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Legal aspects of fairtrade objectives and socio-economic development in South Africa

  • Authors: Young, Lindsay
  • Date: 2023-04
  • Subjects: Law--Psychological aspects , Balance of trade , Socio-economic status -- South Africa
  • Language: English
  • Type: Master's theses , Thesis
  • Identifier: http://hdl.handle.net/10948/60901 , vital:69016
  • Description: This dissertation aims to draw connections between Fairtrade and the socio-economic development objectives for South Africa in order to identify whether Fairtrade can contribute to socio-economic development in South Africa. In order to draw these connections, Fairtrade is examined in the context of the international trade system, Fairtrade is analysed in terms of socio-economic development in Africa, and the specific socio-economic development objectives for South Africa are outlined. Thereafter, in chapter 5, connections are drawn between Fairtrade and the socioeconomic development objectives for South Africa. Finally, the research is concluded by summarising the main finding of whether Fairtrade can contribute to socioeconomic development in South Africa, and setting out the key findings that were reached in answer to the sub-questions posed. This research is conducted by way of a literature review that draws from various research fields due to the nature of the socio-economic issues involved. The findings indicate that Fairtrade is sufficiently aligned to the socio-economic development objectives for South Africa to be used as a tool to contribute towards socio-economic development in South Africa. The research also suggests ways in which the connections between Fairtrade and South Africa’s socio-economic development objectives can be strengthened. , Thesis (LLM) -- Faculty of Law, School of Public Law, 2023
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  • Date Issued: 2023-04

Management of finances by small to medium rural municipalities in South Africa: A case study of Enoch Mgijima local municipality

  • Authors: Xoseka, Andile Lincoln
  • Date: 2023-04
  • Subjects: Financial Management -- South Africa , Supply Chain Management -- Enoch Mgijima , Cost Containment
  • Language: English
  • Type: Master's theses , text
  • Identifier: http://hdl.handle.net/10948/63185 , vital:73193
  • Description: Management of finances plays a crucial role in facilitating the attainment of the service delivery objectives of municipalities in South Africa. Notably, the mismanagement of funds has been associated with rural and other remotely located municipalities. Political interference has had dire and severe consequences on the sustainable development of local municipalities in South Africa. Against this background, the main objective of this study was to identify challenges in the managing of finances in local municipalities and to make recommendations on how to address these challenges. The literature explored in this study covers the main components of financial management, the existing legislation framework guiding the management of funds in municipalities, and the rationale for improving municipal administration. Several cost containment measures emerged from the literature analysis, including minimising social events, resorting to virtual meetings and reforming expenditure management policies. The study employed a qualitative approach guided by the interpretivist paradigm to achieve the outlined research objectives. The exploratory research design was employed, utilising interviews as a data collection method. Analysis of the collected data was guided by the principles of thematic analysis. The main findings revealed five themes, namely: (i) South African municipal financial management features, (ii) transparency and accountability, (iii) factors inhibiting municipal financial accountability, (iv) human resource-related strategies for cost containment, and (v) municipal policies and processes for enhancing financial accountability. Recommendations for the management of finances encompass four categories: (i)compliance enforcement, (ii) cost containment, (iii) staff development training, and (iv)policy reforms. Processes and techniques applied by the public sector were identified as redundant and inefficient in the management of municipalities. Remedying the financial management situation at the Enoch Mgijima municipality required process-oriented reforms and radical changes to the employment policy and appointment of senior officials. , Thesis (Ma) -- aculty of Faculty of Business and Economic Sciences, 2023
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  • Date Issued: 2023-04

Management strategies for reducing pathogens to improve project delivery in Thembisile Hani local municipality

  • Authors: Sibuyi, Venus
  • Date: 2023-04
  • Subjects: Strategic management , Development projects, in Thembisile Hani local municipality Eastern Cape (South Africa) , Mpumalanga (South Africa)
  • Language: English
  • Type: Master's theses , Thesis
  • Identifier: http://hdl.handle.net/10948/65011 , vital:74007
  • Description: This study focused on exploring management strategies that can be used to reduce pathogens in order to improve project delivery in Thembisile Hani Local Municipality (THLM). The main motivation behind this study is to identify the critical role that is played by municipalities in ensuring effective and efficient service delivery in the country. Municipalities are tasked with implementing service delivery and developmental projects in their communities with the aim of enhancing the quality of life of residents and contributing to economic development. However, the implementation of such projects often faces several obstacles which result in delays in their completion, ultimately incurring higher costs than initially budgeted for. The study sought to achieve the following objectives: to determine how people’s deliberate practices delay project delivery; to determine how project situations such as scope changes delay project delivery; to determine how the nature of task such as approvals by the client delay project delivery; to determine how THLM organisational structure or operations stall the smooth delivery of projects; and to recommend management strategies that will reduce pathogens and improve project delivery in THLM. The study was conducted using the quantitative approach, with a survey questionnaire being used to collect primary data from a sample of 78 employees from the municipalities. The sample was selected using the stratified sampling technique. The study found that there are a number of challenges that result in delays in the delivery of infrastructure projects in THLM. These include supply chain and procurement management challenges, lack of senior management support, lack of skills and competencies, changes in the scope of projects during implementation, delays in project approval, poor planning, and ineffective communication. The study recommended that THLM should enhance the skills of employees in the organisation to ensure that they have the right knowledge and skills that are required to implement infrastructure projects effectively. In addition, the project design stage should be carried out thoroughly to ensure that each project has a clearly defined scope. Furthermore, it is critical for the municipality to improve project planning and communication. Proper planning of projects ensures that the correct scope, schedule, and critical paths are developed, which ensures the smooth running of the project. Finally, management should improve supply chain and procurement management practices in the organisation as they are critical for the success of project delivery. Some limitations of this study relate to the focus on one municipality only as well as the use of only one method of data collection. iv Further research can be conducted on the same topic, focusing on a number of municipalities in the province in order to obtain better understanding of municipal project management and the overall challenges that affect project delivery in the organisations. The study can adopt a mixed-methods approach in order to obtain in-depth understanding of the research problem. , Thesis (MSc) -- Faculty of Engineering, Built Environment and Technology, 2023
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  • Date Issued: 2023-04

