The COVID-19 PANDEMIC’S long-term impact on the future of work in South Africa
- Authors: Van Heerden, Barbara Antoinette
- Date: 2023-12
- Subjects: COVID-19 Pandemic, 2020- , Job stress , Burn out (Psychology) , Work -- South Africa
- Language: English
- Type: Master's theses , text
- Identifier: http://hdl.handle.net/10948/66080 , vital:74333
- Description: The COVID-19 pandemic disrupted the global economy and work methods, highlighting Human Resources limitations. This study explores its lasting impact on the future of work in South Africa, focusing on employee engagement, mental health, burnout, work quality, and future of work expectations. To provide a comprehensive understanding of the subject, an extensive literature review was conducted, including academic articles, industry reports, and publications, to examine pandemic effects on work practices, remote work, HR strategies, employee engagement, mental health, burnout, and future work expectations. Building upon the insights that were gained from the literature review, an online survey was designed, consisting of 70 closed-ended questions. The survey sought to capture respondents’ perceptions of work before and during the pandemic, as well as their expectations for the future of work considering the observed emerging trends during the crisis. The survey link was distributed to a sample of 130 respondents using a web-based survey approach. Of the targeted population, 51% completed the survey, thereby resulting in a final study sample of 66 respondents. Subsequently, a conceptual model was developed to illustrate the long-term impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on the future of work in South Africa. The collected data was subjected to rigorous statistical analysis by employing various techniques such as the data spread analysis, summary statistics, data variation measures, internal consistency analysis, linear correlation, and factor analysis. The Exploratory Factor Analysis (EFA) was employed to ensure the validity of the measurement constructs and to ascertain the items that required removal. These statistical analyses provided an empirical evaluation of the impact of COVID-19 on employee engagement, mental health, burnout, and future work expectations. The results of the data analysis confirmed the hypothesised model, thereby indicating that all the four independent variables exerted a significant influence on the future of work in South Africa. The factors such as work engagement, work immersion, personal and professional burnout, client-related burnout, work environment, relations and cooperation, autonomy, facilities, work-life balance, work flexibility, leadership, and remote well-being were measured to assess this influence. Work burnout during the COVID-19 period was omitted from the analysis due to its failure to meet the minimum EFA loading criteria for the factor. In addition to the empirical findings, a framework for managing the future of work was designed based on the research outcomes. The study also discussed the encountered limitations, as well as called for further research in the field. It also provided recommendations for the HR professionals, the leaders, and the employees. Implementing these recommendations would enable the organisations to navigate the future world of work more successfully, which would foster greater agility and sustainability. These measures are fundamental in creating adaptable workplace models, strategies, and policies that respond adeptly to the dynamic shifts in the internal and the external contexts. , Thesis (MBA) -- Faculty of Business and Economic Sciences, Business School, 2023
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- Date Issued: 2023-12
The determinants of manufacturing sector growth among East African Community countries
- Authors: Musiita, Benjamin
- Date: 2023-12
- Subjects: Economic development , Industrial productivity -- East African Community , Supply and demand
- Language: English
- Type: Doctoral theses , text
- Identifier: http://hdl.handle.net/10948/65874 , vital:74280
- Description: Given the concern of the meagre contribution of the manufacturing sector output in total GDP within the East African Community (EAC) member states, the purpose of this study was to in-vestigate whether growth rates in the manufacturing sector output of the five East African Com-munity member states can be explained by variations in the factors of input, productivity and governance. The study benchmarks the growth frameworks of neoclassical growth and its exten-sions, as well as the institutionalist growth theory, which guided the formulation of empirical growth models. Estimation is achieved by implementing first difference generalised method of moments (D-GMM) on a linear dynamic panel model through the specific-to-general modelling technique. Among the factors motivated by the neoclassical growth paradigm and its extensions, estimates from this study indicate that human capital and the gross capital formation input factors can help in predicting variations in manufacturing sector output growth in EAC member countries. Among the productivity factors, estimates show that higher lending rates and increased openness had a significant negative effect on the growth of the manufacturing sector among EAC member states. The productivity variables of foreign direct investment, inflation, domestic credit and financial deepening showed no ability to influence manufacturing sector growth in the EAC member states. Estimates further indicate that among the governance factors, control of corrupt-ion could help boost manufacturing sector output growth among EAC member states. Results from this study show that the governance variables of voice and accountability, and of regulatory quality, had an insignificant effect on the growth of manufacturing sector output among EAC member states. So the study shows that manufacturing sector output variations in EAC member states can partially be explained by the neoclassical and endogenous growth models, with little efficacy in the institutional growth model, suggesting the incompleteness of the growth frame-works adopted in assessing the sources of growth in manufacturing sector output in EAC mem-ber states. The study results suggest that the EAC member states can boost their manufacturing sector output growth by implementing policies and programmes that create incentives for more additions to capital stocks and improving the quality of human resources while equipping people with skills, establishng financial instituitions which offer access to cheap capital, like the East African Development Bank, and adopting import substitution growth strategies which could re-duce the quantity of imports and limit outflows of foreign exchange. , Thesis (PhD) -- Faculty of Business and Economic Sciences, School of Economics, Development and Tourism, 2023
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- Date Issued: 2023-12
The determinants of manufacturing sector growth among East African Community countries
- Authors: Musiita Benjamin
- Date: 2023-12
- Subjects: Economic development -- East African Community , Industrial productivity -- East African Community , Gross domestic product -- East African Community
- Language: English
- Type: Doctoral theses , text
