Showing items 781 - 800 of 1687

Your selections:

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.
  • Full Text:
  • 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.
  • Full Text:
  • 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.
  • Full Text:
  • 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.
  • Full Text:
  • 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
  • Full Text:
  • 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.
  • Full Text:
  • 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.
  • Full Text:
  • 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.
  • Full Text:
  • 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.
  • Full Text:
  • 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.
  • Full Text:
  • Date Issued: 2017

Impact of business confidence on private investments in South Africa

  • Authors: Madzivire, Venna Wadzanayi
  • Date: 2017
  • Subjects: Success in business Confidence Investments
  • Language: English
  • Type: Thesis , Masters , MCom
  • Identifier: http://hdl.handle.net/10353/8910 , vital:33955
  • Description: A wide range of theoretical and empirical studies have been carried out on various determinants of private investments in different economies. This dissertation specifically focuses on the impact business confidence on private investments with regards to the South African economy for the period between 1990 and 2014. The private investment sector in South Africa has, to a greater extent contributed to the overall GDP of the economy. Even though business confidence has a considerable impact on private investments, this study also took into consideration other variables that affect the private investment sector such as interest rates, exchange range and GDP To determine short-run and long-run relationships of business confidence on private Investments in South Africa, a vector error correction model was employed. In order to avoid spurious regression, the ADF test and the PP test were used to test for stationarity. Results of the study indicate that private investments are subject to permanent changes because of changes in business confidence. In addition to that, not all variables have a long-term relationship with private investments but business confidence has a significant long run relationship with private investment. After conducting an econometric analysis, results revealed that Business Confidence and Gross Domestic Product have a positive impact on private investments. On the other hand, interest rates and exchange rates have a negative impact on private investments in South Africa. Various policy recommendations were established on both Private Investments and Business Confidence.
  • Full Text:
  • Date Issued: 2017

Impact of formulated soil types on growth performance, phytochemical constituents and pharmacological properties of solanum nigurm L. : a wild vegetable in the Eastern Cape Province, South Africa

