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Design and development of mobile-based e-Marketing application for communal farmers in Eastern Cape. South Africa.

  • Authors: Fatumo, Dare Ebenezer
  • Date: 2023-02
  • Subjects: Food security , Agriculture , Agriculture -- Technology transfer
  • Language: English
  • Type: Master's theses , text
  • Identifier: http://hdl.handle.net/10353/27511 , vital:67421
  • Description: The application of Information and Communication Technologies (ICT) in agriculture can augment farmers' production capabilities, this is a perception for all farmers worldwide, but there are some in communal areas who may not be as exposed to ICT tools as their commercial counterparts in urban areas, especially in developed communities. Food security in any society is a vital measure that should always be treated with high priority since humankind's existence is based on food availability. One major challenge with farmers in communal areas has been the marketing of their farm produce effectively to avoid wastage, get more value, and bridge the gap between themselves and urban commercial farmers. This challenge includes food wastage, untimely information, and market accessibility due to distance restraint. ICT can beused to bring a functional platform to assist this challenge. In this context, communal farmers have a challenge. The aim of this research was to design and develop an easy-to-use mobilebased e-marketing application for marketing farm products for communal farmers in Alice community, South Africa. Before design and development, review of challenges of farmers on the reception and communication of sensitive information pertaining to food security. Effective communication of farm produce baseline information on awareness and adaptation of mobile ICT technology of communal farmers was investigated. A mixed method was used through reviews of literature and as well distribution of questionnaires to get an understanding of the present state of communal farmers’ marketing problems. Furthermore, a prototyping methodology was used in the development of the mobile-based application for this research. The result of this research demonstrated the need for communal farmers to market their farm products at their convenience. An easy-to-use mobile-based e-market application was then developed; the application is an android application that will assist communal farmers in marketing their farm products as soon as they are available to avoid food wastage. The application performance and evaluation assessment indicated that the tool would maximize farm productivity and profitability and, facilitate concise and effective access to the market, as well as eliminate the need for an intermediary. , Thesis (MSci) -- Faculty of Science and Agriculture, 2023
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  • Date Issued: 2023-02

Examining the implementation of the Department of Social Development’s fatherhood strategy by FAMSA

  • Authors: Sishuba, Thozama Alicia
  • Date: 2023
  • Subjects: Grahamstown (South Africa) , Eastern Cape (South Africa) , South Africa
  • Language: English
  • Type: Master's theses , text
  • Identifier: http://hdl.handle.net/10353/27618 , vital:69320
  • Description: This study aimed to exam the implementation of the Department of Social Development’s Fatherhood Strategy by Families South Africa (FAMSA) Eastern Cape. FAMSA is a non-profit organization providing vital services to people in families while providing them with psychosocial and emotional support. FAMSA has been in existence since 1954. To achieve this aim, the study’s objectives were underpinned by understanding the implementation of the Department of Social Development’s Fatherhood Strategy in Buffalo City Metro, establishing FAMSA’s response to the implementation of the Department of Social Development’s Fatherhood Strategy as well as exploring the challenges faced by FAMSA in implementing the Department of Social Development’s Fatherhood Strategy. A qualitative research methodology was implemented to gather information from FAMSA and DSD. Findings from literature revealed that the fatherhood strategy has been a concern worldwide evidenced by the high levels of father-child non-residency. Data from this study revealed that FAMSA had been implementing the programme effectively regardless of numerous challenges that include funding human resources. Conclusively, a lot must be done to advocate for fatherhood. Recommendations also point to the need for several interventions which need to be done in research, social work practice and also policy formulation and development. , Thesis (MA) -- Faculty of Social Sciences and Humanities, 2023
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  • Date Issued: 2023

Impact assessment of genetically modified TELA® Bt. maize variety adoption on yield, household income, technical efficiency and food security: a case of maize farmers in Limpopo and Mpumalanga Provinces, South Africa.

  • Authors: Mailula, Lesiba Pertunia
  • Date: 2023
  • Subjects: Food security , Farmers -- Training of , Seed technology -- Economic aspects
  • Language: English
  • Type: Master's theses , text
  • Identifier: http://hdl.handle.net/10353/28266 , vital:74040
  • Description: The agricultural sector is widely recognized as a crucial factor for promoting sustainable economic development, reducing poverty, and ensuring food security in developing countries. However, in Africa, the agricultural sector continues to underperform, with growth rates falling behind the population growth, this can be attributed to various challenges, including climate change and pest infestation. This has over the years weakened the defence of crops leading to the disruptions in crop production and food security. As such, calls have been made that adoption of the agricultural technology may promote food security through high yields. This is because agricultural technology crops have improved varieties such as drought tolerance and pest resistance traits. However, adoption of improved agricultural technology in Africa has been very sluggish amongst smallholder farmers, particularly for GM seed, this is due to the on-going controversies and compliance requirements regarding GM technologies. The controversies are raised by the unknown benefits and risks associated with the adoption of GM seeds technology. Furthermore, there are mixed benefits associated with GM technology adoption as well as methodological and data gaps associated with assessment of GM impact on the farmer’s welfare. In 2016, five Bt. maize varieties trademarked TELA were developed through the WEMA project. Trials were approved and launched with smallholder farmers in various countries in Africa, and South Africa is not an exception. Several smallholder maize farmers have accessed the TELA Bt. maize varieties through local seed companies and have been producing it for the past seasons. Yet, no study that has been conducted on the impact of the GM TELA Bt. maize technology adoption on yield, income, food security and technical efficiency, hence, a need for such a study. The primary data was collected from 289 183 TELA Bt. and 106 non-TELA Bt. smallholder farmers in Mpumalanga and Limpopo provinces using convenience and snowball sampling techniques. Data were analysed using various analytical tools that included descriptive statistics, gross margin analysis, Household Dietary Diversity Score, Stochastic Frontier Model and the Propensity Score Matching, modelled through the Probit regression model. These tools were utilised to address the objectives. The descriptive statistics show that the TELA Bt. maize variety yielded 61.1 percent more maize output as compared to non-TELA Bt. maize farmers, with an average of 691kg ha and 429kg ha, respectively. The gross margin analysis showed higher subsequent income for the TELA Bt. maize farmers R2 834.93 compared to R2 124.96 for the non-TELA Bt. maize farmers. The results of the HDDS showed a marginal effect of TELA Bt. maize seed technology on food diversity. The average HDDS scores were 8.4 and 7.5 for the TELA Bt. and non-TELA Bt. maize farmers, respectively. The Stochastic Frontier Analysis SFA results revealed that both the TELA Bt. maize farmers and non-TELA Bt. maize farmers were technically inefficient. However, the TELA Bt. maize farmers were better-off than their counterparts, with mean technical efficiency scores of 0.416 and 0.328, respectively. The Propensity Score Matching PSM using the Probit model revealed that gender 0.6064, number of years in farming 0.0099 credit 1.1438 and market access 0.4427 had a positive and significant influence on the decision taken by the farmers to adopt TELA Bt. maize seed technology. However, access to extension services was found to have a negative and significant impact on the adoption of TELA Bt. maize seed technology. The Average Treatment Effect of the Treated ATT using the Nearest Neighbour Matching algorithm indicated that adoption of TELA Bt. maize technology improved farmers’ yields by 254.3kg, income by 0.36 cents and technical efficiency by 8.6 percent. There was no significant relationship observed between adoption of the GM technology and food security. Generally, the results from this study imply that adoption of GM TELA Bt. maize seed technology improves farmers’ yields, income, technical efficiency, as well as food security. The study therefore, recommends increased awareness of the GM seed technology benefits to farmers, coupled with training and capacity development to enhance adoption of seed technology towards improved farmers’ welfare. In addition, there is a need for sustained Research and Development investments towards GM seed technologies to enhance maize productivity and technical efficiency of the farmers. , Thesis (MSc) -- Faculty of Science and Agriculture, 2023
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  • Date Issued: 2023