Marine spatial planning by the state as trustee of coastal public property

  • Authors: Chasakara, Rachael Sharon
  • Date: 2023-04
  • Subjects: Marine spatial planning , State committee , Coastal Public Property
  • Language: English
  • Type: Doctoral's theses , Thesis
  • Identifier: http://hdl.handle.net/10948/60818 , vital:67845
  • Description: The world is facing an unprecedented biodiversity crisis, endangering human wellbeing, human rights, and the future of life on Earth. This is because the state of the ocean is deteriorating due to increased human activities, which have resulted in the destruction of limited marine resources in terms of space, time, and quantity. Marine spatial planning (MSP) and the public trust doctrine are two concepts that have been proposed to address this ecological crisis. The relatively new notion of MSP has emerged as a comprehensive way to allocate ocean use in space and time to improve coordination and deliver a more sustainable use of the ocean space. While different States have utilised the public trust doctrine to manage trust resources for the exclusive benefit of their current and future citizens. The thesis examines the MSP process and the public trust doctrine in international law to determine international obligations that can be relied on to ensure State compliance at a domestic level. It was determined that MSP and the public trust doctrine are only implicit in certain international law instruments. The thesis further sets out to examine whether both approaches must be explicitly mentioned in binding international law instruments. The thesis is expected to determine whether the South African environmental law regime includes the public trust doctrine – expressly or impliedly. The public trust doctrine is not expressly provided for in the Constitution since section 24 contains an implicit duty. The implicit duty is a constitutional human rights imperative applicable to all environmental management statutes. The picture in South Africa’s environmental legislation differs because the public trust doctrine is expressly mentioned, albeit in different terminology in several environmental law statutes dealing with specific natural resources. However, the legislature failed to include an express public trust provision in the Marine Spatial Planning Act (MSPA). 1 The thesis then embarks on a journey of statutory interpretation. It examines the applicable canons of interpretation to determine whether the MSPA supports or contradicts the public trust doctrine. An implicit public trust duty was found in the MSPA. This exercise also led to the conclusion that the trusteeship clause in National Environmental Management: Integrated Coastal Management Act (NEM: ICMA) also applies in the same geographical area as the MSP Act. Moreover, there is no provision in NEM: ICMA requiring its provisions to be applied or read in accordance with MSP regulation. However, a thorough examination of the NEM: ICMA and MSPA provisions leads to the conclusion that there will be no conflict if both instruments are read together. The most significant finding of this thesis is that, due to the provisions of both statutes, the State, a trustee in NEM: ICMA, is also a trustee in the MSPA. Finally, the combination of MSP and the public trust doctrine in MSP regulation may have several positive impacts, which include useful intervention for the existential crisis that underpins South Africa’s maritime domain and the promotion of sustainable development of the ocean space for both current and future generations. MSP and the public trust doctrine should be used in tandem to ensure that the ocean space is developed sustainably for current and future generations. This thesis demonstrated that the ultimate impact of the State’s implementation of MSP on the relevant State actors is that they must constantly remind themselves of the full implications of their role as trustees of coastal public property to avoid violating their public trust duties. , Thesis (LLD) -- Faculty of Law, School of School of Public Law, 2023
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  • Date Issued: 2023-04

Mentoring candidate quantity surveyors in South Africa

  • Authors: O’Connor, Nicole
  • Date: 2023-04
  • Subjects: Port Elizabeth (South Africa) , Eastern Cape (South Africa) , South Africa
  • Language: English
  • Type: Master's theses , Thesis
  • Identifier: http://hdl.handle.net/10948/66172 , vital:74429
  • Description: Abstract. , Thesis (MSc) -- Faculty of Engineering, the Built Environment and Information Technology, School of Built Environment Environmental, 2023
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  • Date Issued: 2023-04

Microstructural based creep life assessment of 1CrMov Turbine rotor steels after long-term service

  • Authors: Nyembe, Hlanganani Siphelele
  • Date: 2023-04
  • Subjects: Materials – Creep –South Africa , Steel -- Creep
  • Language: English
  • Type: Doctoral theses , text
  • Identifier: http://hdl.handle.net/10948/61380 , vital:70622
  • Description: Creep-resistant 1CrMoV steels are used for high-pressure turbine rotors in fossil fuel power stations operating at steam temperatures up to 565 °C in the creep regime. The upper bainitic microstructure of 1CrMoV rotors changes when exposed to high temperature service over long periods. The aim of this study was to relate these microstructural changes for service exposed 1CrMoV rotor steels to the remaining creep life as determined using existing methods. Analytical electron microscopy was used to quantitatively study the microstructural evolution of service-exposed 1CrMoV steel rotors. 1CrMoV rotor steel samples were characterised in the initial state, and three long-term (272 h to 300 kh) service exposed states. Detailed microstructural investigations were conducted to analyse the cavities; bainitic laths and packets; dislocations; carbide phases and their size, population, composition. The creep life fractions were estimated using conventional life assessment methods based on creep cavitation and hardness. The creep life fraction consumed of the rotors, estimated based on the creep cavities and hardness data, ranged from ~0.5 to 1. Electron backscattered diffraction (EBSD) was used to analyse the bainitic packets, laths, misorientations, and dislocations, which showed that the bainitic lath surface area to volume (SV) correlated with service time. The precipitates were extracted from the Fe-matrix using extraction replication and were further investigated using transmission Kikuchi diffraction (TKD), scanning transmission electron microscopy (STEM), selected area electron diffraction (SAED), and energy dispersive spectroscopy (EDS). STEM-EDS and TKD identified M3C, MC, M2C, M7C3, and M23C6 (M = Fe, Cr, Mo, V, Mn) in the 1CrMoV steels. STEM-EDS measurements revealed that Fe/Cr ratios in M3C decreased from 4.5 (initial state) to 2.5 (>272 kh). The Fe/Cr and Fe/Mo ratios in overall carbides decreased from 5 and 10 (initial state) to 1 and 2 (>272 kh), respectively. The TKD analysis indicated that the relative phase proportion of M2C and M7C3 carbides, relative to the total extracted carbides, is positively correlated with service exposure. These microstructural features correlate with the creep life fraction consumed and could potentially be used as another indicator of the remnant creep life. , Thesis (PhD) -- Faculty of Science, School of Computer Science, Mathematics, Physics and Statistics. 2023
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  • Date Issued: 2023-04