  • Authors: Ogundola, Adijat Funke
  • Date: 2017
  • Subjects: Solanum Materia medica, Vegetable Medicinal plants -- South Africa -- Eastern Cape
  • Language: English
  • Type: Thesis , Doctoral , PhD
  • Identifier: http://hdl.handle.net/10353/8758 , vital:33519
  • Description: Solanum nigrum L. is a wild vegetable that is highly recognised for its high nutiritional and therapeutical purposes. However, proper identification of the plant is essential not only to plant scientists but to a wide range of users. Therefore, the plant’s roots, stems and leaves cultivated on different soil types were viewed under the Scanning Electron Microscope while the leaves were further viewed under the Light Microscope. significant increase was observed in densities of stomata, guard and subsidiary cells of leaves of S. nigrum grown on silty clay loam soil. The SEM analysis revealed abundant glandular and non-glandular trichromes on both surfaces of the leaves. The glandular trichome is known to be responsible for the storage of bioactive compounds for which this plant is well known. Cultivation was embarked upon, for the availability of the plant at all times. However, propagation was by seed alone, therefore, quality seed is necessary for cultivation. Study was carried out on seeds extracted from plants growing in the wild in Alice for the seed viability, germination and seedling emergence when subjected to different soil texture types and sowing depths. The seeds were 98.3 percent viable. Highest germination (94.66 percent) was recorded in sand paper scarification, 15, 20 and 25ºC. Continuous darkness and temperatures lower than 5ºC and higher than 35ºCwere detrimental to the seeds. Silty clay loam soil and a depth of 2 cm had the highest seedling emergence 90 percent and recommended as the ideal condition for seedlings emergence. The growth, yield and physiological response of S. nigrum to sandy clay loam, silty clay loam, clay loam, loam soils and control soil (sandy loam) were investigated in the glasshouse in two separate trials. The ANOVA analysed data results indicated that plant samples on silty clay loam significantly increased in height, stem girth, plant root, leaf area, number of leaves, number of branches, number of flowers, number of fruit bunch per plant dry weight, as well as weight of fruit bunch. However, plant samples grown on clay loam and loam soils recorded increased chlorophyll and produced dark green leaves. It is conceivable that silty clay loam soils have a strong ability to support the physiological growth and the yield of S. nigrum. These soils are therefore recommended for the cultivation of this plant. S. nigrum cultivated on these soils was evaluated for proximate compositions, anti-nutrients, vitamins A, C and E and mineral compositions using standard analytical methods. Using the translocation factor, the minerals’ toxicity accumulation levels in the plant were also determined. Accumulation of proximate parameters in the first and second trials are: ash (11.25-12.25 percent and 11.14- 11.54 percent), crude fibre (19.24-19.95 percent and 18.71-19.35 percent), protein (36.72-38.98 percent and 34.47-37.00 percent), phytate (0.84-1.17 and 0.88-1.15 mg/ml), saponnin (94.10-97.00 and 94.17-97.00 percent) and alkaloids (43.03-45.76 and 42.08- 44.10 percent) respectively. Vitamin A ranged between 117 and 137 mg/kg and betweens 108 and 128 mg/kg, vitamin C between 100 and 118 mg/kg and between 96 and 108 mg/kg and vitamin E between 250 and 269 mg/kg and between 227 and 261 mg/kg in the first and second trials respectively. The quantities of macro and micro-nutrients recorded in S. nigrum showed that this plant is a reservoir of nutrients. Plants cultivated on clay loam, silty clay loam and loam soils accumulated elevated nutritients compositions. Investigation was made on the ability of S. nigrum cultivated on different soil texture types to synthesise phytochemicals such as phenol, flavonoid, alkaloid proanthocyanidins, tannins, saponins and antioxidant. Highest concentrations of phenolics (73.87 mg/g), flavonoids (58.41 mg/g), proanthocyanidins (875.74 mg/g), tannins (49.32 mg/g), saponins (875.74 mg/g) and alkaloid (47.50 mg/g) contents were recorded in plant sample cultivated on silty clay loam soil. Also, highest radical scavenging power using DPPH (0.0102 mg/g), ABTS (0.1062 mg/g) and FRAP (0.8395 mg/g) were recorded in plant samples grown on silty clay loam and the next high values were recorded in plant samples grown on clay loam soil. It is showed in this study that silty clay loam soil and clay loam soils are the best soil types for cultivation of S. nigrum for increased antioxidant properties/ oxygen radical scavenging activities. Investigation was made on chemical compositions and antioxidant properties of essential oil extracts of S. nigrum shoot and root cultivated on different soil textures. The Gas Chromatography-Mass Spectrometry (GC-MS) profiling revealed variations in the quality index (QI) and number of chemical constituents of the oil of S. nigrum cultivated on different soil texture types. Geraniol and citronellol were two principal components of high quality common to oil from shoots and roots fromplants cultivated on all soil types. Results of DPPH and ABTS assays of the shoot oil showed that S. nigrum cultivated on clay loam soil had the highest antioxidant power. The presence of citronellol and geraniol among the major compounds is an indicaton of the plant’s role in defensive mechanisms. The work indicated that soil texture has effect on the quality, quantity and chemical compounds synthesised in the shoots and roots of S. nigrum. Antibacterial activities and the efficacy of S. nigrum cultivated on different soil types were carried out on reference strains of 4 gram-positive and 4 gram-negative bacteria. Toxicity evaluation of the plant’s acetone extract and water extract were also assessed on lethality of brine shrimp eggs. Plant water and acetone extracts exhibited strong antibacterial activity against Pseudomona aeruginosa, acetone extracts against Bacillus cereus, Listeria and Escherichia coli. Significantly (p< 0.05) low concentration (0.25 mg/mL) of acetone extracts from plant shoot cultivated on silty clay loam and clay loam soils inhibited B. cereus and P. aeruginosa. Antimicrobial activities of extracts of plant cultivated on clay loam appeared to be more superior to extracs from plants grown on other soil types. Toxicity of the plant extracts (water and acetone) was concentration and time dependent. The LD50 values for all plant extracts were greater than 1000 mg/mL which showed they are non-toxic.
  • Full Text:
  • Date Issued: 2017