Investigation into response of wheat genotypes to drought and optimum conditions in the Eastern Cape Province, South Africa

  • Authors: Mzileni L S
  • Date: 2023
  • Subjects: Bonanza farms , Wheat , Drought - tolerant plants
  • Language: English
  • Type: Master's theses , text
  • Identifier: http://hdl.handle.net/10353/27732 , vital:69397
  • Description: Wheat is generally one of the dominant crops globally, being mainly used for human food and livestock feed. Due to climate change, drought makes it challenging to produce enough wheat mostly under dryland production regions in South Africa. Drought stress has severely reduced wheat yield by up to 70 percent, and adversely compromised wheat grain quality. The adoption of drought-tolerant cultivars offers a sustainable and low-cost solution for increasing wheat yields and minimise importing the crop to meet national requirements. The main objective of this study was to investigate the response of different wheat genotypes to drought and optimum conditions in the Eastern Cape Province, South Africa. Forty diverse wheat genotypes were evaluated in this study. The specific objectives were: (i) to evaluate the response of wheat genotypes under optimum and drought-stressed field conditions; (ii) to determine the effect of terminal drought stress on wheat grain quality composition; and (iii) to identify appropriate drought tolerance indices that can be used as selection tools under field conditions. This study was conducted in the field using a 5x8 alpha lattice design, replicated twice under two water regimes (drought and optimum) over two consecutive winter seasons of 2020 and 2021 at two different sites namely University of Fort Hare Research Farm in Alice, and Zanyokwe irrigation scheme in Keiskamahoek. Drought stress was imposed from 50% flowering up to physiological maturity. Data on agro-physiological traits such as duration to heading (DTH); flowering (DTF); maturity (DTM); plant height (HT); spike length (SL); number of spikelets per spike (SPS); kernels per spike (KPS); and grain yield (GY (kg/ha)) was subjected to the analysis of variance using Genstat 18th edition. As the study took place over two sites, a combined ANOVA table revealed significant differences (p0.001) among genotypes, and all interactions such as genotype by water regime (GWR); genotype by seasons (GS) for all studied traits. Notably, the extent and severity of drought differed between geographical regions and between seasons. This necessitated the adoption of the additive main effect and multiplicative interaction analysis (AMMI) for the identification of stable genotypes under two different water regimes over two sites. Regarding grain yield, superior and/or stable genotypes included G5 (4334 kg/ha under optimum, and 2871kg/ha under drought), and G22 (4418 kg/ha under optimum, and 2624kg/ha under drought) at the UFH site. G21 (3194 kg/ha under optimum, and 2938 kg/ha under drought), G33 (2552kg/ha under optimum, and 3810 kg/ha under drought), and G35 (2688 kg/ha under optimum, and 3309 kg/ha under drought) at the ZAN site. Stable genotypes across sites included G21 and G33. There were generally weak correlations between agro-physiological traits and grain yield. From the experiment, grain quality traits such as fixed protein (PF); wet gluten (WG); hectolitre mass (HLM); and thousand kernel weight (TKW) were also examined. A combined ANOVA revealed significant differences (p0.001) among the interaction of genotypes by environments (GE) for all traits except PF. This implies that the performance of wheat genotypes across sites was also different, and therefore, necessitated separate analysis of variance for each site. Significant differences (p0.001) among genotypes (G), water regimes (WR), and the interaction of genotypes by water regime (GWR) were observed for all studied quality traits except PF in both sites. GWR showed no significant differences for TKW in the ZAN site. The stability in the performance of genotypes across water regimes was further determined. G38 was stable for wet gluten; G31 and G26 were stable for PF; G36 was stable for HLM; and G11, G15, and G29 were stable for TKW at the UFH site. G6 was stable for both WG and PF; G13 and G15 were stable for HLM; and G35, G21, and G40 were stable for TKW at the ZAN site. These results suggest that the quality of wheat grains was affected under drought stress conditions except PF. Average grain yield data under both stressed (Ys) and optimum (Yp) conditions was used to compute a number of different drought tolerance indices. These include mean productivity (MP); geometric mean productivity (GMP); harmonic mean (HM); Tolerance index (TOL), stress susceptible index (SSI), sensitive drought index (SDI), and stress tolerance index (STI). The aim was to identify appropriate drought tolerance indices that can be used as selection tools under drought stress. MP, GMP, and HM were the more appropriate indices as they had a strong and positive correlation with grain yield under both drought and optimum conditions. However, genotypes G5, G22, G8, and G21 were more tolerant and stable as they showed high mean values. Based on the results, G19, G16, G2, and G20 were more sensitive to drought as they showed low values of MP, GMP, and HM. Overall, genotype: G5, G21, G22, and G33 are recommended for production under drought and optimum conditions, as they showed stable performance across water regimes. Principal component analysis also revealed that MP, GMP, and HM were the only indices that had positive loadings into the first principal component. , Thesis (MSc) -- Faculty of Science and Agriculture, 2023
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  • Date Issued: 2023