Modelling the dynamics of Breast Cancer disease with hormone therapy and surgery controls

  • Authors: Ngalo, Akhona Sunshine , Mbava,Willard
  • Date: 2023-04
  • Subjects: Cancer -- Molecular aspects , Breast cancer -- South Africa , Hormone therapy
  • Language: English
  • Type: Master's theses , text
  • Identifier: http://hdl.handle.net/10948/61487 , vital:70688
  • Description: In this study, we discussed a mathematical model that incorporates important interactions between normal cells, tumor cells, immune cells, and estrogen. The mathematical model was revised to include two control measures; namely surgery and hormone therapy to minimize the number of tumor cells. The model was mathematically analyzed with the premise that the two control measures are positive constants. Locally and globally analyses were performed using a variety of analytical methods to investigate the stability of the breast cancer model. Furthermore, an optimal control problem was formulated and used to determine the best strategy for reducing the number of tumor cells by incorporating hormone therapy and surgery, based on the well-known Pontryagin’s Maximum Principle. The numerical results indicates combining both optimal control measures (surgery and hormone therapy) simultaneously is more efficacious than using single control measure separately in decreasing the number of tumor cells. , Thesis (MSc) -- Faculty of Science, School of Computer Science, Mathematics, Physics and Statistics, 2023
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  • Date Issued: 2023-04

Modelling the factors that motivate home users to protect their home networking devices

  • Authors: Tekeni, Luzuko
  • Date: 2023-04
  • Subjects: Homeowners , Wireless communication systems
  • Language: English
  • Type: Doctoral's theses , Thesis
  • Identifier: http://hdl.handle.net/10948/64962 , vital:73998
  • Description: Most home users do not have access to the typical managed security measures employed in organizations, which leaves them alone in managing the security of their computing devices and home networks. This research focuses on the securing of home networking devices, which with faster, always-on networking technologies, are increasingly vulnerable to attack. To develop interventions that aim to assist home users with securing their home networking devices, it is imperative to understand why they protect or do not protect their home networking devices. Therefore, this research study models the factors that motivate home users to protect their home networking devices. The study limits data collection to South African fibre users, a fast-growing segment of the South African population. Following a comprehensive literature review, the study adopted the Protection Motivation Theory (PMT) as the primary framework for the conceptual research model. Factors from the Theory of Reasoned Action (TRA) and the Theory of Planned Behaviour (TPB) were included to enrich the theoretical model. A measurement instrument consisting of 53 questionnaire items measuring thirteen (13) constructs was developed. After that, a structural model that hypothesized fifteen (15) relationships between constructs was created. The conceptual research model was evaluated through structural equation modeling (SEM) using empirical data gathered from a sample of 392 South African home fibre users. Interestingly, trust in the service provider did not significantly impact perceived vulnerability or severity. This implies that initiatives from the service provider will not necessarily have the desired impact on home user behavior. Additionally, trust in technology did not impact perceived severity and only partially impacted perceived vulnerability. This suggests that home users did not think that the security features of their home networking devices helped much. Of course, these results are in the context of this study and may not necessarily be generalizable to other populations or contexts. Further work to understand the role of service and technology providers may be helpful. The negative relationship between technology anxiety and both perceived task anxiety and self-efficacy supports the call for more or better security awareness interventions. The positive relationship between social influence and perceived vulnerability and severity suggests that these awareness interventions may be best delivered through community involvement. This study contributes to understanding the factors that influence home users’ intentions to protect their home networking devices. , Thesis (PhD) -- Faculty of Engineering, the Built Environment and Technology, School of Information Technology, 2023
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  • Date Issued: 2023-04

Parental influence on next-generation family members in South African black-owned family businesses

  • Authors: Ntari, Lwando
  • Date: 2023-04
  • Subjects: Business enterprises, Black , Family-owned business enterprises
  • Language: English
  • Type: Master's theses , text
  • Identifier: http://hdl.handle.net/10948/62299 , vital:72376
  • Description: This study focuses on the parental influence on next-generation family members in South African Black-owned family businesses. In both developed and developing countries, the majority of businesses are family-owned and contribute significantly to their country's economic growth. To be sustainable, family businesses should anticipate, recognise and understand the impact parents have on their next-generation family members’ intentions to join the family business. Controlling a family business with the intent to transfer it to the next family generation is often seen as the defining characteristic of family businesses. Transferring the control of a family business to the next generation presents a critical managerial challenge. It has been noted that parents are the most important influence in a child’s life and could therefore have the greatest influence on their career choice. This study discusses parents' impact on their next-generation family members’ career choices in the context of career choice theories: Holland’s theory of vocational personalities in the work environment, Super’s developmental self-concept theory, and social cognitive career theory. Moreover, the important influence that parents have on their children and the impact of the parent is elaborated on; the characteristics of the parent's job, self-efficacy, outcome expectations, parent's relationship, parental expectations, parent's style, and cultural influence are discussed. In addition, career choice theories in the South African context are also briefly discussed. The lack of desire of next-generation family members to join the family business endangers its long-term sustainability. Although numerous factors influence a person's career choice, including the decision to join their family business, parents are by far the most influential. Therefore, the primary objective of this study was to identify the influence parents have on a next-generation family member’s intention to join the family business. A structured questionnaire was distributed to South African respondents with parents who own a family business. Respondents were identified by means of judgemental sampling. A total of 317 usable questionnaires were subjected to statistical analysis. The validity of the scales measuring the dependent and independent variables was assessed using factor analysis, and the scales’ reliability was confirmed by calculating Cronbach’s alpha coefficients. Both descriptive and inferential statistics were calculated. The family businesses iv associated with the respondents were mostly first-generation owned. The majority of respondents were Xhosa and Zulu speakers and represented family businesses that employed more than five employees. The next-generation family members who participated in this study were predominantly males under the age of 25 years, and most had no post-matric qualification. Multiple regression analysis was used to assess the hypothesised relationships. The results indicate that four parental influences (parental style, culture, self-efficacy and parental identification) significantly influence a next-generation family member’s intention to join the family business. It is important for parents to understand which factors influence their children's decision to join the family business, as this allows the parents to manage these factors best. , Thesis (Ma) -- Faculty of Faculty of Business and Economic Sciences, 2023
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  • Date Issued: 2023-04

