Showing items 1 - 20 of 42

Your selections:

Synthesis and application of coal fly ash supported C doped TiO2/SnO2 photocatalyst in water treatment

  • Authors: Sambakanya, Siyasanga
  • Date: 2020
  • Subjects: Photocatalysis
  • Language: English
  • Type: Thesis , Masters , MSc (Chemistry)
  • Identifier: http://hdl.handle.net/10353/18838 , vital:42869
  • Description: Coal fly ash supported carbon doped titanium dioxide/tin oxide (C doped TiO2-SnO2/CFA) nanoparticles were successfully synthesised using a sol gel method and calcined at 550 °C. The crystal structure, optical properties, morphology and other properties were analysed using XRD, UV-Vis, FTIR, TEM, SEM, DRS and EDX. SEM analysis showed that the nanoparticles (NPs) of C doped TiO2-SnO2/CFA were quasi spherical. XRD showed that C doped TiO2-SnO2/CFA nanoparticles were polycrystalline and consisted of both rutile and anatase phases. TEM analysis also displayed small NPs of C-TiO2-SnO2/CFA (12.62 nm) than TiO2 (16.19 nm) and SnO2 (19.98 nm). DRS revealed reduced band gap of C-TiO2 (2.78 eV) than TiO2 (3.19 eV) after doping. The photocatalytic efficiency of the prepared C-TiO2-SnO2/CFA nanoparticles was determined using methyl orange (MO) and methylene blue dye (MB) as standard dyes in the photodegradation as well as lead and mercury in the photoreduction of lead and mercury ions in water. The degradation experiments were carried under natural solar irradiation and UV light. The photodegradation experiments carried under visible light showed excellent photodegradation of MO & MB in water. This is a good indication that doping was successful as it imparted visible light activity in the C-TiO2-SnO2/CFA NPs. The photocatalyst efficiency was further tested while varying parameters including photocatalyst load, pH, and initial pollutant concentration in the photodegradation of MO & MB as well as in photoreduction of Pb2+ and Hg2+ in water to establish optimum operating conditions. The degradation rate of MO & MB increased when photocatalyst loading increased. When the pH was increased, the photocatalytic efficiency of the prepared photocatalyst towards methyl orange was reduced; however methylene blue degradation increased with increase in pH. The reduction of Pb2+ also increased with increasing pH whereas that of Hg2+ increased with decreasing pH. It was found that photodegradation was directly proportional to and photoreduction was inversely proportional to initial pollutant concentration.
  • Full Text:
  • Date Issued: 2020

Amaranth (Amaranthus cruentus) growth and nutritional contents as affected by nitrogen and potassium fertiliser and plant density

  • Authors: Mamvura, Luckmore
  • Date: 2019
  • Subjects: Weeds -- Control -- Management
  • Language: English
  • Type: Thesis , Masters , MSc
  • Identifier: http://hdl.handle.net/10353/17249 , vital:40869
  • Description: The research was conducted to determine the response of amaranth growth and development to different rates of nitrogen and potassium fertilizer, the effect of plant density on herbage yield and weed management, effect of leaf age and stems on nutritional value of amaranths. The research was conducted at the University of Fort Hare Research Farm and University of Fort Hare glasshouse. For the fertilizer trial, a 4 x 3 factorial experiment: nitrogen at four levels (50kg/ha; 100kg/ha; 150kg/ha; 200kg/ha) and potassium at three levels (50kg/ha; 75kg/ha; 100kg/ha) was applied. Phosphorus was applied at 50kg/ha. The experiment was laid as randomised complete block design (RCBD) with 4 blocks (replication). The results showed that application of nitrogen and potassium treatments significantly (P < 0.05) increased plant height, stem girth and number of leaves per plant which in turn increased the crop economic leaf vegetative yield. The results also showed that at high rates of nitrogen and potassium, high vegetative yields were achieved in most cases. There was no interaction (P < 0.05) between nitrogen and potassium. Second experiment, the twelve treatments used in fertilizer trial were imposed under four different amaranth plant densities (1 200 000, 1400 000, 1600 000 and 1800 000 pph) at field level to find out growth and development performance of amaranth. In addition, at the same time investigating the effectiveness of plant density on weeds management using split plot design. The different planting densities were allocated to the main plots laid-out in RCBD. The results showed that there was no significant difference (P < 0.05) on the number of weeds under four plant densities. The results showed that different plant densities did not prevent weeds germination but the amaranths tolerate the negative effects of weeds. The nutritional analysis results showed that amaranth synthesised close to above recommended nutritional level despite different treatments applied. The third experiment: stems, lower and upper leaves were harvested separately and their nutritional composition was analysed. The results showed that the nutritional composition of stems, lower leaves and upper leaves were significantly different (P < 0.05) in most cases. Lower leaves dominated nutritional content for: crude protein crude fibre, carbohydrates, and calcium. The stems recorded least nutritional content on crude protein, crude fat, carbohydrates, calcium, potassium and sodium
  • Full Text:
  • Date Issued: 2019

Bootstrap-based tolerance intervals for photovoltaic energy yield assessments

  • Authors: Deyzel, Jani Igna
  • Date: 2019
  • Subjects: Bootstrap (Statistics) , Mathematical statistics Photovoltaic power systems
  • Language: English
  • Type: Thesis , Masters , MSc
  • Identifier: http://hdl.handle.net/10948/39469 , vital:35256
  • Description: The assessment of the energy yield of a photovoltaic (PV) system is one of the key assessments required by investors and developers. Currently, available methods used for this assessment only provide a point estimate as the final assessment. This study proposes a statistical technique which provides an additional energy yield assessment method by using tolerance intervals. Variance component models are used to better account for the variability present in the daily and hourly energy yields of three different PV modules. A bootstrap-based technique is used to obtain 𝛽-expectation and (𝛼,𝛽) two-sided tolerance intervals. These tolerance intervals provided more information with a content and confidence level for seasonal and yearly time-periods. In addition, the comparisons of the PV modules provide valuable information to investors and developers.
  • Full Text:
  • Date Issued: 2019

