Information seeking behaviour of postgraduate students: a study of Rhodes University and the University of Fort Hare
- Authors: Monyela, Madireng Jane
- Date: 2013
- Subjects: Information behavior -- Education (Higher) , Information retrieval , Information literacy -- Education (Higher)
- Language: English
- Type: Thesis , Masters , M Bibl
- Identifier: vital:11575 , http://hdl.handle.net/10353/d1015440 , Information behavior -- Education (Higher) , Information retrieval , Information literacy -- Education (Higher)
- Description: Information is documented as data value in planning, decision making and evaluation of any programme, therefore any informed decision would be based on the kind of information that the decision maker has. Information seeking behaviour can be described as an individual’s manner of gathering and sourcing information for personal use, knowledge update and development. In the light of this Information, this study examined the information seeking behaviour of postgraduate students at the University of Fort Hare and Rhodes University. The study went further to understand the impact the introduction of new technology has on postgraduate students’ information seeking behaviour. The study was limited to postgraduate students in the faculties of Humanities, Social Sciences and Education at the University of Fort Hare and Rhodes University. These disciplines were selected because of Whitemire (2002:637)’s opinion that students studying humanities, social sciences and education carry out more information seeking activities than students studying hard sciences such as Mathematics and other Natural Sciences. The aim of the study was to establish how postgraduate students seek and gather information for academic use. The objectives of the study were as follows: to find out information sources that postgraduate students value the most and determine where they find such resources; to identify the activities postgraduate students engage in when seeking for information; to establish the factors which influence postgraduate students information seeking behaviour and to determine methods that postgraduate students use to obtain relevant information. Both quantitative and qualitative research methodologies were employed in a survey. The main research instrument was a questionnaire supported by focus groups and face to face interviews. The results showed that postgraduate students utilised different sources of information when seeking information for academic use. Internet usage however was established as the information source that postgraduate students valued and relied on most. Few respondents indicated that they still visited the library and browsed the shelves and found information that met their needs in books. Reports on consulting librarians for help were low. Although the study was not on information seeking behaviour and age, the researcher noticed that mature students did not make use of information technologies effectively and also called themselves “Born Before Technology” generation. The study also established that postgraduate student’s preferred or conveniently accessed Internet and other electronic sources of information in the libraries, even though the two Universities have postgraduate computer laboratories and students could also access electronic sources of information at their residences through wireless connection. The researcher also noted that postgraduate students relied more on lecturers and supervisors for the choice of information sources, rather than independently searching to find the most appropriate documents to use. Postgraduate students used keywords to obtain relevant information when searching electronic sources. The respondents strongly agreed that they felt frustrated, confused, disappointed and demotivated if they did not find relevant information for their searches. This validates Kuhlthau (1991)’s Information Seeking Process model (ISP) as it not only focuses on the information seeking process, but also on emotions, thoughts and expressions of the user when searching information. The study recommends the following: optional computer literacy programmes for postgraduate students, extended library orientation for postgraduate students, mentorship programmes, extended information literacy programmes, appointment of research and subject librarians as well as more faculty librarians and improvement in library marketing.
- Full Text:
- Authors: Monyela, Madireng Jane
- Date: 2013
- Subjects: Information behavior -- Education (Higher) , Information retrieval , Information literacy -- Education (Higher)
- Language: English
- Type: Thesis , Masters , M Bibl
- Identifier: vital:11575 , http://hdl.handle.net/10353/d1015440 , Information behavior -- Education (Higher) , Information retrieval , Information literacy -- Education (Higher)
- Description: Information is documented as data value in planning, decision making and evaluation of any programme, therefore any informed decision would be based on the kind of information that the decision maker has. Information seeking behaviour can be described as an individual’s manner of gathering and sourcing information for personal use, knowledge update and development. In the light of this Information, this study examined the information seeking behaviour of postgraduate students at the University of Fort Hare and Rhodes University. The study went further to understand the impact the introduction of new technology has on postgraduate students’ information seeking behaviour. The study was limited to postgraduate students in the faculties of Humanities, Social Sciences and Education at the University of Fort Hare and Rhodes University. These disciplines were selected because of Whitemire (2002:637)’s opinion that students studying humanities, social sciences and education carry out more information seeking activities than students studying hard sciences such as Mathematics and other Natural Sciences. The aim of the study was to establish how postgraduate students seek and gather information for academic use. The objectives of the study were as follows: to find out information sources that postgraduate students value the most and determine where they find such resources; to identify the activities postgraduate students engage in when seeking for information; to establish the factors which influence postgraduate students information seeking behaviour and to determine methods that postgraduate students use to obtain relevant information. Both quantitative and qualitative research methodologies were employed in a survey. The main research instrument was a questionnaire supported by focus groups and face to face interviews. The results showed that postgraduate students utilised different sources of information when seeking information for academic use. Internet usage however was established as the information source that postgraduate students valued and relied on most. Few respondents indicated that they still visited the library and browsed the shelves and found information that met their needs in books. Reports on consulting librarians for help were low. Although the study was not on information seeking behaviour and age, the researcher noticed that mature students did not make use of information technologies effectively and also called themselves “Born Before Technology” generation. The study also established that postgraduate student’s preferred or conveniently accessed Internet and other electronic sources of information in the libraries, even though the two Universities have postgraduate computer laboratories and students could also access electronic sources of information at their residences through wireless connection. The researcher also noted that postgraduate students relied more on lecturers and supervisors for the choice of information sources, rather than independently searching to find the most appropriate documents to use. Postgraduate students used keywords to obtain relevant information when searching electronic sources. The respondents strongly agreed that they felt frustrated, confused, disappointed and demotivated if they did not find relevant information for their searches. This validates Kuhlthau (1991)’s Information Seeking Process model (ISP) as it not only focuses on the information seeking process, but also on emotions, thoughts and expressions of the user when searching information. The study recommends the following: optional computer literacy programmes for postgraduate students, extended library orientation for postgraduate students, mentorship programmes, extended information literacy programmes, appointment of research and subject librarians as well as more faculty librarians and improvement in library marketing.
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Investigation into HIV/AIDS coverage in selected South African newspapers
- Authors: Moqasa, Nketsi Abel
- Date: 2013
- Subjects: AIDS (Disease) in mass media , Mass media -- South Africa , Journalism -- Social aspects , AIDS (Disease) -- South Africa , Content analysis (Communication) , Press -- South Africa
- Language: English
- Type: Thesis , Masters , M Soc Sc (Com)
- Identifier: vital:11367 , http://hdl.handle.net/10353/d1006285 , AIDS (Disease) in mass media , Mass media -- South Africa , Journalism -- Social aspects , AIDS (Disease) -- South Africa , Content analysis (Communication) , Press -- South Africa
- Description: This study investigates HIV/AIDS coverage in selected South African newspapers. The rationale for the study hinges on the fact that the media’s role in informing society about social issues, such as HIV/AIDS, is of paramount importance. The study adopted, principally, the content analysis method and, as a supplement, discourse analysis. Four daily newspapers were content-analysed, namely: Daily Dispatch, Daily Sun, Sowetan and The Star. A total of 288 editions of newspapers, spanning a period of twelve months (January to December 2010) were sampled. This study is informed by agenda setting theory. Discourse analysis was used to determine the compliance of these newspapers to media guides on the use of appropriate language or terminologies. The tone, sentence structures used when disseminating HIV/AIDS stories were also examined. The results revealed that HIV/AIDS coverage by these newspapers is reasonable even though the prominence given to HIV/AIDS issues is dissatisfactory in terms of placement on the page, headline font-size and number of paragraphs devoted to HIV/AIDS stories. 5.0% of HIV/AIDS-oriented stories were placed on the front page; 93.8% on the inside pages while 1.3% were placed on the back pages. It was also found that news and feature were used equally to disseminate HIV/AIDS issues. These genres constituted 50% each. On the other hand, the results revealed a statistically non-significant relationship between the newspapers and categories; that is: (25.09 2 , p 0.122 0.05 ). Results further revealed that these newspapers used appropriate terminology and value-neutral language in their stories. The tone of the messages was found to be positive and encouraging.
- Full Text:
- Authors: Moqasa, Nketsi Abel
- Date: 2013
- Subjects: AIDS (Disease) in mass media , Mass media -- South Africa , Journalism -- Social aspects , AIDS (Disease) -- South Africa , Content analysis (Communication) , Press -- South Africa
- Language: English
- Type: Thesis , Masters , M Soc Sc (Com)
- Identifier: vital:11367 , http://hdl.handle.net/10353/d1006285 , AIDS (Disease) in mass media , Mass media -- South Africa , Journalism -- Social aspects , AIDS (Disease) -- South Africa , Content analysis (Communication) , Press -- South Africa
- Description: This study investigates HIV/AIDS coverage in selected South African newspapers. The rationale for the study hinges on the fact that the media’s role in informing society about social issues, such as HIV/AIDS, is of paramount importance. The study adopted, principally, the content analysis method and, as a supplement, discourse analysis. Four daily newspapers were content-analysed, namely: Daily Dispatch, Daily Sun, Sowetan and The Star. A total of 288 editions of newspapers, spanning a period of twelve months (January to December 2010) were sampled. This study is informed by agenda setting theory. Discourse analysis was used to determine the compliance of these newspapers to media guides on the use of appropriate language or terminologies. The tone, sentence structures used when disseminating HIV/AIDS stories were also examined. The results revealed that HIV/AIDS coverage by these newspapers is reasonable even though the prominence given to HIV/AIDS issues is dissatisfactory in terms of placement on the page, headline font-size and number of paragraphs devoted to HIV/AIDS stories. 5.0% of HIV/AIDS-oriented stories were placed on the front page; 93.8% on the inside pages while 1.3% were placed on the back pages. It was also found that news and feature were used equally to disseminate HIV/AIDS issues. These genres constituted 50% each. On the other hand, the results revealed a statistically non-significant relationship between the newspapers and categories; that is: (25.09 2 , p 0.122 0.05 ). Results further revealed that these newspapers used appropriate terminology and value-neutral language in their stories. The tone of the messages was found to be positive and encouraging.
