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Home activities promoting mathematical skills in foundation phase : a case study of grandmother-headed households

  • Authors: Hlungulu, Nolukholo Faith
  • Date: 2017
  • Subjects: Home and school -- South Africa -- Case studies Education -- Parent participation -- South Africa -- Case studies Education, Elementary -- South Africa -- Case studies
  • Language: English
  • Type: Thesis , Masters , MEd
  • Identifier: http://hdl.handle.net/10353/4926 , vital:28796
  • Description: Recent factors identified as contributory to poor mathematics performance in South Africa include lack of parental involvement coupled by the divorce of mathematics education to children’s everyday lives. This exploratory study, therefore focused on home activities grandmothers engage their Grade 2 grandchildren that may promote mathematical skills of Foundation Phase learners. This study followed a qualitative, interpretive and case study research design, to explore home activities grandmothers engage their Grade 2 grandchildren that may promote mathematical skills of Foundation Phase learners. A small scale study of six grandmothers and three Grade 2 teachers were sampled through purposive and snowball sampling. In line with the protocol of the case study, semi-structured individual face to face interviews and shadowing were used to collect data. One striking feature of the main findings was the diversity mathematics applications home activities contained. These include physical, financial and fun playful home activities. Data also revealed that these home activities could reinforce numbers and what numbers mean; reinforce shape recognition and spatial relationships; complement matching, classification and sorting and reinforce measuring and time. This implies that curriculum must incorporate children’s social capital. Both teachers and grandmothers acknowledged that children’s mathematics education is complex and an effective partnership between grandmothers and teachers is needed if children are to be competent in mathematics.
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  • Date Issued: 2017

Home ownership in the gap-housing market in South Africa

  • Authors: Ludidi, Daniel Dumisa
  • Date: 2017
  • Subjects: Home ownership -- South Africa Housing -- South Africa , Bond market -- South Africa Real estate investment -- South Africa
  • Language: English
  • Type: Thesis , Masters , MSc
  • Identifier: http://hdl.handle.net/10948/18299 , vital:28616
  • Description: The access to adequate housing is a constitutional right, in terms of Section 26 (1) of the Constitution of the Republic of South Africa, Act 108 of 1996. Access to housing in South Africa is still an ideal and not a reality. The increase in housing prices reduces affordability, which creates a barrier to the housing market for South Africans to fully participate. The South African housing market is divided, based on the affordability of households, with a gap within the property market. The gap-housing market is a market, which does not receive a government subsidy; and furthermore, it does not qualify for bond finance by the private financial institutions. The gap-housing market includes households that earn between R3,500 to R15,000 per month for residential properties valued between R116,703 to R483,481. The problem is a lack of supply in the gap-housing market to meet the demand; and this is also affected by the poor performance of the subsidy-housing market. The gap-housing market is not traded adequately, due to a lack of supply caused by stricter lending criteria from the banks. The study was conducted by means of reviewing the related literature and by an empirical study. A survey was conducted using the quantitative approach through a distribution of research questionnaires to different organizations within the judgement sample population. The objective of the study is to review the gap-housing market and to make recommendations. The descriptive survey was conducted among specialists that are participating in the South African housing market. The findings of the study suggest that there is a relationship between incentive and participation, as well as a relationship between participation – with access, supply and trading in the gap-housing market. This study will contribute to the South African housing market body of knowledge – by addressing the problem of a gap within the housing market.
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  • Date Issued: 2017

Homecoming

  • Authors: Mazwai, Nontsikelelo
  • Date: 2017
  • Subjects: Uncatalogued
  • Language: English
  • Type: thesis , text , Masters , MA
  • Identifier: http://hdl.handle.net/10962/164930 , vital:41185
  • Description: Thesis (MA)--Rhodes University, Faculty of Humanities, School of Languages, 2017
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  • Date Issued: 2017

Homeless men in East London : an exploration of significant life experiences to self-concepts

