Rivers as borders, dividing or uniting? : the effect of topography and implications for catchment management in South Africa
- Authors: Smedley, David Alan
- Date: 2012
- Subjects: Rivers -- South Africa , Water-supply -- Management -- South Africa , Water-supply -- Management -- Orange River Watershed , Watershed management -- South Africa , Watershed management -- Orange River Watershed , South Africa -- Boundaries , Water-supply -- Management -- Citizen participation , Water-supply -- Government policy -- South Africa , Water-supply -- Political aspects -- South Africa
- Language: English
- Type: Thesis , Masters , MSc
- Identifier: vital:4851 , http://hdl.handle.net/10962/d1005527 , Rivers -- South Africa , Water-supply -- Management -- South Africa , Water-supply -- Management -- Orange River Watershed , Watershed management -- South Africa , Watershed management -- Orange River Watershed , South Africa -- Boundaries , Water-supply -- Management -- Citizen participation , Water-supply -- Government policy -- South Africa , Water-supply -- Political aspects -- South Africa
- Description: South Africa's water resources are unequally distributed over space and time to a high degree and our already stressed water resources situation will only be exacerbated by climate change if current predictions are correct. The potential for conflict over increasingly strained water resources in South Africa is thus very real. In order to deal with these complex problems national legislation is demanding that water resource management be decentralized to the local level where active participation can take place in an integrated manner in accordance with the principles of IWRM. However, administrative and political boundaries rarely match those of catchments as, throughout South Africa, rivers have been employed extensively to delineate administrative and political boundaries at a number of spatial scales. The aim of this research is to determine if rivers act as dividing or uniting features in a socio-political landscape and whether topography will influence their role in this context. By considering sections of the Orange-Senqu River, some of which are employed as political or administrative boundaries, this project furthermore aims to consider the implications of this for catchment management in South Africa. South Africa's proposed form of decentralized water management will have to contend with the effects of different topographies on the way in which rivers are perceived and utilized. The ability of a river to act as a dividing or uniting feature is dependent on a number of interrelated factors, the effects of which are either reduced or enhanced by the topography surrounding the river. Factors such as the state of the resource, levels of utilization, local histories and the employment of the river as a political or administrative border are all factors that determine the extent to which a river unites or divides the communities along its banks, and are all influenced by topography. The implications of this for the management of catchments in South Africa are significant. Local water management institutions will have to contend with a mismatch in borders and in many cases bridge social divides that are deeply entrenched along the banks of rivers. Importantly, the need for a context specific approach to catchment management is highlighted.
- Full Text:
- Date Issued: 2012
- Authors: Smedley, David Alan
- Date: 2012
- Subjects: Rivers -- South Africa , Water-supply -- Management -- South Africa , Water-supply -- Management -- Orange River Watershed , Watershed management -- South Africa , Watershed management -- Orange River Watershed , South Africa -- Boundaries , Water-supply -- Management -- Citizen participation , Water-supply -- Government policy -- South Africa , Water-supply -- Political aspects -- South Africa
- Language: English
- Type: Thesis , Masters , MSc
- Identifier: vital:4851 , http://hdl.handle.net/10962/d1005527 , Rivers -- South Africa , Water-supply -- Management -- South Africa , Water-supply -- Management -- Orange River Watershed , Watershed management -- South Africa , Watershed management -- Orange River Watershed , South Africa -- Boundaries , Water-supply -- Management -- Citizen participation , Water-supply -- Government policy -- South Africa , Water-supply -- Political aspects -- South Africa
- Description: South Africa's water resources are unequally distributed over space and time to a high degree and our already stressed water resources situation will only be exacerbated by climate change if current predictions are correct. The potential for conflict over increasingly strained water resources in South Africa is thus very real. In order to deal with these complex problems national legislation is demanding that water resource management be decentralized to the local level where active participation can take place in an integrated manner in accordance with the principles of IWRM. However, administrative and political boundaries rarely match those of catchments as, throughout South Africa, rivers have been employed extensively to delineate administrative and political boundaries at a number of spatial scales. The aim of this research is to determine if rivers act as dividing or uniting features in a socio-political landscape and whether topography will influence their role in this context. By considering sections of the Orange-Senqu River, some of which are employed as political or administrative boundaries, this project furthermore aims to consider the implications of this for catchment management in South Africa. South Africa's proposed form of decentralized water management will have to contend with the effects of different topographies on the way in which rivers are perceived and utilized. The ability of a river to act as a dividing or uniting feature is dependent on a number of interrelated factors, the effects of which are either reduced or enhanced by the topography surrounding the river. Factors such as the state of the resource, levels of utilization, local histories and the employment of the river as a political or administrative border are all factors that determine the extent to which a river unites or divides the communities along its banks, and are all influenced by topography. The implications of this for the management of catchments in South Africa are significant. Local water management institutions will have to contend with a mismatch in borders and in many cases bridge social divides that are deeply entrenched along the banks of rivers. Importantly, the need for a context specific approach to catchment management is highlighted.
- Full Text:
- Date Issued: 2012
Role of the customer care unit at the Department of Education in the province of the Eastern Cape
- Authors: Mkutukana, Babalwa
- Date: 2012
- Subjects: Public administration -- South Africa -- Eastern Cape , Customer services -- South Africa -- Eastern Cape
- Language: English
- Type: Thesis , Masters , MPA
- Identifier: vital:8296 , http://hdl.handle.net/10948/d1018896
- Description: The importance and need for customer care is recognized in both the public and private sector. Policy documents such as Batho Pele (White Paper on Transforming Public Service Delivery 1997) have captured this. Hence citizens should be treated as customers. Each of the eight Batho Pele principles reinforces and encourages the perception of the end-users of public services as customers, rather than simply as citizens (Batho Pele Handbook, 1997:26). The Eastern Cape Department of Basic Education has experienced challenges which include the malfunctioning of the school nutrition programme, unpaid service providers and unpaid benefits to its employees. These challenges highlight the need for customer care in the provision of these services. This study evaluated the role of the Customer Care Unit in the Department of Basic Education in the Eastern Cape. Interviews and complaints data base were used in the data collection process. The study found that factors influencing the functioning of the Customer Care Unit include, among others, limited collaboration between the Customer Care Unit and the Head Office of the Eastern Cape Department of Basic Education; limited awareness of the existence of the Customer Care Unit; and a shortage of staff and financial resources. The study recommends that Management should support the Unit by, among others, appointing and training adequate staff, raising awareness regarding the Unit and providing financial, technological and physical resources for the Unit.
- Full Text:
- Date Issued: 2012
- Authors: Mkutukana, Babalwa
- Date: 2012
- Subjects: Public administration -- South Africa -- Eastern Cape , Customer services -- South Africa -- Eastern Cape
- Language: English
- Type: Thesis , Masters , MPA
- Identifier: vital:8296 , http://hdl.handle.net/10948/d1018896
- Description: The importance and need for customer care is recognized in both the public and private sector. Policy documents such as Batho Pele (White Paper on Transforming Public Service Delivery 1997) have captured this. Hence citizens should be treated as customers. Each of the eight Batho Pele principles reinforces and encourages the perception of the end-users of public services as customers, rather than simply as citizens (Batho Pele Handbook, 1997:26). The Eastern Cape Department of Basic Education has experienced challenges which include the malfunctioning of the school nutrition programme, unpaid service providers and unpaid benefits to its employees. These challenges highlight the need for customer care in the provision of these services. This study evaluated the role of the Customer Care Unit in the Department of Basic Education in the Eastern Cape. Interviews and complaints data base were used in the data collection process. The study found that factors influencing the functioning of the Customer Care Unit include, among others, limited collaboration between the Customer Care Unit and the Head Office of the Eastern Cape Department of Basic Education; limited awareness of the existence of the Customer Care Unit; and a shortage of staff and financial resources. The study recommends that Management should support the Unit by, among others, appointing and training adequate staff, raising awareness regarding the Unit and providing financial, technological and physical resources for the Unit.
- Full Text:
- Date Issued: 2012
RUL News, Quarter 1, 2012
- Authors: Rhodes Library Services
- Date: 2012
- Language: English
- Type: Text
- Identifier: vital:16122 , http://hdl.handle.net/10962/d1020856
- Description: [From Introduction] Message from Ujala: It is now two months since I joined Rhodes University Library on February 01 2012 as the latest Director in a list of respected professionals who have led this Library to what it is today. I feel extremely privileged to have inherited an amazingly beautiful library building that has all the trappings of a modern 21st century academic library. To this end I acknowledge the former Director Gwenda Thomas who drove this reconstruction and renewal process together with Ms Jeanne Berger, former Acting Director and Deputy Director. I believe that together we are poised to embark on a new trajectory that will redefine this institution. This redefinition will include a new vision, mission and values statement; an articulated organizational culture; staff enablement and development for consolidation and innovation; and increased visibility and appreciation of the Library. While we enjoy the physical Library environment, we also need to explore the frontiers of the digital library. Unprecedented growth in technology provides us with vast new opportunities for identifying appropriate or relevant models for library services and communication. We need to commence this conversation proactively so that we understand and embrace the newest technologies to enable and contribute to the success of our users and the University. I believe that we have an exciting future ahead of us and that collectively we can set the agenda for this future. The African proverb, “If you want to go fast, go alone; if you want to go far, go together” certainly holds true for us and I look forward to working with each one of you.
- Full Text:
- Date Issued: 2012
- Authors: Rhodes Library Services
- Date: 2012
- Language: English
- Type: Text
- Identifier: vital:16122 , http://hdl.handle.net/10962/d1020856
- Description: [From Introduction] Message from Ujala: It is now two months since I joined Rhodes University Library on February 01 2012 as the latest Director in a list of respected professionals who have led this Library to what it is today. I feel extremely privileged to have inherited an amazingly beautiful library building that has all the trappings of a modern 21st century academic library. To this end I acknowledge the former Director Gwenda Thomas who drove this reconstruction and renewal process together with Ms Jeanne Berger, former Acting Director and Deputy Director. I believe that together we are poised to embark on a new trajectory that will redefine this institution. This redefinition will include a new vision, mission and values statement; an articulated organizational culture; staff enablement and development for consolidation and innovation; and increased visibility and appreciation of the Library. While we enjoy the physical Library environment, we also need to explore the frontiers of the digital library. Unprecedented growth in technology provides us with vast new opportunities for identifying appropriate or relevant models for library services and communication. We need to commence this conversation proactively so that we understand and embrace the newest technologies to enable and contribute to the success of our users and the University. I believe that we have an exciting future ahead of us and that collectively we can set the agenda for this future. The African proverb, “If you want to go fast, go alone; if you want to go far, go together” certainly holds true for us and I look forward to working with each one of you.