Parental perceptions of their child’s social and emotional wellness amid a diagnosis of attention deficit/hyperactivity disorder

  • Authors: Colloty, Elizabeth
  • Date: 2023-04
  • Subjects: Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder , Emotional wellness , Social wellness
  • Language: English
  • Type: Master's theses , text
  • Identifier: http://hdl.handle.net/10948/66378 , vital:75037
  • Description: Attention Deficit/Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD) is well described from a biomedical perspective, which is consistent with the typical pharmacological treatment approach. Measures of improvement are for the most part based on the scholastic performance. However, a child’s wellness is not only limited to academic performance, but also involves their functioning outside of the learning environment. It is therefore important to explore alternative measures of social and emotional wellness to support the biomedical treatment of a child. This study explored parental perceptions related to the social and emotional wellness of a diagnosed child, using principles of wellness put forward by Roscoe (2009). It took an instrumental case study approach using a semi-structured interview to gather data with a single participant. The participant is the parent of a child diagnosed with ADHD and was selected through non-probability purposive sampling. Data collection and analysis followed Miles, Huberman, and Saldana’s (2020) data analysis method. Lincoln and Guba’s (1985) model of trustworthiness was used to ensure the integrity of the study. Findings confirmed the prioritisation of academic wellness above that of social and emotional wellness. Parental emotional intelligence is vital to the child’s social and emotional wellness. Parental investment into the child’s exploration of self may further contribute to a positive, realistic and development sense of self which fosters resilience. Based on these findings, a multimodal intervention approach to ADHD is suggested. , Thesis (MA) -- Faculty of Health Science, Department of Behavioral Sciences, 2023
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  • Date Issued: 2023-04

Perceptions about the role of social entrepreneurship in the provision of employment in South Africa: A case study of buffalo city Metropolitan municipality

  • Authors: Damane, Qaqamba
  • Date: 2023-04
  • Subjects: Job creation , socioeconomic status , Social integration
  • Language: English
  • Type: Master's theses , text
  • Identifier: http://hdl.handle.net/10948/61075 , vital:69722
  • Description: The high rates of unemployment and poverty in South Africa are significant barriers to economic advancement in the country. According to Statistics South Africa (2022), the country’s unemployment rate is 34.5 percent, while it has been reported that the proportion of the population living in poverty was 55.5 percent in 2020. Social entrepreneurship has been recognised as a means of tackling these socioeconomic challenges, by providing innovative social solutions. However, the lack of a universal definition for social entrepreneurship has caused misperceptions regarding its potential for job creation, poverty alleviation and economic development. In order to understand the relationship between social entrepreneurship and job creation, this study focused on existent perceptions of social entrepreneurship as pertaining to job creation in South Africa; the study used the Buffalo City Metropolitan Municipality as a case study. An in-depth literature review was conducted on the relevant literature related to the concept of social entrepreneurship, and its role in job creation. This study employed a qualitative research approach, in this respect, it relied on inductive reasoning. The research design followed the hermeneutic phenomenological method, for which non-probability purposive sampling was used in order to select participants. The study sample comprised of twelve social entrepreneurs registered on the Buffalo City Metropolitan Municipality's Local Economic Development database for social entrepreneurs. For the purpose of data collection, the study employed semi-structured interviews which relied on open-ended questions; in this regard, the study achieved a 100 percent response rate. The primary research findings indicated that the youth of the Buffalo City Metropolitan Municipality participate in, and promote, social entrepreneurship as a solution to the metropole’s high youth unemployment rate. The results of the study support current government policy by encouraging the implementation of local government policy initiatives that support social entrepreneurship, which could eventually result in the creation of jobs, and a decline in the country's unemployment rate. In addition, the study identified the need for government support, specifically in terms of the provision of funding and resources as a perceived government function; this would assist in the creation of social entrepreneurshipbased jobs. The study contributes to the existent body of work on the phenomenon of social entrepreneurship, and to further understanding the role this phenomenon plays in job creation in South Africa. Local government should acknowledge and support social entrepreneurship through the improvement of its current systems and the reallocation of government resources, so as to encourage openness and participation, in order to foster an environment that is vi favorable to social innovation. Furthermore, by capitalizing on the commercial aspects of social enterprises, and abandoning reliance on traditional Local Economic Development policies, local government can develop policy frameworks that promote socio-economic development in the Buffalo City Metropolitan Municipality , Thesis (MA) -- Faculty of business and economic sciences, 2023
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  • Date Issued: 2023-04

Perceptions of mental illness among the residents of the Eastern Cape Province in South Africa: The influence of culture and religion on their coping strategies.: subtitle if needed. If no subtitle follow instructions in manual