  • Authors: Lobi, Thembelihle
  • Date: 2017
  • Subjects: Homeless persons Homelessness Homeless men
  • Language: English
  • Type: Thesis , Masters , Counselling Psychology
  • Identifier: http://hdl.handle.net/10353/16069 , vital:40661
  • Description: This dissertation investigated the life experiences of homeless persons and how they come to view their self-concepts as homeless men. The theoretical framework that underpinned this study was the self-concept theory and social identity theory. In this contextual descriptive study, four homeless men between ages of 28-50 participated in the study. Data was collected by means of disposable cameras and recorded interviews. Thematic analysis was employed to analyse data. The study found that when the participants first became homeless, they encountered stigmatisation and were not ready to accept the homeless identity as it conflicted with their past identity. However, with prolonged homelessness, they took on the new identity and the roles that come with it. The study found that homeless men view themselves as worthless due to their experiences on the street which include living under inhumane conditions, victimisation, and stigma associated with being homeless. The participants have internalised the negative utterances from housed people, which has negatively affected their self-image to a point where they view themselves as worthless,useless and forgetable. The study also found that homeless men use various methods to survive on the streets, which were both self-enhancing such as participating in the informal economy such as car guarding, car washing and collecting tins in exchange for money; and self-destructive such as using substances, risky sexual behaviour. The participants were found to have low self-concepts because of the tough experiences they encounter on the street.
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  • Date Issued: 2017

Household socio-economic characteristics and their effect on livelihood strategy preferences in Shawbury, Qumbu

  • Authors: Nongalo, Mwezi Bongile
  • Date: 2017
  • Subjects: Food security -- South Africa -- Eastern Cape Household surveys -- South Africa -- Eastern Cape Sustainable development -- South Africa -- Eastern Cape
  • Language: English
  • Type: Thesis , Masters , MSc
  • Identifier: http://hdl.handle.net/10353/12065 , vital:39132
  • Description: At the centre of rural development are household livelihood strategies. The livelihoods of South Africa’s rural African poor have long been characterized by diverse activities, and intertwined with urban opportunities. This study describes the livelihood strategies of rural households, identifies the determinants of these livelihood strategies and seeks to identify the role of preferences and household characteristics in changing livelihood strategies in Shawbury in the small town in Qumbu. It also identifies the relationships between household and individual characteristics and livelihood strategies. A random sampling technique was used to select 100 households in Shawbury. Descriptive analysis techniques were used to describe the characteristics of the households and livelihood strategies and to identify the relationships between household characteristics and livelihood strategy preferences, a multinomial logit regression model was used. The livelihood strategies used for the multinomial logit regression were commercial agricultural production/ production for selling; subsistence agricultural production/ production for consumption; non-farm employment; social grants and remittances. For much of the research available for livelihood strategies, tools such as the sustainable livelihoods framework have been the focus for studying the determinants of livelihood strategies; however, these tools have little to no consideration for the aspirations and preferences of the individuals in question. This study highlights some possible tools that could be used to examine the influence of aspirations and preferences on changing livelihood strategies including the consumer choice framework, the domestic development cycle, the social network framework for decision-making, the social systems approach and conjoint analysis. For this study, the actual preferences of livelihood strategies among the households are presented using conjoint analysis. This study finds that households in the same area have different characteristics and that livelihood strategies of Shawbury’s households are primarily non- farm, that include dependency on remittances, social grants and formal employment. It finds that households that generate income from wage employment (non-farm) and farm activities are better off than other households. Analysis of the characteristics of rural households also revealed that age, labour endowment, education, and land size holding are some of the barriers that poor households in rural areas face when attempting to enter into high-return livelihood strategies. The multinomial logit regression model has helped to identify some of the factors that influence the preference of certain livelihood strategies by households, are gender of the household head, age of the household head, size of the land owned, and educational level of the household head, household size, and livestock value. This analysis presents evidence about the relationship between household characteristics contributing to the adoption of certain livelihood strategies by people of Shawbury. The conjoint analysis has helped to identify that the most preferred to the least preferred livelihood activities are non-farm labour activities, crop production, animal production, contact with family/leisure and other natural resource based activities respectively.
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  • Date Issued: 2017

Household socio-economic characteristics and their effect on livelihood strategy preferences in Shawbury, Qumbu

