Showing items 181 - 200 of 908

Your selections:

An investigation of the empowerment needs of councillors with reference to the King Sabata Dalindyebo local municipality, province of the Eastern Cape

  • Authors: Gqamane, Zukiswa
  • Date: 2011
  • Subjects: Employee empowerment -- South Africa , Municipal officials and employees , Employee empowerment -- Dissertations , Local government
  • Language: English
  • Type: Thesis , Masters , MA
  • Identifier: vital:8234 , http://hdl.handle.net/10948/d1010168 , Employee empowerment -- South Africa , Municipal officials and employees , Employee empowerment -- Dissertations , Local government
  • Description: The purpose of this study was to investigate the empowerment needs of councillors in a municipality. The main focus was to assess the successes or inadequacies of the empowerment programmes previously offered to councillors by the King Sabata Dalindyebo Local Municipality. In order to achieve the research objectives an in-depth literature study was undertaken. A survey was also conducted to examine the level of empowerment being offered by the King Sabata Dalindyebo Local Municipality to its councillors and the data was collected by means of self-administered questionnaires. The literature study proved the hypothesis to be correct, which stated that empowered councillors could enhance effective public participation, effective communication which could result in effective service delivery. The empirical study revealed that certain councillors require adequate training in areas such as communication skills, council’s rules of procedures and new developmental mandate assigned to local government. The empirical survey also revealed that there is limited mutual trust between councillors and the senior officials, immediate intervention is required to restore trust between councillors and officials. It has been recommended that King Sabata Dalindyebo Local Municipality should not only provide regular “in house” training, but also training conducted by outside agencies is required. In certain instances, one may find that municipalities may not have fully capacitated persons for “in house” training. Thus, outside agencies which possess the relevant expertise such as universities and SALGA should be encouraged to also facilitate capacity training for councillors.
  • Full Text:
  • Date Issued: 2011

An investigation of the role of community development workers: Bitou municipality

  • Authors: Gogi, Andile
  • Date: 2011
  • Subjects: Community development -- South Africa -- Eastern Cape -- Management , City council members -- South Africa , Community development -- Economic aspects , Community development -- Environmental aspects , Community development -- Social aspects , Economic development projects -- Management
  • Language: English
  • Type: Thesis , Masters , MPA
  • Identifier: vital:8270 , http://hdl.handle.net/10948/d1015689
  • Description: This treatise investigates the role of Community DevelopmentWorkers, with reference to the Bitou Municipality. The treatise comprises five chapters. The concept of Community Development Programme is fairly new in South Africa; therefore, further research is needed on the subject. A literature review was done to establish the concept and the background of the CDWP. A questionnaire was developed in order to obtain primary data from a selected sample group. The data obtained from the questionnaire was statistically analysed and interpreted. The core findings from the analysed questionnaire indicated the following: (a) CDWs clearly understand their role and responsibility, but there is a need for roles and functions to be clearly defined, with detailed terms of reference, to ensure a common understanding with other stakeholders, e.g. Ward Committees, Councillors, Non-governmental organisations, Communitybased organisations, and members of the community. (b) living conditions in the wards improved following the introduction of the CDWP. (c) there is a good relationship between CDWs, Ward Committees and Ward Councillors, but there is also a perception that Ward Committees and Community Development Workers constantly clash or compete in the wards in which they serve. (d) CDWs should not be affiliated to the ruling or any political party. (e) CDWs are confused regarding who is responsible for their remuneration (the Municipality or the Provincial Department of Local Government).
  • Full Text:
  • Date Issued: 2011

An investigation of urban agriculture projects as a local economic development mechanism to alleviate poverty in the Nelson Mandela Bay Municipality

  • Authors: Khomo, Phumelelo Edwin
  • Date: 2011
  • Subjects: Nelson Mandela Bay Municipality (Eastern Cape, South Africa) -- Economic conditions , Poverty -- South Africa -- Eastern Cape -- Nelson Mandela Bay Municipality -- Prevention , Urban agriculture -- South Africa -- Eastern Cape -- Nelson Mandela Bay Municipality -- Economic aspects , Agricultural development projects -- South Africa -- Eastern Cape -- Nelson Mandela Bay Municipality , Land use, Urban -- South Africa -- Eastern Cape -- Nelson Mandela Bay Municipality
  • Language: English
  • Type: Thesis , Masters , MA
  • Identifier: vital:9052 , http://hdl.handle.net/10948/1596 , Nelson Mandela Bay Municipality (Eastern Cape, South Africa) -- Economic conditions , Poverty -- South Africa -- Eastern Cape -- Nelson Mandela Bay Municipality -- Prevention , Urban agriculture -- South Africa -- Eastern Cape -- Nelson Mandela Bay Municipality -- Economic aspects , Agricultural development projects -- South Africa -- Eastern Cape -- Nelson Mandela Bay Municipality , Land use, Urban -- South Africa -- Eastern Cape -- Nelson Mandela Bay Municipality
  • Description: Around the globe, towns and cities are growing rapidly in developing countries due to migration. The rate of urban growth outweighs job creation and the ability of most governments to provide basic services and infrastructure. The process of migration often precipitates into high levels of poverty and hunger, leading many urban dwellers to engage in agricultural activities to help themselves in satisfying their food need. The context of the research area is the NMBM townships where urban agriculture projects are taking place. There are three urban agriculture projects that were selected for this study and these are located in three different townships within the NMBM. Two of these projects are located in the Port Elizabeth area, which are the Emmanuel Haven Hydroponics Project, which is located in Motherwell Township, and the Walmer Hydroponics Co-operative that is in Walmer Township. The third project is located in the Uitenhage area near Kwa Nobuhle Township and that is the Tinarha Agriculture Tourism Initiative (TATI). The discussion in this research focuses on the NMBM poverty alleviation projects in the form of urban agriculture as a key driver of LED. The discussion also focuses on different factors that are required for urban agriculture projects to be effective and sustainable in the NMBM. Five project participants from each project responded to a structured questionnaire. Two municipal officials, the Agricultural Technician and the Urban Agriculture Director were interviewed and responded to a separate structured questionnaire. The third official, Assistant Director for Economic Development and Recreational Services was not interviewed but completed a questionnaire. The aim of the interviews was to determine the following from the project participants: (i) The impact of the projects in their livelihood; (ii) The role of the projects in creating employment; (iii) The views of the project participants regarding the sustainability of the projects. vi The aim of the interviews was to determine the following from the municipal managers: (i) The approach of the NMBM to urban agriculture initiatives as a LED strategy; (ii) The role of NMBM to ensure sustainability of the urban agriculture projects. The theoretical base that underpins this research hinges on four theoretical approaches: the basic needs approach, the people-centred development approach, the participation approach and the sustainable development approach. The research method that was chosen for this study is qualitative method included the following data collection instruments a literature review, a documentary analysis, a survey using questionnaires and interviews with project participants and municipal officials responsible for urban agriculture in the NMBM. The literature review formed the conceptual basis against which the information gained from documentary analysis, interviews and questionnaires were analysed. The projects that participated in the study were formed, amongst others, to alleviate poverty, thereby serving one of the basic needs which is food. Food is one of the basic needs in terms of Maslow‟s Hierarchy of Needs. The data collected in this study revealed that the three projects helped the project participants a great deal in meeting their basic needs, especially the food need. Therefore, there is a direct connection between the Basic Needs theory and the rationale behind the formation of these projects. In conclusion, the researcher has been able to draw a link between the theoretical underpinnings of the study and the practice as represented by experiences of the group sample. The researcher has also been able to demonstrate how the aims and the objectives of the study have been met.
  • Full Text:
  • Date Issued: 2011