  • Authors: Sikrweqe, Odwa
  • Date: 2023-04
  • Subjects: Mental illness , Mental illness--Religious aspects , Mental illness-- Culture aspects
  • Language: English
  • Type: Master's theses , text
  • Identifier: http://hdl.handle.net/10948/60445 , vital:65507
  • Description: Mental illness has become a global concern, with consequences that may result in a mental health pandemic. Studies conducted on mental illness suggest that religious and cultural beliefs not only affect the expression of mental illness, but also the diagnosis and treatment of mental conditions. South Africa is a country imbued with cultural and religious diversity, which creates different groupings of people, holding diverse beliefs regarding mental illness. In many contexts, supernatural beliefs, traditional healing and indigenous medicines and treatments are considered in the treatment of the symptoms associated with mental illnesses, especially on contexts where there is a reliance on religio-cultural beliefs. Even though there has been a significant increase in the contribution to research focusing on mental health in diverse contexts, much of this research has focused on subjective experiences. Little to no information is available on population-based studies in South Africa regarding mental illness in diverse contexts, thus limiting the generalisation of findings related to cultural and religious influences on mental illness. This dearth of information further limits the development of psychological interventions. The study aimed to explore how mental illness is perceived by the participants and thereafter explored the influence of culture and religion in coping with mental illness by the residents of the Eastern Cape. The study was quantitative in nature and adopted an exploratory-descriptive design. The researcher made use of a questionnaire as a research tool and QuestionPro was utilized as a platform. A convenience sampling technique was utilised. In ensuring rigour of the study, the researcher ensured maximal validity (accurate representation of the data) and reliability (ability to repeat the research procedure). Ethical principles have been adhered to as per the principles on the Belmont Report, to ensure safety of the participants and this includes anonymity, confidentiality and the right to withdraw from participation in the study. Data has been analysed using descriptive and inferential statistics. A sample size of 101 participants from the general population of residents of the Eastern Cape completed the online survey. The results of the study revealed that the residents of the Eastern Cape have substantial knowledge pertaining the cause of mental illness and indicated both positive and negative attitudes towards the mentally ill and possess coping strategies to deal with a mental illness. In addition, the results show that there is a relation between religion/culture and coping with a mental illness by the participants of the study. The findings of this study emphasize the necessity of public education efforts that understand and respect people's cultural diversity, as well as teamwork among traditional and medical professionals. Future studies should focus on the use of discourse analysis to better investigate indigenous groups' conceptions of mental illness and their views about its aetiology and treatment. , Thesis (MA) -- Faculty of Health Sciences, School of Behavioural Science, 2023
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  • Date Issued: 2023-04

Performance management of the academic staffs in Ugandan public and private universities

  • Authors: Kansiime, Grace
  • Date: 2023-04
  • Subjects: Performance--Management , Academic staff , Higher education institutions -- Uganda
  • Language: English
  • Type: Doctoral's theses , Thesis
  • Identifier: http://hdl.handle.net/10948/60938 , vital:69246
  • Description: This study, at the outset, seeks to assess the effectiveness of a performance management system (PMS) in determining the academic staffs‟ performance in teaching and research in selected Ugandan public and private universities. The participants of this study comprised full-time and parttime academic staffs from public and private universities located in the four regions in Uganda. The purposive sampling method was used to select the universities for this study. Convenient sampling was used to select the academic staffs in the universities. An online structured questionnaire collected quantitative data and analysed it using descriptive and inferential statistics. The quantitative analysis of the responses showed that many participants were made up of public university academic staffs, lecturers, assistant lecturers, master‟s degree holders and permanent fulltime staffs. Factor analyses were run for each section and sub-section within the questionnaire to explore the dimensionality of the scales and generate composite factor scores to be used for further analyses. While, internal consistency was examined using Cronbach‟s alpha. In addition, descriptive statistics for the factors within sections were determined. Pearson‟s correlation coefficients were calculated for each pair of factor scores for each section and sub-section to explore the relationships between the factors identified in this study. Additionally, the comparison of factor scores across selected demographic variables and independent samples t-tests for the equality of means was used to establish whether there were significant differences between the factor scores of various demographic variables. Finally, one-way ANOVAs were considered to compare the composite factor scores across various demographic variables. Factor score analysis showed that 44.9% of the academic staffs had a moderate attitude towards the PMS process; whereas 84.9% had a high attitude towards PA criteria and 64.2% had a high attitude towards PFPS. The results of the study suggest a high attitude of the academic staffs towards PA and PFP in teaching and research. In addition, the majority (78.0%) of the academic staffs had a high attitude towards their self-performance planning in their institution. The results of the study suggest a high level of self-performance planning of the academic staffs in teaching and research in the selected Ugandan HEIs. A reasonable number (45.4%) of the academic staffs from public universities and 49.1% from private universities had a high attitude towards supervisors‟ participation in performance planning and performance feedback. Moreover, 44.0% of the academic staffs from public universities and 66.7% of the academic staffs from private universities rated the workload as high. The results of the study suggest that the academic staffs‟ workload was high. In xx addition, factor score analysis showed that the academic staffs‟ performance rewards were low. Only 24.9% of the academic staffs had received more than 67% of the available rewards suggesting that the academic staffs‟ managers in the surveyed institutions did not use a variety of performance rewards to compensate for the academic staffs‟ performance. In addition, the average factor score for teaching skills was 94.8%, while perceived teaching abilities were 95.1% high on average. Besides, the factor score analysis results showed that teaching skills were 84.81% and 86.34%, respectively. Only 29.1% of the academic staffs from both public and private universities had high research skills. The results suggested that the academic staffs‟ teaching skills were high while their research skills were low. The findings thus suggested that the academic staffs in Ugandan public and private universities were highly involved in teaching activities, but their involvement in research activities was low. Similarly, results from testing hypotheses suggested that academic staffs in the surveyed Ugandan public and private universities rated PA criteria and PFPS higher than the PMS process. The study results indicated that self-performance planning and supervisors‟ involvement in performance feedback improved academic staffs‟ teaching skills. In contrast, performance planning, review, clarity on feedback, evaluation and rewards increased academic staffs‟ performance in perceived teaching abilities. In addition, an increase in the research workload contributed to an increase in the academic staffs‟ perception of their research knowledge and skills. The study made major conclusions regarding academic staffs‟ PM in Ugandan public and private universities. First, correlation results on performance planning and teaching skills and abilities for public and private universities were statistically significant (p < 0.001). Therefore, the study concludes that the academic staffs‟ performance planning in the selected Ugandan HEIs positively affected the academic staffs‟ performance in teaching. In addition, correlation results for supervisor involvement in feedback and teaching skills for both public and private universities were statistically significant (p < 0.001). Thus, the study concludes that supervisors‟ involvement in feedback improved academic staffs‟ performance in teaching skills. In addition, correlation results showed that performance reviews and teaching abilities were statistically significant for public universities (p=0.001), and (p=0.034) for private universities. Thus, the study concludes that the academic staffs‟ performance reviews improved academic staffs‟ teaching abilities in selected public and private universities. Equally, correlation results for performance evaluation and perceived teaching abilities for public universities was statistically significant (p< 0.001) for public universities, and (p=0.006) for private universities. Therefore, the study concludes that performance evaluation increased xxi teaching abilities of the academic staffs in both Ugandan public and private universities. In addition, rewards significantly impacted academic staffs‟ perceived teaching abilities in private universities. Correlation results for rewards and perceived teaching abilities for private universities was statistically significant (p< 0.011). Therefore, the study concludes that the more academic staffs were rewarded, the more they participated in setting, administering and marking tests, assisgnments and examinations, and adhering to deadlines set for administering tests and assignments. Similarly, the study made various recommendations to improve academic staffs‟ performance in teaching and research in Ugandan public and private universities. To achieve the required performance in teaching and research, the study recommends that the academic staffs be involved in the entire planning process to be aware of the required performance and the kind of results expected from their performance and work towards achieving the set performance in teaching and research. Additionally, performance reviews and feedback should be one-on-one discussions between the managers and the academic staffs to identify how far the staffs are performing towards the set goals. The study recommends that the academic staffs need information regarding their performance for feedback to be effective. In addition, the study recommends that the academic staffs‟ managers should increase financial and non-financial rewards to motivate the academic staffs to increase their performance in teaching. Correlation results showed that rewards had a significant impact on teaching abilities (p=0.011). Thus, rewards should as well be increased to improve academic staffs‟ teaching abilities. , Thesis (PhD) -- Faculty of Education, School of Research and Engagement, 2023
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  • Date Issued: 2023-04

