A trust framework to improve adoption of mobile banking by university students in South Africa
- Authors: van Heerden, Robyn
- Date: 2021-01
- Subjects: Mobile communication systems in education , Banks and banking, mobile , Education, Higher--Effect of technological innovations on
- Language: English
- Type: Master's theses , text
- Identifier: http://hdl.handle.net/10353/20517 , vital:46073
- Description: Mobile banking, hereinafter referred to as m-banking, is a platform that allows individuals to conduct financial transactions using a mobile device at any given time. In today’s fast paced society, technologies have evolved to provide services that are convenient and benefit both the customer and service provider; these include m-banking. M-banking further encourages financial inclusion and economic growth, which are both crucial in South Africa. The aim of this research was to develop a trust framework to improve adoption of mobile banking by university students. This is an agency issue in the financial services industry as university students are a big segment of the future income earners and adopters of technology. Getting them to adopt and become regular m-banking users would significantly impact the revenue of banking institutions. The E-Commerce Acceptance Model and the Integrative Model of Organisational Trust were the two theoretical frameworks used as underlying theories to this study. A quantitative survey tool was employed to gather data at the University of Fort Hare in the Eastern Cape. After an extensive literature review, a questionnaire was formulated and distributed to students at the University of Fort Hare, of whom 471 responded. Descriptive and inferential statistics were used to analyse the data collected. Cronbach’s Alpha was employed to demonstrate the reliability of constructs used in the study and Pearson’s Product Moment. Correlation Coefficient r tested the strength of the relationships between these constructs. The study found that there are several factors that are significant, such as perceived usefulness, perceived ease of use, perceived risk when investigating trust and its influences on m-banking adoption amongst university students. As a result, the study recommends that banks should consider the above-mentioned factors in order to improve trust and increase m-banking adoption among university students in South Africa. , Thesis (MCom) (Information Systems) -- University of Fort Hare, 2021
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Effects of paclobutrazol and plant spacing on growth, yield, and after effect on sprout development in seed potatoes (solanum tuberosum l.)
- Authors: Jokazi, Khuselo Bernad https://orcid.org/0000-0002-8620-9838
- Date: 2021-01
- Subjects: Potatoes , Plant regulators
- Language: English
- Type: Master's theses , text
- Identifier: http://hdl.handle.net/10353/21323 , vital:48406
- Description: Potato (Solanum tuberosum L.) is an herbaceous plant that belongs to the genus Solanum, in the Solanaceae family which is comprised of about 2 800 species (Sahair et al., 2018). Potato domestication can be traced back to the sixteenth century in the South American continent (Hawkes, 1978). The potato crop became a staple food for greater parts of the world towards the end of the seventeenth century. It is not clear when the crop was introduced to the African continent, although the literature indicates that it was grown in some parts of the continent by the late seventeenth century (Hawkes, 1978). Potato is a very bulky crop and is a source of high energy per given area of land (Tsegaw, 2005). Nutritionally, the crop is rich in carbohydrates and provides a considerable amount of protein, with a good balance of amino acids, vitamins (C, B6, and B1, folate), minerals (potassium, phosphorus, calcium, and magnesium), and the micronutrients iron and zinc. Potatoes are also a source of high dietary fiber, especially when eaten unpeeled. In addition, potatoes are rich in antioxidants, including polyphenols, vitamin C, carotenoids, and tocopherols (Bradshaw and Ramsay, 2009). Potatoes play a very important role in the global food system. It is South Africa’s most important vegetable crop (DAFF, 2012). Worldwide, it ranks fourth topmost important food crops following wheat, maize, and rice (Esmaielpour et al., 2011; Bradshaw and Ramsay, 2009), followed by barley (Allemann et al., 2003). South Africa is the 27th largest producer in the world and the 3rd largest producer in Africa after Egypt and Malawi (FAOSTAT, 2015). In the year 2014, potatoes were produced in 51 435 hectares of land, which yielded over 2 million tons (DAFF, 2015). This crop is produced in sixteen producing regions throughout South Africa with the Limpopo, Free State, Western Cape, Mpumalanga, KwaZulu-Natal, and Eastern Cape provinces being the leading regions (DAFF, 2015). Because