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Assessing the productivity of selective container terminals in Africa using Data Envelopment Analysis (DEA)

  • Authors: Mienie, Barend Jacobus , Brettenny, Warren
  • Date: 2016
  • Subjects: Data envelopment analysis -- Africa Employees -- Rating of -- Africa
  • Language: English
  • Type: Thesis , Masters , MCom
  • Identifier: http://hdl.handle.net/10948/12054 , vital:27026
  • Description: Data envelopment analysis (DEA) is used to assess the efficiency of 15 container terminals in Africa. The models proposed by Charnes, Cooper and Rhodes (1978) and Banker, Charnes and Cooper (1984) are used to determine and rank the efficiencies of the container terminals for 2013 and 2014. The results show that selected South African container terminals can improve on their operations relative to some of their neighbours to the North. Bootstrapping methods are used to investigate and clarify the results. The Malmquist Productivity Index (MPI) model is used to track and explain changes in efficiency over the period of assessment.
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  • Date Issued: 2016

Auditory processing problems within the inclusive foundation phase classroom: an exploration of teachers' experiences

  • Authors: Deysel, Sanet
  • Date: 2016
  • Subjects: Inclusive education , Early childhood special education , Early childhood teachers
  • Language: English
  • Type: Thesis , Masters , MEd
  • Identifier: http://hdl.handle.net/10948/6834 , vital:21152
  • Description: The Salamanca Statement (UNESCO, 1994) called upon all governments to implement inclusive education, ensuring that all learners with barriers to learning are included in the educational system. South Africa as a cosignatory to this global call responded with the implementation of the South African Education White Paper 6 (Department of Education, 2001) where the principles and foundations towards inclusive education were stipulated. It was expected of teachers to be able to accommodate learners with barriers to learning in their classrooms (Dednam, 2009, p. 371), although Ntombela and Green (2013, p. 2) state that teachers are not equipped to work with learners with specific disabilities. Learners present with various barriers to learning and these barriers pose problems and challenges in the classroom. One of these problems in the classroom is learners presenting with Auditory Processing Disorder. This qualitative study employed phenomenology as the research design. Through the use of memory work, drawings and focus group discussions as data production tools, the five Foundation Phase teachers’ experiences regarding learners presenting with Auditory Processing Disorder in the inclusive classroom, were explored. Bronfenbrenner’s ecological model was used to make meaning of the findings of the study. The findings of the study indicate that teachers are torn between the expectations of global and national policies regarding inclusive education and the management and support of learners presenting with Auditory Processing Disorder in their classrooms. Various challenges and problems arise with the inclusion of learners presenting with Auditory Processing Disorder in the classroom. The findings of the study were used to formulate guidelines to support Foundation Phase teachers working with learners presenting with auditory processing problems as well as policy suggestions for the Department of Basic Education. The Department of Basic Education should revise the implementation of CAPS to include the necessary adaptations for learners presenting with Auditory Processing Disorder; and also provide teacher assistants in Foundation Phase classrooms to enable the full inclusion of all learners.
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  • Date Issued: 2016

A memory work project for Marikana

  • Authors: Snyman, Emile Alexander
  • Date: 2016
  • Subjects: Monuments -- South Africa -- Rustenburg Memorials -- South Africa -- Rustenburg
  • Language: English
  • Type: Thesis , Masters , MArch
  • Identifier: http://hdl.handle.net/10948/38885 , vital:35010
  • Description: This treatise suggests one possible strategy for engaging the memory of the Marikana Massacre through different representational modes. Part 1 of this treatise takes the form of the research conducted, which was explorative in nature and focused on coming to an understanding of collective memory, the role of monuments and memorials within this process, the contemporary South African memorial landscape and the events that transpired at Marikana between 9 and 16 August 2012 and what their historical significance may be. As it was found that strikes featuring on the platinum belt were not only related to wage issues, Marikana as a settlement within the context of South Africa’s platinum belt was further investigated in order to highlight what the multiple challenges and issues are with which communities are faced on a daily basis. Part 2 sets out the strategy of a memory work project for Marikana which involves three components, namely a web- and phone-based application called ‘Remembering Marikana’ which provides a discursive arena for the politics of memory, a memorial for the victims of the Marikana Massacre at Thaba (Marikana Mountain) which facilitates annual commemoration of the massacre, and the design of a Mgcineni Noki Memorial Sports Centre, a community institution which embodies the values of the strike leaders and makes a positive contribution to the impoverished urban economy of the Wonderkop neighbourhood in Marikana.
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  • Date Issued: 2016

Benzoyl isothiocyanates derived ligands as potential HIV-1 protease inhibitors and their reactions with gold ions