Molecular characterization of integrons and their associated gene cassettes in multidrug-resistant enterobacteriaceae isolates from environmental sources and the exploration of antibiotic combination against some resistant strains

  • Authors: Fadare, Folake Temitope https://orcid.org/0000-0001-5779-9798
  • Date: 2023
  • Subjects: Enterobacteriaceae , Molecular microbiology , Enterobacteria
  • Language: English
  • Type: Doctoral theses , text
  • Identifier: http://hdl.handle.net/10353/27809 , vital:69942
  • Description: Globally, the increasing rate of antimicrobial resistance against our currently available drugs has been a serious public concern. Due to the selective nature of antibiotics, bacteria are expected to develop resistance against them over time, but the current scourge of antimicrobial resistance is aggravated by factors other than the expected evolutionary trend. The use and overuse of antibiotics in clinical and agricultural contexts have led to the fast rise of multidrug-resistant MDR microorganisms. A scenario that necessitates an upsurge in the clinical failures observed with our current drug arsenals is expected to rise if left unchecked. One of the significant drivers implicated in the spread of antimicrobial resistance genes is the integrons. These are mobile genetic elements found on pathogenicity islands, transposons, and plasmids, easing their distribution among various bacteria. They are considered efficient gene expression systems that naturally capture, integrate gene cassettes GCs and immediately express the captured antimicrobial resistance genes on the GCs due to the inherent promoters on their structures. Integrons have been known to confer resistance against most classes of antibiotics. These include all known β-lactams, chloramphenicol, trimethoprim, erythromycin, aminoglycosides, quinolones, streptothricin, lincomycin, rifampicin, fosfomycin, and antiseptics of the quaternary ammonium compound family. They have been detected in bacterial populations under direct or indirect antibiotic pressure in clinical, agricultural, and environmental contexts. The emergence of MDR in Enterobacteriaceae is a critical public health issue that has attracted the World Health Organization WHO, which classified them as one of the critical priority pathogens urgently requiring new antibiotics. The resistance phenomenon has proven most of the current antibiotics ineffective, further compounded by the slow pace of the discovery of new antibiotics, necessitating the hunt for new, practical remedies. One of such is the exploration of synergy among existing antibiotics. Two medications combined have a higher impact, thereby allowing current antibiotics to be salvaged for use in treating MDR bacteria, even if the bacteria are resistant against one or both antibiotics separately. Hence, this research focused on the occurrence and prevalence of multidrug resistance and the characterization of integrons and their associated gene cassettes in members of Enterobacteriaceae, including Klebsiella pneumoniae, Klebsiella oxytoca, Enterobacter cloacae, Escherichia coli, and Citrobacter spp. recovered from animal droppings, rivers, and effluents of hospital and wastewater treatment plants in Eastern Cape Province, South Africa. The inhibitory effect of combining two drugs belonging to different antibiotic classes to obtain a possible potentiating effect against some multidrug-resistant Enterobacteriaceae isolates harbouring integrons were examined and studied. The isolates were identified using the conventional molecular Polymerase Chain Reaction with specific primers. The antimicrobial resistance profile and the production of Extended-spectrum and metallo β-lactamase were detected using disk diffusion technique DDT, double-disk synergy test DDST, and ethylenediaminetetraacetic acid EDTA tests, respectively. The PCR-based screening method, DNA sequencing analyses, and restriction fragment length polymorphism RFLP were used to characterize the integrons and their associated GCs. Furthermore, Enterobacterial Repetitive Intergenic Consensus ERIC PCR determined the genotypic relationships between some specific species. The various antibiotics' minimum inhibitory concentration MIC was determined using the broth microdilution, while the checkerboard method was used to determine the fractional inhibitory concentration indices FICIs. The time-kill assays TKAs were further used to confirm the synergism observed from the checkerboard assays. Most of the isolates were resistant against most antibiotics tested and were considered MDR. The least resistance was observed against imipenem, a carbapenem, one of the drugs of last resort. Also present were the ESBL and MBL producers, with a few isolates co-producing the enzymes. A high prevalence of integrons was observed in the isolates, with class 1 integrons being the most frequently detected. Some isolates co-harboured the intI1 and intI2 genes and were classified as class1 plus 2 integrons. Although Citrobacter spp. had the least number of isolates among the Enterobacteriaceae studied, it harboured the most diverse gene cassette arrays. The various gene cassette arrays were identified as follows: For Klebsiella spp. Aac 6 Ib, aadA1 dfrA1, and dfrA1 sat2; for Citrobacter spp., dfrA5 aac3 Ib, aac6 ib, aadA1dfrA1 aadA1, aadA1-dfrA1, aadA5 dfrA17, and dfrA21-aac3-Ib; for E. coli dfrA21- aac-3-Ib, dfrA5-aac-3-Ib, aadA1 dfrA1, and aadA5 dfrA17 and for E. cloacae aadA1 dfrA1, dfrA7 dfrA21 dfrA5 aac 3 Ib, and dfrA1 sat2. The GC array dfrA1 sat2 was the only array detected in class 2 integrons which are analogous to that found in Tn7, dfrA1-sat2-aadA1, with the deletion of the last GC aadA1. These detected GCs confer resistance against aminoglycosides, including streptomycin and spectinomycin, and trimethoprim, further increasing the resistance spectrum of the bacterial species harbouring them. The detection of integrons and their associated GC and the presence of these β-lactamases is also associated with coresistance against other classes of antibiotics by bacterial species harbouring them, further limiting treatment options. The checkerboard assays combining antibiotics against these drug-resistant integron harbouring Enterobacteriaceae revealed that 26.3 percent 10 over 38 of the interactions were categorized as synergistic, while 73.7 percent 28 over 38 were indifferent. None of the combinations was antagonistic. The TKAs revealed all the synergistic interactions as bactericidal. Therefore, the combinations of gentamicin with tetracycline, ciprofloxacin, and ceftazidime against Multidrug-resistant MDR Klebsiella pneumoniae; tetracycline-ceftazidime combination against MDR Escherichia coli, colistin combinations with ceftazidime and gentamicin, and tetracycline-gentamicin combinations against MDR Citrobacter freundii may be future therapeutic alternatives. , Thesis (MSci) -- Faculty of Science and Agriculture, 2023
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  • Date Issued: 2023