An investigation on how educators experience their workloads against the background of teacher shortage

  • Authors: Xabanisa, X V
  • Date: 2011
  • Subjects: Teacher shortage -- Workload
  • Language: English
  • Type: Thesis , Masters , M Ed
  • Identifier: vital:18415 , http://hdl.handle.net/11260/d1006570
  • Description: An investigation on how educators experience their workloads against the background of teacher shortage. This research study seeks to explore educators’ experiences of the effects of educator shortage on the academic performance of Grade 12 learners in the Butterworth Education District, in the Eastern Cape Province of South Africa. The research study was a result of the South African literature in education which over- emphasises the poor quality of teacher development as though it is the only cause of the poor academic performance of learners in South African Senior Secondary Schools. For example, the Centre for Education Policy Development Evaluation and Management (CEPD) (2000, p.130) asserts that “Training for educators and managers has been spotlighted in the Curriculum Review Report”. Through this study the researcher wanted to explore other possible explanations for the poor academic performance of the Grade 12 learners in the Butterworth Education District. The research study seeks to investigate whether educator shortages in Senior Secondary Schools could be responsible for the poor academic performance of learners in Grade 12. It was imperative therefore to look into the views and experiences of educators in this regard, with the object of finding the extent of educator shortages in schools, and the possible measures to address the situation, if it is a reality in schools. Six schools were selected, with each providing five participants who made a sum of 30 educators who volunteered to participate in the study. The study was an interpretive survey, where the qualitative methodology was used. The data was collected using semi-structured interviews. A tape recorder was also used to ensure that participants were not misrepresented in the analysis and discussions of the findings. The data was presented, analysed and discussed according to the patterns and themes derived from the sub-research questions. It emerged from the study that there are educator shortages in most senior secondary schools in the Butterworth Education District. This was due to the policies and reports which were contrary to one another. Contradictory reports were produced by three highly respected research institutions the National Teacher Educator Audit (NTEA) there was an oversupply of educators in South African schools (Hofmeyr and Hall 1996). On the other hand the research was conducted by the Pre-Service Education and Training (PRESET) and In-service Educational Service and Training (INSET) published that there is serious educator shortage in South Africa. There was a lack of insight from the Management of the National Department of Education, together with the Provincial Managers of education. These managers of the DoE failed to note that the decisions that they had made in 1994, of ensuring that all learners between ages of 7 and 15 should be taken by parents to school, would negatively affect the future of education if it was not properly planned for. This call for all learners of the above mentioned ages to go to school was made in line with the South African Schools Act No. 84 0f 1996. The implication of the Governments call to send more learners to school, whether parents had money or not, was that more educators had to be employed in the future but that did not happen. Instead, a once-off policy of severance packages was implemented by the government, which led to a lot of good educators taking their packages and leaving the profession. Literature reveals that Teacher Training Colleges were closed at about the same time. The literature also reveals that before the closure of Teacher Training Colleges there was a challenge of redeployment which was also not properly planned, implemented and monitored by the Provincial Managers of the DoE. The study reveals that poor planning of this process led to overcrowded classrooms, a phenomenon which was further exacerbated by the fact that the salaries of Principals and the HoDs in schools were linked to the number of learners the school had admitted. This had its own ramification like schools over-admitting learners because it meant more money for the principals and Heads of Departments. The study has revealed serious consequences which emanated from the educator shortage as a result of overcrowded classes. The literature also reveal that educators get employed and use the profession of teaching as a stepping stone for better paying professions. According to Peltzer, et al. (2005, p.35) “around 21 000 educators were leaving the system annually, although up to 30% of these were temporary teachers.” South Africa faces challenges with its pool of available educators. One of these challenges is that of attracting new educators into the teaching profession and another is the challenge of how to retain those already in the system (DoE, 2005 p.13). In the event that there are teacher shortage in the system the DoE is using the available educators to teach larger classes than they are capable. This causes problems when these teachers have to teach outside their areas of specialization. These consequences include the fact that educators are teaching more than six classes a day, and educators are overloaded; they do not have sufficient time to provide individual attention to the learners, mark leaner assessments, provide feedback on time, or do remedial work. The study also revealed that most educators are suffering from burnout and stress due to too much workload. The study has also shown that educators work even on Saturdays and holidays to try to finish the syllabus. As a result, there are very few young stars who aspire to making education their career. More educators are changing their careers because they know that life is about improved standards of living. The question is: What is the use of having all the good policies aimed at improving the quality of teaching and learning if there are insufficient implementers (educators) of these policies in schools. The policies include School Based Assessment (SBA), Annual National Assessment (ANA), Systemic Evaluation, Common Tasks for Assessments (CATs), Whole School Evaluation (WSE) and the Integrated Quality Management Systems (IQMS). Recommendations have been proposed on the strategies that the DoE may employ to address the educator shortage in schools and the quality of education.
  • Full Text:
  • Date Issued: 2011

An investigative study of parental involvement in the governance of public and private schools in the Matatiele Distict of the Eastern Cape Province of South Africa