  • Authors: Nongalo, Mwezi Bongile
  • Date: 2017
  • Subjects: Food security -- South Africa -- Eastern Cape Household surveys -- South Africa -- Eastern Cape Rural development -- South Africa -- Eastern Cape
  • Language: English
  • Type: Thesis , Masters , MSc
  • Identifier: http://hdl.handle.net/10353/12150 , vital:39175
  • Description: At the centre of rural development are household livelihood strategies. The livelihoods of South Africa’s rural African poor have long been characterized by diverse activities, and intertwined with urban opportunities. This study describes the livelihood strategies of rural households, identifies the determinants of these livelihood strategies and seeks to identify the role of preferences and household characteristics in changing livelihood strategies in Shawbury in the small town in Qumbu. It also identifies the relationships between household and individual characteristics and livelihood strategies. A random sampling technique was used to select 100 households in Shawbury. Descriptive analysis techniques were used to describe the characteristics of the households and livelihood strategies and to identify the relationships between household characteristics and livelihood strategy preferences, a multinomial logit regression model was used. The livelihood strategies used for the multinomial logit regression were commercial agricultural production/ production for selling; subsistence agricultural production/ production for consumption; non-farm employment; social grants and remittances. For much of the research available for livelihood strategies, tools such as the sustainable livelihoods framework have been the focus for studying the determinants of livelihood strategies; however these tools have little to no consideration for the aspirations and preferences of the individuals in question. This study highlights some possible tools that could be used to examine the influence of aspirations and preferences on changing livelihood strategies including the consumer choice framework, the domestic development cycle, the social network framework for decision making, the social systems approach and conjoint analysis. For this study, the actual preferences of livelihood strategies among the households are presented using conjoint analysis. This study finds that households in the same area have different characteristics and that livelihood strategies of Shawbury’s households are primarily non- farm, that include dependency on remittances, social grants and formal employment. It finds that households that generate income from wage employment (non-farm) and farm activities are better off than other households. Analysis of the characteristics of rural households also revealed that age, labour endowment, education, and land size holding are some of the barriers that poor households in rural areas face when attempting to enter into high-return livelihood strategies. The multinomial logit regression model has helped to identify some of the factors that influence the preference of certain livelihood strategies by households, are gender of the household head, age of the household head, size of the land owned, and educational level of the household head, household size, and livestock value. This analysis presents evidence about the relationship between household characteristics contributing to the adoption of certain livelihood strategies by people of Shawbury. The conjoint analysis has helped to identify that the most preferred to the least preferred livelihood activities are non-farm labour activities, crop production, animal production, contact with family/leisure and other natural resource based activities respectively.
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  • Date Issued: 2017

How compatible are urban livestock and urban green spaces and trees?: An assessment in a medium-sized South African town

  • Authors: Shackleton, Charlie M , Guild, Jenny , Bromham, B , Impey, S , Jarrett, Mitchell , Ngubane, S , Steijl, K
  • Date: 2017
  • Subjects: To be catalogued
  • Language: English
  • Type: text , article
  • Identifier: http://hdl.handle.net/10962/181048 , vital:43694 , xlink:href="https://doi.org/10.1080/19463138.2017.1314968"
  • Description: Urban green spaces and trees provide multiple benefits to urban residents and the sustainability of cities. A poorly examined benefit is the provision of fodder to urban livestock. However, the presence and activities of livestock may be incompatible with other uses, although this has been little studied. We examined the impacts of livestock on trees and parks along a gradient of declining livestock density, complemented with a tree planting experiment to monitor damage. Neighbouring residents and park managers were interviewed regarding their perceptions of damage caused by livestock. The negative impacts on soil compaction, tree damage and death increased with increasing livestock densities. Thorny tree species were damaged significantly less (13 %) than non-thorny species (77 %), as were protected trees (25 %) relative to unprotected ones (65 %). There was more tree damage in public green spaces (PUGS) (54 %) than control sites (38 %). The majority of local residents felt that livestock should not be allowed in formal PUGS, and most urban park managers regarded livestock damage as a strong disincentive to plant trees. These results show the need for management of the trade-offs caused by livestock and greater appreciation of livestock as agents shaping aspects of PUGS.
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  • Date Issued: 2017

How has trade between South Africa and China evolved over the past decade?

