs) this study can glean insights in respect of the profile of residents for cultural event marketing and their response as stakeholders in the organisation of a cultural event. Social Implications – This study aims to gain a better understanding of the residents’ attitudes of the cultural events hosted by the NMB, its Social Capital and its relationship with varying demographic niches and cultural-centric insights that align to the ideologies pertaining to global citizenship. Originality/Value – This present study makes a contribution to the theories of Social Capital and Stakeholder theory by investigating its roles in determining residents’ attitudes of cultural events in a city. Moreover, it discusses the role of the factors as inducing variables for residents’ motivation by employing marketing principles related to the unique and emotional selling proposition philosophy. Equally, the study espouses the significance of promoting cultural events to extent that it acts as a platform to promote socio-economic development; employment opportunities, improved living standards, improving city infrastructure and environmental protection of a destination and justifies the expedition of Social Capital on the attitudes of residents’.
- Full Text:
- Date Issued: 2016
- Authors: Boucher, Sasha Marilyn , Calitz, André
- Date: 2016
- Subjects: Heritage tourism Special events -- Management
- Language: English
- Type: Thesis , Masters , MBA
- Identifier: http://hdl.handle.net/10948/11823 , vital:26976
- Description: Purpose – This study seeks to explore residents’ attitudes towards cultural events in Nelson Mandela Bay (NMB), South Africa. The study further discusses the cultural values and social realities of the diverse socio-economic landscape inherent to the city. Equally, the extent of stakeholder involvement has been reflected throughout the study as an indispensable requirement towards sustainable tourism in the city. The study presents that customising cultural events according to the cross-cultural typology has far-reaching consequences in enhancing the image of NMB and induces stakeholder engagement. This study is based on the notion of Social Capital and Stakeholder theory and draws on the multi-cultural phenomenon as the thrust of the study is based on attracting residents’ to cultural events. The literature study indicated that the concept of Social Capital and stakeholder collaboration are mutually exclusive and empirical analysis indicates a strong relationship between the factors relative to residents’ attitudes. Design/Methodology/Approach – This study is located in the positivism paradigm and comprises literature and exploratory research to examine the supposition between the independent variables and the attitudes of residents’ in the NMB. The independent variables underlined in the proposed model are embedded in the literature undertaken. Equally, the thrust of the study is underpinned in Social Capital theory and the Stakeholder theory and is evident throughout this study. In this study, the convenience sampling and snowball sampling methods were employed to obtain a representative sample of residents from the NMB. A questionnaire was used in this study to solicit responses pertaining to the biographical information and questions relating to the factors of perceived satisfaction of residents in the NMB in relation to cultural events. A total number of 3,659 residents participated in this study. The researcher conducted this study by means of testing the constructs of the measuring instrument employed, as well as providing a causal model of relationships between the independent variables and the residents’ attitudes of cultural events in NMB. Findings – The results confirm the reliability and validity of the scales tested on a sample of 3,659 residents, collected using the questionnaire in Nelson Mandela Bay Metropolitan area. The empirical analysis indicates relationships among the independent factors; Social Capital and Stakeholder Profile, where a Pearson’s correlation of 0.50 exists. Furthermore, descriptive findings indicate that there is an overall positive tendency in attitudes for cultural events in the city. The practical significance as identified in the Cohen’s d test for significance infers that the moderating factors in the conceptual model prove that age, area code, home language, ethnicity and home language exert influence in determining residents’ attitudes in the city. Practical Implications – This study identifies the importance of leveraging the cross-cultural typology underscored the Stakeholder theory. Equally, for destination marketing organisations (DMOs) this study can glean insights in respect of the profile of residents for cultural event marketing and their response as stakeholders in the organisation of a cultural event. Social Implications – This study aims to gain a better understanding of the residents’ attitudes of the cultural events hosted by the NMB, its Social Capital and its relationship with varying demographic niches and cultural-centric insights that align to the ideologies pertaining to global citizenship. Originality/Value – This present study makes a contribution to the theories of Social Capital and Stakeholder theory by investigating its roles in determining residents’ attitudes of cultural events in a city. Moreover, it discusses the role of the factors as inducing variables for residents’ motivation by employing marketing principles related to the unique and emotional selling proposition philosophy. Equally, the study espouses the significance of promoting cultural events to extent that it acts as a platform to promote socio-economic development; employment opportunities, improved living standards, improving city infrastructure and environmental protection of a destination and justifies the expedition of Social Capital on the attitudes of residents’.
- Full Text:
- Date Issued: 2016
Customer satisfaction with the guesthouse experience in Ghana
- Authors: Amoah, Felix
- Date: 2016
- Subjects: Consumer satisfaction -- Ghana , Hospitality industry -- Ghana -- Management , Tourism -- Ghana -- Marketing
- Language: English
- Type: Thesis , Doctoral , DTech
- Identifier: http://hdl.handle.net/10948/6073 , vital:21036
- Description: Guesthouse accommodation plays an important role in Ghana’s hospitality industry and was therefore the focus of this study as little research dealing with guesthouses in Ghana could be found. The number of guesthouses in Ghana continues to grow and they thus represent an important alternative to hotels. However, these establishments seem to perform poorly and face several challenges such as lack of managerial knowledge, insufficiently skilled employees, poor interaction with customers, and criticisms of the provision of low quality service. The main reason for undertaking this research was to provide guesthouse managers in Ghana with information that might assist them in making decisions about the experience they offer. Such knowledge could make this type of accommodation more competitive and eventually help the hospitality sector in Ghana attract tourists and grow. It is imperative that guesthouses focus on the experience they offer, because contemporary tourism and hospitality literature suggest that successful businesses require a shift from functional and financial interests to a more profound focus on total experiences which embody emotional aspects. It is thus argued that, if guesthouse managers in Ghana do not know how their guests perceive their guesthouse experience, they might make costly mistakes and allocate resources to aspects that already provide quality and value in a functional sense, instead of those elements perceived as providing quality and value in the total experience. Two dominating concepts, namely experience quality and experience value, formed the basis of the examination of guests’ experience with the guesthouses in Ghana. In addition, the relationships between the experience and satisfaction were also investigated. Four experience quality dimensions, namely hedonics, peace of mind, involvement, and recognition, and seven value dimensions were examined. The experience value dimensions included atmospherics, enjoyment, entertainment, efficiency, excellence, escape, and economic value. A proportional stratified random sampling procedure was followed to select the guesthouses for the study. Thereafter, a structured questionnaire was distributed to the guesthouse guests selected by means of convenience sampling. Five hundred and forty one useable questionnaires were received. The guesthouse guests formed the primary sampling unit for this study. The results of the empirical study showed a strong positive correlation between all the dimensions of experience quality and experience value, while the factor analysis confirmed that all these dimensions loaded on a single factor. Therefore, experience quality and experience value cannot be separated, and the resulting single multi-dimensional factor was subsequently renamed, overall experience. The results also indicated a positive relationship between hedonics, peace of mind, involvement, recognition, atmospherics, enjoyment, entertainment, efficiency, excellence, escape, economic value, and overall satisfaction. The inferentially established rank-order of the dimensions contributing to satisfaction can guide managers when allocating resources. Overall, atmospherics was ranked first, followed by economic value. Escape was the lowest ranked dimension. In addition, it was found that, except for escape, all the experience dimensions were perceived as basic satisfiers. This implies that guests will be dissatisfied when provision of these dimensions is inadequate. With regard to escape, listed as a performance factor, guests will be satisfied when performance is improved and dissatisfied when performance is low. A positive relationship was also found between overall experience and overall satisfaction. The latter include the likelihood of return and recommending the guesthouse to others. Finally, structural equation modelling confirmed a model representing the 11 experience dimensions (hedonics, peace of mind, involvement, recognition, atmospherics, enjoyment, entertainment, escape, efficiency, excellence, and economic value) and the relationships between overall experience and overall satisfaction pertaining to guesthouses in Ghana.