  • Authors: Odame, Felix
  • Date: 2016
  • Subjects: HIV (Viruses) -- Enzymes Enzyme inhibitors -- Research , Pharmaceutical chemistry Biochemistry
  • Language: English
  • Type: Thesis , Doctoral , DPhil
  • Identifier: http://hdl.handle.net/10948/33228 , vital:32585
  • Description: The synthesis and evaluation of benzoyl isothiocyanate derivatives as potential HIV-1 protease inhibitors is presented. The ligands were first designed to fit the protease active site using Autodock 4.2. The design was based on the deNOVO method of drug design in which the active site coordinates from the crystal structure of protease bound to ritonavir was used. An attempt to access the scaffolds designed initially led to the formation of 2,2,4-trimethyl 2,3-dihydro-1H-1,5-benzodiazepin-5-ium isophthalate and 2-2-(3-methylphenyl-1Hbenzimidazole which could not be converted to the desired intermediate. A further attempt led to formation of amino acid and amino acid ester derivatives of benzoyl isothiocyanates which have been fully characterized and the reasons why the desired intermediates were not readily accessible explained. Scaffolds based on the benzoyl isothiocyanate derivatives of structurally diverse diamines were then screened. Sixty compounds have been synthesized and fully characterized using elemental analysis, spectroscopy, GC-MS and twenty-six crystal structures have been discussed. The DFT transition state studies of 11-phenyl- 1,8,10,12-tetraazatricyclo[7.4.0.02,7]trideca-2(7),3,5,9,11-pentaene-13-thione (20), N-(1Hbenzimidazol-2-yl)benzamide (21), 3-(1,3-benzothiazol-2-yl)-1-(benzoyl)thiourea (23), and N-[(9E)-8,10,17-triazatetracyclo[8.7.0.02,7.011,16]heptadeca-1(17),2,4,6,11(16),12,14-heptaen-9-ylidene] benzamide (39), have been carried out and their detailed density functional theory reaction mechanism have be computed. The Bernly algorithm was used in the determination of saddle points (transtions states), and the intrinsic reaction coordinates leading to the determination of intermediates were traced and optimized to a global minimum or in some cases a local minimum was obtained. The cell viability tests of diamine derivatives which was done by exposing white blood cells to the compounds (inhibitors) at 37 °C and a pH of 7.4 showed that 1-(4-bromobenzoyl)-3-[2- ({[(4-bromophenyl)formamido]methanethioyl}amino)phenyl]thiourea (46), 1-(3-chloro benzoyl)-3-[2-({[(3-chlorophenyl)formamido]methanethioyl}amino)phenyl]thiourea (48), 1- (3-bromobenzoyl)-3-[2-({[(3-bromophenyl)formamido]methanethioyl}amino)phenyl] thiourea (49) and 3-benzoyl-1-(4-{[(phenylformamido)methanethioyl]amino}butyl)thiourea (54), in that group of compounds were cytotoxic with EC50 values of 17.04 ± 9.75 μM, 69.20± 38.16 μM, 35.90 ± 20.55 μM and 68.37 ± 26.45 μM, respectively. 4-Bromo-N-[(9E)-8,10,17-triazatetracyclo[8.7.0.02,7.011,16]heptadeca-1(17),2,4,6,11(16),12,14-heptaen-9-ylidene] benzamide (32), 4-methoxy-N-[(9E)-8,10,17-triazatetracyclo[8.7.0.02,7.011,16]heptadeca-1(17),2,4,6,11(16),12,14-heptaen-9-ylidene]benzamide (33) and 3-chloro-N-[(9E)-8,10,17-triazatetracyclo[8.7.0.02,7.011,16]heptadeca-1(17),2,4,6,11(16),12,14-heptaen-9-ylidene] benzamide (37) were also cytotoxic giving EC50 values of 45.47 ± 21.92, 45.09 ±13.79 and 74.94 ± 13.17 μM, respectively. 3-(1,3-Benzothiazol-2-yl)-1-(3-bromobenzoyl)thiourea (31) and 3-(1,3-benzothiazoyl-2-yl)-1-(4-nitrobenzoyl)thiourea (30) derivatives were also found to be cytotoxic with EC50 values of 1.207 ± 0.58 and 24.08 ±13.14 nM, respectively. 11-(4-Chlorophenyl-1,8,10, 12-tetraazatricyclo[7.4.0.02,7]trideca-2(7),3,5,9,11-pentaene-13-thione (12), 11-(4-methoxyphenyl)-1,8,10,12-tetraazatricyclo[7.4.0.02,7]trideca-2(7),3,9,1-pentaene-13-thione (14), and 11-phenyl-1,8,10,12-tetraazatricyclo[7.4.0.02,7]trideca-2(7),3,5,9,11-pentaene-13-thione (20), were found to be cytotoxic giving EC50 values of 0.152 ± 0.051, 37.96 ± 21.87 and 5.28 ± 2.95 μM, respectively. In the enzyme inhibition studies compound 49 gave a percentage inhibition of 97.03 ± 10.61% at 100 μM, but the fact that it is cytoxic might make it less useful, whilst compounds 19 and 16 had a percentage inhibition of 59.57 ± 13.59% (4-nitro derivative) and 79.97 ± 11.97% (3-nitro derivative) respectively at 100 μM of inhibitor and 20 μM of enzyme (HIV-1 protease). The results suggests that the presence of the nitro group at position 3 (16) and 4 (19) leads to an increase in activity against HIV-1 protease.
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  • Date Issued: 2016

Beyond commercial design: a critique of design and graphic design writings in Emigre and Dot Dot Dot magazines

  • Authors: Muir, Margot
  • Date: 2016
  • Subjects: Graphic design (Typography) Graphic arts Magazine design
  • Language: English
  • Type: Thesis , Masters , MA
  • Identifier: http://hdl.handle.net/10948/12436 , vital:27066
  • Description: Graphic design faces the contradictions of commercial intent and social relevance. This study explores the contribution of criticism, in two independent, seminal graphic design magazines, towards shifting the dominant preferences of graphic design from a purely commercial pursuit to a human-centred practice. Emigre magazine (c.1984 - 2005) and Dot Dot Dot magazine (c.2000 - 2010) are recognised for their critical intent and within them are emerging critical issues that suggest a potential niche for graphic design beyond consumerism and commerce. In the discipline of graphic design, designers define what it is to be human (and thus equally the realities of dehumanisation) in very particular ways (Rose, 2001:135; Freire, 1993:43). Graphic design has a history of commercial practice. This commercial history continues to define its identity and reinforce a particular body of knowledge. Graphic design criticism, however, is an inventive voice that has the potential to contribute to change. Both Emigre and Dot Dot Dot were representative of a “constructive marginality” (Bennett, 1993:64), drawing from their own set of references and awareness of graphic design’s potential to inform their identities, instead of looking to established definitions of practice to do so. This analysis explores how they anticipated a modern conception of graphic design that has become part of a recently adopted (2015) and more widely embedded discourse. This discourse involves critical design that interrogates multiculturalism, interdisciplinarity, environmental sustainability, social and political agency, and speculative futures. Graphic design engages social institutions and practices that denote social constructions of difference and inequality, and is never neutral. Any work, any representation of ideology, is at once individual and discursive at the level of social, cultural and political formations. The critical issues evident in Emigre and Dot Dot Dot, with the exception of an absence of speculative futures, anticipate a more humanising perspective in graphic design. They invite critique and the potential for change that is relevant to the surrounding world, as a counter to commercial self-interest.
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  • Date Issued: 2016