  • Authors: Mutambara, Tsitsi E
  • Date: 2017
  • Subjects: To be catalogued
  • Language: English
  • Type: text , article
  • Identifier: http://hdl.handle.net/10962/477809 , vital:78126 , https://doi.org/10.1080/19186444.2017.1326721
  • Description: China is now South Africa’s significant trading partner, so it is important to examine how the resulting trade benefits compare with those from South Africa’s long standing traditional trading partners. South Africa’s trade with its long standing traditional partners and with China is examined by analysing the factor intensities of goods traded; trade intensity with each country; ease of market access of its products; and intra-industry trade opportunities. Results show that South Africa continues to benefit more from trade with its long standing trading partners than it does with China. Trade with China merely provides South Africa a market mainly for non-fuel primary commodities, while the traditional trading partners provide markets for both low value and high value added products and opportunities for intra-industry trade. This is essential for innovation and technology spillovers both of which are essential to help South Africa to develop its manufacturing base further.
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  • Date Issued: 2017

How phase feeding manipulation affects growth, performance, feed cost, carcass characteristics and the quality of meat from broilers

  • Authors: Sokanyile, Sanda
  • Date: 2017
  • Subjects: Animal nutrition , Feeds , Broilers (Chickens)
  • Language: English
  • Type: Thesis , Masters , MSc
  • Identifier: http://hdl.handle.net/10353/5565 , vital:29334
  • Description: The main objective of the study was to determine how phase feeding manipulation affects growth performance, feed cost, carcass characteristics and quality of meat from broiler chickens. A total of 180 day old un-sexed broiler chicks (Cobb 500) were separated into 3 dietary treatments of 60 birds per treatment and each treatment was replicated 3 times with 20 birds per replicate. The dietary treatments were as follows: T1 (starter 1-7 days; grower 8-21 days; finisher 22-35 days), T2 (starter 1-14 days; grower 15-21 days, finisher 22-35 days) and T3 (starter 1-14 days; grower 15-28 days; finisher 29-35 days). Feed intake and body weight gains were recorded weekly in kilograms. Average daily gain and feed conversion ratio were computed weekly. At day 35, the chickens were slaughtered and 12 representative breast muscles from each treatment were used for the determination of muscle pH (pH1, pH24 and pH48) and colour coordinates (Lightness – L*, redness – a* and yellowness – b*) in triplicate at 1 hour, 24 hours and 48 hours post-mortem.Feed intake (FI), feed conversion ratio (FCR), average daily gain (ADG) and average body weight at slaughter (ABW) were not significant (P>0.05) amongst the treatments. The most cost efficient feed (which accumulated the cheapest cost feed per kg were) T1 (R11.32) and T3 (R11.32) although there was a slight difference in the gross profit of these treatments T1 (R45.71) and T3 (R44.48). Carcass characteristics were the same (P > 0.05) across the treatments except for the wing, thigh, drumstick and the breast (P < 0.05). T2 had the highest wing weight (166.63±8.60), T1 (113.03±8.60) and the lowest in T3 (74.46±8.60). The thigh weight were greater (P<0.05) in T2 (185.69±4.34); T1 (185.54±4.34) compared to T3 (166.97±4.34) which was lower. Treatments 1 (204.17±6.57), T2 (197±6.57) had heavier (P<0.05) breast weights than T3 (186.06±6.57). Dietary treatments had no significant effect (P > 0.05) on pH of the breast meat. No differences were observed in colour during the 1 hour period after slaughter. At 24 hours after slaughter, the L* values were different (P < 0.05) in T1 and T2 (44.3 ± 0.37; 43.7 ± 0.37), respectively, T1 and T3 were the same. The a*-values were different (P < 0.05) at 48 hours after slaughter for T1 and T3 (4.5 ± 0.27; 3.4 ± 0.27), T2 was the same as T1. It was therefore, concluded that since manipulation of starter phase did not have adverse effects on growth performance, gross profit, slight statistical difference in meat quality attributes and carcass characteristics. Therefore, the manipulation of starter diet has the potential to be used in broiler production.
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  • Date Issued: 2017

Hybrid additive manufacturing platform for the production of composite wind turbine blade moulds