- Full Text:
- Date Issued: 2016
- Authors: Amoah, Felix
- Date: 2016
- Subjects: Consumer satisfaction -- Ghana , Hospitality industry -- Ghana -- Management , Tourism -- Ghana -- Marketing
- Language: English
- Type: Thesis , Doctoral , DTech
- Identifier: http://hdl.handle.net/10948/6073 , vital:21036
- Description: Guesthouse accommodation plays an important role in Ghana’s hospitality industry and was therefore the focus of this study as little research dealing with guesthouses in Ghana could be found. The number of guesthouses in Ghana continues to grow and they thus represent an important alternative to hotels. However, these establishments seem to perform poorly and face several challenges such as lack of managerial knowledge, insufficiently skilled employees, poor interaction with customers, and criticisms of the provision of low quality service. The main reason for undertaking this research was to provide guesthouse managers in Ghana with information that might assist them in making decisions about the experience they offer. Such knowledge could make this type of accommodation more competitive and eventually help the hospitality sector in Ghana attract tourists and grow. It is imperative that guesthouses focus on the experience they offer, because contemporary tourism and hospitality literature suggest that successful businesses require a shift from functional and financial interests to a more profound focus on total experiences which embody emotional aspects. It is thus argued that, if guesthouse managers in Ghana do not know how their guests perceive their guesthouse experience, they might make costly mistakes and allocate resources to aspects that already provide quality and value in a functional sense, instead of those elements perceived as providing quality and value in the total experience. Two dominating concepts, namely experience quality and experience value, formed the basis of the examination of guests’ experience with the guesthouses in Ghana. In addition, the relationships between the experience and satisfaction were also investigated. Four experience quality dimensions, namely hedonics, peace of mind, involvement, and recognition, and seven value dimensions were examined. The experience value dimensions included atmospherics, enjoyment, entertainment, efficiency, excellence, escape, and economic value. A proportional stratified random sampling procedure was followed to select the guesthouses for the study. Thereafter, a structured questionnaire was distributed to the guesthouse guests selected by means of convenience sampling. Five hundred and forty one useable questionnaires were received. The guesthouse guests formed the primary sampling unit for this study. The results of the empirical study showed a strong positive correlation between all the dimensions of experience quality and experience value, while the factor analysis confirmed that all these dimensions loaded on a single factor. Therefore, experience quality and experience value cannot be separated, and the resulting single multi-dimensional factor was subsequently renamed, overall experience. The results also indicated a positive relationship between hedonics, peace of mind, involvement, recognition, atmospherics, enjoyment, entertainment, efficiency, excellence, escape, economic value, and overall satisfaction. The inferentially established rank-order of the dimensions contributing to satisfaction can guide managers when allocating resources. Overall, atmospherics was ranked first, followed by economic value. Escape was the lowest ranked dimension. In addition, it was found that, except for escape, all the experience dimensions were perceived as basic satisfiers. This implies that guests will be dissatisfied when provision of these dimensions is inadequate. With regard to escape, listed as a performance factor, guests will be satisfied when performance is improved and dissatisfied when performance is low. A positive relationship was also found between overall experience and overall satisfaction. The latter include the likelihood of return and recommending the guesthouse to others. Finally, structural equation modelling confirmed a model representing the 11 experience dimensions (hedonics, peace of mind, involvement, recognition, atmospherics, enjoyment, entertainment, escape, efficiency, excellence, and economic value) and the relationships between overall experience and overall satisfaction pertaining to guesthouses in Ghana.
- Full Text:
- Date Issued: 2016
Cytotoxic activity of marine sponge extracts from the sub-Antarctic Islands and the Southern Ocean
- Olsen, Elisabeth, De Cerf, Christopher, Dziwornu, Godwin A, Puccinelli, Eleonora, Parker-Nance, Shirley, Ansorge, Isabelle J, Samaai, Toufiek, Dingle, Laura M K, Edkins, Adrienne L, Sunassee, Suthananda N
- Authors: Olsen, Elisabeth , De Cerf, Christopher , Dziwornu, Godwin A , Puccinelli, Eleonora , Parker-Nance, Shirley , Ansorge, Isabelle J , Samaai, Toufiek , Dingle, Laura M K , Edkins, Adrienne L , Sunassee, Suthananda N
- Date: 2016
- Language: English
- Type: text , article
- Identifier: http://hdl.handle.net/10962/66300 , vital:28931 , https://doi.org/10.17159/sajs.2016/20160202
- Description: publisher version , Over the past 50 years, marine invertebrates, especially sponges, have proven to be a valuable source of new and/or bioactive natural products that have the potential to be further developed as lead compounds for pharmaceutical applications. Although marine benthic invertebrate communities occurring off the coast of South Africa have been explored for their biomedicinal potential, the natural product investigation of marine sponges from the sub-Antarctic Islands in the Southern Ocean for the presence of bioactive secondary metabolites has been relatively unexplored thus far. We report here the results for the biological screening of both aqueous and organic extracts prepared from nine specimens of eight species of marine sponges, collected from around Marion Island and the Prince Edward Islands in the Southern Ocean, for their cytotoxic activity against three cancer cell lines. The results obtained through this multidisciplinary collaborative research effort by exclusively South African institutions has provided an exciting opportunity to discover cytotoxic compounds from sub-Antarctic sponges, whilst contributing to our understanding of the biodiversity and geographic distributions of these cold-water invertebrates. Therefore, we acknowledge here the various contributions of the diverse scientific disciplines that played a pivotal role in providing the necessary platform for the future natural products chemistry investigation of these marine sponges from the sub- Antarctic Islands and the Southern Ocean. Significance: This study will contribute to understanding the biodiversity and geographic distributions of sponges in the Southern Ocean. This multidisciplinary project has enabled the investigation of marine sponges for the presence of cytotoxic compounds. Further investigation will lead to the isolation and identification of cytotoxic compounds present in the active sponge extracts. , University of Cape Town; South African Medical Research Council; National Research Foundation (South Africa); CANSA; Rhodes University; Department of Science and Technology; Department of Environmental Affairs; SANAP
- Full Text:
- Date Issued: 2016
- Authors: Olsen, Elisabeth , De Cerf, Christopher , Dziwornu, Godwin A , Puccinelli, Eleonora , Parker-Nance, Shirley , Ansorge, Isabelle J , Samaai, Toufiek , Dingle, Laura M K , Edkins, Adrienne L , Sunassee, Suthananda N
- Date: 2016
- Language: English
- Type: text , article
- Identifier: http://hdl.handle.net/10962/66300 , vital:28931 , https://doi.org/10.17159/sajs.2016/20160202
- Description: publisher version , Over the past 50 years, marine invertebrates, especially sponges, have proven to be a valuable source of new and/or bioactive natural products that have the potential to be further developed as lead compounds for pharmaceutical applications. Although marine benthic invertebrate communities occurring off the coast of South Africa have been explored for their biomedicinal potential, the natural product investigation of marine sponges from the sub-Antarctic Islands in the Southern Ocean for the presence of bioactive secondary metabolites has been relatively unexplored thus far. We report here the results for the biological screening of both aqueous and organic extracts prepared from nine specimens of eight species of marine sponges, collected from around Marion Island and the Prince Edward Islands in the Southern Ocean, for their cytotoxic activity against three cancer cell lines. The results obtained through this multidisciplinary collaborative research effort by exclusively South African institutions has provided an exciting opportunity to discover cytotoxic compounds from sub-Antarctic sponges, whilst contributing to our understanding of the biodiversity and geographic distributions of these cold-water invertebrates. Therefore, we acknowledge here the various contributions of the diverse scientific disciplines that played a pivotal role in providing the necessary platform for the future natural products chemistry investigation of these marine sponges from the sub- Antarctic Islands and the Southern Ocean. Significance: This study will contribute to understanding the biodiversity and geographic distributions of sponges in the Southern Ocean. This multidisciplinary project has enabled the investigation of marine sponges for the presence of cytotoxic compounds. Further investigation will lead to the isolation and identification of cytotoxic compounds present in the active sponge extracts. , University of Cape Town; South African Medical Research Council; National Research Foundation (South Africa); CANSA; Rhodes University; Department of Science and Technology; Department of Environmental Affairs; SANAP
- Full Text:
- Date Issued: 2016
Dating in the dark: a phenomenological study of the lived experience of online relationships
- Authors: Froneman, Carmen Michelle
- Date: 2016
- Subjects: Online dating , Online dating -- Case studies , Internet -- Social aspects
- Language: English
- Type: Thesis , Masters , MA
- Identifier: http://hdl.handle.net/10948/5462 , vital:20847
- Description: Online relationships are becoming increasingly popular due to the availability, accessibility, and affordability of online social networking and dating sites. Individuals are progressively moving from meeting romantic partners face to face to meeting and engaging with individuals online. There is ample evidence to support the view that individuals do initiate romantic relationships online and often these relationships progress offline. The primary focus of online research had been conducted by communication and linguistic scholars while very little research has been conducted into the psychological conceptualisation of online relationships. In addition, there is a lack of available research pertaining to the development of romantic relationships online and more so in South Africa. The current study utilised Sternberg’s Triangular model of love and the Johari window as a framework for understanding the concepts involved in online romantic relationships. The study specifically aimed to explore and describe the lived experiences of individuals who engage in online dating. The parameters of the study included the elements that comprise the online relationship, the subjective meaning attached to the relationships, and the processes these relationships encompass. The study moreover aimed to explore the progression of the online relationship. The study used a qualitative, phenomenological approach using snowball sampling and semi structured interviews to collect data. Tesch’s model of content analysis was used during data analysis while incorporating the four major processes in phenomenological research, namely (1) epoche, (2) phenomenological reduction, (3) imaginative variation and, (4) synthesis. The findings of the study generated a greater understanding of the complexities of online dating. Themes including online relationship development, the dynamics of online relationships, how love, according to the triangular model of love, is perceived online and, self-disclosure online were identified through the participants narratives. These findings ultimately can be used for future research.
- Full Text:
- Date Issued: 2016
- Authors: Froneman, Carmen Michelle
- Date: 2016
- Subjects: Online dating , Online dating -- Case studies , Internet -- Social aspects
- Language: English
- Type: Thesis , Masters , MA
- Identifier: http://hdl.handle.net/10948/5462 , vital:20847
- Description: Online relationships are becoming increasingly popular due to the availability, accessibility, and affordability of online social networking and dating sites. Individuals are progressively moving from meeting romantic partners face to face to meeting and engaging with individuals online. There is ample evidence to support the view that individuals do initiate romantic relationships online and often these relationships progress offline. The primary focus of online research had been conducted by communication and linguistic scholars while very little research has been conducted into the psychological conceptualisation of online relationships. In addition, there is a lack of available research pertaining to the development of romantic relationships online and more so in South Africa. The current study utilised Sternberg’s Triangular model of love and the Johari window as a framework for understanding the concepts involved in online romantic relationships. The study specifically aimed to explore and describe the lived experiences of individuals who engage in online dating. The parameters of the study included the elements that comprise the online relationship, the subjective meaning attached to the relationships, and the processes these relationships encompass. The study moreover aimed to explore the progression of the online relationship. The study used a qualitative, phenomenological approach using snowball sampling and semi structured interviews to collect data. Tesch’s model of content analysis was used during data analysis while incorporating the four major processes in phenomenological research, namely (1) epoche, (2) phenomenological reduction, (3) imaginative variation and, (4) synthesis. The findings of the study generated a greater understanding of the complexities of online dating. Themes including online relationship development, the dynamics of online relationships, how love, according to the triangular model of love, is perceived online and, self-disclosure online were identified through the participants narratives. These findings ultimately can be used for future research.
