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An evaluation of the impact of public participation on good governance: a case of Buffalo City Municipality

  • Authors: Makhubu, Sifiso Amos
  • Date: 2019
  • Subjects: Local government -- South Africa -- Buffalo City Municipality -- Citizen participation , Municipal services -- South Africa -- Eastern Cape -- Citizen participation Public administration -- South Africa -- Eastern Cape Responsibility -- South Africa -- Eastern Cape
  • Language: English
  • Type: Thesis , Masters , MPA
  • Identifier: http://hdl.handle.net/10948/40823 , vital:36240
  • Description: Public administration theory suggests that public participation in good governance plays a critical role in the socio-economic development of communities. This study seeks to investigate the impact of public participation in good governance; identify hindrances for public participation in the good governance; examine current efforts and processes in place to promote public participation in municipal governance of Buffalo City Municipality. A qualitative research methodology that considered a comprehensive review of literature and secondary data was adopted for this research. The literature review explored the theoretical, conceptual and legislative framework for public participation in good governance. Regardless of the importance of public participation in good governance, the research has shown that public participation is not being implemented at the level that enables the nation to achieve its good governance vision. It is therefore recommended in the dissertation that, when municipalities draft Integrated Development Plans (IDPs) that embrace public participation in good governance, they should firstly analyse current context of municipal area; establish strategic objectives and vision of the municipality; identify and design the actual projects to carry out. Moreover, municipalities should consolidate all project proposals from local and district municipalities, and ultimately consider and integrate all the submissions received in relation to the draft IDP.
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  • Date Issued: 2019

An evaluation of the implementation of e-learning: selected high schools in the Eden central Karoo education district

  • Authors: Pinzie, Ayabulela
  • Date: 2019
  • Subjects: Web-based instruction -- Education , Computer-assisted instruction Internet in education Educational technology Information technology -- Education
  • Language: English
  • Type: Thesis , Masters , MPA
  • Identifier: http://hdl.handle.net/10948/43256 , vital:36775
  • Description: One of the post-1994 democratic government’s foremost tasks has been to transform education into a more responsive tool in building communities in order to drive economic and social development. Thus, today a number of legislation and policy changes were made. Throughout the country, today emergence of technology in education paradigm is at the center of education development, terms such as e-Education and e-Learning are popular. The Western Cape Education Department in particular is bound to align its policies and programmes to ensure that they speak the language of the fourth industrial revolution. The Western Cape Government’s (WCG) vision on e-Learning as informed by the White Paper 7, policy document on e-Education and further supported by the National Development Plan (Operations Phakisa), has adopted various policies and projects on education. This includes the game changer initiative of the WCG that gave birth to the e-Learning project. As part of this project the WCG has invested hundreds of millions to implement the project throughout the schools in the Western Cape province. The aim of this study is to enhance ICT solutions in schools, educator professional development, learner upskilling and infrastructure development, in order to achieve social and economic inclusion of the people of the Western Cape. The purpose of this study was to evaluate the implementation of the project, while identifying the challenges experienced and further record corrective measures that should be taken into cognisant in order to achieve the successful completion of the project. The literature review was undertaken to provide an in-depth understanding of the existing subject body of knowledge. This review covers various subtopics on the subject, comprehensive analysis of the phenomena under investigation and furthermore, look at theoretical perspective of project evaluation. Since the challenges were identified and outlined during the course of evaluation, therefore, corrective measures are thus explicitly taken with cognisant in ensuring completion of the project. Thus, this treatise provides an insight on the emergence of e-Learning, further explain various key concepts and venture to a number of recommendations in improving e-Learning project in the Eden and Central Karoo (Karoo) District of the Western Cape Education Department.
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  • Date Issued: 2019

An evaluation of the leadership development strategic plan of the Eastern Cape Department of Basic Education

  • Authors: Saffa, Fundiswa Mabelwana
  • Date: 2019
  • Subjects: Development leadership -- South Africa -- Eastern Cape , Leadership -- South Africa -- Eastern Cape Strategic planning -- South Africa -- Eastern Cape
  • Language: English
  • Type: Thesis , Masters , MA
  • Identifier: http://hdl.handle.net/10948/40668 , vital:36211
  • Description: The purpose of this study was to evaluate the Leadership Development Strategic Plan and its implications on leadership development. This is on the backdrop of a revised five-year plan for 2015/16-2019/20, which was developed and tabled in Parliament in March 2015. The revised strategic plan identified vital outcomes, goals and objectives against which the Basic Education Department’s medium-term results will be measured as well as evaluated by Parliament. The goals of the strategic plan are based on the National Development Plan (NDP) and they are comprised of efficient and effective management and governance, improved teacher supply, utilisation and development, effective development, implemention, monitoring and evaluation of the curriculum, effective systems for information management, planning, co-ordination, district support and assessment, enhanced social cohesion in schools as well as the wellbeing of learners. It was noted in this research that various definitions of leadership exist and they were presented before an operational definition suitable for this study was selected. The aims of leadership development were elaborated while assessing the needs thereof. Thereafter, theories supporting leadership development were identified and explained. The study used a qualitative methodology to investigate and evaluate the Leadership Development Strategic Plan through document analysis, thereby gathering the views and perspectives of various stakeholders. This allowed the researcher to obtain in-depth information on the Leadership Development Strategic Plan in the Eastern Cape Province Department of Basic Education (DoE). In order to fulfil the objectives of the study, a survey was conducted using a questionnaire among the employees of the Department of Basic Education in the Eastern Cape. The research revealed that employees from DoE encounter a number of challenges regarding the accessibility and availibality of services, consultations and facilities. The research discovered that there is a frequent change of management. There are also problems of communication within the hierarchy as well as with the match and placement of employees within the department, according to their qualifications. It was also evident that there is no strong leadership, no service delivery and a high employee turnover. The research also revealed that there is a lack of proper evaluation and monitoring, a resistance to change and a disregard of policies as well as a lack of leadership skills and an instability of the environment due to political interference. Yet it was evident in this research that there was an aspect of consultation during the development of the strategic plan and that the monitoring and implementation of the strategic plan is present, as planned by the department. The research also discovered that the level of leadership is high and of good quality, yet the challenges in the implementation of the plan are due to political appointing. The research therefore recommended that further research needed to be conducted to understand issues regarding this subject in greater detail. It also recommended the introduction of a curriculum that produces good education. More so, it recommended that there must be proper training regarding the monitoring and evaluation of the Leadership Development Strategic Plan. The study further recommended that the leadership must have access to leadership programs where they can receive the best practice as leaders.
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  • Date Issued: 2019