Motherhood narratives by women who access support services from an Non-Governmental Organisation in East London

  • Authors: Du Preez, Jaydene
  • Date: 2018
  • Subjects: Motherhood--South Africa Motherhood--Psychological aspects
  • Language: English
  • Type: Thesis , Masters , Counselling Psychology
  • Identifier: http://hdl.handle.net/10353/16842 , vital:40778
  • Description: Motherhood comes with little guidance or direction and the experience itself is often one that is saturated with mixed feelings and realities. Yet the ideologies and narratives that exist about the experience of motherhood often point to the idea that motherhood is a natural, easy and all-fulfilling position for a woman to have. Such contradictions between the thoughts and ideas about motherhood versus actual experiences of motherhood have resulted in a great deal of discomfort and difficulty for women. This is possibly as a result of the way in which motherhood has been studied in the past. But feminist, sociological and social psychological perspectives have sought to research the experiences of motherhood differently and in recent years through a growing interest in women-centred psychological research, there has been a shift in focus to the actual experiences of women as mothers. This research aims to be a continuing and contributing study of the experiences of mothers. Six mothers were interviewed through a semi-structured interviewing process. A narrative form of inquiry was used to facilitate the telling of the mothers’ stories. The aim of the research was to discover the experiences of motherhood by the mothers who made use of the services at a chosen NGO in East London. The findings suggest that the mothers experienced a number of contradictions between the dominant narratives of motherhood and their actual experiences. What also became evident was that many, if not all the mothers, were not as affected or concerned about these contradictions as mothers in other studies have been. It was thought that this was either a result of the personal characteristics of the mothers – their race, class and socioeconomic status (as suggested in other studies) or that the NGO itself was acting as a protective factor, allowing the mothers to fulfil their ideas about good mothering, thus contributing to their ideas and views of themselves, as mothers.
  • Full Text:
  • Date Issued: 2018

The design of a municipal administration centre for Mount Fletcher, Eastern Cape

  • Authors: Ndzeleni, Phakama
  • Date: 2018
  • Subjects: Municipal buildings -- South Africa -- Eastern Cape -- Designs and plans , Office buildings -- South Africa -- Eastern Cape -- Designs and plans Architecture, Modern -- 21st century
  • Language: English
  • Type: Thesis , Masters , MArch
  • Identifier: http://hdl.handle.net/10948/42716 , vital:36684
  • Description: The premise behind this treatise is that poor infrastructure dampens the economic potential of rural areas, as a result, increase migration to urban areas. this in turn puts more pressure on urban infrastructure and rapidly grows townships and squatter camps in the periphery of large cities. this research originates from the experience of having lived in both rural and urban areas, therefore having seen the widening economic disparity between the two settlements. small towns in previously self-governed homelands are remnants of Apartheid separate development policies. these areas are characterized by ill structured monotonous low scale environments lacking sense of place.Mount Fletcher is a centre serving numerous rural communities however the planning, or lack thereof, abides by the minimum standards and most basic provision of services with a lack of quality public infrastructure. The existing public buildings which should be major structuring elements are dispersed within the built environment which results in a lack of a structural ordering system. The issue identified above create an opportunity for architecture to serve as a catalyst towards creating positive urban environments which can then build a sense of dignity and pride for the community.
  • Full Text:
  • Date Issued: 2018

Leadership development in a Representative Council of Learners (RCL) in a secondary school in the Eastern Cape

  • Authors: Strydom, Monica Petro
  • Date: 2017
  • Language: English
  • Type: Thesis , Masters , MEd
  • Identifier: http://hdl.handle.net/10962/43054 , vital:25261
  • Description: The purpose of this study was to answer two main research questions: How is leadership promoted on a Representative Council of Learners (RCL) and What leadership roles do learners on the council play in schools? Recent research suggests that although the democratisation of school governance has given all stakeholders a voice in how schools are being governed, it seems that learner voice is still largely silenced. Literature on this issue paints an uninspiring picture of learner under-involvement and marginalisation. In seeking underlying causes for this, this study is informed by notions of leadership for social justice. The study investigated the RCL at a public, fee-paying school in the Makana district of the Eastern Cape. By observing the daily functioning of the council, engaging with the learner leaders as well as teachers, parents and other role players, I developed a better understanding of the challenges the RCL faced as well as factors which promoted their role as learner leaders. This aided in answering the first key research question of how the RCL promotes leadership development. To answer the second key question, I needed to consider the perceptions of stakeholders concerned and how they saw the operation of the RCL. This study is situated in the interpretive research tradition and uses critical realism as its under-labourer. To support this study and to answer some of the aims of this research, Leontiev’s second generation Cultural Historical Activity Theory was used. Data were collected through semi-structured interviews, questionnaires an observation and document analysis. Data analysis took the form of identifying themes which emerged from the data. These formed the basis of my discussion and I was thus able to address the main research questions. Data revealed that learner leaders in schools are mainly managers and not really leaders; that learners are still very much marginalised as leaders and that they subsequently do not have a lot of say when it comes to how their schools are governed. It further emerged that despite formal legislation and guidelines which are in place to allow for the democratic rights of learners’ opinions to be heard in schools, historical and cultural forces account for parents and other role players’reluctance to allow learners to have too much of a say. I trust that the findings from this research will strengthen learner leadership structures in schools and perhaps provide guidelines on how learner leadership could be developed and managed.
  • Full Text:
  • Date Issued: 2017

Patterns of plant diversity and cultural meaning in a rural landscape in the Albany Thicket: effects of land-use and topography