of the different climatic regions in South Africa, potatoes are planted at different times of the year. As a result, the country enjoys fresh potatoes throughout the year (DAFF, 2014). According to the Potato Industry Research Strategy 2014-17 under Potato South Africa, the past few years have seen a decrease in the area of land under potato production, with an increase in the average yield per area. This yield increment can be accredited to an increase in the production under irrigation system, the use of improved cultivars and seed quality, and the application of research results (PSA, 2014). World potato production indicates that intensive cultivation has led to an increment of potato yields between 1960 and 1999, even though there was a reduction in the area planted with the crop (Fabeiro et al., 2001). However, there is a large gap between potential potato yield and actual yield per hectare. Research undoubtedly holds great potential for narrowing this gap. In order to do so, there is a need to understand the factors limiting potato yield. Temperature, plant spacing, and seed tuber quality are amongst the most significant factors affecting potato growth, yield, and quality. Potatoes are very adaptive; at present, they can be produced in different climatic regions. They are temperate crops, which prefer a cool and humid climate (Haverkort, 1990), but care should be taken to avoid high-stress periods such as temperature extremes. The optimum temperature for haulm growth and net photosynthesis is in the range between 15℃ and 25℃, and 20℃ is the optimum temperature for tuberization. Tuberization is inhibited by temperatures above 29℃, as the photoassimilate partitioning towards the tubers is decreased, leading to an increase in shoot growth (Gawronska et al., 1992). Plant spacing is usually determined by the target market and cultivar. , Thesis (MSc) -- Faculty of Science and Agriculture, 2021
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Parenting and moral behaviour: an exploration of young mothers raising children in golf course, Alice, Eastern Cape
- Authors: Nyatanga, Georgina
- Date: 2021-01
- Subjects: Parenting , Child rearing
- Language: English
- Type: Master's theses , text
- Identifier: http://hdl.handle.net/10353/22339 , vital:52027
- Description: Regardless of the efforts that have been put forward to reduce adolescent pregnancies on a global scale, the prevalence of adolescent pregnancy is still on the rise, and this has ultimately led to young motherhood to be a common feature in many societies, South Africa inclusive. A number of factors have contributed towards the parenting capacity of young mothers to nurture their children towards developing warranted behavior to be questioned. Owing to this, this study embarked on a journey to explore how young motherhood influences the development of immoral or unwarranted behavior in children in Golf Course, Alice, Eastern Cape, South Africa. Informed by the theoretical lenses of the Moral Development Theory, Social Learning Theory, and the Systems Theory; the study aimed to answer the following questions: (i) How does young motherhood influence the development of immoral behavior in children? (ii) What are the types of immoral behaviors that children raised by young mothers are involved in? (iii) What are the possible strategies that can be implemented to curb the prevalence of immoral behavior in children raised by young mothers? The study adopted a qualitative research approach with a case study research design. Data was collected through in depths interviews from the young mothers and key informants. A semi structured interview schedule was used as a data collection instrument. Non-probability sampling technique was used, and the sample of the study was obtained through purposive sampling. Twenty-five participants (twenty young mothers and five key informants) were recruited to participate in the study using the fore mentioned technique. Thematic analysis was used to analyze the collected data. The study revealed the following aspects: young mothers are confronted with a number of challenges which affect their parenting capacity and nurturing of their children; a majority of children raised by young mothers in Golf Course exhibit a number of unwarranted behavior which is influenced by their family situation and the nature of parenting they receive; lastly training in parenting, availability of child protection services and development of support group services for young mothers were identified as the strategies that can be employed to reduce the development of unwarranted behavior in children raised by young mothers. Based on the findings, the study recommends that government entities together with non-governmental social service providers provide the financial, social support and mental support to young mothers to empower and capacitate them so that they can be able to adopt positive parenting skills which are necessary towards nurturing warranted behavior in children. The study also recommends that young mothers must be conscious of their lifestyle and life choices as these have a direct impact on the behavior of their children. The study concludes that if the conditions of children raised by young mothers are to be enhanced, the prevalence of immoral or unwarranted behavior amongst children raised by young mothers will drop drastically. , Thesis (MSW) -- Faculty of Social Sciences and Humanities, 2021