Biocomposites from polyfurfuryl alcohol reinforced with microfibres and nanocellulose from flax fibres and maize stalks

  • Authors: Mtibe, Asanda , Linganiso, Linda
  • Date: 2016
  • Subjects: Textile chemistry Textile chemicals Cellulose -- Chemistry
  • Language: English
  • Type: Thesis , Doctoral , PhD
  • Identifier: http://hdl.handle.net/10948/12175 , vital:27041
  • Description: This study is aimed at extracting cellulose and nanocelluloses (cellulose nanocrystals (CNCs) and cellulose nanofibres (CNFs)) from maize stalks and flax fibres. Both flax fibres and maize stalks are composed of cellulose, lignin, hemicellulose and extractives. The extraction of cellulose involves the removal of lignin, hemicellulose and extractives. The presence of these components in plant fibres hinders the extraction of cellulose and nanocelluloses. Prior to extraction of cellulose, the different concentrations (1 wt.%, 1.5 wt.% and 2 wt.%) of NaOH were optimised. However, chemical compositions and XRD results revealed that the treatment of flax fibres with 1.5 wt.% sodium hydroxide (NaOH) gives optimum results and this concentration was further selected for the extraction of cellulose. Cellulose was extracted by chemical treatments (sodium hydroxide (NaOH), sodium chlorite (NaClO2) and potassium hydroxide (KOH)) and a combination of chemical treatments and mechanical process (supermass colloider). The materials obtained after each treatment stage during the extraction process were characterised by different characterisation techniques such as Fourier transform infrared (FTIR) spectroscopy, environmental scanning electron microscopy (ESEM), X-ray diffraction (XRD) and thermogravimetric analysis (TGA). The results from the aforementioned characterisation techniques confirmed that cellulose was successfully extracted from flax fibres and maize stalks. Cellulose nanocrystals (CNCs) were extracted by sulphuric acid hydrolysis accompanied with ultra-sonication from cellulose obtained from flax fibres and maize stalks. The extracted CNCs were rod-like material with diameters and lengths in nanoscale and microscale, respectively. On the other hand, cellulose nanofibres (CNFs) were extracted by mechanical process (supermass colloider). The extracted CNFs were web-like material with diameters and lengths in nanoscale and microscale, respectively. The dimensions of nanocelluloses were measured by atomic force microscopy (AFM). Their dispersion was investigated by light polarised microscopy. The extracted nanocelluloses and cellulose were used to produce nanopapers and micropaper. Nanopapers mimic the traditional paper, the only difference of the nanopapers is that they are produced from high aspect ratio nanomaterials. Both nanopapers and micropapers were prepared by solvent evaporating method. Their thermal, optical and mechanical properties were investigated and compared. The mechanical and thermal properties of nanopapers produced from CNFs were better than those produced from CNCs and micropapers. On the other hand, nanopapers produced from CNCs were more transparent in comparison to nanopapers produced from CNFs and micropapers. Cellulosic fibres have attracted a considerable attention in composite materials due to their high tensile strength and tensile modulus. This study is focused on the development of biocomposites of polyfurfuryl alcohol (PFA) by in-situ polymerisation in the presence of acid catalyst (p-toluene sulphonic acid). Biocomposites were produced by reinforcing PFA with flax fibres (untreated and treated), nanoparticles and CNCs. The biocomposites reinforced with CNCs and flax fibres showed an improvement in mechanical, thermal and thermo-mechanical properties. On the other hand, biocomposites reinforced with nanoparticles obtained from treated maize stalks showed an improvement in mechanical and thermal properties while biocomposites reinforced with nanoparticles obtained from untreated maize stalks showed lower mechanical properties and decreased thermal stability.
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  • Date Issued: 2016

Biological activities of selected South African medicinal plants traditionally used to treat urinary tract infections

  • Authors: Mathobela, Kegomoditswe Prudence
  • Date: 2016
  • Subjects: Medicinal plants -- South Africa , Urinary tract infections -- Treatment , Anti-infective agents -- South Africa
  • Language: English
  • Type: Thesis , Masters , MTech
  • Identifier: http://hdl.handle.net/10948/8059 , vital:24715
  • Description: Plants have been an important part of medicine and since the existence of human beings; they have been used to cure a variety of ailments such as diarrhoea, wounds and sexually transmitted diseases. Far from being out-dated, the use of traditional medicinal plants plays a significant role in drug discovery and remains a source of medicine still used by many South Africans. Diseases of the urinary tract can be treated using traditional medicinal plants. Although most cases of urinary tract infections (UTIs) are acute and uncomplicated, a few cases do become chronic and complicated. Resistance of pathogens causing UTIs to antibiotics normally used for treatment is one of the reasons for infections developing into the chronic and complicated state. In this study, medicinal plants indigenous to South Africa and traditionally used to treat UTIs were investigated in vitro for antimicrobial activities against UTI-causing pathogens. The plants investigated were Bulbine latifolia, Eucomis autumnalis, Hypoxis hemerocallidea and Trichilia dregeana. American Type Culture Collection (ATCC) microbial strains together with clinical strains were tested against distilled water, methanol and acetone extracts of the plants. The microbial strains included Enterococcus faecalis, Staphylococcus saprophyticus, Escherichia coli, Klebsiella pneumoniae, Proteus mirabilis, Pseudomonas aeruginosa and Candida albicans. The agar well diffusion method was used to screen for antimicrobial activity; the microtiter dilution method to determine the minimum inhibitory concentration; and thin layer chromatography fingerprints to separate the mixtures of the extracts and determine the number of active compounds. The study also investigated the scientific rationale for the traditional use of plant combinations to treat diseases. Three plant combinations (1:1) were investigated for potential interactive properties, which were identified through the sum of the fractional inhibitory concentration index (ΣFIC) calculations. The plant combinations studied were Hypoxis hemerocallidea and Bulbine latifolia; Hypoxis hemerocallidea and Eucomis autumnalis; and Hypoxis hemerocallidea and Trichilia dregeana. In the study, more activity was observed in the microtiter dilution method as compared to the agar well diffusion method. This was true in both the studies of the plants independently and the combination studies. The independent plants displayed noteworthy MIC values (≤ 2 mg/ml) against E. coli, Kleb. pneumoniae, P. mirabilis, P. aeruginosa and C. albicans. The plant combinations studied did not show any synergistic interactions (ΣFIC ≤ 0.5). Only non-interactive (ΣFIC >1.0 - ≤4.0) and additive (ΣFIC >0.5-1.0) interactions were observed. The study contributes to the on-going investigation of antimicrobial activities of medicinal plants and highlights the need for further investigations on the synergistic interactions of the medicinal plants used in this study.
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  • Date Issued: 2016