  • Authors: Ngqiyaza, Nozuko Princess
  • Date: 2017
  • Language: English
  • Type: Thesis , Masters , MSc
  • Identifier: http://hdl.handle.net/10962/50237 , vital:25969
  • Description: South Africa is the world's third most bio-diverse country, but pressures on this biodiversity are many and widespread. It is now well recognised that protected areas on their own are insufficient to protect biodiversity, and increasing emphasis is placed on developing models for ensuring the persistence of biodiversity in agricultural and rural landscapes. One of the major challenges, especially in rural areas, is the need to reconcile people’s need to use natural resources with biodiversity conservation. This study aimed to (1) examine the ecosystem services people derive from the natural vegetation and how this is distributed in space and (2) the effects of land use and topo-edaphic factors on species richness, composition and structure and how this is spatially distributed. I investigated two land-use types, i.e. a rural village and adjacent lightly used game farm(s) by comparing 20 sites under each land-use representing the range of topographic position. I sampled respondent’s uses and values, species richness and composition, woody density, structure and composition at these 40 sites. This allowed for comparison between the two land uses but also allowed me to examine the effect of topography and relative soil moisture (both known to have a string influence on vegetation in semi-arid areas), and to relate the ecosystem services to plant species richness, structure and woody composition. People derived a wide range of ecosystem services and this differed with distance from the village and vegetation type. Men and women performed different tasks and had different feelings and derived different use values across the landscapes. Both men and women showed a great appreciation for the thicket forest, Pteronia-dominated and grasslands sites. They recognised these areas and as sacred grounds where they have a strong connection with their ancestors. Women preferred utilising areas closer to the village because they feared crime and wild animals in more remote thicket or forest, while men utilised all areas across the land, but more frequently closer to the village. The older generation had a strong attachment to nature, perceiving it as a provider. The younger generation, especially the young women did not express such a deeply felt connection, but enjoyed getting to see where some of the medicinal plants and useful wood structures were harvested. Younger men would go far into the forest quite regularly, often as far the Great Fish River, when they hunt with their peers. Although a diversity of perceptions were presented, and not all conformed to traditional views and practices, most respondents derived a mix of ecosystem services, with the areas closer to the village providing recreational and direct use value to more people on a more regular basis but spiritual values associated with deep forest persisted, especially among the older generation. Species richness and composition was analysed in relation to Topographic Relative Moisture Index (TRMI), land use and distance from the village to see the effect of topography versus land use on the vegetation. The total number of plant species recorded was 386 for both study sites. Two hundred and ninety two species were recorded in Ntloko and 265 on the game farms. Of the species that were sampled, 121 were recorded in Ntloko only, 94 in the game farms only, and 171 species were shared. The number of useful plant species (fuel, medicine, forage, cultural and edibles) was recorded to be 110, 83 in Ntloko and 63 on the game farms. There was no significant difference in species richness and alpha diversity between the study sites, but the game farms had a higher projected total number of species, reflecting higher beta diversity in the game farms than the communal area. The point-centered quarter method (PCQ) was used to describe woody plant composition, tree density and structure. The woody structure and composition was analysed in relation to the above-mentioned factors and I found no significant difference in the density and overall woody structure and composition between the two study sites. Sites at Ntloko had a positive correlation between soil moisture and woody plant density and a higher density of palatable and unpalatable species. The game farms showed no significant changes in woody plant density with TRMI. This study showed that the communal area maintained comparable plant species richness and vegetation structure and composition to game farms. The rural landscape comprised a gradient from sites close to the village that were heavily impacted, not considered particularly special or sacred but safe, familiar and of utilitarian importance, to sites farther away with denser, less transformed thicket vegetation, which are considered to be of greater cultural, spiritual and aesthetic importance but less safe, familiar and accessible. This suggests that conservation outcomes can be achieved outside protected areas, and that biodiversity is valuable to local residents. Resource management should be implemented to maintain the ecosystem services provided in rural areas in a way that integrates local peoples’ perceptions, goals and values with ecological evidence.
  • Full Text:
  • Date Issued: 2017

Synthesis of modified zinc oxide nanoparticles using pneumatic spray pyrolysis for solar cell application

  • Authors: Ntozakhe, Luyolo
  • Date: 2017
  • Subjects: Zinc oxide -- Synthesis Nanoparticles
  • Language: English
  • Type: Thesis , Masters , MSc
  • Identifier: http://hdl.handle.net/10353/5862 , vital:29408
  • Description: In this work, the pneumatic spray pyrolysis was used to synthesize un-doped and carbon doped zinc oxide (ZnO) nanoparticles. The zinc acetate, tetrabutylammonium bromide and ethanol were used as starting materials for the desired ZnO nanoparticles and the prepared samples were annealed at 400 oC in the furnace. The as synthesized un-doped and carbon doped ZnO NPs were evaluated using X-ray diffraction (XRD), Scanning electron microscope (SEM), Energy dispersive x-ray spectroscopy (EDX), High-resolution transmission electron microscopy (HRTEM), Raman spectroscopy (RS) and Ultraviolet-visible spectroscopy (UV-Vis). XRD analysis of the synthesized NPs revealed peaks at 31.90°, 34.50°, 36.34°, 47.73°, 56.88°, 63.04°, 68.20°, and 77.33° belonging to the hexagonal Wurtzite ZnO crystal structure. The incorporation of C species into ZnO lattice was cross examined by monitoring the peak positions of the (100), (002) and (001) planes. These three main peaks of C-ZnO NPs show a peak shift to higher 2θ values which indicates substitutional carbon doping in ZnO NPs. SEM analysis has revealed that the as synthesized NPs have spherical shape and the morphology of the NPs change as the concentration of carbon increases. The EDX spectra of both un-doped and doped ZnO nanoparticles have revealed prominent peaks at 0.51 keV, 1.01 keV, 1.49 keV, 8.87 keV and 9.86 keV. Peaks at, X-ray energies of 0.51 keV and 1.01 keV respectively represent the emissions from the K-shell of oxygen and L-shell of zinc. The L-shell emission at 1.01 keV is considered as convolution of Zn 2p3/2 and Zn 2p1/2 photoelectron energies. The occurrence of these peaks in the EDX endorses the existence of Zn and O atoms in the PSP prepared samples. HRTEM analysis has revealed NPs size modal range from 6.65-14.21 nm for the PSP synthesized samples which is in mutual agreement with the XRD data calculated values. More over the selected area diffraction images displaying the fact that only the diffraction planes of (101), (002) and (100) are responsible for the diffraction pattern belonging to Wurtzite ZnO. RS analysis has revealed that the un-doped ZnO and doped ZnO samples have characteristic Raman vibration modes at 325 cm-1, and 434 cm-1 belonging to Wurtzite ZnO structure. Moreover, the prominent peak at 434 cm-1 which is the characteristic peak of E2(2) (high) mode of the Wurtzite ZnO and the E2(2) (high) has been red shifted by 4 cm-1, as compared to that found in the bulk ZnO. Additionally, the effect of carbon doping through Raman spectroscopy peak shifts of the E2(2) (high) mode, A1(LO) mode and multi-phonon has also been considered and discussed in detail. UV-Vis diffuse reflectance spectroscopy has revealed a red shift of the absorption edge with increase in C doping. Finally, the effect of nano-crystallite size and gradual prominence of C into ZnO lattice due to increase in C doping concentration in the PSP prepared nanoparticles was meticulously elaborated through Raman Spectroscopy analysis.
  • Full Text:
  • Date Issued: 2017