- Full Text:
- Date Issued: 2016
Depth and habitat determine assemblage structure of South Africa’s warm-temperate reef fish
- Heyns-Veale, Elodie R, Bernard, Anthony T F, Richoux, Nicole B, Parker, Daniel M, Langlois, T J, Harvey, E S, Götz, Albrecht
- Authors: Heyns-Veale, Elodie R , Bernard, Anthony T F , Richoux, Nicole B , Parker, Daniel M , Langlois, T J , Harvey, E S , Götz, Albrecht
- Date: 2016
- Subjects: To be catalogued
- Language: English
- Type: text , article
- Identifier: http://hdl.handle.net/10962/456035 , vital:75477 , xlink:href="https://doi.org/10.1007/s00227-016-2933-8"
- Description: Depth and habitat are important predictors of fish assemblage structure, yet current no-take marine protected area (MPA) networks are generally limited to providing refuge for fish species that inhabit shallow waters and may exclude deep habitats essential to exploited populations. To ensure MPA efficacy at the design, uptake and management levels, baseline data on fish populations associated with deep nearshore reefs are needed. This study employed baited remote underwater stereo-video systems to investigate fish habitat associations at shallow (11–25 m) and deep (45–75 m) reef sites in the Tsitsikamma National Park MPA, South Africa. The compositions of fish assemblages at shallow and deep reef sites were significantly different. Specifically, rare species, juveniles and low trophic level species dominated the shallow reef, while deep reef assemblages were characterised by large, sexually mature and predatory fish. The body size of abundant species was also correlated with depth, with larger individuals being more abundant on deeper reefs. Habitat types were identified according to a habitat classification system established in a previous study, which resulted in four broad depth separated habitat types (defined by macrobenthos and environmental variables). Canonical analysis of principle coordinates (CAP) indicated that habitat type was a good categorical predictor of the observed fish assemblages. The CAP analysis determined that 86 % of the samples were correctly assigned to the habitat type from which they were collected, indicating that specific fish assemblages were associated with distinct habitat types. This study highlights the importance of protecting both shallow and deep reefs, not only to ensure the conservation of particular fish assemblages, but also to provide protection for all stages of the life cycle of fish species.
- Full Text:
- Date Issued: 2016
- Authors: Heyns-Veale, Elodie R , Bernard, Anthony T F , Richoux, Nicole B , Parker, Daniel M , Langlois, T J , Harvey, E S , Götz, Albrecht
- Date: 2016
- Subjects: To be catalogued
- Language: English
- Type: text , article
- Identifier: http://hdl.handle.net/10962/456035 , vital:75477 , xlink:href="https://doi.org/10.1007/s00227-016-2933-8"
- Description: Depth and habitat are important predictors of fish assemblage structure, yet current no-take marine protected area (MPA) networks are generally limited to providing refuge for fish species that inhabit shallow waters and may exclude deep habitats essential to exploited populations. To ensure MPA efficacy at the design, uptake and management levels, baseline data on fish populations associated with deep nearshore reefs are needed. This study employed baited remote underwater stereo-video systems to investigate fish habitat associations at shallow (11–25 m) and deep (45–75 m) reef sites in the Tsitsikamma National Park MPA, South Africa. The compositions of fish assemblages at shallow and deep reef sites were significantly different. Specifically, rare species, juveniles and low trophic level species dominated the shallow reef, while deep reef assemblages were characterised by large, sexually mature and predatory fish. The body size of abundant species was also correlated with depth, with larger individuals being more abundant on deeper reefs. Habitat types were identified according to a habitat classification system established in a previous study, which resulted in four broad depth separated habitat types (defined by macrobenthos and environmental variables). Canonical analysis of principle coordinates (CAP) indicated that habitat type was a good categorical predictor of the observed fish assemblages. The CAP analysis determined that 86 % of the samples were correctly assigned to the habitat type from which they were collected, indicating that specific fish assemblages were associated with distinct habitat types. This study highlights the importance of protecting both shallow and deep reefs, not only to ensure the conservation of particular fish assemblages, but also to provide protection for all stages of the life cycle of fish species.
- Full Text:
- Date Issued: 2016
Design and implementation of a multi-agent opportunistic grid computing platform
- Authors: Muranganwa, Raymond
- Date: 2016
- Subjects: Computational grids (Computer systems)
- Language: English
- Type: Thesis , Masters , MSc
- Identifier: http://hdl.handle.net/10353/2722 , vital:28064
- Description: Opportunistic Grid Computing involves joining idle computing resources in enterprises into a converged high performance commodity infrastructure. The research described in this dissertation investigates the viability of public resource computing in offering a plethora of possibilities through seamless access to shared compute and storage resources. The research proposes and conceptualizes the Multi-Agent Opportunistic Grid (MAOG) solution in an Information and Communication Technologies for Development (ICT4D) initiative to address some limitations prevalent in traditional distributed system implementations. Proof-of-concept software components based on JADE (Java Agent Development Framework) validated Multi-Agent Systems (MAS) as an important tool for provisioning of Opportunistic Grid Computing platforms. Exploration of agent technologies within the research context identified two key components which improve access to extended computer capabilities. The first component is a Mobile Agent (MA) compute component in which a group of agents interact to pool shared processor cycles. The compute component integrates dynamic resource identification and allocation strategies by incorporating the Contract Net Protocol (CNP) and rule based reasoning concepts. The second service is a MAS based storage component realized through disk mirroring and Google file-system’s chunking with atomic append storage techniques. This research provides a candidate Opportunistic Grid Computing platform design and implementation through the use of MAS. Experiments conducted validated the design and implementation of the compute and storage services. From results, support for processing user applications; resource identification and allocation; and rule based reasoning validated the MA compute component. A MAS based file-system that implements chunking optimizations was considered to be optimum based on evaluations. The findings from the undertaken experiments also validated the functional adequacy of the implementation, and show the suitability of MAS for provisioning of robust, autonomous, and intelligent platforms. The context of this research, ICT4D, provides a solution to optimizing and increasing the utilization of computing resources that are usually idle in these contexts.
- Full Text:
- Date Issued: 2016
- Authors: Muranganwa, Raymond
- Date: 2016
- Subjects: Computational grids (Computer systems)
- Language: English
- Type: Thesis , Masters , MSc
- Identifier: http://hdl.handle.net/10353/2722 , vital:28064
- Description: Opportunistic Grid Computing involves joining idle computing resources in enterprises into a converged high performance commodity infrastructure. The research described in this dissertation investigates the viability of public resource computing in offering a plethora of possibilities through seamless access to shared compute and storage resources. The research proposes and conceptualizes the Multi-Agent Opportunistic Grid (MAOG) solution in an Information and Communication Technologies for Development (ICT4D) initiative to address some limitations prevalent in traditional distributed system implementations. Proof-of-concept software components based on JADE (Java Agent Development Framework) validated Multi-Agent Systems (MAS) as an important tool for provisioning of Opportunistic Grid Computing platforms. Exploration of agent technologies within the research context identified two key components which improve access to extended computer capabilities. The first component is a Mobile Agent (MA) compute component in which a group of agents interact to pool shared processor cycles. The compute component integrates dynamic resource identification and allocation strategies by incorporating the Contract Net Protocol (CNP) and rule based reasoning concepts. The second service is a MAS based storage component realized through disk mirroring and Google file-system’s chunking with atomic append storage techniques. This research provides a candidate Opportunistic Grid Computing platform design and implementation through the use of MAS. Experiments conducted validated the design and implementation of the compute and storage services. From results, support for processing user applications; resource identification and allocation; and rule based reasoning validated the MA compute component. A MAS based file-system that implements chunking optimizations was considered to be optimum based on evaluations. The findings from the undertaken experiments also validated the functional adequacy of the implementation, and show the suitability of MAS for provisioning of robust, autonomous, and intelligent platforms. The context of this research, ICT4D, provides a solution to optimizing and increasing the utilization of computing resources that are usually idle in these contexts.
- Full Text:
- Date Issued: 2016
Design of a Configurable Embedded Network Tap Flow Generation using NetFlow v9 and IPFIX Formats
- Pennefather, Sean, Irwin, Barry V W
- Authors: Pennefather, Sean , Irwin, Barry V W
- Date: 2016
- Language: English
- Type: text , article
- Identifier: http://hdl.handle.net/10962/427756 , vital:72460 , https://www.researchgate.net/profile/Barry-Ir-win/publication/327622779_Design_of_a_Configurable_Embedded_Network_Tap_Flow_Generation_using_NetFlow_v9_and_IPFIX_Formats/links/5b9a19f2299bf14ad4d6a591/Design-of-a-Configurable-Embedded-Network-Tap-Flow-Generation-using-NetFlow-v9-and-IPFIX-Formats.pdf
- Description: This paper describes the design of a $200 hardware apparatus capable of passively monitoring network transmission at wire speeds of 100Mbit/s and generating NetFlow v9 or IPFIX compliant network flows for a downstream monitoring infrastructure. Testing of the apparatus hardware confirmed no network disruptions regardless of operational or power state while still being capable of correctly monitoring network traffic when configured. System testing under situations of heavy load confirmed apparatus capability at monitoring network traffic and correct generation of network flows compliant with either NetFlow v9 or IPFIX standards.