Prevalence and seasonal changes of gastro-intestinal parasites of ovine on three different veld types in communal farming areas of the Eastern Cape Province, South Africa

  • Authors: Jansen, Mlungisi Selby https://orcid.org/0000-0002-6735-1054
  • Date: 2023
  • Subjects: Gastrointestinal system , Parasites , Traditional farming
  • Language: English
  • Type: Master's theses , text
  • Identifier: http://hdl.handle.net/10353/28233 , vital:73956
  • Description: The current study aimed to investigate the prevalence and seasonal changes of gastro-intestinal parasites GIP of ovine grazed don three different veld types in the communal farming areas of the Eastern Cape Province. A total of 1242 sheep faecal samples were collected monthly between January 2012 and December 2015 to investigate the prevalence and season occurrence of internal parasites. From September to November 2018, a semi-structured questionnaire survey was conducted in three agro-ecological zones, humid Wartburg, semi-humid Allen waters, and arid region Cradock commonages to investigate farmers’ knowledge of the prevalence and occurrence of GIP in sheep. The prevalence of gastro-intestinal parasites was significantly higher in the humid zone roundworms 81 percent and coccidia 37 percent, followed by the semi-humid zone roundworms 75 percent and coccidia 22 percent and the arid zone was the lowest roundworms 71 percent and coccidia 14 percent. Roundworms had significantly higher counts P 0.05 mostly in hot-wet seasons of the year spring and summer and low during dry cold months of the year autumn and winter across all veld types. The humid zone had significantly higher counts P 0.05 in the seasonal occurrence of roundworms and coccidia, followed by humid zone, and very low counts were encountered in the arid zone during the study period. Seasonal occurrence of roundworm species was significant across all veld types, 64 percent of farmers were males and 36 percent were females. The study reveals that helminths and coccidia are major causative agents causing parasitic infections in livestock production, and therefore, good animal health practices management practices including proper hygiene should be followed to prevent parasitic infection in small ruminants. , Thesis (MSc) -- Faculty of Science and Agriculture, 2023
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  • Date Issued: 2023

The dynamics in implementing Inclusive Education in South Africa: Case studies of four Primary Schools in KwaZulu-Natal

  • Authors: Nzuza, Zakhele Dennis
  • Date: 2023
  • Subjects: Inclusive education
  • Language: English
  • Type: Doctoral theses , text
  • Identifier: http://hdl.handle.net/10353/26219 , vital:64974
  • Description: The study explored the implemention of inclusive education in primary schools in the uMgungundlovu area, in the province of KwaZulu-Natal, South Africa. Locally and globally, the notion of inclusive education has presented various difficulties relating to the understanding stakeholders have of inclusive education and also in terms of embracing it and implementing it in schools. Stakeholders in South Africa have experienced similar challenges regarding a clear and common understanding of inclusive education and ensuring effective implementation. Despite various reforms adopted by the South African government, learners experiencing barriers to learning have persistently suffered inadequate access to quality education and equal learning opportunities. The reviewed literature has highlighted numerous challenges that have constrained effective implementation of inclusive education in South African schools. The reviewed literature also indicated that some teachers had negative attitudes towards inclusive education, and that such attitudes were linked to the lack of clear understanding of what inclusive education was about. At the core of this study is the fact that very little is known in South Africa about the implementation of inclusive education. Therefore, this study sought to unravel how chools implement inclusive education and, in that process, contribute to a deeper understanding of this phenomenon. The study utilised the Theory of Planned Behaviour as a theoretical framework and inclusive pedagogy as a conceptual framework to explore the implementation of inclusive education in four study schools. A qualitative approach underpinned by an interpretive research paradigm was adopted. Purposive sampling techniques were used to select twenty educators, four learners experiencing barriers to learning and four parents of learners experiencing barriers to learning to participate in this study. Four techniques were used to produce qualitative data, namely, semi-structured interviews, observations, documents’ review, and focus group discussions. Semi-structured interviews with educators and learners experiencing barriers to learning were utilised to generate data in the four selected primary schools. In addition to semi structured interviews, learners were also observed during lessons. Relevant documents kept in the schools were also reviewed to augment data generated through interviews. Focus group discussions were held with four parents of the learners experiencing barriers to learning. Data were analysed employing qualitative content analysis to come up with themes. The findings revealed that there was no common understanding amongst the teachers about what constituted inclusive education. Most educators understood inclusive education as referring to accommodating all learners in the classroom to reach their potential. These educators would help all learners, including those with barriers to learning thus contributing to the implementation of inclusive education in their schools. However, the findings also revealed that some educators understood inclusive education as referring to a situation where all learners received quality education, but those with barriers to learning being accommodated in special schools or special classrooms separate from their counterparts. The findings indicated that there was a lack of knowledge about inclusive education and such a lack contributed to misunderstandings about the essence of inclusive education. In addition, teachers lacked skills in dealing with learners experiencing barriers to learning, resulting in inefficient and ineffective implementation of inclusive education. It was evident from the findings that the curriculum was inflexible and the teachers lacked capacity to customise the content to the needs of all the learners, especially those experiencing learning barriers. Therefore, for teachers to implement inclusive education, it was necessary that content had to be flexible to meet the educational needs of all learners. The findings further revealed that using various teaching methods, such as visual objects and demonstrations was helpful in adapting the rigid curriculum and making it user friendly for learners experiencing barriers to learning. In addition, the research findings revealed that group work and peer learning assisted educators to implement inclusive education. Research findings also revealed that implementing inclusive education was hindered by various systematic factors, such as lack of parental support, overcrowding in classrooms, and socioeconomic challenges. I concluded that there is a remarkable knowledge deficit that can be addressed by training, including pre-service and ongoing professional development activities for teachers. I can also conclude that based on the findings educators require training on inclusive education, beginning with teachers currently in the system. The training can then be included in the curriculum of pre-service educators so that they can obtain a clear understanding of inclusive education and thus develop positive attitudes towards inclusive education. Similarly, school management teams require training on their own so that they can be able to provide adequate and effective support to the teachers in the classrooms. Another recommendation is that educators should be capacitated and developed in inclusive education to enhance their confidence in delivering the curriculum and to handle learners experiencing barriers to learning. Similarly, it is recommended that there be a collaboration between schools, homes, and other stakeholders to assist learners experiencing barriers to learning on their education journey, thus effectively implementing inclusive education in schools. Finally, a model for the improvement of inclusive education is proposed. , Thesis (PhD) -- Faculty of Education, 2023
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  • Date Issued: 2023