  • Authors: Momsen, Timothy Benjamin
  • Date: 2017
  • Subjects: Manufacturing processes -- Automation Production control -- Automation , Production management
  • Language: English
  • Type: Thesis , Masters , MEng
  • Identifier: http://hdl.handle.net/10948/19091 , vital:28772
  • Description: This dissertation discusses the application of additive manufacturing technologies for production of a large-scale rapid prototyping machine, which will be used to produce moulds for prototype composite turbine blades for the emerging renewables energy industry within the Eastern Cape region in South Africa. The conceptualization and design of three complete printer builds resulted in the amalgamation of a final system, following stringent theoretical design, simulation, and feasibility analysis. Following the initial product design cycle stage, construction and performance testing of a large-scale additive manufacturing platform were performed. In-depth statistical analysis of the mechatronic system was undertaken, particularly related to print-head locational accuracy, repeatability, and effects of parameter variation on printer performance. The machine was analysed to assess feasibility for use in the mould-making industry with accuracy and repeatability metrics of 0.121 mm and 0.156 mm rivalling those produced by some of the more accurate fused deposition modellers commercially available. The research data gathered serves to confirm that rapid prototyping is a good alternative manufacturing method for wind turbine blade plug and mould production.
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  • Date Issued: 2017

I did not die

  • Authors: Mzamo, Tebello
  • Date: 2017
  • Language: English
  • Type: Thesis , Masters , MA
  • Identifier: http://hdl.handle.net/10962/7246 , vital:21232
  • Description: My novella is about a mine worker and his family. Set in both Lesotho and South Africa, it engages the effects of migrant labour on families in post-apartheid South Africa. Told through the eyes of the different family members, the narrative uses shifting points of view and moves fluidly through time to present an intimate but complex view of the lives of ordinary working class people. It incorporates witchcraft and ghosts to reveal the blurred lines between the realms of life and death. This collection is inspired by my own father who is a former mine worker. I am influenced by Joyce Carol Oates and Chibundu Onuzo's darkly realistic style, Veronique Tadjo’s explorations of migration and death, the family chronicles of Chimamanda Ngozi Adichie and Yvonne Adhiambo Owuor. I am also inspired by female fantasy and horror writers such as those collected in Ann and Jeff VanderMeer’s anthology, Sisters of the Revolution: A Feminist Speculative Fiction Anthology.
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  • Date Issued: 2017

I want to believe there is a girl here under the table

  • Authors: Asfour, Fouad-Martin
  • Date: 2017
  • Subjects: Creative writing (Higher education) South Africa , South African fiction (English) 21st century
  • Language: English
  • Type: Thesis , Masters , MA
  • Identifier: http://hdl.handle.net/10962/7190 , vital:21227
  • Description: Written in non-linear fragments, my thesis is what Audre Lorde in her novel Zami calls a "biomythography" - the weaving together of myth, history and biography in epic narrative form, a style of composition that represents all the ways in which we perceive the world. Using repetition and shifting memories, I draw from my bicultural upbringing in Offenbach, a city in Germany populated mostly by migrants, as well as my experience of working in art and culture internationally, travelling and living in different countries. Interrogating objects, buildings, family photographs, books and movies, and listening to the silences of the unvoiced, I upset and play with experiences of othering, assumptions and expectations about identity and ask questions about home, belonging and migration, mother tongue and translation. I draw inspiration from Korean American artist Theresa Hak Kyung Cha's use of texts, documents and images to explore dislocation and memory, as well as authors who engage language, translation and belonging such as Mikhail Shishkin, Yoko Tawada, Gloria Anzaldua and Mohammed Khair-Eddine.
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  • Date Issued: 2017

ICT readiness for business continuity in local government

  • Authors: Koen, Ruan
  • Date: 2017
  • Subjects: Internet in public administration -- South Africa , Electronic commerce -- Government policy , Municipal services -- South Africa
  • Language: English
  • Type: Thesis , Masters , MTech
  • Identifier: http://hdl.handle.net/10948/7025 , vital:21192
  • Description: Information and Communication Technology (ICT) has evolved into a pervasive commodity in modern enterprises. ICT enables enterprises, regardless of sector, to achieve their strategic objectives. Similarly, ICT is regarded as a critical enabler in South African municipalities to reach their objectives and ultimately deliver sustainable services to their communities. This dependence on ICT, therefore, necessitates a resilient ICT environment where minimal disruption to ICT is a primary goal. Unfortunately, as reported by the Auditor-General of South Africa, the majority of South African municipalities are neglecting to address the continuity of their ICT services. Failing to implement adequate ICT continuity controls restrict these municipalities from achieving their strategic goals and, as a result, fulfilling their constitutional mandate of service delivery. It is, therefore, the objective of this study to devise a method, consisting of a theoretical foundation and a supporting tool-set, to assist municipalities in addressing a real-world ICT continuity problem. This method aims to be scalable and usable within different municipalities, and be simplistic and comprehensible enough to implement. The theoretical foundation will introduce the concept of ICT Readiness for Business Continuity, based on the recommendations of international best practices and standards, for example, the ISO 27031 (2011) standard. Furthermore, by considering various challenges within local government, the tool-set will ultimately help municipalities to help themselves in this regard.
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  • Date Issued: 2017