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Investigation of institutions for the implementation of the Dutywa Agripark Project in Mbashe Local Municipality in Eastern Cape Province, South Africa
- Authors: Ndita, Bongani Herschel
- Date: 2013
- Subjects: Agricultural development projects , Rangelands
- Language: English
- Type: Master's theses , text
- Identifier: http://hdl.handle.net/10353/24587 , vital:63210
- Description: The study investigated local institutions amongst Agri-park project beneficiaries: A case of Dutywa Agri-park in Mbashe Local Municipality. Specifically, the dissertation sought to: investigate formal and informal institutions pertaining to land, rangeland management and support services, extension services amongst Agri-park beneficiaries, and explore options with communities to strengthen these institutions for the application of the Agri-park projects. The role of local institutions in economic development has received steadily increasing attention from researchers, policy makers and development practitioners. , institutions can be defined as the formal and informal rules of the game that have been formulated to rule people‟s behaviour and transactions. Informal rules may include among others, customs, norms and standards, religion, indigenous law while formal rules may include laws, constitutions, policies, markets and firms. This study used a survey design, quantitative and qualitative research methodologies involving the use of questionnaire. The data for this study was collected from 114 households which are Agri-park project beneficiaries, the extension officer, project site manager and local economic development officer. The data were collected through face to face and telephonic interviews. Institutional Analysis and Development (IAD) framework and Statistical Package for Social Sciences (SPSS version 20.0) were used for descriptive analysis in order to identify the existing local institutions and how they should be strengthen. The results showed that a number of local institutions do exist. The main findings of this study were as follows: (1) Project beneficiaries were aware of their stakeholders and that they knew the roles and responsibilities of each stakeholder in the project. (2) Traditional leaders were aware about the project and that they have a major role to play. (3) Project beneficiaries have organized themselves into groups of co-operatives and their co-operatives are registered with the Department of Agriculture. (4) Project initiators are going to transfer the ownership of the project to these communities after it becomes well established. (5) There was a mutual agreement of youth employment rotation in the project between these four communities. (6) The condition of lease agreement for a land where the project currently running is 9 months renewable contract with the rental payment of R 6300.00 per annum. (7) The lease agreement gives the church a property right to reclaim the land should payments not be made. (8) Project beneficiaries possess some agricultural skills and that they have received various training. The study recommended that there is a need to strengthen these rules and regulation for the project to become more efficient and productive in the long-run. , Thesis (MSc) -- Faculty of Science and Agriculture, 2013
- Full Text:
- Authors: Ndita, Bongani Herschel
- Date: 2013
- Subjects: Agricultural development projects , Rangelands
- Language: English
- Type: Master's theses , text
- Identifier: http://hdl.handle.net/10353/24587 , vital:63210
- Description: The study investigated local institutions amongst Agri-park project beneficiaries: A case of Dutywa Agri-park in Mbashe Local Municipality. Specifically, the dissertation sought to: investigate formal and informal institutions pertaining to land, rangeland management and support services, extension services amongst Agri-park beneficiaries, and explore options with communities to strengthen these institutions for the application of the Agri-park projects. The role of local institutions in economic development has received steadily increasing attention from researchers, policy makers and development practitioners. , institutions can be defined as the formal and informal rules of the game that have been formulated to rule people‟s behaviour and transactions. Informal rules may include among others, customs, norms and standards, religion, indigenous law while formal rules may include laws, constitutions, policies, markets and firms. This study used a survey design, quantitative and qualitative research methodologies involving the use of questionnaire. The data for this study was collected from 114 households which are Agri-park project beneficiaries, the extension officer, project site manager and local economic development officer. The data were collected through face to face and telephonic interviews. Institutional Analysis and Development (IAD) framework and Statistical Package for Social Sciences (SPSS version 20.0) were used for descriptive analysis in order to identify the existing local institutions and how they should be strengthen. The results showed that a number of local institutions do exist. The main findings of this study were as follows: (1) Project beneficiaries were aware of their stakeholders and that they knew the roles and responsibilities of each stakeholder in the project. (2) Traditional leaders were aware about the project and that they have a major role to play. (3) Project beneficiaries have organized themselves into groups of co-operatives and their co-operatives are registered with the Department of Agriculture. (4) Project initiators are going to transfer the ownership of the project to these communities after it becomes well established. (5) There was a mutual agreement of youth employment rotation in the project between these four communities. (6) The condition of lease agreement for a land where the project currently running is 9 months renewable contract with the rental payment of R 6300.00 per annum. (7) The lease agreement gives the church a property right to reclaim the land should payments not be made. (8) Project beneficiaries possess some agricultural skills and that they have received various training. The study recommended that there is a need to strengthen these rules and regulation for the project to become more efficient and productive in the long-run. , Thesis (MSc) -- Faculty of Science and Agriculture, 2013
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Isolation, purification and kinetic characterization of prolyl endopeptidase from Titicum aestivum
- Authors: Abrahams, Adriam Mark
- Date: 2013
- Subjects: Endopeptidases , Wheat , Chemical kinetics , Pharmacokinetics
- Language: English
- Type: Thesis , Masters , MSc (Biochemistry)
- Identifier: vital:11269 , http://hdl.handle.net/10353/d1004356 , Endopeptidases , Wheat , Chemical kinetics , Pharmacokinetics
- Description: PEP activity has been described in several locations and has mostly been linked to a variety of neurological disorders such as schizophrenia, amnaesia, depression as well as other disease states such as anorexia nervosa, bulimia nervosa and blood pressure regulation. The enzyme has also been previously isolated from a variety of archae, microorganisms and several eukaryotic species but no prolyl endopeptidases have been isolated from plants. Plants have high levels of proline and glutamine rich peptides in seeds. We therefore hypothesize plants must express PEPs during germination. Bioinformatics tools were used to identify known PEPs and putative plant PEPs. A global sequence alignment of putative plant PEPs and other known PEPs indicated that the active site amino acids Ser, His and Asp are conserved in putative plant PEP sequences. Furthermore, putative plant PEPs showed similar secondary structures to known PEPs and when a rice PEP was modelled onto porcine brain PEP structure, a high degree of similarity was found. Germination studies of wheat seed showed an increase of PEP activity over time with maximum PEP activity reached after 4 days of germination, which remained at this level until 9 days of germination, implying a function for PEP in plant seed germination. Wheat PEP was purified using ion exchange and gel filtration chromatography with a final yield of less than 1 percent and a relative purity (only 2 bands detected by SDS-PAGE). The purified wheat PEP had a molecular weight of approximately 55kDa, substrate specificity for chymotrypsin-like substrates (N-Suc-Ala-Ala-Pro-Phe-pNa, Km value of 0.58 mM, Kcat of 29.37 s–1; Kcat /Km 50813.14s–1 M–1); a pH optimum of 7.9; temperature optima of 37oC and a high sensitivity to temperature as indicated by loss of activity at temperatures above 40oC. Inhibition studies using E64, Leupeptin and PMSF confirmed that the wheat PEP is from the Serine protease family and is most likely a trypsin-like protease.
- Full Text:
- Authors: Abrahams, Adriam Mark
- Date: 2013
- Subjects: Endopeptidases , Wheat , Chemical kinetics , Pharmacokinetics
- Language: English
- Type: Thesis , Masters , MSc (Biochemistry)
- Identifier: vital:11269 , http://hdl.handle.net/10353/d1004356 , Endopeptidases , Wheat , Chemical kinetics , Pharmacokinetics
- Description: PEP activity has been described in several locations and has mostly been linked to a variety of neurological disorders such as schizophrenia, amnaesia, depression as well as other disease states such as anorexia nervosa, bulimia nervosa and blood pressure regulation. The enzyme has also been previously isolated from a variety of archae, microorganisms and several eukaryotic species but no prolyl endopeptidases have been isolated from plants. Plants have high levels of proline and glutamine rich peptides in seeds. We therefore hypothesize plants must express PEPs during germination. Bioinformatics tools were used to identify known PEPs and putative plant PEPs. A global sequence alignment of putative plant PEPs and other known PEPs indicated that the active site amino acids Ser, His and Asp are conserved in putative plant PEP sequences. Furthermore, putative plant PEPs showed similar secondary structures to known PEPs and when a rice PEP was modelled onto porcine brain PEP structure, a high degree of similarity was found. Germination studies of wheat seed showed an increase of PEP activity over time with maximum PEP activity reached after 4 days of germination, which remained at this level until 9 days of germination, implying a function for PEP in plant seed germination. Wheat PEP was purified using ion exchange and gel filtration chromatography with a final yield of less than 1 percent and a relative purity (only 2 bands detected by SDS-PAGE). The purified wheat PEP had a molecular weight of approximately 55kDa, substrate specificity for chymotrypsin-like substrates (N-Suc-Ala-Ala-Pro-Phe-pNa, Km value of 0.58 mM, Kcat of 29.37 s–1; Kcat /Km 50813.14s–1 M–1); a pH optimum of 7.9; temperature optima of 37oC and a high sensitivity to temperature as indicated by loss of activity at temperatures above 40oC. Inhibition studies using E64, Leupeptin and PMSF confirmed that the wheat PEP is from the Serine protease family and is most likely a trypsin-like protease.
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Job satisfaction as a moderator of the relationship between work-family conflict and stress among female civil service managers in the Department of Education in the King William’s Town District
- Authors: Binqela, Thembisa
- Date: 2013
- Subjects: Job satisfaction -- South Africa -- Eastern Cape , Job stress -- South Africa -- Eastern Cape , Work -- Psychological aspects , Role conflict , Women employees -- South Africa -- Eastern Cape , Women executives -- South Africa -- Eastern Cape , Working mothers -- South Africa -- Eastern Cape
- Language: English
- Type: Thesis , Masters , MCom (Industrial Psychology)
- Identifier: vital:11553 , http://hdl.handle.net/10353/d1007092 , Job satisfaction -- South Africa -- Eastern Cape , Job stress -- South Africa -- Eastern Cape , Work -- Psychological aspects , Role conflict , Women employees -- South Africa -- Eastern Cape , Women executives -- South Africa -- Eastern Cape , Working mothers -- South Africa -- Eastern Cape
- Description: The research at hand focuses on job satisfaction as a moderator of the relationship between work-family conflict and stress among female civil service managers in the Department of Education in the King William’s Town District. Samples of 100 employees were used in the study. The data was collected by means of a questionnaire which consisted of the following sections: (i) a biographical and occupational data questionnaire,(ii) Eum, Lee, and Paek’s (2007) Effort-Reward Imbalance questionnaire, (iii) Bedenia, Burke, and Moffat’s (1998) Short-form Work-family Conflict questionnaire, and (iv) Halpern’s (1966) Job Satisfaction questionnaire. The data were analyzed by means of Pearson’s Correlation Technique, Multiple Regression Analysis, and Analysis of Variance. The results showed that job satisfaction does not moderate the relationship between work-family conflict and occupational stress. The study also found a significant positive correlation between work-family conflict and occupational stress and between work-family conflict and job satisfaction. It also showed that both work-family conflict and job satisfaction respectively accounted for a significant proportion of variance in occupational stress. The thesis ends with several recommendations for future research and for future professional or managerial practice.