An evaluation of the management performance assessment tool in the department of cooperative governance and traditional affairs in the Eastern Cape

  • Authors: Braweni, Asanda
  • Date: 2019
  • Subjects: Performance -- Management , Local government -- South Africa -- Eastern Cape Public administration -- South Africa -- Eastern Cape Organizational effectiveness -- South Africa -- Eastern Cape Performance -- Evaluation
  • Language: English
  • Type: Thesis , Masters , MPA
  • Identifier: http://hdl.handle.net/10948/37233 , vital:34139
  • Description: Management Performance Assessment Tool for improving audit outcomes in the Eastern Cape Department of Cooperative Governance & Traditional Affairs steamed out of the need to possibly have a preliminary understanding of the MPAT and how its application has fared towards performance improvement and service delivery mandate of the department in review. In 2010, South African Cabinet requested the Department of Performance Monitoring and Evaluation (DPME) in the Presidency in collaboration with the Department of Public Service and Administration (DPSA) to lead the development of a comprehensive assessment tool through the nine provincial departments and offices of the Premiers as the Provincial coordinating agencies. The aim of this empirical study was to assess how Management Performance Assessment Tool (MPAT) can be well utilised to improve audit outcomes of the Department of Cooperative Governance & Traditional Affairs (DCoGTA). Performance Management which is the basis for the research aims at assisting the DCoGTA in the Eastern Cape to better apply the MPAT tools to achieving better performance improvement through well informed Management decision-making which will ultimately guarantee smarter public service delivery and improved audit outcomes. The research methodology is socially driven in outlook with designed structure and plan which investigates the research aims through an introductory platform on the research questions demanding answers towards solving the research problems emanating from the main title of the research. Data analysis which informs the research findings provides some policy lessons on the application of MPAT as a tool for performance improvement when it is appropriately applied, and adopted within the decision-making structures of the Department of Cooperative Governance & Traditional Affairs of the Eastern Cape Provincial government.
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  • Date Issued: 2019

An examination of the visual representation of young white Afrikaner women

  • Authors: Jordan, Nicole
  • Date: 2019
  • Subjects: Photography of women -- South Africa , Photography, Artistic -- South Africa Photography -- South Africa Photography, Artistic -- 21st century Women -- South Africa -- Social conditions
  • Language: English
  • Type: Thesis , Masters , MTech
  • Identifier: http://hdl.handle.net/10948/39972 , vital:35622
  • Description: The purpose of this qualitative research study is to comment on the visual representation of women between the ages of twenty and thirty within white contemporary Afrikaans culture. This will be achieved through an analysis of stereotypes evident in Afrikaner culture. Examples of this include but are not limited to the text and visuals in the Goeie Maniere en Etiket (1981) book by Emsie Schoeman and dated Afrikaans magazine issues by Huisgenoot (Issue XLII, 2 June 1961) and Sarie Marais (Issue 17/19, 30 March 1966). Interviews were conducted with five white young Afrikaner women using a collaborative approach, to gain a better understanding of the influences that cultural and visual stereotypes have on an individual. The research aims to comment on how the emerging post-apartheid generation of young Afrikaner women are responding to the cultural expectations and engaging with their Afrikaner identity in the way they choose to represent themselves through tableau portrait photography. The study is based on a practice-based research method, which encompasses two components: a written output and a practical output. These function as a unity, where the written component guides the development of the practical body of work. The written document provides the foundation and framework in which the practical work functions, creating a conceptual framework that guides the process of collaboration between the visual artist and subject to construct a contemporary visual representation that focuses on how young Afrikaner women react to traditional cultural roles and develop an understanding of self. The study makes use of Gillian Rose’s visual analysis framework as a critical analysis tool to determine the visual representation that emerges from the collaboration between the visual artist and the subject. Ultimately, the aim of this research is to facilitate the potential for the subject to critically engage with visual identity by collaborating with the visual artist. This research presents a unique approach to communicate an evolving post-apartheid identity and has contributed to an understanding of the feminine identity construction of the emerging Afrikaner generation in a democratic South Africa.
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  • Date Issued: 2019

An experimental study of self-regulated learning with mildly gifted learners in grade 3 mathematics