Identification and classification of micro-estuaries using selected abiotic and biotic characteristics along the Eastern Cape coast, South Africa

  • Authors: Naidoo, Lyndle Sherae
  • Date: 2017
  • Subjects: Estuarine ecology -- South Africa -- Eastern Cape Estuaries -- South Africa -- Eastern Cape
  • Language: English
  • Type: Thesis , Masters , MSc
  • Identifier: http://hdl.handle.net/10948/11920 , vital:27007
  • Description: Many of the larger estuaries along the South African coastline are highly degraded due to human impacts, highlighting the need to conserve pristine systems. There are approximately 100 micro-estuaries along our coastline which have not yet been identified or classified and hence their ecological functioning is unknown. The aim of this study was to identify and classify micro-estuaries along the Eastern Cape coast. Specific objectives of the study were to: 1) map the distribution of estuarine habitats in a selection of micro-estuaries and assess changes over time; 2) measure the physico-chemical characteristics of the micro-estuaries in the field; 3) investigate the distribution of vegetation, identify macrophyte species and habitat integrity and classify the micro-estuaries sampled using abiotic and botanical characteristics. A total of 30 systems were identified of which 10 were selected for sampling which took place seasonally (2015-2016). A relationship between open water surface area and short term rainfall was only evident in Cunge, Sandy Bottom and Ichabana. In the field it was observed that after heavy rainfall, open water surface area increased and mouth breaching occurred. Salinity was the only water column characteristic that showed differences; salinity increased in response to over wash events. Sand was dominant in all systems and there were no differences in sediment characteristics. A total of 8 macroalgal species, 16 estuarine macrophyte species, six freshwater species and 72 riparian plant species were found. Seed bank reserves were low in all systems despite them being vegetated. Only abiotic characteristics were used for classification using Principle Components Analysis since there were no botanical differences between systems. Micro-estuaries were larger (> 0.03 ha), had a higher salinity (oligohaline, mesohaline and polyhaline conditions) and a constant water body. Micro-outlets were smaller (< 0.03 ha), had a lower salinity (oligohaline conditions were most common) and showed periods of drying. Five micro-estuaries (Shelbertsstroom, Kwesani, Cunge, Mtwendwe and Mtendwe) and five micro-outlets (Stromatolite, Sandy Bottom, Ichabana, Palm Tree and Black Rock) were classified. This study has shown that the micro-estuaries along the Eastern Cape coast are pristine (i.e. intact riparian zone and catchment), untouched and highly dynamic systems (i.e. great variation in water surface area and mouth condition) highlighting their need for protection.
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  • Date Issued: 2017

Identification of SNPs within the CYP2A6 enzyme of TNBC cell lines and the resulting change in activity

  • Authors: Dingle, Laura Margaret Kirkpatrick
  • Date: 2017
  • Language: English
  • Type: text , Thesis , Masters , MSc
  • Identifier: http://hdl.handle.net/10962/64349 , vital:28536
  • Description: Expected release date-May 2019
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  • Date Issued: 2017

Identifying growth criteria and sediment movement mechanisms of needle ice using high-frequency environmental and visual monitoring