- Full Text:
- Date Issued: 2016
- Authors: Pennefather, Sean , Irwin, Barry V W
- Date: 2016
- Language: English
- Type: text , article
- Identifier: http://hdl.handle.net/10962/427756 , vital:72460 , https://www.researchgate.net/profile/Barry-Ir-win/publication/327622779_Design_of_a_Configurable_Embedded_Network_Tap_Flow_Generation_using_NetFlow_v9_and_IPFIX_Formats/links/5b9a19f2299bf14ad4d6a591/Design-of-a-Configurable-Embedded-Network-Tap-Flow-Generation-using-NetFlow-v9-and-IPFIX-Formats.pdf
- Description: This paper describes the design of a $200 hardware apparatus capable of passively monitoring network transmission at wire speeds of 100Mbit/s and generating NetFlow v9 or IPFIX compliant network flows for a downstream monitoring infrastructure. Testing of the apparatus hardware confirmed no network disruptions regardless of operational or power state while still being capable of correctly monitoring network traffic when configured. System testing under situations of heavy load confirmed apparatus capability at monitoring network traffic and correct generation of network flows compliant with either NetFlow v9 or IPFIX standards.
- Full Text:
- Date Issued: 2016
Designing a proxemic natural user interface to support information sharing among co-located mobile devices
- Authors: Lee Son, Timothy
- Date: 2016
- Subjects: User interfaces (Computer systems) Mobile computing
- Language: English
- Type: Thesis , Masters , MCom
- Identifier: http://hdl.handle.net/10948/12845 , vital:27126
- Description: Existing information sharing methods used by mobile devices require the user to repeat a series of steps to share one or more selected files with another individual, where the entire process is repeated for sharing the same file(s) with multiple individuals. Due to constant advancements in mobile computing, mobile devices are able to provide new, more intuitive, and easier solutions to sharing information. Natural User Interfaces (NUIs) primarily focus on the reuse of existing knowledge (from other applications or activities) or human abilities (such as touch, speech, and gestures) to provide a more accurate and usable solution to existing human computer interaction (HCI) systems. The interaction techniques of NUIs have transformed these human abilities. The main research objective was to design a proxemic NUI to provide an accurate and usable solution to support information sharing among co-located mobile devices. The development of MotionShare supported multiple devices to share information simultaneously using NUI interaction techniques. An initial calibration setup allowed MotionShare to calculate the approximate positions and orientations of every device in the environment. Novel NUI interaction techniques were implemented because of the known positions of these devices. MotionShare was evaluated using two evaluation techniques, namely analytical and experimental. The results showed device positioning to have a mean precision, trueness, and recall of 72.21%, 91.39%, and 71.63% respectively. The results showed MotionShare gestures to have a recall of 90.50% and 100.00% for the point gesture and the touch gesture respectively. The experimental technique consisted of a pilot study (formative evaluation) and a usability evaluation (summative evaluation). The results of the usability evaluation showed high user satisfaction and statistical analysis, which revealed MotionShare to achieve the main research objective. These results also showed that participants preferred the touch gesture to the point gesture, but expressed both gestures can be utilised for the tasks of MotionShare.
- Full Text:
- Date Issued: 2016
- Authors: Lee Son, Timothy
- Date: 2016
- Subjects: User interfaces (Computer systems) Mobile computing
- Language: English
- Type: Thesis , Masters , MCom
- Identifier: http://hdl.handle.net/10948/12845 , vital:27126
- Description: Existing information sharing methods used by mobile devices require the user to repeat a series of steps to share one or more selected files with another individual, where the entire process is repeated for sharing the same file(s) with multiple individuals. Due to constant advancements in mobile computing, mobile devices are able to provide new, more intuitive, and easier solutions to sharing information. Natural User Interfaces (NUIs) primarily focus on the reuse of existing knowledge (from other applications or activities) or human abilities (such as touch, speech, and gestures) to provide a more accurate and usable solution to existing human computer interaction (HCI) systems. The interaction techniques of NUIs have transformed these human abilities. The main research objective was to design a proxemic NUI to provide an accurate and usable solution to support information sharing among co-located mobile devices. The development of MotionShare supported multiple devices to share information simultaneously using NUI interaction techniques. An initial calibration setup allowed MotionShare to calculate the approximate positions and orientations of every device in the environment. Novel NUI interaction techniques were implemented because of the known positions of these devices. MotionShare was evaluated using two evaluation techniques, namely analytical and experimental. The results showed device positioning to have a mean precision, trueness, and recall of 72.21%, 91.39%, and 71.63% respectively. The results showed MotionShare gestures to have a recall of 90.50% and 100.00% for the point gesture and the touch gesture respectively. The experimental technique consisted of a pilot study (formative evaluation) and a usability evaluation (summative evaluation). The results of the usability evaluation showed high user satisfaction and statistical analysis, which revealed MotionShare to achieve the main research objective. These results also showed that participants preferred the touch gesture to the point gesture, but expressed both gestures can be utilised for the tasks of MotionShare.
- Full Text:
- Date Issued: 2016
Detecting derivative malware samples using deobfuscation-assisted similarity analysis
- Authors: Wrench, Peter Mark
- Date: 2016
- Language: English
- Type: Thesis , Masters , MSc
- Identifier: http://hdl.handle.net/10962/383 , vital:19954
- Description: The overwhelming popularity of PHP as a hosting platform has made it the language of choice for developers of Remote Access Trojans (RATs or web shells) and other malicious software. These shells are typically used to compromise and monetise web platforms by providing the attacker with basic remote access to the system, including _le transfer, command execution, network reconnaissance, and database connectivity. Once infected, compromised systems can be used to defraud users by hosting phishing sites, performing Distributed Denial of Service attacks, or serving as anonymous platforms for sending spam or other malfeasance. The vast majority of these threats are largely derivative, incorporating core capabilities found in more established RATs such as c99 and r57. Authors of malicious software routinely produce new shell variants by modifying the behaviours of these ubiquitous RATs, either to add desired functionality or to avoid detection by signature-based detection systems. Once these modified shells are eventually identified (or additional functionality is required), the process of shell adaptation begins again. The end result of this iterative process is a web of separate but related shell variants, many of which are at least partially derived from one of the more popular and influential RATs. In response to the problem outlined above, the author set out to design and implement a system capable of circumventing common obfuscation techniques and identifying derivative malware samples in a given collection. To begin with, a decoder component was developed to syntactically deobfuscate and normalise PHP code by detecting and reversing idiomatic obfuscation constructs, and to apply uniform formatting conventions to all system inputs. A unified malware analysis framework, called Viper, was then extended to create a modular similarity analysis system comprised of individual feature extraction modules, modules responsible for batch processing, a matrix module for comparing sample features, and two visualisation modules capable of generating visual representations of shell similarity. The principal conclusion of the research was that the deobfuscation performed by the decoder component prior to analysis dramatically improved the observed levels of similarity between test samples. This in turn allowed the modular similarity analysis system to identify derivative clusters (or families) within a large collection of shells more accurately. Techniques for isolating and re-rendering these clusters were also developed and demonstrated to be effective at increasing the amount of detail available for evaluating the relative magnitudes of the relationships within each cluster.
- Full Text:
- Date Issued: 2016
- Authors: Wrench, Peter Mark
- Date: 2016
- Language: English
- Type: Thesis , Masters , MSc
- Identifier: http://hdl.handle.net/10962/383 , vital:19954
- Description: The overwhelming popularity of PHP as a hosting platform has made it the language of choice for developers of Remote Access Trojans (RATs or web shells) and other malicious software. These shells are typically used to compromise and monetise web platforms by providing the attacker with basic remote access to the system, including _le transfer, command execution, network reconnaissance, and database connectivity. Once infected, compromised systems can be used to defraud users by hosting phishing sites, performing Distributed Denial of Service attacks, or serving as anonymous platforms for sending spam or other malfeasance. The vast majority of these threats are largely derivative, incorporating core capabilities found in more established RATs such as c99 and r57. Authors of malicious software routinely produce new shell variants by modifying the behaviours of these ubiquitous RATs, either to add desired functionality or to avoid detection by signature-based detection systems. Once these modified shells are eventually identified (or additional functionality is required), the process of shell adaptation begins again. The end result of this iterative process is a web of separate but related shell variants, many of which are at least partially derived from one of the more popular and influential RATs. In response to the problem outlined above, the author set out to design and implement a system capable of circumventing common obfuscation techniques and identifying derivative malware samples in a given collection. To begin with, a decoder component was developed to syntactically deobfuscate and normalise PHP code by detecting and reversing idiomatic obfuscation constructs, and to apply uniform formatting conventions to all system inputs. A unified malware analysis framework, called Viper, was then extended to create a modular similarity analysis system comprised of individual feature extraction modules, modules responsible for batch processing, a matrix module for comparing sample features, and two visualisation modules capable of generating visual representations of shell similarity. The principal conclusion of the research was that the deobfuscation performed by the decoder component prior to analysis dramatically improved the observed levels of similarity between test samples. This in turn allowed the modular similarity analysis system to identify derivative clusters (or families) within a large collection of shells more accurately. Techniques for isolating and re-rendering these clusters were also developed and demonstrated to be effective at increasing the amount of detail available for evaluating the relative magnitudes of the relationships within each cluster.