  • Authors: Allers, Amanda Lynette
  • Date: 2019
  • Subjects: Gifted children -- Education , Motivation in education Academic achievement Mathematics -- Study and teaching (Primary)
  • Language: English
  • Type: Thesis , Doctoral , DEd
  • Identifier: http://hdl.handle.net/10948/42074 , vital:36623
  • Description: The study investigated whether self-regulated learning (SRL) strategies can be used successfully by Grade 3 mildly gifted learners (MGLs), in order to master an enriched advanced level mathematics curriculum. In accordance with internationally and nationally accepted principles, learners of diverse abilities should be given equal opportunities to achieve their full learning potential. The stark reality is that rigid application of the national curriculum currently used in South African primary schools, limits this ideal. MGLs possess skills that enable them to study at an increased level, a quicker pace and with an advanced degree of independence. The study employed the true experimental research. Sixty-four learners participated in the Mathematics Enrichment Programme. Purposive sampling was used to identify and select these learners. Subsequent to SRL pre-tests, simple random sampling was used to determine the experimental and control groups. The experimental group used problem-solving and 21st Century technology to develop SRL strategies. Direct teaching strategies were used for the control group. Learners were administered pre-tests, diagnostic problem-solving assessments, and post-tests relating to problem-solving and SRL. Chi-square tests and inferential t-tests were employed to draw comparisons within and between the groups regarding SRL and problem-solving scores. Univariate ANCOVAs were conducted to determine the post-test differences. Furthermore, Cronbach alpha was used to measure reliability of summated scores relating to SRL and problem-solving. The empirical results suggest that MGLs in Grade 3 are indeed capable of self-regulating their learning. This enhanced learners’ self-determination, self-confidence, self-motivation, self-independence, and self-empowerment in relation to their tasks. The empirical results suggest a significant constructive addition to the present standard curriculum for MGLs in the mainstream of education. The self-regulatory model for Foundation Phase MGLs which evolved from this study can be successfully employed to balance the diversity challenges in an inclusive education system. The findings of this study can have significant implications for future teacher training and education of MGLs in primary schools.
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  • Date Issued: 2019

An experimental test of the allotonic frequency hypothesis to isolate the effects of light pollution on bat prey selection:

  • Authors: Bailey, Lauren A , Brigham, R Mark , Bohn, Shelby J , Boyles, Justin G , Smit, Ben
  • Date: 2019
  • Language: English
  • Type: text , article
  • Identifier: http://hdl.handle.net/10962/158309 , vital:40171 , https://0-doi.org.wam.seals.ac.za/10.1007/s00442-019-04417-w
  • Description: Artificial lights may be altering interactions between bats and moth prey. According to the allotonic frequency hypothesis (AFH), eared moths are generally unavailable as prey for syntonic bats (i.e., bats that use echolocation frequencies between 20 and 50 kHz within the hearing range of eared moths) due to the moths’ ability to detect syntonic bat echolocation. Syntonic bats therefore feed mainly on beetles, flies, true bugs, and non-eared moths. The AFH is expected to be violated around lights where eared moths are susceptible to exploitation by syntonic bats because moths’ evasive strategies become less effective. The hypothesis has been tested to date almost exclusively in areas with permanent lighting, where the effects of lights on bat diets are confounded with other aspects of human habitat alteration. We undertook diet analysis in areas with short-term, localized artificial lighting to isolate the effects of artificial lighting and determine if syntonic and allotonic bats (i.e., bats that use echolocation frequencies outside the hearing range of eared moths) consumed more moths under conditions of artificial lights than in natural darkness.
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  • Date Issued: 2019

An explanatory study on perceptions of factors influencing muthi killings in Butterworth, Eastern Cape

  • Authors: Belu, Sinovuyo
  • Date: 2019
  • Subjects: Murder
  • Language: English
  • Type: Thesis , Masters , MSoc (Criminology)
  • Identifier: http://hdl.handle.net/10353/16386 , vital:40715
  • Description: This study is premised on explaining perceptions of Nkcunkcuzo and Tholenicommunity members towards factors influencing muthi killings in Butterworth, Eastern Cape (E.C.). The villagers of the two selected areas have recently experienced number of incidents. It is against this background that this study sought to establish the explanations by soliciting direct experiences of community members on incidences of muthi killings.A plethora of research projects have been previously conducted to understand this phenomenon with the Criminal Justice System (CJS) having its own perspective regarding the muthi killings. However, the researcher deemed it imperative to have explanations of community members’ perceptions of the related factors thereof. The objectives that guided this study mainly included: (1) to establish the explanations of Tholeni and Nkcunkcuzo community members on the factors that influence muthi murders, (2) to determine why people in Tholeni and Nkcunkcuzo commit muthi murders and (3) to illustrate the medus operandi of muthi murderers in Tholeni and Nkcunkcuzo. The qualitative research methodology was employed in the study. Purposive sampling was used in the selection of selected participants and respondents of this study and data was collected through self-administered questionnaires and conducted interviews by the researcher. This study established that it is rich people and politicians who are most probably reasons for incidents of muthi murders in Etholeni and in Nkcunkcuzo. Business people want to accumulate their wealth and get rich using muthi. The belief behind this is that when muthi is mixed with human body parts it is bound to be strong eventually attracting more people (customers) to the businesses owned by these people. Ultimately this leads to profit accumulation. On the other hand, the involvement of politicians in the incidents of muthi killings is mainly associated with maintaining political power by remaining as centres of preference to the community members. The participants have echoed the same sentiments on the factors that influence muthi murders in Tholeni and Nkcunkcuzo villages, Butterworth in the Eastern Cape. vi Finally, this study recommended as follows: The Etholeni and Nkcunkcuzo community leaders must work hand in hand with the government to establish centres where children, older persons and people with disabilities, particularly those who are without people to protect them, can be institutionalised in order to guarantee their safety; The chiefs of Tholeni and Nkcunkcuzomust collaborate with the social service professionals in order to address the issues of mistrust among community members through community development programs; The community policing forums of Tholeni and Nkcunkcuzo must be capacitated and their knowledge strengthened by the criminal justice agencies on muthi murders to avoid confusion about muthi murders with other different types of murders; The government of South Africa must formulate an elementary social curriculum on muthi killings in order to educate the villagers on the muthi killings from a criminal justice point of view; The legislative framework must be reviewed in order to impose harsher sentences to the muthi murderers and the accomplices thereof; There must be social welfare organizations in Tholeni and Nkcunkcuzo villages in order to take care of those children that have lost their care-givers due to muthi killings; The traditional leaders of Tholeni and Nkcunkcuzo must formulate a charter for community norms and standards to circumvent the use and selling of drugs in the concerned communities/villages. More research projects must be funded in order to get a full understanding of the causes of muthi killings and to provide a word of scientific reason to the criminal justice system, particularly as it relates to muthi killings in South Africa. Key words: Muthi, Muthi murders/killings, rituals, Modus Operandi (MO), Victims
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  • Date Issued: 2019