  • Authors: Mnukwa, Zolile Maxwell
  • Date: 2011
  • Subjects: Parents -- School governance , South Africa -- Eastern Cape
  • Language: English
  • Type: Thesis , Masters , M Ed
  • Identifier: vital:18420 , http://hdl.handle.net/11260/d1006644
  • Description: This is a comparative study of parental involvement in the governance of public and private schools in the Matatiele District of the Eastern Cape Province of South Africa. Parental involvement can range from occasional attendance of the school functions to partnership through parent teacher organizations and parent management bodies. Education is a national enterprise that requires the co-operation and participation of all the role players who are parents, community, teachers, learners and the Department of Education. The problem to be investigated in this study is: Why is it that parental involvement is more positive in the governance of private schools than that of public schools? Two schools were selected for the study and the researcher administered questionnaires personally by hand and conducted face to face interviews to collect the primary data. The responses of the administered questionnaire were tabulated and recorded in table form so as to give an accurate interpretation of what was revealed in the data. Patterns in the data were considered in order to provide an accurate interpretation of the information. The findings were divided into two, that is: findings from the public school and those from private schools. From the public school it was found that: parents are not involved in the governance of the school; the school does not involve parents on financial matters; parents do not attend meetings when invited; they do not know their roles and responsibilities, for example, according to the South African Schools Act (SASA), parents must be actively involved in the governance of the school in their community and that there is an element of ignorance and negligence on the part of parents towards their children’s education. From the private schools it was found that: parents are more involved in the governance of the school; they attend and participate actively in school meetings; the school involves parents in financial matters and as such the financial support from the parents is very good; parents are much involved in the monitoring of the progress of their learner’s education and are passionate about the school and seem to own the policies and the governance of the whole school system. The conclusion drawn from the study is that private schools allow for parental involvement in the governance of their schools whereas in public schools parental involvement is low.
  • Full Text:
  • Date Issued: 2011

An Investigative Study of Parental Involvement in The Governance of Public and Private Schools in The Matatiele District of the Eastern Cape Province of South Africa

  • Authors: Mnukwa, Zolile Maxwell
  • Date: 2011
  • Language: English
  • Type: Masters theses , text
  • Identifier: http://hdl.handle.net/11260/3506 , vital:43617
  • Description: This is a comparative study of parental involvement in the governance of public and private schools in the Matatiele District of the Eastern Cape Province of South Africa. Parental involvement can range from occasional attendance of the school functions to partnership through parent teacher organizations and parent management bodies. Education is a national enterprise that requires the co-operation and participation of all the role players who are parents, community, teachers, learners and the Department of Education. The problem to be investigated in this study is: Why is it that parental involvement is more positive in the governance of private schools than that of public schools? Two schools were selected for the study and the researcher administered questionnaires personally by hand and conducted face to face interviews to collect the primary data. The responses of the administered questionnaire were tabulated and recorded in table form so as to give an accurate interpretation of what was revealed in the data. Patterns in the data were considered in order to provide an accurate interpretation of the information. The findings were divided into two, that is: findings from the public school and those from private schools. From the public school it was found that: parents are not involved in the governance of the school; the school does not involve parents on financial matters; parents do not attend meetings when invited; they do not know their roles and responsibilities, for example, according to the South African Schools Act (SASA), parents must be actively involved in the governance of the school in their community and that there is an element of ignorance and negligence on the part of parents towards their children’s education. From the private schools it was found that: parents are more involved in the governance of the school; they attend and participate actively in school meetings; the school involves parents in financial matters and as such the financial support from the parents is very good; parents are much involved in the monitoring of the progress of their learner’s education and are passionate about the school and seem to own the policies and the governance of the whole school system. The conclusion drawn from the study is that private schools allow for parental involvement in the governance of their schools whereas in public schools parental involvement is low. , Thesis (MMED) -- Faculty of Educational Sciences, 2011
  • Full Text:
  • Date Issued: 2011

An ion imprinted polymer for the determination of Ni (II) ions from mine tailing samples

  • Authors: Rammika, Modise
  • Date: 2011
  • Subjects: Imprinted polymers , Metal ions , Polymerization , Mineral industries -- Waste disposal
  • Language: English
  • Type: Thesis , Masters , MSc
  • Identifier: vital:4323 , http://hdl.handle.net/10962/d1004981 , Imprinted polymers , Metal ions , Polymerization , Mineral industries -- Waste disposal
  • Description: A Ni(II)-dimethylglyoxime ion imprinted polymer {Ni(II)-DMG IIP} was synthesized by the trapping method using the bulk polymerisation format. The structures of the imprinted and non-imprinted polymer were evaluated by infrared spectroscopy and the morphology was observed by scanning electron microscopy. The Ni(II)-DMG IIP was optimised for pH, mass, time and by the uniform design experimental method for the molar ratios of monomer to crosslinker to porogen and template to ligands as well as keeping these parameters constant and varying the quantities of initiator, 2,2'-azobisisobutyronitrile (AIBN). The optimum pH was 8.5, optimum mass was 50 mg, optimum time was 1 min and the optimum molar ratios of crosslinker to monomer, monomer to template and nickel(II) sulfate hexahydrate (NiSO₄.6H₂O) to 4-vinylpyridine to dimethylglyoxime were found to be 3.3:1.0, 0.6:1.0 and 1.0:0.6:3.6 respectively with 30 mg and 8 mL as the optimum amounts of initiator and porogen respectively. Through this optimisation, recovery of Ni(II) was increased from 98 to 100%. Selectivity of the ion imprinted polymer was evaluated by analysing, using an inductively coupled plasma-optical emission spectrometer, for Ni(II) ions that were spiked with varying concentrations of Co(II), Cu(II), Zn(II), Pd(II), Fe(II), Ca(II), Mg(II), Na(I) and K(I) in aqueous samples. Selectivity studies also confirmed that the ion imprinted polymer had very good selectivity characterised by % RSD of less than 5 %. Co(II) was the only ion found to slightly interfere with the determination of Ni(II). The limits of detection and quantification were found to be 3x10⁻⁴ μg/mL and 9x10⁻⁴ μg/mL respectively. The method was evaluated by a custom solution of ground water certified reference material (SEP-3) and sandy soil reference material (BCR-142R) and the concentrations of Ni(II) obtained were not significantly different to the certified ones. The Ni(II)-DMG IIP was then evaluated in aqueous and soil samples where recoveries of 93 to 100% and 98 to 99% respectively were obtained with enrichment factors ranging from 2 to 18 in aqueous and 27 to 40 in soil samples. Finally, the Ni(II)-DMG IIP was used to analyse mine tailings samples and Ni(II) recovery of 99% was obtained with an enrichment factor of 2.
  • Full Text:
  • Date Issued: 2011

An organisation development intervention in a secondary school in the Erongo region of Namibia