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Sedimentology, petrography and geochemistry of the Kuruman Banded Iron Formation in the Prieska area, Northern Cape Province of South Africa
- Authors: Mbongonya, Mainly Abongile https://orcid.org/0000-0003-2241-8558
- Date: 2021-01
- Subjects: Mines and mineral resources -- South Africa , Sedimentology
- Language: English
- Type: Master's theses , text
- Identifier: http://hdl.handle.net/10353/21345 , vital:48492
- Description: The sedimentary sequences hosted by the Griqualand West Basin within the Transvaal Supergroup, Northern Cape Province of South Africa, contain several iron and manganese ore deposits. Many studies have been conducted in the Griqualand West basin, particularly within the northern Ghaap plateau compartment where most iron and manganese mines are located, with less attention to the southern Prieska Compartment. Thus, the current study is targeted at the Kuruman Formation in the Prieska area to investigate the geological occurrence, including sedimentology, geochemistry, origin, and post-depositional alteration of the banded iron formation (BIF). Four stratigraphic sections were measured, and the fifth section was only mapped for lithology and sedimentary facies. These sections constitute portions of the stratigraphic sequence of the Transvaal Supergroup that occurs within the study area. The stratigraphic sequence of the area comprises nine successional cycles with five upward fining cycles and four upward-coarsening cycles. These cycles reflect fluctuation of the sea level and shallowing- and filling-up processes of the final basin. Four mineral paragenetic groups constituting primary minerals, diagenetic minerals, low-grade minerals, and weathering mineral assemblages were encountered in the area. The primary mineral assemblage includes magnetite, hematite, siderite, chert, quartz, and smectite. The diagenetic assemblage minerals in the area are martite, quartz (cement), illite, calcite, ankerite, and stilpnomelane. Low-grade assemblage minerals are riebeckite, crocidolite, and minnesotaite, whereas goethite, limonite, calcite (calcrete), quartz (silcrete), and clay minerals are the supergene (weathering) assemblage minerals. These mineral assemblages were confirmed by microscope petrography, XRD, SEM-EDX, and diagenesis studies. Eight sedimentary facies including Horizontal-laminated BIF facies (Hlb), Horizontal thin to medium bedded BIF facies (Hbb), Ripple laminated BIF facies (Rlb), Thin to medium bedded mudstone facies (Mbm), Medium to thick-bedded mudstone facies (Tbm), Medium to thick-bedded fine-sandstone facies (Mts), Laminated dolomite stromatolite facies (Ld), and Dome-shaped stromatolitic BIF facies (Dbif) were identified in the field. Five facies associations including Facies association 1 (Hlb + Hbb), Facies association 2 (Hlb + Hbb + Mbm + Tbm), Facies association 3 (Hlb + Hbb + Mbm + Tbm + Rlb), Facies association 4 (Mbm + Tbm + Mts), and Facies association 5 (Ld + Dbif + Mts) have been recognised. Mineralogy, petrography, and geochemical studies indicate that the studied samples have all been subjected to recent weathering that altered the primary mineralogy and the geochemical composition. Mineral assemblages of the Kuruman BIF within the Prieska area are dominated by quartz, which constitutes about 53 wt.percent, followed by the iron oxides averaging about 44 wt.percent. Other minerals such as carbonates and silicates are only occurring in concentrations of less than 3 wt. percent combined. The Prieska BIF is enriched in cobalt, tungsten, molybdenum, barium (Ba), and nickel compared to the BIF in the northern parts of the Griqualand West basin and other localities. Post-depositional mineral alteration studies show that most of the primary minerals had suffered various degrees of alteration. The bulk of quartz, silicate, and iron oxide minerals in the area have been recrystallized, partially replaced, dissolved, or leached out. Multiple formation processes were involved in the origin of the banded iron formation: (1). Deposition of iron-rich mud material in the deep ocean floor and formation of a mixture of iron-rich mud (felutite) on the seafloor; (2). Differentiation of felutite and formation of disseminated iron-oxide from mud; (3). Cohesion and diagenesis of disseminated iron-oxide and formation of iron-rich (magnetite/hematite) and silica-rich (chert/quartz) patches, lenses (pod), microbands, and laminations; (4). Consolidation and compaction, leading to the formation of the final banded iron formation (BIF). , Thesis (MSc) -- Faculty of Science and Agriculture, 2021