- Full Text:
- Date Issued: 2012
RUL News, Quarter 2, 2012
- Authors: Rhodes Library Services
- Date: 2012
- Language: English
- Type: Text
- Identifier: vital:16123 , http://hdl.handle.net/10962/d1020858
- Description: [From Introduction] Message from Ujala: The last three months have been an exciting time for me at the Rhodes University Library (RUL) as it coincides with my first 100 days as the Director. It’s been a time for observations, questions, conversations, reviews, meetings, gaining trust, challenging assumptions and old habits, and taking ownership with the intention of facilitating change and innovation for a redefined future. After all of this, I must admit that the future looks extremely positive. An invitation to speak at the 11th South African Online Information Meeting (SAOIM) on 06 June 2012 on the topic “Change and Innovation: the need to push the limits” gave me pause for thought regarding innovation and organizational development. While there is a tendency to link innovation to technology, it may be used to implement change at every level of an organization. Change refers to altering one’s approach or attitude; a process which enables transformation, becoming different or doing things differently. Peter Drucker defines innovation as “change that creates a new dimension of performance.” Therefore an effective organization must be prepared to grasp the opportunities, alongside the threats, by responding to the challenge of change to continue adding value to its defined audience. An innovative organization focuses on the following four significant areas: - Alignment of internal strategies to corporate/institutional goals and strategies - People, skills and roles - Defined workflows or processes - Cultural engagement and support Keeping the above in mind, the following activities were held towards redefining the organization’s purpose and culture, and identifying the focus areas for 2013-2015: Review of the Faculty Library model on May 03 2012 with all the Principal Faculty Librarians. The following questions were addressed: - What are we doing well? - What are we not doing well? Why not? - How could we do things differently? - What are the burning issues critical for success or failure? - How well are we positioned for the future? 2-day strategic planning session on 14-15 June 2012 which was facilitated by Dr Noel Pearse of the Rhodes Business School. The context was set by Dr Sizwe Mabizela, the Acting Vice-Chancellor and the Dr Peter Clayton, DVC: Research who focused on the Rhodes priorities and the research agenda respectively. Presentations on Open Scholarship; Mobile Technologies; Library Leadership; Changing User Needs and Library as Space were made by staff and the World Café concept was used to encourage open discussions and exchange of ideas among staff in teams and across levels. The most positive and encouraging outcome hereof is that various task teams which include every member of staff have taken the responsibility of developing the eStrategy and the strategies relating to Marketing & Communications, Staff Development, User Services and Infrastructure, as well as the Purpose Statement (Vision, Mission and Values) and the Organisational Culture. This is indeed an innovative way of the staff taking ownership of the future of the organization. I believe that the greatest asset of an organization is its human capital and RUL is fortunate to have a corps of staff that is representative of different skills, expertise and varying experience. Collectively we can define the conditions for successful innovation by enhancing existing strengths; committing to change; focusing on specific needs; innovating for the present which will have long-term impact; and changing our behaviours and processes. This gives us the opportunity to: - demonstrate our value to the University management - take the lead in being strategic and inculcate the “One organization, many leaders” mindset - focus on exceptional user experiences - use technology as an enabler - redefine our role through collaboration and embedded librarianship Jean Sykes (Chief Librarian and Information Services Director: London School of Economics) is of the opinion that “Librarians are very well-placed to make a difference and secure an enviable reputation for our profession if we continue to watch, listen, think, analyse, collaborate, share, test and try and if we deploy real leadership skills, displaying a genuine willingness to keep reinventing ourselves and our old skills to match the changing environment we find ourselves in at any stage.” I agree!
- Full Text:
- Date Issued: 2012
- Authors: Rhodes Library Services
- Date: 2012
- Language: English
- Type: Text
- Identifier: vital:16123 , http://hdl.handle.net/10962/d1020858
- Description: [From Introduction] Message from Ujala: The last three months have been an exciting time for me at the Rhodes University Library (RUL) as it coincides with my first 100 days as the Director. It’s been a time for observations, questions, conversations, reviews, meetings, gaining trust, challenging assumptions and old habits, and taking ownership with the intention of facilitating change and innovation for a redefined future. After all of this, I must admit that the future looks extremely positive. An invitation to speak at the 11th South African Online Information Meeting (SAOIM) on 06 June 2012 on the topic “Change and Innovation: the need to push the limits” gave me pause for thought regarding innovation and organizational development. While there is a tendency to link innovation to technology, it may be used to implement change at every level of an organization. Change refers to altering one’s approach or attitude; a process which enables transformation, becoming different or doing things differently. Peter Drucker defines innovation as “change that creates a new dimension of performance.” Therefore an effective organization must be prepared to grasp the opportunities, alongside the threats, by responding to the challenge of change to continue adding value to its defined audience. An innovative organization focuses on the following four significant areas: - Alignment of internal strategies to corporate/institutional goals and strategies - People, skills and roles - Defined workflows or processes - Cultural engagement and support Keeping the above in mind, the following activities were held towards redefining the organization’s purpose and culture, and identifying the focus areas for 2013-2015: Review of the Faculty Library model on May 03 2012 with all the Principal Faculty Librarians. The following questions were addressed: - What are we doing well? - What are we not doing well? Why not? - How could we do things differently? - What are the burning issues critical for success or failure? - How well are we positioned for the future? 2-day strategic planning session on 14-15 June 2012 which was facilitated by Dr Noel Pearse of the Rhodes Business School. The context was set by Dr Sizwe Mabizela, the Acting Vice-Chancellor and the Dr Peter Clayton, DVC: Research who focused on the Rhodes priorities and the research agenda respectively. Presentations on Open Scholarship; Mobile Technologies; Library Leadership; Changing User Needs and Library as Space were made by staff and the World Café concept was used to encourage open discussions and exchange of ideas among staff in teams and across levels. The most positive and encouraging outcome hereof is that various task teams which include every member of staff have taken the responsibility of developing the eStrategy and the strategies relating to Marketing & Communications, Staff Development, User Services and Infrastructure, as well as the Purpose Statement (Vision, Mission and Values) and the Organisational Culture. This is indeed an innovative way of the staff taking ownership of the future of the organization. I believe that the greatest asset of an organization is its human capital and RUL is fortunate to have a corps of staff that is representative of different skills, expertise and varying experience. Collectively we can define the conditions for successful innovation by enhancing existing strengths; committing to change; focusing on specific needs; innovating for the present which will have long-term impact; and changing our behaviours and processes. This gives us the opportunity to: - demonstrate our value to the University management - take the lead in being strategic and inculcate the “One organization, many leaders” mindset - focus on exceptional user experiences - use technology as an enabler - redefine our role through collaboration and embedded librarianship Jean Sykes (Chief Librarian and Information Services Director: London School of Economics) is of the opinion that “Librarians are very well-placed to make a difference and secure an enviable reputation for our profession if we continue to watch, listen, think, analyse, collaborate, share, test and try and if we deploy real leadership skills, displaying a genuine willingness to keep reinventing ourselves and our old skills to match the changing environment we find ourselves in at any stage.” I agree!
- Full Text:
- Date Issued: 2012
Rural livelihood diversification in semi-arid districts of Zimbabwe : an analysis of Muzarabani, Gokwe and Mwenezi districts
- Authors: Musevenzi, Julius
- Date: 2012
- Subjects: Rural development -- Zimbabwe , Rural poor -- Zimbabwe , Zimbabwe -- Rural conditions
- Language: English
- Type: Thesis , Doctoral , PhD
- Identifier: vital:9149 , http://hdl.handle.net/10948/d1018922
- Description: This study focuses on rural livelihood diversification and improvement in dry districts of Zimbabwe during the period from 2000 to 2010. It establishes and documents livelihood activities and interventions in three semi-arid districts in Zimbabwe, analyses evidence for rural livelihood diversification and improvement and related challenges, and analyses institutional and policy issues that determine rural livelihood development in the politically charged period from 2000 to 2010. Rural livelihood diversification and improvement is not a recent phenomenon. For years, rural people have diversified their livelihoods for different economic reasons. Despite several studies on rural livelihoods in Zimbabwe, no similar studies have been done to determine the types of livelihood diversification that occur in a politically charged environment and whether they improve people‟s livelihoods. The study was guided by both the sustainable livelihoods framework and the actor oriented approach. Qualitative methodology was used for the overall data collection. Firstly data was collected „from the top‟ through in-depth interviews with officials from government institutions, non-governmental organisations and community leadership structures. Secondly data was collected „from the bottom up‟ through selected participatory methods in study areas. The overall study findings show that despite having increased livelihood interventions in all semi-arid areas, the politically fraught atmosphere constrained livelihood improvement and poverty remained. Although evidence for livelihood diversification is undisputed in the study, the extent to which it contributed to livelihood improvement was limited. The extended period of political constraint reversed some of the livelihood improvement gains recorded by external interventions. As most of the support was targeted at addressing the immediate food needs of the poor in semi-arid districts, this affected the number of long-term interventions targeted at sustainable livelihood development. The study found that the changing policies and institutional arrangements constrained and limited the potential of some of the livelihood strategies adopted during the period under study and as a result most livelihood activities were limited to survival strategies. The study shows that despite a decline in agricultural production during the period under study, it remained the major livelihood activity. Agricultural activities such as cotton and maize production and livestock rearing experienced a decline, but were partially revived through external support from both the government and nongovernmental organisations. Agriculture as a livelihood activity largely benefited from external interventions that rehabilitated irrigation infrastructure and the provision of agricultural inputs during the period. However, despite the dominance of agriculture as a livelihood activity in semi-arid areas non-farm livelihood activities, both locally initiated and externally fostered, played a significant role in supporting rural livelihoods. Poaching and wild fruit harvesting provided food for immediate consumption, whilst gold and diamond panning, wood carving and the commercialisation of non-timber forest products generated cash income for rural livelihoods. Non-farm external livelihood interventions identified resulted in a number of rural livelihood development models important for future rural development. These models were developed around the commercialisation of non-timber forest products for cash income generation, rural human capital development through vocational skills training and rural small livestock asset development. Human capital resulted in the development of rural industry in the form of community based enterprises. Indirectly it also contributed to migrant labour that sent cash and goods back home. The study shows that it is evident that in a politically charged environment livelihood diversification has a range of positive effects. The re-emergence of the barter exchange economy in rural communities contributed to livelihood diversification although sustainability was limited. It is also possible for both barter exchange and the cash market to co-exist in a politically charged environment. The study also shows that traditional leadership and local authorities in study areas became more politicised and militarised and this diverted them from facilitating and supporting rural development and inhibited rural livelihood development efforts by different rural players. The study found that rural livelihoods are not static, and they adapted as best they could in the face of exogenous trends and shocks. Rural areas underwent deep transformations as a result of political dynamics, local livelihood initiatives and external livelihood support. Rural livelihoods changed as rural people devised combined livelihood strategies that went beyond farming. However, in contrast to the widely accepted argument that diversification plays an important role in poverty alleviation, this was clearly not the case in Zimbabwe‟s politically charged environment. This study contributes to the development debate with a case study on the type and extent of livelihood diversification strategies possible in a politically charged environment. Methodologically the study contributes to the possible application of a dual data collection system where data is collected from the top using different methods from those used to collect data from the bottom. This enriched the data at triangulation phase during analysis. The study also contributes to the understanding of the political economy, the type of rural livelihood development possible in politically charged environments, and to how rural people in Zimbabwe react and behave in an endeavour to survive. There was an increased role played by external interventions in livelihood diversification but the extent of their contribution to positive livelihood outcomes was constrained by the politically charged environment that prompted the interventions in the first place. The normal processes of policy development and implementation changed as the role of politicians in planning and implementation became evident and policy aims shifted from rural development to political party self-preservation.