- Identifier: http://hdl.handle.net/10948/65876 , vital:74279
- Description: Given the concern of the meagre contribution of the manufacturing sector output in total GDP within the East African Community (EAC) member states, the purpose of this study was to in-vestigate whether growth rates in the manufacturing sector output of the five East African Com-munity member states can be explained by variations in the factors of input, productivity and governance. The study benchmarks the growth frameworks of neoclassical growth and its exten-sions, as well as the institutionalist growth theory, which guided the formulation of empirical growth models. Estimation is achieved by implementing first difference generalised method of moments (D-GMM) on a linear dynamic panel model through the specific-to-general modelling technique. Among the factors motivated by the neoclassical growth paradigm and its extensions, estimates from this study indicate that human capital and the gross capital formation input factors can help in predicting variations in manufacturing sector output growth in EAC member countries. Among the productivity factors, estimates show that higher lending rates and increased openness had a significant negative effect on the growth of the manufacturing sector among EAC member states. The productivity variables of foreign direct investment, inflation, domestic credit and financial deepening showed no ability to influence manufacturing sector growth in the EAC member states. Estimates further indicate that among the governance factors, control of corrupt-ion could help boost manufacturing sector output growth among EAC member states. Results from this study show that the governance variables of voice and accountability, and of regulatory quality, had an insignificant effect on the growth of manufacturing sector output among EAC member states. So the study shows that manufacturing sector output variations in EAC member states can partially be explained by the neoclassical and endogenous growth models, with little efficacy in the institutional growth model, suggesting the incompleteness of the growth frame-works adopted in assessing the sources of growth in manufacturing sector output in EAC mem-ber states. The study results suggest that the EAC member states can boost their manufacturing sector output growth by implementing policies and programmes that create incentives for more additions to capital stocks and improving the quality of human resources while equipping people with skills, establishng financial instituitions which offer access to cheap capital, like the East African Development Bank, and adopting import substitution growth strategies which could re-duce the quantity of imports and limit outflows of foreign exchange. , Thesis (PhD) -- Faculty of Business and Economic Sciences, School of Economics, Development and Tourism, 2023
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- Date Issued: 2023-12
The determinants of renewable energy in South Africa
- Authors: Adeniyi, Bamidele Ojo
- Date: 2023-12
- Subjects: Renewable energy sources -- South Africa , Power resources -- South Africa , Sustainable development -- Research -- South Africa
- Language: English
- Type: Master's theses , text
- Identifier: http://hdl.handle.net/10948/65503 , vital:74163
- Description: The South African energy system to date has been dominated by the high consumption of fossil fuels and the resultant greenhouse gas emissions. Aside from this, the country has continued to witness incessant power outages, a shortfall in electricity supply, and high electricity prices due to the ageing infrastructure of coal-powered plant. Meanwhile, the United Nations’s Sustainable Development Agenda mandates countries to ensure a sustainable environment by embracing affordable and clean energy in order to mitigate unfavourable climate action by 2030. The attainment of most Sustainable Development Goals depends on renewable energy development which includes solar, wind, hydro, geothermal and biomass energy among others. Therefore, an empirical study of the socio-economic and environmental determinants of renewable energy consumption in South Africa is imperative. Based on Environmental Kuznetz curve and Khan’s sustainable development theories, this study employed the Autoregressive Distributed Lag (ARDL) and Vector Autoregressive (VAR) causality methods to analyse the long-run relationship between economic, environmental and social determinants of renewable energy. The quantile regression method examined the relationship between environmental degradation and economic growth in South Africa between 1985 to 2021. The study shows a long-run relationship between renewable energy and economic factors such as gross domestic product, energy imports, and exchange rate, while gross capital formation and average electricity prices indirectly impact renewable energy consumption. Moreover, there exists a unidirectional influence between gross domestic product and real effective exchange rate to renewable energy consumption. The study suggests that more investment in renewable infrastructures and technology would improve renewable energy consumption in South Africa. The long-run result between environmental factors and renewable energy shows that fossil fuels, deforestation, and carbon dioxide emission indirectly influence renewable energy, while energy depletion increases as renewable energy consumption increases. Meanwhile, a unidirectional causality runs from renewable energy consumption to fossil fuels and carbon dioxide emissions. This suggests that renewable energy consumption would improve environmental quality in South Africa.On the relationship between social factors and renewable energy consumption, the long-run result shows that educational spending and employment rate positively increases renewable energy consumption, while per capita income and urban growth is yet to positively influence renewable energy. Moreover, a bidirectional causal relationship exists between employment rate and renewable energy consumption. This suggests that renewable energy would create job opportunity or the other way round vice versa in South Africa. There is a positive relationship between environmental degradation and economic growth between quantile 10th to 75th, with a quick negative turning seen higher, at quantile 90th. The growth of per capita income also shows a positive relationship at the lower quantile, while an inverse relationship was seen at the higher quantile of 50th to 99th. Non-renewable energy shows a significant and positive relationship to carbon dioxide emission across the quantile curve, while renewable energy shows an inverse relationship to carbon dioxide emissions across the quantile curve; and a quick turn from 25th quantile showing that urban growth does not positively influence renewable energy. This suggests that non-renewable energy use damages the environment, while renewable energy consumption improves the quality of the environment in South Africa. The study recommends that a direct alteration of renewable energy consumption by government is a necessary condition to diffuse clean energy technology across the country. Also, increasing investment in renewable energy infrastructure through public, private and government participation is a necessary move to actualise the achievement of self-sufficiency in the renewable energy sector. Furthermore, since research is an engine room for technological innovation, government should prioritise learning in the form of research, formal and informal training, and short-term courses to equip citizens with the necessary renewable technology skills. It is hoped that the findings of this study would be beneficial to the policymakers in South Africa and also any country where renewable energy consumption is yet to be explored. , Thesis (PhD) -- Faculty of Business and Economic Sciences, School of Economics, Development and Tourism, 2023