The impact of fiscal and monetary policies on manufacturing sector performance in South Africa

  • Authors: Hunter, Desireѐ
  • Date: 2023
  • Subjects: Manufacturing industries -- South Africa , Fiscal policy -- South Africa , Monetary policy -- South Africa
  • Language: English
  • Type: Doctoral theses , text
  • Identifier: http://hdl.handle.net/10353/28549 , vital:74417
  • Description: Regulatory authorities have to date utilised a strategic blend of fiscal and monetary policies in dealing with the unique set of macroeconomic conditions facing South Africa. Government policy intervention has significant implications for economic growth and output within the manufacturing environment. Heterogeneity has also been discerned in relation to the responsiveness of various industries within the manufacturing sector towards both fiscal and monetary policy variable variations. However, given weakened growth prospects, policy alignment issues have been observed. The purpose of this study was firstly, to examine the impact of fiscal and monetary variables on manufacturing sector output in South Africa and secondly, to analyse the manufacturing industry significance of the various monetary transmission mechanism channels. The study made use of quarterly and monthly data to achieve these stated objectives, dated between 1998 and 2020. To achieve the first objective, the study employed the Autoregressive Distributed Lag (ARDL) model given the order of integration of the variables. The empirical results revealed significant, positive relations between tax revenue, deficit financing, nominal effective exchange rate (NEER) and money supply (M3) for total manufacturing (LTOTAL). Contrastingly, there were negative links between LTOTAL, government spending and the lending rate. At a disaggregated industry level, there were positive relations with tax revenue in food and wood industries, although tax revenue was significantly negative for metals. Likewise, to LTOTAL, linkages with spending were significantly negative for wood and metal industries but positive for chemicals. Negative spending signage could be a result of crowding-out. For deficit financing, positive associations within chemicals did not conform to expectations. Similarly, to LTOTAL, wood and metal industries conformed to expectations of negative relations with the lending rate. In respect of the NEER in food and wood production, significant, positive links were established. Contrastingly, a negative linkage existed for chemical activities at the 5% level. Concerning M3 and akin to LTOTAL, the relation with metal industries was positive. However, negative findings for food and chemicals contradicted expectations, suggesting money supply was not efficiently utilised in managing monetary variables in the long-term. The second objective of the study focused on analysing manufacturing industry significance of the various monetary transmission mechanism channels. The Vector Error Correction Model (VECM) were employed to analyse the relationship between the variables. Impulse response and variance decomposition were also constructed to further trace which channel is more significant in influencing manufacturing output. The empirical results revealed that the interest rate channel occupied a relatively significant role in both LTOTAL and several selected manufacturing industries. Shocks accounted for 9.71%, 11.96% and 14.28% of the variance in LTOTAL, metal and chemical industries. The asset price channel also appeared relatively significant, with shocks to the FTSE/JSE all-share index explaining 18.21% and 21.13% of the variation in food and wood production, signifying the most relevant channel for these particular industries and representing the second most important channel for LTOTAL and the other remaining industries. The exchange rate channel also presented as being a more relevant channel for food and wood, but occupied little role in LTOTAL, whilst the credit channel was relatively ineffectual for both LTOTAL and all industries examined. The results obtained imply that government should exercise caution and demonstrate fiscal restraint and that the South African Reserve Bank (SARB) need to take greater consideration of output fluctuations in monetary policy setting. Research has dictated that an expansionary fiscal policy is generally required as a means to achieving increased growth. However, findings obtained at both the aggregate and disaggregated manufacturing level in South Africa largely varied. This implies significant heterogeneity within the South African manufacturing sector in respect of fiscal policy responses. Expansionary fiscal stimulus packages need to be better targeted towards industries that will most benefit. Similarly, monetary policy responses at the aggregate and disaggregated manufacturing level in South Africa were heterogeneous and furthermore, differed when examining combined policy impacts. There was also a heterogeneous response with respect to relevance of the channels, via which monetary policy operated, with the interest rate channel dominating. SARB do take into consideration output fluctuations in policy setting but this is not currently emphasised or legislated. , Thesis (DCom) -- Faculty of Management and Commerce, 2023
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  • Date Issued: 2023

The nature of competition in the banking sector and its effect on financial inclusion in South Africa

  • Authors: Ngonyama, Nomasomi https://orcid.org/0000-0002-7536-9297
  • Date: 2023
  • Subjects: Banks and banking -- South Africa , Competition -- South Africa , Financial services industry
  • Language: English
  • Type: Doctoral theses , text
  • Identifier: http://hdl.handle.net/10353/28661 , vital:74492
  • Description: Competition and access to financial services are lauded as key ingredients in the fight against poverty. While competition enhances markets, fosters innovation, productivity and growth, financial inclusion allows the poor to save, access credit and insurance thereby allowing them to meaningfully contribute to economic growth and also smooth their consumption. Moreover, competition reduces the cost of finance, thereby further expanding the availability of financial services. This suggests an important relationship between competition in the banking sector and financial inclusion. Research in this area is still in its infancy and little consensus exists on both whether the relationship is a robust one or not. There is no unanimity on the direction of causality or whether competition in the financial sector is good or bad for markets. This study examines the nexus between banking competition and financial inclusion in Upper-middle income countries. It employed a panel data set over the period 2011-2017 and Generalized Methods of Moments technique was employed to answer this enquiry. The findings of this study suggest that market power is not bad for financial inclusion in upper-middle income countries. Moreover, the study found that bank competition does not matter in banking the unbanked population in Upper-middle income countries. The implication of the findings of this study is that the focus of the policy makers should not be on policies that reduces concentration and market power in the banking sector, but be on measures that encourages contestability. The threat of entry is sufficient to make banks behave in a competitive manner. , Thesis (PhD) -- Faculty of Management and Commerce, 2023
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  • Date Issued: 2023

The Training of pre-service science teachers in the integration of Information and Communication Technology integration in Science teaching: A case of two colleges of education in The Volta Region of Ghana