- Full Text:
- Date Issued: 2012
- Authors: Musevenzi, Julius
- Date: 2012
- Subjects: Rural development -- Zimbabwe , Rural poor -- Zimbabwe , Zimbabwe -- Rural conditions
- Language: English
- Type: Thesis , Doctoral , PhD
- Identifier: vital:9149 , http://hdl.handle.net/10948/d1018922
- Description: This study focuses on rural livelihood diversification and improvement in dry districts of Zimbabwe during the period from 2000 to 2010. It establishes and documents livelihood activities and interventions in three semi-arid districts in Zimbabwe, analyses evidence for rural livelihood diversification and improvement and related challenges, and analyses institutional and policy issues that determine rural livelihood development in the politically charged period from 2000 to 2010. Rural livelihood diversification and improvement is not a recent phenomenon. For years, rural people have diversified their livelihoods for different economic reasons. Despite several studies on rural livelihoods in Zimbabwe, no similar studies have been done to determine the types of livelihood diversification that occur in a politically charged environment and whether they improve people‟s livelihoods. The study was guided by both the sustainable livelihoods framework and the actor oriented approach. Qualitative methodology was used for the overall data collection. Firstly data was collected „from the top‟ through in-depth interviews with officials from government institutions, non-governmental organisations and community leadership structures. Secondly data was collected „from the bottom up‟ through selected participatory methods in study areas. The overall study findings show that despite having increased livelihood interventions in all semi-arid areas, the politically fraught atmosphere constrained livelihood improvement and poverty remained. Although evidence for livelihood diversification is undisputed in the study, the extent to which it contributed to livelihood improvement was limited. The extended period of political constraint reversed some of the livelihood improvement gains recorded by external interventions. As most of the support was targeted at addressing the immediate food needs of the poor in semi-arid districts, this affected the number of long-term interventions targeted at sustainable livelihood development. The study found that the changing policies and institutional arrangements constrained and limited the potential of some of the livelihood strategies adopted during the period under study and as a result most livelihood activities were limited to survival strategies. The study shows that despite a decline in agricultural production during the period under study, it remained the major livelihood activity. Agricultural activities such as cotton and maize production and livestock rearing experienced a decline, but were partially revived through external support from both the government and nongovernmental organisations. Agriculture as a livelihood activity largely benefited from external interventions that rehabilitated irrigation infrastructure and the provision of agricultural inputs during the period. However, despite the dominance of agriculture as a livelihood activity in semi-arid areas non-farm livelihood activities, both locally initiated and externally fostered, played a significant role in supporting rural livelihoods. Poaching and wild fruit harvesting provided food for immediate consumption, whilst gold and diamond panning, wood carving and the commercialisation of non-timber forest products generated cash income for rural livelihoods. Non-farm external livelihood interventions identified resulted in a number of rural livelihood development models important for future rural development. These models were developed around the commercialisation of non-timber forest products for cash income generation, rural human capital development through vocational skills training and rural small livestock asset development. Human capital resulted in the development of rural industry in the form of community based enterprises. Indirectly it also contributed to migrant labour that sent cash and goods back home. The study shows that it is evident that in a politically charged environment livelihood diversification has a range of positive effects. The re-emergence of the barter exchange economy in rural communities contributed to livelihood diversification although sustainability was limited. It is also possible for both barter exchange and the cash market to co-exist in a politically charged environment. The study also shows that traditional leadership and local authorities in study areas became more politicised and militarised and this diverted them from facilitating and supporting rural development and inhibited rural livelihood development efforts by different rural players. The study found that rural livelihoods are not static, and they adapted as best they could in the face of exogenous trends and shocks. Rural areas underwent deep transformations as a result of political dynamics, local livelihood initiatives and external livelihood support. Rural livelihoods changed as rural people devised combined livelihood strategies that went beyond farming. However, in contrast to the widely accepted argument that diversification plays an important role in poverty alleviation, this was clearly not the case in Zimbabwe‟s politically charged environment. This study contributes to the development debate with a case study on the type and extent of livelihood diversification strategies possible in a politically charged environment. Methodologically the study contributes to the possible application of a dual data collection system where data is collected from the top using different methods from those used to collect data from the bottom. This enriched the data at triangulation phase during analysis. The study also contributes to the understanding of the political economy, the type of rural livelihood development possible in politically charged environments, and to how rural people in Zimbabwe react and behave in an endeavour to survive. There was an increased role played by external interventions in livelihood diversification but the extent of their contribution to positive livelihood outcomes was constrained by the politically charged environment that prompted the interventions in the first place. The normal processes of policy development and implementation changed as the role of politicians in planning and implementation became evident and policy aims shifted from rural development to political party self-preservation.
- Full Text:
- Date Issued: 2012
Rural women and the land question in Zimbabwe: the case of Mutasa District
- Authors: Toro, Bigboy
- Date: 2012
- Subjects: Land tenure -- Zimbabwe , Land reform -- Zimbabwe , Women in development -- Zimbabwe , Women farmers -- Zimbabwe , Inheritance and succession -- Zimbabwe , Rural development -- Zimbabwe , Rural women -- Zimbabwe , Women in agriculture -- Zimbabwe , Sex discrimination -- Zimbabwe
- Language: English
- Type: Thesis , Masters , M Soc Sc (Dev)
- Identifier: vital:11431 , http://hdl.handle.net/10353/d1006945 , Land tenure -- Zimbabwe , Land reform -- Zimbabwe , Women in development -- Zimbabwe , Women farmers -- Zimbabwe , Inheritance and succession -- Zimbabwe , Rural development -- Zimbabwe , Rural women -- Zimbabwe , Women in agriculture -- Zimbabwe , Sex discrimination -- Zimbabwe
- Description: Zimbabwean rural women make significant contribution to agriculture and are the mainstay of the farm labour. Although women do the majority of agricultural work, men, for the most part continue to own the land, control women‟s labour and make agricultural decisions supported by patriarchal social systems. Thus, rural women faced difficulties than men in gaining access to land under Fast Track Land Reform Programme (FTLRP). Women‟s relationship with land is therefore through husbands, fathers, brothers or sons. Therefore, this study has undertaken with the objective of assessing the impact of land distribution programme with respect to its contribution to women‟s empowerment in the study area. The Gender and Development approach was employed to assess women access to land under the FTLRP. Such an approach to rural development can help in reducing the gender gap between women and men in order to achieve gender-balanced development. The study used qualitative research methodology where semi-structured interviews gather data from women in Mutasa District. Findings indicate that there are a number of challenges and constraints that are experienced by rural women under the Fast Track Land Reform Programme which include male land registration, no access to credit, inadequate government input support, lack of government laws and policies awareness on women land rights, shortage of farm implements and irrigation water supply and lack of agriculture training. On the other hand, culture and traditional practices still affect women in other cases, disadvantaging them in favour of men, as in inheritance of land and property in the household. It was generally assumed that the programme did not improve women access to land. To improve women access to land, in future, the study recommends that a serious intervention by the state should occur coupled with the revitalization of the programme and a paradigm shift towards an effective food security programme which emphasizes women and their important role in agriculture.
- Full Text:
- Date Issued: 2012
- Authors: Toro, Bigboy
- Date: 2012
- Subjects: Land tenure -- Zimbabwe , Land reform -- Zimbabwe , Women in development -- Zimbabwe , Women farmers -- Zimbabwe , Inheritance and succession -- Zimbabwe , Rural development -- Zimbabwe , Rural women -- Zimbabwe , Women in agriculture -- Zimbabwe , Sex discrimination -- Zimbabwe
- Language: English
- Type: Thesis , Masters , M Soc Sc (Dev)
- Identifier: vital:11431 , http://hdl.handle.net/10353/d1006945 , Land tenure -- Zimbabwe , Land reform -- Zimbabwe , Women in development -- Zimbabwe , Women farmers -- Zimbabwe , Inheritance and succession -- Zimbabwe , Rural development -- Zimbabwe , Rural women -- Zimbabwe , Women in agriculture -- Zimbabwe , Sex discrimination -- Zimbabwe
- Description: Zimbabwean rural women make significant contribution to agriculture and are the mainstay of the farm labour. Although women do the majority of agricultural work, men, for the most part continue to own the land, control women‟s labour and make agricultural decisions supported by patriarchal social systems. Thus, rural women faced difficulties than men in gaining access to land under Fast Track Land Reform Programme (FTLRP). Women‟s relationship with land is therefore through husbands, fathers, brothers or sons. Therefore, this study has undertaken with the objective of assessing the impact of land distribution programme with respect to its contribution to women‟s empowerment in the study area. The Gender and Development approach was employed to assess women access to land under the FTLRP. Such an approach to rural development can help in reducing the gender gap between women and men in order to achieve gender-balanced development. The study used qualitative research methodology where semi-structured interviews gather data from women in Mutasa District. Findings indicate that there are a number of challenges and constraints that are experienced by rural women under the Fast Track Land Reform Programme which include male land registration, no access to credit, inadequate government input support, lack of government laws and policies awareness on women land rights, shortage of farm implements and irrigation water supply and lack of agriculture training. On the other hand, culture and traditional practices still affect women in other cases, disadvantaging them in favour of men, as in inheritance of land and property in the household. It was generally assumed that the programme did not improve women access to land. To improve women access to land, in future, the study recommends that a serious intervention by the state should occur coupled with the revitalization of the programme and a paradigm shift towards an effective food security programme which emphasizes women and their important role in agriculture.
- Full Text:
- Date Issued: 2012
Ruth First in Mozambique: portrait of a scholar
- Authors: Tebello, Letsekha
- Date: 2012
- Subjects: First, Ruth, 1925-1982 Universidade Eduardo Mondlane Women political activists -- South Africa Journalists -- South Africa Anti-apartheid movements -- South Africa Government, Resistance to -- South Africa
- Language: English
- Type: Thesis , Masters , MA
- Identifier: vital:3320 , http://hdl.handle.net/10962/d1003108
- Description: Ruth First was an activist, journalist and sociologist trained by experience and credentialed by her numerous publications. Having lived most of her adult life as an intellectual and activist, First died in August 1982 at the hands of a regime and its supporters who intensely detested all these pursuits. This research project sketches the intellectual contributions made by the South African sociologist during her time at the Centre of African Studies at Eduardo Mondlane University, Mozambique. Her life like the newspaper she edited in the early 1970s was a Fighting Talk and this research project is about celebrating that life and valorising some of the life’s work that she left behind. Making use of qualitative research methods such as archiving, semi-structured interviews and contents analysis, this thesis sought to document Ruth First’s intellectual interventions while at the Centre of African Studies. Engaging with her work while she was in Mozambique and inserting her intellectual contributions, which like those of many African scholars have given way to debates from the global North, into our curriculum would perhaps be the real refutation of the assassin's bomb. This engagement is also crucial as it extends much further than the striking accolades which take the form of buildings and lectures established in her honour.