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- Date Issued: 2023-12
The effect of entrepreneurial competencies on the performance of small micro and medium enterprises in or Tambo District, Eastern Cape
- Authors: Senzeni, Phumlani
- Date: 2023-12
- Subjects: New business enterprises -- South Africa -- Eastern Cape , Small business -- South Africa -- Eastern Cape , Performance -- Management
- Language: English
- Type: Master's theses , text
- Identifier: http://hdl.handle.net/10353/28960 , vital:75577
- Description: The Small Micro and Medium Enterprises (SMMEs) remain the key competitor in the development of the economy growth of the country. The SMME sector is the key driver to the national economy of countries, as it creates job opportunities, reduce poverty, supports household income, and improve the people’s standard of living. However, the rate at which SMMEs fail to succeed results in non-performance and business closure, and this is alarming and require attention. The reasons for this failure can emanate from a number of reasons, such as lack of entrepreneurial competencies, managerial skills, lack of intellectual personnel, low entrepreneurial culture and obstacles that hinder access to resources and market. Therefore, in this study the researcher examined the effect of entrepreneurial competencies on the performance of SMMEs in OR Tambo District, Eastern Cape. The researcher adopted quantitative research approach. The research data was collected using Google Forms survey method. The emails containing the link to access the instrument were sent to a sample of 399 SMMEs in the OR Tambo District. The response rate of 74%, which is 294 was attained. Thus, the findings of the study discovered that entrepreneurial competencies have significant effect on the performance of SMMEs. The study further found that entrepreneurial competencies “opportunity recognition, creative-problem solving, resource leveraging, and business networking” had a low degree of association with business performance although they are statistically significant to business performance. The self-efficacy was found with a high degree of association with business performance and statistically significant with the achievement of positive beta and low p-value which indicated a strong association to performance. The study made conclusions that entrepreneurial competencies have positive effect on the performance of SMMEs. Therefore, it was concluded that performing and successful SMMEs in the regions means employment opportunities in the country because they require human resources to do operational services and render services. The government and policymakers are encouraged to work together to form and strengthen development programs to assist SMMEs to grow the production capacity, operations and become productive. The SMMEs owners/managers and practitioners on skills development are encouraged to relook and strengthen entrepreneurial competencies that contribute to productivity and performance. , Thesis (DBA) -- Faculty of Management and Commerce, 2023
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- Date Issued: 2023-12
The effectiveness of South African development finance institutions in providing financial and non-financial support to small businesses: the case of Gauteng Enterprise Propeller
- Authors: Blose, Zingisa
- Date: 2023-12
- Subjects: Business enterprises -- South Africa -- Gauteng , Small business -- South Africa -- Management , Economic development -- Finance , Success in business -- South Africa -- Gauteng
- Language: English
- Type: Master's theses , text
- Identifier: http://hdl.handle.net/10948/65556 , vital:74187
- Description: Many small business owners struggle to keep their businesses operational due to a lack of financial support. It is unclear whether South African development finance institutions (DFIs) are effective in providing such support to small businesses. The primary objective of this study is to investigate how effective South African DFIs are in fostering sustainable growth in small business enterprises through their financial and non-financial support services. The Gauteng Enterprise Propeller (GEP) is used as a case study. This study is located in the positivistic research tradition and therefore followed a quantitative research approach. Closed-ended questionnaires were distributed to 150 small businesses who were funded by the GEP. Self-constructed instruments were used to measure the independent variables and the dependent variable of the study. Multiple regression analysis was conducted to investigate the hypothesised relationships. Empirical results were that the participants largely disagreed (average mean score of less than two on a five-point scale) that the GEP frequently provides financial and non-financial support to small businesses. The results also demonstrate that the GEP’s marketing material, planning support, financial management and asset acquisition interventions were significantly related to the perceived business success of the sampled small businesses, while operational support interventions were not significantly related. On both a theoretical and practical level, the study adds to the knowledge of which financial and non-financial support interventions play a significant role in the success of small businesses. With the contribution of this study, South African DFIs can improve their financial and non-financial support strategies to assist small businesses in growing their operations. The study also provides a practical assessment of how GEP support recipients experience such support. , Thesis (MBA) -- Faculty of Business and Economic Sciences, Business School, 2023
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- Date Issued: 2023-12
The environmental impacts associated with offshore oil and gas exploration in Namibia's emerging blue economy policy
- Authors: Shaanika, Titus Mwiitantandje
- Date: 2023-12
- Subjects: Marine resources -- Economic aspects -- Namibia , Marine resources development -- Namibia , Coastal zone management -- Namibia
- Language: English
- Type: Master's theses , text
- Identifier: http://hdl.handle.net/10948/65946 , vital:74289