The contribution of communal sheep production to household welfare in Nyadeni local municipality under alternative extension regimes

  • Authors: Ngqulana, Athenkosi
  • Date: 2017
  • Subjects: Sheep -- Breeding -- South Africa -- Eastern Cape Communal rangelands -- South Africa -- Eastern Cape
  • Language: English
  • Type: Thesis , Masters , MAgric
  • Identifier: http://hdl.handle.net/10353/13270 , vital:39629
  • Description: Sheep farming seems to have a rich profile in the improvement of the livelihoods in the deprived parts of developing countries throughout the world. The broad objective of this study is to assess the contribution of sheep production to household welfare under alternative extension regimes. Specifically, this research investigated the methods used to deliver extension services, perceptions of communal sheep farmers towards extension delivery services and contribution of communal sheep production to household welfare. The study was conducted in Nyandeni Local Municipality in the Eastern Cape Province and employed survey data obtained from 105 households practising sheep production. Cross-sectional research design and purposive sampling technique was used. Descriptive statistics was used to examine socio-economic characteristics and extension methods used to improve sheep production. Likert scale was used to rate perceptions of sheep producers and extension services given And a T-test analyses was conducted to test its reliability. Linear multiple regression model was used to estimate the contribution of sheep production to rural household’s welfare. The descriptive statistics results show that males were dominant with a representation of 55.2 percent and 44.8 percent were females. Moreover, the majority of households were aged, being above 61 years on average. The results showed high levels of illiteracy amongst household sheep producers with 54 percent having no formal education and average number of years farmers spent in school was 7 years and less. About 62 percent of the households were married and 54 percent was found to be unemployed. Farming was found to be the major agricultural economic activity. The results also shows that there is one type of extension method used in the area which was the group method through the use of group meetings. This finding was surprising as it was different from the results that were expected given prior information obtained from the literature and extension service. Therefore the study was unable to conclude on which of the extension method was most effective since the households were not exposed to different regimes. From the Likert-scale analysis, although all households received extension services many (58 percent) of respondents were not satisfied with the services they received. In order to run the regression, diagnostic checks were done to check if multicollinearity existed in the variables. Linear multiple regression analysis results indicate that sheep production contributes to household income and welfare. However, household sheep production was influenced by a number of factors such as educational level, household size, number of sheep sold and sheep price while age was found to adversely affect sheep production in the study area. Farmers require to be trained on sheep production and necessary methods required for sheep production as to increase percent received extension services many (58 percent) of respondents were not satisfied with the services they received. In order to run the regression, diagnostic checks were done to check if multicollinearity existed in the variables. Linear multiple regression analysis results indicate that sheep production contributes to household income and welfare. However, household sheep production was influenced by a number of factors such as educational level, household size, number of sheep sold and sheep price while age was found to adversely affect sheep production in the study area. Farmers require to be trained on sheep production and necessary methods required for sheep production as to increase their household income and welfare through the improvement of the factors that affected sheep significantly. Also since the farmers were exposed on one regime there is a need for extension agents to use more than one extension regime to improve production.
  • Full Text:
  • Date Issued: 2017

The effect of gold price volatility on stock market returns in South Africa

  • Authors: Gcadana, Nqabisa Mary
  • Date: 2017
  • Subjects: Stock exchanges --South Africa.
  • Language: English
  • Type: Thesis , Masters , MCom (Economics)
  • Identifier: http://hdl.handle.net/10353/13359 , vital:39637
  • Description: The South African stock market has become a major player in the African Securities Exchanges Association through its performance. Gold is one of the commodities that are traded at Johannesburg Stock Exchange, hence gold price fluctuations are the crucial factor that JSE needs to keep its eye on. The demand for gold in South Africa is continuously rising because gold has full security, less credit risk and is a highly liquid instrument. Based on the given background, the study examines the effect of gold price volatility on stock market returns in South Africa, employing the Generalised Autoregressive Conditional Heteroskedasticity (GARCH) (1.1) model. The study used monthly data covering the period from 2005 to 2017. The Storage model and discounted cash flows model which are the theories that connect gold price and stock market were specified. The research findings are supported by previous studies. The gold price volatility was found to have a negative effect on stock market returns, and the proxy of stock market returns is the All Share Index. The study will help to provide an understanding of how gold price volatility affects the stock market that will help policymakers to come up with policies that are relevant to volatility of gold price towards stock market.
  • Full Text:
  • Date Issued: 2017