- Full Text:
- Date Issued: 2012
- Authors: Tebello, Letsekha
- Date: 2012
- Subjects: First, Ruth, 1925-1982 Universidade Eduardo Mondlane Women political activists -- South Africa Journalists -- South Africa Anti-apartheid movements -- South Africa Government, Resistance to -- South Africa
- Language: English
- Type: Thesis , Masters , MA
- Identifier: vital:3320 , http://hdl.handle.net/10962/d1003108
- Description: Ruth First was an activist, journalist and sociologist trained by experience and credentialed by her numerous publications. Having lived most of her adult life as an intellectual and activist, First died in August 1982 at the hands of a regime and its supporters who intensely detested all these pursuits. This research project sketches the intellectual contributions made by the South African sociologist during her time at the Centre of African Studies at Eduardo Mondlane University, Mozambique. Her life like the newspaper she edited in the early 1970s was a Fighting Talk and this research project is about celebrating that life and valorising some of the life’s work that she left behind. Making use of qualitative research methods such as archiving, semi-structured interviews and contents analysis, this thesis sought to document Ruth First’s intellectual interventions while at the Centre of African Studies. Engaging with her work while she was in Mozambique and inserting her intellectual contributions, which like those of many African scholars have given way to debates from the global North, into our curriculum would perhaps be the real refutation of the assassin's bomb. This engagement is also crucial as it extends much further than the striking accolades which take the form of buildings and lectures established in her honour.
- Full Text:
- Date Issued: 2012
Ruthenium and palladium assisted silver transport in silicon carbide
- Authors: O'Connell, Jacques Herman
- Date: 2012
- Subjects: Gas cooled reactors , Ruthenium , Palladium , Silicon carbide
- Language: English
- Type: Thesis , Doctoral , PhD
- Identifier: vital:10404 , http://hdl.handle.net/10948/d1010960 , Gas cooled reactors , Ruthenium , Palladium , Silicon carbide
- Full Text:
- Date Issued: 2012
- Authors: O'Connell, Jacques Herman
- Date: 2012
- Subjects: Gas cooled reactors , Ruthenium , Palladium , Silicon carbide
- Language: English
- Type: Thesis , Doctoral , PhD
- Identifier: vital:10404 , http://hdl.handle.net/10948/d1010960 , Gas cooled reactors , Ruthenium , Palladium , Silicon carbide
- Full Text:
- Date Issued: 2012
Savings behaviour in selected poor townships of the Kouga municipal district
- Authors: Baxter, Chad
- Date: 2012
- Subjects: Saving and investment -- South Africa , South Africa -- Economic policy
- Language: English
- Type: Thesis , Masters , MCom
- Identifier: vital:9009 , http://hdl.handle.net/10948/d1014540
- Description: This study considers the nature of savings behaviour amongst low income earners residing in the township areas of Kouga Municipal District. It reflects on the popularity and persistence of informal savings and credit associations, also known as stokvels, in these communities in the face of an increase in the availability of formal savings products. This study argues that despite financial deepening taking place within the South African economy, the popularity and widespread usage of stokvels can largely be attributed to the lack of appropraite formal products available for low income earners. This study does not conclude that the usage of informal savings products results in increased savings behaviours amongst this group, but it does conclude that they provide a suitable mechanism in which savings can take place.
- Full Text:
- Date Issued: 2012
- Authors: Baxter, Chad
- Date: 2012
- Subjects: Saving and investment -- South Africa , South Africa -- Economic policy
- Language: English
- Type: Thesis , Masters , MCom
- Identifier: vital:9009 , http://hdl.handle.net/10948/d1014540
- Description: This study considers the nature of savings behaviour amongst low income earners residing in the township areas of Kouga Municipal District. It reflects on the popularity and persistence of informal savings and credit associations, also known as stokvels, in these communities in the face of an increase in the availability of formal savings products. This study argues that despite financial deepening taking place within the South African economy, the popularity and widespread usage of stokvels can largely be attributed to the lack of appropraite formal products available for low income earners. This study does not conclude that the usage of informal savings products results in increased savings behaviours amongst this group, but it does conclude that they provide a suitable mechanism in which savings can take place.
- Full Text:
- Date Issued: 2012
School governance : a case study investigating the governance capacity of the farm school governing body
- Authors: Ramgathi, Pitamber
- Date: 2012
- Subjects: School boards , School board members
- Language: English
- Type: Thesis , Masters , MEd
- Identifier: vital:9454 , http://hdl.handle.net/10948/d1018617
- Description: School governance at South African schools is now almost twelve years old. In these twelve years some schools have made great strides whilst others are still facing various challenges. This research article is a qualitative, empirical and a descriptive case study, based on two farm schools in Kwa-Zulu Natal Province. It has investigated the governance capacity of both farm school governing bodies (SGB) in the execution of their roles and responsibilities together with the challenges that they faced using a documentary study and with structured interviews in a focus group. The structure for writing this article used the four principles as designed by Yin (1994) which are; Conceptualization, Contextual details, Data collection and Analytical strategies. Evidence from this Research indicate that the Farm School Governing Body face many contextual challenges and that a tailor-made Governance capacity building programme be made available to farm schools so that they (SGB) are able to carry out their roles and responsibilities effectively.
- Full Text:
- Date Issued: 2012
- Authors: Ramgathi, Pitamber
- Date: 2012
- Subjects: School boards , School board members
- Language: English
- Type: Thesis , Masters , MEd
- Identifier: vital:9454 , http://hdl.handle.net/10948/d1018617
- Description: School governance at South African schools is now almost twelve years old. In these twelve years some schools have made great strides whilst others are still facing various challenges. This research article is a qualitative, empirical and a descriptive case study, based on two farm schools in Kwa-Zulu Natal Province. It has investigated the governance capacity of both farm school governing bodies (SGB) in the execution of their roles and responsibilities together with the challenges that they faced using a documentary study and with structured interviews in a focus group. The structure for writing this article used the four principles as designed by Yin (1994) which are; Conceptualization, Contextual details, Data collection and Analytical strategies. Evidence from this Research indicate that the Farm School Governing Body face many contextual challenges and that a tailor-made Governance capacity building programme be made available to farm schools so that they (SGB) are able to carry out their roles and responsibilities effectively.
- Full Text:
- Date Issued: 2012
Schottky barrier diode parameters of Ag/MgPc/p-Si structure
- Canlıca, Mevlüde, Coskun, Mustafa, Altındal, Ahmet, Nyokong, Tebello
- Authors: Canlıca, Mevlüde , Coskun, Mustafa , Altındal, Ahmet , Nyokong, Tebello
- Date: 2012
- Subjects: To be catalogued
- Language: English
- Type: text , article
- Identifier: http://hdl.handle.net/10962/245820 , vital:51408 , xlink:href="https://doi.org/10.1142/S1088424612500824"
- Description: An Ag/Pc/p-Si Schottky barrier (SB) diode was fabricated. The current-voltage (I-V), capacitance-voltage (C-V) and conductance-voltage (G-V) measurements were carried out to determine the characteristic parameters such as barrier height, ideality factor and series resistance of the SB diode. The non-linear behavior of ln (I) vs. ln (V) and ln (I/V) vs. V1/2 plots indicated that the thermoionic emission theory can be applied to evaluate junction parameters for the investigated SB diode rather than space-charge limited conduction (SCLC) mechanism and bulk-limited Poole–Frenkel emission. The bulk doping concentration NB and fixed oxide charges Nf was determined from the measured high frequency C-V curve and was found to be 9.5 × 1014 cm-3 and 2.3 × 1013 cm-2, respectively. The values of barrier height obtained from Norde's function were compared with those from the forward bias current-voltage characteristic, and it was seen that there was a good agreement between barrier heights from both methods.
- Full Text:
- Date Issued: 2012
- Authors: Canlıca, Mevlüde , Coskun, Mustafa , Altındal, Ahmet , Nyokong, Tebello
- Date: 2012
- Subjects: To be catalogued
- Language: English
- Type: text , article
- Identifier: http://hdl.handle.net/10962/245820 , vital:51408 , xlink:href="https://doi.org/10.1142/S1088424612500824"
- Description: An Ag/Pc/p-Si Schottky barrier (SB) diode was fabricated. The current-voltage (I-V), capacitance-voltage (C-V) and conductance-voltage (G-V) measurements were carried out to determine the characteristic parameters such as barrier height, ideality factor and series resistance of the SB diode. The non-linear behavior of ln (I) vs. ln (V) and ln (I/V) vs. V1/2 plots indicated that the thermoionic emission theory can be applied to evaluate junction parameters for the investigated SB diode rather than space-charge limited conduction (SCLC) mechanism and bulk-limited Poole–Frenkel emission. The bulk doping concentration NB and fixed oxide charges Nf was determined from the measured high frequency C-V curve and was found to be 9.5 × 1014 cm-3 and 2.3 × 1013 cm-2, respectively. The values of barrier height obtained from Norde's function were compared with those from the forward bias current-voltage characteristic, and it was seen that there was a good agreement between barrier heights from both methods.
- Full Text:
- Date Issued: 2012
Scientific literacy and education for sustainable development: developing scientific literacy in its fundamental and derived senses
- Authors: Leornard, Samantha Lee
- Date: 2012
- Subjects: Science -- Study and teaching , Science -- Experiments
- Language: English
- Type: Thesis , Doctoral , PhD
- Identifier: vital:9450 , http://hdl.handle.net/10948/d1010069 , Science -- Study and teaching , Science -- Experiments
- Description: The importance of developing learners’ scientific literacy in both the fundamental and derived senses has been highlighted by Norris & Phillips (2003). Development of the derived sense of science, which is dependent on the development of a sound fundamental sense of science, aims at promoting scientifically literate societies who are able to make informed decisions concerning the natural environment and the promotion of sustainable livelihoods. In turn, response to increasing recognition of environmental degradation, the United Nations’ Decade of Education for Sustainable Development advocated that the principles, values and practices of sustainable development should be integrated into all aspects of education and learning. However, despite these aspirations, the difficulties of insufficient teacher knowledge and a lack of in-service training, both abroad and within South Africa, remain a challenge. In response to this challenge this study investigated the potential of an Integrated Scientific Literacy Strategy (which aimed at increasing in-service teacher knowledge and skills) to contribute to ESD by developing more scientifically literate teachers and learners in primary education. The study was conducted in 2010 in the Port Elizabeth Metropolitan area in the Eastern Cape, South Africa. The study sample comprised seven schools, with a total of nine teachers and 243 learners participating. As the research is situated within the pragmatic paradigm, a mixed methods approach was followed using Creswell and Plano Clark’s (2007) embedded design’s correlational model whereby quantitative data are rooted within a qualitative design to help verify and explain the outcomes. Qualitative measures were generated through teacher interviews and an analysis of their written portfolios. These data were triangulated against quantitative test data gained from an ANCOVA statistical analysis of the learners’ pre- and post-tests, and both the qualitative and quantitative data gleaned from classroom observations and an analysis of the learners’ science notebooks. The data suggest that, when properly implemented, the Integrated Scientific Literacy Strategy can be used to help teachers develop their learners’ scientific literacy by exposing them to open-ended inquiry investigations. Statistically significant differences (p ≤ 0.01; d=0.88) were noted when comparing improvements in learners’ abilities and understandings of scientific investigations (graphs, variables, inquiry and investigable questions) between those learners whose teachers successfully implemented the strategy in their classrooms, and those learners whose teachers were considered to be ‘non-implementers’ of the strategy. Data from this study also suggest that the successful use of the ISLS enables teachers to integrate issues relating to sustainable development into their natural science lessons. In addition, the learner-orientated approach of the strategy also enabled the learners to engage in autonomous learning environments, aspects of which have been identified as being important for meaningfully learning about and internalising important issues related to ESD.
