The effects of economic and political instability on decentralised secondary schools in Mashonaland Central Province, Zimbabwe: a case study
- Authors: Katsinde, Tapfuiwa James
- Date: 2020
- Subjects: Education, Secondary -- Political aspects -- Zimbabwe , Political violence -- Zimbabwe , Zimbabwe -- Economic conitions -- 1980- , Zimbabwe -- Politics and government -- 1980-
- Language: English
- Type: text , Thesis , Doctoral , PhD
- Identifier: http://hdl.handle.net/10962/165610 , vital:41263
- Description: The purpose of the study was to analyse the effects of economic and political instability on decentralised secondary schools in Mashonaland Central Province, Zimbabwe between 2000 and 2017. Previous studies in Zimbabwe and elsewhere have shown that schools were negatively affected by economic and political instability. This study adds to this literature by using habitus as a conceptual framework. This was a qualitative study which made use of a multi-case research design. Data was collected using focus group discussions, interviews and document analysis. Eight research sites in the form of secondary schools in four districts were used. Data analysis was done using theoretical prepositions guided by research objectives and research questions. Data presentations was characterised by quotes of participants. Trustworthiness based on dependability, credibility, transferability and conformability formed the basis of quality assurance measures. The study revealed that economic and political instability had similar negative results in the field of secondary schools in the province. Economic instability negatively affected school activities which included teaching and learning, administration and development work. In addition economic instability affected individual secondary school actors psychologically. Economic instability affected relations among the secondary school actors by aggravating already existing contestations amongst actors. Similarly, political instability affected secondary school activities such as teaching and learning, school administration, development, donations and social benefits. Secondary school actors were individually affected psychologically and through physical abuse and the way they responded to political instability. The study has shown that decentralised secondary schools found it difficult to solve the problems introduced by economic and political instability especially when the instabilities occurred within the difficulties of the broader Zimbabwean context. It is therefore recommended that decentralised secondary schools should be assisted financially and with resources to withstand economic challenges. There is a need to protect secondary schools from political activities and activists as these have devastating effects on education if allowed to have a free reign. Further similar research is recommended for other provinces in the country.
- Full Text:
- Date Issued: 2020
- Authors: Katsinde, Tapfuiwa James
- Date: 2020
- Subjects: Education, Secondary -- Political aspects -- Zimbabwe , Political violence -- Zimbabwe , Zimbabwe -- Economic conitions -- 1980- , Zimbabwe -- Politics and government -- 1980-
- Language: English
- Type: text , Thesis , Doctoral , PhD
- Identifier: http://hdl.handle.net/10962/165610 , vital:41263
- Description: The purpose of the study was to analyse the effects of economic and political instability on decentralised secondary schools in Mashonaland Central Province, Zimbabwe between 2000 and 2017. Previous studies in Zimbabwe and elsewhere have shown that schools were negatively affected by economic and political instability. This study adds to this literature by using habitus as a conceptual framework. This was a qualitative study which made use of a multi-case research design. Data was collected using focus group discussions, interviews and document analysis. Eight research sites in the form of secondary schools in four districts were used. Data analysis was done using theoretical prepositions guided by research objectives and research questions. Data presentations was characterised by quotes of participants. Trustworthiness based on dependability, credibility, transferability and conformability formed the basis of quality assurance measures. The study revealed that economic and political instability had similar negative results in the field of secondary schools in the province. Economic instability negatively affected school activities which included teaching and learning, administration and development work. In addition economic instability affected individual secondary school actors psychologically. Economic instability affected relations among the secondary school actors by aggravating already existing contestations amongst actors. Similarly, political instability affected secondary school activities such as teaching and learning, school administration, development, donations and social benefits. Secondary school actors were individually affected psychologically and through physical abuse and the way they responded to political instability. The study has shown that decentralised secondary schools found it difficult to solve the problems introduced by economic and political instability especially when the instabilities occurred within the difficulties of the broader Zimbabwean context. It is therefore recommended that decentralised secondary schools should be assisted financially and with resources to withstand economic challenges. There is a need to protect secondary schools from political activities and activists as these have devastating effects on education if allowed to have a free reign. Further similar research is recommended for other provinces in the country.
- Full Text:
- Date Issued: 2020
The effects of education on economic growth and global competitiveness: a statistical approach
- Mbatha, Erica Isabel Tavares Da Silva
- Authors: Mbatha, Erica Isabel Tavares Da Silva
- Date: 2020
- Subjects: Economic development -- Effect of education on -- South Africa , Education, Higher -- South Africa , Educational attainment -- South Africa
- Language: English
- Type: text , Thesis , Masters , MBA
- Identifier: http://hdl.handle.net/10962/147558 , vital:38649
- Description: This thesis investigates whether there is a relationship between education, economic growth and global competitiveness and whether there is a relationship between South Africa’s current throughput rates in institutions of higher education, and its economic growth and global competitiveness. Economic growth is defined as a country’s ability to improve the life of its average citizen based on the strength of its economy. As such, it is increasingly important for a country to assess the factors that contribute to the improvement of their economy, which will ultimately result in its economic growth. Global competitiveness is an indication of how countries are able to provide for their people internally, as well as participate in the international market. To this end, economic growth and global competitiveness are two proxies that can be used to demonstrate the economic wellbeing of a country. Considering that prosperity under economic growth and global competitiveness of a country are driven by its people, one of the aims of this thesis was to investigate whether there is a relationship between education and economic growth and global competitiveness. Considering the recent demand in free education in South Africa, it is also important to understand whether there is a relationship between South Africa’s current throughput rates at higher education institutions and its economic growth and global competitiveness. Bearing in mind the political past which has led to inequality in the country, it is important to understand which types of education contribute to the economy and which types need to be further supported in order to increase the country’s economic productivity. Therefore, an additional aim of the thesis was to determine the relationship between South Africa’s current throughput rates in institutions of higher education, and its economic growth and global competitiveness. To address the aforementioned aims, data were collected from various open access online repositories. All the data were collated and numerous general linear models were constructed and tested to determine the different relationships as per the two aims. The results reveal that secondary school education had the highest impact on economic growth and global competitiveness on a global scale. This could be attributed to the fact that secondary school graduates tend to make up the largest part of the general workforce and as such, would make up a substantial proportion of the economy. Regarding South Africa, the only significant relationships were between green cluster universities (universities that focus on both research and technical training) and global competitiveness. Overall average throughput rates in all academic institutions were low; this could indicate that perhaps there are issues within the higher education system itself that need to be addressed in order to increase the throughput rate. From a managerial perspective, the results of this research stress the importance for the government to further investigate this area of study, as the call for free education becomes more prominent. The low throughput rates seem to suggest that the government is spending substantial amounts of money on students who do not always complete their studies. More research needs to be done to assess the root of the problem in South Africa’s tertiary education system, in order to ensure that this aspect increases its positive contribution towards the country’s economic growth and global competitiveness.
- Full Text:
- Date Issued: 2020
- Authors: Mbatha, Erica Isabel Tavares Da Silva
- Date: 2020
- Subjects: Economic development -- Effect of education on -- South Africa , Education, Higher -- South Africa , Educational attainment -- South Africa
- Language: English
- Type: text , Thesis , Masters , MBA
- Identifier: http://hdl.handle.net/10962/147558 , vital:38649
- Description: This thesis investigates whether there is a relationship between education, economic growth and global competitiveness and whether there is a relationship between South Africa’s current throughput rates in institutions of higher education, and its economic growth and global competitiveness. Economic growth is defined as a country’s ability to improve the life of its average citizen based on the strength of its economy. As such, it is increasingly important for a country to assess the factors that contribute to the improvement of their economy, which will ultimately result in its economic growth. Global competitiveness is an indication of how countries are able to provide for their people internally, as well as participate in the international market. To this end, economic growth and global competitiveness are two proxies that can be used to demonstrate the economic wellbeing of a country. Considering that prosperity under economic growth and global competitiveness of a country are driven by its people, one of the aims of this thesis was to investigate whether there is a relationship between education and economic growth and global competitiveness. Considering the recent demand in free education in South Africa, it is also important to understand whether there is a relationship between South Africa’s current throughput rates at higher education institutions and its economic growth and global competitiveness. Bearing in mind the political past which has led to inequality in the country, it is important to understand which types of education contribute to the economy and which types need to be further supported in order to increase the country’s economic productivity. Therefore, an additional aim of the thesis was to determine the relationship between South Africa’s current throughput rates in institutions of higher education, and its economic growth and global competitiveness. To address the aforementioned aims, data were collected from various open access online repositories. All the data were collated and numerous general linear models were constructed and tested to determine the different relationships as per the two aims. The results reveal that secondary school education had the highest impact on economic growth and global competitiveness on a global scale. This could be attributed to the fact that secondary school graduates tend to make up the largest part of the general workforce and as such, would make up a substantial proportion of the economy. Regarding South Africa, the only significant relationships were between green cluster universities (universities that focus on both research and technical training) and global competitiveness. Overall average throughput rates in all academic institutions were low; this could indicate that perhaps there are issues within the higher education system itself that need to be addressed in order to increase the throughput rate. From a managerial perspective, the results of this research stress the importance for the government to further investigate this area of study, as the call for free education becomes more prominent. The low throughput rates seem to suggest that the government is spending substantial amounts of money on students who do not always complete their studies. More research needs to be done to assess the root of the problem in South Africa’s tertiary education system, in order to ensure that this aspect increases its positive contribution towards the country’s economic growth and global competitiveness.