An exploration of HIV and aids disclosure among HIV-serodiscordant married couples in the Eastern Cape Province, South Africa

  • Authors: Ndlela, Joshua Bongani
  • Date: 2019
  • Subjects: HIV infections -- Psychological aspects -- South Africa -- Eastern Cape , Stigma (Social psychology) , AIDS (Disease) -- Psychological aspects , HIV-positive persons -- Mental health , Disclosure of information , AIDS (Disease) -- Patients -- Family relationships
  • Language: English
  • Type: Thesis , Doctoral , DPhil
  • Identifier: http://hdl.handle.net/10948/41774 , vital:36580
  • Description: Sub-Saharan Africa has the highest prevalence and incidence of HIV infection worldwide, mostly attributed to heterosexual transmission. Transmission in HIV-serodiscordant couples who have received joint voluntary counselling and testing ranges from 3% to 7% per year and only about 20% know that they are living in a discordant relationship. Disclosure is seen as a cornerstone for the prevention of HIV transmission between in HIV-serodiscordant married partners. It is argued that numbers of HIV-serodiscordant couples are most likely increasing; however, limited or no support is given to these couples as most because counselling interventions in South Africa do not provide for married heterosexual HIV-serodiscordant couples. The aim of the study was to identify the impact of disclosure of HIV and AIDS status on partners in HIV-serodiscordant married relationships. The second aim was to synthesize the findings to guide the development of contextualized counselling guidelines for married couples in HIV-serodiscordant relationships. Five HIV-serodiscordant married couples and 6 HIV and AIDS counsellors from a variety of settings in Nelson Mandela Bay, participated in this study. In this interpretive qualitative study, non-probability criteria, purposive sampling was used. Both participant groups are isiXhosa-speaking adults between the ages of 21 and 65 years and include both males and females. Qualitative data were gathered by means of audio-recorded semi structured interviews. Thematic analysis was used to analyse the data, while Guba’s guidelines were used to enhance the trustworthiness of the research. Semi-structured interviews with HIV-serodiscordant married couples revealed 5 common themes and were: (a) confused environment of couples in HIV disclosure, (b) inconsistent delivery of healthcare information to HIV-serodiscordant couples, (c) relationship predicaments post disclosure, (d) partner support on sexual intimacy for married couples and (e) reactions of family, children and friends towards the HIV disclosure. The HIV and AIDS counsellors 3 common themes and were: (a) basic HIV and AIDS counselling skills, (b) organisational resources support of HIV counsellors and (c) suggestions to support HIV counsellors.. This study supports the view that further research be done in other related areas (gay, lesbians, bi-sexual relationships) and demystify this unknown or misunderstood notion needs to take place at a larger scale and probably incorporate quantitative surveys to supplement the current qualitative research. Implications for practise and avenues for research are considered in this study.
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  • Date Issued: 2019

An exploration of how Professional Learning Communities can contribute to the development of teachers’ capabilities and valued functionings in teaching environmental content knowledge in the Life and Living strand in Grade 8 Natural Sciences

  • Authors: Thomas, Kgomotso Emily
  • Date: 2019
  • Subjects: Teachers -- Training of -- South Africa , Teachers -- In-service training -- South Africa , Science teachers -- In-service training -- South Africa , Science -- Study and teaching (Secondary) -- South Africa , Environmental education -- South Africa
  • Language: English
  • Type: text , Thesis , Masters , MEd
  • Identifier: http://hdl.handle.net/10962/92584 , vital:30739
  • Description: The study explored how professional learning communities can contribute to the development of teachers’ capabilities and achievement of valued functionings related to teaching environmental content knowledge in the Life and Living strand in Grade 8 Natural Sciences. This is in the context of the Curriculum Assessment and Policy Statement (CAPS), which is a content-referenced curriculum that requires active and critical approaches to learning, and to environment and sustainability content. This study is designed as a qualitative case study of a professional support forum (PSF) in the Mahikeng sub-district, in North West. The study made use of questionnaires, observations, interviews and document analysis as data generation methods. The Capability Approach was used as a theoretical and conceptual framework to explore teachers’ valued functionings, as well as the conversion factors related to those functionings. A functioning is defined as what a person values to be or do, hence the term valued beings and doings has been used interchangeably with the term valued functionings throughout the study. The analysis of data was done in three phases. Phase one analysis was inductive with the data from questionnaires, classroom observations, document analysis (work schedules and lesson plans or preparation books). The purpose of this phase was to answer the first research sub-question of how teachers teach environmental content. Phase two was a deductive analysis, and the purpose was to present teachers’ valued beings and doings in teaching environmental content, and in belonging to the PSF. The last phase of analysis was abductive, and it employed the theoretical framework of Sen’s Capability Approach to get a deeper understanding of factors that either enabled or constrained teachers’ valued beings and doings associated with their capabilities. The study found that teachers have gaps in their environmental content knowledge in the Life and Living strand grade 8 Natural Sciences. This was mainly as a result of teachers not having relevant qualifications, and/or not having any professional development in teaching the environmental content knowledge. Secondly, teachers used traditional methods which were teacher-centred to teach environmental content knowledge. The gaps in the environmental content knowledge were constraints to how the teachers taught environmental content in their classrooms. Teachers’ valued beings and doings related to teaching environmental content were discussed under the three conversion factors of the capability approach: personal, social and environmental conversion factors. The study found that teachers’ qualifications, experiences, passion for environmental content topics, level of confidence, teaching and learning resources, learners’ interest and participation, support, classroom and schools’ environment were among conversion factors that either enabled or constrained teachers’ valued functionings in teaching environmental content Findings also revealed that teachers have different valued functionings related to belonging to the PSF: shared responsibilities, shared values and vision, collaboration, and discussion of subject content. The conversion factors related to these functionings were found to be learning space, time and duration of the PSF, activities in the PSF, teaching and learning resources, teaching experience, and facilitation. The study recommends that teachers’ professional development programmes should promote subject content discussions as well as group and individual learning. They should also create supportive conditions that will expand teachers’ capabilities in teaching environmental content knowldge. Lastly, the teachers’ professional development programmes should explicitly take into account teachers’ valued functionings and conversion factors that can enable teachers to develop their professional capabilities.
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  • Date Issued: 2019