Impacts of African elephant feeding on white rhinoceros foraging opportunities

  • Authors: Prinsloo, Dominique
  • Date: 2017
  • Subjects: Herbivores -- Ecology -- South Africa , Grassland ecology -- South Africa Animal-plant relationships -- South Africa Ecology
  • Language: English
  • Type: Thesis , Masters , MSc
  • Identifier: http://hdl.handle.net/10948/13768 , vital:27306
  • Description: In this study, I investigated the interaction between two megaherbivores, the African elephant and white rhinoceros, that has the potential to impact grazing lawns of which white rhino are the creators and maintainers and elephants are potentially the modifiers. I hypothesized that as elephants browse, they discard a variety of coarse woody debris onto the ground; should this woody debris (of varying amounts and sizes) fall onto grazing lawns, white rhino either move them, consume grass around the woody debris or abandon the lawn entirely. If high levels of woody debris are deposited here, grazing by white rhino is likely to be prevented, at which time I predicted that mesoherbivores would have a competitive advantage in accessing forage that white rhino cannot. I examined the mechanistic links between different levels of elephant-deposited woody debris and grass response at a point scale and feeding patch spatial scale of grazing lawns in an African savanna. In addition, I assessed the response of mesoherbivores in terms of vigilance behaviour with increasing levels of predation risk posed by increasing levels of woody debris. I present the first evidence of an indirect effect of elephant on white rhino foraging behaviour. I demonstrate how increasing levels of woody debris lead to a decreasing probability of foraging by white rhino. I also demonstrate how the probability of foraging by mesoherbivores increases as the amount of forage increases. However, since this study took place during a severe drought where resources are extremely limited, I was unable to properly separate the effects of elephant-deposited woody debris from the severe lack of rainfall on grass response and subsequently herbivore foraging behaviour. Due possibly to the drought, mesoherbivores responded less or not at all to risk factors such as woody debris therefore woody debris was not a predictor of vigilance behaviour in my study. This study contributes to our understanding of how the impacts of elephants, as ecosystem engineers, have cascading effects on savanna ecosystems. My study showed that elephant impact mediates the foraging behaviour of white rhino during a drought. However, under average rainfall periods, my original hypothesized effect of the indirect impacts of elephants on white rhino foraging and grazing lawn dynamics could still hold. This key hypothesis that I was unable to test under ‘normal’ conditions due to the drought is still valid and functionally important for understanding the ecosystem processes driving grazing lawn formation, persistence and composition in African savannas where elephants and white rhinos coexist.
  • Full Text:
  • Date Issued: 2017

Impediments to the implementation of employee health and wellness policy : a study of Social Development - Eastern Cape, Amathole District

  • Authors: Lutuli, Nondwe
  • Date: 2017
  • Subjects: Employee health promotion -- South Africa -- Eastern Cape Employee motivation -- South Africa -- Eastern Cape Health education|xGovernment policy -- South Africa -- Eastern Cape
  • Language: English
  • Type: Thesis , Masters , MSoc
  • Identifier: http://hdl.handle.net/10353/5473 , vital:29269
  • Description: The White paper on Transforming Public Service Delivery no 1459 of 1997 stipulates that the wellbeing of employees needs to be accounted for. A directive to have employee health and wellness programmes established in all government departments was given by the director-general of the Department Public Service Administration in 2008. The Employee health and wellness programme is aimed at promoting and improving employee wellbeing, which is also linked to organizational wellness. The primary aim of the Employee Assistance Programme (EAP) is to make a positive contribution towards maximum employee productivity and effectiveness in the workplace. Employee health assessment conducted by the Department of Social Development in 2006 and 2009 confirmed that South African organizations, including the Department of Social Development, experience high levels of employee poor health. Studies suggest that both employees and the employers need to pay attention to the improvement of employee health and wellness. In 2012, an integrated employee health and wellness policy was developed to improve the Department of Social Development employee wellness. The interest to conduct the study emanates from the researcher‟s own supposition that the policy has not been fully implemented, this deduction is based on the fact that, although the policy has four critical focus areas, some of these areas, such as counselling, are not rendered. Literature reviewed includes the process of policy implementation and description of employee health and wellness, benefits of employee health and wellness programme for both employees and employer. A mixed method study was conducted to explore the implementation of the employee health and wellness policy as a strategy to improve both employee and organizational wellness within the Department of Social Development, Eastern Cape - Amathole District. The population of the study included both DSD management and non-managerial employees from Amathole District; the study also includes the Eastern Cape Department of Transport, Amathole District Municipality and South African Police Service (Mdantsane). Themes that were identified from qualitative data through semi- structured interviews by means of audio-recorder were triangulated through questionnaires and document analysis. Since the policy came into effect in 2012, results show that the implementation has been confronted with a number of challenges which include lack of support from the top management. Lack of buy in by DSD management has serious implications on the policy objectives; these include the inadequate distribution of capital, human and physical resources necessary to implement the policy. In order for the DSD to improve the implementation of employee health and wellness policy, the management needs to ensure that there is adequate provision of human and capital resources. Employees should be well-informed on policy guidelines and procedures and benefits to stimulate maximum utilisation. A decentralisation of implementation to Area offices is necessary to promote accessibility of services and prevent unnecessary delays in service delivery.
  • Full Text:
  • Date Issued: 2017

