The relationship between inflation and financial development in South Africa
- Authors: Ninana, Amahle
- Date: 2020
- Subjects: Inflation (Finance) -- South Africa South Africa -- Economic development
- Language: English
- Type: Thesis , Masters , Degree
- Identifier: http://hdl.handle.net/10353/18643 , vital:42639
- Description: This study examined the relationship between inflation and financial development in South Africa using quarterly data (2005–2016). The study assessed whether theoretical and empirical propositions can be supported in South Africa. Co-integration tests utilising ARDL bounds testing method were employed to examine if there is a relationship between the variables of interest. As a proxy of financial sector development, stock market capitalisation and bank credit to the private sector were employed. Other variables that affect financial development such as money supply, interest rates, Gross Domestic Product, trade openness and net interest margin were also included in the model. The results of the study indicate that there exists a negative relationship between inflation and stock market capitalisation. Bank credit to the private sector showed a positive relationship with inflation both in the short run and long run.
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The contribution of the citrus sub-sector to the economy of Sundays River Valley Local Municipality
- Authors: Smith, Siphelele Ricardo
- Date: 2019
- Language: English
- Type: Thesis , Masters , M Agric (Agric Extension)
- Identifier: http://hdl.handle.net/10353/18861 , vital:42878
- Description: Neither the South African government, nor organised agriculture, nor the research community, has an accurate understanding of the role that the citrus sub-sector plays in the local economy of the main producing areas. There are in fact few studies in South Africa on the linkages between agriculture and other economic sectors at the local level. Through understanding the backward and forward linkages in the citrus sub-sector in Sundays River Valley, one of South Africa’s main citrus areas, it is possible to obtain a better understanding of how investment and expenditure in this sub-sector might influence other related subsectors. The main objective of the study is to assess and understand the citrus industry's contribution to the local economy of Sundays River Valley Local Municipality. This is done through the estimation of an input-output table which differentiates local from non-local economic linkages, and which also, given the labour intensity of the citrus subsector, is closed with respect to households, i.e. households are treated as an endogenous sector with interrelationships with the other sectors captured. The other sectors captured include agroprocessing, utilities, transport and retail. The input-out table, which is estimated based on primary surveys as well as secondary data, is thereafter used to perform input-output analysis on the basis of which the impact of different types of sectoral development are simulated. Results show that jobs can be created through expansion of area under citrus. In addition, more income to farm workers translates into higher income into the local retail sector. However, labour-saving technology could lead to job losses in both citrus and agroprocessing sectors.
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Bank Competition and Economic Growth: The Case of South Africa, Russia and China
- Authors: Sokapase ,Zukile
- Date: 2017
- Subjects: Banks and banking
- Language: English
- Type: Thesis , Masters , MCom (Economics)
- Identifier: http://hdl.handle.net/10353/14120 , vital:39846
- Description: This study examined the relationship between bank competition and economic growth across South Africa, Russia and China. In this regard, the study conducted a comparative analysis which allowed for country differences and thus enhanced the provision of relevant policy guidance given how each of the country’s economic growth is reacting to changes in bank competition. To account for country differences, the study estimated a random coefficient panel (RCP) model using Swamy’s generalised least squares (GLS) estimators for the period 1999 – 2015. Across the three countries, bank competition and economic growth have been found to be positively related. In addition, bank competition has been found to be highly significant in influencing economic growth across the three countries. However, the extent of influence that bank competition has on economic growth differs in each country. Therefore, this study recommends that policies aimed at promoting competition in the banking sector of South Africa, Russia and China should be adopted in order to promote economic growth.
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Critical success factors for the implementation of an electronic health record system in the public health care sector of South Africa
- Authors: Katurura, Munyaradzi Caurage
- Date: 2017
- Subjects: Medical records -- South Africa -- Data processing Public health -- South Africa Medical records -- Access control -- South Africa.