Personal branding as a market tool

  • Authors: Botha, Alylin
  • Date: 2023-04
  • Subjects: Personal Branding , marketing tool
  • Language: English
  • Type: Master's theses , text
  • Identifier: http://hdl.handle.net/10948/60993 , vital:69591
  • Description: Personal Branding is deemed as an unavoidable aspect of entrepreneurship and social acceptance. Individuals should establish, develop, maintain and take advantage of a Personal Brand. The benefits of a Personal Brand should be embraced and used to market themselves and highlight their uniqueness. The aim is to investigate the relationship between Professional Life, Social Media Presence, Values, Competencies, Communication as the independent variables and Personal Branding as the dependent variable. It was concluded that there are important factors that positively influence Interpersonal Personal Brand as well as Intellectual Personal Brand, which are the two components that make up Personal Brand. There is limited research on the factors that influence Personal Branding in South Africa. Through literature review, factors were identified and used to form a conceptual model. This model was tested to measure their relationship with Personal Branding. An online questionnaire was distributed to MBA students, family and friends who made up the study’s respondents. The results obtained after conducting correlation and ChiSquare tests were used to determine the relationship between the identified factors with Personal Branding. This study explores how individuals can use Personal Branding as a marketing tool. These individuals include those who want to create or further expand their current Personal Brand and use it as a marketing tool. This treatise explored the factors needed to be considered for Personal Branding a marketing tool for individuals. Personal Branding can be used at the beginning of a career, during a transition of a career or even when wanting to explore a new career. Personal Brand was initially considered the only factor. However, this study concludes that Personal Branding is made of up of two components: Interpersonal Personal Branding as well as Intellectual Personal Branding. The findings concluded that independent factors, Professional Life, Values, Competencies and Communication all have a positive significant influence on Personal Branding as a whole, as well as the components it is made up of, Interpersonal Personal Branding and Intellectual Personal Branding. The independent factor Social Media Presence positively influences Interpersonal Personal Branding only. v This study makes theoretical contributions by broadening the definition of Personal Branding. The study defines the research methodologies for Personal Branding which could be used for future studies. The Associative Network Theory in relevance to Personal Branding is explored. The practical contribution of this research includes a hypothesised model which was tested. This study should be repeated to include a bigger sample size that is more equally distributed within South Africa. Additionally, for future studies, it would be recommended to incorporate the development of Personal Branding as an independent factor to measure its effect on Personal Branding. Another recommendation for further research is to conduct research on policies, which can be put forward to assist with the managing of Personal Branding for entrepreneurs. , Thesis (MSc) -- Faculty of Business and Economic Sciences, 2023
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  • Date Issued: 2023-04

Play-based approaches in teaching and learning in selected early childhood development centres in Buffalo City