Implementation of gender policies to promote gender parity in leadership in academia : a case study of two universities in Bindura Urban Mashonaland Central Province Zimbabwe

  • Authors: Mandoga, Edward
  • Date: 2017
  • Subjects: Women in higher education -- Zimbabwe Education, Higher -- Zimbabwe Sex discrimination in higher education -- Zimbabwe
  • Language: English
  • Type: Thesis , Doctoral , PhD
  • Identifier: http://hdl.handle.net/10353/5260 , vital:29178
  • Description: The study is premised on the assumptions that the under-representation of women in leadership in academia is aggravated by weak implementation of gender policies. In light of this, the aim of the current study was to assess the nature and extent of the implementation of gender policy frameworks as a way of engendering gender parity in leadership in academia. The study was informed by the socialist-feminist theory and John Rawls’ and David Millers’ theory of social justice. The theories were chosen on the basis of their socialist-scientific approach to gender issues and also because of their resonance with the situation in Zimbabwe’s tertiary institutions. The theories were analysed within the context of Agenda 2063. The relevance of the agenda’s vision for this study is its recognition of gender equality, particularly in leadership in academia, as a critical cog for Africa’s development agenda. The researcher opted to use the qualitative approach which is embedded within the interpretivist research paradigm. The interpretivist approach makes use of qualitative methods of data collection, presentation and analysis. Data were generated from a sample of twenty four lecturers, two vice-chancellors, two pro-vice-chancellors and two registrars from two universities, a private church-run institution and a state university, mainly through interviews. Data were also generated through focus group discussions and document analysis. Data from documents were used to buttress data from the interviews and focus group discussions. The findings of this study showed that the male-management norm dominated in almost every strategic section of the structures of the two institutions. This was attributable to weak implementation of gender policies. The failure of the gender policies to bring a visible change to the institutional landscape in terms of gender equality was a result of an interplay of personal, cultural and organisational factors. Some of the factors that thwarted women’s career progression to leadership positions included, lack of inspiration from role models, lack of support from colleagues, lack of training in leadership, and the Zimbabwe Council of Higher Education’s (ZIMCHE) indiscriminate policy on recruitment of staff members. All the factors however, were encapsulated within the patriarchal stereotypical conception of a women as fit for domesticity. Within the same conception, men were considered to be imbued with the clout and traits consistent with leadership demands. Studies carried out elsewhere in Zimbabwe and outside the boarders of Zimbabwe have yielded similar results. This explains the continuing and relentless nature of gender inequality in academic institutions. In order to increase the participation of women in leadership positions, the study recommends the following: establishment of a monitoring and evaluation exercise designed to audit the effectiveness of the gender policies; establishment of a review of the university programmes with the aim of establishing or intensifying training programmes in academic leadership and management; establishment of a scholarship and research fund to encourage women to undertake higher degrees studies, and the intense application of affirmative action policies and gender mainstreaming in the universities.
  • Full Text:
  • Date Issued: 2017

Implementation of National Health Insurance in South Africa: views of healthcare managers in a private healthcare institution

  • Authors: Grewar, David Alan
  • Date: 2017
  • Subjects: National health insurance -- South Africa , Health care reform -- South Africa , Medical personnel -- South Africa
  • Language: English
  • Type: Thesis , Masters , MA
  • Identifier: http://hdl.handle.net/10948/7503 , vital:21789
  • Description: South Africa is in the process of reforming its healthcare system by implementing universal health coverage for its citizens. Universal health coverage is defined as the access of all people to comprehensive health services at an affordable cost with protection against catastrophic health expenditures leading to financial hardship. The system being implemented in South Africa is known as National Health Insurance (NHI) and is seen by the South African government as the key to addressing the shortcomings and disparities in the current public and private healthcare sectors. Healthcare managers have a crucial role to play in health reform yet are often overlooked in debate over health reform. The primary aim of this study was to better understand the views of healthcare managers, working in a private healthcare institution in South Africa, towards the implementation of the NHI. The purpose of this was to make recommendations that would assist the private healthcare institution under investigation to optimise the implementation of the NHI. A quantitative research design was used to explore and describe the views of healthcare managers. Firstly, a literature review was conducted to gain international as well as local perspectives of healthcare practitioners on universal health coverage. Secondly, a census survey in the form of an online questionnaire was developed and distributed to 193 healthcare managers representing different managerial and medical disciplines in a private healthcare institution with facilities nation-wide. A total of 63 questionnaires were returned for analysis. Quantitative data were analysed using Microsoft Excel, Statistica and SPSS Statistics. Qualitative data in the form of written comments by the participants were analysed using interpretive analysis that involved sequential steps of familiarisation and immersion, development of themes, coding, elaboration and interpretation and checking. The qualitative element of the study was limited in nature and was used merely to enrich the quantitative findings. The study found that there was a lack of knowledge amongst private healthcare managers concerning the NHI, poor communication from the government regarding the proposed NHI and high levels of negativity towards the ability of the government to successfully implement the NHI. However it was found that despite concerns regarding the NHI, the private healthcare managers surveyed showed a willingness to actively participate in its implementation. Recommendations regarding policy and practise were made for private healthcare institutions as well as for the South African government in order to assist with the implementation of the NHI.
  • Full Text:
  • Date Issued: 2017