- Description: Oil and gas exploration must have firm and clear environmental protection legislation as a blue economy industry. The Ministry of Mines and Energy regulates offshore oil and gas explorations in Namibia, and this is complemented by the Ministry of Fisheries and Marine Resources, the Ministry of Environment Forestry and Tourism, and the Ministry of Works and Transport to ensure that associated environmental impacts are minimised or mitigated. They govern the environmental protection of offshore oil and gas exploration with one regulation, seven policies, and ten legislations. While these regulations are individually good as they show consideration for most environmental impacts associated with oil and gas explorations, implementation remains challenging due to fragmentation in mandates among the key ministries. A qualitative research approach was used to meet the project objectives. Legislation documents, policy documents, the blue economy, and oil and gas literature were reviewed and interpreted, and they thus provided the content that was analysed to answer the research questions. Which aimed at examining the environmental protection regulations addressing environmental impacts associated with offshore oil and gas exploration in Namibia. Two main environmental impacts were identified, oil spills and underwater noise pollution. While there is adequate consideration for oil spills in the Namibian legislation, there is no specific consideration for underwater noise pollution, a significant environmental impact from offshore upstream activities. Recommendations were made to improve the implementation of environmental protection measures and develop national legislation for mitigating underwater noise pollution. Involving locals (Namibians) in emerging industries, whether marine or not, is critical in identifying environmental threats and socio-economic opportunities, thereby making for an inclusive sector as the blue economy concept intended. , Thesis (MPhil) -- Faculty of Business and Economic Sciences, School of Economics, Development and Tourism, 2023
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- Date Issued: 2023-12
The factors affecting the effectiveness of asset management in the COCT municipality's urban waste management directorate
- Authors: Mganu, Thobeka
- Date: 2023-12
- Subjects: Asset management accounts -- South Africa , Local government -- South Africa
- Language: English
- Type: Master's theses , text
- Identifier: http://hdl.handle.net/10948/65729 , vital:74232
- Description: This study aims to investigate how Internal control system (ICS), Information system (IFS), Employee competence (ECT) and Leadership commitment (LDC) influence the effectiveness of asset management in the City of Cape Town municipality’s Urban Waste Management directorate. A quantitative research approach was employed to investigate these four factors. Primary data was collected from 114 respondents, using online questionnaires that were administered through QuestionPro; the completed questionnaires were then analyzed using Statistica Data Science Workbench, version 14. Results showed that all four factors – Employee Competence, Internal Control System, Information System and Leadership Commitment – have a positive and significant impact on the effectiveness of asset management. The findings and recommendations of this study are expected to provide practical information as well as a reference for municipalities, so as to help them improve their fixed asset management. , Thesis (MBA) -- Faculty of Business and Economic Sciences, Business School, 2023
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- Date Issued: 2023-12
The impact of collaborative writing and scaffolding practices on student writing performance in second language contexts: action research at Midlands State University (MSU)
- Authors: Hlatshwayo, Primrose
- Date: 2023-12
- Subjects: English language -- Context , Writing -- Midlands State University
- Language: English
- Type: Master's theses , text
- Identifier: http://hdl.handle.net/10948/63309 , vital:73248
- Description: The mixed methods action research study explored how collaborative writing and scaffolding practices impacted on the writing performance of students writing in groups. It sought to establish whether using the collaborative writing (CW) method would enhance the writing performance of 55 social work Midlands State University first-year students. Socio-cultural theory (SCT) was employed as the theoretical basis for the study as it emphasises learning in socially constructed environments in which interaction among peers and teachers leads to learning and construction of knowledge. Through the examination of student interactions in two collaborative writing activities, an analysis of student perceptions of CW, and an assessment of student collaboratively produced texts, the study found that the different peer and teacher scaffolding practices that were employed in the collaborative writing sessions significantly enhanced the students’ writing performance. Regardless of the challenges identified in CW, for example, misunderstandings and meaningless contributions from some group members, the research findings revealed that the student interactions offered scaffolding to support their writing activities. For example, validation feedback, link to previous knowledge and the use of correctional feedback were the scaffolding practices used. In addition, the students were able to collaboratively produce better texts with improved cohesive linking, mechanics, organisation, development, structure and vocabulary. The study contributed to L2 collaborative writing literature as it identifies the different student scaffolding approaches and offers an insight into the collaborative writing process and how it could support ESL writing development. However, the methodology posed some limitations, for example, the use of a questionnaire instead of interviews and recording student interactions in a journal instead of audio recording and, lastly, the researcher struggled to balance research demands and her normal teaching load. The study recommends the monitoring of students in CW groups, facilitation of peer/teacher motivation, establishment of group norms and formation of small groups with a maximum number of six members. , Thesis (MA) -- Faculty of Humanities, 2023
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- Date Issued: 2023-12
The impact of knowledge economy on economic complexity in Africa
- Authors: Velamva, Siphosethu
- Date: 2023-12
- Subjects: Knowledge management -- Economic aspects -- Africa , Information technology -- Economic aspects -- Africa , Economic development -- Africa , Gross domestic product Economic history Economics
- Language: English
- Type: Master's theses , text
- Identifier: http://hdl.handle.net/10948/66091 , vital:74349
- Description: The paper’s primary goal is to investigate the impact of the Knowledge Economy on the Economic Complexity in Africa. The paper presents the concept of the knowledge economy, an economy where knowledge is the main engine of economic growth and a measure of the knowledge in a country as expressed in the diversification of its products (Economic Complexity). It highlights the knowledge economy framework by the World Bank, which asserts that sustained investments in education, innovation, information and communication technologies, and a conducive economic and institutional environment will lead to increases in the use and creation of knowledge in economic production. Summary findings on machine learning estimates proved method LASSO has the minimum SE, which shows that the method LASSO forecasts the model with much precision than the other methods. The panel quantile regression results designate that the education component, ICT, economic incentives tend to affect ECI significantly and positively, while government indicators and innovation play a partial role. , Thesis (MCom) -- Faculty of Business and Economic Science, School of Economics, Development and Tourism, 2023