  • Authors: November-Mbebe, Faith Bulelwa https://orcid.org/0000-0002-6192-785X
  • Date: 2023-04
  • Subjects: Early childhood education -- Activity programs , Play
  • Language: English
  • Type: Master's theses , text
  • Identifier: http://hdl.handle.net/10353/26042 , vital:64785
  • Description: This study endeavoured to investigate the perspectives of principals and practitioners working in selected early childhood development (ECD) centres in the Buffalo Municipal District in the Eastern Cape, on the use of play-based techniques in educational and pedagogical practices of 3 to 4 years age group. Although most practitioners are aware of the significance of play-based learning, many report experiencing challenges when attempting to incorporate play-based strategies into their teaching of, and lessons aimed at, young children ages 3 to 4 years. For the purpose of ECD, it is recommended that the teaching of, and learning by, young children take the form of play (NCF, DBE, 2015). In this particular research undertaking, a qualitative design approach was adopted. A descriptive case study approach with semi-structured interviews as the key method of data generation was used to study play-based approaches between practitioners and children ages birth to four years at three ECD centres located within the Buffalo City Municipality District. Face-to-face interviews were conducted with the three principals of the ECD centres and six practitioners, during the data-collection phase. Recording of the interviews was done then they were transcribed and thematic coding employed before the data were analysed for themes. The study participants’ responses revealed that the insufficient professional training of practitioners, on play-based approaches, presented a challenge. Play as a way of teaching and developing young children is further hampered by a variety of issues such as poor infrastructure, unqualified practitioners, funding of the ECD centres and lack of relevant resources prevalent in the ECD sector. As the findings indicate, government intervention will facilitate the training of practitioners for in-depth knowledge and understanding of play methodology in ECD, while the sector will benefit from additional funding and infrastructure provision as this has impact on indoor and outdoor play-based activities, as well as the appointment of qualified human resources instead of job seekers. , Thesis (MEd) -- Faculty of Education, 2023
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  • Date Issued: 2023-04

Pleistocene vertebrate trace fossils from the Cape south coast of South Africa: inferences and implications

  • Authors: Helm, Charles William
  • Date: 2023-04
  • Subjects: Geology, Stratigraphic -- Pleistocene , Vertebrates, Fossil -- South Africa , Paleontology -- Pleistocene
  • Language: English
  • Type: Doctor's theses , text
  • Identifier: http://hdl.handle.net/10948/60589 , vital:65942
  • Description: Palaeoichnology, the study of fossil tracks and traces, has had a relatively late start on the Cape south coast of South Africa. Since its inception in 2007 the Cape south coast ichnology project has led to the identification of 326 Pleistocene vertebrate ichnosites in aeolianites (cemented dunes) and cemented foreshore deposits between the community of Arniston in the west and the Robberg Peninsula in the east, a distance of approximately 350 kilometres. As a result, significant palaeoevironmental, palaeocological and palaeoanthropological inferences have been made. This thesis brings together this corpus of work, and attempts to answer the question of how ichnology can inform the understanding of the Cape south coast Pleistocene environment, and how the trace fossil record can complement the body fossil record. Achieving this objective involves the development of a definitive regional account. This includes descriptions of the regional geological context, Quaternary sea-level changes, and the state of knowledge of the region’s Pleistocene palaeoenvironment, palaeoanthropology, and body fossil record, along with an understanding of the roles of substrate and taphonomy in regional ichnology. A discussion of geochronology includes the age results from specimens submitted for dating through optically stimulated luminescence – dated deposits range in age from Marine Isotope Stage 11 through Marine Isotope Srage 3. The body of the thesis is formed by systematic descriptions of the vertebrate ichnosites, accompanied by interpretation and comments. Three databases have been compiled: ichnosites, photographs, and photogrammetry images. In synthesizing this data, four underlying questions are addressed: what is the global relevance of the Cape south coast ichnosites, how can these studies complement the vertebrate body fossil record, how can they contribute to the understanding of Pleistocene palaeoenvironments and palaeocology, and how can they contribute to palaeoanthropology? The Cape south coast is of global ichnological importance. Unanticipated findings which augment the sparse reptilian body fossil record include tracks and traces of crocodiles, monitor lizards, very large tortoises (the first of their kind in the global record), and hatchling sea turtles. Two new ichnogenera have been erected to describe the sea turtle tracks, each containing a new ichnospecies: ustralochelichnus agulhasii and Marinerichnus latus. Avian ichnosites are the oldest in southern v Africa, and include the presence of tracks of larger-than-expected birds, which may represent large chronosubspecies or may suggest the possibility of extinctions which are not evident from the body fossil record. Unique examples of the non-hominin mammalian ichnosites include sand-swimming traces that resemble those of the ‘Namib mole’: as a result a new ichnogenus (Natatorichnus) has been erected, containing two ichnospecies, N. subarenosa and N. sulcatus. The first elephant trunk-drag impressions and the first pinniped ichnosites in the global record have been identified. The role of elephant tracks as precursors to coastal potholes was previously unsuspected. Equid tracksites indicate a widespread presence of the extinct giant Cape horse (Equus capensis). The identification of a giraffe tracksite represents a major range extension. In particular, tracks and traces of giraffe, crocodiles, breeding sea turtles, and sand-swimming golden moles have significant palaeoenvironmental implications. , Thesis (PhD) -- Faculty of Science, School of Environmental Sciences, 2023
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  • Date Issued: 2023-04

Professional Registration in the engineering industry: The impacts and relevancy

  • Authors: Dlamini, Lunika Sibusiso
  • Date: 2023-04
  • Subjects: Industrial engineering , Professional Engineering
  • Language: English
  • Type: Master's theses , text
  • Identifier: http://hdl.handle.net/10948/61154 , vital:69789
  • Description: In this treatise paper, the focus is on the understanding the relationship between professional registration in engineering, and the success of projects within the engineering sector. It is assumed that if a projects completion time exceeded its due date, or expenses overran the budget, or outcomes did not satisfy a company's predetermined performance criteria, the project was assumed to be a failure. (Belassi & Tukel, 1996) We know that projects in recent rimes have become ever more complex, and their critical factors of success and failure have been previously researched (Belassi & Tukel, 1996) (Jha & Iyer, 2006) , Thesis (MA) -- Faculty of business and economic sciences, 2023
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  • Date Issued: 2023-04