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The effects of Zimbabwe’s economic crises on child welfare: a case of Chitungwiza Town
- Authors: Midzi, Tendai
- Date: 2021-01
- Subjects: Child welfare -- Economic aspects , Crisis management -- Economic aspects
- Language: English
- Type: Master's theses , text
- Identifier: http://hdl.handle.net/10353/22401 , vital:52045
- Description: This study examined the effects of Zimbabwe’s economic crisis on the welfare of children (analysed in terms of two indicators of health and education) in Chitungwiza. The study endeavoured to achieve the following specific objectives: (i).to assess the effect of Zimbabwe’s economic crisis on the welfare of children in Chitungwiza, Zimbabwe. (ii). to examine child support strategies that are implemented to sustain children during economic crisis in Chitungwiza, Zimbabwe. The economic exigencies and shocks spawned by economic crisis on the weak welfare systems of the developing world countries drastically undermine the wellbeing of children. Therefore, this study focused on analysing the economic crises-spawned form and scale of child vulnerabilities at the household and national level because these units provide primary child care in Zimbabwe. This study was underpinned by two frameworks namely, the Social Risk Management Approach (SRMA) and the Transformative Social Protection Framework (T.S.P). The study used a mixed methods or triangulation approach, through use of primary data (quantitative and qualitative data) and secondary data (archival data) as the basis for data collection as well as the analysis. This was guided by a mixed research design specifically a case study and a mini survey. Complementarity of the research methods was achieved through the use of data from household surveys with 100 heads of households (selected through a combination cluster and random sampling) in Chitungwiza Town and in-depth interviews with 1 official from each of the following units; Ministry of Primary and Secondary Education, the Ministry of Public Service Labor, and Social Welfare, Ministry of Health and Child care, UNICEF, the National Social Security Authority (NSSA) and Child Line Zimbabwe (selected through a purposive sampling technique). Data was analyzed qualitatively through thematic analysis, while descriptive statistics was used to analyze quantitative data through the use of SPSS (Statistical Package for Social Sciences, Version 25) and Microsoft Excel 2007. The study revealed that there are so many child vulnerabilities entrenched by the country’s chronic economic crisis that include poor education and health outcomes, drug abuse and juvenile delinquency, early pregnancies and child marriages, child labour and exploitation among others. Social safety nets in place such as BEAM, AMTO and HSCT are to some extent helping vulnerable children but currently these are not covering a significant percentage of children from poor households due to budget, capacity and fund appropriation challenges at the behest of the country’s economic crisis. Household child support strategies such as smallholder agriculture and gardening, informal trading and jobs are to some extent helping in promoting child wellbeing but their potential is undercut by challenges relating to inter alia the hyperinflationary economic environment, regulation and suppressed markets. The study inter alia recommends the institution of transparency and accountability as provided in the 2013 constitution to curb leakages and misallocation of the few resources, the reinstatement of the multicurrency monetary system in order to stabilise the country’s hyperinflationary environment, a transformation of the delivery of social safety nets in terms of targeting and coverage of the poor households, more effective budgeting and resource allocation system, supporting the informal sector and enhanced integration of social work practise in government social protection programs. , Thesis (MSW) -- Faculty of Social Sciences and Humanities, 2021
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The relationship between green behaviours and their effect on the performance of small businesses in South Africa
- Authors: Banana, Zingisa
- Date: 2021-01
- Subjects: Small business--Management , Environmental economics
- Language: English
- Type: Master's theses , text
- Identifier: http://hdl.handle.net/10353/21377 , vital:48514