- Language: English
- Type: Thesis , Masters , MCom
- Identifier: http://hdl.handle.net/10353/13182 , vital:39472
- Description: South Africa intends to implement a National Health Insurance for its citizens, however, for this to be possible there is a need for registering and tracking all the patients who visit health care institutions. The use of EHRs was identified as the most suitable towards accomplishing the above-mentioned tasks. This study investigated other African countries’ EHR implementation efforts in order to identify the critical success factors for the implementation of EHR in South Africa’s public health system. The study conducted a structured literature review of articles written about EHR implementation in African countries and found that issues such as the high costs of implementation; resistance by health workers; a lack of suitable infrastructure; a lack of skills; political influence and poor government commitment were some of the challenges to the implementation of EHRs in African countries. The study then identified 6 critical factors that could address these challenges and ensure that EHR implementation is successful. Identified factors included Incentivising the health informatics career field to attract and retain ICT professionals; Encouraging participation of all stakeholders in the development process of EHR systems; Investigating and investing in alternative infrastructural facilities; Allocating separate budgets for E-health projects; Developing context relevant E-health implementation strategies and frameworks; and finally, Develop and implement Legislation specific to EHR implementation and continued use. Recommendations were also made on each factor regarding how it could be accomplished.
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Exploring the importance of the mother/child relationship during maternal incarceration : a case study at Worcester female correctional centre
- Authors: Zill, Lizelle Jessie
- Date: 2017
- Subjects: Mother and child Children of women prisoners--Effect of imprisonment on Mother-Child Relations
- Language: English
- Type: Thesis , Masters , Social Work
- Identifier: http://hdl.handle.net/10353/16058 , vital:40660
- Description: The intention of this research was to explore and discuss the importance of the mother/child relationship during maternal incarceration for aiding a successful reunificationupon release. The Department of Correctional Services is committed to providing a needs-based approach to all offenders including female offenders, who are recognised as special category offenders. The study made use of a qualitative approach and the research design was based on a case study. Data was gathered by means of in-depth interviews with nineteen participants at the Worcester Female Correctional Centre. A literature study was conducted on the importance of strengthening and supporting the mother/child relationship during maternal incarceration, and the challenges experienced in maintaining the mother/child relationship. Thereafter, an empirical exploration was done and the results were purposefully processed and analysed. Through processing and analysing the results, the researcher was able to derive certain conclusions and make recommendations, which are presented in Chapter Five of this thesis. The most important conclusion resulting from the research study is the importance of the maintenance of the mother/child relationship during maternal incarceration. The study made various recommendations that the Department of Correctional Services can utilise to improve its services to female offenders, especially those with children.
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Impact of smallholder irrigation schemes on rural livelihoods of farmers in the Eastern Cape Province of South Africa: the case of Melani Irrigation Scheme
- Authors: Magqibelo, Sinovuyo
- Date: 2016
- Subjects: Irrigation farming -- Economic aspects Irrigation -- South Africa -- Eastern Cape Farms, Small -- South Africa -- Eastern Cape , Rural development -- South Africa -- Eastern Cape Agriculture -- Economic aspects -- South Africa -- Eastern Cape
- Language: English
- Type: Thesis , Masters , MSc
- Identifier: http://hdl.handle.net/10353/1774 , vital:27557
- Description: Irrigation farming is one of the most important rural development investments that can have both direct and indirect impacts on poverty and food security. The irregular and unreliable rainfall in the Eastern Cape Province has caused the smallholder farmers to deepen the irrigation farming systems as a strategy to cope with food shortage, income and poverty. South Africa has invested substantially in smallholder irrigation to benefit smallholder farmers in the less developed areas. Although the investment on small scale irrigation was to improve the welfare of the people, the performance and welfare impact of smallholder irrigation schemes has been poor and fall far short of the expectations of many stakeholders. The broad objective of the study was to examine the contribution of smallholder irrigation scheme on rural livelihoods of smallholder farmers at the project area. The null hypothesis was that smallholder irrigation schemes have no impact on farmer’s livelihoods. The alternative hypothesis for this study was that Melani irrigation scheme is contributing in improving rural livelihoods of smallholder farmers in the area. Cross study research design was used in the methodology. The purposive sampling was applied in order to choose a sample of 107 respondents that were interviewed using questionnaires, including both irrigating and non-irrigating farmers. A multiple linear regression analysis was used to find out whether the performance of the two groups of farmers is different and to what extent. To determine the specific role of irrigation an Independent T-Test was ran. Out of the selected sample 68 percent of households were farmers, 7.5 percent informal employed and 27 percent unemployed. It was found that the majority of participants were males and were uneducated. They depended on social grants for a living. The findings from the study showed that 84 percent of the respondents agreed that there is no market available in the village and farmers had limited access to credits. The crop income was the most contributing factor to household income. The results showed that whether the farmer is a non-irrigator or an irrigator the performance is not significant. Irrigation scheme improvement attained by smallholder farmers need to be maintained.