- Full Text:
- Date Issued: 2020
The effects of elevated atmospheric CO2 on the biological control of invasive aquatic weeds in South Africa
- Authors: Baso, Nompumelelo Catherine
- Date: 2020
- Subjects: Aquatic weeds -- Biological control -- South Africa , Plants -- Effect of atmospheric carbon dioxide on , Atmospheric carbon dioxide -- Environmental aspects
- Language: English
- Type: text , Thesis , Masters , MSc
- Identifier: http://hdl.handle.net/10962/140772 , vital:37917
- Description: There has been a rapid increase in atmospheric CO2 concentration, from pre-industrial values of 280 ppm to more than 400 ppm currently, and this is expected to more than double by the end of the 21st century. Studies have shown that plants grown above 600 ppm tend to have an increased growth rate and invest more in carbon-based defences. This has important implications for the management of invasive alien plants, especially for the field of biological control which is mostly dependent on herbivorous insects. This is because insects reared on such plants have been shown to have reduced overall fitness. Nevertheless, most of the studies on potential changes in plant-insect interactions under elevated CO2 are based on agricultural systems, with only a limited number of these types of studies conducted on alien invasive weeds. However, climate change and invasive species are two of the most prevalent features of global environmental change. Therefore, this also warrants active research and experimental studies to better understand how these systems will be affected by future climates. Thus, the aim of this study was to investigate the effects of elevated atmospheric CO2 on the biological control of four invasive aquatic weeds (Azolla filiculoides, Salvinia molesta, Pistia stratiotes, and Myriophyllum aquaticum). These species are a threat to natural resources in South Africa but are currently under successful control by their biological control agents (Stenopelmus rufinasus, Cyrtobagous salviniae, Neohydronomus affinis, and Lysathia n. sp.). To achieve this, the selected plant species were grown in a three-factor experimental design in winter (CO2 X nutrients X herbivory), and another two-factorial design in summer (CO2 X herbivory). Atmospheric CO2 concentrations were set at ambient (400 ppm) or elevated (800 ppm), as per the predictions of the IPCC. As per my hypothesis, the results suggest that these species will become more challenging in future due to increased biomass production, asexual reproduction and a higher C: N ratio which is evident under high CO2 concentrations. Although the biological control agents were in some instances able to reduce this CO2 fertilisation effect, their efficacy was significantly reduced compared with the levels of control observed at ambient CO2. These results suggest that additional biological control agents and other management methods may be needed for continued control of these invasive macrophytes, both in South Africa and further afield where they are problematic.
- Full Text:
- Date Issued: 2020
- Authors: Baso, Nompumelelo Catherine
- Date: 2020
- Subjects: Aquatic weeds -- Biological control -- South Africa , Plants -- Effect of atmospheric carbon dioxide on , Atmospheric carbon dioxide -- Environmental aspects
- Language: English
- Type: text , Thesis , Masters , MSc
- Identifier: http://hdl.handle.net/10962/140772 , vital:37917
- Description: There has been a rapid increase in atmospheric CO2 concentration, from pre-industrial values of 280 ppm to more than 400 ppm currently, and this is expected to more than double by the end of the 21st century. Studies have shown that plants grown above 600 ppm tend to have an increased growth rate and invest more in carbon-based defences. This has important implications for the management of invasive alien plants, especially for the field of biological control which is mostly dependent on herbivorous insects. This is because insects reared on such plants have been shown to have reduced overall fitness. Nevertheless, most of the studies on potential changes in plant-insect interactions under elevated CO2 are based on agricultural systems, with only a limited number of these types of studies conducted on alien invasive weeds. However, climate change and invasive species are two of the most prevalent features of global environmental change. Therefore, this also warrants active research and experimental studies to better understand how these systems will be affected by future climates. Thus, the aim of this study was to investigate the effects of elevated atmospheric CO2 on the biological control of four invasive aquatic weeds (Azolla filiculoides, Salvinia molesta, Pistia stratiotes, and Myriophyllum aquaticum). These species are a threat to natural resources in South Africa but are currently under successful control by their biological control agents (Stenopelmus rufinasus, Cyrtobagous salviniae, Neohydronomus affinis, and Lysathia n. sp.). To achieve this, the selected plant species were grown in a three-factor experimental design in winter (CO2 X nutrients X herbivory), and another two-factorial design in summer (CO2 X herbivory). Atmospheric CO2 concentrations were set at ambient (400 ppm) or elevated (800 ppm), as per the predictions of the IPCC. As per my hypothesis, the results suggest that these species will become more challenging in future due to increased biomass production, asexual reproduction and a higher C: N ratio which is evident under high CO2 concentrations. Although the biological control agents were in some instances able to reduce this CO2 fertilisation effect, their efficacy was significantly reduced compared with the levels of control observed at ambient CO2. These results suggest that additional biological control agents and other management methods may be needed for continued control of these invasive macrophytes, both in South Africa and further afield where they are problematic.
- Full Text:
- Date Issued: 2020
The Effects of exchange rates on bilateral trade balances of SACU members states with their trading partners
- Authors: Mhaka, Simbarashe
- Date: 2020
- Subjects: Economic development -- South Africa , Purchasing power parity -- Econometric models
- Language: English
- Type: Thesis , Doctoral , PhD
- Identifier: http://hdl.handle.net/10948/50371 , vital:42152
- Description: The fluctuations of exchange rates prevent countries from achieving stability in their external account records. Appreciation or depreciation has effects on international trade. This thesis examines the relationship between exchange rate fluctuations on bilateral trade balances focusing on the SACU region. There are several theories made to explain the relationship between exchange rate and trade balances. In examining this phenomenon, this thesis will unveil if the purchasing power parity theory, the Marshall-Lerner condition and the J-curve effect holds in the Southern African Customs Union (SACU) countries. This analysis is divided into three parts. The first part examines the stability of the exchange rate in the SACU countries in the long run as given by the purchasing power parity. To test for the Purchasing Power Parity theory, the recently developed powerful unit root test was applied with multiple smooth structural breaks of Omay (2015), based on a Fractional Frequency Flexible Fourier Form (FFFFF) on unique data of SACU countries covering the monthly period of 1995M01-2017M11. The Purchasing Power Parity (PPP) results show that the nominal effective exchange rate (NEER) of all SACU members does not provide evidence for PPP theory. In terms of the real effective exchange rate (REER), the PPP condition holds in the case of South Africa only. Further unit root investigations were carried out using the panel data for all SACU members, NEER and REER. The FFFFF test results for panel data shows strong evidence of the PPP while the standard DF test rejects PPP theory in the SACU’s NEER. Both the standard DF and the FFFFF tests show strong evidence of PPP theory in the case of SACU’s REER. The second section of the analysis examines the Marshall-Lerner condition employing annual data from the period of 1980-2017. The import and export model were examined firstly in a time series format and then in a panel data format. The time series data was examined using the ARDL (PMG) model while the panel data used the panel ARDL, fully modified OLS (FMOLS) method and the Dynamic OLS (DOLS) method of estimation. The PMG/ARDL model shows no evidence to support the existence of the Marshall-Lerner condition in the short run for all SACU members. However, only two out of five countries show evidence of the Marshall-Lerner condition in the long run. There is strong evidence of the Marshall-Lerner condition in Namibia and Botswana in the long run using the PMG/ARDL model.
- Full Text:
- Date Issued: 2020
- Authors: Mhaka, Simbarashe
- Date: 2020
- Subjects: Economic development -- South Africa , Purchasing power parity -- Econometric models
- Language: English
- Type: Thesis , Doctoral , PhD
- Identifier: http://hdl.handle.net/10948/50371 , vital:42152
- Description: The fluctuations of exchange rates prevent countries from achieving stability in their external account records. Appreciation or depreciation has effects on international trade. This thesis examines the relationship between exchange rate fluctuations on bilateral trade balances focusing on the SACU region. There are several theories made to explain the relationship between exchange rate and trade balances. In examining this phenomenon, this thesis will unveil if the purchasing power parity theory, the Marshall-Lerner condition and the J-curve effect holds in the Southern African Customs Union (SACU) countries. This analysis is divided into three parts. The first part examines the stability of the exchange rate in the SACU countries in the long run as given by the purchasing power parity. To test for the Purchasing Power Parity theory, the recently developed powerful unit root test was applied with multiple smooth structural breaks of Omay (2015), based on a Fractional Frequency Flexible Fourier Form (FFFFF) on unique data of SACU countries covering the monthly period of 1995M01-2017M11. The Purchasing Power Parity (PPP) results show that the nominal effective exchange rate (NEER) of all SACU members does not provide evidence for PPP theory. In terms of the real effective exchange rate (REER), the PPP condition holds in the case of South Africa only. Further unit root investigations were carried out using the panel data for all SACU members, NEER and REER. The FFFFF test results for panel data shows strong evidence of the PPP while the standard DF test rejects PPP theory in the SACU’s NEER. Both the standard DF and the FFFFF tests show strong evidence of PPP theory in the case of SACU’s REER. The second section of the analysis examines the Marshall-Lerner condition employing annual data from the period of 1980-2017. The import and export model were examined firstly in a time series format and then in a panel data format. The time series data was examined using the ARDL (PMG) model while the panel data used the panel ARDL, fully modified OLS (FMOLS) method and the Dynamic OLS (DOLS) method of estimation. The PMG/ARDL model shows no evidence to support the existence of the Marshall-Lerner condition in the short run for all SACU members. However, only two out of five countries show evidence of the Marshall-Lerner condition in the long run. There is strong evidence of the Marshall-Lerner condition in Namibia and Botswana in the long run using the PMG/ARDL model.