Implementation of the policy on religious equity in public schools in the East London Education District : towards a framework for religious diversity

  • Authors: Makasi, Cordelia Noma-Abysinia
  • Date: 2017
  • Subjects: Religious education -- South Africa -- Eastern Cape Religion and state -- South Africa -- Eastern Cape Christianity and politics
  • Language: English
  • Type: Thesis , Doctoral , PhD
  • Identifier: http://hdl.handle.net/10353/5014 , vital:28935
  • Description: The study sought to establish the implementation of the policy on religious equity in public schools in the East London Education district in the Eastern Cape Province of South Africa. Underpinned by Van Meter and Van Horn (2015) with implementation and conceptual theory and also a theory on opportunity to learn and school performance by Van Der Grift and Houtveen(2006), the study was located in the pragmatist research paradigm and followed a mixed methods approach and concurrent triangulation design. The research sampling technique was random for high school learners in selected schools and purposeful for principals, heads of departments, teachers and provincial education officials. Three methods were employed to collect data from selected public schools and from the provincial office namely; semi-structured interviews, individual interviews and observation. Quantitative data were analysed statistically and presented in the form of descriptive statistics. Qualitative data were analysed using the thematic content analysis technique. Major findings of the study are that teachers and principals understood the concept religious equity and had a fair understanding of the policy on religious equity. Schools were predominantly Christian-oriented in terms of religious practices and there were no recorded cases of religious conflict. Learners of minority religions were not compelled to attend Christian religious functions in schools and were allowed to attend their own religious functions outside school. This was established from the fact that participants cited freedom of religion as being exercised in schools. However, it was further established that there was no strategic monitoring and support for teachers in the implementation of religious equity. There were also no deliberate measures and strategies for the implementation of religious equity suggesting challenges and inconsistencies in the implementation of the policy. While there were notable challenges in the implementation of the policy, due to resistance of stakeholders to change, schools had great opportunities which could be utilized to enhance the implementation of the policy on religious equity. The study concludes by noting that, while key policy implementers had an understanding of religious equity, the situation on the ground revealed challenges and inconsistencies in the implementation of the policy which resulted in a Christian-dominated school environment at the expense of minority religions The study recommends, among other things, that that religious equity be adhered to as enshrined in the Constitution of South Africa of 1996 and the South African Schools Act of 1996. The teaching and learning environment should include Religion Education as per prescription by National Policy on Religion Education of 2003, that monitoring and support of teachers be done, and that community involvement with policy development be considered crucial as well as moral education teaching in schools. A framework for enhancing implementation of the policy on religious equity is also proposed.
  • Full Text:
  • Date Issued: 2017

Implementation of visual arts education in one technical and vocational education and training college in the Eastern Cape : the voices of lecturers and students