  • Authors: Steenkamp, Angeline Anna
  • Date: 2011
  • Subjects: School management and organization -- Namibia -- Erongo Organizational change -- Namibia -- Erongo Curriculum planning -- Namibia -- Erongo
  • Language: English
  • Type: Thesis , Masters , MEd
  • Identifier: vital:1683 , http://hdl.handle.net/10962/d1003566
  • Description: The challenge for Namibia is to translate Vision 2030 into realistic and implementable programmes and to develop and adopt a set of interventions which will raise the quality of education. The quality of education currently on offer varies from school to school and, indeed, from class to class (Namibia. MoE, 2006, p. 1). The National Standards and Performance Indicators (ETSIP, 2006) for schools in Namibia and the Education and Training Sector Improvement Programme (ETSIP), have been developed to address the quality of education across the country, and to make provision for school managers to be trained. Organisation Development is a planned change approach which focuses on the change processes of the organisation, by opening up communication, decreasing internal destructiveness – such as win-lose conflicts – and by increasing creativity in problem solving. It is based on the values and assumptions about people and their organisations. OD promotes interdependence and interconnectedness, involvement in problem solving and decision making. OD is a process for teaching people how to solve problems, take advantage of opportunities, and learn how to do better over time. OD was introduced to Evergreen Senior Secondary School in the form of a Survey Data Feedback (SDF) where data was collected, analysed and fed back to the participants. The case study involved 20 staff members made up of the principal, two head of departments and 17 teachers. Formal and focus-group interviews, as well as observation, were used to collect data. What was derived from the data was that the OD approach was something new to the participants, and served as an eye-opener. Further, it became evident from the data that participants had high hopes that OD would bring about immediate visible changes regarding the operation of their organisation. It is essential to remind participants that OD is a long-term change process, and not a “quick fix”.
  • Full Text:
  • Date Issued: 2011

Analysis of a human capital plan for the southern region of Eskom distribution

  • Authors: Moonsamy, Sivabakiam Maduray
  • Date: 2011
  • Subjects: Eskom (Firm) , Human capital -- Planning , Strategic Planning
  • Language: English
  • Type: Thesis , Masters , MTech
  • Identifier: vital:9386 , http://hdl.handle.net/10948/d1010996 , Eskom (Firm) , Human capital -- Planning , Strategic Planning
  • Description: We are living in an era of inconceivable knowledge, skills and talent paucity as technology continue to revolutionise the world, creating new and diverse economic opportunities and changing the perception of work, its environments and the skills and knowledge demanded in organisations. This phenomenon has resulted in global competition for skilled and knowledge workers as the new world of work morphs enigmatically, leaving organisations vulnerable, and unable to deal with this complex issue. Organisational leaders are cognisant of the changes, but are grappling with the problems of managing, retaining, and creating a resilient workforce. If talent is put onto the back burner and left unattended, it has the potential to create overwhelming turmoil in the South African economy and the economies throughout the world. The global changes will impact directly on how we approach workforce challenges in the future. Today, human capital is regarded as the distinct wealth contributor and creator for economic and organisational prosperity (Meyer, 2004). Hence, Human Capital Planning is crucial for every organisation, including Eskom, to ensure that its strategic objectives are met through the effective management and utilisation of its human resources in order to maintain its competitive advantage and ensure its sustainability into the future. Globally, as well as in South Africa, various contributing factors have resulted in skills shortages throughout the energy industry. Eskom has embarked on several growth initiatives requiring additional manpower, diverse specialist knowledge and skills-sets, and a more robust pipeline of technically qualified employees across all levels in the organisation firstly, to sustain itself, and secondly to embed the transition of a high performing organisation by attracting and acquiring the right skills and talent in the right jobs (Eskom Business Plan, 2010). Human Capital Planning is therefore crucial especially for Eskom Distribution, Southern Region to ensure that its strategic objectives are met through the effective management and optimisation of its human resources, whilst simultaneously cognisant of the changing landscape both internally, viz. within the region and the broader Eskom, and externally in South Africa and the global markets.
  • Full Text:
  • Date Issued: 2011

Analysis of community-based coping and adaptation strategies to climate variability and change for sustainable rural livelihoods : a case study of Kaunda Village in T/A Simlemba, Kasungu District, Malawi

  • Authors: Paul, John Mussa
  • Date: 2011
  • Subjects: Climatic changes -- Economic aspects -- Malawi , Community-based conservation -- Malawi , Sustainable agriculture -- Malawi
  • Language: English
  • Type: Thesis , Masters , MA
  • Identifier: vital:9104 , http://hdl.handle.net/10948/d1012322 , Climatic changes -- Economic aspects -- Malawi , Community-based conservation -- Malawi , Sustainable agriculture -- Malawi
  • Description: Rural communities in Malawi are experiencing adverse climatic hazards which are attributed to climate variability and change. The frequent events being experienced include floods, dry spells and seasonal droughts. Rural livelihoods are severely affected because of their sensitivity to these phenomena. The research has analyzed community-based coping and adaptation strategies for sustainable livelihoods among the rural poor in Kaunda village, T/A Simlemba in Kasungu district, Malawi. The research data was collected from groups of male and female participants which also included a group of traditional leaders living in the area. The study used Participatory Rural Appraisal (PRA) methods such as Focus Group Discussions using the associated tools of resource mapping, transect walks, timelines and livelihood ranking to collect the data. The research findings have revealed that the major climate events experienced in Kaunda village are seasonal droughts and dry spells which have significantly impacted agriculture as a major livelihood activity in Malawi. The study has also revealed the community-based coping and adaptation strategies employed by the people. Recommendations made in this study have highlighted the need to support vulnerable rural communities with resilient and secure livelihoods.
  • Full Text:
  • Date Issued: 2011

Analysis of food value chains in smallholder crop and livestock enterprises in Eastern Cape Province of South Africa