- Full Text:
- Date Issued: 2020
The effects of liberalisation and regulation of cellphone companies from 2007 - 2018: a study of Buffalo city municipality
- Malobola, Nomvuyo Ursula Vuyokazi
- Authors: Malobola, Nomvuyo Ursula Vuyokazi
- Date: 2020
- Subjects: Economic development
- Language: English
- Type: Thesis , Masters , MSoc (Communications)
- Identifier: http://hdl.handle.net/10353/18153 , vital:42237
- Description: This study focuses on the effects of liberalisation and regulation of the telecommunications sector in South Africa. A qualitative research method was adopted and the researcher conducted focus group interviews with participants that were purposely selected to collect data from different suburbs around the Buffalo City Metropolitan area in the Eastern Cape Province, South Africa. The areas were Mdantsane, Selborne and Southernwood, which have large populations and obviously enjoy high cell phone usage. In addition, an in-depth interview was conducted with an official of the Independent Communications Authority of South Africa (ICASA), which is the monitoring body for telecommunications in South Africa. The findings of this study have shown that despite the airtime and data being expensive, the telecoms sector is critical to the people of South Africa, and the failure by the government to regulate and liberalise the telecoms sector has led to expensive cell phone charges on the public. As such, it can be noted that the majority of the urban poor, especially in the Buffalo City Metropolitan, endure expensive charges. More so, the study found that there has been frustrating slow progress of transformation of the telecommunications industry and associated key national policy objectives. In addition, the study also recognises that as a member of WTO South Africa had to adopt policies of globalisation or risk isolation should it operate outside it. In addition, this study revealed that in spite of the challenges that are related to regulation and liberalisation, progress can still be made in reducing price hikes, especially when strategic investments are made in the telecommunication sector in South Africa.
- Full Text:
- Date Issued: 2020
- Authors: Malobola, Nomvuyo Ursula Vuyokazi
- Date: 2020
- Subjects: Economic development
- Language: English
- Type: Thesis , Masters , MSoc (Communications)
- Identifier: http://hdl.handle.net/10353/18153 , vital:42237
- Description: This study focuses on the effects of liberalisation and regulation of the telecommunications sector in South Africa. A qualitative research method was adopted and the researcher conducted focus group interviews with participants that were purposely selected to collect data from different suburbs around the Buffalo City Metropolitan area in the Eastern Cape Province, South Africa. The areas were Mdantsane, Selborne and Southernwood, which have large populations and obviously enjoy high cell phone usage. In addition, an in-depth interview was conducted with an official of the Independent Communications Authority of South Africa (ICASA), which is the monitoring body for telecommunications in South Africa. The findings of this study have shown that despite the airtime and data being expensive, the telecoms sector is critical to the people of South Africa, and the failure by the government to regulate and liberalise the telecoms sector has led to expensive cell phone charges on the public. As such, it can be noted that the majority of the urban poor, especially in the Buffalo City Metropolitan, endure expensive charges. More so, the study found that there has been frustrating slow progress of transformation of the telecommunications industry and associated key national policy objectives. In addition, the study also recognises that as a member of WTO South Africa had to adopt policies of globalisation or risk isolation should it operate outside it. In addition, this study revealed that in spite of the challenges that are related to regulation and liberalisation, progress can still be made in reducing price hikes, especially when strategic investments are made in the telecommunication sector in South Africa.
- Full Text:
- Date Issued: 2020
The effects of the stock and bond market on economic growth in South Africa (2003-2017)
- Authors: Faiers, Jarryd Brad
- Date: 2020
- Subjects: Capital market -- South Africa , Economic development -- Environmental aspects -- South Africa
- Language: English
- Type: Thesis , Masters , MCom
- Identifier: http://hdl.handle.net/10948/48102 , vital:40486
- Description: Using quarterly data from 2003:Q3 to 2017:Q1, this study investigates the effect of the stock and bond markets on economic growth in South Africa. The variables used in the study pertain to South Africa and include the JSE All-Share Index, real effective exchange rate, bond market growth, investment expenditure, inflation rate, government expenditure and gross domestic product. The empirical study is guided by an Autoregressive Distributed Lag (ARDL) model approach which includes unit root tests for stationarity, bounds tests for cointegration and causality tests using the long run and short run error correction models. Diagnostic tests and stability tests are performed on the various econometric models. Tests include the Jarque-Bera test, Ramsey Reset Test, Whites test, CUSUM and CUSUM square test. The findings suggest that the stock market growth and bond market growth have displayed significantly different results with regards to their effects on economic growth. Stock market growth has had a positive impact on economic growth in the long run, whilst growth and development in the bond market does not have a statistically significant relationship with economic growth in the long run. The study provides a solid foundation for establishing the effects of the stock and bond market on economic growth.
- Full Text:
- Date Issued: 2020
- Authors: Faiers, Jarryd Brad
- Date: 2020
- Subjects: Capital market -- South Africa , Economic development -- Environmental aspects -- South Africa
- Language: English
- Type: Thesis , Masters , MCom
- Identifier: http://hdl.handle.net/10948/48102 , vital:40486
- Description: Using quarterly data from 2003:Q3 to 2017:Q1, this study investigates the effect of the stock and bond markets on economic growth in South Africa. The variables used in the study pertain to South Africa and include the JSE All-Share Index, real effective exchange rate, bond market growth, investment expenditure, inflation rate, government expenditure and gross domestic product. The empirical study is guided by an Autoregressive Distributed Lag (ARDL) model approach which includes unit root tests for stationarity, bounds tests for cointegration and causality tests using the long run and short run error correction models. Diagnostic tests and stability tests are performed on the various econometric models. Tests include the Jarque-Bera test, Ramsey Reset Test, Whites test, CUSUM and CUSUM square test. The findings suggest that the stock market growth and bond market growth have displayed significantly different results with regards to their effects on economic growth. Stock market growth has had a positive impact on economic growth in the long run, whilst growth and development in the bond market does not have a statistically significant relationship with economic growth in the long run. The study provides a solid foundation for establishing the effects of the stock and bond market on economic growth.
- Full Text:
- Date Issued: 2020
The effects of vascular targeted bi-functionalized aunps on hepatic lipid metabolism of a diet-induced rats
- Authors: Singo, Dakalo Gladwell
- Date: 2020
- Subjects: Bile acids
- Language: English
- Type: Thesis , Masters , MSc
- Identifier: http://hdl.handle.net/10948/47072 , vital:39780
- Description: Introduction: Obesity is a metabolic disease in which the accumulation of excessive fat in the adipose tissue may interfere with the normal maintenance of a healthy state. However, there is only a limited number of drugs approved for the treatment of obesity. For this purpose, target therapies are receiving more attention as a preferred treatment to reduce the burden of chronic diseases which are associated with the current strategies. Nanotechnology is a highly promising field that offers a nanotechnology-based drug delivery system as a novel means of solving issues associated with the toxicity of conventional anti-obesity drugs. Vascular targeted nanotherapy (targeted bi-functionalized nanoparticles) as a strategy that can overcome the current available anti-obesity drugs. Aim: This study sought to understand the effects of nanotherapy in the hepatic lipid metabolism and secretion of bile acids Research focus: The effects of gold nanotherapy on the bile acid biosynthetic enzymes, transporters and lipogenic enzymes of rats that were on a high fat diet. Conclusion: The study shows low expression in the majority of genes responsible for bile acid synthesis and a lipogenic pathway; therefore, the effects of nanotherapy exhibit low toxicity in the hepatic lipid metabolism.
- Full Text:
- Date Issued: 2020
- Authors: Singo, Dakalo Gladwell
- Date: 2020
- Subjects: Bile acids
- Language: English
- Type: Thesis , Masters , MSc
- Identifier: http://hdl.handle.net/10948/47072 , vital:39780
- Description: Introduction: Obesity is a metabolic disease in which the accumulation of excessive fat in the adipose tissue may interfere with the normal maintenance of a healthy state. However, there is only a limited number of drugs approved for the treatment of obesity. For this purpose, target therapies are receiving more attention as a preferred treatment to reduce the burden of chronic diseases which are associated with the current strategies. Nanotechnology is a highly promising field that offers a nanotechnology-based drug delivery system as a novel means of solving issues associated with the toxicity of conventional anti-obesity drugs. Vascular targeted nanotherapy (targeted bi-functionalized nanoparticles) as a strategy that can overcome the current available anti-obesity drugs. Aim: This study sought to understand the effects of nanotherapy in the hepatic lipid metabolism and secretion of bile acids Research focus: The effects of gold nanotherapy on the bile acid biosynthetic enzymes, transporters and lipogenic enzymes of rats that were on a high fat diet. Conclusion: The study shows low expression in the majority of genes responsible for bile acid synthesis and a lipogenic pathway; therefore, the effects of nanotherapy exhibit low toxicity in the hepatic lipid metabolism.