An exploration of social media as a key site for the expression of post-racial politics

  • Authors: Bell, Joshua
  • Date: 2019
  • Subjects: Social media -- Political aspects -- South Africa , South Africa -- Politics and government -- 1994- , South Africa -- In mass media
  • Language: English
  • Type: text , Thesis , Masters , MA
  • Identifier: http://hdl.handle.net/10962/94049 , vital:30995
  • Description: This research sets out to examine colourblind racism in contemporary South Africa, specifically, as expressed on social media networks. In South Africa, a nation lauded for its transition from Apartheid to liberal democracy, racism still continues to exist. In the new democracy, racism continues in old, familiar forms but it has been suggested that racism also assumes new and emergent forms such as ‘colourblind’ racism. This is evident in recent controversies involving local public figures and their expressions of ‘soft’, ‘colourblind’ racism on Facebook. It is the new platforms and modes of racism unique to democratic South Africa which this thesis attempts to explore. Specifically, this study is framed by ‘post-racialism’, a concept developed by scholars globally to capture the suggestion that in liberal democratic societies across the world, racism continues with racial inequality now underpinned by an ideology of colourblindness as opposed to overt policies of segregation. Colourblindness denies the relevance of race as a collective issue, proposing instead that other social factors such as class are more pertinent in considerations of social inequality. The purpose of colourblind narratives may be identified as the reduction of racism to mere individual action, denying systemic white privilege and historical responsibility for reparation as well as preventing racially subjugated groups from critically interrogating racial power and privilege (Goldberg, 2015: 28-30). Post-racial theorists agree that the projection of colourblind politics which claims to no longer ‘see race’ has instead served to secure the normalisation of white privilege and black subjugation (Bonilla-Silva et al, 2004: 559-560). The purported existence of colourblind /post-racial racism and its impact requires exploration in the context of South Africa today. In expanding on the definition of racism, we are able to see that racism is an adaptive system of power that is able to reproduce and reconceptualise itself to changes within society. As modalities of racism have evolved, so have the platforms for its propagation. This research offers social media as a site of exploration for post-racial narratives. The case studies of Penny Sparrow, Helen Zille and Mabel Jansen are presented in this study as exemplars of post-racial liberalism, denial and exclusion. This research calls for the expansion of racial understanding so as to contest racial power structures as a continuing systemic issue in contemporary South Africa.
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  • Date Issued: 2019

An exploration of the adolescent maltreatment experience and its perceived impact on young adult survivors in the Eastern Cape Pondoland areas

  • Authors: Jinoyi, Nomava Siyasamkela
  • Date: 2019
  • Subjects: Adolescent psychiatry , Child abuse -- Treatment , Abused children -- South Africa -- Eastern Cape , Child psychiatry
  • Language: English
  • Type: Thesis , Masters , MA
  • Identifier: http://hdl.handle.net/10948/42262 , vital:36640
  • Description: Recognition of adolescent maltreatment as a specialised problem area within the context of child maltreatment did not occur until the late 1970s. Since its occurrence, studies have been consistent in finding that adolescent maltreatment has not received much attention in the research literature. This ignited the researcher’s interest to explore the survivor’s experience of the adolescent maltreatment phenomenon and to understand its perceived impact on the survivor’s functioning in adulthood. The researcher conducted a qualitative study, following a social constructivism paradigm. Data collection and analysis followed a narrative design, with Bronfenbrenner’s Bioecological Model of Human Development as the theoretical framework that guided the study. Five women participated in the study. In order to participate, the participants had to be between the ages of 23 and 35 with a history of the adolescent maltreatment, experienced between the ages of 12 and 19 years. This study found that adolescent maltreatment was experienced as an emotive experience. It entailed sense-making of the experience through finding answers to a question ‘why did it happen to me?’ It found that the experience involves a transition from the maltreating situation and fosters adjustment to a new life after the experience. It also emerged that the experience leaves enduring negative effects on its survivors. Despite the negative effects, the survivors perceived their experience as a non-defining factor for their future directions. This study concluded, therefore, that adolescent maltreatment is a complex phenomenon that requires continued research for its in-depth understanding through qualitative studies.
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  • Date Issued: 2019

An exploration of the materiality of forged steel as medium for visual artists

  • Authors: De Lange, Neil
  • Date: 2019
  • Subjects: Blacksmithing , Art -- 21st century Art -- Sculpture
  • Language: English
  • Type: Thesis , Masters , MTech
  • Identifier: http://hdl.handle.net/10948/39425 , vital:35245
  • Description: This research is an exploration into the materiality of forged steel, and is aimed at the preservation of traditional blacksmith forging techniques and methods by incorporating these methods as added skill set during the making of three dimensional visual art. An investigation into the history of traditional forging (iron works) serves as background aimed at the identification of the various techniques and methods utilized during the processes found in traditional blacksmith forging. The practice of this research consists of three parts: firstly, a textual investigation to establish the basics (note taking- visual journal); secondly, practical exercises to gain a better understanding of the behaviour of various steels by utilizing traditional methods of forging to explore the potential applications for the forge as a tool in service of the visual arts; and lastly, reflection on the process to modify and adapt processes (methods and techniques) to promote further interest in the use of a forge as tool during the making of three-dimensional visual art.
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  • Date Issued: 2019