  • Authors: Muchara, Binganidzo
  • Date: 2011
  • Subjects: Agricultural industries -- South Africa -- Eastern Cape , Food industry and trade -- South Africa -- Eastern Cape , Food supply -- South Africa -- Eastern Cape , Farms, Small -- South Africa -- Eastern Cape , Stochastic processes , Agriculture -- South Africa -- Eastern Cape , Business enterprises -- South Africa -- Eastern Cape , Livestock -- South Africa -- Eastern Cape , Crops -- South Africa -- Eastern Cape
  • Language: English
  • Type: Thesis , Masters , MSc Agric (Agricultural Economics)
  • Identifier: vital:11158 , http://hdl.handle.net/10353/d1000983 , Agricultural industries -- South Africa -- Eastern Cape , Food industry and trade -- South Africa -- Eastern Cape , Food supply -- South Africa -- Eastern Cape , Farms, Small -- South Africa -- Eastern Cape , Stochastic processes , Agriculture -- South Africa -- Eastern Cape , Business enterprises -- South Africa -- Eastern Cape , Livestock -- South Africa -- Eastern Cape , Crops -- South Africa -- Eastern Cape
  • Description: The study was conducted in Mbozi and Ciko villages in Mbhashe Local Municipality of the Eastern Cape Province of South Africa. Two irrigation projects in the area were studied. Consumers and agricultural commodity traders in Willowvale Town, Dutywa, Butterworth and East London were also interviewed. The major objective of the study is to profile and map cabbage, maize and cattle food value chains broadly, and to understand their nature, constraints and opportunities in smallholder agriculture. A multi-stage random sampling procedure was used in which the first stage involved selecting the local government areas. This was followed by the selection of the district and then the respondents. A total of 168 participants were sampled in the proportion of 82 smallholder farmers, 41 consumers, 26 hawkers and 20 agricultural commodity traders. Focus group discussions and key informant interviews were also used during the data collection process. Value Chain mapping was done using the commodity based approach. All value chains under study indicated that they are short and commodities were transacted in unprocessed form. As cabbages and maize move from the farm to retail outlets, value addition start to take place through transportation to the market and processing in supermarkets. The cattle value chain however does not have a forward linkage beyond the two administrative boundaries of the two communities. Less than 3% of the farmers traded livestock, and this was mostly through private sales to neighbours. The farmers‘ major goal in agricultural production is assumed to be an important aspect in lengthening the value chain. As such, results of a Pearson‘s correlation exercise indicated that there is a significant relationship at 0.05% level between goals of the farmers and the village of origin. Some factors that showed significance (p=0.05) in influencing farmers‘ goals are membership of an irrigation project and household sources of income. An analysis of determinants of technical efficiency at farm level was performed using the stochastic frontier model for cabbage, maize and cattle enterprises. The results showed that rainfall adequacy, input costs, market channels and quantity sold are important determinants of cabbage production efficiency. On the other hand, maize production efficiency is positively determined by market price, area under production and rainfall adequacy. Market related variables are major drivers of the cattle value chain efficiency and these include cattle prices, market satisfaction, market channel and farm labour.
  • Full Text:
  • Date Issued: 2011

Analysis of the factors influencing job performance in the ICT sector in South Africa

  • Authors: Lascot, Paul Michael John
  • Date: 2011
  • Subjects: Job satisfaction , Career development , Employees -- Training of
  • Language: English
  • Type: Thesis , Masters , MBA
  • Identifier: vital:8703 , http://hdl.handle.net/10948/d1009530 , Job satisfaction , Career development , Employees -- Training of
  • Description: To achieve efficacy in the work place, employees need to perform at optimal levels. Researching and implementing strategies to improve job performance are fundamentally important to the development of the information and communication technology (ICT) sector in South Africa. However, scant research had been performed in this area. This study sought to present exploratory research in this emergent, rapidly expanding sector of the South African economy. Its primary aim was to investigate which affective factors exhibited an influence on job performance of workers in this sector. Mixed methods research was employed to analyse factors contributing to the five independent variables of demographics, skills and education, job satisfaction, motivation and experience, by investigating their influence on the dependent variable of job performance. The five independent variables were presented within a proposed conceptual framework of related and grouped affective factors. An online survey was constructed to collect data and perceptions from individuals currently employed in any capacity, in the ICT sector in South Africa. Ninety-nine suitable responses were received. The simple statistical technique of chi-square testing for independence was used to test the hypothesised relationships between the above-mentioned independent variables and the dependent variable of job performance. The empirical results revealed that many of the affective factors influencing the job performance of employees in the ICT sector in South Africa, are those that contribute to job satisfaction and motivation. These include aspects such as fair remuneration; transparent and clear organisational communication; managerial support and guidance; access to educational and career opportunities; and pleasant workplaces. In view of these findings, the study concluded that organisations that wish to improve their employees’ job performance, or attract and retain high-performing individuals, should formulate and implement policies and strategies that take into account these significant factors.
  • Full Text:
  • Date Issued: 2011

Analysis of the management of conflict and transformation in the public service focussing on the central district, North West Province during 2000 to 2005

  • Authors: Matlou, Molefe
  • Date: 2011
  • Language: English
  • Type: Thesis , Masters , MPhil
  • Identifier: vital:8168 , http://hdl.handle.net/10948/1310
  • Description: The dawn of democracy in South Africa in 1994 placed an imperative on the government to make provision for transformation of the public service from the one that was base on race and gender to the one based on respect and dignity of people irrespective of race, gender or religion. The point of departure was to initiate change in legislation in order to create conducive environment for the public service to establish forums and commissions that would inform the approach that transformation had to take. One of the major challenges was to deal with the reality of a public service that was dominated by white males in order to implement the Constitutional imperative of equal opportunities to all and to enable black people in general and women in particular to occupy positions where their full potential and capabilities would be recognised. Affirmative Action became a tool that the new government adopted to inform the employment equity targets that every government department had to set for itself and annual reports had to be submitted to parliament for oversight to ensure that no government entity deviated from the realisation of the objective to fully transform the public service. The fact that there were some quarters within the broader society that perceived this is a threat and that within the targeted groups such as blacks and women there were people who felt that the concept „‟affirmative action‟‟ was degrading as it suggested that, despite their potential and education, black people and women still had to be affirmed was indicative of the conflict that resulted from the good intention by government to diversify the public service. To date, there are still institutions of government where males still dominate senior positions in the public service and women are still confined to lower level occupational bands which do not afford them an opportunity to rise to senior levels. The only recognisable change, one may argue, is that black males benefitted a lot more from transformation in the public service than females and people with disabilities. For all people to benefit from transformation in the public service there must be a vigilant approach to the implementation of policy and severe penalties for non compliance. Oversight bodies must be empowered to do a lot more than pep talk on transformation.
  • Full Text:
  • Date Issued: 2011

Analysis of the understanding of flexible manufacturing in the automotive component industry and selection of best implementation strategy