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An analysis of "self-determination" in international law : the case of South Sudan
- Authors: Zimuto, Prince Charles
- Date: 2015
- Subjects: Self-determination, National Decolonization -- South Sudan Sudan -- Politics and government
- Language: English
- Type: Thesis , Masters , LLM
- Identifier: http://hdl.handle.net/10353/5697 , vital:29364
- Description: This research intends to investigate the scope and applicability of the concept of ‘self-determination’ outside the context of decolonisation using South Sudan as a case study. Demands for the exercise of the right to self-determination are widespread. These are vehemently resisted by states who view the concept of ‘self-determination’ as a potential source of territorial disintegration. International instruments which provide for the right to self-determination also discourage the impairment of the territorial integrity of states in the name of self-determination. The problem faced in international law is therefore how to balance the right to self-determination with the principle of territorial integrity. The study reveals that the general understanding is that outside the context of decolonisation the right to self-determination may be exercised within the territorial boundaries of a state without compromising the territorial integrity of a state. The internal exercise of the right to self-determination entails human rights protection, participation in the political affairs of the state and autonomy arrangements. This general understanding is however problematic where a state systemically violates the rights of its people and denies them political participation in the affairs of the state. The people of South Sudan found themselves in such a situation from the time when Sudan gained independence from British colonial rule. Despite a number of negotiations with the government of Sudan, the people of South Sudan continued to be marginalised and their rights violated with impunity. They then demanded to exercise their right to self-determination externally and eventually they seceded from Sudan through the framework created by the Comprehensive Peace Agreement of 2005. In the light of the secession of South Sudan from Sudan this study proposes a remedial self-determination approach to the understanding of post-colonial self-determination. In terms of this approach when people are denied the right to exercise their right to self-determination internally, or their rights are deliberately and systemically violated, they may exercise their right to self-determination externally and secede.
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New Economic Partnership for Africa's Development (NEPAD) and Africa's quest for regional economic integration: the case of Southern African Development Community (SADC)
- Authors: Chigombe, Courage
- Date: 2014
- Subjects: New Partnership for Africa's Development , Southern African Development Community , Sustainable development -- Africa, Southern , Africa, Southern -- Economic conditions , Africa -- Economic policy
- Language: English
- Type: Thesis , Masters , MA
- Identifier: http://hdl.handle.net/10353/2072 , vital:27604
- Description: Despite according high priority to regional economic integration and being clustered by regional economic schemes, Africa’s regional economic integration record is not inspiring. With the transformation of the OAU to the African Union (AU), the New Partnership for Africa`s Development (NEPAD) was adopted as the development program of the continent to drive the impetus of economic integration through trade. At the time NEPAD was adopted, regional integration schemes in Africa were facing problems of low intra-regional trade levels despite trade being identified as the engine of activity and economic growth for regional economic integration. The study was centered on Southern Africa with precise attention on SADC. Even though trade is accepted as a vital engine of economic growth and development, this is not the case with SADC. The study was looking at the contribution of NEPAD in intra-regional trade in Africa with special focus on SADC. This was prompted by the fact that regional integration is business as usual within the sub region while problems that have been confronting regional schemes are continuing unabated after the adoption of NEPAD. The study used the historical approach because it provides the study with an advantage of accessing existing literature with regards to what is really stalling intra-regional trade in SADC. The study findings noted that NEPAD has not fully addressed the problems of intra-regional trade within SADC and the continent at large. The study lastly concludes by giving a way forward for NEPAD to respond to the specific needs of SADC for the promotion of intra-regional and equitable trade.