  • Authors: Ofori, Mac-Jones
  • Date: 2023
  • Subjects: Teachers -- Training of , Science -- Study and teaching , Information technology -- Study and teaching
  • Language: English
  • Type: Doctoral theses , text
  • Identifier: http://hdl.handle.net/10353/27898 , vital:70467
  • Description: The study was carried out to investigate the training of pre-service Science teachers in the integration of Information and Communication Technology (ICT) in Science teaching at two colleges of education in the Volta region of Ghana. The study aimed to recommend a framework that can be used to enhance the training in ICT integration competencies of pre-service Science teachers at colleges of education in the country. The study was underpinned by two theoretical frameworks: Rogan and Grayson’s curriculum implementation framework and Guzman and Nussbaum’s ICT integration framework and was located within the interpretive paradigm. The qualitative research approach was adopted to generate data on the types of ICT integration competences that pre-service Science teachers are trained in, the pedagogical strategies used, the support provided, and the challenges faced during the training. The study adopted the explanatory case study design. Convenience and purposive sampling were used to select the study sites and participants respectively, which consisted of two teacher education colleges, two heads of Science department, ten lecturers, and 20 pre-service Science teachers. The study’s data collection methods were semi-structured face-to-face interviews with the lecturers, focus group discussions with the pre-service Science teachers, non-participatory lesson observation, and document analysis. The data was analysed using thematic approach. The study established that pre-service Science teachers at the two colleges received training in mastering the usage of ICT tools, relating ICT to teaching; using ICT for assessment and providing feedback, creating an appropriate environment for ICT integration, and developing positive attitudes toward ICT usage. The study revealed the pedagogical strategies used for training the pre-service Science teachers in ICT integration competencies to include a standalone ICT course, demonstration, group work, self-learning and how assessment is carried out. The study also established that there was support from both within and without the college environment in training pre-service Science teachers, although this was inadequate. The major challenges found by the study to be hindering effective pre-service teacher training in ICT integration competencies were lack of technical know-how among lecturers, poor pre-service Science teachers’ backgrounds in ICT, inadequate ICT resources and infrastructure, prolonged organisational and management bureaucracy, and insufficient funding of ICT. The recommendations made included the need for upgrading infrastructure in the colleges while also upgrading lecturers’ competencies in handling ICT in the colleges. An alternative training framework for preparing pre-service Science teachers in ICT integration competencies was also proposed. , Thesis (MEd) -- Faculty of Education, 2023
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  • Date Issued: 2023

An assessment of youth empowerment programmes and job creation opportunities: a case of Mhlontlo Local Municipality

  • Authors: Mabono, Tumeka Patricia
  • Date: 2023-01
  • Subjects: Youth -- Employment -- South Africa , Job creation -- Youth -- South Africa , Youth -- Services for -- South Africa
  • Language: English
  • Type: Master's theses , text
  • Identifier: http://hdl.handle.net/10353/26874 , vital:66038
  • Description: Youth unemployment is a major policy concern in South Africa. This study aimed to assess youth programmes and job creation opportunities in Mhlontlo Local Municipality. This study intended to: 1. Examine the context, purpose, objectives, assumptions and claims of the national youth empowerment policy on job creation, 2. To assess the implementation of the youth empowerment programs in Mhlontlo Local Municipality for improved job creation, and lastly 3. To provide suitable recommendations on improving youth empowerment programmes and job creation in Mhlontlo Local Municipality. This study adopted a qualitative research design, that included and adapted the use of semi structured interviews and focus groups discussions in the context of COVID 19 regulations. The key findings from the analysis of data included the following – • The Mhlontlo Local Municipality has not developed its own local youth development and empowerment policy. • The design limitations in the theory of change of the National Youth Policy negatively affected the implementation of youth programmes in Mhlontlo Municipality • Mhlontlo Local Municipality’s implementation of youth programme failed to achieve its outcomes of creating a sustainable employment for youth. • There was distinct difference between the espoused views of municipal managers and actual experience of implementation of youth programmes the Mhlontlo Local Municipality that impacted negatively on the implementation of the youth development programme. • Their leadership buy-in and championship for youth development in Mhlontlo Local Municipality from selected managers in the municipality and but not from the political office. • There was lack of transparency and communication mechanisms by Mhlontlo Local Municipality the for-youth participation and engagement with of all stakeholders in decision making. , Thesis (MPA) -- Faculty of Management and Commerce, 2023
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  • Date Issued: 2023-01

An investigation into the effect of dietary protein and fishmeal replacement in juvenile Yellowtail, seriola lalandi (pisces: carangidae) in a recirculating aquaculture system