- Full Text:
- Authors: Binqela, Thembisa
- Date: 2013
- Subjects: Job satisfaction -- South Africa -- Eastern Cape , Job stress -- South Africa -- Eastern Cape , Work -- Psychological aspects , Role conflict , Women employees -- South Africa -- Eastern Cape , Women executives -- South Africa -- Eastern Cape , Working mothers -- South Africa -- Eastern Cape
- Language: English
- Type: Thesis , Masters , MCom (Industrial Psychology)
- Identifier: vital:11553 , http://hdl.handle.net/10353/d1007092 , Job satisfaction -- South Africa -- Eastern Cape , Job stress -- South Africa -- Eastern Cape , Work -- Psychological aspects , Role conflict , Women employees -- South Africa -- Eastern Cape , Women executives -- South Africa -- Eastern Cape , Working mothers -- South Africa -- Eastern Cape
- Description: The research at hand focuses on job satisfaction as a moderator of the relationship between work-family conflict and stress among female civil service managers in the Department of Education in the King William’s Town District. Samples of 100 employees were used in the study. The data was collected by means of a questionnaire which consisted of the following sections: (i) a biographical and occupational data questionnaire,(ii) Eum, Lee, and Paek’s (2007) Effort-Reward Imbalance questionnaire, (iii) Bedenia, Burke, and Moffat’s (1998) Short-form Work-family Conflict questionnaire, and (iv) Halpern’s (1966) Job Satisfaction questionnaire. The data were analyzed by means of Pearson’s Correlation Technique, Multiple Regression Analysis, and Analysis of Variance. The results showed that job satisfaction does not moderate the relationship between work-family conflict and occupational stress. The study also found a significant positive correlation between work-family conflict and occupational stress and between work-family conflict and job satisfaction. It also showed that both work-family conflict and job satisfaction respectively accounted for a significant proportion of variance in occupational stress. The thesis ends with several recommendations for future research and for future professional or managerial practice.
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Learner nurses experiences regarding clinical supervision at private hospitals in East London in the Eastern Cape
- Authors: Vos, Porsha
- Date: 2013
- Subjects: Nurses -- Supervision of -- South Africa -- Eastern Cape , Nurses -- In-service training -- South Africa -- Eastern Cape , Nurses -- Rating of -- South Africa -- Eastern Cape , Hospitals -- Employees -- In-service training -- South Africa -- Eastern Cape , Hospitals -- Personnel management
- Language: English
- Type: Thesis , Masters , MSc (Nursing Science)
- Identifier: vital:11906 , http://hdl.handle.net/10353/d1006824 , Nurses -- Supervision of -- South Africa -- Eastern Cape , Nurses -- In-service training -- South Africa -- Eastern Cape , Nurses -- Rating of -- South Africa -- Eastern Cape , Hospitals -- Employees -- In-service training -- South Africa -- Eastern Cape , Hospitals -- Personnel management
- Description: The purpose of this study was to explore and to describe experiences of learner nurses regarding clinical supervision at private hospitals in East London in the Eastern Cape. These were Life Healthcare hospitals. A qualitative, contextual approach was used and the exploratory, descriptive design was seen as most appropriate in this study. The subjects were the learner nurses in the Bridging Course Programme leading to registration as a General Nurse. The research questions were: How did you as a learner nurse, doing the Bridging Course, experience clinical supervision at Life Healthcare hospitals? A pilot study was conducted in a clinical setting involving respondents with similar characteristics to the study population. Fourteen participants were selected for this study by using a purposive, non-probability sampling method. Data were collected by means of individual interviews during which participants were able to describe their experiences during clinical supervision; data were collected until data saturation was reached.During data analysis, the researcher used the process of bracketing and remained neutral, setting aside previous knowledge and beliefs about the phenomenon under investigation. The researcher listened to the audiotapes used for data collection several times until she was completely satisfied with the interpretation of the verbatim data. Transcriptions were made within three days of the interview. The research was done in an ethically reflective manner and the researcher ensured the trustworthiness of the study at all times. The researcher allowed the participants freedom to conduct their lives as autonomous agents, without external The purpose of this study was to explore and to describe experiences of learner nurses regarding clinical supervision at private hospitals in East London in the Eastern Cape. These were Life Healthcare hospitals. A qualitative, contextual approach was used and the exploratory, descriptive design was seen as most appropriate in this study. The subjects were the learner nurses in the Bridging Course Programme leading to registration as a General Nurse. The research questions were: How did you as a learner nurse, doing the Bridging Course, experience clinical supervision at Life Healthcare hospitals? A pilot study was conducted in a clinical setting involving respondents with similar characteristics to the study population. Fourteen participants were selected for this study by using a purposive, non-probability sampling method. Data were collected by means of individual interviews during which participants were able to describe their experiences during clinical supervision; data were collected until data saturation was reached.During data analysis, the researcher used the process of bracketing and remained neutral, setting aside previous knowledge and beliefs about the phenomenon under investigation. The researcher listened to the audiotapes used for data collection several times until she was completely satisfied with the interpretation of the verbatim data. Transcriptions were made within three days of the interview. The research was done in an ethically reflective manner and the researcher ensured the trustworthiness of the study at all times. The researcher allowed the participants freedom to conduct their lives as autonomous agents, without external control, coercion or exploitation. The following findings were evident: Three main themes emerged from data analyses. These comprised inadequate clinical supervision, satisfactory clinical supervision and suggestions and inputs regarding clinical supervision. Detailed discussions about the findings in relation to earlier studies were conducted. Recommendations to improve clinical supervision were made in order to improve the experiences of learner nurses during training. The findings of the research will be made available through the University of Fort Hare library and the Life College of Learning. Furthermore the information of this study will be shared with colleagues and will be published in an accredited nursing journal such as Curationis as well as other journals.control, coercion or exploitation. The following findings were evident: Three main themes emerged from data analyses. These comprised inadequate clinical supervision, satisfactory clinical supervision and suggestions and inputs regarding clinical supervision. Detailed discussions about the findings in relation to earlier studies were conducted. Recommendations to improve clinical supervision were made in order to improve the experiences of learner nurses during training. The findings of the research will be made available through the University of Fort Hare library and the Life College of Learning. Furthermore the information of this study will be shared with colleagues and will be published in an accredited nursing journal such as Curationis as well as other journals.
- Full Text:
- Authors: Vos, Porsha
- Date: 2013
- Subjects: Nurses -- Supervision of -- South Africa -- Eastern Cape , Nurses -- In-service training -- South Africa -- Eastern Cape , Nurses -- Rating of -- South Africa -- Eastern Cape , Hospitals -- Employees -- In-service training -- South Africa -- Eastern Cape , Hospitals -- Personnel management
- Language: English
- Type: Thesis , Masters , MSc (Nursing Science)
- Identifier: vital:11906 , http://hdl.handle.net/10353/d1006824 , Nurses -- Supervision of -- South Africa -- Eastern Cape , Nurses -- In-service training -- South Africa -- Eastern Cape , Nurses -- Rating of -- South Africa -- Eastern Cape , Hospitals -- Employees -- In-service training -- South Africa -- Eastern Cape , Hospitals -- Personnel management
- Description: The purpose of this study was to explore and to describe experiences of learner nurses regarding clinical supervision at private hospitals in East London in the Eastern Cape. These were Life Healthcare hospitals. A qualitative, contextual approach was used and the exploratory, descriptive design was seen as most appropriate in this study. The subjects were the learner nurses in the Bridging Course Programme leading to registration as a General Nurse. The research questions were: How did you as a learner nurse, doing the Bridging Course, experience clinical supervision at Life Healthcare hospitals? A pilot study was conducted in a clinical setting involving respondents with similar characteristics to the study population. Fourteen participants were selected for this study by using a purposive, non-probability sampling method. Data were collected by means of individual interviews during which participants were able to describe their experiences during clinical supervision; data were collected until data saturation was reached.During data analysis, the researcher used the process of bracketing and remained neutral, setting aside previous knowledge and beliefs about the phenomenon under investigation. The researcher listened to the audiotapes used for data collection several times until she was completely satisfied with the interpretation of the verbatim data. Transcriptions were made within three days of the interview. The research was done in an ethically reflective manner and the researcher ensured the trustworthiness of the study at all times. The researcher allowed the participants freedom to conduct their lives as autonomous agents, without external The purpose of this study was to explore and to describe experiences of learner nurses regarding clinical supervision at private hospitals in East London in the Eastern Cape. These were Life Healthcare hospitals. A qualitative, contextual approach was used and the exploratory, descriptive design was seen as most appropriate in this study. The subjects were the learner nurses in the Bridging Course Programme leading to registration as a General Nurse. The research questions were: How did you as a learner nurse, doing the Bridging Course, experience clinical supervision at Life Healthcare hospitals? A pilot study was conducted in a clinical setting involving respondents with similar characteristics to the study population. Fourteen participants were selected for this study by using a purposive, non-probability sampling method. Data were collected by means of individual interviews during which participants were able to describe their experiences during clinical supervision; data were collected until data saturation was reached.During data analysis, the researcher used the process of bracketing and remained neutral, setting aside previous knowledge and beliefs about the phenomenon under investigation. The researcher listened to the audiotapes used for data collection several times until she was completely satisfied with the interpretation of the verbatim data. Transcriptions were made within three days of the interview. The research was done in an ethically reflective manner and the researcher ensured the trustworthiness of the study at all times. The researcher allowed the participants freedom to conduct their lives as autonomous agents, without external control, coercion or exploitation. The following findings were evident: Three main themes emerged from data analyses. These comprised inadequate clinical supervision, satisfactory clinical supervision and suggestions and inputs regarding clinical supervision. Detailed discussions about the findings in relation to earlier studies were conducted. Recommendations to improve clinical supervision were made in order to improve the experiences of learner nurses during training. The findings of the research will be made available through the University of Fort Hare library and the Life College of Learning. Furthermore the information of this study will be shared with colleagues and will be published in an accredited nursing journal such as Curationis as well as other journals.control, coercion or exploitation. The following findings were evident: Three main themes emerged from data analyses. These comprised inadequate clinical supervision, satisfactory clinical supervision and suggestions and inputs regarding clinical supervision. Detailed discussions about the findings in relation to earlier studies were conducted. Recommendations to improve clinical supervision were made in order to improve the experiences of learner nurses during training. The findings of the research will be made available through the University of Fort Hare library and the Life College of Learning. Furthermore the information of this study will be shared with colleagues and will be published in an accredited nursing journal such as Curationis as well as other journals.