- Description: Purpose: Academics and the government are placing more emphasis and importance on the role that enterprises can play in response to challenges of the environment. This study aimed to establish the relationship between green behaviours and the performance of small businesses in South Africa. Green behaviours are measured as consisting of green entrepreneurial orientation, green technology dynamism and green innovation behaviour. Conversely, performance is defined as consisting of environmental performance, objective performance and subjective performance. Design/methodology/approach: To achieve the purpose of this study, the study adopted a positivist paradigm which is motivated by the quantitative approach using a descriptive research design. Self-administered questionnaires were employed with a sample of 180 participants that were randomly selected across small businesses in the Buffalo City Metropolitan Municipality in the Eastern Cape province of South Africa. Findings/results: The major findings of the study, using simple linear regression analysis, revealed that a significant positive relationship between green entrepreneurial orientation and environmental, objective and subjective performance does exist. However, the hierarchical regression analysis results revealed that green technology dynamism and green innovation behaviour do not moderate the relationship between green entrepreneurial orientation and performance as measured by environmental, objective and subjective performance dimensions. Practical implications: Based on the findings of the study, small businesses need to develop policy related to promoting green behaviours, given that green entrepreneurial orientation has been found to be related to performance. Originality/value: The results of this study could guide small business owners and managers in the implementation of environmentally-friendly practices in an effort to reduce green economy issues and environmental problems facing the present generation. , Thesis (MCom) (Business Management) -- University of Fort Hare, 2021
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The role of good governance practices in enhancing service delivery: A case of Mnquma Municipality
- Authors: Sipuka, Noluthando
- Date: 2021-01
- Subjects: Public administration , Government productivity
- Language: English
- Type: Master's theses , text
- Identifier: http://hdl.handle.net/10353/20219 , vital:45429
- Description: This study examines the role of good governance practices in enhancing service delivery in Mnquma Municipality in an effort to assist municipalities in the greater Eastern Cape and South Africa in general. Good governance has become a popular theme in Africa and worldwide, attributed to the increasing need to alleviate rampant corruption in municipalities, of which Mnquma Municipality is not immune. This study positioned in the constructivist paradigm employed the qualitative research paradigm, using semi-structured interviews with 15 community members and officials, secondary data and field notes. Collected data was analysed using content analysis and various themes were extracted from the data. The study found that the community in the Mnquma Municipality is dissatisfied with service delivery as there are rural areas who are still battling to get clean water and decent ablution facilities. This municipality has been marred by violent protests, infighting amongst those who are tasked to oversee the delivery of services. The infighting amongst municipal officials and municipal council which results in minimal involvement of the third leg of the municipality which is the community in the affairs of the municipality. This study sought to explore the roles of good governance in enhancing service delivery in Mnquma Municipality, investigate the challenges that impede good governance practices in Mnquma Municipality and to recommend possible strategies that can be used to enhance good governance in Mnquma Municipality. Good governance has become a popular theme in Africa and worldwide, attributed to the increasing need to alleviate rampant corruption in municipalities, of which Mnquma Municipality is not immune. The study found that the community in the Mnquma Municipality is dissatisfied with service delivery as there are rural areas who are still battling to get clean water and decent ablution facilities. This municipality has been marred by violent protests, infighting amongst those who are tasked to oversee the delivery of services. The study recommends various approaches to end the bad governance and insufficient service delivery such as ensuring effective monitoring and evaluation of community projects, skills audits and trainings for municipal officials, increased community participation in municipal decisions as well as increased access to loans to community members. , Thesis (MPA) -- Faculty of Management and Commerce, 2021
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