  • Authors: Manjingolo, Apelele https://orcid.org/0000-0003-3914-4821
  • Date: 2023-01
  • Subjects: Yellowtail , Integrated aquaculture , Yellowtail fisheries
  • Language: English
  • Type: Master's theses , text
  • Identifier: http://hdl.handle.net/10353/27489 , vital:67332
  • Description: The yellowtail kingfish, Seriola lalandi, is a carnivorous species, which require high levels 40 Percent of protein in its diet of which a significant portion comes from fishmeal. Fishmeal is usually the main ingredient when formulating a diet for carnivorous fish because of its high protein content, good digestibility and balanced essential amino acid profile. The use of fishmeal in diet formulations has decreased because of high prices and short supply. Aquaculturists have little alternative but to reduce the amount used or replace it with alternative suitable protein sources. This study aimed to contribute to the optimization of protein requirements and fishmeal replacement in the diet of juvenile yellowtail in a Recirculating Aquaculture System RAS. This study was conducted at the marine finfish farm, Kingfish Enterprises Pty Ltd in the East London Industrial Development Zone ELIDZ in a purpose designed RAS. The first experiment investigated the effect of dietary protein level on survival, growth, food conversion ratio FCR and health of juvenile yellowtail in a RAS. Four iso-calorific diets containing different dietary protein levels 38 Percent , 44 Percent , 50 Percent and 56 Percent were formulated. Each diet was fed to three RAS tanks holding juvenile yellowtail 30 fish per tank for 49 days. Dietary protein levels did not influence survival of juvenile yellowtail. Specific growth rate SGR p equal 0.003) was greater in fish fed 56 Percent protein compared to fish fed 38 Percent protein but there were no differences between the 56 Percent , 50 Percent and 44 Percent protein diets. There were no differences in protein efficiency ratio PER between the four diets. FCR decreased with increasing protein level with fish being fed the 56 Percent protein yielding the lowest FCR 1.26 compared to fish fed 38 Percent protein 1.76 p equal 0.003, however, there was no difference between the 44 Percent , 50 Percent and 56 Percent protein levels. The hepatocytes of fish fed high dietary lipid content diet with 38 Percent and 44 Percent protein showed large lipid vacuole zones in the cytoplasm p greater 0.001. Body protein, ash, moisture, and lipid was not affected by different dietary protein levels. In terms of producing a diet with best growth at the lowest cost, a 44 Percent protein diet is considered as optimal for juvenile yellowtail in RAS. The second experiment investigated the effect of partial and full replacement of fishmeal with a mixture of alternative protein sources chicken meal, blood meal, and soybean meal in equal proportions that are more sustainable and less costly. Four experimental diets were formulated to be iso-nitrogenous 44 Percent protein and iso-calorific 19.50 Mg/Kg as follows: 1 a control diet with fishmeal as the only protein source which was the same formulation as the 44 Percent diet used in the first experiment, 2 control diet in which 33 Percent of fishmeal was replaced with the protein mixture, 3 control diet in which 67 Percent of fishmeal was replaced with the protein mixture and 4 control diet in which 100 Percent of fishmeal was replaced with the protein mixture. Different fishmeal levels in the diets did not have an effect on the survival on juvenile yellowtail. Specific growth rate SGR was greater for fish fed 67 and 100 Percent fishmeal p equal 0.017 compared to fish fed 0 Percent fishmeal. There were, however, no differences in SGR between fish fed 33, 67, and 100 Percent fishmeal. Condition factor CF was significantly affected by the interaction between dietary treatment and time with average values lower at the end of experiment compared to the start of the experiment. On day 28 p equal 0.02 and 49 p equal 0.01, CF of fish fed 67 and 100 Percent fishmeal diet differed significantly from those fed the 0 Percent fishmeal diet but 33, 67, and 100 Percent fishmeal diets did not differ from each other . Feed conversion ratio FCR was significantly affected by fishmeal replacement with fish on fishmeal-containing diets showing lower FCRs compared to those on fishmeal-free diets p equal 0.001. Fish fed diets containing 67 and 100 Percent fishmeal had low PER 0.026 compared to fish fed 0 Percent fishmeal. There were, however, no differences in PER between fish fed 33, 67, and 100 Percent fishmeal. Hepatosomatic index HSI was not affected by levels of fishmeal replacement in the diet. Body protein, ash, moisture, and lipid was not affected by partial and full replacement of fishmeal. The results indicate that full replacement of fishmeal 0 Percent diet had the worst SGR, FCR, and PER. The remaining three diets were statistically similar which suggests that a diet with 33 Percent fishmeal produces as good growth, FCR and PER as 67 and 100 Percent fishmeal diets. However, as there were also similarities in SGR and PER for the 0 and 33 Percent fishmeal diets, it is therefore recommended that future studies focus on the region between 33-67 Percent to find the optimal break point for the various growth indicators. This study has provided foundation for the formulation of yellowtail kingfish diet which is suitable for use in a RAS. , Thesis (MSci) -- Faculty of Science and Agriculture, 2023
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  • Date Issued: 2023-01

The effect of the anaesthetics 1 Clove oil and MS-222 on the sedation, recovery, survival, population growth and fecundity of the calanoid copepod, Pseudodiaptomus hessei Copepoda Calanoida under culture conditions.

  • Authors: Bulube, Masivuye Nomazizi
  • Date: 2023-01
  • Subjects: Water quality , Marine biodiversity , Aquatic animals -- Food
  • Language: English
  • Type: Master's theses , text
  • Identifier: http://hdl.handle.net/10353/27524 , vital:67430
  • Description: Compared to current live food organisms used in aquaculture, the calanoid copepod, Pseudodiaptomus hessei is smaller and has a superior nutritional value. However, due to their fast and erratic movements, manipulating and counting this species for aquaculture research purposes is difficult. For easier manipulation it is therefore necessary to sedate the copepods. The study aimed to determine the effect of two anaesthetics on sedation, recovery, survival, population growth and fecundity of the calanoid copepod, Pseudodiaptomus hessei, under culture conditions. Male and female P. hessei were exposed to the anaesthetics clove oil and Tricaine Methane sulfonate (MS-222). Twelve replicates of five copepods each were exposedto clove oil at 100, 150 and 200 μL/L, and to MS-222 at 300, 600, 900, 1200 and 1500 mg/Lwith the number of fully sedated copepods being recorded. clove oil sedation only occurredafter 5:23±1:25 minutes in the 100 μL/L treatment while copepods exposed to 150 and200μL/L were anaesthetized within 2:48±0:46 and 0:40±0:07 minutes respectively. Sedation did not occur in MS-222 at concentrations of 300 and 600 mg/L while at 900 mg/L all copepodswere sedated within 4:19±0:41 minutes. Only copepods exposed to 1200 and 1500 mg/L were all fully sedated within 2:26±1:46 and 1:23±0:37 minutes respectively. Clove oil recovery onlyoccurred at 4:40±1:32 minutes in the 100 μL/L treatment while copepods exposed to 150 and200 μL/L recovered at 8:30±1:46 and 12:12±0:59 minutes, respectively. In this study, all MS- 222 treatments showed full recovery at 1:07±0:41 to 1:11±0:41 minutes with 100% survivalrate. The growth development FPN (Final Population Number) for Clove oil, MS-222 and control were not different from the control indicating that exposure to the anaesthetic had no effect on their long-term survival (21 days). The mean clutch size of 34±5 eggs per sac was high compared to other studies on the species. Based on these findings the 150 μL/L Clove oiland 1200 mg/L MS-222 concentrations were the lowest doses of each anaesthetic to induce full sedation within 3 minutes followed by rapid recovery 87 within three minutes without it affecting its short (24 hours) and long-term survival, population growth and fecundity. Basedon sedation and recovery rates, effect on survival, fecundity and growth as well as cost and ease use, the 1200 mg/L MS-222 concentration is the recommended to safely anaesthetize P. hessei. , Thesis (MSci) -- Faculty of Science and Agriculture, 2023
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  • Date Issued: 2023-01