- Full Text:
- Date Issued: 2020
The establishment and rapid spread of Sagittaria Platyphylla in South Africa:
- Ndlovu, Mpilonhle S, Coetzee, Julie A, Nxumalo, Menzi M, Lalla, Reshnee, Shabalala, Ntombifuthi, Martin, Grant D
- Authors: Ndlovu, Mpilonhle S , Coetzee, Julie A , Nxumalo, Menzi M , Lalla, Reshnee , Shabalala, Ntombifuthi , Martin, Grant D
- Date: 2020
- Language: English
- Type: text , article
- Identifier: http://hdl.handle.net/10962/149788 , vital:38884 , https://doi.org/10.3390/w12051472
- Description: Sagittaria platyphylla Engelm. (Alismataceae) is a freshwater aquatic macrophyte that has become an important invasive weed in freshwater systems in South Africa, New Zealand, Australia, and recently China. In South Africa, due to its rapid increase in distribution and ineffective control options, it is recognised as one of the country’s worst invasive aquatic alien plants. In this paper, we investigate the spread of the plant since its first detection in 2008, and the management strategies currently carried out against it. Despite early detection and rapid response programmes, which included chemical and mechanical control measures, the plant was able to spread both within and between sites, increasing from just one site in 2008 to 72 by 2019. Once introduced into a lotic system, the plant was able to spread rapidly, in some cases up to 120 km within 6 years, with an average of 10 km per year. The plant was successfully extirpated at some sites, however, due to the failure of chemical and mechanical control, biological control is currently being considered as a potential control option.
- Full Text:
- Date Issued: 2020
- Authors: Ndlovu, Mpilonhle S , Coetzee, Julie A , Nxumalo, Menzi M , Lalla, Reshnee , Shabalala, Ntombifuthi , Martin, Grant D
- Date: 2020
- Language: English
- Type: text , article
- Identifier: http://hdl.handle.net/10962/149788 , vital:38884 , https://doi.org/10.3390/w12051472
- Description: Sagittaria platyphylla Engelm. (Alismataceae) is a freshwater aquatic macrophyte that has become an important invasive weed in freshwater systems in South Africa, New Zealand, Australia, and recently China. In South Africa, due to its rapid increase in distribution and ineffective control options, it is recognised as one of the country’s worst invasive aquatic alien plants. In this paper, we investigate the spread of the plant since its first detection in 2008, and the management strategies currently carried out against it. Despite early detection and rapid response programmes, which included chemical and mechanical control measures, the plant was able to spread both within and between sites, increasing from just one site in 2008 to 72 by 2019. Once introduced into a lotic system, the plant was able to spread rapidly, in some cases up to 120 km within 6 years, with an average of 10 km per year. The plant was successfully extirpated at some sites, however, due to the failure of chemical and mechanical control, biological control is currently being considered as a potential control option.
- Full Text:
- Date Issued: 2020
The experiences of youth after exiting the foster care system in South Africa: A case study of Kou-kamma Municipality, Eastern Cape Province
- Authors: Phillip, Malusi
- Date: 2020
- Subjects: Foster home care Social work with teenagers
- Language: English
- Type: Thesis , Masters , MSW
- Identifier: http://hdl.handle.net/10353/18164 , vital:42238
- Description: There is a high number of children placed in foster care in the Eastern Cape compared to other provinces as of 2017, this proves that foster care is the most preferred form of substitute care in South Africa. Despite the revelations that foster care is the mostly practiced form of substitute care in South Africa, children do not remain forever in the foster care system. Every year, hundreds of young adults age out of the foster care system in South Africa when they officially become adults at or around their 18th birthday. The aim of the study was to investigate the experiences of youth who have exited the foster care system in Kou-kamma Local Municipality in the Eastern Cape province. A qualitative research method was employed. The study made use of 26 participants, 21 youth who exited the foster care system were purposively selected from all six wards of Kou-kamma Municipality and six social workers were also purposively selected from three child welfare organizations in Kou-kamma Municipality. An interview guide was developed for both sets of participants and they were individually interviewed. The findings show that youth who have been exited from the foster care system experience a series of challenges after they have exited, including experimenting with drugs and alcohol as a negative coping mechanism, unplanned pregnancy, lack of support to enter tertiary education institutions, and financial challenges., Furthermore, the findings indicate that the youth developed coping strategies including working as seasonal workers on fruit farms of the langkloof and in the tourism and forestry of the Tsitsikamma. The youth also reported receiving support from their partners and former foster parents. Support services after the exit from the social service organizations was found to be non-existent and also the fact that social workers were facing a vii number of challenges in their quest to fulfil their roles. Some of these challenges include lack of resources, heavy caseloads, poor remuneration and inadequate office space which led to sharing. It is evident from the study that former foster youth in Koukamma are not exempted, they too encounter a lot of challenges after exiting the foster care system, more especially at the early stage of the exit with no form of support at all from child welfare organizations, they are made to find their own way in life as they are regarded as adults. It is recommended that a multi- stakeholder approach inclusive of different stakeholders needs to be adopted.
- Full Text:
- Date Issued: 2020
- Authors: Phillip, Malusi
- Date: 2020
- Subjects: Foster home care Social work with teenagers
- Language: English
- Type: Thesis , Masters , MSW
- Identifier: http://hdl.handle.net/10353/18164 , vital:42238
- Description: There is a high number of children placed in foster care in the Eastern Cape compared to other provinces as of 2017, this proves that foster care is the most preferred form of substitute care in South Africa. Despite the revelations that foster care is the mostly practiced form of substitute care in South Africa, children do not remain forever in the foster care system. Every year, hundreds of young adults age out of the foster care system in South Africa when they officially become adults at or around their 18th birthday. The aim of the study was to investigate the experiences of youth who have exited the foster care system in Kou-kamma Local Municipality in the Eastern Cape province. A qualitative research method was employed. The study made use of 26 participants, 21 youth who exited the foster care system were purposively selected from all six wards of Kou-kamma Municipality and six social workers were also purposively selected from three child welfare organizations in Kou-kamma Municipality. An interview guide was developed for both sets of participants and they were individually interviewed. The findings show that youth who have been exited from the foster care system experience a series of challenges after they have exited, including experimenting with drugs and alcohol as a negative coping mechanism, unplanned pregnancy, lack of support to enter tertiary education institutions, and financial challenges., Furthermore, the findings indicate that the youth developed coping strategies including working as seasonal workers on fruit farms of the langkloof and in the tourism and forestry of the Tsitsikamma. The youth also reported receiving support from their partners and former foster parents. Support services after the exit from the social service organizations was found to be non-existent and also the fact that social workers were facing a vii number of challenges in their quest to fulfil their roles. Some of these challenges include lack of resources, heavy caseloads, poor remuneration and inadequate office space which led to sharing. It is evident from the study that former foster youth in Koukamma are not exempted, they too encounter a lot of challenges after exiting the foster care system, more especially at the early stage of the exit with no form of support at all from child welfare organizations, they are made to find their own way in life as they are regarded as adults. It is recommended that a multi- stakeholder approach inclusive of different stakeholders needs to be adopted.
- Full Text:
- Date Issued: 2020
The exploration of ARF1 screening assays to determine the drug status of ARF1 in cancer and malaria
- Authors: Ntlantsana, Apelele
- Date: 2020
- Subjects: ADP ribosylation , Golgi apparatus , Guanosine triphosphatase , G proteins , Malariotherapy , Malaria -- Research , Cancer -- Chemotherapy , Malaria -- Chemotherpay
- Language: English
- Type: text , Thesis , Masters , MSc
- Identifier: http://hdl.handle.net/10962/167232 , vital:41458
- Description: ARF GTPases are key regulators of the secretory and endocytic pathways. ARF1 is involved in the secretory pathway. ARF1 has been implicated in the endoplasmic reticulum to Golgi transport, function of the Golgi apparatus and transport from the trans-Golgi network to endosomes. ARFs cycle between active GTP-bound and inactive GDP-bound conformations. GDP/GTP cycling is regulated by large families of guanine nucleotide exchange factors (GEFs) and GTPase activating proteins (GAPs). ARF GEFs facilitate the activation of ARFs by mediating the exchange of GDP for GTP, while ARF GAPs terminate ARF function by stimulating the hydrolysis of the terminal phosphate group of GTP. Based on existing evidence gained from gene manipulation and cell biological investigations, ARF1 has been shown to be fundamentally important for cancer cell proliferation and metastasis and may be a promising target for the development of anti-cancer drugs. Additionally, the conservation of ARFs in eukaryotic organisms leads to an interesting question of whether a single drug target can be used to target multiple diseases. In this case, can a human cancer drug employed for cancer therapy be used in anti-malarial drug therapies? To confirm the drug target status of ARFs using chemical validation experiments, novel inhibitory compounds are needed. This requires the development of complex in vitro protein- protein interaction assays that can be used to screen chemical libraries for ARF GTPase inhibitors. In this study, we developed a fluorescence resonance energy transfer (FRET) assay and a novel in vitro colorimetric plate-based assay to detect the activation status of truncated human and Plasmodium falciparum ARF1. In the case of the FRET assay, active (GTP-bound) and inactive (GDP-bound) ARF1 could be distinguished with Z-factor values >0.5, suggesting that further development of the assay format to identify GEF and GAP inhibitors may be feasible. In the case of the colorimetric assay, robust signals could be detected and the assay was useful for detecting the activation status of ARF1. However, although the activation of ARF1 by the Sec7 domains of the BIG1 and ARNO was detectable, signals were not robust enough to employ in screening campaigns.