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- Date Issued: 2023-12
The impact of political instability on exchange rates in South Africa: an econometric modelling
- Authors: Munzhelele, Tshilidzi Whitney
- Date: 2023-12
- Subjects: Econometric models , Economics -- Statistical methods , Finance -- Econometric models , Foreign exchange rates -- Econometric models
- Language: English
- Type: Doctoral theses , text
- Identifier: http://hdl.handle.net/10948/65861 , vital:74278
- Description: The exchange rate and political instability are crucial macroeconomic variables strongly related to every economy. In South Africa, exchange rate fluctuations are widely related to major political events. The study analyses the fluctuations in exchange rates by applying exchange rate data over the period 1989 to 2020. The current study, used the predictive quantitative design that combines correlational analysis with predictive modelling. The Unit root results show that political instability and exchange rate are stationary at first difference, and inflation, GDP, political instability, the rule of law, and corruption control and corruption freedom are stationary at level. The Vector Auto Regression model (VAR) was applied to examine the short-run relationship between political instability exchange rate, GDP, inflation, real interest rate, corruption and the rule of law. The results show a short-run relationship between political instability, exchange rate, GDP, inflation, real interest rate, corruption and rule of law. Johansen Cointegration testing was also performed to establish cointegration between variables. The results from the Johansen tests suggest that the model presents a cointegration between political instability, GDP, inflation, real interest rate, corruption and the rule of law and exchange rate, implying that these variables are related and can be combined linearly. The VECM was performed to establish a long-run relationship between variables since cointegration was established between variables. The Vector Error Correction (VEC) model complemented these findings resulting in the null hypothesis that states there is no long-run relationship between variables being rejected. The alternative hypothesis that there is a long-run relationship between variables was accepted. The Granger Causality test was performed to examine the causality between variables and to examine the drivers and causes of exchange rate fluctuations in the VAR model. The results revealed that political instability does not Granger cause exchange rate fluctuations in the short run and that there is a negative relationship between political instability and exchange rate fluctuations. The short-run results revealed that the exchange rate does not Granger cause political instability. However, the exchange rate Granger causes the country's political instability in the long run. This study’s literature review found that political instability harms exchange rates and the economy, and its impact can be felt globally. The results of the study show that there is a negative relationship between political instability and exchange rates. In the short run, the results show that political instability Granger causes inflation. The impulse response function (IRF) was conducted to determine the shock of political instability on the exchange rate. The findings indicate that the magnitude of the shock refers to one standard deviation. The results show that after two years, 92% of the shock in exchange rates is due to the shock on the exchange rate itself, and only 0.12% is due to political instability in the short run. This means that the shock on the exchange rate is associated with the exchange rate itself. The result is consistent with empirical findings in South Africa that fluctuations, in the long run, are largely caused by political instability from corruption. The exchange rate results and the political instability response were used to calibrate the long-run response to exchange rate fluctuation. Political instability was also used to assess the nexus between political instability and economic growth. The results determine a positive relationship between political instability and economic growth. The IRF was performed to track the impact of a variable on other variables (that is, the exchange rate on political instability, GDP, corruption, inflation, real interest rate, the rule of law, and corruption) in the system from several periods in the future. The Autoregressive Integrated Moving Average (ARIMA) model for forecasting was selected because it provides an accurate forecast and satisfies the criteria for an ideal model. The results show that in the future, not much variation can be expected in the long run, meaning that political instability is projected to stabilise from 2021 to 2040, and the exchange rate will increase. The results from the analysis of exchange rates and political instability confirm the existence of a negative relationship between political instability and exchange rates. The findings of the study point to a need for the South African government to immediately respond to an increase in exchange rates and to stabilise the undercurrents caused by macroeconomic shocks. The study will contribute to the theoretical understanding of fluctuations in exchange rates and the formulation of macroeconomic stabilisation. , Thesis (PhD) -- Faculty of Business and Economic Sciences, School of Economics, Development and Tourism , 2023
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- Date Issued: 2023-12
The influence of visual identity elements on the creation of a footwear brand in Ghana
- Authors: Kwarteng-Amaniampong, Emmanuel
- Date: 2023-12
- Subjects: Branding (Marketing) -- Ghana , Brand name products -- Ghana , Footwear industry -- Ghana
- Language: English
- Type: Doctoral theses , text
- Identifier: http://hdl.handle.net/10948/65666 , vital:74226
- Description: Branding is crucial to increase and improve competitiveness in the contemporary market. Due to consumers' sophisticated and high standards for various branded items and services, marketers and organisations are now investing in branding to increase the visibility of their goods and services. All industries share this. The high demand for international footwear brands in Ghana has made the local market uncompetitive, causing many local footwear organisations to lose customers and income to their international competitors and ultimately leading to the failure of many local footwear organisations (Agyeman, 2013:24; Vidal, 2022:2). To save Ghana's declining footwear industry, a new footwear brand must be built. The commitment to the effective implementation of the new footwear brand will raise consumer awareness, improve its visual and cognitive image, and increase its competitiveness. The study investigated how footwear manufacturers could build a powerful brand to save Ghana's domestic footwear market. The study also examined how visual identity elements affected the new footwear brand identity