- Full Text:
- Date Issued: 2012
- Authors: Leornard, Samantha Lee
- Date: 2012
- Subjects: Science -- Study and teaching , Science -- Experiments
- Language: English
- Type: Thesis , Doctoral , PhD
- Identifier: vital:9450 , http://hdl.handle.net/10948/d1010069 , Science -- Study and teaching , Science -- Experiments
- Description: The importance of developing learners’ scientific literacy in both the fundamental and derived senses has been highlighted by Norris & Phillips (2003). Development of the derived sense of science, which is dependent on the development of a sound fundamental sense of science, aims at promoting scientifically literate societies who are able to make informed decisions concerning the natural environment and the promotion of sustainable livelihoods. In turn, response to increasing recognition of environmental degradation, the United Nations’ Decade of Education for Sustainable Development advocated that the principles, values and practices of sustainable development should be integrated into all aspects of education and learning. However, despite these aspirations, the difficulties of insufficient teacher knowledge and a lack of in-service training, both abroad and within South Africa, remain a challenge. In response to this challenge this study investigated the potential of an Integrated Scientific Literacy Strategy (which aimed at increasing in-service teacher knowledge and skills) to contribute to ESD by developing more scientifically literate teachers and learners in primary education. The study was conducted in 2010 in the Port Elizabeth Metropolitan area in the Eastern Cape, South Africa. The study sample comprised seven schools, with a total of nine teachers and 243 learners participating. As the research is situated within the pragmatic paradigm, a mixed methods approach was followed using Creswell and Plano Clark’s (2007) embedded design’s correlational model whereby quantitative data are rooted within a qualitative design to help verify and explain the outcomes. Qualitative measures were generated through teacher interviews and an analysis of their written portfolios. These data were triangulated against quantitative test data gained from an ANCOVA statistical analysis of the learners’ pre- and post-tests, and both the qualitative and quantitative data gleaned from classroom observations and an analysis of the learners’ science notebooks. The data suggest that, when properly implemented, the Integrated Scientific Literacy Strategy can be used to help teachers develop their learners’ scientific literacy by exposing them to open-ended inquiry investigations. Statistically significant differences (p ≤ 0.01; d=0.88) were noted when comparing improvements in learners’ abilities and understandings of scientific investigations (graphs, variables, inquiry and investigable questions) between those learners whose teachers successfully implemented the strategy in their classrooms, and those learners whose teachers were considered to be ‘non-implementers’ of the strategy. Data from this study also suggest that the successful use of the ISLS enables teachers to integrate issues relating to sustainable development into their natural science lessons. In addition, the learner-orientated approach of the strategy also enabled the learners to engage in autonomous learning environments, aspects of which have been identified as being important for meaningfully learning about and internalising important issues related to ESD.
- Full Text:
- Date Issued: 2012
Seasonal changes in the heat production of an African small mammal, Rhabdomys pumilio
- Authors: Welman, Shaun
- Date: 2012
- Subjects: Mice -- Physiology Body temperature -- Regulation
- Language: English
- Type: Thesis , Masters , MSc
- Identifier: http://hdl.handle.net/10948/21417 , vital:29514
- Description: Endothermy refers to the ability of an individual to produce heat from internal sources, and allows animals to maintain a body temperature that is higher than their external environment. Although much is known about the benefits of endothermy, its origin is highly debated. Nonetheless, due to environmental variation, endotherms have to regulate their heat production (thermogenesis) in order to remain normothermic. An endotherms regulatory response seems to be body size dependent. Keeping warm during cold periods is energetically expensive, and for small mammals this is exacerbated by their high rate of heat loss due to high surface area to volume ratios. To compensate for the heat lost, small non-hibernating mammals must increase their level of thermogenesis. Much of our current understanding of thermogenic responses of small mammals is derived from laboratory acclimated animals, and studies on naturally acclimatized animals are uncommon. In addition, most studies on thermogenesis tend to focus on one level of animal organisation, such as subcellular, tissue or in-vivo, but seldom integrate these data. The aim of this study was to measure year-round variation in thermogenesis across all levels of organisation, using naturally acclimatized Rhabdomys pumilio individuals from the Nelson Mandela Metropolitan University, Port Elizabeth. It was predicted that the level of thermogenesis would be significantly higher during winter relative to other seasons in order to cope with the low ambient temperatures (Tas) experienced during this season. Open flow respirometry was used to measure the animal's oxygen consumption, as a proxy for metabolism; the by product of which is heat production. The animal's basal metabolic rate (BMR), nonshivering thermogenesis (NST) capacity and summit metabolic rate (MSUM) were measured. A Western blot analysis was used to determine the expression of uncoupling protein 1 (UCP 1) in the animals' brown adipose tissue (BAT), as well as determine its relative concentration. The cytochrome c oxidase (COX) activity of the animals' visceral organs and BAT was measured, as an indicator of the tissues' metabolic activity. COX activity was determined as the difference in the tissues' oxygen consumption before and after the addition of horse cytochrome c.
- Full Text:
- Date Issued: 2012
- Authors: Welman, Shaun
- Date: 2012
- Subjects: Mice -- Physiology Body temperature -- Regulation
- Language: English
- Type: Thesis , Masters , MSc
- Identifier: http://hdl.handle.net/10948/21417 , vital:29514
- Description: Endothermy refers to the ability of an individual to produce heat from internal sources, and allows animals to maintain a body temperature that is higher than their external environment. Although much is known about the benefits of endothermy, its origin is highly debated. Nonetheless, due to environmental variation, endotherms have to regulate their heat production (thermogenesis) in order to remain normothermic. An endotherms regulatory response seems to be body size dependent. Keeping warm during cold periods is energetically expensive, and for small mammals this is exacerbated by their high rate of heat loss due to high surface area to volume ratios. To compensate for the heat lost, small non-hibernating mammals must increase their level of thermogenesis. Much of our current understanding of thermogenic responses of small mammals is derived from laboratory acclimated animals, and studies on naturally acclimatized animals are uncommon. In addition, most studies on thermogenesis tend to focus on one level of animal organisation, such as subcellular, tissue or in-vivo, but seldom integrate these data. The aim of this study was to measure year-round variation in thermogenesis across all levels of organisation, using naturally acclimatized Rhabdomys pumilio individuals from the Nelson Mandela Metropolitan University, Port Elizabeth. It was predicted that the level of thermogenesis would be significantly higher during winter relative to other seasons in order to cope with the low ambient temperatures (Tas) experienced during this season. Open flow respirometry was used to measure the animal's oxygen consumption, as a proxy for metabolism; the by product of which is heat production. The animal's basal metabolic rate (BMR), nonshivering thermogenesis (NST) capacity and summit metabolic rate (MSUM) were measured. A Western blot analysis was used to determine the expression of uncoupling protein 1 (UCP 1) in the animals' brown adipose tissue (BAT), as well as determine its relative concentration. The cytochrome c oxidase (COX) activity of the animals' visceral organs and BAT was measured, as an indicator of the tissues' metabolic activity. COX activity was determined as the difference in the tissues' oxygen consumption before and after the addition of horse cytochrome c.
- Full Text:
- Date Issued: 2012
Seasonal distribution, breeding season and wing moult in the Splendid Glossy Starling Lamprotornis splendidus
- Authors: Craig, Adrian J F K
- Date: 2012
- Subjects: To be catalogued
- Language: English
- Type: text , article
- Identifier: http://hdl.handle.net/10962/449535 , vital:74828 , https://doi.org/10.2989/00306525.2012.655429
- Description: Seasonal migration by Splendid Glossy Starlings has been confirmed only for Kenya and Zambia. Populations in almost all other countries have been categorised as ‘resident’ by some observers, but ‘nomadic’ is a more accurate description of their status. The breeding season is accurately known for few localities. Estimates for the duration of wing moult ranged from 70–130 d based on small samples. Regional divergences in the timing of wing moult remain open to three possible interpretations: (1) differences between years in the timing of wing moult; (2) differences between sex and/or age classes; and (3) population movements, so that birds from different regions may successively occupy the same areas. The available data are inadequate to resolve these questions.
- Full Text:
- Date Issued: 2012
- Authors: Craig, Adrian J F K
- Date: 2012
- Subjects: To be catalogued
- Language: English
- Type: text , article
- Identifier: http://hdl.handle.net/10962/449535 , vital:74828 , https://doi.org/10.2989/00306525.2012.655429
- Description: Seasonal migration by Splendid Glossy Starlings has been confirmed only for Kenya and Zambia. Populations in almost all other countries have been categorised as ‘resident’ by some observers, but ‘nomadic’ is a more accurate description of their status. The breeding season is accurately known for few localities. Estimates for the duration of wing moult ranged from 70–130 d based on small samples. Regional divergences in the timing of wing moult remain open to three possible interpretations: (1) differences between years in the timing of wing moult; (2) differences between sex and/or age classes; and (3) population movements, so that birds from different regions may successively occupy the same areas. The available data are inadequate to resolve these questions.
- Full Text:
- Date Issued: 2012
Second life: a support teaching methodology for entrepreneurship
- Authors: Mandla, Siyabulela
- Date: 2012
- Subjects: Shared virtual environments , Teaching -- Methodology , Business students , Entrepreneurship
- Language: English
- Type: Thesis , Masters , MBA
- Identifier: vital:8827 , http://hdl.handle.net/10948/d1019728
- Description: The constant evolution of technology and the prevalent demands of the 21st century continue to put pressure on both the business and education sector. Business is ever looking for competent workers to meet these progressive demands, while the education sector continues to struggle to produce such competent workers to meet the heightened needs of the business sector. Universities and business schools have a greater role and responsibility in ensuring that these competent employees are produced. The use of virtual platforms like Second Life has gained significant popularity in the education sector. Therefore the objective of this study was to explore and examine some of the prevalent benefits associated with using Second life for teaching entrepreneurship. This study was also extended to cover the following areas: The benefits of Second Life for business and education sector; - The benefits of Second Life for teaching and learning environment. The study followed an exploratory research design in an attempt to answer the main research question and the respective sub-questions related to the study. Using a qualitative approach, student’s perceptions, opinions, assumptions, observations and experiences during their interaction with Second Life were identified and reflected in the study. The research discovered that the associated benefits of Second Life were coherent with the reviewed literature findings. The research study concluded that Second Life can be used as a support teaching methodology for entrepreneurship for third year MBA students at NMMU Business School. In addition, the research also highlighted some recommendations regarding the introduction and implementation of Second Life at NMMU Business School and future research opportunities.