  • Authors: Borg, Carl-Johan
  • Date: 2017
  • Subjects: Frazil ice , Sediment transport , Ice mechanics , Photography -- Digital techniques , Environmental monitoring
  • Language: English
  • Type: Thesis , Doctoral , PhD
  • Identifier: http://hdl.handle.net/10962/17656 , vital:22268
  • Description: Environmental growth conditions and mechanisms involved in sediment transport by needle ice have historically been difficult to assess and are poorly documented. The spatial and temporal dynamics that relate to the environment, growth and decay of needle ice are not fully understood. This study monitored needle ice growth, melt and visually identified sediment displacement mechanisms by needle ice, with the aim of revealing environmental growth criteria, timing of growth/melt, ground-surface-air energy balance and sediment displacement mechanisms. Furthermore, the impact of needle ice displacement on vegetation and patterned ground formation was analysed. High-frequency visual monitoring, using three cameras, supplemented by high-frequency measurements of air temperature, soil moisture and wind speed was used to investigate needle ice growth and decay dynamics. Results from visual and environmental monitoring of needle ice growth, showed that the needle ice growing environment was more dynamic, especially in terms of surface temperature, than previously argued. Needle ice growth was observed to occur during surface temperatures from -2.0°C to 2.2°C, soil moisture levels from 0.4% to 37.4% and in winds speeds of 0 m/s to 12.6 m/s. Needle ice initiation was documented a few minutes to hours before or after the onset of surface temperature dropping to below 0°C. Imagery displayed that the depth of ice nucleation was variable within the soil column, possibly relating to the energy balance of radiative cooling, convective heat loss, ground conductivity and latent heat release at the air-surface-ground boundary. Heaving and resettling, toppling and rolling were identified as slope displacement mechanisms when needle ice decayed. Animal trampling and hail were additionally documented as substantial surface altering processes. Furthermore, no impact of needle ice reducing vegetation stability was identified, although a tendency to hinder vegetation expansion was noted. Also, no creation of patterned ground was observed as a result of needle ice decay.
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  • Date Issued: 2017

Identifying operations waste at a logistics service institution in Port Elizabeth

  • Authors: Bailey, Grizenier
  • Date: 2017
  • Subjects: Lean manufacturing -- South Africa -- Port Elizabeth Service industries -- South Africa -- Port Elizabeth
  • Language: English
  • Type: Thesis , Masters , MBA
  • Identifier: http://hdl.handle.net/10948/17537 , vital:28376
  • Description: In today’s dynamic market, it is crucial that logistics systems understand their activities and processes in an efficient way. Lean, in essence, is a method to assist companies in rendering efficient services to customers (Andrejic, 2013, p. 84). The Lean approach for waste elimination can be applied to many different types of operations whether in manufacturing or service industries. The identification of warehousing wastes is sometimes considered difficult in its identification within processes (Villareal, Garza, Rosas & Garcia, 2012, p. 278). The purpose of this case study is to contribute to finding a solution for the decreasing operational efficiency in the operation under study. The researcher found that this paper filled an important research gap in terms of offering management of the selected logistics institution a better understanding of the different waste types in each process. Operational areas such as receiving, unboxing, put-away, picking and issuing were examined as possible reasons for concern about service orientated wastes. The research was conducted through observations and thereafter a questionnaire was distributed amongst a sample of 40 employees within a specific logistics institution. The study discussed certain key factors in Lean, specifically focusing on the types of waste in a service environment.
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  • Date Issued: 2017

Imagining the promised land: an intermestic analysis of Zimbabwean political crisis, 2000-2013