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Species and spatio-temporal variation in the yield, nutritive value and in vitro ruminal fermentation characteristics of selected grass species from two communal grazing lands of the Eastern Cape
- Authors: Kwaza, Ayanda
- Date: 2013
- Language: English
- Type: Thesis , Masters , MSc Agric (Pasture Science)
- Identifier: http://hdl.handle.net/10353/987 , vital:26515
- Description: Communal rangelands sustain a large proportion of the livestock in South Africa. A few dominant grass species contribute to the bulk of the livestock forage in these rangelands. Little is known on the chemical composition and in vitro ruminal fermentation characteristics of grass species grazed by ruminants in the communal grazing lands of Eastern Cape Province in South Africa. The objectives of this study were therefore to investigate seasonal and altitudinal variations in biomass yield, chemical composition, and in vitro ruminal degradability and cumulative gas production of selected (dominant) grass species. The grass species were collected over four seasons (summer, autumn, winter and spring) from three altitudes/landscape gradients (upland, gentle sloppy and bottomlands) across two communal areas (Hala in highland (Highveld) and Gqumashe in lowland (Lowveld)) of the Eastern Cape province, South Africa. In each altitude, three 50 m x 20 m plots, which served as replicates were marked to collect vegetation samples. A 5 x 4 x 3 factorial experiment in a randomised complete block design was used with season, altitude and grass species being the main factors, and with the plots within altitudes serving as blocks (replicates). Data analysis was done separately for the two communal study areas using the General Linear Models (GLM) procedure of SAS to test differences between species, seasons and altitudes. The common grass species in both grazing lands were Cynodon dactylon, Eragrostis chloromelus, Eragrostis plana, Sporobolus africanus and Themeda triandra. When the DM yield of all the grasses was combined, the results showed a generally low forage dry matter yield during the dry season. There was no significant (P>0.05) interaction between any of the main factors. Macro and micro mineral content of plant samples collected from the two communal grazing lands showed great variations (P<0.05) between species, seasons and altitude. In the Highveld, CP ranged from 3.9 to 6.5% DM being significantly highest (P<0.05) in Cynodon dactylon and lowest in E. plana. When all species were combined, higher CP was recorded for samples harvested in summer (5.5%) followed by spring and autumn, and lowest in winter (3.8%). In the Lowveld, Eragrostis chloromelus had higher (P<0.05) CP level followed by C. dactylon and T. Triandra. When all species were pooled, forage samples harvested in summer had a significantly higher (P<0.05) CP followed by spring, autumn and winter. In summary, CP content of all grasses was below the critical maintenance level for livestock especially during late dry seasons. In both areas, the highest NDF level was measured for Eragrostis plana and lowest for Themeda triandra. As for altitudinal differences, samples collected from the upland areas had generally the lowest (P<0.05) CP and highest ADF contents. For grasses harvested from the Highveld, C. dactylon produced the most (P<0.05) gas after 48 h of fermentation (794.6 ml/g DM) and also had the highest 48h DMD (415.1 g kg-1). Themeda triandra produced least (P<0.05) gas (742 ml/g DM) 48h post-incubation. The least (P<0.05) degradable species after 48 h was E. chloromelus (372.9 g kg-1). For grasses harvested from Lowveld, the 48h cumulative gas production was highest (822.7 ml/g DM) in E. plana and lowest (742.8 ml/g DM) in E. chloromelus, while S. africanus had least 48h DMD (327.9 kg-1). In both the Highveld and Lowveld, gas production and DMD were highest in the autumn season. It was concluded most grasses were deficient in calcium, magnesium, phosphorus and potassium. Therefore, it is recommended that mineral supplements should be offered to animals to improve animal productivity throughout the year. Findings of this study suggested that addition of protein and energy sources may be desirable in both grazing areas to meet the maintenance/production requirements of the grazing ruminants throughout the year. Key words: Forage yield, chemical composition, landscape gradient; seasonal variations; in vitro ruminal gas production; dry matter degradability.
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