Brain-based learning and music education

  • Authors: Viljoen, Jacobus Frederick
  • Date: 2016
  • Subjects: Music -- Instruction and study , Cognitive learning , Music teachers
  • Language: English
  • Type: Thesis , Masters , MMus
  • Identifier: http://hdl.handle.net/10948/7359 , vital:21336
  • Description: In the theoretical framework he highlights further implications of the Brain-based theory, which are (1) the importance of early development in children, (2) the importance of attention in class, (3) the inclusion of physical education in the learning process and (4) the value of an enriched learning environment. Furthermore, the researcher explores the types of stress found in the ordinary classroom as well as specific types of stress habitual to the music classroom, while also presenting possible solutions to these types of stress using the Brain-based learning theory. In chapter four, the researcher draws on the theoretical framework presented in the study to devise a Brain-based model for the music class. The study concludes with a summary of the literature and a brief concluding statement to music educators.
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  • Date Issued: 2016

Build-Operate and Transfer (BOT) as a method of private provisioning of public infrastructure

  • Authors: Madungandaba, Ruth Tshweu
  • Date: 2016
  • Subjects: Infrastructure (Economics) , Build-operate-transfer (Public contracts) , Public goods
  • Language: English
  • Type: Thesis , Masters , MBA
  • Identifier: http://hdl.handle.net/10948/8425 , vital:26355
  • Description: BOT scheme method of public infrastructure provisioning by the private sector is one of the most popular PPP methods which in most cases is applied as an automatic choice without performing feasibility studies. It helps the governments to provide infrastructure and services with minimal impact on the governmental budget while allowing it to leverage the latest technology and efficient managerial skill that resides with the private sector. The study that was conducted revealed that BOT scheme has a potential of being the best modality of if applied properly. This modality has a potential of creating a breeding group for corruption at the same time. It also revealed that the application of due processes will not necessarily deter corruption, lack of and exclusion of important stakeholders such as the citizens. The findings of the study revealed that the ruling party in the government can abuse its power in pursuit of its own mission which will not necessarily be in the interest of the public or the other political parties.
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  • Date Issued: 2016

Building communities through re-blocking in the city of Cape Town

  • Authors: Connacher, Jayde
  • Date: 2016
  • Subjects: Squatter settlements -- South Africa -- Cape Town , Housing -- South Africa -- Cape Town
  • Language: English
  • Type: Thesis , Masters , MA
  • Identifier: http://hdl.handle.net/10948/3499 , vital:20436
  • Description: This study uses the re-blocking policy adopted by the City of Cape Town to explore an alternative approach to the housing backlog crisis in South Africa. The two re-blocking projects examined in Mshini Wam and Kuku Town illustrate the benefits of re-blocking and the challenges that were overcome in both of these informal settlements. This study is descriptive in nature and explores the challenges that informal settlements present not only for their inhabitants, but also the impact these challenges have on the city itself. The re-blocking policy is explored as a potential approach to addressing these issues and how the in situ upgrading approach to informal settlements is an improved and sustainable approach for South Africa. Key findings suggest that the Re-blocking Policy can potentially address the challenges that informal settlements present and it could serve as a sustainable housing model for improving service delivery to informal settlements.
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  • Date Issued: 2016