Role of leader initiated innovated triggers in motivating employees to innovate in the public sector at a provincial government department in the Western Cape province

  • Authors: Zata, Hebert
  • Date: 2023-04
  • Subjects: Provincial government--Western Cape , Public sector--Western Cape
  • Language: English
  • Type: Master's theses , text
  • Identifier: http://hdl.handle.net/10948/63196 , vital:73194
  • Description: The South African public sector has become known for poor service delivery due to a number of factors; these factors include a lack of innovation, or inadequate innovation, which could be as a result of the compliance requirements of various laws and regulations. As a result, the public sector must find ways to innovate within its operating context, even as efforts are being made to reform its structure and manner of operation. This research followed a case study approach, focussed on a provincial government department in the Western Cape province of South Africa, in order to investigate the role of leader-initiated innovation triggers in motivating employees to innovate. The premise was that staff would be motivated to innovate if public sector top leadership demonstrate that it is possible to do so within the current operational framework; this would, potentially, lead to the successful establishment of an innovation culture within the organisation. The methodology employed in this empirical study was exploratory sequential mixed methods research. Senior management from the case subject organisation were interviewed in order to obtain their views on pertinent issues relating to the research topic. Themes that emerged from the interviews were combined with key elements from the literature review in order to formulate a model of how leader-initiated innovation triggers can potentially motivate employees to innovate. The model was subsequently tested, quantitatively, using a questionnaire survey. The study responded to the primary research objective by establishing the existence of moderately positive relationships between leader-initiated innovation triggers and employee motivation to innovate; this confirmed that leaders' display of certain practices, actions and behaviours can motivate employees to innovate and, subsequently, help build an innovation culture within a bureaucratic public sector environment. , Thesis (MA) -- Faculty of Faculty of Business and Economic Sciences, 2023
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  • Date Issued: 2023-04

South African plantation forest nursery pesticide -use: current status, pesticide identification for management, and screening of fungicides for pathogen control

  • Authors: Opperman, Ilke
  • Date: 2023-04
  • Subjects: Forest insects –Control – South Africa , Pesticides -- Environmental aspects , Pest management
  • Language: English
  • Type: Master's theses , text
  • Identifier: http://hdl.handle.net/10948/61370 , vital:70618
  • Description: Forest nurseries are exposed to many challenges during the production of plant material, with pests and pathogens two of the most important. Management of pests and diseases require the use of multiple methods, including cultural, biological, and chemical control strategies in an integrated nursery pest management plan (IPM). In most nurseries, where hygiene practices and biological controls do not prevent the presence of pests and pathogens, they are managed through the use of pesticides. Forestry companies are regulated by both Government and Forestry Certification bodies. These include South African legislation pertaining to pesticides regulated by the Registrar Act 36 of 1947, the Forest Stewardship Council (FSC) and the Programme for the Endorsement of Forest Certification (PEFC). A limited number of pesticides, with an even more limited range of active ingredients, and not targeting all known plantation forestry pests/pathogens, are currently registered for use against pests and pathogens in plantation forestry in South Africa. Many of these have been in use for more than a decade, posing a serious risk in terms of resistance build-up. There is a major need for the identification and testing of additional/alternative products (biological natural or synthetic) for use against the range of pests and pathogens that occur on the various plantation tree species and hybrid combinations that are raised in nurseries. , Thesis (MSc) -- Faculty of Science, School of Natural Resource Science & Management, 2023
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  • Date Issued: 2023-04

Teacher's perceptions of the policy on progression in the Further Education and Training phase in New Brighton high schools, Gqeberha

  • Authors: Fuzani, Zukisa
  • Date: 2023-04
  • Subjects: Policy , Postsecondary education and training , Nelson Mandela District -- South Africa
  • Language: English
  • Type: Master's theses , Thesis
  • Identifier: http://hdl.handle.net/10948/63462 , vital:73369
  • Description: The South African education system is severely faced with high dropout challenges. In recent years, the Department of Basic Education witnessed a significant improvement in learners' dropout rates. To address the high rates of learners dropping out of school, the government introduced the Policy on Progression (2013). This study aimed to explore teachers’ perceptions of the Policy on Progression. The qualitative research approach guided this study. A phenomenology was employed in this study. Purposive sampling was chosen to select the participants of this study. Teachers teaching in the FET Phase in New Brighton high schools participated in the study. The participants consisted of ten (10) teachers, two (2) Post Level 1, and three (3) School Management Team (SMT) members from each school. Semi-structured interviews were used to collect data for this study. The research procedure involved interviewing teacher participants about their lived experiences within the context of their teaching environments. Raw data were transcribed, analysed using thematic analysis, and reduced into smaller units to understand them. The raw data were categorised into units of meaning for analysis and the identification of themes. A policy can negatively impact teaching, learning, and assessment if not interpreted correctly and implemented appropriately. This impact of interpretation and implementation of this policy has behavioural implications that affect the well-being of learners and teachers. In this study, the researcher sought to understand whether teachers and the school management teams believe that the Policy on Progression has yielded the intended results by exploring teacher perceptions dealing with high school progression. Thus, new understandings of the policy would emerge, and the participants would advise the stakeholders about the policy from an informed position. The findings of this study reveal the fair part of the Policy on Progression on learners, as it allows continuity. The findings further reveal that the Policy on Promotion has yielded the intended results. However, the findings of this study revealed a partial relationship that exists between the parents of the progressed learner. Furthermore, the findings indicate challenges in the Policy on Progression such as favouritism, inconsistency, lack of monitoring from the Department of Basic Education, and inferences with the progression process. , Thesis (MEd) -- Faculty of Education, 2022023
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  • Date Issued: 2023-04
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