An explorative study into Faith healing as an African belief system and its influence on the diagnosis and treatment of mental illness in the Eastern Cape province, South Africa

  • Authors: Tsotsi, Liso
  • Date: 2019
  • Subjects: Traditional medicine -- South Africa -- Eastern Cape , Spiritual healing -- South Africa -- Eastern Cape , Ethnopsychology -- South Africa -- Eastern Cape , Mental illness -- Treatment -- South Africa -- Eastern Cape , Mental illness -- Alternative treatment -- South Africa -- Eastern Cape
  • Language: English
  • Type: text , Thesis , Masters , MA
  • Identifier: http://hdl.handle.net/10962/67753 , vital:29137
  • Description: The present study specifically focussed on Faith healing as an indigenous healing system and its influence on the diagnosis and treatment of mental illnesses in the Eastern Cape province of South Africa. The study aimed to provide a descriptive overview of Faith healers’ perspectives on the diagnosis and treatment of mental illnesses in the Eastern Cape, as well as to compare conclusions reached with other categories of indigenous healers. The inter-category comparisons on a broader level allowed for a further comparative discourse with the mainstream western medical psychiatric view of mental illness. Therefore, the scope of this study does not include in-depth analyses of findings, but rather the generation of themes for comparative discussions. While there exists vast literature on the diagnostic and treatment perspectives of the other two categories of indigenous healing systems (traditional healers and herbalists), a limited number of studies have been focussed on Faith healing as an indigenous mode of healing. The present study attempted to address this gap in the literature in an effort to promote future collaborative work across all viewpoints, in the management of mental illnesses. This study, grounded in qualitative research, utilized thematic analysis as its theoretical framework. Non probability judgmental sampling was used to secure self-identifying Faith healers, where conclusions from them were drawn from data collected, using in depth semi-structured interviews and observation. The main findings of the study indicated that Faith healers’ perspectives on the diagnosis and treatment of mental illnesses are based mainly on indigenous cultural theories. Furthermore, that collaboration with other viewpoints is hampered by animosity, feelings of distrust and the fear of appearing inferior.
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  • Date Issued: 2019

An exploratory case study of accelerator programmes in the Republic of South Africa

  • Authors: Mametse, Mmankitseng Lerato
  • Date: 2019
  • Language: English
  • Type: text , Thesis , Masters , MBA
  • Identifier: http://hdl.handle.net/10962/92639 , vital:30737
  • Description: South Africa is facing a challenge of poverty, unemployment and low growth. Government has identified the small and medium-sized business (SME) sector as one of the ways through which to combat these challenges. Government has also set up programmes and agencies to support SMEs in their search for funding and other kinds of support. South Africa, however, has one of the highest rates of SME failures in the world, with the majority not surviving beyond three years. Alternative interventions are therefore required to support South Africa’s SMEs to become sustainable companies beyond three years and to contribute positively to economic growth, poverty alleviation and job creation. This paper explores one kind of intervention that has been used internationally and that is increasingly being adopted in South Africa. Accelerator programmes, aimed at supporting start-ups to get to the next level of their development, have been growing in numbers around the world, trying to replicate the success of the original accelerator programme – the Y Combinator – which was responsible for the success of household names such as Airbnb and Dropbox. Accelerator programmes help start-up companies define and build their initial products, identify promising customer segments, and secure resources, including capital and employees. By making these necessary resources available to start-ups, it may be possible to ensure that fewer start-ups fail and more SMEs remain sustainable into the future. Several accelerator programmes have been founded in South Africa, all with a similar aim: to accelerate the development of start-ups that have the potential to grow exponentially given access to the right resources. This paper examines how South African accelerator programmes work in terms of the key resources made available to the start-ups that participate in their programmes. An increasing number of academic papers have been written on accelerator programmes internationally, but little information is available for the South African context. This research study investigated the phenomenon of accelerator programmes in South Africa through the lens of Resource-based Theory. The theory posits that, in order to gain a sustained competitive advantage, companies need to utilise their resources (including physical, human and organisational) in a manner that is effective and efficient, both internally and externally. The research answers the following questions: How do accelerator programmes work in South Africa? What value (in terms of resources offered) do they claim to bring to start-ups that go through their accelerator programmes? An exploratory case study method was selected to understand the phenomenon of accelerator programmes in South Africa. Purposeful sampling was used in the selection of accelerator programmes, as it allows for the selection of information-rich cases. The research findings indicate that accelerator programmes in South Africa follow the structure of providing start-ups, over a period between three months and one year, with resources that will assist them to be successful into the future. The investigation finds that human and financial resources are some of the most valuable resources that accelerator programmes provide to start-ups to help progress these start-ups to their next level of development. The most important resource is mentorship from knowledgeable industry players who are themselves entrepreneurs. Access to networks to gain access to the market, as well as funding, is also made available by accelerator programmes. This investigation provides a glimpse of the accelerator programme phenomenon in South Africa and highlights the important role that mentorship from experienced entrepreneurs, and access to markets and funding, play in the development of start-ups.
  • Full Text:
  • Date Issued: 2019

An exploratory view of e-governance as a driver of operational efficiency in the Amathole District Municipality