Business ethics in Ugandan small and medium-sized enterprises

  • Authors: Mayanja, Jamiah
  • Date: 2016
  • Subjects: Business ethics -- Uganda , Small business -- Uganda
  • Language: English
  • Type: Thesis , Doctoral , DPhil
  • Identifier: http://hdl.handle.net/10948/8521 , vital:26400
  • Description: SMEs have been acknowledged by governments globally as a prime source of economic growth and development. In Africa there has been a noticeable increase in the number of SME establishments. In Uganda, SMEs are the most popular business choice and play a major role in the national economy. Although SMEs significant economic contributions are generally acknowledged, being ethical and successful has become a challenge, as many SMEs in Uganda have not fully adopted and integrated ethics into their business strategies. Understanding the reasons for the increased unethical behaviour in SMEs is central to their continued business success. The primary objective of the study was to investigate the factors that influence ethical business conduct in Ugandan SMEs. From a comprehensive literature review, three main independent variables (staff-, business- and external environment factors) were identified as variables influencing ethical business conduct (dependent variable) of SMEs. A hypothetical model was developed to determine whether the independent variables have an influence on the dependent variable. Twelve hypotheses were formulated to test the relationships between three staff factors, five business factors, four external environment factors and ethical business conduct. The study sought the perceptions of SME owners or managers in the Kampala District and utilised the quantitative research paradigm. A survey was conducted with the aid of a structured self-administered questionnaire distributed by three fieldworkers. A combination of convenience and snowball sampling was utilised. The final sample comprised 384 respondents. The validity of the measuring instrument was ascertained by using exploratory factor analysis. The Cronbach‟s alpha values for reliability were calculated for each of the factors identified during the exploratory factor analysis. A total of ten valid and reliable factors were retained. Pearson product-moment correlation and multiple regression analysis were used to test the correlation and statistical significance of the relationships hypothesised between the various independent and dependent variables. One statistically significant relationship was found between the staff factors (employee attitude) and ethical business conduct. Two statistically significant relationships were found between the business factors (knowledge acquisition and management practices) and ethical business conduct. Three statistically significant relationships were found between the external environment factors (legal requirements, industry norm and media power) and ethical business conduct. External environmental factors seem to have a greater influence on SME ethical business conduct in Uganda. Multivariate Analysis of Variance (MANOVA) was used to identify if significant relationships exist between the eight demographic variables and seven reliable and valid independent variables. Furthermore, post-hoc Scheffé tests identified where the significant differences occurred between the different categories. Cohen‟s d-values were calculated in order to assess the practical significance of the mean scores. A total of twelve practical significant relationships were identified. SME owners or managers should consider employing staff with the right attitude to uphold sound ethical business values. They should implement ethical management practices to promote ethical business conduct amongst employees and ensure that employees are made aware of what is regarded as acceptable ethical business behaviour. SME owners or managers should adhere to legal requirements and industry norms to be known as businesses exhibiting ethical behaviour and utilise media to instil and guide ethical values in employees. Lastly, they must pay attention to the role that demographical variables such as: gender, level of education, current employment status, number of years in business and number of employees, play in behaving ethically in business.
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  • Date Issued: 2016

Business problems facing potential emerging contractors in CIDB grades 5 to 7

  • Authors: Pretorius, Albertus Johannes Hendrik
  • Date: 2016
  • Subjects: Building trades , Project management , Construction industry
  • Language: English
  • Type: Thesis , Masters , MSc
  • Identifier: http://hdl.handle.net/10948/3459 , vital:20432
  • Description: Considering the vital part which the construction industry plays in the economy of South Africa, as well as the objectives of the reconstruction and development thereof, the failure of contractors, despite all the interventions to identify and eradicate the root of the problem, is a matter of great concern. In November 2000, the Construction Industry Development Board Act (2000) was promulgated which led to the inception of the cidb with a mandate to implement an integrated strategy for the reconstruction, growth and development of the construction industry. The matter of contractor development has been widely studied and investigated since the inception of the cidb in 2000. However, the purpose of this study was to focus on the business problems faced by Grade 5 to 7 CE / GB Potential Emerging Contractors, with regard to construction organisations that make the move from small to medium businesses. The intention was to contribute to the successful transition from small to medium businesses by means of structured initiatives. In order to achieve this, a new business strategy must be adopted. It was therefore necessary to extensively consider the surface and core competencies required for making the transition. Liquidity problems that the transition entails were explored, as well as contractor misconceptions with regard to contractor development. In the course of the study, unethical practices and entitlement issues experienced in the built environment and the effect of this on contractor success were explored. The study aimed to recommend a structured framework for co-ordination between assistance, mentorship, contractor needs, client departments, cidb NCDP best practice guidelines and the most important of all, self-empowerment. This study further endeavoured to find possible solutions regarding the assistance requirements, as well as self-empowering objectives for emerging contractors taking the challenging step from small to medium business and by implication, becoming sustainable contractor enterprises in Grades 6 to 8. Political imperatives need to be weighed against the high unemployment rate. The Gross Fixed Capital Formation (GFCF) indicates that there are not enough sustainable contracting opportunities to allocate to Contractor Development Programmes (CDPs). This is aggravated by the tendency that too many hopeful aspirant entrepreneurs, lacking construction surface and core competencies, are seeing the built environment as an easy industry to enter. Just less than 50% of cidb registered contractors exited the register of active contractors during the last ten years ending 2nd quarter 2015. 45% exited during the last five years. This indicates that there is a serious sustainability problem in the built environment. Considering the GFCF contractor opportunities there are too many cidb registered contractors. However, enterprise failure is not only an Emerging Contractor (EC) problem, but occurs across the board. A dangerous notion that the large national construction firms should no longer qualify for public contracts can have disastrous implications for an already embattled industry. Large national firms are the trend setters in the built environment, which coach the much needed construction surface and core competencies. If upgrading is the measure of success the current CDP statistics do not confirm that the strategic objectives of the National Contractor Development Programme (NCDP) are being achieved. All contractors, including black owned contractors, are faring substantially better than their EC counterparts participating in CDPs. Upgrading should carry less weight and sustainability and high performance should become the focus. A serious lack of construction surface and core competencies was identified. If contractor development is the objective the structure of the cidb grading system should be reviewed. It is recommended that the broad CDP hierarchical structure should streamlined and partly privatised to focus on the core strategic objective of contractor development.
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  • Date Issued: 2016

Causes of staff turnover in selected departments: province of the Eastern Cape

  • Authors: Khelekethe, Eric Phathisile
  • Date: 2016
  • Subjects: Labor turnover -- South Africa -- Eastern Cape , Employee retention -- South Africa -- Eastern Cape
  • Language: English
  • Type: Thesis , Doctoral , DPhil
  • Identifier: http://hdl.handle.net/10948/8836 , vital:26434
  • Description: This research focused on the impact of staff turnover in selected departments of the Province of the Eastern Cape Province. High staff turnover rate may jeopardise efforts to attain organisational objectives. In addition, `when an organisation loses a critical employee, there is a negative impact, on innovation; consistency in providing service to guests may be jeopardised, and major delays in the delivery of services to customers may occur. The research design used in this study contained elements of both the quantitative and qualitative approaches, which allowed the researcher to use structured questionnaires in data collection, on which space was provided for comments. This study was influenced and shaped by the concerns raised by a number of General Managers in the course of various provincial meetings. The main purpose of this research was to identify retention strategies that could be used by selected departments to reduce the turnover of their talented staff. The research also investigated methods to retain knowledge within departments that could possibly be lost due to a high turnover rate among talented staff. The first step used to resolve the issues discussed above was to conduct a full literature study. The literature study sought to reveal what characteristics were required in the departments that ensured that staff would be happy in those departments and remain there for a long time. The literature study also covered what knowledge management methods could be used in managing valuable knowledge. Secondly, the views of current staff and management of the selected departments on staff and knowledge management strategies were solicited in an empirical study, which involved the completion of structured questionnaires. It is the researcher’s aim that this study will, firstly, contribute to the existing body of knowledge of staff turnover and that the Provincial Departments will take into cognisance the problems that lead to employee turnover. Secondly, that it will contribute to an improvement in employee working conditions in various Provincial Government departments.
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  • Date Issued: 2016