  • Authors: Mostert, Clive
  • Date: 2011
  • Subjects: Motor industry , Mass production
  • Language: English
  • Type: Thesis , Masters , MBA
  • Identifier: vital:8592 , http://hdl.handle.net/10948/1395 , Motor industry , Mass production
  • Description: In a competitive manufacturing environment a firm must be able to simultaneously produce multiple and diverse products, upgrade and redesign its products in short life cycles, and execute efficient production changeovers. This implies that the firm's manufacturing facilities should be capable of efficiently responding to the changes associated with the above abilities. These capabilities are a key requirement for building an agile manufacturing enterprise. To successfully attain these capabilities a firm must evaluate and build flexibility in its manufacturing operations. Success in manufacturing requires the adoption of methods in customer acquisition and order fulfilment processes that can manage anticipated change with precision while providing a fast and flexible response to unanticipated changes. A review of the related literature reveals that though there has been considerable research on the subject of flexible manufacturing, insufficient attention has been devoted to the development of a comprehensive method for designing and building flexible manufacturing (FM) solutions. A significant portion of the FM research and the ensuing industrial applications have focused on highly automated metal working facilities, commonly referred to as flexible manufacturing system or FMS. The objective of this research was to understand what the general understanding of FMS is in the automotive component supplying industry as well as to develop a strategy based on world class principles on how to implement such a strategy. The established strategy will then be used to implement a FMS at Shatterprufe a division of the PFG group. A comprehensive literature study was conducted on Flexible Manufacturing to get a good idea on what it is all about. A questionnaire was designed based on the guidelines in the literature study in order to establish the understanding of FMS within companies in the automotive component supplying industries. Twenty five companies were selected, based on their employee numbers and potential high complexity in the parts that they manufacture. Participating companies must also be part of National Association of Automotive Component and Allied Manufacturers (NAACAM) and supplying directly to all of the local Original Equipment Manufacturers (OEM’s). Eighteen out of the twenty five companies selected did participate and return the questionnaires. Three companies replied stating that they do not have a FMS in place and thus do not want to participate in the research. The completed questionnaires were processed and analysed using Microsoft Office Excel 2003, running on the Windows XP suite of computer packages. The opinions of the various respondents were compared with the guidelines provided in the literature survey, in order to identify how to answer the main questions the author wanted to use as part of selecting an appropriate implementation approach for FMS at Shatterprufe. The following were the main recommendations and conclusions: • It is essential that the executive team at Shatterprufe realises the need of a FM programme. Based on the analysis from the theoretical research as well as from the questionnaire it should not be difficult for them to realise this; • It is recommended that the knowledge gained from the research theory and that of the research questionnaire be used as a guideline for introduction and implementation; • It is recommended that the employees that will be required to implement the FMS are properly trained in the basics of WCM and FMS and that they receive the necessary tools to perform their tasks; • It is essential that everyone throughout the entire organisation is involved from the start in the development, improvement and maintenance of the system; • It is critical that the barriers to implementation be taken seriously at the start of the whole implementation process and plans be put in place to overcome them. Make sure that there is: • proper understanding of the total effort required; • complete management support; • union buy-in; • enough training carried out; • change of priorities; • full commitment and persistence; • development of a good installation strategy; and • insurance of choosing the right approach.
  • Full Text:
  • Date Issued: 2011

Analysis of volatility spillover effects between the South African, regional and world equity markets

  • Authors: Mumba, Mabvuto
  • Date: 2011
  • Subjects: Financial crises International finance Stocks -- Prices -- Africa Stocks -- Prices -- South Africa Capital market -- Africa Capital market -- South Africa Foreign exchange rates Africa -- Economic conditions South Africa -- Economic conditions
  • Language: English
  • Type: Thesis , Masters , MCom
  • Identifier: vital:957 , http://hdl.handle.net/10962/d1002691
  • Description: The current study examines the extent and magnitude by which global and regional shocks are transmitted to the volatility of returns in the stock markets of South Africa, Egypt, Nigeria, Botswana, Mauritius and Egypt. This is done so as to make inferences on the level of the domestic market‟s integration into the regional and world capital markets. By applying multivariate and univariate GARCH models, using weekly data from June 1995 to May 2010, the main empirical findings are threefold. Firstly, the volatility analytical framework finds statistically significant and time-varying volatility spillover effects from the regional and global markets to the South African market. Global shocks are generally stronger and account for up to 23.9 percent of the volatility of South Africa‟s equity market compared to weaker regional factors which account for less than 1 percent of domestic variance. Only in countries with strong bilateral trade and economic links with South Africa, such as Botswana and Namibia, is it found that regional factors are more dominant than global factors for domestic volatility. Compared to the other African markets, the joint influence of foreign shocks on domestic volatility is highest in South Africa and Egypt, two of Africa‟s largest and most developed markets. The results further demonstrate that for all the African markets the explanatory power of both regional and global factors for domestic volatility is not constant over time and tends to increase during turbulent market periods. Secondly, the analysis of the determinants of South frica‟s second moment linkages with the global market suggests that the volatility of the exchange rate plays a cardinal role in influencing the magnitude by which global shocks affect domestic volatility. The increased global integration in the second moments cannot be attributed to either increased trade integration, convergence in inflation rates or to convergence in interest rates between South Africa and the global markets. Lastly, tests were conducted to examine whether there have been contagion effects from the regional and global markets to South Africa from the 1997 Asian crisis and the 2007/8 global financial crisis. The results show no evidence of contagion during either the East Asian currency crisis or the recent global financial crisis to South Africa, while some African markets, such as Egypt, Mauritius and Botswana, exhibit contagion effects from either crisis. Overall, the empirical findings generally support the view that African markets are segmented both at the regional and global levels as domestic volatility is more influenced by local idiosyncratic shocks (the proportion not attributable to either global and regional factors). However, the volatility of South Africa, and to a lesser extent Egypt, remains relatively more open to global influence. This implies that the potential for gains from international portfolio diversification and the scope for success of policies aimed at the stabilisation of equity markets in these markets exist.
  • Full Text:
  • Date Issued: 2011