  • Authors: Masiza, Luthando
  • Date: 2019
  • Subjects: Internet in public administration , Internet in public administration -- South Africa -- Eastern Cape -- Case studies Information technology -- South Africa -- Eastern Cape Electronic government information -- Case studies
  • Language: English
  • Type: Thesis , Masters , MBA
  • Identifier: http://hdl.handle.net/10948/42639 , vital:36676
  • Description: This study is an exploration on how e-governance can be utilised as a means to attain operational efficiency. The study analyses matters around benefits and challenges, needs and sustainability. It specifically focussed on exploring means through which e-governance could be used as a leverage towards operational efficiency. The study was conducted in the context of the Amathole District Municipality from the Eastern Cape Province in South Africa. It made use of mixed research methods, blending qualitative methods with quantitative methods. The primary data used in this study was collected from managers who are employees of the Municipality. Analysis of responses was more inclined towards interpretivist paradigm. Analysis made use of the study used thematic analysis and codes. The analysis provided in this study clearly outlined the link between operational efficiency and service delivery as facilitated by e-governance. While there were a few respondents who could not differentiate between e-governance and e-government, most were able to clearly differentiate the two. Outstanding benefits of e-governance were identified as being cost-saving, enhanced communication and improved decisions among several others. The study also revealed several factors inhibiting the acceleration of e-governance. Outstanding among these challenges include, technological illiteracy, cyber-crime and online trust. The ultimate recommendation was that citizens, businesses and the government must separately and collectively develop strategies, enhancing e-governance through harnessing the internet technology.
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  • Date Issued: 2019

An Illustration of a Deductive Pattern Matching Procedure in Qualitative Leadership Research:

  • Authors: Pearse, Noel J
  • Date: 2019
  • Language: English
  • Type: text , article
  • Identifier: http://hdl.handle.net/10962/149895 , vital:38911 , DOI: 10.34190/JBRM.17.3.004
  • Description: Most qualitative studies in business-related research have adopted an inductive approach, in that they explore specific cases and then extract themes, or statements that are more general, from this data. This approach has its shortcomings, including not developing a more systematic body of knowledge of behavioural and social processes that take place in organisations. In contrast, in deductive qualitative research, the theoretical propositions derived from a review of the literature serve as its departure point, informing how the data is collected. Later on in the analysis of data, the researcher uses the propositions to determine if the literature explains the case that was being investigated. Unfortunately, given the relative neglect of deductive qualitative research approaches, there is little guidance and few examples offered that illustrate the application of these techniques. This poses a challenge for researchers, who often need a greater level of structure when it comes to designing and conducting their research. Therefore, the aim of this paper is to illustrate the design of a research protocol that integrates two deductive approaches that are suitable for explanatory case study research, namely deductive thematic analysis and pattern matching. This paper develops a sevenstep process that researchers can follow, for carrying out this type of deductive qualitative research. Using extracts from a research study investigating the leading of organisational change, the steps in this process are illustrated.
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  • Date Issued: 2019

An information extraction model for recommending the most applied case

  • Authors: Padayachy, Thashen
  • Date: 2019
  • Subjects: Information technology , Information storage and retrieval systems System design
  • Language: English
  • Type: Thesis , Masters , MSc
  • Identifier: http://hdl.handle.net/10948/43325 , vital:36794
  • Description: The amount of information produced by different domains is constantly increasing. One domain that particularly produces large amounts of information is the legal domain, where information is mainly used for research purposes. However, too much time is spent by legal researchers on searching for useful information. Information is found by using special search engines or by consulting hard copies of legal literature. The main research question that this study addressed is “What techniques can be incorporated into a model that recommends the most applied case for a field of law?”. The Design Science Research (DSR) methodology was used to address the research objectives. The model developed is the theoretical contribution produced from following the DSR methodology. A case study organisation, called LexisNexis, was to help investigate the real-world problem. The initial investigation into the real-world problem revealed that too much time is spent on searching for the Most Applied Case (MAC) and no formal or automated processes were used. An analysis of an informal process followed by legal researchers enabled the identification of different concepts that could be combined to create a prescriptive model to recommend the MAC. A critical analysis of the literature was conducted to obtain a better understanding of the legal domain and the techniques that can be applied to assist with problems faced in this domain, related to information retrieval and extraction. This resulted in the creation of an IE Model based only on theory. Questionnaires were sent to experts to obtain a further understanding of the legal domain, highlight problems faced, and identify which attributes of a legal case can be used to help recommend the MAC. During the Design and Development activity of the DSR methodology, a prescriptive MAC Model for recommending the MAC was created based on findings from the literature review and questionnaires. The MAC Model consists of processes concerning: Information retrieval (IR); Information extraction (IE); Information storage; and Query-independent ranking. Analysis of IR and IE helped to identify problems experienced when processing text. Furthermore, appropriate techniques and algorithms were identified that can process legal documents and extract specific facts. The extracted facts were then further processed to allow for storage and processing by query-independent ranking algorithms. The processes incorporated into the model were then used to create a proof-of-concept prototype called the IE Prototype. The IE Prototype implements two processes called the IE process and the Database process. The IE process analyses different sections of a legal case to extract specific facts. The Database process then ensures that the extracted facts are stored in a document database for future querying purposes. The IE Prototype was evaluated using the technical risk and efficacy strategy from the Framework for Evaluation of Design Science. Both formative and summative evaluations were conducted. Formative evaluations were conducted to identify functional issues of the prototype whilst summative evaluations made use of real-world legal cases to test the prototype. Multiple experiments were conducted on legal cases, known as source cases, that resulted in facts from the source cases being extracted. For the purpose of the experiments, the term “source case” was used to distinguish between a legal case in its entirety and a legal case’s list of cases referred to. Two types of NoSQL databases were investigated for implementation namely, a graph database and a document database. Setting up the graph database required little time. However, development issues prevented the graph database from being successfully implemented in the proof-of-concept prototype. A document database was successfully implemented as an alternative for the proof-of-concept prototype. Analysis of the source cases used to evaluate the IE Prototype revealed that 96% of the source cases were categorised as being partially extracted. The results also revealed that the IE Prototype was capable of processing large amounts of source cases at a given time.
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  • Date Issued: 2019