Exploring teacher leadership: A case study at a senior secondary school in the Ohangwena region, Namibia

  • Authors: Hamatwi, Isak
  • Date: 2016
  • Language: English
  • Type: Thesis , Masters , MEd
  • Identifier: http://hdl.handle.net/10962/1275 , vital:20042
  • Description: Leadership has been for long thought to centre on the actions of a positional head of the organisation crafting the vision and influencing followers’ behaviour based on his/her charisma and legal authority in a quest to achieve the set goals (Christie, 2010). However, contemporary views “emphasise leadership as relational” (Van der Mescht & Tyala, 2008, p. 226) and focuses more on the practice while taking form “in the interactions between leaders and followers” (Spillane, 2005, p. 146). Looking through the lens of distributed leadership and using the Grant’s (2008; 2012) model of teacher leadership as a data analytical tool, this research study aimed to explore the enactment of teacher leadership at a secondary school in the Ohangwena region, Namibia. The motivation of this research study was twofold; one, it was due to my personal interest in getting a deeper understanding of what constituted teacher leadership as a concept which is gaining momentum in the educational leadership discipline; two, it was due to the evident knowledge gap existing on the concept of teacher leadership as there seemed to be very less research done on the concept. Using observation schedules, survey questionnaires, semi-structured interview schedules and analysing documents as data collecting tools, the study was geared towards answering four research questions which were driving the study, namely; i) In what ways do teachers participate in the leadership activities of the school? ii) What is the nature of the relations of these leadership activities? iii) What factors that may constrain the leadership activities of these teachers? iv) How do the principal and the School Management Team (SMT) encourage teacher leadership at the school? The study was of a qualitative nature located in the interpretive paradigm. A purposive sampling method was used to select research participants The findings of the study indicated that the research participants had a general understanding of what teacher leadership entails. Teachers enacted leadership across the four zones of Grant’s (2008; 2012) model of teacher leadership, though with very limited teacher leadership enactment in zone four. Zones one, two and three proved to be the popular media of teacher leadership enactment wherein teachers led in their classrooms enforcing discipline, serving as guides and caregivers to their learners (zone one). Teachers then extended their leadership outside their classrooms where they served as decision makers, curriculum developers for knowledge enhancement through reflective teaching and sport coaches (zone two). In Zone three, teachers led in committees’ structures, as mentors of learners, policy makers and as models of good practice. Zone four was the least media of teacher leadership. The data pointed to a host of factors that prevented teachers to assume leadership at the case study school, namely; ignorance and fear for accountability, policy and regulatory limitations, time limitations, limited skills and teachers as barriers to teacher leadership in terms of apathy, lack of confidence, negative attitude and anti-social behaviours as well as professional jealous. Nevertheless, the principal and the SMT emerged as catalysts for teacher leadership at the school as they enabled teacher leadership in a number of ways, namely, through delegation, motivation, free choice, open engagement, moral support and interdependence leadership practices. In the final analysis, the findings revealed that, leadership at the case study school was manifested as spontaneous collaborated leadership practices through institutionalised practices embarked upon with intuitive working relationships.
  • Full Text:
  • Date Issued: 2016

The projection of gender based violence through characterisation and theme in Magqashela’s works, Isangxa siyawhuza, Umlindi and Amathaf’entandabuzo

  • Authors: Somlata, B
  • Date: 2016
  • Language: English
  • Type: Thesis , Masters , MA
  • Identifier: http://hdl.handle.net/10962/3971 , vital:20575
  • Description: This study focuses on literature. The dissertation seeks to explore how Magqashela’s works Isangxa siyawhuza (2006), Amathaf’entandabuzo (2006) and Umlindi (2015) represent her characters to reveal gender based violence and stereotypes. As we, South Africans enfranchised and given the Act 108, a South African Constitution with Bill of rights, but it seems as if women and children do not enjoy these privileges because of high rate of violence against them. Through observation it is clear that theoretically every South African is free but practically some humans particularly women and young girls and discrimination. The researcher decided to choose female writer assuming that she is addressing women challenges as male writers are less interested to excavate women’s issues in their literary works. The reseacher also wanted to find out whether our female writer is disseminating women’s predicaments. By means of textual analysis the study investigates how gender based violence violates survivors and victims’ rights in chapter 3, and chapter 4 explores how unfaithful partners cause violence. It also explores the intervention of traditional justice and formal justice system in violent behavior caused by anger, jealousy and acquaintance of violent environment. Chapter 5 projects a stereotypical character in three selected literary texts. The whole thesis brings the prominent picture of how Gender Based Violence bodily harm the survivors and victims psychologically, physically and economically. It reveals rural women and young girls as the most vulnerable people and men as the worst perpetrators of Gender Based Violence in these literary texts. The thesis explains that the perpetrators are known by the survivors and victims hence there is a culture of silence. They are afraid of multiple abuses. The thesis relates character depiction of violence and stereotypes with current societal incidents quoting from newspapers, articles, journals and SABC online news as to disclose the accuracy of the author’s projection. Character analysis reveals that women are still discriminated and oppressed by their counterparts. The discussions succinctly elucidate that the underestimation of women and children are rooted by cultural traditional norms and values as well as Christian religion .These societal factors are promoting patriarchal perception which says men are dominant and women are submissive. It says men are obliged to take control over women. African feminist theory; Feminism, Womanism and Stiwanism and Motherism are employed as a theoretical framework. These theories are against gender inequality, they are against African women and children maltreatment .The changes of the current society including women’s independency propels insecurity, unemployed, illiterate and underprivileged men to use violence as the way of taking back control over their intimate partners and the whole family. Relevant quotations from selected texts are employed to project character portrayal of gender based violence and stereotypes.
  • Full Text:
  • Date Issued: 2016