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Linking performance management to public perceptions of police effectiveness: a case of Queenstown cluster police stations, Eastern Cape (2009-2011)
- Authors: Mziwonke, Bazel Bibi
- Date: 2013
- Language: English
- Type: Thesis , Masters , MPA
- Identifier: vital:11702 , http://hdl.handle.net/10353/d1015148
- Description: This study investigated the relationship between SAPS performance management and measurement assessment patterns and public perceptions of the effectiveness of SAPS. The Performance Management System (PMS) and the Performance Measurement System (PMS1) of SAPS were investigated and it was looked at whether there is a correlation between them. The two internal measurement systems i.e. PMS and PMS1 were compared with the perception of the community about service delivery effectiveness of SAPS. Seven police stations in the Queenstown Cluster participated in the study. Semi-structured interviews were used to gather data from the Cluster Commander, Station Commanders, Production personnel and members of the community. The findings indicated that SAPS has challenges in implementing PMS. Matters of honesty and trust were seen as contributing factors to these challenges. The internal performance management tools do not take into consideration the needs of the community. This transpired on the results of internal performance management which indicated police stations and their members to be performing satisfactory while the community is not satisfied with the police station performance.
- Full Text:
- Authors: Mziwonke, Bazel Bibi
- Date: 2013
- Language: English
- Type: Thesis , Masters , MPA
- Identifier: vital:11702 , http://hdl.handle.net/10353/d1015148
- Description: This study investigated the relationship between SAPS performance management and measurement assessment patterns and public perceptions of the effectiveness of SAPS. The Performance Management System (PMS) and the Performance Measurement System (PMS1) of SAPS were investigated and it was looked at whether there is a correlation between them. The two internal measurement systems i.e. PMS and PMS1 were compared with the perception of the community about service delivery effectiveness of SAPS. Seven police stations in the Queenstown Cluster participated in the study. Semi-structured interviews were used to gather data from the Cluster Commander, Station Commanders, Production personnel and members of the community. The findings indicated that SAPS has challenges in implementing PMS. Matters of honesty and trust were seen as contributing factors to these challenges. The internal performance management tools do not take into consideration the needs of the community. This transpired on the results of internal performance management which indicated police stations and their members to be performing satisfactory while the community is not satisfied with the police station performance.
- Full Text:
Livelihood strategies of female headed households in Zimbabwe: the case of Magaso Village, Mutoko District in Zimbabwe
- Authors: Musekiwa, Pamela
- Date: 2013
- Subjects: Women heads of households -- Zimbabwe , Women in agriculture -- Zimbabwe , Sustainable development -- Zimbabwe , Household surveys -- Zimbabwe , Poverty -- Zimbabwe
- Language: English
- Type: Thesis , Masters , M SW
- Identifier: vital:11763 , http://hdl.handle.net/10353/d1005967 , Women heads of households -- Zimbabwe , Women in agriculture -- Zimbabwe , Sustainable development -- Zimbabwe , Household surveys -- Zimbabwe , Poverty -- Zimbabwe
- Description: This research study explored livelihood strategies that female headed households adopt in Magaso village of Mutoko district in Zimbabwe. The study intended to achieve the following objectives: (i) examine the existing livelihood strategies of female headed households (ii) explore the various challenges faced by female headed households and (iii) establish the support mechanisms in place for female headed households to cope with life challenges .The literature reviewed in the study was drawn from several researchers, and the study was shaped by the strengths perspectives and the liberal feminism perspective. The study was qualitative in nature and used interviews to collect data from fifteen (15) female headed households. The data collection process used an interview guide. The research employed a qualitative research design in the form of a case study cum a phenomenological study design. Data was analysed qualitatively using the content thematic data analysis which used interpretive approaches and presentation is textual rather than statistical. The study findings were the following: engaging in subsistence farming was found to be the main livelihood activity of the female heads; engaging in home gardens; exchanging labour for food; involvement in business; reliance on temporary employment from different agencies; reliance on handouts from government and other bodies; and household heads sanctioning child labour that compromises school attendance. Moreover, these female heads faced numerous difficulties ranging from emotional, social to financial problems that resulted in worsening the condition of women, and hence validating feminization of poverty among them. Several support mechanisms were discovered to be available for the female heads but they fail to produce to fruitful results to the lives of the female heads. The study made the following recommendations: mainstreaming gender education from childhood stage; efforts aimed at job creation; financial empowerment through setting up of micro schemes for rural women amongst; seeking the services of agricultural extension services to the female head farmers; improving the social services delivery in Zimbabwe equitably across genders and strengthening informal strategies to improve women‘s social capital. Lastly, the study concluded that little is being done in terms of policy formulation to make the support structures responsive to the female headed households especially in rural areas, hence the need for sustainable development through empowerment.
- Full Text:
- Authors: Musekiwa, Pamela
- Date: 2013
- Subjects: Women heads of households -- Zimbabwe , Women in agriculture -- Zimbabwe , Sustainable development -- Zimbabwe , Household surveys -- Zimbabwe , Poverty -- Zimbabwe
- Language: English
- Type: Thesis , Masters , M SW
- Identifier: vital:11763 , http://hdl.handle.net/10353/d1005967 , Women heads of households -- Zimbabwe , Women in agriculture -- Zimbabwe , Sustainable development -- Zimbabwe , Household surveys -- Zimbabwe , Poverty -- Zimbabwe
- Description: This research study explored livelihood strategies that female headed households adopt in Magaso village of Mutoko district in Zimbabwe. The study intended to achieve the following objectives: (i) examine the existing livelihood strategies of female headed households (ii) explore the various challenges faced by female headed households and (iii) establish the support mechanisms in place for female headed households to cope with life challenges .The literature reviewed in the study was drawn from several researchers, and the study was shaped by the strengths perspectives and the liberal feminism perspective. The study was qualitative in nature and used interviews to collect data from fifteen (15) female headed households. The data collection process used an interview guide. The research employed a qualitative research design in the form of a case study cum a phenomenological study design. Data was analysed qualitatively using the content thematic data analysis which used interpretive approaches and presentation is textual rather than statistical. The study findings were the following: engaging in subsistence farming was found to be the main livelihood activity of the female heads; engaging in home gardens; exchanging labour for food; involvement in business; reliance on temporary employment from different agencies; reliance on handouts from government and other bodies; and household heads sanctioning child labour that compromises school attendance. Moreover, these female heads faced numerous difficulties ranging from emotional, social to financial problems that resulted in worsening the condition of women, and hence validating feminization of poverty among them. Several support mechanisms were discovered to be available for the female heads but they fail to produce to fruitful results to the lives of the female heads. The study made the following recommendations: mainstreaming gender education from childhood stage; efforts aimed at job creation; financial empowerment through setting up of micro schemes for rural women amongst; seeking the services of agricultural extension services to the female head farmers; improving the social services delivery in Zimbabwe equitably across genders and strengthening informal strategies to improve women‘s social capital. Lastly, the study concluded that little is being done in terms of policy formulation to make the support structures responsive to the female headed households especially in rural areas, hence the need for sustainable development through empowerment.
- Full Text:
Long-term ecological effects of rangeland burning, grazing and browsing on vegetation and organic matter dynamics
- Authors: Ratsele, Clement Ratsele
- Date: 2013
- Subjects: Rangelands -- Fire management , Range ecology , Rangelands -- Monitoring , Animals -- Effect of fires on
- Language: English
- Type: Thesis , Doctoral , PhD (Pasture Science)
- Identifier: vital:11582 , http://hdl.handle.net/10353/d1006844 , Rangelands -- Fire management , Range ecology , Rangelands -- Monitoring , Animals -- Effect of fires on
- Description: To proffer a sustainable solution to ecological degradation in rangeland ecosystems as a consequence of fire, grazing and browsing, an understanding of rangeland ecological processes is vital. Due to the complexity of ecological processes and their interrelationships, it is usually difficult or expensive to directly measure status of ecological processes. Therefore, biological and physical characteristics are often used to indicate the functionality of ecological processes and site integrity. Long-term effects of fire, grazing and browsing on characteristics of the vegetation and organic matter and their subsequent effects on selected rangelands ecosystem ecological processes was conducted at Honeydale section of the University of Fort Hare farm in the Eastern Cape Province of South Africa and Matopos Research Station in Zimbabwe. In this study, attributes of biotic community integrity (species richness, composition and diversity), soil stability (basal cover, standing dead grass biomass, tuft to tuft distance, tufts diameter, canopy distance and stem to stem distance), productivity and plant vigour (grass yield, total canopy volume, plant height, canopy height, canopy diameter, main stem diameter, sprouts diameter and number of sprouts) and hydrologic function and nutrient cycling (grass litter biomass, soil organic carbon and microbial biomass carbon) were used to estimate long-term effects of burning, grazing and browsing by goats on the functionality of ecological processes in the rangeland ecosystem. Burning did not have differential effect on grass species richness (P>0.05), woody species diversity as well as compositional percentage for D.eriatha, C.plurinodis, S.fimbriatus, A.karro and E.rigida. Burning increased decreasers and increaser II species proportions and reduced (P ≤ 0.05) grass yield, total canopy volume, tree height, canopy height main stem diameter and sprouts diameter. Long-term burning, grazing, and goats browsing had differential effects on site stability. The effects on basal cover, tuft to tuft distance, tufts diameter, canopy distance and basal distance as a consequence of long-term burning, grazing, and goats browsing were not significantly different, whereas the effects on standing dead grass biomass as a result of long-term burning frequencies were significantly different. Long-term effects of burning followed by ten-year period of fire exclusion had significantly different effects on tuft-tuft distance but did not have statistically different effects on tufts diameter, canopy distance and basal distance. Long-term burning grazing and browsing had significantly different effects on attributes of hydrologic functions and nutrient cycling in the rangeland ecosystem (grass litter biomass, SOC and BMC). Long-term effects of burning followed by ten-year period of fire exclusion had significantly different effects on grass litter biomass, and SOC. Through their effect on vegetation and organic matter characteristics, burning, grazing and browsing could influence functionality of selected rangeland ecological processes such as biological community integrity, productivity and plant vigour, site stability, hydrologic function and nutrient cycling.