- Full Text:
- Date Issued: 2012
- Authors: Mandla, Siyabulela
- Date: 2012
- Subjects: Shared virtual environments , Teaching -- Methodology , Business students , Entrepreneurship
- Language: English
- Type: Thesis , Masters , MBA
- Identifier: vital:8827 , http://hdl.handle.net/10948/d1019728
- Description: The constant evolution of technology and the prevalent demands of the 21st century continue to put pressure on both the business and education sector. Business is ever looking for competent workers to meet these progressive demands, while the education sector continues to struggle to produce such competent workers to meet the heightened needs of the business sector. Universities and business schools have a greater role and responsibility in ensuring that these competent employees are produced. The use of virtual platforms like Second Life has gained significant popularity in the education sector. Therefore the objective of this study was to explore and examine some of the prevalent benefits associated with using Second life for teaching entrepreneurship. This study was also extended to cover the following areas: The benefits of Second Life for business and education sector; - The benefits of Second Life for teaching and learning environment. The study followed an exploratory research design in an attempt to answer the main research question and the respective sub-questions related to the study. Using a qualitative approach, student’s perceptions, opinions, assumptions, observations and experiences during their interaction with Second Life were identified and reflected in the study. The research discovered that the associated benefits of Second Life were coherent with the reviewed literature findings. The research study concluded that Second Life can be used as a support teaching methodology for entrepreneurship for third year MBA students at NMMU Business School. In addition, the research also highlighted some recommendations regarding the introduction and implementation of Second Life at NMMU Business School and future research opportunities.
- Full Text:
- Date Issued: 2012
Sedimentary environments and provenance of the Balfour Formation (Beaufort Group) in the area between Bedford and Adelaide, Eastern Cape Province, South Africa
- Authors: Oghenekome, Monica Enifome
- Date: 2012
- Subjects: Geology -- South Africa -- Balfour , Sedimentary basins -- South Africa -- Eastern Cape , Sediments (Geology) -- South Africa -- Eastern Cape , Sedimentation analysis , Beaufort Group (South Africa)
- Language: English
- Type: Thesis , Masters , MSc (Geology)
- Identifier: vital:11524 , http://hdl.handle.net/10353/d1004354 , Geology -- South Africa -- Balfour , Sedimentary basins -- South Africa -- Eastern Cape , Sediments (Geology) -- South Africa -- Eastern Cape , Sedimentation analysis , Beaufort Group (South Africa)
- Description: The research examines the sedimentary environments and provenance of the Balfour Formation of the Beaufort Group (Karoo Supergroup) in the Eastern Cape Province, South Africa. This Formation occurs in the southeastern part of the Karoo Basin. It consists of sedimentary rocks, which are an alternating siltstone, shale and mudstone succession with subordinate interbedded sandstone and subsequently intruded by Karoo dolerite in the form of sills and dykes. ithostratigraphically, the Balfour Formation is subdivided into five units namely, from the base to the top, the Oudeberg, Daggaboersnek, Barberskrans, Elandsberg and Palingkloof Members. The Balfour Formation is overlain by the Katberg Formation. This study involved field investigations in the vicinity of the towns of Bedford and Adelaide with integrated stratigraphical, sedimentological and petrological studies. A geological map was constructed after field investigations. Lithofacies of the Balfour Formation that were studied are characterised by sandstone facies (Sh, Sm, St, Sr, Sp) and fine-grained sediments (Fl or Fsm) which reflect point-bar, cut-bank, channel and floodplain deposits. Lithologically, the Oudeberg Member consists of sandstone of which some units are internally massive alternating with thin laminated siltstone and mudstone. The Daggaboersnek Member is characterised by regular, generally non-lenticular, overall stratification, in the Barberkrans Member consists of sandstone lithosomes, while the Elandsberg Member is an argillaceous unit, similar to the Daggaboersnek Member. The Palingkloof Member is composed predominantly of red mudstone that can be used to distinguish the Balfour Formation from the overlying Katberg Formation, which consists predominantly of sandstone. The stratigraphic sequence displays two fining upward megacycles of sedimentary deposits with change in the sediment supply pattern from low-sinuosity to high-sinuosity river systems which reflect both braid and meandering deposits, respectively. Sedimentary structures in the sandstone units and the provenance of the Balfour Formation indicate that these deposits were produced by rivers flowing from the southeast with minor drift towards the northwest. According to the composition of the sediments and their sequence of deposition the Formation represents a fluvial environment. Mineralogical and grain size data from the sandstones of the various members of the Balfour Formation indicate the same source area of granitic, metamorphic and older sedimentary rocks and show no significant petrographic differences. The petrographic and geochemical investigations confirmed the sandstone to be feldspathic litharenite and ultralithofeldspathic sandstone. The palaeocurrent investigation indicates the main provenance to have been situated to the southeast of the Karoo basin. Heavy-mineral concentrations within the sandstones also give an indication that the source had a transitional arc plate tectonic setting.
- Full Text:
- Date Issued: 2012
- Authors: Oghenekome, Monica Enifome
- Date: 2012
- Subjects: Geology -- South Africa -- Balfour , Sedimentary basins -- South Africa -- Eastern Cape , Sediments (Geology) -- South Africa -- Eastern Cape , Sedimentation analysis , Beaufort Group (South Africa)
- Language: English
- Type: Thesis , Masters , MSc (Geology)
- Identifier: vital:11524 , http://hdl.handle.net/10353/d1004354 , Geology -- South Africa -- Balfour , Sedimentary basins -- South Africa -- Eastern Cape , Sediments (Geology) -- South Africa -- Eastern Cape , Sedimentation analysis , Beaufort Group (South Africa)
- Description: The research examines the sedimentary environments and provenance of the Balfour Formation of the Beaufort Group (Karoo Supergroup) in the Eastern Cape Province, South Africa. This Formation occurs in the southeastern part of the Karoo Basin. It consists of sedimentary rocks, which are an alternating siltstone, shale and mudstone succession with subordinate interbedded sandstone and subsequently intruded by Karoo dolerite in the form of sills and dykes. ithostratigraphically, the Balfour Formation is subdivided into five units namely, from the base to the top, the Oudeberg, Daggaboersnek, Barberskrans, Elandsberg and Palingkloof Members. The Balfour Formation is overlain by the Katberg Formation. This study involved field investigations in the vicinity of the towns of Bedford and Adelaide with integrated stratigraphical, sedimentological and petrological studies. A geological map was constructed after field investigations. Lithofacies of the Balfour Formation that were studied are characterised by sandstone facies (Sh, Sm, St, Sr, Sp) and fine-grained sediments (Fl or Fsm) which reflect point-bar, cut-bank, channel and floodplain deposits. Lithologically, the Oudeberg Member consists of sandstone of which some units are internally massive alternating with thin laminated siltstone and mudstone. The Daggaboersnek Member is characterised by regular, generally non-lenticular, overall stratification, in the Barberkrans Member consists of sandstone lithosomes, while the Elandsberg Member is an argillaceous unit, similar to the Daggaboersnek Member. The Palingkloof Member is composed predominantly of red mudstone that can be used to distinguish the Balfour Formation from the overlying Katberg Formation, which consists predominantly of sandstone. The stratigraphic sequence displays two fining upward megacycles of sedimentary deposits with change in the sediment supply pattern from low-sinuosity to high-sinuosity river systems which reflect both braid and meandering deposits, respectively. Sedimentary structures in the sandstone units and the provenance of the Balfour Formation indicate that these deposits were produced by rivers flowing from the southeast with minor drift towards the northwest. According to the composition of the sediments and their sequence of deposition the Formation represents a fluvial environment. Mineralogical and grain size data from the sandstones of the various members of the Balfour Formation indicate the same source area of granitic, metamorphic and older sedimentary rocks and show no significant petrographic differences. The petrographic and geochemical investigations confirmed the sandstone to be feldspathic litharenite and ultralithofeldspathic sandstone. The palaeocurrent investigation indicates the main provenance to have been situated to the southeast of the Karoo basin. Heavy-mineral concentrations within the sandstones also give an indication that the source had a transitional arc plate tectonic setting.
- Full Text:
- Date Issued: 2012
Self-perceived professional identity of pharmacy educators
- Authors: Burton, Susan
- Date: 2012
- Subjects: Academic identity , Communities of practice , Identity (Philosophical concept) , Pharmacy -- Study and teaching , Pharmacy
- Language: English
- Type: Thesis , Doctoral , PhD
- Identifier: vital:10139 , http://hdl.handle.net/10948/d1008352 , Academic identity , Communities of practice , Identity (Philosophical concept) , Pharmacy -- Study and teaching , Pharmacy
- Description: The philosophy of pharmaceutical care, which defines a patient-centred approach to practice, has been embraced and upheld by national and international pharmaceutical organisations for two decades. However, pharmacists have been slow to change their practice and implement a pharmaceutical care approach. It has been suggested that amongst other factors, short-comings in pharmaceutical education have contributed to this reluctance of the profession to transform practice. Efforts to address these short-comings in pharmaceutical education have focused on the curriculum and pedagogic practices, and not on the pharmacy educators themselves. Palmer (1998) asserts that “good teaching cannot be reduced to technique; good teaching comes from the identity and integrity of the teacher”. In essence, "we teach who we are" and good teachers have one common trait: “a strong sense of personal identity that infuses their work”. This study identified, described and analysed the self-perceived professional identities of pharmacy educators within the South African context. This included ascertaining factors and contexts which contributed to participants’ self-perception of their professional identity. In an effort to understand the influence the educators have on practice and on changing practice and vice-versa, the attitudes, beliefs and behaviours of participants regarding the philosophy and practice of pharmaceutical care, and pharmaceutical education were also explored. Situated within a constructivist-interpretive, qualitative paradigm and making use of methodological triangulation, this study was conducted in three phases, each employing a different qualitative method to collect data. The first phase made use of narrative analysis to gain an in-depth understanding of pharmacy educators’ perceived professional identities and to explore how their experiences, across various contexts, have formed their professional identities. In-depth individual narrative interviews were used to provide a forum in which the participants could reflect upon and tell their professional life-story. This phase of the study also made use of the exploration of metaphors to further investigate the participants’ professional identity and, more particularly, their images of themselves as “teacher” and role model for students. A maximum variation, purposeful sampling approach was used to recruit eight pharmacy academics - one from each school or faculty of pharmacy in South Africa, as participants in this phase of the study. The second and third phases explored more widely, the insights gained from the first phase and the formation of professional identity, attitudes, beliefs and practices of pharmacy educators in South Africa. Two focus groups were employed during the second phase and the study sample was broadened to include a further ten pharmacy educators. In the third phase, a purpose-designed, qualitative questionnaire was used to extend the study sample to all pharmacy educators in South Africa. A convenience sampling approach was used in both the second and third phases of the study. Thematic analysis and interpretation of the narrative interview and focus group transcripts and the questionnaire responses were conducted using qualitative data analysis software – Atlas.ti®. A multiplicity of self-perceived professional identities was described. However, all of these were multi-faceted and could be situated on a continuum between pharmacist identity on one end and academic identity on the other. In addition, six key determinants were recognised as underpinning the participants’ self-perception of their professional identity. These included three structural determinants: expected role; knowledge base; and practice, and three determinants relating to the emotional dimensions and agency of professional identity: professional status; passions; and satisfiers. The professional identity of the participants had been formed through membership of multiple pharmacy-related communities of practice and continued to be sustained through a nexus of multi-membership. There was extensive support by the participants for the concept of pharmaceutical care; however, it did not impact extensively on their role as pharmacy educators. Furthermore, many expressed concern around the use of the term ‘pharmaceutical care’: its definition; its lack of penetration into, and implementation within the practice environment; and even its relevance to the South African healthcare context. Many of the participants perceived the professional development of future pharmacists to be integral to their role as educators, and was often their source of greatest professional satisfaction. However, concern was also expressed at the dissonance that students were perceived to experience, sometimes, because of the incongruities that they are taught and what they experience in practice. This study has afforded pharmacy educators in South Africa an opportunity to understand better “who” they are as professionals, and to reflect on their role as educators and as role models for future pharmacist. Moreover, the findings contribute to a collective understanding of the professional identity of pharmacy educators and socialisation of pharmacy students into the profession. The insights and recommendations emerging from the study have the potential to make academic pharmacy a more attractive career choice which may have positive implications for the future attraction and retention of pharmacists to academic posts within universities.