development in Ghana's footwear manufacturing industry. The necessary sample was drawn using convenience non-probability sampling approaches, cluster sampling, and basic random probability sampling. A questionnaire was used in the study's quantitative research design to collect the primary data from a sample of 400 consumers who made footwear purchases at Ghana's three biggest malls: Kumasi City Mall, Accra City Mall, and Achimota Mall in the Ashanti and Greater Accra regions, respectively. The questionnaires were distributed to the respondents via email, then, IBM SPSS (version 28)and AMOS software were used to investigate the data. Descriptive statistics andinferential statistics were the two main types of analysis used for the primary data. These provided the frequency tables showing data structures, correlations showing relationships between variables, regressions showing visual identity elements as predictors of footwear brand identity in Ghana. From the empirical results, the visual identity elements: brand name, logo and symbol colour, slogan, and typography had a statistically significant relationship with the new footwear brand identity in Ghana. The results further reveal that brand awareness and brand image significantly measured the new footwear brand identity. , Thesis (DPhil) -- Faculty of Business and Economic Sciences, School of Management Sciences, 2023
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- Date Issued: 2023-12
The intimate relationships of Xhosa men from the East London area: perceptions of the role and responsibilities
- Authors: Ntsaka, Ayanda
- Date: 2023-12
- Subjects: Intimate relationship , Indigenous Knowledge
- Language: English
- Type: Master's theses , text
- Identifier: http://hdl.handle.net/10948/62958 , vital:73076
- Description: Exploring gender identity and ideology can broaden our comprehension of how gender roles and responsibilities are carried out, and how disparities may be experienced. It is critical to explore them, within research, to generate new insight into the views and positioning of individuals, within their intimate relationships. Therefore, the aim of this study was to explore and describe the perceptions of isiXhosa men about their roles and responsibilities in intimate relationships. The study was broken down into three objectives which were: to explore perceptions of their role within their relationship, to explore their perceptions of their responsibilities within their relationship; and to explore factors supporting change within the roles and responsibilities. The study took the format of an exploratory descriptive research design. Ten Xhosa men were selected as participants using snowball sampling, and semi-structured interviews were used to gather data. Data was analysed using Braune and Clarke’s (2006) reflexive thematic analysis. The study came to the conclusion that there are two main roles of Xhosa men in intimate relationship, namely: head of the house; and the provider. Three dominant responsibilities were found to be common among the participants, namely, making all main decisions, providing financial support, and responsibility to safeguard. The study also found factors causing Xhosa men to change their roles and responsibilities in intimate relationsh were unemployment, disrespectful partner, extended family needs, demanding job and inadequate income from work. Lastly, the study concluded that the extent to which the changes of the roles and responsibilities among Xhosa men may affect their intimate relationships include break-ups/divorce, domestic violence, dysfunctional families – fragmentation of families and mental and emotional health issues. , Thesis (Ma) -- Faculty of Health Science, 2023
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- Date Issued: 2023-12
The role of dynamic capabilities and enterprise risk management on SMMEs business continuity in Nelson Mandela Bay Metropolitan Municipality
- Authors: Sishuba, Hlumela
- Date: 2023-12
- Subjects: Risk management , Crisis management -- South Africa , Small business -- Management -- South Africa
- Language: English
- Type: Master's theses , text
- Identifier: http://hdl.handle.net/10948/65979 , vital:74293
- Description: Business continuity does not happen by chance, it is rather enabled or propelled by various activities in business operations. This study examines the role of dynamic capabilities and enterprise risk management and their role in the continuity of Small, Micro and Medium Enterprises (SMMEs) in the Nelson Mandela Bay Metropolitan Municipality. Fixated in the positivist paradigm, this study adopted a quantitative research approach to collect data from 105 SMMEs registered with the Nelson Mandela Bay Business Chamber, who were sampled using stratified and convenience sampling. Data was collected via an online survey on Google Forms and analysed using SPSS version 23. Descriptive statistics and statistical analysis methods were applied using SPSS version 23. The analysis was done in three phases. Firstly, the researcher conducted a reliability analysis of the questionnaire, and secondly, a descriptive statistical analysis to examine the research questions. The third phase was a statistical analysis to test the hypothesis. A Pearson‟s correlation test was performed to test the relationship between dynamic capabilities and enterprise risk management. The findings showed that, as enterprise risk is managed, dynamic capabilities increase, and thus there is a significant relationship between dynamic capabilities and enterprise risk management. The correlation between the variables which measured the dynamic capabilities and those which measured enterprise risk management seemed to be significant as they were all above 0.05. Therefore, it can be concluded that dynamic capabilities and enterprise risk management contribute to business continuity. This means that dynamic capabilities enhance business continuity, dynamic capabilities enhance enterprise risk management and enterprise risk management enhances business continuity. To leverage these positive relations, SMMEs ought to employ ERM experts or engage ERM consultants who will design Enterprise Risk management (ERM) strategies that are compatible with their enterprises. It is also recommended for SMMEs to have quarterly evaluations of the Enterprise Risk Management strategies and Dynamic Capabilities that enhance their business continuity planning , Thesis (MBA) -- Faculty of Business and Economic Sciences, Business School, 2023
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- Date Issued: 2023-12
The role of mentoring in the advancement of female leadership in corporate organisations
- Authors: Mhlanga, Siyavuya Marcia
- Date: 2023-12
- Subjects: Leadership in women -- South Africa , Women executives , Mentoring in business
- Language: English
- Type: Master's theses , text
- Identifier: http://hdl.handle.net/10948/65762 , vital:74235