- Full Text:
- Authors: Ratsele, Clement Ratsele
- Date: 2013
- Subjects: Rangelands -- Fire management , Range ecology , Rangelands -- Monitoring , Animals -- Effect of fires on
- Language: English
- Type: Thesis , Doctoral , PhD (Pasture Science)
- Identifier: vital:11582 , http://hdl.handle.net/10353/d1006844 , Rangelands -- Fire management , Range ecology , Rangelands -- Monitoring , Animals -- Effect of fires on
- Description: To proffer a sustainable solution to ecological degradation in rangeland ecosystems as a consequence of fire, grazing and browsing, an understanding of rangeland ecological processes is vital. Due to the complexity of ecological processes and their interrelationships, it is usually difficult or expensive to directly measure status of ecological processes. Therefore, biological and physical characteristics are often used to indicate the functionality of ecological processes and site integrity. Long-term effects of fire, grazing and browsing on characteristics of the vegetation and organic matter and their subsequent effects on selected rangelands ecosystem ecological processes was conducted at Honeydale section of the University of Fort Hare farm in the Eastern Cape Province of South Africa and Matopos Research Station in Zimbabwe. In this study, attributes of biotic community integrity (species richness, composition and diversity), soil stability (basal cover, standing dead grass biomass, tuft to tuft distance, tufts diameter, canopy distance and stem to stem distance), productivity and plant vigour (grass yield, total canopy volume, plant height, canopy height, canopy diameter, main stem diameter, sprouts diameter and number of sprouts) and hydrologic function and nutrient cycling (grass litter biomass, soil organic carbon and microbial biomass carbon) were used to estimate long-term effects of burning, grazing and browsing by goats on the functionality of ecological processes in the rangeland ecosystem. Burning did not have differential effect on grass species richness (P>0.05), woody species diversity as well as compositional percentage for D.eriatha, C.plurinodis, S.fimbriatus, A.karro and E.rigida. Burning increased decreasers and increaser II species proportions and reduced (P ≤ 0.05) grass yield, total canopy volume, tree height, canopy height main stem diameter and sprouts diameter. Long-term burning, grazing, and goats browsing had differential effects on site stability. The effects on basal cover, tuft to tuft distance, tufts diameter, canopy distance and basal distance as a consequence of long-term burning, grazing, and goats browsing were not significantly different, whereas the effects on standing dead grass biomass as a result of long-term burning frequencies were significantly different. Long-term effects of burning followed by ten-year period of fire exclusion had significantly different effects on tuft-tuft distance but did not have statistically different effects on tufts diameter, canopy distance and basal distance. Long-term burning grazing and browsing had significantly different effects on attributes of hydrologic functions and nutrient cycling in the rangeland ecosystem (grass litter biomass, SOC and BMC). Long-term effects of burning followed by ten-year period of fire exclusion had significantly different effects on grass litter biomass, and SOC. Through their effect on vegetation and organic matter characteristics, burning, grazing and browsing could influence functionality of selected rangeland ecological processes such as biological community integrity, productivity and plant vigour, site stability, hydrologic function and nutrient cycling.
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Management of HIV/AIDS programmes at the workplace: a study of selected organisations in Chris Hani District, Eastern Cape Province
- Authors: Shava, Getrude
- Date: 2013
- Subjects: Social responsibility of business -- South Africa -- Eastern Cape , Industrial hygiene -- South Africa -- Eastern Cape , HIV infections -- South Africa -- Eastern Cape , HIV-positive persons -- Employment -- South Africa , AIDS (Disease) -- South Africa -- Eastern Cape
- Language: English
- Type: Thesis , Masters , M SW
- Identifier: vital:11764 , http://hdl.handle.net/10353/d1005992 , Social responsibility of business -- South Africa -- Eastern Cape , Industrial hygiene -- South Africa -- Eastern Cape , HIV infections -- South Africa -- Eastern Cape , HIV-positive persons -- Employment -- South Africa , AIDS (Disease) -- South Africa -- Eastern Cape
- Description: The aim of the study was to investigate the management of HIV /AIDS programmes at the workplace in four selected organisations in Chris Hani District, Eastern Cape Province of South Africa. Four organisations were studied, two public organisations and two private organisations. With the use of triangulation method, two hundred employees were administered a semi- structured questionnaire while for (four) managers, semi structured in-depth interviews were conducted. The major findings of this study outline that all the four organisations studied have HIV/AIDS programmes and policies for their employees. However, there were no budget allocations for these programmes to be fully implemented for effectiveness. From the data, it can be concluded that HIV/AIDS has a negative impact on organisations‟ production like high training costs, high labour turnover and high absenteeism from work. This has been as a result of managers who did not put their total commitment towards HIV/AIDS management at their workplaces in the same way they have done to other core areas of businesses of their organisations. The study therefore recommends the management of these organisations to demonstrate a clear commitment to the HIV/AIDS management strategies by fully implementing the HIV/AIDS management programmes in their workplaces. It is very crucial for employees to see this commitment in a concrete form through non-discrimination and support for the people living with HIV/AIDS. Clear unambiguous commitment will go far in developing mutual trust between employers and employees and facilitate an atmosphere where people are willing to undergo VCT and to possibly disclose their status. Furthermore, managers are recommended to hire quality service providers to carry out intensive de-stigmatisation processes. This will create a supportive environment and adequately address the fears of employees about HIV/AIDS issues at the workplace. All these recommendations will go a long way in assisting organisations achieve their strategic business objectives and reduce the negative impact of HIV/AIDS at their workplaces.
- Full Text:
- Authors: Shava, Getrude
- Date: 2013
- Subjects: Social responsibility of business -- South Africa -- Eastern Cape , Industrial hygiene -- South Africa -- Eastern Cape , HIV infections -- South Africa -- Eastern Cape , HIV-positive persons -- Employment -- South Africa , AIDS (Disease) -- South Africa -- Eastern Cape
- Language: English
- Type: Thesis , Masters , M SW
- Identifier: vital:11764 , http://hdl.handle.net/10353/d1005992 , Social responsibility of business -- South Africa -- Eastern Cape , Industrial hygiene -- South Africa -- Eastern Cape , HIV infections -- South Africa -- Eastern Cape , HIV-positive persons -- Employment -- South Africa , AIDS (Disease) -- South Africa -- Eastern Cape
- Description: The aim of the study was to investigate the management of HIV /AIDS programmes at the workplace in four selected organisations in Chris Hani District, Eastern Cape Province of South Africa. Four organisations were studied, two public organisations and two private organisations. With the use of triangulation method, two hundred employees were administered a semi- structured questionnaire while for (four) managers, semi structured in-depth interviews were conducted. The major findings of this study outline that all the four organisations studied have HIV/AIDS programmes and policies for their employees. However, there were no budget allocations for these programmes to be fully implemented for effectiveness. From the data, it can be concluded that HIV/AIDS has a negative impact on organisations‟ production like high training costs, high labour turnover and high absenteeism from work. This has been as a result of managers who did not put their total commitment towards HIV/AIDS management at their workplaces in the same way they have done to other core areas of businesses of their organisations. The study therefore recommends the management of these organisations to demonstrate a clear commitment to the HIV/AIDS management strategies by fully implementing the HIV/AIDS management programmes in their workplaces. It is very crucial for employees to see this commitment in a concrete form through non-discrimination and support for the people living with HIV/AIDS. Clear unambiguous commitment will go far in developing mutual trust between employers and employees and facilitate an atmosphere where people are willing to undergo VCT and to possibly disclose their status. Furthermore, managers are recommended to hire quality service providers to carry out intensive de-stigmatisation processes. This will create a supportive environment and adequately address the fears of employees about HIV/AIDS issues at the workplace. All these recommendations will go a long way in assisting organisations achieve their strategic business objectives and reduce the negative impact of HIV/AIDS at their workplaces.
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Managing Information Confidentiality Using the Chinese Wall Model to Reduce Fraud in Government Tenders
- Authors: Rama, Sobhana
- Date: 2013
- Subjects: Chinese walls (Communication barriers) -- South Africa , Business logistics -- South Africa , Confidential communications -- South Africa , Conflict of interests -- South Africa , Fraud -- South Africa , Information services -- Government policy -- South Africa , Communication policy -- South Africa , Communication planning -- South Africa , Chinese Wall Model , Information confidentiality , Conflict of Interest , Government tender fraud
- Language: English
- Type: Thesis , Masters , MCom (Information Systems)
- Identifier: vital:11136 , http://hdl.handle.net/10353/d1006956 , Chinese walls (Communication barriers) -- South Africa , Business logistics -- South Africa , Confidential communications -- South Africa , Conflict of interests -- South Africa , Fraud -- South Africa , Information services -- Government policy -- South Africa , Communication policy -- South Africa , Communication planning -- South Africa , Chinese Wall Model , Information confidentiality , Conflict of Interest , Government tender fraud
- Description: Instances of fraudulent acts are often headline news in the popular press in South Africa. Increasingly, these press reports point to the government tender process as being the main enabler used by the perpetrators committing the fraud. The cause of the tender fraud problem is confidentiality breach of information. This is accomplished, in part, by compromising the tender information contained in the government information system. This results in the biased award of a tender. Typically, the information in the tender process should be used to make decisions about a tender’s specifications, solicitation, evaluation and adjudication. The sharing of said information to unauthorised persons can be used to manipulate and corrupt the process. This in turn corrupts the tender process by awarding a tender to an unworthy recipient. This research studies the generic steps in the tender process to understand how information is used to corrupt the tender process. It proposes that conflict of interest, together with a lack of information confidentiality in the information system, paves the way for possible tender fraud. Thereafter, a system of internal controls is examined within the South African government as well as in foreign countries to investigate measures taken to reduce the breach of confidential information in the tender process. By referring to the Common Criteria Security Model, various critical security areas within the tender process are identified. This measure is assisted with the ISO/IEC 27002 (2005) standard which has guiding principles for the management of confidential information. Thereafter, an information security policy,the Chinese Wall Model will be discussed as a means of reducing instances where conflict of interest may occur. Finally, an adapted Chinese Wall Model, which includes elements of the tender process, is presented as a way of reducing fraud in the government tender process. Finally, the research objective of this study is presented in the form of Critical Success Factors that aid in reducing the breach of confidential information in the tender process. As a consequence, tender fraud is reduced. These success factors have a direct and serious impact on the effectiveness of the Chinese Wall Model to secure the confidentiality of tender information. The proposed Critical Success Factors include: the Sanitisation Policy Document, an Electronic Document Management System, the Tender Evaluation Ethics Document, the Audit Trail Log and the Chinese Wall Model Prosecution Register.