Angel networks as a business start-up financing option in South Africa

  • Authors: Sibanda, Zenzo
  • Date: 2011
  • Subjects: Angels (Investors) -- South Africa Small business -- Finance -- South Africa New business enterprises -- Finance -- South Africa Venture capital -- South Africa Microfinance -- South Africa
  • Language: English
  • Type: Thesis , Masters , MCom
  • Identifier: vital:1164 , http://hdl.handle.net/10962/d1002780
  • Description: The following study is about business angels financing small business start-ups. It explores the aspect of starting up an entrepreneurial venture in which the entrepreneur seeks to secure start-up finance from lenders, raising the various issues that are known to characterise this engagement between the entrepreneur and the lender. Using the phenomenological paradigm, the study seeks to determine the awareness of small scale financing by entrepreneurs in South Africa, to determine the most commonly used source of start-up business funding in South Africa, to assess the extent to which business angel financing could be used to finance businesses in South Africa and to determine the factors impacting the use of business angel financing in South Africa. From these objectives, the study will also seek to determine the extent to which business angel networks could facilitate the financing of business start-ups. Small businesses invariably come up in different policy spheres as the main avenues to social and economic construction across national and regional lines. The importance of a successful business start up to a growing economy should not be underestimated. In line with this is the particular factor of gaining access to start up capital, which continues to emerge as a leading contributor to the success or failure of business start ups. Studies continue to verify that the most common challenge faced by most emerging entrepreneurs is start-up capital, either in the lack of this capital, the unfavourable conditions surrounding its availability, the lack of assets to serve as collateral for its use or the ambiguous flow of crucial information between lenders and providers of finance in the funding relationship (Abor and Biekpe, 2006: 69;Hernandez-Trillo, Pagan and Paxton, 2005: 435, ISPESE, 2005: 7, CDE, 2004: 5; Musengi 2003: 11). Roger Sorheim (2005: 179) refers to business angels as private individuals who offer risk capital to unlisted companies that are struggling to obtain start up capital to finance their business ideas. Business angels are further defined as high net-worth bearers of substantial private capital who predominantly invest in the early stage of high risk high potential return business ventures with a positive further growth potential. Business angel finance is typically a ‘once-off’ early stage form of small firm financing compared to the more frequent later stage venture capitalist funding. Studies show that business angels represent an underutilised wealth creation mechanism when it comes to small firm start-ups as most business angels contribute expertise in addition to finance to the start-ups they get involved in. This brings valuable business insight to the commercialisation of a good business idea. The business angel network exposes a range of potentially viable business prospects to willing investors by facilitating the flow of information about entrepreneurs and their businesses, thereby eliminating ambiguity, information asymmetry and transaction costs (Aernoudt and Erikson, 2002: 178; Van Osnabrugge and Robinson, 2000:374; Macht, 2006:1; Ehlrich, De Noble, Moore and Weaver, 1994:70; Sorheim, 2005:179). To achieve a holistic approach to a phenomenon which appears to be relatively new in South African business circles, the study will follow a qualitative approach in which two categories of populations will be used, one of small business operators and the other of business angels in South Africa. In the study, 20 small business operators and five business angels in Grahamstown will be approached using the convenience and snowballing sampling methods respectively. Face-to-face semi-structured interviews will be used as a data collection method and content analysis will be used as a data analysis tool (Collis and Hussey, 2003:156, Driver, Wood, Segal and Herrington, 2001:32, National Small Business Act ). There has been very limited research on business angels in the South African context, therefore the study would significantly contribute in entrepreneurship, government and small business development circles as it brings about attention to what the researcher predicts is an underutilised business start-up financing option.
  • Full Text:
  • Date Issued: 2011

Antibacterial activity of liposome encapsulated cyclo(TYR-PRO)

  • Authors: Tshanga, Siphokazi Sisanda
  • Date: 2011
  • Subjects: Peptide antibiotics , Antibacterial agents -- Therapeutic use -- Testing
  • Language: English
  • Type: Thesis , Masters , MSc
  • Identifier: vital:10132 , http://hdl.handle.net/10948/1450 , Peptide antibiotics , Antibacterial agents -- Therapeutic use -- Testing
  • Description: Cyclic dipeptides (CDPs) are amino acid-based compounds, some of which possess antibacterial activity. The encapsulation of certain drugs into liposomes has been found to improve their activity in terms of bioavailability and duration of action. Liposomes are small vesicles that are under investigation as drug carriers for the delivery of therapeutic agents. A number of liposome formulations are currently under clinical trial review, whilst some have already been approved for clinical use. The aim of this study was to optimize a liposomal cyclo(Tyr-Pro) formulation and to assess its antibacterial activity against various Gram-positive and Gram-negative bacteria. Response surface methodology (RSM) using the central composite design (CCD) model was used to optimize liposomal formulations of cyclo(Tyr-Pro) for each of the four bacteria, namely Bacillus cereus, Staphylococcus aureus, Escherichia coli and Pseudomonas aeruginosa. Percent drug encapsulated and bacterial inhibition were investigated with respect to two independent variables, i.e. lipid composition and cholesterol content. Design Expert 8 was used for the purpose of finding the combination of independent variables that would yield an optimal formulation for each bacterium. The model selected by the software failed to adequately correlate the predicted models to the experimental data. The in vitro experiments showed that the antibacterial activity of liposome-encapsulated cyclo(Tyr-Pro) was superior to that of its free counterpart. Binding maximum or Bmax for the encapsulated compound at concentrations as low as 0.412 mg/ml, was significantly higher than that obtained for free cyclo(Tyr-Pro) which was tested at a concentration of 20 mg/ml. Furthermore, encapsulation of cyclo(Tyr-Pro) into a liposome formulation enhanced its potency. This was evident in the lower IC50 values for the liposomal compound when compared to free cyclo(Tyr-Pro).
  • Full Text:
  • Date Issued: 2011

Antioxidant activity and the quality of meat from goats and broilers supplemented with Moringa (Moringa Oleifera) leaves

  • Authors: Qwele, Kumnandi
  • Date: 2011
  • Subjects: Goats -- South Africa -- Eastern Cape , Chickens -- South Africa -- Eastern Cape , Meat -- Quality , Moringa
  • Language: English
  • Type: Thesis , Masters , MSc Agric (Animal Science)
  • Identifier: vital:11803 , http://hdl.handle.net/10353/469 , Goats -- South Africa -- Eastern Cape , Chickens -- South Africa -- Eastern Cape , Meat -- Quality , Moringa
  • Description: The objective of the study was to determine the antioxidant activity (AA) and the quality of meat from goats and chickens supplemented with Moringa (Moringa oleifera) leaves. For the first experimental chapter, eighteen 9 months old Xhosa lop-eared, castrated goats with an average body weight of 14 kg were used. There were three supplements namely, Moringa oleifera leaves, sunflower cake and grass hay. There were six goats per supplement. The goats were slaughtered after 60 days of supplementation and the Muscularis longissimus thoracis et lumborum (LTL) of the right side of each goat was used to determine fatty acid composition, total phenolic content (TPC), diphenylpicrylhydrazyl (DPPH) assay, 2, 2 azino-bis (3- ethylbenzothiazoline-6-sulphonic diammonium salt (ABTS) assay and reducing power assay of meat. Glutathione (GSH), catalase (CAT) and superoxide dismutase (SOD) and lipid peroxidation (thiobarbituric acid reactive substances, TBARS) were taken as parameters to evaluate in vivo AA of the meat. For the second experiment, twelve male broilers were used in four groups of dietary supplementation. Three broilers were allocated per group. After slaughter, the breast muscle was sampled for total phenols, flavonoids, proanthocyanidins, TPC, ABTS, GSH, CAT, SOD, lipid peroxidation, ultimate pH (pH24), colour (L* (lightness), a* (redness), b* (yellowness)), WB-shear force and cooking loss. In both chapters Moringa leaves exhibited the highest AA. Meat from goats supplement with Moringa exhibited the highest AA. Meat from broilers supplemented with a mixture of Moringa leaves, broiler finisher and crushed maize, had the highest (P < 0.05) pH24 and L* values. Moringa can therefore be used to preserve meat without changing the quality of meat.
  • Full Text:
  • Date Issued: 2011