Die verjaardagvers-ritueel in Breyten Breytenbach se oeuvre

  • Authors: Tait, Charles Norman
  • Date: 2015
  • Subjects: Breytenbach, Breyten -- Poetry , Poets, South African
  • Language: Afrikaans
  • Type: Thesis , Masters , MA
  • Identifier: http://hdl.handle.net/10948/5076 , vital:20800
  • Description: This study investigates the subgenre of the birthday poem within Breyten Breytenbach’s poetical oeuvre. Throughout the now half a century of his poetic production the writer has repeatedly written poems for himself on his birthday on 16 September of each new year (as well as a smaller number to his wife and close friends) The writing of birthday poems becomes a ritualist poetical act throughout the poet’s life and poetical oeuvre, one that has served many purposes over the years of Breytenbach’s increasingly nomadic existence. This study’s scope spans fifty years of poetical output, starting with the poet’s debut anthology, Die ysterkoei moet sweet (1964), including all the anthologies up to the publication of vyf-en-veertig skemeraandsange uit die eenbeendanser se werkruimte (2014). A small literary history is offered at the outset of the tradition of the birthday poem, based in classical Roman times (Argetsinger,K 1992) and following through to modern times. After describing the reasons for the sometimes challenging task of identifying birthday poems (unmarked by dates, having to rely on inference deduced from the content, and the like), the poems are analyzed with a particular focus on their nature and function within the larger context of the poet’s oeuvre. The research is organized according to the separate phases traceable in Breyten Breytenbach’s oeuvre (Van Vuuren 2011: 46–56), describing the steadily shifting themes and motifs of the subgenre throughout each of the four phases (pre-prison, prison, post-prison and late work phases). It was found that the birthday poems cohere as a subgenre within the oeuvre. Breytenbach’s birthday poems have a distinctive character and certain identifiable qualities (ritualistic characteristics such as reflection on the self within the present, reflection on time past, evaluating the situation and self on the particular birthday. Placed against the specific context in which the poet finds himself, with a poetical and autobiographical way forward implied in the given milieu and context, psychological insights are utilized where applicable, especially in the prison birthday poems and the late work birthday poems. A remarkable new insight gained through this study is the nature of he “reminiscence bump” (Janssen, Haque 2014) which older people experience, and is identified also in Breytenbach’s late work birthday poems. This adds to and refines the understanding of the nature of late work in Breytenbach’s poetical oeuvre. A final insight gained from the research is that description and comprehension of this smaller corpus of birthday poems (roughly thirty identified at present) may also be used as an entry into understanding of the nature of the poet’s large oeuvre (comprising twenty collections of poetry, containing around 1,600 poems between 1964 and 2014), as they represent each stage of development in Breyten Breytenbach’s oeuvre.
  • Full Text:
  • Date Issued: 2015

Dreamscape and death : an analysis of three contemporary novels and a film

Rugby : more than just a game : a study of the cumulative effects of mild head injuries on high school rugby players

  • Authors: Giai-Coletti, Cristina
  • Date: 2013-05-24
  • Subjects: Head -- Wounds and injuries -- Complications Rugby football injuries Brain -- Concussion -- Complications Neuropsychological tests
  • Language: English
  • Type: Thesis , Masters , MA
  • Identifier: vital:3175 , http://hdl.handle.net/10962/d1007809
  • Description: The present study comprises part of an ongoing research study investigating the effects 0 f cumulative mild head injuries 0 n Rugby Union p layers. The aim 0 f t he study was to ascertain whether there are neuropsychological effects of cumulative mild head injuries sustained during the rugby-playing careers of senior schoolboy rugby players. Participants were top-level rugby players from high schools in Grahamstown and Cape Town (n = 79) and non-contact sport controls of top-level field hockey players from the same schools (n = 58). Group mean comparisons across a battery of neuropsychological tests were carried out between the Total Rugby versus the Total Field Hockey group, and the Rugby Forwards versus the Rugby Backs group. Comparisons between Total Rugby versus Total Field Hockey revealed impaired performance by the rugby players on two tests of visuoperceptual tracking, namely Digit Symbol Substitution and Trail Making Test (Part A). For Rugby Forwards versus Rugby Backs, there were no consistent differences to support the expectation that forwards would perform worse than backs. Forwards performed more poorly than backs on WMS Associate Learning Subtest - Hard (Delayed Recall), whereas backs performed more poorly than forwards on Digits Backwards. This suggests that some individuals in the cohort were starting to exhibit verbal memory deficit, albeit not clearly in association with forward positional play. Overall, results of the present study provide tentative support for the hypothesis that school level rugby players are more susceptible to the effects of cumulative concussive and sub-concussive head injuries than are non-contact sport controls. , KMBT_363 , Adobe Acrobat 9.54 Paper Capture Plug-in
  • Full Text:

'Leaders like children playing with a grenade?' : an analysis of how the Arab Spring was received in South Africa

  • Authors: Gevers, Tristan Ronald
  • Date: 2013
  • Subjects: Arab Spring, 2010- Revolutions -- Theory Arab countries -- Social conditions -- 21st century South Africa -- Social condtions -- 21st century
  • Language: English
  • Type: Thesis , Masters , MA
  • Identifier: vital:2846 , http://hdl.handle.net/10962/d1006031
  • Description: When the Arab Spring took place, it took the world by surprise and sparked renewed interest in the idea of revolution. With differing opinions on what caused such a revolutionary wave throughout the North African and Middle Eastern region, many began looking at their own countries, and South Africa was no different. A debate was sparked in South Africa, as to whether there would be a revolution or not. What I originally set out to accomplish is to find out which side of the debate would be correct through the philosophical context of revolutionary theory. Initially, we attempted to define and consider the history of revolutionary theory. We found that revolutionary theory has gone through four generation and that even finding a theoretically informed definition is difficult. Following this, we considered some social-psychological theories of revolution as well as theories of moral indignation. We found that these theories were incredibly informative and that they provide some insight into the reasoning for revolutionary fear in the South African debate. Through the use of opinion pieces, we then considered the South African debate, and – using socialpsychological theories and the theories of moral indignation - found that both sides of the argument had valuable points, however, they often lacked some foresight. With tentative agreement, we found that the side arguing that there would a revolution in South Africa had a more valuable argument, despite its limitations. However, far more research is required before one can – with more accuracy – predict a revolutionary occurrence in such a way as was done in South Africa.
  • Full Text:
  • Date Issued: 2013