- Full Text:
- Authors: Rama, Sobhana
- Date: 2013
- Subjects: Chinese walls (Communication barriers) -- South Africa , Business logistics -- South Africa , Confidential communications -- South Africa , Conflict of interests -- South Africa , Fraud -- South Africa , Information services -- Government policy -- South Africa , Communication policy -- South Africa , Communication planning -- South Africa , Chinese Wall Model , Information confidentiality , Conflict of Interest , Government tender fraud
- Language: English
- Type: Thesis , Masters , MCom (Information Systems)
- Identifier: vital:11136 , http://hdl.handle.net/10353/d1006956 , Chinese walls (Communication barriers) -- South Africa , Business logistics -- South Africa , Confidential communications -- South Africa , Conflict of interests -- South Africa , Fraud -- South Africa , Information services -- Government policy -- South Africa , Communication policy -- South Africa , Communication planning -- South Africa , Chinese Wall Model , Information confidentiality , Conflict of Interest , Government tender fraud
- Description: Instances of fraudulent acts are often headline news in the popular press in South Africa. Increasingly, these press reports point to the government tender process as being the main enabler used by the perpetrators committing the fraud. The cause of the tender fraud problem is confidentiality breach of information. This is accomplished, in part, by compromising the tender information contained in the government information system. This results in the biased award of a tender. Typically, the information in the tender process should be used to make decisions about a tender’s specifications, solicitation, evaluation and adjudication. The sharing of said information to unauthorised persons can be used to manipulate and corrupt the process. This in turn corrupts the tender process by awarding a tender to an unworthy recipient. This research studies the generic steps in the tender process to understand how information is used to corrupt the tender process. It proposes that conflict of interest, together with a lack of information confidentiality in the information system, paves the way for possible tender fraud. Thereafter, a system of internal controls is examined within the South African government as well as in foreign countries to investigate measures taken to reduce the breach of confidential information in the tender process. By referring to the Common Criteria Security Model, various critical security areas within the tender process are identified. This measure is assisted with the ISO/IEC 27002 (2005) standard which has guiding principles for the management of confidential information. Thereafter, an information security policy,the Chinese Wall Model will be discussed as a means of reducing instances where conflict of interest may occur. Finally, an adapted Chinese Wall Model, which includes elements of the tender process, is presented as a way of reducing fraud in the government tender process. Finally, the research objective of this study is presented in the form of Critical Success Factors that aid in reducing the breach of confidential information in the tender process. As a consequence, tender fraud is reduced. These success factors have a direct and serious impact on the effectiveness of the Chinese Wall Model to secure the confidentiality of tender information. The proposed Critical Success Factors include: the Sanitisation Policy Document, an Electronic Document Management System, the Tender Evaluation Ethics Document, the Audit Trail Log and the Chinese Wall Model Prosecution Register.
- Full Text:
Modelling of the performance of a batch biogas digester fed with selected types of substrates
- Authors: Mukumba, Patrick
- Date: 2013
- Language: English
- Type: Thesis , Masters , MSc (Physics)
- Identifier: vital:11596 , http://hdl.handle.net/10353/d1016197
- Description: The increasing population and the rapid economic growth in South Africa have led to higher consumption of food resulting in the generation of large amounts of waste. In addition, South Africa has plenty of biomass from cattle, donkeys, horses, goats, pigs, chicken and sheep. However, anaerobic digestion could be an alternative solution for the utilization of these kinds of waste due to its environmental and economic benefits. Therefore, the main focus of the research was design, construct a field batch biogas digester, monitor its performance when fed with co-substrates and model the methane yield for an optimized mixing ratio.
- Full Text:
- Authors: Mukumba, Patrick
- Date: 2013
- Language: English
- Type: Thesis , Masters , MSc (Physics)
- Identifier: vital:11596 , http://hdl.handle.net/10353/d1016197
- Description: The increasing population and the rapid economic growth in South Africa have led to higher consumption of food resulting in the generation of large amounts of waste. In addition, South Africa has plenty of biomass from cattle, donkeys, horses, goats, pigs, chicken and sheep. However, anaerobic digestion could be an alternative solution for the utilization of these kinds of waste due to its environmental and economic benefits. Therefore, the main focus of the research was design, construct a field batch biogas digester, monitor its performance when fed with co-substrates and model the methane yield for an optimized mixing ratio.
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Modelling the impact of risk factors affecting TB treatment
- Authors: Tsuro, Urgent
- Date: 2013
- Subjects: Diseases -- Risk factors , Tuberculosis -- Epidemiology , Multidrug resistance
- Language: English
- Type: Thesis , Masters , MSc (Biostatistics and Epidemiology)
- Identifier: vital:11787 , http://hdl.handle.net/10353/d1019782 , Diseases -- Risk factors , Tuberculosis -- Epidemiology , Multidrug resistance
- Description: The Tuberculosis infection rate has been generally escalating due to poor health conditions in the Gweru district of Zimbabwe. The study therefore seeks to identify the risk factors that affect TB treatment in the Gweru district. A cross sectional study was carried out in which a questionnaire was employed for data collection on 113 respondents. A binary logistic regression model was employed for data analysis. A total of 98 TB patients were interviewed: [50 respondents (44.0%) had Multi-drug resistant Tuberculosis and 63 respondents (56.0%) had general Tuberculosis). Before being enrolled into the study, an informed consent form was given to each of the participants. The data was then put into excel and later transferred to SPSS for analysis. Out of the 14 potential risk factors of TB treatment, only 6 variables (side effects, gender, alcohol use, HIV status, smoking during the treatment period and having been pre-exposed to TB drugs) were statistically significant in their association with treatment failure.
- Full Text:
- Authors: Tsuro, Urgent
- Date: 2013
- Subjects: Diseases -- Risk factors , Tuberculosis -- Epidemiology , Multidrug resistance
- Language: English
- Type: Thesis , Masters , MSc (Biostatistics and Epidemiology)
- Identifier: vital:11787 , http://hdl.handle.net/10353/d1019782 , Diseases -- Risk factors , Tuberculosis -- Epidemiology , Multidrug resistance
- Description: The Tuberculosis infection rate has been generally escalating due to poor health conditions in the Gweru district of Zimbabwe. The study therefore seeks to identify the risk factors that affect TB treatment in the Gweru district. A cross sectional study was carried out in which a questionnaire was employed for data collection on 113 respondents. A binary logistic regression model was employed for data analysis. A total of 98 TB patients were interviewed: [50 respondents (44.0%) had Multi-drug resistant Tuberculosis and 63 respondents (56.0%) had general Tuberculosis). Before being enrolled into the study, an informed consent form was given to each of the participants. The data was then put into excel and later transferred to SPSS for analysis. Out of the 14 potential risk factors of TB treatment, only 6 variables (side effects, gender, alcohol use, HIV status, smoking during the treatment period and having been pre-exposed to TB drugs) were statistically significant in their association with treatment failure.
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Molecular characterization of the Mycobacterium tuberculosis complex (MTC) of raw milk from selected dairy farms in the Eastern Cape
- Authors: Komani, Nosiphiwo
- Date: 2013
- Subjects: Mycobacterium tuberculosis -- South Africa -- Eastern Cape , Milk -- South Africa -- Eastern Cape , Dairy farms -- South Africa -- Eastern Cape , Dairy farming -- South Africa -- Eastern Cape , Tuberculosis in cattle -- South Africa -- Eastern Cape
- Language: English
- Type: Thesis , Masters , MSc (Microbiology)
- Identifier: vital:11276 , http://hdl.handle.net/10353/d1013157 , Mycobacterium tuberculosis -- South Africa -- Eastern Cape , Milk -- South Africa -- Eastern Cape , Dairy farms -- South Africa -- Eastern Cape , Dairy farming -- South Africa -- Eastern Cape , Tuberculosis in cattle -- South Africa -- Eastern Cape
- Description: Tuberculosis (TB) is an ancient infectious disease that has been infecting different populations around the globe and it has also been considered as one of the most successful human and animal disease. TB found in animals such as cattle and other known bovids is known as bovine tuberculosis. Bovine tuberculosis (BTB) is an infectious disease found in cattle mainly caused by Mycobacterium bovis. M. bovis is a member of the Mycobacterium tuberculosis complex (MTC) together with M. tuberculosis, M. africanum, and M. canetti where the natural host is humans; whereas M. caprae, M. microti and M. pinnipedii usually have animals as their natural host. In this study the molecular characterization of the MTC from cow milk in the Eastern Cape was investigated. One hundred and twenty samples (40 ml each) were collected from three dairy farms in the Eastern Cape, South Africa. These samples were processed using a modified Petroff decontamination method. Sample processing was followed by DNA isolation using a Zymo Bacterial/Fungal DNA Kit and the amplification and detection of the MTC was done using the Seeplex MTB Nested ACE assay. The drug susceptibility tests were done using GenoTypeMTBDRplus assay which detects mutations and resistance to INH (isoniazid) and RMP (rifampicin). The milk isolates were further analyzed using a spoligotyping method which is based on the PCR amplification of a highly polymorphic direct repeat locus in the M. tuberculosis genome which detects and types the MTC. A percentage of 20.8 % samples were found to be positive for MTC using the Seeplex MTB Nested ACE assay. There were 42.1 % samples that were resistant to both INH and RMP with the rest sensitive to either INH or RMP. The spoligotyping method showed that 78.3 % samples resembled Family 33 strains and the rest (21.7 %) resembled a spoligotyping signature known to be that of M.africanum. Both these strains belong to the Ancestral lineage with Indo-Oceanic and West Africa 2 lineage. The outcomes of our study showed that molecular methods for detection of MTC can be applied directly on milk samples without the need for culturing.
- Full Text:
- Authors: Komani, Nosiphiwo
- Date: 2013
- Subjects: Mycobacterium tuberculosis -- South Africa -- Eastern Cape , Milk -- South Africa -- Eastern Cape , Dairy farms -- South Africa -- Eastern Cape , Dairy farming -- South Africa -- Eastern Cape , Tuberculosis in cattle -- South Africa -- Eastern Cape
- Language: English
- Type: Thesis , Masters , MSc (Microbiology)
- Identifier: vital:11276 , http://hdl.handle.net/10353/d1013157 , Mycobacterium tuberculosis -- South Africa -- Eastern Cape , Milk -- South Africa -- Eastern Cape , Dairy farms -- South Africa -- Eastern Cape , Dairy farming -- South Africa -- Eastern Cape , Tuberculosis in cattle -- South Africa -- Eastern Cape
- Description: Tuberculosis (TB) is an ancient infectious disease that has been infecting different populations around the globe and it has also been considered as one of the most successful human and animal disease. TB found in animals such as cattle and other known bovids is known as bovine tuberculosis. Bovine tuberculosis (BTB) is an infectious disease found in cattle mainly caused by Mycobacterium bovis. M. bovis is a member of the Mycobacterium tuberculosis complex (MTC) together with M. tuberculosis, M. africanum, and M. canetti where the natural host is humans; whereas M. caprae, M. microti and M. pinnipedii usually have animals as their natural host. In this study the molecular characterization of the MTC from cow milk in the Eastern Cape was investigated. One hundred and twenty samples (40 ml each) were collected from three dairy farms in the Eastern Cape, South Africa. These samples were processed using a modified Petroff decontamination method. Sample processing was followed by DNA isolation using a Zymo Bacterial/Fungal DNA Kit and the amplification and detection of the MTC was done using the Seeplex MTB Nested ACE assay. The drug susceptibility tests were done using GenoTypeMTBDRplus assay which detects mutations and resistance to INH (isoniazid) and RMP (rifampicin). The milk isolates were further analyzed using a spoligotyping method which is based on the PCR amplification of a highly polymorphic direct repeat locus in the M. tuberculosis genome which detects and types the MTC. A percentage of 20.8 % samples were found to be positive for MTC using the Seeplex MTB Nested ACE assay. There were 42.1 % samples that were resistant to both INH and RMP with the rest sensitive to either INH or RMP. The spoligotyping method showed that 78.3 % samples resembled Family 33 strains and the rest (21.7 %) resembled a spoligotyping signature known to be that of M.africanum. Both these strains belong to the Ancestral lineage with Indo-Oceanic and West Africa 2 lineage. The outcomes of our study showed that molecular methods for detection of MTC can be applied directly on milk samples without the need for culturing.