- Full Text:
- Date Issued: 2020
- Authors: Ntlantsana, Apelele
- Date: 2020
- Subjects: ADP ribosylation , Golgi apparatus , Guanosine triphosphatase , G proteins , Malariotherapy , Malaria -- Research , Cancer -- Chemotherapy , Malaria -- Chemotherpay
- Language: English
- Type: text , Thesis , Masters , MSc
- Identifier: http://hdl.handle.net/10962/167232 , vital:41458
- Description: ARF GTPases are key regulators of the secretory and endocytic pathways. ARF1 is involved in the secretory pathway. ARF1 has been implicated in the endoplasmic reticulum to Golgi transport, function of the Golgi apparatus and transport from the trans-Golgi network to endosomes. ARFs cycle between active GTP-bound and inactive GDP-bound conformations. GDP/GTP cycling is regulated by large families of guanine nucleotide exchange factors (GEFs) and GTPase activating proteins (GAPs). ARF GEFs facilitate the activation of ARFs by mediating the exchange of GDP for GTP, while ARF GAPs terminate ARF function by stimulating the hydrolysis of the terminal phosphate group of GTP. Based on existing evidence gained from gene manipulation and cell biological investigations, ARF1 has been shown to be fundamentally important for cancer cell proliferation and metastasis and may be a promising target for the development of anti-cancer drugs. Additionally, the conservation of ARFs in eukaryotic organisms leads to an interesting question of whether a single drug target can be used to target multiple diseases. In this case, can a human cancer drug employed for cancer therapy be used in anti-malarial drug therapies? To confirm the drug target status of ARFs using chemical validation experiments, novel inhibitory compounds are needed. This requires the development of complex in vitro protein- protein interaction assays that can be used to screen chemical libraries for ARF GTPase inhibitors. In this study, we developed a fluorescence resonance energy transfer (FRET) assay and a novel in vitro colorimetric plate-based assay to detect the activation status of truncated human and Plasmodium falciparum ARF1. In the case of the FRET assay, active (GTP-bound) and inactive (GDP-bound) ARF1 could be distinguished with Z-factor values >0.5, suggesting that further development of the assay format to identify GEF and GAP inhibitors may be feasible. In the case of the colorimetric assay, robust signals could be detected and the assay was useful for detecting the activation status of ARF1. However, although the activation of ARF1 by the Sec7 domains of the BIG1 and ARNO was detectable, signals were not robust enough to employ in screening campaigns.
- Full Text:
- Date Issued: 2020
The feasibility of prolonged exposure therapy for PTSD in low-and middle-income countries: a review
- Booysen, Duane D, Kagee, Ashraf
- Authors: Booysen, Duane D , Kagee, Ashraf
- Date: 2020
- Language: English
- Type: text , article
- Identifier: http://hdl.handle.net/10962/148505 , vital:38745 , DOI: 10.1080/20008198.2020.1753941
- Description: There is a need in the global south to evaluate and implement empirically supported psychological interventions to ameliorate symptoms of posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD). Empirically supported treatments (ESTs) have increasingly been developed and implemented, yet the majority people in the global south do not have access to these treatments for mental disorders such as PTSD. Prolonged exposure therapy has accrued substantial empirical evidence to show it as an effective treatment for PTSD. Research on the effectiveness and acceptability of prolonged exposure in a low- and middle-income countries (LMICs) are sparse. This brief report presents a review of prolonged exposure (PE) therapy and its feasibility as a trauma therapy for PTSD in LMICs. First, we present a brief overview of PE as a first-line treatment for PTSD. Second, using South Africa as a case example, we present a brief overview of traumatic stress in South Africa and how mental healthcare has developed since the abolishment of apartheid in 1994. Lastly, we discuss the challenges pertaining to the dissemination and implementation of PE in LMICs and propose future perspectives regarding the implementation of ESTs such as PE in LMICs.
- Full Text:
- Date Issued: 2020
- Authors: Booysen, Duane D , Kagee, Ashraf
- Date: 2020
- Language: English
- Type: text , article
- Identifier: http://hdl.handle.net/10962/148505 , vital:38745 , DOI: 10.1080/20008198.2020.1753941
- Description: There is a need in the global south to evaluate and implement empirically supported psychological interventions to ameliorate symptoms of posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD). Empirically supported treatments (ESTs) have increasingly been developed and implemented, yet the majority people in the global south do not have access to these treatments for mental disorders such as PTSD. Prolonged exposure therapy has accrued substantial empirical evidence to show it as an effective treatment for PTSD. Research on the effectiveness and acceptability of prolonged exposure in a low- and middle-income countries (LMICs) are sparse. This brief report presents a review of prolonged exposure (PE) therapy and its feasibility as a trauma therapy for PTSD in LMICs. First, we present a brief overview of PE as a first-line treatment for PTSD. Second, using South Africa as a case example, we present a brief overview of traumatic stress in South Africa and how mental healthcare has developed since the abolishment of apartheid in 1994. Lastly, we discuss the challenges pertaining to the dissemination and implementation of PE in LMICs and propose future perspectives regarding the implementation of ESTs such as PE in LMICs.
- Full Text:
- Date Issued: 2020
The forensic mental health profile of women offenders in the Eastern Cape, South Africa
- Authors: Nagdee, Mohammed
- Date: 2020
- Subjects: Female offenders -- Mental health , Female offenders -- South Africa -- Psychology , Female offenders -- South Africa -- Mental health , People with mental disabilities and crime , Women murderers -- South Africa , Forensic psychology -- South Africa , Fort England Psychiatric Hospital
- Language: English
- Type: text , Thesis , Doctoral , PhD
- Identifier: http://hdl.handle.net/10962/167109 , vital:41438
- Description: Introduction There is a dearth of research on mental health issues in women offenders in South Africa, especially regarding their socio-demographic backgrounds, offence characteristics, and forensic mental health profiles. Objectives This study examined the psychosocial and forensic mental health profile of women offenders referred by eastern Cape courts for forensic evaluation. A range of socio-demographic, criminological, clinical and forensic mental health variables were systematically explored. Methods A bi-phasic, mixed methods study design was adopted. The clinical and forensic records of all women referred for forensic evaluation to Fort England forensic psychiatric hospital in the Eastern Cape, South Africa were retrospectively reviewed, comprising 173 individual cases in the study period of 1993-2017. Inferential statistical analyses (chi-squared and multivariate logistic regression) were applied to explore relationships between variables and offending outcomes of nterest. Detailed semi-structured interviews were subsequently conducted with a sub-sample of 8 women with mental disorder and violent offending ackgrounds. Interview transcripts thematically analysed. Results Most women came from impoverished and disadvantaged backgrounds. Whilst the majority were first offenders, a high proportion had violent index offences, with murder, attempted murder and assault with intent to do grievous bodily harm accounting for over half of cases. The majority of victims of violence were well known to the perpetrator, especially as biological children, intimate male partners or close family members. Biological children in their first year of life were particularly vulnerable to being victims of homicidal violence. Disproportionately high rates of pre-offence mental illness, alcohol misuse, HIV infection and prior abuse of the offender (especially by intimate male partners) were present. High rates of severe mental disorders (especially psychiatric comorbidity and psychotic-spectrum disorders), and relatively low rates of personality disorders and substance disorders were diagnosed. The majority of women were declared to lack trial competence and criminal capacity, respectively, following forensic evaluation. Women who had backgrounds of prior abuse themselves had over three mes the odds of subsequent violent offending in general, and almost six times the odds of homicidal offending in particular. Homicidal offences were significantly more commonly committed by women with no prior psychiatric history and no psychiatric comorbidity. Women who committed homicide had over eleven times of killing children as opposed to adults. Women over the age of 30 years, and those without psychiatric comorbidity, were significantly less likely to have killed children. Thematic analysis of interviews emphasized the important roles played by gender, self-image, and mental health in violent offending pathways. Conclusions A complex array of socio-demographic, criminological, clinical and forensic variables interact in women offenders of the Eastern Cape referred by courts for forensic evaluation. Exploration of these factors improves understanding of the broader psychosocial context of female offending, and of the personal experiences of the women themselves. This in turn provides an enhanced gender-focus to guide the progressive changes required in policy, legislative, clinical and research endeavours in this field.