- Full Text:
- Date Issued: 2016
Determinants of economic growth in China: 1978-2013
- Authors: Sipuka, Msingathi
- Date: 2016
- Subjects: China -- Economic conditions -- 1976-2000 , Economic development -- China
- Language: English
- Type: Thesis , Masters , MPhil
- Identifier: http://hdl.handle.net/10948/11181 , vital:26892
- Description: On 1 October 1949, the Communist Party of China under the leadership of Mao Zedong proclaimed the establishment of the People’s Republic of China. Mao was to lead the People’s Republic of China for the next twenty seven years until his death in 1976. During this twenty seven year period under Mao’s leadership the Communist Party of China consolidated its position as the leader of Chinese society and in so doing consolidated communist ideology as the central perspective that guided social and economic planning in China. In 1978, two years after Mao’s death, Deng Xiaping assumed the leadership of the Communist Party of China and this period marked the beginning of far reaching economic and social reforms in China. Over the next thirty years these reforms were to transform China’s economy from the tenth largest to the second largest in the world by the end of 2013. During this period China grew its manufacturing base to the extent that the country has become the world’s largest manufacturer and the world’s leading exporter. This transformation of China’s economy has translated to the country experiencing a period of high levels of economic growth over a sustained period of over 30 years. Estimates suggest that the country’s gross domestic product grew at an average annual rate of nearly 10% over a thirty year period from 1978. These high levels of economic growth have significantly contributed to the overall reduction of poverty levels in the country, with some estimates suggesting that between 300 million to 500 million of the country’s citizens have been lifted out of poverty over a period of thirty years. China’s economic growth has had an impact beyond its own borders, as growth in many developing countries has been inextricably linked to developments in the Chinese economy in particular its demand for raw materials.For developing countries that continue to grapple with high levels of poverty among its citizens, China’s experience of lifting such large numbers of its own citizens out of poverty at the back of high levels of economic growth over a period of thirty years must serve as a basis for some learnings. The primary purpose of this research is aimed at contributing towards building the basis for such learnings, particularly with regards to building an understanding of how China has been able to grow its economy at such high levels over a sustained period of time. This research aims to identify the determinants of China’s growth post 1978. The determinants of growth are studied particularly from 1978 because the year marks the beginning of the period of economic reforms.
- Full Text:
- Date Issued: 2016
- Authors: Sipuka, Msingathi
- Date: 2016
- Subjects: China -- Economic conditions -- 1976-2000 , Economic development -- China
- Language: English
- Type: Thesis , Masters , MPhil
- Identifier: http://hdl.handle.net/10948/11181 , vital:26892
- Description: On 1 October 1949, the Communist Party of China under the leadership of Mao Zedong proclaimed the establishment of the People’s Republic of China. Mao was to lead the People’s Republic of China for the next twenty seven years until his death in 1976. During this twenty seven year period under Mao’s leadership the Communist Party of China consolidated its position as the leader of Chinese society and in so doing consolidated communist ideology as the central perspective that guided social and economic planning in China. In 1978, two years after Mao’s death, Deng Xiaping assumed the leadership of the Communist Party of China and this period marked the beginning of far reaching economic and social reforms in China. Over the next thirty years these reforms were to transform China’s economy from the tenth largest to the second largest in the world by the end of 2013. During this period China grew its manufacturing base to the extent that the country has become the world’s largest manufacturer and the world’s leading exporter. This transformation of China’s economy has translated to the country experiencing a period of high levels of economic growth over a sustained period of over 30 years. Estimates suggest that the country’s gross domestic product grew at an average annual rate of nearly 10% over a thirty year period from 1978. These high levels of economic growth have significantly contributed to the overall reduction of poverty levels in the country, with some estimates suggesting that between 300 million to 500 million of the country’s citizens have been lifted out of poverty over a period of thirty years. China’s economic growth has had an impact beyond its own borders, as growth in many developing countries has been inextricably linked to developments in the Chinese economy in particular its demand for raw materials.For developing countries that continue to grapple with high levels of poverty among its citizens, China’s experience of lifting such large numbers of its own citizens out of poverty at the back of high levels of economic growth over a period of thirty years must serve as a basis for some learnings. The primary purpose of this research is aimed at contributing towards building the basis for such learnings, particularly with regards to building an understanding of how China has been able to grow its economy at such high levels over a sustained period of time. This research aims to identify the determinants of China’s growth post 1978. The determinants of growth are studied particularly from 1978 because the year marks the beginning of the period of economic reforms.
- Full Text:
- Date Issued: 2016
Determinants of economic growth in South Africa: an economic analysis of the Keynesian macroeconomic model
- Authors: Nach, Marida Nephertiti
- Date: 2016
- Subjects: South Africa -- Economic conditions Economic development -- South Africa Finance -- South Africa
- Language: English
- Type: Thesis , Masters , MA
- Identifier: http://hdl.handle.net/10948/12459 , vital:27068
- Description: A country’s performance is commonly measured by its Gross Domestic Product (GDP). The Gross Domestic Product in Developing Countries (DCs) can be seen confusing and unbalanced, with regular and unconditional falls and booms. This study aims at examining the factors that affect the Gross Domestic Product (GDP) of Developing Countries (DCs) whereby South Africa is being selected as a representative. An econometric analysis of the Keynesian model is adopted to test the South African Gross Domestic Product (GDP) over a decade (10 years). The methodology conducted uses quarterly time series data from the South African Reserve Bank (SARB) where the South African Gross Domestic Product (GDP) is modelled as a function of consumption expenditure, domestic investment, government spending and export/import of the country. This is in order to determine which of these factors best explain South African economic growth dynamics. The variables in the model are tested for stationary and the result shows that the variables become stationary at 1st difference, except for consumption which become stationary at 2nd difference. The Ordinary Least Squares (OLS) results confirm that consumption, investment, government spending and net export all have a positive impact on Gross Domestic Product (GDP). The findings suggest that the South African Gross Domestic Product is mainly influenced by consumption, followed by investment. In the recommendation context, the study recommends that South Africa should continue to maintain price stability while at the same time endeavour to attract more investment to the country. Moreover, Developing Countries need to maintain a fiscal discipline without necessarily losing sight of the international dynamics. For further areas of studies, the study recommends more analysis on macroeconomic policies that are comprehensive and can cover all aspects related to the Keynesian model of economic growth. Finally, it is necessary to remind that the findings and recommendations drawn from the study are limited to the concept of South Africa and are based only on the results from the empirical analysis conducted.
- Full Text:
- Date Issued: 2016
- Authors: Nach, Marida Nephertiti
- Date: 2016
- Subjects: South Africa -- Economic conditions Economic development -- South Africa Finance -- South Africa
- Language: English
- Type: Thesis , Masters , MA
- Identifier: http://hdl.handle.net/10948/12459 , vital:27068
- Description: A country’s performance is commonly measured by its Gross Domestic Product (GDP). The Gross Domestic Product in Developing Countries (DCs) can be seen confusing and unbalanced, with regular and unconditional falls and booms. This study aims at examining the factors that affect the Gross Domestic Product (GDP) of Developing Countries (DCs) whereby South Africa is being selected as a representative. An econometric analysis of the Keynesian model is adopted to test the South African Gross Domestic Product (GDP) over a decade (10 years). The methodology conducted uses quarterly time series data from the South African Reserve Bank (SARB) where the South African Gross Domestic Product (GDP) is modelled as a function of consumption expenditure, domestic investment, government spending and export/import of the country. This is in order to determine which of these factors best explain South African economic growth dynamics. The variables in the model are tested for stationary and the result shows that the variables become stationary at 1st difference, except for consumption which become stationary at 2nd difference. The Ordinary Least Squares (OLS) results confirm that consumption, investment, government spending and net export all have a positive impact on Gross Domestic Product (GDP). The findings suggest that the South African Gross Domestic Product is mainly influenced by consumption, followed by investment. In the recommendation context, the study recommends that South Africa should continue to maintain price stability while at the same time endeavour to attract more investment to the country. Moreover, Developing Countries need to maintain a fiscal discipline without necessarily losing sight of the international dynamics. For further areas of studies, the study recommends more analysis on macroeconomic policies that are comprehensive and can cover all aspects related to the Keynesian model of economic growth. Finally, it is necessary to remind that the findings and recommendations drawn from the study are limited to the concept of South Africa and are based only on the results from the empirical analysis conducted.