  • Authors: Mupondiwa, Primrose
  • Date: 2017
  • Subjects: Zimbabwe -- Political aspects -- 21st century
  • Language: English
  • Type: Thesis , Masters , MA
  • Identifier: http://hdl.handle.net/10948/19320 , vital:28850
  • Description: The main aim of the analysis is to investigate the intermestic factors that led to political decay in Zimbabwe. By thoroughly assessing the dynamics of political development, one is then able to identify the factors that drive a state towards political decay. The study commences by delineating the domestic factors that contributed to the crisis in Zimbabwe. One unravels how the absence of democracy leads states to political decay. Democracy structured on effective institutions, good governance, transparency and a good relationship between civil society and the state are identified as being key factors that contribute towards political development. By assessing these factors meticulously, one is able to identify how disregarding them leads to political decay as evident in the case study. The study also explores how failed government policies can lead to political decay. Thus, ESAPs, the chaotic land reform program and corruption are discussed as being key contributing factors of political decay in Zimbabwe. The study makes use of interviews with 15 participants. The main objective of interviews in this study is to be able to compare the lived experiences of Zimbabweans vis a vis the information gathered from secondary sources. Also, by using thematic analysis on the gathered data, one will be able to unravel the participants’ perceptions regarding factors that led to stunted political development in the country. Contrastingly, the study seeks to explore whether domestic factors alone can be blamed for the crisis. One begins to question if external factors were also responsible for the crisis in the country. A closer look at the topic of discussion reveals that the AU, SADC and the EU also contributed to the crisis in Zimbabwe. Through the use of discourse analysis, one explores the reactions of the SADC and AU and how quiet diplomacy and the lack of a sterner response towards Mugabe led to an exacerbation of the crisis. Leaders who blatantly disregard the principles of democracy ought to be punished accordingly and not appeased, as in this case study. The EU sanctions on the country are also critically analysed and identified as being key contributors to the crisis. One ponders on whether they can be identified as a selfish response to protect EU interests in the country and punish Mugabe. By the end of the analysis it should be clear that both internal and external factors contributed to the political decay in Zimbabwe, as no country can live in complete isolation from other states in this global era.
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  • Date Issued: 2017

Impact of ambient air pollution on human health health in the Nelson Mandela Bay Municipality

  • Authors: Nodwele, Mzoxolo Patrick , Strumpher, J
  • Date: 2017
  • Subjects: Environmental health -- South Africa -- Nelson Mandela Bay Municipality Air -- Pollution -- Meteorological aspects -- South Africa -- Nelson Mandela Bay Municipality
  • Language: English
  • Type: Thesis , Doctoral , DTech
  • Identifier: http://hdl.handle.net/10948/20142 , vital:29134
  • Description: The aim of this study was to assess whether ambient-air pollution contributed negatively to ambient-air quality, and subsequently to human health in the Nelson Mandela Bay Municipality (the study area). A research design that is descriptive and explorative in nature was followed. The research methodology conformed to the following procedure. Firstly, an emission inventory of one hundred and fifty (150) emission sources listed on the data base of the Nelson Mandela Bay Municipality was compiled (“N” and “n” = 150) in a quantitative research approach. Emission data from these sources, together with the relevant meteorological data from the weather stations in the study area (“N” and “n” = 5) were collected and used as input into a geographical information system-software program to quantify the contribution of each emission source to ambient air pollution. The said software program was also used to simulate the dispersion of emissions over the study area. The emission inventory was compiled in consultation with a focus group of experts in the field of air-pollution control in a qualitative-research approach. Secondly, health records of the patients who attend the clinics in the said municipality (“N” and “n” = 49) were assessed for air pollution-related health outcomes. Nineteen (19) of the forty-nine (49) clinics were situated in Sub-District A; fifteen (15) clinics were situated in Sub-District B. The last fifteen of the clinics were situated in Sub-District C, which was also the least-industrialised sub-district. Sub-districts A and B were found to be the most industrialised of the three Sub-districts. Air pollution related health statistics were compiled for the following air-pollution-related health outcomes, namely: lower respiratory tract infections in children under five (5) years of age, as well as pneumonia and asthma in the general population.
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  • Date Issued: 2017

Impact of an introduced predator (Micropterus salmoides, Centrarchidae) on native estuarine fish elucidated through fatty acid analyses

  • Authors: Carassou, Laure , Magoro, Mandla L , Whitfield, Alan K , Richoux, Nicole B
  • Date: 2017
  • Subjects: To be catalogued
  • Language: English
  • Type: text , article
  • Identifier: http://hdl.handle.net/10962/456247 , vital:75496 , xlink:href="https://hal.inrae.fr/hal-04177984/document"
  • Description: The introduction of alien fish species can have contrasting impacts on local aquatic communities. The largemouth bass Micropterus salmoides (Centrarchidae; Fig.1) was introduced in 1928 in South Africa for recreational anglers. Concerns about its impact on local indigenous freshwater and estuarine fish populations are raised (Gratwicke and Marshall, 2001; Weyl and Lewis, 2006; Wasserman et al., 2011). In particular, the predatory impact of M. salmoides on estuary-associated juveniles of marine fish species must be elucidated.
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  • Date Issued: 2017
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