- Full Text:
- Date Issued: 2020
- Authors: Nagdee, Mohammed
- Date: 2020
- Subjects: Female offenders -- Mental health , Female offenders -- South Africa -- Psychology , Female offenders -- South Africa -- Mental health , People with mental disabilities and crime , Women murderers -- South Africa , Forensic psychology -- South Africa , Fort England Psychiatric Hospital
- Language: English
- Type: text , Thesis , Doctoral , PhD
- Identifier: http://hdl.handle.net/10962/167109 , vital:41438
- Description: Introduction There is a dearth of research on mental health issues in women offenders in South Africa, especially regarding their socio-demographic backgrounds, offence characteristics, and forensic mental health profiles. Objectives This study examined the psychosocial and forensic mental health profile of women offenders referred by eastern Cape courts for forensic evaluation. A range of socio-demographic, criminological, clinical and forensic mental health variables were systematically explored. Methods A bi-phasic, mixed methods study design was adopted. The clinical and forensic records of all women referred for forensic evaluation to Fort England forensic psychiatric hospital in the Eastern Cape, South Africa were retrospectively reviewed, comprising 173 individual cases in the study period of 1993-2017. Inferential statistical analyses (chi-squared and multivariate logistic regression) were applied to explore relationships between variables and offending outcomes of nterest. Detailed semi-structured interviews were subsequently conducted with a sub-sample of 8 women with mental disorder and violent offending ackgrounds. Interview transcripts thematically analysed. Results Most women came from impoverished and disadvantaged backgrounds. Whilst the majority were first offenders, a high proportion had violent index offences, with murder, attempted murder and assault with intent to do grievous bodily harm accounting for over half of cases. The majority of victims of violence were well known to the perpetrator, especially as biological children, intimate male partners or close family members. Biological children in their first year of life were particularly vulnerable to being victims of homicidal violence. Disproportionately high rates of pre-offence mental illness, alcohol misuse, HIV infection and prior abuse of the offender (especially by intimate male partners) were present. High rates of severe mental disorders (especially psychiatric comorbidity and psychotic-spectrum disorders), and relatively low rates of personality disorders and substance disorders were diagnosed. The majority of women were declared to lack trial competence and criminal capacity, respectively, following forensic evaluation. Women who had backgrounds of prior abuse themselves had over three mes the odds of subsequent violent offending in general, and almost six times the odds of homicidal offending in particular. Homicidal offences were significantly more commonly committed by women with no prior psychiatric history and no psychiatric comorbidity. Women who committed homicide had over eleven times of killing children as opposed to adults. Women over the age of 30 years, and those without psychiatric comorbidity, were significantly less likely to have killed children. Thematic analysis of interviews emphasized the important roles played by gender, self-image, and mental health in violent offending pathways. Conclusions A complex array of socio-demographic, criminological, clinical and forensic variables interact in women offenders of the Eastern Cape referred by courts for forensic evaluation. Exploration of these factors improves understanding of the broader psychosocial context of female offending, and of the personal experiences of the women themselves. This in turn provides an enhanced gender-focus to guide the progressive changes required in policy, legislative, clinical and research endeavours in this field.
- Full Text:
- Date Issued: 2020
The frightened
- Authors: Msimang, Lethokuhle
- Date: 2020
- Subjects: South African fiction (English) -- 21st century
- Language: English
- Type: text , Thesis , Masters , MA
- Identifier: http://hdl.handle.net/10962/144004 , vital:38302
- Description: My novella tells the coming of age story of a young woman battling the trauma of objectification. It explores the intimate relationship between a woman and a man, the young and the old, and the camaraderie between women. Having spent the greater part of her youth in various parts of the world, my protagonist faces the stark reality of returning home to her native country. This triggers an angst which causes her to leap between lived experiences and memories. An elegy on how difficult it is to love while dragging the long shadow of shame, it uses short prose and prose poetry to reveal the intimacies and intricacies of self hate and clandestine romances, and to unravel the complexities of memory and forgetting. Built from non linear fragments it seeks to refuse cliches regarding love and to question easy assumptions around gender, family and the innocence of youth. I draw inspiration from Vita Sackville West’s’ All Passion Spent , which eloquently portrays the placid and flickering thoughts of an old woman taking leave from the frivolity of youth. I’m similarly inspired by the sincerity and confessional aspects of Virginia Woolf and French poet and photographer Alix Roubaud ’s journals and Van Gogh’s letters, as well as Lydia Yuknavitch, Max Porter and Elena Ferante’s autobiographical fiction. I also draw from J’Lyn Chapman’s chapbook A Thing of Shreds and Patches and finally Dostoevky’s Notes from Underground , for their blurring of life and writing, and their exploration of grief and death as a lingering thought, together with the oppressive urge to create. In addition I’m inspired by the poetry of a new generation of South African female writers like Vangile Gatsho.
- Full Text:
- Date Issued: 2020
- Authors: Msimang, Lethokuhle
- Date: 2020
- Subjects: South African fiction (English) -- 21st century
- Language: English
- Type: text , Thesis , Masters , MA
- Identifier: http://hdl.handle.net/10962/144004 , vital:38302
- Description: My novella tells the coming of age story of a young woman battling the trauma of objectification. It explores the intimate relationship between a woman and a man, the young and the old, and the camaraderie between women. Having spent the greater part of her youth in various parts of the world, my protagonist faces the stark reality of returning home to her native country. This triggers an angst which causes her to leap between lived experiences and memories. An elegy on how difficult it is to love while dragging the long shadow of shame, it uses short prose and prose poetry to reveal the intimacies and intricacies of self hate and clandestine romances, and to unravel the complexities of memory and forgetting. Built from non linear fragments it seeks to refuse cliches regarding love and to question easy assumptions around gender, family and the innocence of youth. I draw inspiration from Vita Sackville West’s’ All Passion Spent , which eloquently portrays the placid and flickering thoughts of an old woman taking leave from the frivolity of youth. I’m similarly inspired by the sincerity and confessional aspects of Virginia Woolf and French poet and photographer Alix Roubaud ’s journals and Van Gogh’s letters, as well as Lydia Yuknavitch, Max Porter and Elena Ferante’s autobiographical fiction. I also draw from J’Lyn Chapman’s chapbook A Thing of Shreds and Patches and finally Dostoevky’s Notes from Underground , for their blurring of life and writing, and their exploration of grief and death as a lingering thought, together with the oppressive urge to create. In addition I’m inspired by the poetry of a new generation of South African female writers like Vangile Gatsho.
- Full Text:
- Date Issued: 2020
The genetic legacy of fragmentation and overexploitation in the threatened medicinal African pepper-bark tree, Warburgia salutaris:
- Senkoro, Annae M, Talhinhas, Pedro, Simões, Fernanda, Batista-Santos, Paula, Shackleton, Charlie M, Voeks, Robert A, Marques, Isabel, Ribeiro-Barros, Ana I
- Authors: Senkoro, Annae M , Talhinhas, Pedro , Simões, Fernanda , Batista-Santos, Paula , Shackleton, Charlie M , Voeks, Robert A , Marques, Isabel , Ribeiro-Barros, Ana I
- Date: 2020
- Language: English
- Type: text , article
- Identifier: http://hdl.handle.net/10962/176395 , vital:42690 , https://doi.org/10.1016/j.ecoser.2020.101201
- Description: The pepper-bark tree (Warburgia salutaris) is one of the most highly valued medicinal plant species worldwide. Native to southern Africa, this species has been extensively harvested for the bark, which is widely used in traditional health practices. Illegal harvesting coupled with habitat degradation has contributed to fragmentation of populations and a severe decline in its distribution. Even though the species is included in the IUCN Red List as Endangered, genetic data that would help conservation efforts and future re-introductions are absent. We therefore developed new molecular markers to understand patterns of genetic diversity, structure, and gene flow of W. salutaris in one of its most important areas of occurrence (Mozambique).
- Full Text:
- Date Issued: 2020
- Authors: Senkoro, Annae M , Talhinhas, Pedro , Simões, Fernanda , Batista-Santos, Paula , Shackleton, Charlie M , Voeks, Robert A , Marques, Isabel , Ribeiro-Barros, Ana I
- Date: 2020
- Language: English
- Type: text , article
- Identifier: http://hdl.handle.net/10962/176395 , vital:42690 , https://doi.org/10.1016/j.ecoser.2020.101201
- Description: The pepper-bark tree (Warburgia salutaris) is one of the most highly valued medicinal plant species worldwide. Native to southern Africa, this species has been extensively harvested for the bark, which is widely used in traditional health practices. Illegal harvesting coupled with habitat degradation has contributed to fragmentation of populations and a severe decline in its distribution. Even though the species is included in the IUCN Red List as Endangered, genetic data that would help conservation efforts and future re-introductions are absent. We therefore developed new molecular markers to understand patterns of genetic diversity, structure, and gene flow of W. salutaris in one of its most important areas of occurrence (Mozambique).
- Full Text:
- Date Issued: 2020
The Geography of Inequality in Port Elizabeth : Post-apartheid Trends
- Authors: Mc Arthur, Brogan Erin
- Date: 2020
- Subjects: Equality -- South Africa -- Port Elizabeth
- Language: English
- Type: Thesis , Masters , MSc
- Identifier: http://hdl.handle.net/10948/48478 , vital:40880
- Description: This study aims to identify post-apartheid trends of inequality within Port Elizabeth, by analysing the spatial distribution of social well-being from 1996 to 2011. The spatial distribution of social well-being highlights the geography of inequality within Port Elizabeth, focusing on social indicators as a measure of social well-being. Mapping of these social indicators illustrates various levels of social well-being throughout Port Elizabeth based on the formulation of social indicators, application of these social indicators to census data, data processing and mapping. This results in the mapping of poverty, employment, education and standard of living for the census years of 1996, 2001 and 2011. From the mapping process, trends of social well-being and the associated inequality are illustrated and analysed, while providing insight into the progress of social well-being within a South African city. The findings of this study suggest that social well-being has incurred changes over time which have aided in the improvement of social well-being throughout Port Elizabeth. This improvement is marked by the relative increase and decrease of selected social indicators and their interrelated nature. The various social indicators, although focused on different datasets, highlight similar patterns of progress throughout their spatial distribution over time. As such, similar patterns of inequality can be noted throughout Port Elizabeth for various social indicators. Based on these similarities and the trends identified within the spatial distribution of inequality in Port Elizabeth, a progression towards a more even distribution throughout the study area was noted from 1996 through to 2011.