- Full Text:
- Date Issued: 2016
Determinants of household savings in South Africa
- Authors: Malindini, Kholiswa
- Date: 2016
- Subjects: Cost and standard of living -- South Africa , Home economics -- South Africa
- Language: English
- Type: Thesis , Masters , MCom
- Identifier: http://hdl.handle.net/10948/8436 , vital:26356
- Description: This study empirically evaluates the determinant of household savings in South Africa (1985- 2013). The study used co-integration and Vector Error Correction Mechanism to determine the relationship between household savings and the selected explanatory variables. The study made use of a quarterly time series data sets from the SARB quarterly bulletin. The long-run relationship between savings and its determinants was examined using the procedure suggested in the literature by Johansen. The results of the co-integration tests suggest that there is a long-run relationship between savings and household wealth. The results suggest that wealth is a main determinant of household savings in the long run. However, the impulse response function and the variance decomposition indicated that household debt is dominant in explaining the variations in household savings better than other explanatory variables confirm. On the other hand, household debt, household disposable income and cpi (inflation) and interest rates have negative effects on household savings in the long run. Further, the estimated results revealed that disposable income, interest rate and inflation have statistically significant influence on household savings in South Africa. The implication of the results obtained from impulse response and variance decomposition is that South Africa has liberalized its financial sector to a large extent over the past decade such that households are over indebted. The main reasons for the decline in savings in South Africa is easy availability of Credit which encouraged consumers to take out loans, the rising house prices which encouraged consumers to borrow because of their positive wealth effect, Cultural/Social trends encouraging an attitude of borrowing and spending and lastly low interest rates (both in nominal and real terms). To this end, the study suggests that the South African National Credit Regulator conduct a credit audit to spot-check credit providers’ compliance with the provisions on reckless credit and over-indebtedness. More focus should be placed on indirect measures for preventing over-indebtedness, for example education. It is recommended that governmental or private organisations should set up educational programmes to improve information and advice on the risks attached to consumer credit. It is further suggested these programmes focus on money management for use in schools be made compulsory so as to raise awareness levels and establish financial literacy from an early age. This recommendation is based on the principle that prevention is better than cure.
- Full Text:
- Date Issued: 2016
- Authors: Malindini, Kholiswa
- Date: 2016
- Subjects: Cost and standard of living -- South Africa , Home economics -- South Africa
- Language: English
- Type: Thesis , Masters , MCom
- Identifier: http://hdl.handle.net/10948/8436 , vital:26356
- Description: This study empirically evaluates the determinant of household savings in South Africa (1985- 2013). The study used co-integration and Vector Error Correction Mechanism to determine the relationship between household savings and the selected explanatory variables. The study made use of a quarterly time series data sets from the SARB quarterly bulletin. The long-run relationship between savings and its determinants was examined using the procedure suggested in the literature by Johansen. The results of the co-integration tests suggest that there is a long-run relationship between savings and household wealth. The results suggest that wealth is a main determinant of household savings in the long run. However, the impulse response function and the variance decomposition indicated that household debt is dominant in explaining the variations in household savings better than other explanatory variables confirm. On the other hand, household debt, household disposable income and cpi (inflation) and interest rates have negative effects on household savings in the long run. Further, the estimated results revealed that disposable income, interest rate and inflation have statistically significant influence on household savings in South Africa. The implication of the results obtained from impulse response and variance decomposition is that South Africa has liberalized its financial sector to a large extent over the past decade such that households are over indebted. The main reasons for the decline in savings in South Africa is easy availability of Credit which encouraged consumers to take out loans, the rising house prices which encouraged consumers to borrow because of their positive wealth effect, Cultural/Social trends encouraging an attitude of borrowing and spending and lastly low interest rates (both in nominal and real terms). To this end, the study suggests that the South African National Credit Regulator conduct a credit audit to spot-check credit providers’ compliance with the provisions on reckless credit and over-indebtedness. More focus should be placed on indirect measures for preventing over-indebtedness, for example education. It is recommended that governmental or private organisations should set up educational programmes to improve information and advice on the risks attached to consumer credit. It is further suggested these programmes focus on money management for use in schools be made compulsory so as to raise awareness levels and establish financial literacy from an early age. This recommendation is based on the principle that prevention is better than cure.
- Full Text:
- Date Issued: 2016
Determinants of participation in beekeeping and its contribution to rural household income: the case of O. R. Tambo Municipality, Eastern Cape Province, South Africa
- Authors: Ncetani, Nelisiwe
- Date: 2016
- Subjects: Beekeepers -- South Africa -- Eastern Cape Sustainable living -- South Africa -- Eastern Cape Home economics, Rural -- South Africa -- Eastern Cape
- Language: English
- Type: Thesis , Masters , MSc
- Identifier: http://hdl.handle.net/10353/1486 , vital:27299
- Description: This dissertation explores determinants and perceptions to participation in beekeeping by households’ as well as its contribution to household income. This is in a context that smallholder farmers’ participation is reported to be very low, despite several claimed benefits of beekeeping. Moreover, despite receiving substantial endorsements as a resilient climate-smart rural livelihood, off-farm, forest, non-timber diversification strategy; the uptake of beekeeping by smallholder farmers in the Eastern Cape Province of South Africa still remains very low. Against this background, this study used cross-sectional survey data to gauge smallholder farmers’ perceptions and factors that influence their participation in beekeeping using a binary regression model; further, it measured the contribution of beekeeping to rural household income using a linear regression model. Descriptive statistics revealed that majority of the people from the study area have positive perceptions regarding beekeeping. Regression estimates further indicate that beekeeping is mostly conditioned by shared perceptions, institutional and socio-economic factors that are worth targeting to promote the uptake of beekeeping as a livelihood. Public policies that influence the institutional framework (extension, credit and market) in favour of beekeeping are more likely to promote participation in beekeeping activities. Also, more research on the documentation and benefits of beekeeping supported by investments targeting educational campaigns towards promoting positive attitudes and dispelling fears and myths surrounding beekeeping as an enterprise, will also promote the participation of smallholder farmers in beekeeping. Regression estimates for determinants of household income revealed a significant positive contribution of beekeeping to household income, education, gender and age. Promotion of beekeeping may therefore address household income that is worth targeting to address rural poverty. The study therefore concludes that to fully unlock the income potential of beekeeping for smallholder farmers, development agencies need to address several negative perceptions and institutional factors that affect beekeeping participation, while more research is required to quantify the claimed benefits of beekeeping, given their positive potential to promote farmers’ interests in beekeeping.
- Full Text:
- Date Issued: 2016
- Authors: Ncetani, Nelisiwe
- Date: 2016
- Subjects: Beekeepers -- South Africa -- Eastern Cape Sustainable living -- South Africa -- Eastern Cape Home economics, Rural -- South Africa -- Eastern Cape
- Language: English
- Type: Thesis , Masters , MSc
- Identifier: http://hdl.handle.net/10353/1486 , vital:27299
- Description: This dissertation explores determinants and perceptions to participation in beekeeping by households’ as well as its contribution to household income. This is in a context that smallholder farmers’ participation is reported to be very low, despite several claimed benefits of beekeeping. Moreover, despite receiving substantial endorsements as a resilient climate-smart rural livelihood, off-farm, forest, non-timber diversification strategy; the uptake of beekeeping by smallholder farmers in the Eastern Cape Province of South Africa still remains very low. Against this background, this study used cross-sectional survey data to gauge smallholder farmers’ perceptions and factors that influence their participation in beekeeping using a binary regression model; further, it measured the contribution of beekeeping to rural household income using a linear regression model. Descriptive statistics revealed that majority of the people from the study area have positive perceptions regarding beekeeping. Regression estimates further indicate that beekeeping is mostly conditioned by shared perceptions, institutional and socio-economic factors that are worth targeting to promote the uptake of beekeeping as a livelihood. Public policies that influence the institutional framework (extension, credit and market) in favour of beekeeping are more likely to promote participation in beekeeping activities. Also, more research on the documentation and benefits of beekeeping supported by investments targeting educational campaigns towards promoting positive attitudes and dispelling fears and myths surrounding beekeeping as an enterprise, will also promote the participation of smallholder farmers in beekeeping. Regression estimates for determinants of household income revealed a significant positive contribution of beekeeping to household income, education, gender and age. Promotion of beekeeping may therefore address household income that is worth targeting to address rural poverty. The study therefore concludes that to fully unlock the income potential of beekeeping for smallholder farmers, development agencies need to address several negative perceptions and institutional factors that affect beekeeping participation, while more research is required to quantify the claimed benefits of beekeeping, given their positive potential to promote farmers’ interests in beekeeping.
- Full Text:
- Date Issued: 2016
Determining budgeting skills of government social grant holders
- Authors: Matanga, Sive
- Date: 2016
- Subjects: Budgets, Personal -- South Africa , Social security -- South Africa Grants-in-aid -- South Africa
- Language: English
- Type: Thesis , Masters , MA
- Identifier: http://hdl.handle.net/10948/18454 , vital:28647
- Description: The lack of budgeting skills in Government Social Grant recipients has significantly added to an inability in many of the grant recipients to address the existing poverty in their households. This situation has been exacerbated due to exploitation of social grant recipients by illegal money lenders charging excessively high interest rates trapping grant recipients in a vicious cycle of perpetuating debt. In remote rural areas poverty and lack of literacy and numeracy skills go hand in hand. Psycho-social and economic factors play a role in grant recipients’ poor budgeting and financial decision making skills, contributing to them falling into debt in the first place. Aggravating the situation is legislation that limits access to financial resources of those without employment, rendering illegal money lenders the financial entity providing finance by default. The research was conducted in a poor rural area around Tarkastad, Eastern Cape and sought to identify challenges caused by, amongst others, the lack of decent education, poverty and poor budgeting skills, all negatively influencing different social grant holders. Analysis of data from this qualitative study took place by means of a thematic classification against the background of a critical theoretical framework. The researcher believes that this study shed light on issues surrounding exploitation by illegal, unregistered money lenders and that the suggested recommendations, if implemented, may bring about a change in lending patterns and saving behaviour of communities in remote areas.