Applicability of public-private partnership in provision of water infrastructure to central coastal Namibia mines

  • Authors: Kavela, Lukas Tangeni Taukondjo
  • Date: 2011
  • Subjects: Water-supply -- Namibia , Public-private sector cooperation -- Namibia -- Water-supply
  • Language: English
  • Type: Thesis , Masters , MSc
  • Identifier: vital:9701 , http://hdl.handle.net/10948/d1015641
  • Description: This study investigated the potential application of Public-Private Partnerships (PPPs) in water supply, taking cognisance of the water demand and supply in the Central Coastal Namibian (CCN) mines. NamWater does not meet demand for the existing and planned mines in the CCN. Primary objective was to investigate and analyse water demand and supply as well as the effectiveness of PPP as a solution by exploring its potential, successes and challenges. In order to obtain relevant information, literature review was used to collect evidence on water demand and supply in the north-central Namibia as well as the application of PPP in provision of water supply. Multi-case studies were carried out on three operational mines, namely; Rio Tinto Rössing Uranium Mine, Langer Heinrich Uranium Mine and Areva Trekkopje Uranium Mine to attain empirical data on water supply requirements. A self-administered questionnaire was used to collect the data supplemented by interviews with NamWater, operational mines within the study area, government institutions, and knowledgeable consultants on water and the mining environment. The key findings included: institutional weaknesses and lack of legislation frameworks to support PPP projects; skills shortage; and financing problems were identified as major challenges. Results further show that these problems could be resolved by effectively implementing a PPP approach, whereby the Special Purpose Vehicle (SPV) enters into a contract with the public authority. The study concludes that there is a need to increase water output to meet current and future supply requirements to these mines. This situation should be addressed by all stakeholders, from government to private sectors. The study recommends that a sea water desalination plant should be developed to increase water capacity supply to the existing operational and prospective mines in the area. The PPP approach is proposed as a possible solution to water supply infrastructure service delivery problem to ensure long-term water security in the CCN mines.
  • Full Text:
  • Date Issued: 2011

Application of catalysts and nanomaterials in the design of an electrochemical sensor for ochratoxin A

  • Authors: Flanagan, Shane Patrick
  • Date: 2011 , 2010-12-06
  • Subjects: Ochratoxins , Filamentous fungi , Electrochemical sensors , Nanostructured materials , Catalysts , Food contamination
  • Language: English
  • Type: Thesis , Masters , MSc
  • Identifier: vital:4121 , http://hdl.handle.net/10962/d1013328
  • Description: Ochratoxin A is the most potent chlorinated derivative of the ochratoxin group, consisting of a 5'-chlorinated dihydroisocoumarin moiety linked by an amide bond to l-phenylalanine. Produced as a secondary fungal metabolite by several species of Aspergillus and Penicillium, ochratoxin A has been shown to readily contaminate a large variety of commodities including cereals, groundnuts, dried fruit, spices and coffee. This has led to widespread contamination of ochratoxin in wine, beer, milk and meat products. As ochratoxin A is a potent nephrotoxin exhibiting teratogenic and carcinogenic properties, the development of a rapid screening platform for the cost effective control of ochratoxin A content in foodstuffs is therefore required. The evaluation of metallophthalocyanine and carbon nanotube electrode modification toward the development of a nanostructured biosensor capable of enhancing the electrochemical detection of ochratoxin A in complex media is presented. Cyclic voltammetry at a glassy carbon electrode allowed for the optimization of detection parameters including pH and type of supporting electrolyte. Britton-Robinson buffer was found to be the most suitable supporting electrolyte in terms of sensitivity and reproducibility obtaining a LOD of 0.28 μM as determined by differential pulse voltammetry. Subsequent analysis determined the dependence of OTA oxidation on pH in acidic media which proceeds with the transfer of two electrons to form a quinone/hydroquinone couple shown to adsorb to the electrode surface. Passivation of the electrode through adsorption of oxidation products was shown to severely limit the detection of OTA upon successive detection cycles. Comparison of various metallophthalocyanine modifiers showed an increase in sensitivity toward the detection of OTA at phthalocyanine complexes with metal based redox processes. However with the exception of NiPc and CoTCPc complexes, phthalocyanine modification was limited by the increase in deviation of current response and extent of fouling. NiPc modification showed an increase in sensitivity by two fold with fouling characteristics comparable to an unmodified electrode while low improvements in fouling was observed at CoTCPc modified electrodes with sensitivity in detection comparable to an unmodified electrode.Modification of the electrode with multi- and single walled carbon nanotubes produced a significant increase in sensitivity toward the detection of ochratoxin A. The electrocatalytic activity of nanotube modifiers was attributed to the increase in surface area and to the addition of oxygenated functional groups upon acid treatment as confirmed by Raman spectroscopy. Acid functionalization of the carbon nanotubes for a period of two hours produced the greatest increase in sensitivity obtaining a respective LOD of 0.09 μM and 0.03 μM for analysis of ochratoxin A at multi- and single walled carbon nanotube modified electrodes. Centrifugal purification of carbon nanotubes was deemed necessary to improve the electrocatalytic activity of the nanotube modifiers through the removal of carbonaceous impurities as visualized by atomic force microscopy. Furthermore, a crude lipase preparation, lipase A, was investigated as a potential biological recognition element for selective detection of ochratoxin A in complex media. Lipase A enabled the hydrolysis of ochratoxin A to the electroactive species ochratoxin α as confirmed by thin layer chromatography and voltammetric analysis. Additional isolation of a pure hydrolase from the lipase A preparation is required prior to utilization within a nanostructured biosensor platform capable of detecting ochratoxin A in complex media.
  • Full Text:
  • Date Issued: 2011
  • Disclaimer
  • Privacy
  • Copyright
  • Contact