Evaluation of eucalyptus citriodora derived p-menthane-3,8-diol-citronellal acetal as a bio-plasticizer for cosmetic application

  • Authors: Burger, Kirstin
  • Date: 2013
  • Subjects: Plasticizers , Eucalyptus citriodora
  • Language: English
  • Type: Thesis , Masters , MSc
  • Identifier: vital:10420 , http://hdl.handle.net/10948/d1014080
  • Description: Plasticizers are generally added to cosmetic and personal care products to improve the filmforming abilities of the product and increase flexibility of the film formed on the skin or hair surface. For example, plasticizers are present in perfumes to prolong the release of the specific scent, which is the ultimate goal in a good quality perfume. Plasticizers in nail varnishes prevent chipping, improve the aesthetics by adhering to the keratin in the nail which means the coating stays on for much longer, which is the ultimate goal in nail products. Plasticizers improve the gloss, resist chipping and allow quick drying time. Therefore it can be seen that plasticizers play a vital role in personal care products like perfumes and nail varnishes. Certain plasticizers e.g. phthalates, can cause problems associated with human health and can harm the environment. They are easily available and large volumes can be obtained at a low cost. These phthalates, for example, di-butyl phthalate (DBP) have been identified as carcinogenic. Nowadays the occurrence of cancer is rapidly increasing. The plasticizers present in a large number of consumer and personal care products, can possibly be linked to the ever increasing reports of cancer. Therefore a substitute to the traditional phthalate plasticizers must be investigated. The aim of this research is to produce a plasticizer derived from naturally occurring Eucalyptus oil, which can be used to replace the existing plasticizers in cosmetic formulations. Para-menthane-3,8-diol (PMD), occurring naturally in the oil from the tree, Eucalyptus citriodora, forms an acetal with citronellal (PMD, acetal, citronellal all occur naturally in the oil). It has been previously shown that PMD-citronellal acetal will exhibit plasticizing properties similar to conventional plasticizers. The objective was to enhance the formation of the acetal in the Eucalyptus oil by reacting it with excess PMD. An effective synthesis method for the PMD-citronellal acetal enriched oil (~73.8 percent) was determined from optimization experiments. The physical characterisation of the PMD-citronellal acetal enriched oil was done and compared with that of DBP. The acetal-enriched oil had a lower density, slightly higher solubility in water (at 25°C), lower refractive index (Brix percent) and a higher boiling point (350°C) than DBP. The physical characteristics of the Eucalyptus oil source and the acetal-enriched Eucalyptus oil were very similar. This can be expected as the Eucalyptus oil consists of ~84.3 percent Citronellal, ~ 1.3 percent PMD and 2.7 percent PMD-citronellal acetal. In this study the effectiveness of the acetal-enriched Eucalyptus oil (referred to from now on as the bio-plasticizer) was compared to a conventional plasticizer such as di-butyl phthalate (DBP), commonly used in cosmetic products. Two cosmetic formulations were produced: a nail varnish and a perfume formulation. Various tests were performed on these formulations to investigate the plasticizing properties of the bio-plasticizer. The objectives were to determine if the natural plasticizer is as effective as the potentially carcinogenic phthalate plasticizers and can be used as a substitute for the phthalates in personal care products. The results indicate that the bio-plasticizer does behave similarly to di-butyl phthalate, however, the effectiveness of the bio-plasticizer is lower than that of di-butyl phthalate. As the viscosity of the synthesized oil was high, this affected the overall consistency of the products. A more viscous nail varnish and perfume was produced in comparison to the DBP counterpart. The stability of the bio-plasticizer in the cosmetic formulations of nail varnish and perfume was also investigated. The cosmetic products were incubated at 0°C, 25°C and 40°C over a period of two months. Any changes in colour, odour, pH, refractive index, separation and plasticizer peak change in the gas chromatogram trace were recorded. It was determined that the PMD-citronellal acetal-enriched oil was relatively unstable under elevated temperatures and light intensity. Storage under higher temperatures (40°C) tends to increase the acidity. Therefore the bio-plasticizer must be placed in a closed, covered bottle and stored in an environment away from light and elevated temperatures. According to the gas chromatogram peaks, it was clear that both the bio-plasticizer and the DBP were more unstable in the perfume formulation than in the nail polish and were especially sensitive to light when in the perfume. This could possibly be due to the interaction with the fragrance molecule, p-anisaldehyde.
  • Full Text:
  • Date Issued: 2013