- Full Text:
- Date Issued: 2016
- Authors: Matanga, Sive
- Date: 2016
- Subjects: Budgets, Personal -- South Africa , Social security -- South Africa Grants-in-aid -- South Africa
- Language: English
- Type: Thesis , Masters , MA
- Identifier: http://hdl.handle.net/10948/18454 , vital:28647
- Description: The lack of budgeting skills in Government Social Grant recipients has significantly added to an inability in many of the grant recipients to address the existing poverty in their households. This situation has been exacerbated due to exploitation of social grant recipients by illegal money lenders charging excessively high interest rates trapping grant recipients in a vicious cycle of perpetuating debt. In remote rural areas poverty and lack of literacy and numeracy skills go hand in hand. Psycho-social and economic factors play a role in grant recipients’ poor budgeting and financial decision making skills, contributing to them falling into debt in the first place. Aggravating the situation is legislation that limits access to financial resources of those without employment, rendering illegal money lenders the financial entity providing finance by default. The research was conducted in a poor rural area around Tarkastad, Eastern Cape and sought to identify challenges caused by, amongst others, the lack of decent education, poverty and poor budgeting skills, all negatively influencing different social grant holders. Analysis of data from this qualitative study took place by means of a thematic classification against the background of a critical theoretical framework. The researcher believes that this study shed light on issues surrounding exploitation by illegal, unregistered money lenders and that the suggested recommendations, if implemented, may bring about a change in lending patterns and saving behaviour of communities in remote areas.
- Full Text:
- Date Issued: 2016
Determining reasonableness in the light of Sidumo
- Govender, Mogisvaree Murugan
- Authors: Govender, Mogisvaree Murugan
- Date: 2016
- Subjects: Labor laws and legislation -- South Africa Employees -- Law and legislation -- South Africa Law -- South Africa
- Language: English
- Type: Thesis , Masters , LLM
- Identifier: http://hdl.handle.net/10948/11648 , vital:26947
- Description: The primary purpose of this treatise is to consider the development, analysis and application of the review test in relation to arbitration awards which is set out in the Constitutional Court (CC) judgment of Sidumo & Another v Rustenburg Platinum Mines Ltd & Others (Sidumo).1 This judgment has already had significant implications for employers and employees alike and will continue to do so in the future. Many lawyers, trade unions and employees launch or oppose review applications in the Labour Court on behalf of employers or employees. In observing this litigation process, it became clear that practitioners make two fundamental mistakes. Firstly they do not appreciate the distinction between reviews and appeals and / or, secondly, they misconstrue the Sidumo test in seeking to review or defend an arbitration award. This causes serious prejudice to their clients and results in delays in labour dispute resolution which is contrary to the spirit and purpose of the Labour Relations Act,2 as amended (LRA). The application of the Constitution of the Republic of South Africa,3 legislation and case law is fundamental to the review of arbitration awards and the role of arbitrators in that process. The common thread is the notion of “reasonableness” and “fairness” which has been and continues to be of significant importance in the assessment of arbitration awards. During the course of this research paper, reference is been made to the Constitution, legislation, case law, academic papers and journal articles. The references are mostly precedent setting and authoritative in relation to reviewable irregularities in arbitration awards. The purpose of this paper is guide and assist labour court practitioners to analyse arbitration awards and identify reviewable irregularities in order to determine whether it meets the bandwidth of reasonableness within the context of the Constitution and LRA. In doing so, practitioners will be able to successfully review awards without unduly delaying the dispute resolution process. During the research process, one of the important findings was that there has been inconsistent jurisprudence relating to the application of the grounds of review and the review test itself as per Sidumo which blurred the distinction between reviews and appeals. Many review applications failed to attack the reasonableness of the decision of the commissioner, but rather focused on the cogency of the evidence presented at the arbitration and thereby incorrectly invoking an appeal instead of a review. A further challenge was that the jurisprudence created a perception amongst practitioners that there was a decline in the Sidumo test. This approach was inherently incorrect and recent judgments have clarified and upheld the Sidumo test in review applications.4 The recent landmark judgments by the Supreme Court of Appeal (SCA) clarified that reasonableness was not a separate ground of review but was to be suffused with the grounds of review set out in section 145(2)(a) of the LRA.5 Lastly, Sidumo did not postulate the bandwidth of reasonableness and it was left to the courts to determine the extent of judicial interference. There are various factors to be considered and CC judgments have provided much needed guidance on how to determine reasonableness. In essence, a wrong decision per se is not reviewable. At best, erroneous reasons or lack of proper reasons may serve as evidence for a reviewable ground that will together with other considerations require compelling proof to justify a court’s interpretation that the decision reached is not one that a reasonable decision could have reached.7 In order to obtain an award on the basis of the Sidumo test, the 4 Andre Herholdt v Nedbank [2013] 11 BLLR 1075 (SCA); Goldfields Mining South Africa (Pty) Ltd v CCMA [2014] BLLR 20 (LAC). applicant must thus assail not only the commissioner’s reasons, but also the result of the award.
- Full Text:
- Date Issued: 2016
- Authors: Govender, Mogisvaree Murugan
- Date: 2016
- Subjects: Labor laws and legislation -- South Africa Employees -- Law and legislation -- South Africa Law -- South Africa
- Language: English
- Type: Thesis , Masters , LLM
- Identifier: http://hdl.handle.net/10948/11648 , vital:26947
- Description: The primary purpose of this treatise is to consider the development, analysis and application of the review test in relation to arbitration awards which is set out in the Constitutional Court (CC) judgment of Sidumo & Another v Rustenburg Platinum Mines Ltd & Others (Sidumo).1 This judgment has already had significant implications for employers and employees alike and will continue to do so in the future. Many lawyers, trade unions and employees launch or oppose review applications in the Labour Court on behalf of employers or employees. In observing this litigation process, it became clear that practitioners make two fundamental mistakes. Firstly they do not appreciate the distinction between reviews and appeals and / or, secondly, they misconstrue the Sidumo test in seeking to review or defend an arbitration award. This causes serious prejudice to their clients and results in delays in labour dispute resolution which is contrary to the spirit and purpose of the Labour Relations Act,2 as amended (LRA). The application of the Constitution of the Republic of South Africa,3 legislation and case law is fundamental to the review of arbitration awards and the role of arbitrators in that process. The common thread is the notion of “reasonableness” and “fairness” which has been and continues to be of significant importance in the assessment of arbitration awards. During the course of this research paper, reference is been made to the Constitution, legislation, case law, academic papers and journal articles. The references are mostly precedent setting and authoritative in relation to reviewable irregularities in arbitration awards. The purpose of this paper is guide and assist labour court practitioners to analyse arbitration awards and identify reviewable irregularities in order to determine whether it meets the bandwidth of reasonableness within the context of the Constitution and LRA. In doing so, practitioners will be able to successfully review awards without unduly delaying the dispute resolution process. During the research process, one of the important findings was that there has been inconsistent jurisprudence relating to the application of the grounds of review and the review test itself as per Sidumo which blurred the distinction between reviews and appeals. Many review applications failed to attack the reasonableness of the decision of the commissioner, but rather focused on the cogency of the evidence presented at the arbitration and thereby incorrectly invoking an appeal instead of a review. A further challenge was that the jurisprudence created a perception amongst practitioners that there was a decline in the Sidumo test. This approach was inherently incorrect and recent judgments have clarified and upheld the Sidumo test in review applications.4 The recent landmark judgments by the Supreme Court of Appeal (SCA) clarified that reasonableness was not a separate ground of review but was to be suffused with the grounds of review set out in section 145(2)(a) of the LRA.5 Lastly, Sidumo did not postulate the bandwidth of reasonableness and it was left to the courts to determine the extent of judicial interference. There are various factors to be considered and CC judgments have provided much needed guidance on how to determine reasonableness. In essence, a wrong decision per se is not reviewable. At best, erroneous reasons or lack of proper reasons may serve as evidence for a reviewable ground that will together with other considerations require compelling proof to justify a court’s interpretation that the decision reached is not one that a reasonable decision could have reached.7 In order to obtain an award on the basis of the Sidumo test, the 4 Andre Herholdt v Nedbank [2013] 11 BLLR 1075 (SCA); Goldfields Mining South Africa (Pty) Ltd v CCMA [2014] BLLR 20 (LAC). applicant must thus assail not only the commissioner’s reasons, but also the result of the award.
- Full Text:
- Date Issued: 2016
Developing a lean and green manufacturing plan for the newspaper printing industry - considering the Rising Sun Printers
- Authors: Maharaj, Avish
- Date: 2016
- Language: English
- Type: Thesis , Masters , MBA
- Identifier: vital:867 , http://hdl.handle.net/10962/d1021249
- Description: This research is focused on lean and green manufacturing using a printing company in South Africa as a case study focusing on their printing division. The reason for addressing the printing division of the company was to develop a lean and green manufacturing plan to address the concerns of resource utilisation and waste disposal in the printing division. The research looked at the concept of lean and green individually as well as together and by analysing the relationship between the two concepts. The outcome was that environmental “green” waste is embedded in the seven types of lean waste which is overproduction, waiting, transport, inappropriate processing, unnecessary inventory, unnecessary motion and waste due to defects (Moreira, Alves and Sousa, 2010 cited in Pampanelli, Found and Bernardes, 2014). It was found that the company under consideration had not been familiar with these concepts but learnt and understood the value it could bring to the company. The research concludes with the plan using the 5S tool to reduce the seven types of waste linked to lean and green manufacturing.