An integrated framework for assessing coastal community vulnerability across cultures, oceans and scales

  • Authors: Aswani, Shankar , Howard, J A , Gasalla, Maria A , Jennings, Sarah M , Malherbe, W , Martins, I M , Salim, Shyam S , Van Putten, Ingrid E , Swathilekshmi, P S , Narayanakumar, R , Watmough G R
  • Date: 2019
  • Subjects: To be catalogued
  • Language: English
  • Type: text , article
  • Identifier: http://hdl.handle.net/10962/421581 , vital:71863 , xlink:href="https://doi.org/10.1080/17565529.2018.1442795"
  • Description: Coastal communities are some of the most at-risk populations with respect to climate change impacts. It is therefore important to determine the vulnerability of such communities to co-develop viable adaptation options. Global efforts to address this issue include international scientific projects, such as Global Learning for Local Solutions (GULLS), which focuses on five fast warming regions of the southern hemisphere and aims to provide an understanding of the local scale processes influencing community vulnerability that can then be up-scaled to regional, country and global levels. This paper describes the development of a new social and ecological vulnerability framework which integrates exposure, sensitivity and adaptive capacity with the social livelihoods and food security approaches. It also measures community flexibility to understand better the adaptive capacity of different levels of community organization. The translation of the conceptual framework to an implementable method is described and its application in a number of “hotspot” countries, where ocean waters are warming faster than the rest of the world, is presented. Opportunities for cross-cultural comparisons to uncover similarities and differences in vulnerability and adaptation patterns among the study’s coastal communities, which can provide accelerated learning mechanisms to other coastal regions, are highlighted. The social and ecological framework and the associated survey approach allow for future integration of local-level vulnerability data with ecological and oceanographic models.
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  • Date Issued: 2019

An Integrated Management System to reduce False Codling Moth, Thaumatotibia leucotreta (Meyrick) (Lepidoptera: Tortricidae) infested citrus fruit from being packed for export

  • Authors: Mac Aleer, Clint
  • Date: 2019
  • Subjects: Cryptophlebia leucotreta -- South Africa , Cryptophlebia leucotreta -- Biological control -- South Africa , Citrus -- Diseases and pests -- Biological control -- South Africa , Insect pests -- Biological control -- South Africa , Insecticides , Citrus fruit industry -- South Africa , South Africa -- Commerce -- European Economic Community Countries
  • Language: English
  • Type: text , Thesis , Masters , MSc
  • Identifier: http://hdl.handle.net/10962/92219 , vital:30691
  • Description: False codling moth (FCM), Thaumatotibia leucotreta (Meyrick) (Lepidoptera: Tortricidae) is indigenous to southern Africa and is an important pest of citrus in this region. As a result of its endemism to sub-Saharan Africa, several countries to which South Africa exports citrus, regulate it as a phytosanitary pest. Consequently, it is necessary to ship fruit to these markets under cold-disinfestation protocols. This has been possible, as until recently, all of these markets could be considered relatively small niche markets. The South African citrus industry exports approximately 130 million cartons of fruit (15 kg equivalent) annually. During the 2017 season, a total of 48 million cartons were exported to the European Union (EU), which is the equivalent of 41% of South Africa’s total export volume, thus making the EU South Africa’s most important export market. In 2013 the European and Mediterranean Plant Protection Organisation (EPPO) conducted a pest risk analysis (PRA) on FCM, leading to the EU declaring it an officially regulated pest for this region, effective of 1 January 2018. Citrus is regarded as a preferred non-native host of FCM and South African citrus was identified as a primary focus due to large volumes being exported to Europe. Shipping under cold disinfestation is not possible with such large volumes of fruit. Additionally, several cultivars would suffer high levels of chilling injury under such conditions. In this study, an Integrated Management System was tested with pre- and postharvest controls to test the hypothesis that pre-harvest interventions resulted in lower post-harvest infection. Thirty orchards ranging from soft citrus cultivars such as Nule and Nova Mandarins, to Navel orange cultivars such as Newhall, Palmer and Late Navel and ending with Valencia cultivars such as Midknight and Delta, were identified for this study. This system relies on pre-harvest inspections such as FCM trap counts and fruit infestation on data trees in every orchard, with associated thresholds for action or continued compliance. Inspections were conducted on a weekly basis. There was a significant relationship between the moth catches and FCM infestation for the full monitoring period, using a two-week lag period for infestation. Inspections of harvested fruit were conducted at the packhouse to determine FCM infestation. This included inspection of the fruit on delivery to the packhouse, on the packing line, and a final fruit sample taken from the packed product and inspected for FCM. The highest levels of infestation were recorded on the Navel cultivars, thus confirming that Navels cultivars are a preferred host for FCM. Significant positive relationships were recorded between FCM infestation during the last 4 weeks before harvest and the level of infestation in the fruit delivered to the packhouse and between the fruit delivered to the packhouse and in the fruit packed in a carton for export. There was a substantial reduction in infestation between the fruit delivered to the packhouse and the fruit packed in a carton for export, with certain orchards recording as much as a 93% reduction in the fruit packed in a carton, which indicated that the packhouse could effectively identify and remove FCM infested fruit. The outcome of the study is that a holistic management approach minimizes the risk of FCM in citrus fruit destined for export and therefore mitigate the risk associated with FCM.
  • Full Text:
  • Date Issued: 2019
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