Challenges facing water supply in the Polokwane Municipality, Mankweng Cluster

  • Authors: Mashego, Irene Lerato
  • Date: 2016
  • Subjects: Municipal water supply -- South Africa -- Polokwane , Rural public utilities -- South Africa -- Polokwane
  • Language: English
  • Type: Thesis , Masters , MA
  • Identifier: http://hdl.handle.net/10948/8109 , vital:25007
  • Description: Polokwane Local Municipality is one of many municipalities in South Africa experiencing challenges of providing potable water services to their local residents. Residents’ dissatisfaction about poor potable water services have manifested in community protests. The study, which looks at the communities’ experience within the Makweng Cluster, aims to assess the main constraints facing Polokwane Local Municipality in providing potable water to the Mankweng Cluster.
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  • Date Issued: 2016

Change management: transformational issues in South-African rugby

  • Authors: Erasmus, Innis
  • Date: 2016
  • Subjects: Organizational change -- Management Sports administration , Rugby football -- South Africa
  • Language: English
  • Type: Thesis , Masters , MBA
  • Identifier: http://hdl.handle.net/10948/46320 , vital:39547
  • Description: The history of the sport rugby evolved from a football game more than a century ago, in England, in a town called Rugby when a young boy by the name of William Webb Ellis picked up the ball and ran to score a try. In the last two decades in South Africa the transformation process in getting more players of colour in the national team has become a real big issue. The fast changing society since 1995, the year in which the Springboks won their first Rugby World Cup, is according to government and critics not represented in the senior national side. Change management is a business management approach to implement procedures to deal with changes and to be able to reach the desired future state by profiting from the changing opportunities. SARU wants to address these issues and changes with their Strategic Transformational Plan. The purpose of this treatise was to study the perception of the junior players on the changes in rugby and the STP. The key drivers which will have influences on change management within the sport organisation were examined by the research. With the research objectives in mind a literature review was performed to create and develop a hypothesized model, which could be tested by the design of a measuring instrument which collected quantitative data for statistical results and analysis. The interpretation of the results of the research showed that Engagement, Coaching and Mentoring, Medical and Healthcare, Education/Schooling and Culture have positive associations and influences on change management. Transformational plans, Conditioning and nutrition’s relationship with change management and influences were accepted for the null hypotheses. Finally, change management and the various issues of transformation in SA Rugby showed to be valuable, measurable to a certain extent, and its recommendations actionable. The practical significant differences between the perceptions of the race groups (White, Coloured and African) illustrated valuable information for future communications and possible studies. This study and its proposed model on change management was a benefit to all the stakeholders and sport organisation going through changes and transformation in South Africa.
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  • Date Issued: 2016

Co-operatives support programme of the Cacadu District Municipality

  • Authors: Kate, Pumelelo Maxwell
  • Date: 2016
  • Subjects: Cooperative societies -- South Africa -- Eastern Cape , Social status -- South Africa -- Eastern Cape , Economic development -- South Africa -- Eastern Cape
  • Language: English
  • Type: Thesis , Masters , MA
  • Identifier: http://hdl.handle.net/10948/5667 , vital:20961
  • Description: Despite the efforts by government to support and direct resources and institutions to address high levels of poverty through co-operative programmes, the Eastern Cape Province remains one of the poorest provinces in the country. Even in the relatively more prosperous Cacadu District in the western portion of the Province, the socio- economic landscape is punctuated by pockets of acute poverty. In order to support government policies to promote co-operatives as a means to address past exclusions from the agricultural sector, as well as to promote socio-economic development in one of its poorest local municipalities, the Cacadu District Municipality has been implementing a support and mentoring programme to agricultural co-operatives in the Ikwezi Local Municipality. Furthermore, Ikwezi was selected because it has the highest concentration of co-operatives in the region supported by the District Municipality and by other Sector Departments from the National and Provincial Governments. The relationships between the support that is provided by Cacadu District Municipality to co-operatives and the extent to which supported co-operatives harness these advantages to grow and sustain their enterprises, forms the cornerstone of this research. As such, the hypothesis that will be tested reads as follows: The government support provided by Cacadu District Municipality to co-operatives in its area of jurisdiction has resulted in the growth and sustainability of the co-operative enterprises. The literature review considers the significant role that co-operatives play in local economic development. It provides a historical overview of co-operatives, as well as the policy framework on co-operatives in South Africa. The role of Cacadu District Municipality with regards to co-operatives and local economic development is reviewed, as well as its co- operative support and mentorship programme. An overview of the socio-economic profile of the Ikwezi Local Municipality and the agricultural co-operatives in the area concludes the literature review. The research approach is based on a mixed method between the qualitative and quantitative research families, with a bias towards the qualitative approach. The study placed more emphasis on the data gathered from individual co-operative businesses and the personal experiences of individuals involved in the co-operative sector. This approach requires qualitative techniques such as interviews and observations. The internet was used as a source for the gathering of relevant data related to the stated research objectives. Other relevant information is gathered through documents reviewed and case studies. The study used questionnaires to interview a sample of agricultural co-operatives in Ikwezi. The collected data was analysed and presented according to a set of themes that formed the basis for the analysis. The analysis provided insights into the background and history of the selected co-operatives, the challenges that they face to survive and the support that they require from government and other potential support structures. The analysis furthermore focussed on the perception of the members of the co-operatives of the impact – whether positive or negative – of the Cacadu co-operatives support and, in particular, it’s mentorship programme. The findings revealed that there was overwhelming support from the co-operative members for the intervention and mentorship provided by the Cacadu District Municipality. It became clear that accessing agricultural land and providing funding and inputs to emerging farmers and co-operatives is not enough. There needs to be a building and nurturing of an entrepreneurial spirit and business mentality accompanied by appropriate training and capacity building interventions for the co- operatives to become successful enterprises. This study reveals that this is possible given all the resources at the disposal of the state. In conclusion, the hypothesis that the support provided by Cacadu District Municipality to co-operatives in its area of jurisdiction has resulted in the growth and sustainability of the co-operative enterprises, was found to be valid.
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  • Date Issued: 2016