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Morphological and genetic variation in samango monkeys (Cercopithecus albogularis) in Southern Africa
- Authors: Makhasi, Ntuthuzelo
- Date: 2013
- Subjects: Morphology , Genetics
- Language: English
- Type: Thesis , Masters , MSc (Zoology)
- Identifier: vital:11793 , http://hdl.handle.net/10353/d1018580 , Morphology , Genetics
- Description: My aim was to resolve the taxonomy of the South African forms of Cercopithecus albogularis by exploring morphological and genetic variation in the two samango subspecies described for the region: C. a. erythrarchus and C. a. labiatus. In addition, I estimated their geographic distributions and habitat requirements from the provenance data I collected during my study of museum specimens. My analysis has shown clear morphological differences between C. a. labiatus and C. a. erythrarchus. The two subspecies differ in pelage coloration, but also in cranial shape and tail lengths. Furthermore, C. a. labiatus is slightly smaller, shorter-tailed and stocky compared with the long-tailed slender northern forms of C. albogularis, which may be adaptations to cold environments like montane forest. The northern C. albogularis subspecies are distinguishable from the southern taxa with a high degree of reliability (98.5%), suggesting that C. albogularis consists of more than one species. The most appropriate name for the southern species is C. labiatus. My genetic study did not detect variation among the 10 animals sampled in Hogsback; while it clustered the different taxa, it could not resolve relationships between them, with the exception of the outgroup. The lack of resolution of the deeper nodes could be a result of the fact that our sequence was very short (274 bp). The mt 12S rRNA gene was not an ideal gene for this study, which should have involved a less conserved section of the mtDNA molecule, like the rapidly evolving D-loop. More genetic work is clearly needed to resolve the phylogenetic relationships within the C. mitis supergroup. However, preliminary genetic data indicate that the southern samangos are distinct from the C. mitis of West Africa, while my morphometric study suggests they may also be distinct from C. albogularis in East Africa. Molecular and karyological studies comparing the genomes of Hogsback “C. a. labiatus” with the neighbouring “C. a. erythrarchus” and Zanzibar C. albogularis would be extremely enlightening.
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- Authors: Makhasi, Ntuthuzelo
- Date: 2013
- Subjects: Morphology , Genetics
- Language: English
- Type: Thesis , Masters , MSc (Zoology)
- Identifier: vital:11793 , http://hdl.handle.net/10353/d1018580 , Morphology , Genetics
- Description: My aim was to resolve the taxonomy of the South African forms of Cercopithecus albogularis by exploring morphological and genetic variation in the two samango subspecies described for the region: C. a. erythrarchus and C. a. labiatus. In addition, I estimated their geographic distributions and habitat requirements from the provenance data I collected during my study of museum specimens. My analysis has shown clear morphological differences between C. a. labiatus and C. a. erythrarchus. The two subspecies differ in pelage coloration, but also in cranial shape and tail lengths. Furthermore, C. a. labiatus is slightly smaller, shorter-tailed and stocky compared with the long-tailed slender northern forms of C. albogularis, which may be adaptations to cold environments like montane forest. The northern C. albogularis subspecies are distinguishable from the southern taxa with a high degree of reliability (98.5%), suggesting that C. albogularis consists of more than one species. The most appropriate name for the southern species is C. labiatus. My genetic study did not detect variation among the 10 animals sampled in Hogsback; while it clustered the different taxa, it could not resolve relationships between them, with the exception of the outgroup. The lack of resolution of the deeper nodes could be a result of the fact that our sequence was very short (274 bp). The mt 12S rRNA gene was not an ideal gene for this study, which should have involved a less conserved section of the mtDNA molecule, like the rapidly evolving D-loop. More genetic work is clearly needed to resolve the phylogenetic relationships within the C. mitis supergroup. However, preliminary genetic data indicate that the southern samangos are distinct from the C. mitis of West Africa, while my morphometric study suggests they may also be distinct from C. albogularis in East Africa. Molecular and karyological studies comparing the genomes of Hogsback “C. a. labiatus” with the neighbouring “C. a. erythrarchus” and Zanzibar C. albogularis would be extremely enlightening.
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Negotiating identity and belonging: perspectives of children living in a disadvantaged community in the Eastern Cape province
- Authors: Ridley, Tamerin Amy
- Date: 2013
- Subjects: Group identity , Self-esteem
- Language: English
- Type: Master's theses , text
- Identifier: http://hdl.handle.net/10353/24813 , vital:63598
- Description: Developing an identity with self-esteem and a sense of self-worth is a child’s fundamental right (Vandenbroek, 2001). To encourage identity formation children need to ask and answer questions such as: ‘Who am I?’, ‘Where do I belong?’ and ‘Is it ok to be who I am?’ A child’s identity is shaped largely by his/her experiences with regards to relationships and belonging within communities and familial structures. However, South Africa faces a host of problems, including poverty, violence, HIV/AIDS, all of which contribute to the breakdown of these familial and community structures. Utilising a participatory action framework, this research aims to provide insight into how children living in a disadvantaged community negotiate identity and belonging. This insight into children’s perceptions of identity and belonging is useful for identifying resources within the community which promote a positive sense of identity and belonging, and also to identify areas where support and intervention are required. , Thesis (MSoc) -- Faculty of Social Sciences and Humanities, 2013
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- Authors: Ridley, Tamerin Amy
- Date: 2013
- Subjects: Group identity , Self-esteem
- Language: English
- Type: Master's theses , text
- Identifier: http://hdl.handle.net/10353/24813 , vital:63598
- Description: Developing an identity with self-esteem and a sense of self-worth is a child’s fundamental right (Vandenbroek, 2001). To encourage identity formation children need to ask and answer questions such as: ‘Who am I?’, ‘Where do I belong?’ and ‘Is it ok to be who I am?’ A child’s identity is shaped largely by his/her experiences with regards to relationships and belonging within communities and familial structures. However, South Africa faces a host of problems, including poverty, violence, HIV/AIDS, all of which contribute to the breakdown of these familial and community structures. Utilising a participatory action framework, this research aims to provide insight into how children living in a disadvantaged community negotiate identity and belonging. This insight into children’s perceptions of identity and belonging is useful for identifying resources within the community which promote a positive sense of identity and belonging, and also to identify areas where support and intervention are required. , Thesis (MSoc) -- Faculty of Social Sciences and Humanities, 2013
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Negotiating identity and belonging: perspectives of children living in a disadvantaged community in the Eastern Cape Province
- Authors: Ridley, Tamerin Amy
- Date: 2013
- Subjects: Group identity -- South Africa -- Eastern Cape , Children's rights -- South Africa -- Eastern Cape , Broken homes -- South Africa -- Eastern Cape
- Language: English
- Type: Thesis , Masters , M Soc Sc (C Psy)
- Identifier: vital:11860 , http://hdl.handle.net/10353/d1019871 , Group identity -- South Africa -- Eastern Cape , Children's rights -- South Africa -- Eastern Cape , Broken homes -- South Africa -- Eastern Cape
- Description: Developing an identity with self-esteem and a sense of self-worth is a child’s fundamental right (Vandenbroek, 2001). To encourage identity formation children need to ask and answer questions such as: ‘Who am I?’, ‘Where do I belong?’ and ‘Is it ok to be who I am?’ A child’s identity is shaped largely by his/her experiences with regards to relationships and belonging within communities and familial structures. However, South Africa faces a host of problems, including poverty, violence, HIV/AIDS, all of which contribute to the breakdown of these familial and community structures. Utilising a participatory action framework, this research aims to provide insight into how children living in a disadvantaged community negotiate identity and belonging. This insight into children’s perceptions of identity and belonging is useful for identifying resources within the community which promote a positive sense of identity and belonging, and also to identify areas where support and intervention are required.
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- Authors: Ridley, Tamerin Amy
- Date: 2013
- Subjects: Group identity -- South Africa -- Eastern Cape , Children's rights -- South Africa -- Eastern Cape , Broken homes -- South Africa -- Eastern Cape
- Language: English
- Type: Thesis , Masters , M Soc Sc (C Psy)
- Identifier: vital:11860 , http://hdl.handle.net/10353/d1019871 , Group identity -- South Africa -- Eastern Cape , Children's rights -- South Africa -- Eastern Cape , Broken homes -- South Africa -- Eastern Cape
- Description: Developing an identity with self-esteem and a sense of self-worth is a child’s fundamental right (Vandenbroek, 2001). To encourage identity formation children need to ask and answer questions such as: ‘Who am I?’, ‘Where do I belong?’ and ‘Is it ok to be who I am?’ A child’s identity is shaped largely by his/her experiences with regards to relationships and belonging within communities and familial structures. However, South Africa faces a host of problems, including poverty, violence, HIV/AIDS, all of which contribute to the breakdown of these familial and community structures. Utilising a participatory action framework, this research aims to provide insight into how children living in a disadvantaged community negotiate identity and belonging. This insight into children’s perceptions of identity and belonging is useful for identifying resources within the community which promote a positive sense of identity and belonging, and also to identify areas where support and intervention are required.