  • Authors: Dayimani, Mbulelo
  • Date: 2017
  • Subjects: Curriculum planning Vocational education
  • Language: English
  • Type: Thesis , Masters , MEd
  • Identifier: http://hdl.handle.net/10353/12744 , vital:39318
  • Description: It can be observed that students actively participate in the learning process of education in our country, and the curriculum gives expression to the knowledge, skills and values worth learning in South African schools and institutions. However, Technical and Vocational Education Training (TVET) Colleges still continue using traditional learning methods, in which the teacher is in the centre, devoid of artistic culture, and practical work. These implementation methods and techniques have been identified as less motivating for students especially for those with no background in Visual Arts (VA) in high school. The aim of this study therefore was to investigate the views of students and lecturers on the implementation of Visual Arts Education (VAE) in the TVET Colleges in the Eastern Cape. This study was premised from a qualitative research approach and therefore interpretivist paradigm was relevant in assisting the researcher making sense of the data gathered. Face-to-face interviews were used to collect the data from five lecturers and fifteen students in N4 level. The interviews were tape-recorded. The research showed that Visual Arts Education can be an engine that drives creativity and innovation in schools, higher Education institution and all tertiary level settings. It is also reasoned that the visual arts, as with other creative arts disciplines, will not become important and necessary engines for change in education without a determination to critically review its implementation starting with how VAE policies are used in the TVET Colleges. It also emerged from the study that the policies that are available for VAE in the College relate to syllabus as well as assessment and enrolment procedures. The syllabus was found by the lecturers to be inappropriate and less motivating for the students. Also the assessment procedure was revealed to be done according to both practical and theoretical components based on task, test, and practical moderation. However, the practical component was based on seventy five percent and the theory on twenty five percent thereby disadvantaging learners who do not have the theoretical background of the VAE. The study therefore recommends that policies that are used in TVET Colleges for VAE need to be revised, re-applied and implemented so as to cater for the needs of lecturers and students pursuing a career in Visual Arts or VAE.
  • Full Text:
  • Date Issued: 2017

Implementing the annual national assessment at an ordinary public primary school in the Eastern Cape: a case study analysis

  • Authors: Lascelles, Philippa Anne
  • Date: 2017
  • Subjects: Educational tests and measurements -- South Africa , Educational tests and measurements -- South Africa -- Case studies , Education, Elementary -- South Africa , Elementary schools -- South Africa -- Makhanda
  • Language: English
  • Type: Thesis , Masters , MEd
  • Identifier: http://hdl.handle.net/10962/7713 , vital:21288
  • Description: This empirical study describes in rich detail five teachers’ perceptions of the Annual National Assessment [ANA] at one level of the school system (Grade Three of the Foundation Phase [FP]) at an ordinary public primary school in an urban area of the Eastern Cape. Secondly, the study described the process of preparing for, implementing and assessing the 2014 ANA at the selected school. In order to generate insights for a deep understanding of how teachers perceive, prepare for and implement the ANA, the challenges that arise, and how the ANA is impacting on curriculum and pedagogy, an interpretive qualitative research approach and case study method were adopted. The researcher, a participant observer operating from an insider position, used ethnographic techniques to describe, document and analyse teachers’ perceptions and experiences of implementing the 2014 ANA tests in a specific context (one school) and at one level of the school system (Grade 3). Data gathered through observations, semi-structured interviews and document analysis were coded and analysed in order to identify emerging themes. These are compared to trends and developments in contemporary literature on educational assessment. The findings revealed that while the teachers were compliant and efficient in their implementation and administration of the ANA, they have a narrow perception of the ANA as a summative assessment serving systemic purposes. There was little, if any, evidence of them using the ANA for the formative assessment purposes intended by policy. As a result, opportunities for using the ANA to enhance teaching and learning were lost. The study illuminated the roles and responsibilities of the teachers, the school management team and Eastern Cape [EC] Department of Education [DoE] in the ANA preparation and implementation process, and the need for strengthening the support provided by the EC DoE. Although context specific, the study sheds light on how Grade 3 teachers in an ordinary public school perceive and implement the ANA. The insights afforded and lessons that can be learned from this case study may be relevant to other Foundation Phase school contexts.
  • Full Text:
  • Date Issued: 2017

Improved Automatic Face Segmentation and Recognition for Applications with Limited Training Data

  • Authors: Bradshaw, Karen L , Brown, Dane L
  • Date: 2017
  • Subjects: To be catalogued
  • Language: English
  • Type: text , book
  • Identifier: http://hdl.handle.net/10962/460085 , vital:75891 , ISBN 9783319582740 , https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-319-58274-0_33
  • Description: This paper introduces varied pose angle, a new approach to improve face identification given large pose angles and limited training data. Face landmarks are extracted and used to normalize and segment the face. Our approach does not require face frontalization and achieves consistent results. Results are compared using frontal and non-frontal training images for Eigen and Fisher classification of various face pose angles. Fisher scales better with more training samples only with a high quality dataset. Our approach achieves promising results for three well-known face datasets.
  • Full Text:
  • Date Issued: 2017
  • Disclaimer
  • Privacy
  • Copyright
  • Contact