Comparative perspectives on the doctrine of vicarious liability

  • Authors: Roets, Maria Elizabeth
  • Date: 2016
  • Subjects: Liability (Law) -- South Africa , Respondeat superior
  • Language: English
  • Type: Thesis , Masters , LLM
  • Identifier: http://hdl.handle.net/10948/3675 , vital:20452
  • Description: The doctrine of vicarious liability provides justification for a deviation from the general rule that fault is an indispensable requirement to attach liability to an individual. The doctrine provides that an aggrieved party may hold an employer liable for the wrongful or delictual conduct of its employees. The South African legal system inherited the doctrine of vicarious liability from common-law and the doctrine is deeply rooted in English-law. The South African legal sphere is subject to constant transformation and as a result hereof, the common-law doctrine of vicarious liability should also be subjected to transformation. Uncertainty reigned in relation to whether the judiciary or the legislature carried the burden to develop the doctrine of vicarious liability in order to accommodate the needs of a modern society. The doctrine of vicarious liability is a universal concept and the transformation that the doctrine has undergone in other common-law countries could prove to be useful guidelines to assist with the development of the doctrine within the South African legal context. The doctrine places a tremendous burden on employers by providing that employers can be held accountable for the unlawful and delictual actions of its employees. One of the stumbling blocks that the South African judiciary had to overcome was to determine in which instances the liability of employers should be restricted in relation to the conduct of their employees. It is common cause that the doctrine, due to its onerous nature, cannot be regarded as absolute. Perhaps one of the most significant restrictions that has been placed on the application of the doctrine has been the fact that employers may only be held accountable for the wrongful conduct of its employees in instances where the employee has acted within the scope of his or her employment. The dividing line between acts committed within the scope of employment and acts committed outside of the scope of employment is a very fine line and the judiciary tend to tread carefully upon pronouncing on such matters. The Constitution of the Republic of South Africa, 1996 reiterates the importance of ensuring that the constitutional values of reasonableness and fairness are adhered to. An aggrieved party would be left with deep scars in the event that the individual is prohibited from instituting an action against an employer for harm or loss suffered as a result of a wrongful action of an employee of that employer. The employer would suffer prejudice in the event that the employer is held accountable for the wrongful conduct of an employee which is unrelated to the business of the employer. The answer to the conundrum lies in striking a balance between the prejudice suffered by the aggrieved party and the prejudice suffered by the employer. The aim of the judiciary should be to ensure that restrictions made to the application and interpretation of the doctrine of vicarious liability would be justifiable and reasonable in terms of the Constitution. The balancing of the interests of the employer and the balancing of the interests of the aggrieved parties are essential to ensure that justice prevails. It is common cause that no general test exist in the South African legal sphere in order to determine the liability of an employer for the wrongful conduct of its employees. Due to the complex nature of the doctrine of vicarious liability it can be averred that a general test would not address the technicalities of the doctrine. An important consideration to determine the liability of an employer is to establish whether a sufficiently close connection existed between the duties of the employee and the wrongful conduct of the employee. This factor can be considered as the “golden thread” that must be present to determine the liability of the employer. The doctrine of vicarious liability is a concept which has proved to be imperative in the South African legal sphere. Employers should be held accountable for the wrongful conduct of its employees, but simultaneously the constitutional values of reasonableness and fairness should be adhered to. Even though vicarious liability is an onerous concept for employers, justice would prevail if the values of the Constitution are applied religiously.
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  • Date Issued: 2016

Comparing the perfomance of 3 to 6 year old children on the performance and practical reasoning subscales of the Griffiths mental development scales: extended revised with the foundations of learning subscale of the Griffiths III

  • Authors: Kolver, Christél
  • Date: 2016
  • Subjects: Child psychology
  • Language: English
  • Type: Thesis , Masters , MA
  • Identifier: http://hdl.handle.net/10948/13293 , vital:27172
  • Description: The developmental assessment of children is very important so that adequate resources and intervention programmes can be initiated. Updating psychometric assessments is mandatory for different reasons, which include to update norms and to add new psychometric information. It is important for psychometric assessments that measure child development to ensure that they continue to accurately reflect stages of development in a modern context. The Association for Research in Infant and Child Development (ARICD) is currently in the process of revising the Griffiths Scales. One of the many unique changes includes the newly formed Foundations of Learning Subscale. This Subscale was constructed from definition, sub-constructs and items, which encompassed the critical sub-constructs from the previous Performance and Practical Reasoning Subscales, while providing greater depth to the overarching construct. This study therefore, forms part of a larger study of developing the Griffiths III and aims to compare the performance of three to six-year-old children on these three Subscales. The study employed a mixed method approach, which included 259 children matched on the Griffiths Mental Development Scales – Extended Revised and the Griffith III. The quantitative aspect of the research included descriptive statistics, independent sample t-tests as well as pearson correlations. Differences and similarities were found from the results. The relationships varied from high correlation, strong relationships to low correlation, definite but small relationships. This was further explored through a qualitative analysis between the constructs assessed on each of the Subscales, as well as a qualitative analysis on the items of Subscale A, brought from Subscale E and F and the new items.
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  • Date Issued: 2016