Multi-instrument observations of ionospheric irregularities over South Africa

  • Authors: Amabayo, Emirant Bertillas
  • Date: 2012
  • Subjects: Ionosphere -- Research , Sudden ionospheric disturbances , Ionospheric storms , Solar activity , Sunspots
  • Language: English
  • Type: Thesis , Masters , MSc
  • Identifier: vital:5476 , http://hdl.handle.net/10962/d1005261 , Ionosphere -- Research , Sudden ionospheric disturbances , Ionospheric storms , Solar activity , Sunspots
  • Description: The occurrence of mid-latitude spread F (SF) over South Africa has not been extensively studied since the installation of the DPS-4 digisondes at Madimbo (30.88◦E, 22.38◦S), Grahamstown (33.32◦S, 26.50◦E) and Louisvale (28.51◦S, 21.24◦E). This study is intended to quantify the probability of the occurrence of F region disturbances associated with ionospheric spread F (SF) and L-band scintillation over South Africa. This study used available ionosonde data for 8 years (2000-2008) from the three South African stations. The SF events were identified manually on ionograms and grouped for further statistical analysis into frequency SF (FSF), range SF (RSF) and mixed SF (MSF). The results show that the diurnal pattern of SF occurrence peaks strongly between 23:00 and 00:00 UT. This pattern is true for all seasons and types of SF at Madimbo and Grahamstown during 2001 and 2005, except for RSF which had peaks during autumn and spring during 2001 at Madimbo. The probability of both MSF and FSF tends to increase with decreasing sunspot number (SSN), with a peak in 2005 (a moderate solar activity period). The seasonal peaks of MSF and FSF are more frequent during winter months at both Madimbo and Grahamstown. In this study SF was evident in ∼ 0.03% and ∼ 0.06% of the available ionograms at Madimbo and Grahamstown respectively during the eight year period. The presence of ionospheric irregularities associated with SF and scintillation was investigated using data from selected Global Positioning System (GPS) receiver stations distributed across South Africa. The results, based on GPS total electron content (TEC) and ionosonde measurements, show that SF over this region can most likely be attributed to travelling ionospheric disturbances (TIDs), caused by gravity waves (GWs) and neutral wind composition changes. The GWs were mostly associated with geomagnetic storms and sub-storms that occurred during periods of high and moderate solar activity (2001-2005). SF occurrence during the low solar activity period (2006-2008)can probably be attributed to neutral wind composition changes.
  • Full Text:
  • Date Issued: 2012

Perspectives on China's rise in Namibia: the effects on foreign policy and domestic politics

  • Authors: Amadhila, Nelago Ndapandula Ndanyanyukwa
  • Date: 2012
  • Subjects: Namibia -- Relations -- China China -- Relations -- Namibia Namibia -- Politics and government -- Chinese influences Namibia -- Economic conditions -- Chinese influences
  • Language: English
  • Type: Thesis , Masters , MA
  • Identifier: vital:2758 , http://hdl.handle.net/10962/d1002968
  • Description: This thesis analyses the different levels at which China’s presence in Namibia affects Namibia’s domestic politics and foreign policy from a constructivist viewpoint. Constructivist theory is used to examine the different perceptions of the Chinese in Namibia and how these inform Namibian politics and Sino-Namibian relations. These perceptions are formed at different levels of society in formal and informal relations, state-to-state, state-to-business,business-to-business and individual-to-group relations. The way in which perceptions of Chinese involvement in Namibia at the grassroots level of society differ from those at the top increasingly has an effect on domestic Namibian politics and, as such, Sino-Namibian relations. This identifies official and non-official perceptions of China’s political, economic and social presence to determine the effects of grassroots on China vis-à-vis official perceptions in Namibian politics and the effects of grassroots views on Namibian politics and on official views and state behaviour towards China and China’s presence in the country.
  • Full Text:
  • Date Issued: 2012

Exchange rate behavior in the cases of the Zambian Kwacha and Malawian Kwacha : is there misalignment?

  • Authors: Magwizi, Brenda Thandekha , Rhodes University
  • Date: 2011
  • Subjects: Foreign exchange rates -- Zambia Foreign exchange rates -- Malawi International relations -- Case studies -- Zambia International relations -- Case studies -- Malawi
  • Language: English
  • Type: Thesis , Masters , MCom
  • Identifier: vital:974 , http://hdl.handle.net/10962/d1002708
  • Description: The exchange rate is the price of one currency against another currency or currencies of a group of countries. Real exchange rates are important because they show the external competitiveness of a country‟s economy. Thus, when the exchange rate of a country is misaligned, this will affect its trade, production and the welfare of people. This study analysed macroeconomic determinants of the real exchange rate and dynamic adjustment of the real exchange rate as a result of shocks to these determinants. The study also determined the extent of misalignment of the real exchange rate in Malawi and Zambia and identified variables that contributed to it. Such information is important to policy makers. Quarterly data were used for both countries from 1980:1-2008:4. The literature review identified those variables that determine the exchange rate and these include government consumption, foreign aid, net foreign assets, commodity prices, terms of trade, domestic credit, openness and the Balassa Samuelson effect (technological progress). To determine the long-run relationship between the exchange rate and its determinants, we employed the Johansen approach and the Vector Error Correction Model (VECM). For robustness check on the long-run and shortrun effects of determinants on the exchange rate, variance decomposition and impulse response analyses were used. Results in the study show that in Malawi for both models, an increase in LAID, LGCON and LTOT resulted in real exchange rate depreciation and increases in LDC, NFA and LNEER resulted in an appreciation. In Zambia, increases in LAID, LGCON, LOPEN and LTOT caused the real exchange rate to depreciate while increases in LDC, NFA and LCOPPER led to an appreciation. Lagged LREER and LNEER were found to have short run effects on the equilibrium exchange rate for Malawi and lagged LCOPPER and LDC for Zambia. Periods of exchange rate misalignment were found in both countries. It was also found that the coefficient of speed of adjustment in Malawi in models 1 and 2 indicate that 11% and 27% of the variation in the real exchange rate from its equilibrium adjust each quarter respectively. The speed of adjustment for Zambia in both models was 45% and 47% respectively, higher than that of Malawi. Foreign aid has proven to be important in exchange rate misalignment in both countries, though this was not really expected in the case of Zambia. Given these results, it may be of interest to policy makers to understand which variables impact most on the exchange rate and how misalignment due to these determinants can be minimised.
  • Full Text:
  • Date Issued: 2011
  • Disclaimer
  • Privacy
  • Copyright
  • Contact