- Full Text:
- Date Issued: 2020
- Authors: Mc Arthur, Brogan Erin
- Date: 2020
- Subjects: Equality -- South Africa -- Port Elizabeth
- Language: English
- Type: Thesis , Masters , MSc
- Identifier: http://hdl.handle.net/10948/48478 , vital:40880
- Description: This study aims to identify post-apartheid trends of inequality within Port Elizabeth, by analysing the spatial distribution of social well-being from 1996 to 2011. The spatial distribution of social well-being highlights the geography of inequality within Port Elizabeth, focusing on social indicators as a measure of social well-being. Mapping of these social indicators illustrates various levels of social well-being throughout Port Elizabeth based on the formulation of social indicators, application of these social indicators to census data, data processing and mapping. This results in the mapping of poverty, employment, education and standard of living for the census years of 1996, 2001 and 2011. From the mapping process, trends of social well-being and the associated inequality are illustrated and analysed, while providing insight into the progress of social well-being within a South African city. The findings of this study suggest that social well-being has incurred changes over time which have aided in the improvement of social well-being throughout Port Elizabeth. This improvement is marked by the relative increase and decrease of selected social indicators and their interrelated nature. The various social indicators, although focused on different datasets, highlight similar patterns of progress throughout their spatial distribution over time. As such, similar patterns of inequality can be noted throughout Port Elizabeth for various social indicators. Based on these similarities and the trends identified within the spatial distribution of inequality in Port Elizabeth, a progression towards a more even distribution throughout the study area was noted from 1996 through to 2011.
- Full Text:
- Date Issued: 2020
The ground of discrimination in equal pay for work of equal value disputes
- Authors: Coetzee, Mandy Nadine
- Date: 2020
- Subjects: Equal pay for equal work -- Law and Legislation -- South Africa , Pay equity -- South Africa Labor laws and legislation -- South Africa
- Language: English
- Type: Thesis , Masters , LLM
- Identifier: http://hdl.handle.net/10948/48971 , vital:41569
- Description: The Employment Equity Act places a positive obligation on employers to promote workplaces free from unfair discrimination. This obligation is reinforced by section 6 of the Employment Equity Act, commonly referred to as the prohibition clause. The 2014 amendments to the Employment Equity Act specifically introduced provisions relating to Equal Pay for Work of Equal Value which prior to 2014, had no specific provisions to guide employees and employers in relation to claims of discrimination, relating to remuneration and terms and conditions of employment. As such employees had to rely directly on section 6(1) to bring such claims which presented significant problems and challenges with the onus. The second key amendment for our purposes relates to the inclusion of the arbitrary ground under section 6(1) as a ground on which discrimination is also prohibited. In addition to the insertion and specific inclusion into law, the burden of proof in section 11 was also amended and must be read with the prohibition clause. It is this aspect which now confronts us with challenges and divergent approaches by the Courts and the development of the broad versus narrow approach in dealing with the ground of discrimination.
- Full Text:
- Date Issued: 2020
- Authors: Coetzee, Mandy Nadine
- Date: 2020
- Subjects: Equal pay for equal work -- Law and Legislation -- South Africa , Pay equity -- South Africa Labor laws and legislation -- South Africa
- Language: English
- Type: Thesis , Masters , LLM
- Identifier: http://hdl.handle.net/10948/48971 , vital:41569
- Description: The Employment Equity Act places a positive obligation on employers to promote workplaces free from unfair discrimination. This obligation is reinforced by section 6 of the Employment Equity Act, commonly referred to as the prohibition clause. The 2014 amendments to the Employment Equity Act specifically introduced provisions relating to Equal Pay for Work of Equal Value which prior to 2014, had no specific provisions to guide employees and employers in relation to claims of discrimination, relating to remuneration and terms and conditions of employment. As such employees had to rely directly on section 6(1) to bring such claims which presented significant problems and challenges with the onus. The second key amendment for our purposes relates to the inclusion of the arbitrary ground under section 6(1) as a ground on which discrimination is also prohibited. In addition to the insertion and specific inclusion into law, the burden of proof in section 11 was also amended and must be read with the prohibition clause. It is this aspect which now confronts us with challenges and divergent approaches by the Courts and the development of the broad versus narrow approach in dealing with the ground of discrimination.
- Full Text:
- Date Issued: 2020
The impact of agricultural infrastructure on rural livelihoods in KwaZulu-Natal
- Authors: Mankahla, Sipesihle Qukeza
- Date: 2020
- Subjects: Agriculture -- Economic aspects , Agricultural development projects -- South Africa -- KwaZulu Natal , Project management
- Language: English
- Type: Thesis , Masters , MSc
- Identifier: http://hdl.handle.net/10948/46141 , vital:39508
- Description: The purpose of the study was to investigate the impact of agricultural infrastructure on rural livelihoods of kwaZulu-Natal. The main objective of the study is to look into the ways in which rural infrastructure can improve the livelihoods of kwaZulu-Natal farmers. Government programmes such as agri-parks, one household-one hectare and cooperative funding, when implemented according to their objective, can improve the implementation of infrastructure development in rural areas of kwaZulu-Natal. The objectives of the study were achieved by reviewing the literature relevant to the topic. Data was sourced from primary and secondary sources. A qualitative method was used as the qualitative approach has been considered to be the most appropriate method in achieving research objectives. This approach puts emphasis on the meanings and experiences as found in the study of Lincoln and Denzin. This approach best describes events, opinions and views without the use of data in the form of numbers; rather it provides textual data that gives an insight into the occurrence being studied. The developments in agriculture would not be sustainable without developing the rural areas and addressing the issues of poverty and enhancing investment capacities of the resource-poor farmers. The linkage of infrastructure to positive economic development cannot be denied. Agricultural infrastructure is infrastructure such as irrigation, rural electrification, roads, and markets in close coordination with institutional infrastructure. There is a long list of infrastructure assets that affect rural development. There is basic agricultural infrastructure which forms the foundation for agricultural economic development of rural livelihoods. This infrastructure includes transport networks, access to water and livestock agricultural infrastructure. Thus, the study sought to establish the impact of existing agricultural infrastructure on agricultural economic development and improvement of rural livelihoods in kwaZulu-Natal. The study revealed that the rural farmers in this province were affected and limited by poor road infrastructure and that access to suitable water for irrigation was far from ideal. As a result, the sector is hindered and does not perform to its full potential and this slows economic development and negatively affects rural livelihoods.
- Full Text:
- Date Issued: 2020
- Authors: Mankahla, Sipesihle Qukeza
- Date: 2020
- Subjects: Agriculture -- Economic aspects , Agricultural development projects -- South Africa -- KwaZulu Natal , Project management
- Language: English
- Type: Thesis , Masters , MSc
- Identifier: http://hdl.handle.net/10948/46141 , vital:39508
- Description: The purpose of the study was to investigate the impact of agricultural infrastructure on rural livelihoods of kwaZulu-Natal. The main objective of the study is to look into the ways in which rural infrastructure can improve the livelihoods of kwaZulu-Natal farmers. Government programmes such as agri-parks, one household-one hectare and cooperative funding, when implemented according to their objective, can improve the implementation of infrastructure development in rural areas of kwaZulu-Natal. The objectives of the study were achieved by reviewing the literature relevant to the topic. Data was sourced from primary and secondary sources. A qualitative method was used as the qualitative approach has been considered to be the most appropriate method in achieving research objectives. This approach puts emphasis on the meanings and experiences as found in the study of Lincoln and Denzin. This approach best describes events, opinions and views without the use of data in the form of numbers; rather it provides textual data that gives an insight into the occurrence being studied. The developments in agriculture would not be sustainable without developing the rural areas and addressing the issues of poverty and enhancing investment capacities of the resource-poor farmers. The linkage of infrastructure to positive economic development cannot be denied. Agricultural infrastructure is infrastructure such as irrigation, rural electrification, roads, and markets in close coordination with institutional infrastructure. There is a long list of infrastructure assets that affect rural development. There is basic agricultural infrastructure which forms the foundation for agricultural economic development of rural livelihoods. This infrastructure includes transport networks, access to water and livestock agricultural infrastructure. Thus, the study sought to establish the impact of existing agricultural infrastructure on agricultural economic development and improvement of rural livelihoods in kwaZulu-Natal. The study revealed that the rural farmers in this province were affected and limited by poor road infrastructure and that access to suitable water for irrigation was far from ideal. As a result, the sector is hindered and does not perform to its full potential and this slows economic development and negatively affects rural livelihoods.
- Full Text:
- Date Issued: 2020
The impact of discounting fees by civil engineering consultants
- Authors: Siqiti, Khulile
- Date: 2020
- Subjects: Consulting engineers , Consultants Civil engineering , Project management
- Language: English
- Type: Thesis , Masters , MSc
- Identifier: http://hdl.handle.net/10948/47246 , vital:39836
- Description: The study provides insight into the views and perceptions of consulting engineers on the discounting of professional fees. The purpose of the research was to determine the impact of discounting professional fees in the civil engineering profession and ultimately potential ways in which the civil engineering profession could improve business sustainability. The study included a review of literature, which was utilised to develop a questionnaire. A total of 26 practicing consulting engineers, who are members of Consulting Engineers South Africa (CESA), and represented small, medium and large consulting engineering firms, participated in the questionnaire survey. The questionnaire investigates the respondents’ perceptions on the impact of discounting professional fees in the civil engineering profession and the amount of discount offered as well as the reasons for discounting fees. The results show that the practice of discounting professional fees is widespread, affecting small, medium and large consulting firms. The results also indicate that prevailing market conditions in civil engineering profession are the primary reasons why consulting engineers offer discounts on fees. Respondents agreed that projects are awarded to the lowest bidder during tender process. Respondents also agreed that experienced engineers are allocated less time on projects to manage project costs. The findings suggest that discounting of professional fees is a great concern that needs to be addressed in order to attain profession business sustainability. It is suggested that the Engineering Council of South Africa (ECSA) should regulate the fee structures and ensure that all professionals, whether employed in the public or private sector, understand the basic finances on running a professional consultancy to deliver a service.