- Full Text:
- Date Issued: 2012
- Authors: Burton, Susan
- Date: 2012
- Subjects: Academic identity , Communities of practice , Identity (Philosophical concept) , Pharmacy -- Study and teaching , Pharmacy
- Language: English
- Type: Thesis , Doctoral , PhD
- Identifier: vital:10139 , http://hdl.handle.net/10948/d1008352 , Academic identity , Communities of practice , Identity (Philosophical concept) , Pharmacy -- Study and teaching , Pharmacy
- Description: The philosophy of pharmaceutical care, which defines a patient-centred approach to practice, has been embraced and upheld by national and international pharmaceutical organisations for two decades. However, pharmacists have been slow to change their practice and implement a pharmaceutical care approach. It has been suggested that amongst other factors, short-comings in pharmaceutical education have contributed to this reluctance of the profession to transform practice. Efforts to address these short-comings in pharmaceutical education have focused on the curriculum and pedagogic practices, and not on the pharmacy educators themselves. Palmer (1998) asserts that “good teaching cannot be reduced to technique; good teaching comes from the identity and integrity of the teacher”. In essence, "we teach who we are" and good teachers have one common trait: “a strong sense of personal identity that infuses their work”. This study identified, described and analysed the self-perceived professional identities of pharmacy educators within the South African context. This included ascertaining factors and contexts which contributed to participants’ self-perception of their professional identity. In an effort to understand the influence the educators have on practice and on changing practice and vice-versa, the attitudes, beliefs and behaviours of participants regarding the philosophy and practice of pharmaceutical care, and pharmaceutical education were also explored. Situated within a constructivist-interpretive, qualitative paradigm and making use of methodological triangulation, this study was conducted in three phases, each employing a different qualitative method to collect data. The first phase made use of narrative analysis to gain an in-depth understanding of pharmacy educators’ perceived professional identities and to explore how their experiences, across various contexts, have formed their professional identities. In-depth individual narrative interviews were used to provide a forum in which the participants could reflect upon and tell their professional life-story. This phase of the study also made use of the exploration of metaphors to further investigate the participants’ professional identity and, more particularly, their images of themselves as “teacher” and role model for students. A maximum variation, purposeful sampling approach was used to recruit eight pharmacy academics - one from each school or faculty of pharmacy in South Africa, as participants in this phase of the study. The second and third phases explored more widely, the insights gained from the first phase and the formation of professional identity, attitudes, beliefs and practices of pharmacy educators in South Africa. Two focus groups were employed during the second phase and the study sample was broadened to include a further ten pharmacy educators. In the third phase, a purpose-designed, qualitative questionnaire was used to extend the study sample to all pharmacy educators in South Africa. A convenience sampling approach was used in both the second and third phases of the study. Thematic analysis and interpretation of the narrative interview and focus group transcripts and the questionnaire responses were conducted using qualitative data analysis software – Atlas.ti®. A multiplicity of self-perceived professional identities was described. However, all of these were multi-faceted and could be situated on a continuum between pharmacist identity on one end and academic identity on the other. In addition, six key determinants were recognised as underpinning the participants’ self-perception of their professional identity. These included three structural determinants: expected role; knowledge base; and practice, and three determinants relating to the emotional dimensions and agency of professional identity: professional status; passions; and satisfiers. The professional identity of the participants had been formed through membership of multiple pharmacy-related communities of practice and continued to be sustained through a nexus of multi-membership. There was extensive support by the participants for the concept of pharmaceutical care; however, it did not impact extensively on their role as pharmacy educators. Furthermore, many expressed concern around the use of the term ‘pharmaceutical care’: its definition; its lack of penetration into, and implementation within the practice environment; and even its relevance to the South African healthcare context. Many of the participants perceived the professional development of future pharmacists to be integral to their role as educators, and was often their source of greatest professional satisfaction. However, concern was also expressed at the dissonance that students were perceived to experience, sometimes, because of the incongruities that they are taught and what they experience in practice. This study has afforded pharmacy educators in South Africa an opportunity to understand better “who” they are as professionals, and to reflect on their role as educators and as role models for future pharmacist. Moreover, the findings contribute to a collective understanding of the professional identity of pharmacy educators and socialisation of pharmacy students into the profession. The insights and recommendations emerging from the study have the potential to make academic pharmacy a more attractive career choice which may have positive implications for the future attraction and retention of pharmacists to academic posts within universities.
- Full Text:
- Date Issued: 2012
Service discovery using open sound control
- Eales, Andrew, Foss, Richard
- Authors: Eales, Andrew , Foss, Richard
- Date: 2012
- Language: English
- Type: text , article
- Identifier: http://hdl.handle.net/10962/426890 , vital:72398 , https://www.aes.org/e-lib/online/browse.cfm?elib=16432
- Description: The Open Sound Control (OSC) control protocol does not have service discovery capabilities. The approach to adding service discovery to OSC proposed in this paper uses the OSC address space to represent services within the context of a logical device model. This model allows services to be represented in a context-sensitive manner by relating parameters representing services to the logical organization of a device. Implementation of service discovery is done using standard OSC messages and requires that the OSC address space be designed to support these messages. This paper illustrates how these enhancements to OSC allow a device to advertise its services. Controller applications can then explore the device’s address space to discover services and retrieve the services required by the application. The Open Sound Control (OSC) control protocol does not have service discovery capabilities. The approach to adding service discovery to OSC proposed in this paper uses the OSC address space to represent services within the context of a logical device model. This model allows services to be represented in a context-sensitive manner by relating parameters representing services to the logical organization of a device. Implementation of service discovery is done using standard OSC messages and requires that the OSC address space be designed to support these messages. This paper illustrates how these enhancements to OSC allow a device to advertise its services. Controller applications can then explore the device’s address space to discover services and retrieve the services required by the application.
- Full Text:
- Date Issued: 2012
- Authors: Eales, Andrew , Foss, Richard
- Date: 2012
- Language: English
- Type: text , article
- Identifier: http://hdl.handle.net/10962/426890 , vital:72398 , https://www.aes.org/e-lib/online/browse.cfm?elib=16432
- Description: The Open Sound Control (OSC) control protocol does not have service discovery capabilities. The approach to adding service discovery to OSC proposed in this paper uses the OSC address space to represent services within the context of a logical device model. This model allows services to be represented in a context-sensitive manner by relating parameters representing services to the logical organization of a device. Implementation of service discovery is done using standard OSC messages and requires that the OSC address space be designed to support these messages. This paper illustrates how these enhancements to OSC allow a device to advertise its services. Controller applications can then explore the device’s address space to discover services and retrieve the services required by the application. The Open Sound Control (OSC) control protocol does not have service discovery capabilities. The approach to adding service discovery to OSC proposed in this paper uses the OSC address space to represent services within the context of a logical device model. This model allows services to be represented in a context-sensitive manner by relating parameters representing services to the logical organization of a device. Implementation of service discovery is done using standard OSC messages and requires that the OSC address space be designed to support these messages. This paper illustrates how these enhancements to OSC allow a device to advertise its services. Controller applications can then explore the device’s address space to discover services and retrieve the services required by the application.
- Full Text:
- Date Issued: 2012
Sex work: discussion document 27-29 March 2012
- Congress of South African Trade Unions (COSATU)
- Authors: Congress of South African Trade Unions (COSATU)
- Date: 2012
- Subjects: Uncatalogued
- Language: English
- Type: book , text
- Identifier: http://hdl.handle.net/10962/68748 , vital:29311
- Description: The aim of this paper is to resuscitate the debate on the need for decriminalization of sex work and ensure that COSATU and its affiliates further engage within structures, alliance, non -governmental organizations and with the Government in terms of the need for law reform and identify alternative policy framework. However, whatever outcome of the legal processes pertaining to sex work, should be abide by the spirit of the Constitution which is committed to advancing human rights and social justice. Sex work in South Africa is currently criminalised and is restricted by the Sexual Offences Act of 1957 (an un-amended apartheid-era law) which prohibits all activities associated with it. The criminal offences related to sex work include amongst them the keeping or participating in the management of a brothel, procuring someone to become a sex worker, soliciting or selling sex or living of the earnings of a sex worker. In 2007 through the Sexual Offences Act their clients were also criminalised In 2007, the Act was amended to criminalise buyers of sexual services too (SALRC 2009). We therefore argue that the existing laws on sex work are nothing but hypocrisy of the conservatives and elites. They do not improve the conditions of women; instead they worsen the miserable conditions that women in the sex trade already find themselves in. The missing fact is that sex work is a by-product of our patriarchal capitalist society-not something created by some “immoral prostitute” The current oppressive legislation on sex work has stimulated a lot of debates and has led to an upsurge in advocacy work by individuals and organizations around the need to either legalise or decriminalize sex work. Likewise, Cosatu as a key civil society player has also played a leading role in its endeavor to unite the working class and to defend workers from exploitation as well as finding workable solutions to the plight of the most vulnerable people in our society who find themselves with no choice but to engage in sex work. The sex industry is by nature exploitative and inherently dangerous. Women in the industry experience different degrees of abuse, coercion and violence, but all of them are harmed physically and psychologically. As a trade union movement, COSATU has an interest in the debate about sex work, from the point of view that sex work targets mainly the working class and the poor, predominantly black women. High levels of unemployment, poverty and gender inequality are key factors driving sex work. The global economic crisis has aggravated the situation for the poor majority through job losses, casualisation and ultimately increased feminization of poverty. Cosatu has already started some debates and campaigns aimed at devising ways of protecting sex workers through collective workers struggles. As such, the sex work discourse and campaign among Cosatu affiliates for decriminalization was tabled at the Federation’s 10th Congress though it was deferred because of contestation and opposition amongst delegates. However, affiliates had the responsibility to go back and make further consultations, sensitization with their structures and open up a discussion at the level of the COSATU Central Executive Committee. Indeed, it is high time that the debate on decriminalization should be concluded and that sex work be recognized as work as Arnott and Crago (2009) argue that: “The criminalisation of sex work has precluded the enforcement and protection of sex workers’ Labour rights. This disregard for sex workers as workers has left many of those employed in brothels in South Africa vulnerable to labor abuses such as withheld wages, arbitrary fines, restrictions on mobility, and confiscation of belongings including medication. Sex workers on the street or working in brothels and other agencies have no recourse if customers refuse to pay them’’1 The decriminalization of sex work should take the course of a rights- based approach which means that sex workers would be able to enjoy their basic human & labour rights and be protected against sexual harassment, violence, rape and unfair working conditions. By so doing, sex workers would be able to access non-discriminatory health care services, be more empowered and operate within the ambit of protective labour and occupational health & safety laws.