- Description: Richard Branson reportedly said that “if you ask any successful business person, at some point along the road, they will always have had a great mentor”. The lack of representation of females at senior and executive levels is slowly transforming, yet not at the required rate. The study was conducted to evaluate the role of mentoring in the advancement of female leadership in corporate organisations. The research method that was followed was a qualitative and explanatory inductive approach to interview participants and observe their experiences and opinions with regard to the role of mentoring in the advancement of women through the following themes: job satisfaction, organisational culture, organisational development mentoring and the barriers and challenges that affect women. The focus area includes women in current senior level positions who have aspirations to advance into more senior or executive levels. Semi-structured interviews were conducted with participants and due to the COVID-19 pandemic that has affected the globe, a small group of well-respected individuals was selected according to their credibility. The key observations reflected within the study that the themes which were dominant included the following: 1)inequality, 2) lack of support and the importance of a sponsor/coach and 3) barriersand challenges (the “glass ceiling” and “boys club”) that still exist. The findings of the study will equip the role players within corporate organisations and associated bodies to ensure mentoring is used and encouraged for adoption among all organisations, implement mentorship strategies and apply the ADAPT mentoring model. Furthermore, the findings will serve to bring relevant insights and recommendations to promote more women in senior, executive and board-level positions. The implications of the findings suggest that mentoring is an enabler of advancement leverage for female leadership into senior and executive levels. The limitations of the study were the effects of COVID-19 and the subsequent countrywide lockdown, where constraints of meeting in person, availability of time, network and data constraints availed themselves. The researcher was unbale to ascertain long-term effects of the role of mentoring in advancing female leadership, but rather encourages its main benefits and is positive of the influence it may hold to set a precedent. The study established that the ability to create spaces of empowering women in corporates builds strong, economically viable corporates that promote mentoring to advance female representation. , Thesis (MBA) -- Faculty of Business and Economic Sciences, Business School, 2023
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- Date Issued: 2023-12
The state of professional compliance during project implementation in a selected construction industry in Gauteng
- Authors: Mailula, Manyaku Jerida
- Date: 2023-12
- Subjects: Project management -- South Africa , Construction industry -- South Africa -- Management , Construction industry -- Management
- Language: English
- Type: Master's theses , text
- Identifier: http://hdl.handle.net/10948/65677 , vital:74227
- Description: Public sector construction projects in South Africa are not always implemented successfully as a result of professional non-compliance in the construction industry by professionals entrusted with the responsibility to deliver construction projects. Professionals in the construction industry registered with the built environment regulatory bodies must demonstrate professionalism in terms of competency and conduct when carrying out their professional duties as prescribed by the relevant regulatory bodies they belong to. This study utilised a qualitative case study to investigate the state of professional compliance during project implementation in a selected construction industry in Gauteng. A purposive sampling method was adopted to select participants with at least two years’ experience in managing public sector construction project implementation in Gauteng, resulting in 11 participants in the study. Semi-structured interview questions were designed and put to the participants during telephonic interviews. The research findings suggest that professional competency and conduct compliance requirements which contribute to effective project implementation include a relevant qualification as an initial step to become professional in the construction industry, followed by work experience, knowledge and registration with relevant regulatory and professional bodies which also require registered professionals to abide by their ethics and code of conduct. The findings suggest that the forms of non-compliance in terms of professional competency and conduct affecting effective project implementation were the result of a lack of experience or knowledge of construction professionals in relation to the project, poor quality of work and professionals’ neglect of duties. The perceived types of professional non-compliance affecting effective project implementation in the construction industry revealed by the findings included amongst others, breach of obligations, corruption, bribery and fraud, conflict of interest and carelessness; and factors of professional non-compliance such as high discounts, community disruptions, junior staff not been monitored, political relations and competition. , Thesis (MBA) -- Faculty of Business and Economic Sciences, Business School, 2023
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- Date Issued: 2023-12
The use of a feminist political economy framework to implement the African Union’s development plan
- Authors: Ngunjiri, Michelle Wangari
- Date: 2023-12
- Subjects: Feminist economics , Women -- Government policy , African Union , Sustainable development -- Africa Africa -- Economic policy
- Language: English
- Type: Master's theses , text
- Identifier: http://hdl.handle.net/10948/65891 , vital:74281
- Description: The purpose of this study was to determine if the African Union can achieve sustainable and inclusive growth through the adoption of a feminist political economy framework. This was done by investigating the potential gendered impact of the recently operationalised African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA) on African women. The specific indicator of sustainable and inclusive growth utilised was the “income poverty and equity parameter”. Owing to the contemporary nature of the trade agreement, a historical analysis of gender mainstreaming efforts within African Regional Economic Communities was undertaken. This aided in determining the arbitrary treatment of gender provisions in regional trade initiatives. Additionally, a nexus was drawn between the role of African hegemonies and the disregard for gender sensitivity in trade policies. It was found that despite the existence of gender mainstreaming tools, the achievement of sustainable and inclusive growth by the African Union will be unattainable. , Thesis (MA) -- Faculty of Business and Economic Sciences, School of Economics, Development and Tourism, 2023
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- Date Issued: 2023-12
The use of a novel chemical system towards improving waste tyre pyrolysis and the quality of waste tyre pyrolysis products
- Authors: Tsipa, Phuti Cedric , Iwarere, Samuel
- Date: 2023-12
- Subjects: Tires -- Recycling , Rubber chemicals , Rubber, Reclaimed
- Language: English
- Type: Doctorial theses , text
- Identifier: http://hdl.handle.net/10948/62666 , vital:72912