- Full Text:
- Date Issued: 2016
- Authors: Maharaj, Avish
- Date: 2016
- Language: English
- Type: Thesis , Masters , MBA
- Identifier: vital:867 , http://hdl.handle.net/10962/d1021249
- Description: This research is focused on lean and green manufacturing using a printing company in South Africa as a case study focusing on their printing division. The reason for addressing the printing division of the company was to develop a lean and green manufacturing plan to address the concerns of resource utilisation and waste disposal in the printing division. The research looked at the concept of lean and green individually as well as together and by analysing the relationship between the two concepts. The outcome was that environmental “green” waste is embedded in the seven types of lean waste which is overproduction, waiting, transport, inappropriate processing, unnecessary inventory, unnecessary motion and waste due to defects (Moreira, Alves and Sousa, 2010 cited in Pampanelli, Found and Bernardes, 2014). It was found that the company under consideration had not been familiar with these concepts but learnt and understood the value it could bring to the company. The research concludes with the plan using the 5S tool to reduce the seven types of waste linked to lean and green manufacturing.
- Full Text:
- Date Issued: 2016
Developing an attractant for monitoring fruit-feeding moths in citrus orchards
- Authors: Goddard, Mathew Keith
- Date: 2016
- Language: English
- Type: Thesis , Masters , MSc
- Identifier: http://hdl.handle.net/10962/2981 , vital:20349
- Description: Fruit-piercing moths are a sporadic pest of citrus, especially in the Eastern Cape Province of South Africa, where the adults can cause significant damage in outbreak years. Currently the only way in which to successfully control fruit-feeding moths within the orchards is the use of repellent lights. However, growers confuse fruit-piercing moths with fruit-sucking moths that don‘t cause primary damage, and there is no way of monitoring which moth species are attacking the fruit in the orchards during the night. In a previous study, banana was shown to be the most attractive bait for a variety of fruit-feeding moth species. Therefore the aim of this study was to determine the population dynamics of fruit-feeding moths develop a cost-effective alternative to the use of fresh banana as a bait for fruit-piercing moths. Fresh banana was compared to nine alternative synthetic attractants, frozen banana and a control under field conditions in several orchards in the Eastern Cape Province. Once again, banana was shown to be the most attractive bait. Some 23 species of fruit-feeding moth species were sampled in the traps, but there was only two fruit-piercing species, Serrodes partita (Fabricius) (Lepidoptera: Noctuidae) and Eudocima sp. Surprisingly S. partita, which was thought to be the main pest, comprised only 6.9% of trap catches. Serrodes partita, is a sporadic pest, only becoming problematic every five to 10 years after good rainfall in the Little Karoo region that causes flushes of their larval host, wild plum, Pappea capensis (Ecklon and Zeyher). During these outbreaks, damage to fruit can range from 70 to 90% and this is especially so for soft skinned citrus. A study on the morphology of the proboscis confirmed that only two species of fruit-piercing moths were present. Trap catches over three citrus growing seasons was linked to fruit damage found within several orchards. Once again fruit-piercing moth damage was relatively low in comparison to other types of damage such as mechanical and undefined damage. There was a very weak correlation between S. partita trap catches and damage, but generally damage was recorded two to three weeks after a peak in S. partita trap catches. Climatic conditions were also recorded and compared to weekly trap catches of S. partita, and while temperature and wind direction had no influence on moth populations, precipitation in the orchards was weakly correlated with trap catches. This study has shown that in non-outbreak seasons, the main fruit-piercing moth, S. partita comprises a small percentage of fruit-feeding moths in citrus orchards, but that growers are unable to determine the difference between fruit-piercing species and the harmless fruit-sucking species. Further fresh banana remains the best method for attracting fruit-piecing moths to traps, but this is not cost effective and thus a commercially viable protocol for monitoring these species remains elusive.
- Full Text:
- Date Issued: 2016
- Authors: Goddard, Mathew Keith
- Date: 2016
- Language: English
- Type: Thesis , Masters , MSc
- Identifier: http://hdl.handle.net/10962/2981 , vital:20349
- Description: Fruit-piercing moths are a sporadic pest of citrus, especially in the Eastern Cape Province of South Africa, where the adults can cause significant damage in outbreak years. Currently the only way in which to successfully control fruit-feeding moths within the orchards is the use of repellent lights. However, growers confuse fruit-piercing moths with fruit-sucking moths that don‘t cause primary damage, and there is no way of monitoring which moth species are attacking the fruit in the orchards during the night. In a previous study, banana was shown to be the most attractive bait for a variety of fruit-feeding moth species. Therefore the aim of this study was to determine the population dynamics of fruit-feeding moths develop a cost-effective alternative to the use of fresh banana as a bait for fruit-piercing moths. Fresh banana was compared to nine alternative synthetic attractants, frozen banana and a control under field conditions in several orchards in the Eastern Cape Province. Once again, banana was shown to be the most attractive bait. Some 23 species of fruit-feeding moth species were sampled in the traps, but there was only two fruit-piercing species, Serrodes partita (Fabricius) (Lepidoptera: Noctuidae) and Eudocima sp. Surprisingly S. partita, which was thought to be the main pest, comprised only 6.9% of trap catches. Serrodes partita, is a sporadic pest, only becoming problematic every five to 10 years after good rainfall in the Little Karoo region that causes flushes of their larval host, wild plum, Pappea capensis (Ecklon and Zeyher). During these outbreaks, damage to fruit can range from 70 to 90% and this is especially so for soft skinned citrus. A study on the morphology of the proboscis confirmed that only two species of fruit-piercing moths were present. Trap catches over three citrus growing seasons was linked to fruit damage found within several orchards. Once again fruit-piercing moth damage was relatively low in comparison to other types of damage such as mechanical and undefined damage. There was a very weak correlation between S. partita trap catches and damage, but generally damage was recorded two to three weeks after a peak in S. partita trap catches. Climatic conditions were also recorded and compared to weekly trap catches of S. partita, and while temperature and wind direction had no influence on moth populations, precipitation in the orchards was weakly correlated with trap catches. This study has shown that in non-outbreak seasons, the main fruit-piercing moth, S. partita comprises a small percentage of fruit-feeding moths in citrus orchards, but that growers are unable to determine the difference between fruit-piercing species and the harmless fruit-sucking species. Further fresh banana remains the best method for attracting fruit-piecing moths to traps, but this is not cost effective and thus a commercially viable protocol for monitoring these species remains elusive.
- Full Text:
- Date Issued: 2016
Developing biosensors in developing countries: South Africa as a case study
- Fogel, Ronen, Limson, Janice L
- Authors: Fogel, Ronen , Limson, Janice L
- Date: 2016
- Subjects: To be catalogued
- Language: English
- Type: text , article
- Identifier: http://hdl.handle.net/10962/431661 , vital:72794 , xlink:href="https://doi.org/10.3390/bios6010005"
- Description: A mini-review of the reported biosensor research occurring in South Africa evidences a strong emphasis on electrochemical sensor research, guided by the opportunities this transduction platform holds for low-cost and robust sensing of numerous targets. Many of the reported publications centre on fundamental research into the signal transduction method, using model biorecognition elements, in line with international trends. Other research in this field is spread across several areas including: the application of nanotechnology; the identification and validation of biomarkers; development and testing of biorecognition agents (antibodies and aptamers) and design of electro-catalysts, most notably metallophthalocyanine. Biosensor targets commonly featured were pesticides and metals. Areas of regional import to sub-Saharan Africa, such as HIV/AIDs and tuberculosis diagnosis, are also apparent in a review of the available literature. Irrespective of the targets, the challenge to the effective deployment of such sensors remains shaped by social and economic realities such that the requirements thereof are for low-cost and universally easy to operate devices for field settings. While it is difficult to disentangle the intertwined roles of national policy, grant funding availability and, certainly, of global trends in shaping areas of emphasis in research, most notable is the strong role that nanotechnology, and to a certain extent biotechnology, plays in research regarding biosensor construction. Stronger emphasis on collaboration between scientists in theoretical modelling, nanomaterials application and or relevant stakeholders in the specific field (e.g., food or health monitoring) and researchers in biosensor design may help evolve focused research efforts towards development and deployment of low-cost biosensors.
- Full Text:
- Date Issued: 2016
- Authors: Fogel, Ronen , Limson, Janice L
- Date: 2016
- Subjects: To be catalogued
- Language: English
- Type: text , article
- Identifier: http://hdl.handle.net/10962/431661 , vital:72794 , xlink:href="https://doi.org/10.3390/bios6010005"
- Description: A mini-review of the reported biosensor research occurring in South Africa evidences a strong emphasis on electrochemical sensor research, guided by the opportunities this transduction platform holds for low-cost and robust sensing of numerous targets. Many of the reported publications centre on fundamental research into the signal transduction method, using model biorecognition elements, in line with international trends. Other research in this field is spread across several areas including: the application of nanotechnology; the identification and validation of biomarkers; development and testing of biorecognition agents (antibodies and aptamers) and design of electro-catalysts, most notably metallophthalocyanine. Biosensor targets commonly featured were pesticides and metals. Areas of regional import to sub-Saharan Africa, such as HIV/AIDs and tuberculosis diagnosis, are also apparent in a review of the available literature. Irrespective of the targets, the challenge to the effective deployment of such sensors remains shaped by social and economic realities such that the requirements thereof are for low-cost and universally easy to operate devices for field settings. While it is difficult to disentangle the intertwined roles of national policy, grant funding availability and, certainly, of global trends in shaping areas of emphasis in research, most notable is the strong role that nanotechnology, and to a certain extent biotechnology, plays in research regarding biosensor construction. Stronger emphasis on collaboration between scientists in theoretical modelling, nanomaterials application and or relevant stakeholders in the specific field (e.g., food or health monitoring) and researchers in biosensor design may help evolve focused research efforts towards development and deployment of low-cost biosensors.
- Full Text:
- Date Issued: 2016