Complexities of accessing finance from government institutions and its agencies

  • Authors: Mbundwini, Gracious Nomfuneko
  • Date: 2016
  • Subjects: Business enterprises -- South Africa -- Finance Small business -- South Africa
  • Language: English
  • Type: Thesis , Masters , MA
  • Identifier: http://hdl.handle.net/10948/11772 , vital:26967
  • Description: Purpose: with the recent establishment of Small Business Development department, the ministry is tasked and will be responsible for ensuring that the business environment is enabling for new Small to Medium businesses. The real issue and the point of interest in researching this particular dissertation is the available literature around the issue of the SME sector which indicates that new SMEs in South Africa do not move from the first stage (existence) to other stages such as survival, success, take off and resource maturity. The study seeks to inaugurate two specific challenges (difficulties in accessing finance and to examine if there is sufficient non-financial SME incubators and mentorship programs post funding allocation). The area of study focused on SMEs that are concentrated in highly populated areas of Gauteng. Methodology: The study was conducted using qualitative research and a questionnaire was used as a data collection tool. The researcher was able to get valuable information on stakeholders in the SMME sector. This was done through the use of questionnaires to businesses, government funders and incubators. Results: when posed with a question of the start-up capital, a mere 17% responded to having obtained financial assistance from government institutions, 20% from friends and family while a massive 60% indicated they have used own capital to start businesses. When the researcher posed the question of the reasons that often leads to failure, approximately 23% of businesses mentioned lack of working equipment as the core reasons for the business failure while 17% indicated that lack of business opportunities or rather contracts of supply from government departments as the main impeding factor which resulted to failure. In terms of the availability of incubators, approximately 67% of respondents indicated that there were no business incubators available in their areas of business. Approximately 57% of businesses mentioned the inability to obtain loans from government funding institutions was the major business constraint that often leads to failure. The researcher posed a question to business incubators personnel that participated in the study to gain perspective as to why do they think SMEs fail within the first year of operation. Approximately 40% of respondents alluded that, barriers to entry by big corporates in South Africa force Small and Medium Enterprises out of businesses. Other participants added that the South African government procurement system does not provide opportunities to small businesses due to lack of experience. All government funding institutions participants mentioned that in most cases SMEs finance applications are rejected due to the fact that businesses fail to present viable business proposals that show the ability for business to remain operating for a long time Implications: The above analysed study findings indicate that there is a huge gap between small businesses and government funding institutions in terms of the awareness of the available financial support to SMEs. From the government perspective, it was indicated that businesses submit business plans that are not viable. There needs to be the middle ground where business plans compilation support currently provided by SEDA awareness should be spread across SMEs operating in the highly populated areas of Gauteng. Recommendations: Access to finance is a major constraint hindering the growth and success of small enterprises. The South African government has established a number of financial support programmes aimed to assist SMEs. With these financial support programmes, most of the SMEs are unsuccessful due to the fact that they cannot easily access those funds and as a result they remain stagnant for a very long time or end up shutting down. Conclusion: The effect of credit rationing is the potential loss of opportunity and or reduction in the scale of a business, neither of which is a desirable outcome. At the most fundamental level, there are lost opportunities for the borrower and the lender. There are implications for the wider economy also. SMEs are a key source of innovation, competition and choice.
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  • Date Issued: 2016

Conflict management in Kenyan electoral conflict: 2002-2012

  • Authors: Muhindi, Solomon Peter Kavai
  • Date: 2016
  • Subjects: Conflict management -- Africa Elections -- Kenya Kenya -- Politics and government
  • Language: English
  • Type: Thesis , Doctoral , PhD
  • Identifier: http://hdl.handle.net/10948/12286 , vital:27051
  • Description: In the recent years, majority of African countries have been faced by conflicts during election periods. Some of the electoral related conflicts escalated into violence, and they have been transformed or managed. While other electoral related conflicts have just been prevented during the election periods but remain latent conflicts that would escalate triggered by future elections. This study focuses specifically on electoral conflicts in Kenya and its conflict management perspective from 2002-2013. To transform and manage the conflict, peacebuilding initiatives have been integrated in the study. The prime actors in Kenya electoral conflict includes the; the ruling party coalition, the leading opposition coalition and ethnic groupings affiliated to the ruling party and opposition. Other peripheral actors include: the Independent, Electoral and Boundary Commission (IEBC), the International Criminal Court (ICC) and the judiciary. Triangulation (the combination of two or more methods of collecting and analysing data) has been adopted both in data collection and analysis. Focus group interviews, selected individual interviews, and literature reviews were used to collect data, while research findings were analysed systematically using the constructivist grounded theory. Moreover, the liberal peace theory, Institutionalisation before Liberalisation (IBL) and findings from other researchers like (Elder, Stigant and Claes 2014:1-20), and the Afrobarometer research findings (Kivuva 2015) have been used to authenticate the research findings. Research findings indicates that claims of election rigging, numerous institutional failures, negative ethnicity and economic disparity, among other factors heighten the fear and anxiety that escalates during elections. Towards achieving peacebuilding and sustainable peace, the following reforms were undertaken: constitutional changes and reviews, electoral body reform, judicial reform, pursuit of transitional justice, extensive range of local initiatives reforms and police reforms. However, findings in the study also reveal that despite the latter reforms, peacebuilding measures have been short-term, temporal, and not fully successful, leaving behind a latent conflict that could be triggered again with future electoral conflicts. Besides that, negotiation, dialogue and mediation played a role in restoring trust and confidence in the democratic structures after escalated elections. We also recommend that multi-ethnic composition for electoral coalitions should also be adopted as a means to mitigate ethnic triggered conflicts.
  • Full Text:
  • Date Issued: 2016
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