- Description: Pyrolysis process is one of the most efficient methods in the waste tyre recycling sector at this moment, hence the attention it is receiving. However, this process has some limitations, with the main one being that it is non-conventional and typically energy intensive. In addition, its resultant products have been reported to have significantly poorer properties relative to their virgin counterparts, making it difficult to incorporate them in the mainstream of raw materials. For instance, waste tyre pyrolysis oil typically has poor fuel properties, high sulfur content, high amount of polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs) and strong unpleasant odour; on the other hand, the quality of the recovered carbon black is dependent on the feedstock and the pyrolysis process conditions. Hence the need for further research and development to make the process effective and improve the quality of resultant products. The aim of this research project was to study the impact of pre-pyrolysis treatment of tyre crumbs and post-pyrolysis treatment of the oil using a novel chemical system on the quality/composition of the resultant products. In addition, the study compared the impact of pre- and post-pyrolysis treatments on the optimum pyrolysis time and temperature (energy). The equipment employed in this study included a vertical fixed bed pyrolysis pilot reactor (modified to suit the reaction/experiment) as well as characterization techniques such as fourier transform infrared (FTIR), elemental analysis (carbon, hydrogen, nitrogen and sulfur – CHNS analysis), gas chromatography coupled to mass spectrometer (GCMS), gas chromatography coupled to flame photometric detector (GCFPD), thermo-gravimetric and derivative analysis (TG/DTG isothermal analysis, and proximate analysis) and scanning electron microscope (SEM). The highlight of the findings is that chemically pre-treating tyre crumbs with a mixture of protonic acid and organic solvent before pyrolysis significantly lowered the temperature required to pyrolyze them, from around 400-500 ℃ to 100-115 ℃. This meant that by using the chemical treatment on waste tyres a lot of energy can be saved. In addition, the sulfur content in the oil fraction was reduced from a total of 1.7 wt% to a total of about 0.2 wt%. This also showed that the contaminants in oil were significantly reduced. The oil was condensed into three (3) collectors for fractionation; in collector 2 was about 54 % of the total oil with sulfur content of about 0.015 wt%. The PAHs amounts were also lowered, as literature indicated that PAHs are mostly formed at around 600-700 ℃. It was also found that the oil produced from post-pyrolysis treatment of oil has a petroleum-like smell, whereas the pre-pyrolysis treated oil has a tyre-like pungent odour. Furthermore, the post-pyrolysis treated oil contains higher contents of alkanes and benzene, toluene, xylene (BTX). Findings of this study have a profound potential impact on the waste tyre recycling industry; for example, reduced production energy cost due to lowered temperature required for pyrolysis, improved quality of the products such as lowered sulfur and PAHs content as well as improved quality of the residual char and odour. , Thesis (PhD) -- Faculty of Science, School of Biomolecular and Chemical Sciences, 2023
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- Date Issued: 2023-12
Traditional birth attendants’ perceptions of their role in caring for women during childbirth in the Nyandeni sub-district
- Authors: Sinxi, Sisanda
- Date: 2023-12
- Subjects: Traditional Birth , Midwives--Nyandeni sub district
- Language: English
- Type: Master's theses , text
- Identifier: http://hdl.handle.net/10948/63012 , vital:73082
- Description: The role of Traditional Birth Attendants (TBAs) has been within remote communities for a long time. TBAs remain a major health resource in rural communities in developing countries as well as in some parts of urban areas. South Africa is a long way from effectively utilising TBAs as a community resource to enhance access to maternity services. This qualitative study, with an explorative, contextual, and descriptive design, included ten (n=12) TBAs aged between 38 and 56 years who met the inclusion criteria and were interviewed for the study. The objective of the study was to explore and describe TBAs’ perceptions of their role in caring for women during childbirth in the Nyandeni Sub-district. Data for this study was collected using face-to- face and individual semi-structured interviews, and field notes. Recorded data was transcribed verbatim and analysed using thematic analysis. Three main themes emerged, namely: TBAs perceive their role in caring for women as an essential service to women in the community; they believe that they possess the knowledge to conduct deliveries safely; and acknowledge that collaboration with the Department of Health could strengthen rural midwifery services. , Thesis (Ma) -- Faculty of Health Science, 2023
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- Date Issued: 2023-12
A qualitative systematic review exploring online learning experiences among university students during Covid-19: An African Context
- Authors: Thoka, Tebogo https://orcid.org/0000-0002-6763-6367
- Date: 2023-11
- Subjects: Internet in higher education , Education, Higher -- Computer-assisted instruction , Communicable diseases
- Language: English
- Type: Master's theses , text
- Identifier: http://hdl.handle.net/10353/28606 , vital:74472
- Description: The sudden and immediate transition to online learning during the COVID-19 pandemic brought forth unprecedented challenges, particularly within the education sector. In Africa, this shift was necessitated by the need to safeguard lives and preserve the academic year. However, the absence of adequate contextual consideration introduced additional complexities, influencing how students in the African context navigated their learning experiences during this unique time.This study aimed to comprehensively synthesize the online learning experiences of university students in Africa amid the COVID-19 pandemic and evaluate the influence of these experiences on academic performance. Drawing from the systematic review protocol proposed by Hemingway and Brereton, seven (7) qualitative research articles were rigorously selected based on predefined inclusion criteria and meticulously examined.Thematic analysis of the chosen articles revealed two overarching themes. The first, "Emotional Distress," encapsulated students' experiences of anxiety, depressive emotions, and anger. Contributing factors included limited interaction opportunities, a sense of isolation, insufficient online learning resources, inflexible course structures, and non-conducive learning environments. The second overarching theme, "Growth," encompassed improvements in grades and enhanced self-directed learning abilities.These findings hold significant implications for the enhancement of online learning experiences in Africa. To address the challenges associated with emotional distress and foster growth, we propose the following recommendations: increased focus on social interaction and support mechanisms, equitable access to online resources, flexible course structures, and fostering conducive learning environments. , Thesis (MA) -- Faculty of Social Sciences and Humanities, 2023
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- Date Issued: 2023-11