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Opening up global food trade to developing countries: an evaluation of the World Trade Organisation's agreement on sanitary and phytosanitary measure
- Authors: Nyatsanza, Sharon
- Date: 2013
- Subjects: World Trade Organization , Food contamination , Food handling -- Safety measures
- Language: English
- Type: Master's theses , text
- Identifier: http://hdl.handle.net/10353/27413 , vital:67294
- Description: Food safety and consumer protection has been a major concern of regulators since the 12th century. Sanitary and Phytosanitary (SPS) measures were therefore introduced to protect human, animal and plant safety. With the expansion of international trade came the increase in the use of SPS measures. However these increases in the use of SPS measures were accompanied with their misuse for protectionist purposes. SPS measures which had been created for legitimate purposes quickly became significant barriers to trade. The World Trade Organisation (WTO) adopted the WTO Agreement on Sanitary and Phytosanitary Measures (SPS Agreement) as a mechanism to regulate the use of SPS measures and avoid their potential use as protectionist tools. Trade liberalization and market access has been a primary aim of the WTO, therefore in principle the SPS Agreement is supposed to open up global food trade for all countries.Apart from opening up global food trade, another purpose of the SPS Agreement was to protect the developing countries, accommodate their special needs and in turn promote their economic development. Developing countries are heavily dependent on global food trade for their economic development. However developing states can only benefit from global food trade if they comply with SPS standards set in the importing countries. Considering their reliance on the agro – food sector the economic development of developing states is heavily reliant on the successful implementation of the SPS Agreement. According the SPS Agreement must avoid the use of illegitimate SPS measures and promote market access. It is therefore crucial that the SPS Agreement be analysed to determine whether its text, application and or interpretation satisfies the objective of opening up global food trade especially for developing states. The objective is to show the significance of a regulatory framework that is as much as possible devoid of any loopholes or shortcomings, which could frustrate the developmental interests. Inappropriate accommodation of developmental interests in the SPS Agreement could have adverse impacts on the development prospectus of developing countries. , Thesis (LLM) -- Faculty of Law, 2013
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- Authors: Nyatsanza, Sharon
- Date: 2013
- Subjects: World Trade Organization , Food contamination , Food handling -- Safety measures
- Language: English
- Type: Master's theses , text
- Identifier: http://hdl.handle.net/10353/27413 , vital:67294
- Description: Food safety and consumer protection has been a major concern of regulators since the 12th century. Sanitary and Phytosanitary (SPS) measures were therefore introduced to protect human, animal and plant safety. With the expansion of international trade came the increase in the use of SPS measures. However these increases in the use of SPS measures were accompanied with their misuse for protectionist purposes. SPS measures which had been created for legitimate purposes quickly became significant barriers to trade. The World Trade Organisation (WTO) adopted the WTO Agreement on Sanitary and Phytosanitary Measures (SPS Agreement) as a mechanism to regulate the use of SPS measures and avoid their potential use as protectionist tools. Trade liberalization and market access has been a primary aim of the WTO, therefore in principle the SPS Agreement is supposed to open up global food trade for all countries.Apart from opening up global food trade, another purpose of the SPS Agreement was to protect the developing countries, accommodate their special needs and in turn promote their economic development. Developing countries are heavily dependent on global food trade for their economic development. However developing states can only benefit from global food trade if they comply with SPS standards set in the importing countries. Considering their reliance on the agro – food sector the economic development of developing states is heavily reliant on the successful implementation of the SPS Agreement. According the SPS Agreement must avoid the use of illegitimate SPS measures and promote market access. It is therefore crucial that the SPS Agreement be analysed to determine whether its text, application and or interpretation satisfies the objective of opening up global food trade especially for developing states. The objective is to show the significance of a regulatory framework that is as much as possible devoid of any loopholes or shortcomings, which could frustrate the developmental interests. Inappropriate accommodation of developmental interests in the SPS Agreement could have adverse impacts on the development prospectus of developing countries. , Thesis (LLM) -- Faculty of Law, 2013
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Opportunities and challenges faced in promoting small holder farming as an element in rural economic development: the case of Buffalo City Municipality in the Eastern Cape, South Africa
- Authors: Siyabonga Makhathini
- Date: 2013
- Subjects: Rural development -- South Africa -- Eastern Cape , Family farms -- South Africa -- Eastern Cape , Rural families -- South Africa -- Eastern Cape , Households -- South Africa -- Eastern Cape , Sustainable agriculture -- South Africa -- Eastern Cape , Economic development projects -- South Africa -- Eastern Cape , Buffalo City (South Africa)
- Language: English
- Type: Thesis , Masters , MSc Agric (Agricultural Economics)
- Identifier: vital:11203 , http://hdl.handle.net/10353/d1007534 , Rural development -- South Africa -- Eastern Cape , Family farms -- South Africa -- Eastern Cape , Rural families -- South Africa -- Eastern Cape , Households -- South Africa -- Eastern Cape , Sustainable agriculture -- South Africa -- Eastern Cape , Economic development projects -- South Africa -- Eastern Cape , Buffalo City (South Africa)
- Description: This study looked at the opportunities and challenges faced in promoting smallholder farming as an element in rural economic development. The main objective is to highlight the key factors affecting smallholder production; and how those factors affect smallholder farmers in rural areas of Buffalo City Municipality, and hence identify the ones likely to predict success for future use in intervention programs. The content and scope of this study is limited to the socio-economic constraints (economic activities, household assets e.g. natural assets, physical assets, financial assets etc.) faced by rural households and therefore prescribe the necessary interventions to enhance rural livelihoods. Data was collected through review of secondary sources, direct observation through field visits and interviews with households. Questionnaires were used as the main tool of inquiry to gather data from households in selected villages within Buffalo City Municipality. The collected survey data was coded and analyzed using Statistical Package for Social Sciences (SPSS) Version 19.0. The study used Descriptive, Gini Coefficient and Binary Logistics model to analyze the collected survey data. For the descriptive model, the main pointers that were employed for this study were frequencies and mean values. The Gini Coefficient model was used to measure the contribution of different sources of income to overall inequality. The binary logistic regression model was used to uncover the correlates of the household income for different rural groups (famers and non-farmers). The results reveal that farm income has a strong association to overall household income per capita. Unearned income sources also have a substantial contribution to household income. Remittances and child grants were significant to non-farming household income per capita. Given the diminishing farm size of smallholder-led agriculture; these results suggest that a diversified household income portfolio is vital in addressing poverty in rural areas. Based on the results this study concluded that agricultural activities cannot solely enhance food security.
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- Authors: Siyabonga Makhathini
- Date: 2013
- Subjects: Rural development -- South Africa -- Eastern Cape , Family farms -- South Africa -- Eastern Cape , Rural families -- South Africa -- Eastern Cape , Households -- South Africa -- Eastern Cape , Sustainable agriculture -- South Africa -- Eastern Cape , Economic development projects -- South Africa -- Eastern Cape , Buffalo City (South Africa)
- Language: English
- Type: Thesis , Masters , MSc Agric (Agricultural Economics)
- Identifier: vital:11203 , http://hdl.handle.net/10353/d1007534 , Rural development -- South Africa -- Eastern Cape , Family farms -- South Africa -- Eastern Cape , Rural families -- South Africa -- Eastern Cape , Households -- South Africa -- Eastern Cape , Sustainable agriculture -- South Africa -- Eastern Cape , Economic development projects -- South Africa -- Eastern Cape , Buffalo City (South Africa)
- Description: This study looked at the opportunities and challenges faced in promoting smallholder farming as an element in rural economic development. The main objective is to highlight the key factors affecting smallholder production; and how those factors affect smallholder farmers in rural areas of Buffalo City Municipality, and hence identify the ones likely to predict success for future use in intervention programs. The content and scope of this study is limited to the socio-economic constraints (economic activities, household assets e.g. natural assets, physical assets, financial assets etc.) faced by rural households and therefore prescribe the necessary interventions to enhance rural livelihoods. Data was collected through review of secondary sources, direct observation through field visits and interviews with households. Questionnaires were used as the main tool of inquiry to gather data from households in selected villages within Buffalo City Municipality. The collected survey data was coded and analyzed using Statistical Package for Social Sciences (SPSS) Version 19.0. The study used Descriptive, Gini Coefficient and Binary Logistics model to analyze the collected survey data. For the descriptive model, the main pointers that were employed for this study were frequencies and mean values. The Gini Coefficient model was used to measure the contribution of different sources of income to overall inequality. The binary logistic regression model was used to uncover the correlates of the household income for different rural groups (famers and non-farmers). The results reveal that farm income has a strong association to overall household income per capita. Unearned income sources also have a substantial contribution to household income. Remittances and child grants were significant to non-farming household income per capita. Given the diminishing farm size of smallholder-led agriculture; these results suggest that a diversified household income portfolio is vital in addressing poverty in rural areas. Based on the results this study concluded that agricultural activities cannot solely enhance food security.
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Participatory development (PD): NGOs and developmental practice in Zimbabwe
- Authors: Hwati, Lucky
- Date: 2013
- Language: English
- Type: Thesis , Masters , M Soc Sc (Dev)
- Identifier: vital:11446 , http://hdl.handle.net/10353/d1015315
- Description: The rising to prominence of Non- Governmental Organizations (NGOs) as essential partners to development was as a result of a shift in development authority into decentralized governance. Prior to this, the state was the central player in development. At liberation from political colonial control, most African governments adopted a centralized governance system. This meant that even in their drive to eco-socio development the state was the sole and most important driver. As explained by Allen (1995), in order to keep their grip on power, African leaders invented different solutions. Among them was an amplified centralization of its administrative device, or the creation of a centralized bureaucratic organization. Indeed, from 1960, the majority of African leaders banned political competition and instituted one-party regimes under which an ever-expanding bureaucracy was used to distribute resources to political allies, often under the form of membership in administrative positions (Allen, 1995). It was this need to keep a firm grip on power which saw most governments spearheading their own development, with NGOs playing a peripheral role. In the second instance, the state was instrumental in leading development. Throughout Africa, numerous government boards and ministries were created, each with a specific role to play in development (Willis, 2011; Allen, 1995). In the same way, most governments instituted policies and plans, with specific time frames, where certain development targets were supposed to be met. This system was adopted and became more pronounced in countries such as Malawi, Zambia and Zimbabwe.
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- Authors: Hwati, Lucky
- Date: 2013
- Language: English
- Type: Thesis , Masters , M Soc Sc (Dev)
- Identifier: vital:11446 , http://hdl.handle.net/10353/d1015315
- Description: The rising to prominence of Non- Governmental Organizations (NGOs) as essential partners to development was as a result of a shift in development authority into decentralized governance. Prior to this, the state was the central player in development. At liberation from political colonial control, most African governments adopted a centralized governance system. This meant that even in their drive to eco-socio development the state was the sole and most important driver. As explained by Allen (1995), in order to keep their grip on power, African leaders invented different solutions. Among them was an amplified centralization of its administrative device, or the creation of a centralized bureaucratic organization. Indeed, from 1960, the majority of African leaders banned political competition and instituted one-party regimes under which an ever-expanding bureaucracy was used to distribute resources to political allies, often under the form of membership in administrative positions (Allen, 1995). It was this need to keep a firm grip on power which saw most governments spearheading their own development, with NGOs playing a peripheral role. In the second instance, the state was instrumental in leading development. Throughout Africa, numerous government boards and ministries were created, each with a specific role to play in development (Willis, 2011; Allen, 1995). In the same way, most governments instituted policies and plans, with specific time frames, where certain development targets were supposed to be met. This system was adopted and became more pronounced in countries such as Malawi, Zambia and Zimbabwe.
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