- Full Text:
- Date Issued: 2020
- Authors: Siqiti, Khulile
- Date: 2020
- Subjects: Consulting engineers , Consultants Civil engineering , Project management
- Language: English
- Type: Thesis , Masters , MSc
- Identifier: http://hdl.handle.net/10948/47246 , vital:39836
- Description: The study provides insight into the views and perceptions of consulting engineers on the discounting of professional fees. The purpose of the research was to determine the impact of discounting professional fees in the civil engineering profession and ultimately potential ways in which the civil engineering profession could improve business sustainability. The study included a review of literature, which was utilised to develop a questionnaire. A total of 26 practicing consulting engineers, who are members of Consulting Engineers South Africa (CESA), and represented small, medium and large consulting engineering firms, participated in the questionnaire survey. The questionnaire investigates the respondents’ perceptions on the impact of discounting professional fees in the civil engineering profession and the amount of discount offered as well as the reasons for discounting fees. The results show that the practice of discounting professional fees is widespread, affecting small, medium and large consulting firms. The results also indicate that prevailing market conditions in civil engineering profession are the primary reasons why consulting engineers offer discounts on fees. Respondents agreed that projects are awarded to the lowest bidder during tender process. Respondents also agreed that experienced engineers are allocated less time on projects to manage project costs. The findings suggest that discounting of professional fees is a great concern that needs to be addressed in order to attain profession business sustainability. It is suggested that the Engineering Council of South Africa (ECSA) should regulate the fee structures and ensure that all professionals, whether employed in the public or private sector, understand the basic finances on running a professional consultancy to deliver a service.
- Full Text:
- Date Issued: 2020
The impact of formulation variables on the optimization of pilot scale clobetasol 17-propionate creams
- Fauzee, Ayesha F B, Walker, Roderick B
- Authors: Fauzee, Ayesha F B , Walker, Roderick B
- Date: 2020
- Subjects: To be catalogued
- Language: English
- Type: text , article
- Identifier: http://hdl.handle.net/10962/183275 , vital:43937 , xlink:href="https://doi.org/10.1080/23311916.2020.1804713"
- Description: The impact of formulation variables on the optimization of pilot scale clobetasol 17-propionate (CP) cream formulations was investigated using a Central Composite Design of Experiments. Thirty batches of cream were manufactured and the formulation variables assessed were % v/v propylene glycol, % w/w Gelot® 64, cetostearyl alcohol and glyceryl monostearate content. The responses monitored included viscosity, spreadability, pH, CP content, extrudability, electrical conductivity, and % CP released at 72 hours. The responses were compared to those of a reference product, Dermovate® cream. ANOVA analysis revealed that viscosity, spreadability, and % CP released at 72 hours were significant formulation responses (p more than 0.05). Cetostearyl alcohol had the greatest impact on quality of pilot scale products. An increase in cetostearyl alcohol resulted in an increase in viscosity, a decrease in spreadability, and a decrease in % CP released at 72 hours. The optimized pilot scale CP formulation contained 46% v/v propylene glycol, 8.6% w/w cetostearyl alcohol, 10.5% w/w glyceryl monostearate, and 3.8% w/w Gelot® 64. The resultant viscosity, spreadability, pH, CP content, extrudability, electrical conductivity, and % CP released were 44633cP, 24.91cm2, 101.23 %, 76.98 g/cm2, 198.23 µS/cm, and 50.23%. The addition of cetostearyl alcohol and Gelot® 64 is critical for establishing a soft formulation that leads to the formation of a mixed crystal bilayer network of high viscosity. The formation of a separate crystalline lipophilic network usually occurs in semi-solid formulations that contain high concentrations of emulsifier, leading to an increase in shear stress and greater physicochemical stability of the formulation. The use of experimental design approaches to formulation development activities, permit evaluation of multiple factors simultaneously, reducing the time and costs associated with product development activities, whilst identifying a composition design space and ensuring stable and effective dosage forms are produced.
- Full Text:
- Date Issued: 2020
- Authors: Fauzee, Ayesha F B , Walker, Roderick B
- Date: 2020
- Subjects: To be catalogued
- Language: English
- Type: text , article
- Identifier: http://hdl.handle.net/10962/183275 , vital:43937 , xlink:href="https://doi.org/10.1080/23311916.2020.1804713"
- Description: The impact of formulation variables on the optimization of pilot scale clobetasol 17-propionate (CP) cream formulations was investigated using a Central Composite Design of Experiments. Thirty batches of cream were manufactured and the formulation variables assessed were % v/v propylene glycol, % w/w Gelot® 64, cetostearyl alcohol and glyceryl monostearate content. The responses monitored included viscosity, spreadability, pH, CP content, extrudability, electrical conductivity, and % CP released at 72 hours. The responses were compared to those of a reference product, Dermovate® cream. ANOVA analysis revealed that viscosity, spreadability, and % CP released at 72 hours were significant formulation responses (p more than 0.05). Cetostearyl alcohol had the greatest impact on quality of pilot scale products. An increase in cetostearyl alcohol resulted in an increase in viscosity, a decrease in spreadability, and a decrease in % CP released at 72 hours. The optimized pilot scale CP formulation contained 46% v/v propylene glycol, 8.6% w/w cetostearyl alcohol, 10.5% w/w glyceryl monostearate, and 3.8% w/w Gelot® 64. The resultant viscosity, spreadability, pH, CP content, extrudability, electrical conductivity, and % CP released were 44633cP, 24.91cm2, 101.23 %, 76.98 g/cm2, 198.23 µS/cm, and 50.23%. The addition of cetostearyl alcohol and Gelot® 64 is critical for establishing a soft formulation that leads to the formation of a mixed crystal bilayer network of high viscosity. The formation of a separate crystalline lipophilic network usually occurs in semi-solid formulations that contain high concentrations of emulsifier, leading to an increase in shear stress and greater physicochemical stability of the formulation. The use of experimental design approaches to formulation development activities, permit evaluation of multiple factors simultaneously, reducing the time and costs associated with product development activities, whilst identifying a composition design space and ensuring stable and effective dosage forms are produced.
- Full Text:
- Date Issued: 2020
The impact of HIV knowledge and attitudes on HIV testing acceptance among patients in an emergency department in the Eastern Cape, South Africa
- Ryan, Sofia, Hahn, Elizabeth, Rao, Aditi, Mwinnyaa, George, Black, John, Nyanisa, Yandisa, Quinn, Thomas C, Hansoti, Bhakti, Maharaj, Roshen, Mvandaba, Nomzamo
- Authors: Ryan, Sofia , Hahn, Elizabeth , Rao, Aditi , Mwinnyaa, George , Black, John , Nyanisa, Yandisa , Quinn, Thomas C , Hansoti, Bhakti , Maharaj, Roshen , Mvandaba, Nomzamo
- Date: 2020
- Subjects: HIV testing , Emergency departments
- Language: English
- Type: article , text
- Identifier: http://hdl.handle.net/11260/4473 , vital:44123 , https://doi.org/10.1186/s12889-020-09170-x
- Description: Transmission of HIV in South Africa continues to be high due to a large proportion of individuals living with undiagnosed HIV. Uptake of HIV testing is influenced by a multitude of factors including the patient’s knowledge and beliefs about HIV. Methods: This study sought to quantify the impact of knowledge and attitudes on HIV testing acceptance in an emergency department by co-administering a validated HIV knowledge and attitudes survey to patients who were subsequently offered HIV testing. During the study period 223 patients were interviewed and offered HIV testing. Individuals reporting more negative overall attitudes (p = 0.006), higher levels of stigma to HIV testing, and individuals who believed their test was confidential were more likely to accept an HIV test. Interventions focused on improving patient perceptions around testing confidentiality will likely have the greatest impact on testing acceptance in the emergency department.
- Full Text:
- Date Issued: 2020
- Authors: Ryan, Sofia , Hahn, Elizabeth , Rao, Aditi , Mwinnyaa, George , Black, John , Nyanisa, Yandisa , Quinn, Thomas C , Hansoti, Bhakti , Maharaj, Roshen , Mvandaba, Nomzamo
- Date: 2020
- Subjects: HIV testing , Emergency departments
- Language: English
- Type: article , text
- Identifier: http://hdl.handle.net/11260/4473 , vital:44123 , https://doi.org/10.1186/s12889-020-09170-x
- Description: Transmission of HIV in South Africa continues to be high due to a large proportion of individuals living with undiagnosed HIV. Uptake of HIV testing is influenced by a multitude of factors including the patient’s knowledge and beliefs about HIV. Methods: This study sought to quantify the impact of knowledge and attitudes on HIV testing acceptance in an emergency department by co-administering a validated HIV knowledge and attitudes survey to patients who were subsequently offered HIV testing. During the study period 223 patients were interviewed and offered HIV testing. Individuals reporting more negative overall attitudes (p = 0.006), higher levels of stigma to HIV testing, and individuals who believed their test was confidential were more likely to accept an HIV test. Interventions focused on improving patient perceptions around testing confidentiality will likely have the greatest impact on testing acceptance in the emergency department.
- Full Text:
- Date Issued: 2020