- Full Text:
- Date Issued: 2012
- Authors: Congress of South African Trade Unions (COSATU)
- Date: 2012
- Subjects: Uncatalogued
- Language: English
- Type: book , text
- Identifier: http://hdl.handle.net/10962/68748 , vital:29311
- Description: The aim of this paper is to resuscitate the debate on the need for decriminalization of sex work and ensure that COSATU and its affiliates further engage within structures, alliance, non -governmental organizations and with the Government in terms of the need for law reform and identify alternative policy framework. However, whatever outcome of the legal processes pertaining to sex work, should be abide by the spirit of the Constitution which is committed to advancing human rights and social justice. Sex work in South Africa is currently criminalised and is restricted by the Sexual Offences Act of 1957 (an un-amended apartheid-era law) which prohibits all activities associated with it. The criminal offences related to sex work include amongst them the keeping or participating in the management of a brothel, procuring someone to become a sex worker, soliciting or selling sex or living of the earnings of a sex worker. In 2007 through the Sexual Offences Act their clients were also criminalised In 2007, the Act was amended to criminalise buyers of sexual services too (SALRC 2009). We therefore argue that the existing laws on sex work are nothing but hypocrisy of the conservatives and elites. They do not improve the conditions of women; instead they worsen the miserable conditions that women in the sex trade already find themselves in. The missing fact is that sex work is a by-product of our patriarchal capitalist society-not something created by some “immoral prostitute” The current oppressive legislation on sex work has stimulated a lot of debates and has led to an upsurge in advocacy work by individuals and organizations around the need to either legalise or decriminalize sex work. Likewise, Cosatu as a key civil society player has also played a leading role in its endeavor to unite the working class and to defend workers from exploitation as well as finding workable solutions to the plight of the most vulnerable people in our society who find themselves with no choice but to engage in sex work. The sex industry is by nature exploitative and inherently dangerous. Women in the industry experience different degrees of abuse, coercion and violence, but all of them are harmed physically and psychologically. As a trade union movement, COSATU has an interest in the debate about sex work, from the point of view that sex work targets mainly the working class and the poor, predominantly black women. High levels of unemployment, poverty and gender inequality are key factors driving sex work. The global economic crisis has aggravated the situation for the poor majority through job losses, casualisation and ultimately increased feminization of poverty. Cosatu has already started some debates and campaigns aimed at devising ways of protecting sex workers through collective workers struggles. As such, the sex work discourse and campaign among Cosatu affiliates for decriminalization was tabled at the Federation’s 10th Congress though it was deferred because of contestation and opposition amongst delegates. However, affiliates had the responsibility to go back and make further consultations, sensitization with their structures and open up a discussion at the level of the COSATU Central Executive Committee. Indeed, it is high time that the debate on decriminalization should be concluded and that sex work be recognized as work as Arnott and Crago (2009) argue that: “The criminalisation of sex work has precluded the enforcement and protection of sex workers’ Labour rights. This disregard for sex workers as workers has left many of those employed in brothels in South Africa vulnerable to labor abuses such as withheld wages, arbitrary fines, restrictions on mobility, and confiscation of belongings including medication. Sex workers on the street or working in brothels and other agencies have no recourse if customers refuse to pay them’’1 The decriminalization of sex work should take the course of a rights- based approach which means that sex workers would be able to enjoy their basic human & labour rights and be protected against sexual harassment, violence, rape and unfair working conditions. By so doing, sex workers would be able to access non-discriminatory health care services, be more empowered and operate within the ambit of protective labour and occupational health & safety laws.
- Full Text:
- Date Issued: 2012
Sexual abuse within the context of public education
- Authors: Strydom, Jeanette
- Date: 2012
- Subjects: Sexual harassment in education -- Law and legislation -- South Africa , Students -- Legal status, laws, etc. -- South Africa , Child sexual abuse by teachers , School violence -- South Africa
- Language: English
- Type: Thesis , Masters , LLM
- Identifier: vital:10238 , http://hdl.handle.net/10948/d1012156 , Sexual harassment in education -- Law and legislation -- South Africa , Students -- Legal status, laws, etc. -- South Africa , Child sexual abuse by teachers , School violence -- South Africa
- Description: The South African Constitution is considered as supreme law. This piece of legislation overrides all others and states in section 28(2): “A child’s best interests are of paramount importance in every matter concerning the child”. This emphasises the significance of the right of the child in South African law, by stating that children are to be protected at all cost. This section of the constitution forms the basis of this thesis with regards to the child and the protections that are to be afforded to them in instances of sexual abuse by educators. In the last several years there has been an increase in the number of cases reported on the sexual abuse, rape, violence and harassment of learners by members of the schooling community. The statistics prove that sexual violence in the schooling system in South Africa is rampant and furthermore indicate that young girls and boys are not as safe as they deserve to be. A teacher or educator is a professional, who is to act in a professional manner at all times – in the course and scope of their employment as educators. When a parent leaves its child at school for the day the educators are acting in loco parentis – in place of parent – thus these children are to be protected, nurtured and cared for in the correct manner. Sexual abuse of a learner by an educator is a gross contravention of South African legislation, the South African Council of Educators (SACE) code of conduct as well as international codes by the International Labour Organisation (ILO), the United Nations (UN) and other conventions. It is therefore fitting that any perpetrator of such violence, disrespect and transgression is to be punished quickly and harshly. Educators who abuse children are to immediately be removed from the school system through dismissal and also be tried criminally. These offenders should also be added to the SACE sexual offenders’ database which needs to be open to the Department of Education (DOE) and more importantly the general public – allowing parents to make the best possible decisions when putting their children in schools, thus ensuring their safety. However, throughout this process the rights of the child are to be protected and regarded with prevailing sensitivity, and their innocence is to be sheltered from any further psychological and emotional harm caused due to the abuse. The South African Professional Society on the Abuse of Children (SAPSAC) argues that a constitutional injunction is powerless to protect a child from being victimised and traumatised by criminal activity.1 All the more should it be incumbent upon the criminal law and criminal procedure and upon the courts, their functionaries and practitioners who regulate its procedure and apply its principles to “protect children from abuse and (to) maximise opportunities for them to lead productive and happy lives … (and to) … create positive conditions for repair to take place”. The thesis that follows, using the principles summarised here, aims to: define sexual abuse of the child, the legal position in South Africa in relation to the sexual abuse of children and case law. Recommendations will then be made and a code of good practice will be established on how to deal with educators who sexually abuse their learners promptly, effectively – without causing any further harm to the child in question.
- Full Text:
- Date Issued: 2012
- Authors: Strydom, Jeanette
- Date: 2012
- Subjects: Sexual harassment in education -- Law and legislation -- South Africa , Students -- Legal status, laws, etc. -- South Africa , Child sexual abuse by teachers , School violence -- South Africa
- Language: English
- Type: Thesis , Masters , LLM
- Identifier: vital:10238 , http://hdl.handle.net/10948/d1012156 , Sexual harassment in education -- Law and legislation -- South Africa , Students -- Legal status, laws, etc. -- South Africa , Child sexual abuse by teachers , School violence -- South Africa
- Description: The South African Constitution is considered as supreme law. This piece of legislation overrides all others and states in section 28(2): “A child’s best interests are of paramount importance in every matter concerning the child”. This emphasises the significance of the right of the child in South African law, by stating that children are to be protected at all cost. This section of the constitution forms the basis of this thesis with regards to the child and the protections that are to be afforded to them in instances of sexual abuse by educators. In the last several years there has been an increase in the number of cases reported on the sexual abuse, rape, violence and harassment of learners by members of the schooling community. The statistics prove that sexual violence in the schooling system in South Africa is rampant and furthermore indicate that young girls and boys are not as safe as they deserve to be. A teacher or educator is a professional, who is to act in a professional manner at all times – in the course and scope of their employment as educators. When a parent leaves its child at school for the day the educators are acting in loco parentis – in place of parent – thus these children are to be protected, nurtured and cared for in the correct manner. Sexual abuse of a learner by an educator is a gross contravention of South African legislation, the South African Council of Educators (SACE) code of conduct as well as international codes by the International Labour Organisation (ILO), the United Nations (UN) and other conventions. It is therefore fitting that any perpetrator of such violence, disrespect and transgression is to be punished quickly and harshly. Educators who abuse children are to immediately be removed from the school system through dismissal and also be tried criminally. These offenders should also be added to the SACE sexual offenders’ database which needs to be open to the Department of Education (DOE) and more importantly the general public – allowing parents to make the best possible decisions when putting their children in schools, thus ensuring their safety. However, throughout this process the rights of the child are to be protected and regarded with prevailing sensitivity, and their innocence is to be sheltered from any further psychological and emotional harm caused due to the abuse. The South African Professional Society on the Abuse of Children (SAPSAC) argues that a constitutional injunction is powerless to protect a child from being victimised and traumatised by criminal activity.1 All the more should it be incumbent upon the criminal law and criminal procedure and upon the courts, their functionaries and practitioners who regulate its procedure and apply its principles to “protect children from abuse and (to) maximise opportunities for them to lead productive and happy lives … (and to) … create positive conditions for repair to take place”. The thesis that follows, using the principles summarised here, aims to: define sexual abuse of the child, the legal position in South Africa in relation to the sexual abuse of children and case law. Recommendations will then be made and a code of good practice will be established on how to deal with educators who sexually abuse their learners promptly, effectively – without causing any further harm to the child in question.
- Full Text:
- Date Issued: 2012