The impact of domestic investment on economic growth in South Africa: a Sectoral Approach (1993 to 2020)

  • Authors: Hobongwana, Khungile Goodwell https://orcid.org/0000-0003-0223-7370
  • Date: 2023-01
  • Subjects: Economic development -- South Africa , Investments -- South Africa , Gross domestic product
  • Language: English
  • Type: Master's theses , text
  • Identifier: http://hdl.handle.net/10353/26753 , vital:65982
  • Description: This study examined the impact of domestic investment on economic growth in South Africa: a sectoral approach from 1993 to 2020. The overall results as discussed by panel data ARDL revealed that domestic investment has an impact on at least one sectoral economic growth in South Africa in the long run. The panel data ARDL test reveals that domestic investment, employment, imports and exports have a significant correlation to influence GDP in the long run in at least one of the sectors. A pairwise Dumitrescu Hurlin panel causality tests determine that domestic investment (DI) does not homogeneously cause gross domestic product (GDP). This is because in South Africa the sectoral or structural change development relies much on foreign direct investment (FDI) rather than domestic investment, hence the negative homogeneous results. Therefore, we need to attract DI as the result shows, because a positive relationship can be expected between domestic investment and economic growth in line with the Keynesian theory where investment is expected to promote economic growth. The new-endogenous growth theory of investment that can be applied in detecting the effect of aggregate and disaggregate domestic investment on sectoral economic growth and aggregate economic growth. , Thesis (MCom) -- Faculty of Management and Commerce, 2023
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  • Date Issued: 2023-01

A systematic review of published literature examining the impact of father absence on adolescent identity formation

  • Authors: Fata, Hope Aneliswa
  • Date: 2022-12
  • Subjects: Absentee fathers , Adolescent analysis , Adolescent psychology
  • Language: English
  • Type: Master's theses , text
  • Identifier: http://hdl.handle.net/10353/27039 , vital:66239
  • Description: One of the major developmental crises an adolescent must overcome before becoming an adult is identity formation. Many studies focused on how the family influences the identity formation of adolescents, but little emphasis has been made specifically on how the absence of a father impacts the adolescent’s development of identity. This study aims to conduct a systematic review to examine the impact of absent fatherhood on the identity formation of adolescents. Several studies, from the year 2010 to date, have explored the impact of father absence on the identity formation of adolescents. The majority of studies conducted have been mostly quantitative and failed to explore the experiences of adolescents raised in absent-father households during this crucial stage of development. This study sought to add to the body of knowledge and bridge that gap by exploring the possible (negative or positive) impact of absent fatherhood in the identity-formation period of adolescents. This was a systematic review study that included a qualitative research design, whereby published literature and studies were identified through searching electronic databases. To synthesize and analyse the data, thematic analysis was used. This study’s exploration discovered that absent fatherhood can be experienced both positively and negatively by adolescents. Positively, it was found that a sense of independency developed in the adolescent and strengthens family relations and unity, with extended family members or external role models becoming more involved in the upbringing of the adolescent. Significantly, on the negative side, adolescents developed anger and resentment towards their absent fathers, questioning their absence and the individual’s sense of who they are and where they belong. , Thesis (MSoc) -- Faculty of Social Sciences and Humanities, 2022
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  • Date Issued: 2022-12

An Afrocentric exploration of South African cultural-religious narratives of depression

  • Authors: Conway-Cleaves, Matthew
  • Date: 2022-12
  • Subjects: Depression, Mental , Psychology and religion , Affect (Psychology) -- Religious aspects
  • Language: English
  • Type: Master's theses , text
  • Identifier: http://hdl.handle.net/10353/26962 , vital:66206
  • Description: The perceptions of causes of depression are diverse, formulated from many different factors such as personal experiences, education, generational and cultural influences, and religious beliefs. While there is a large body of literature on both depression and religion and culture, there is a limited amount available that synthesizes the findings of multiple different studies, finding key common themes. Therefore, this review aimed to develop a comprehensive understanding of how religious and cultural narratives describe and influence depression. As a result, a meta-ethnography was carried out to synthesise existing literature on cultural-religious narratives of depression within a South African context. Five published journal articles were sampled for translation and synthesis. From this process, three key themes were developed, namely Conflictual Coexistence, Observation-Based Discernment, and Status or Stigma. The result is a lens that is formed through a mixture of traditional cultural religious traditions and beliefs interconnected with contemporary ways of understanding and being. This framework for diagnosing and treating a mental illness is heavily reliant on observable symptoms. As a result, status or stigma can be attached to multiple aspects of the situation surrounding an individual with or suspected of having a mental illness. Stigmatisation can be noted to form a cycle that becomes inclusive of prognosis, finance/employment and not being able to fulfil culturally held expectations. As a result, future research, and therapeutic intervention of this mental disorder within this demographic will be better informed. , Thesis (MSoc) -- Faculty of Social Sciences and Humanities, 2022
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  • Date Issued: 2022-12

An assessment of the role of the Speaker in the management of the National Assembly: the case of a democratic South Africa

  • Authors: Lunyawo, Sipho
  • Date: 2022-12
  • Subjects: Legislative bodies -- South Africa -- Presiding officers , Mediation -- South Africa
  • Language: English
  • Type: Master's theses , text
  • Identifier: http://hdl.handle.net/10353/26742 , vital:65976
  • Description: This study interrogates the role of the Speaker in the management of the National Assembly in post-apartheid South Africa. The major focus is on the tenure of the fifth Speaker which was marked with widespread parliament disruptions largely orchestrated by opposition parties. The research employed a qualitative secondary data methodology in which data was collected from secondary sources such as government documents and newspapers. Content analysis and critical discourse analysis were used to analyze data. The Study found that the Speaker plays a fundamental role in the management of the National Assembly. Nevertheless, the study also established that there are numerous challenges faced by the Speaker in the management of the National Assembly. The challenges include mediating the chaos and conflicts among members. The study also established the nature and causes of chaos in the House as well as the efforts put in place by the Speaker to encourage fair debate among MPs. The study concludes that the role of the Speaker in monitoring and regulating the House is crucial in ensuring that there is order in the House at any given time. This is also because the Speaker plays a fundamental role as the Peacekeeper of the House and this emanates from the Speaker’s role in the management of the House. Based on the findings and conclusions of the Study, three recommendations were put forward and these are; embracing a system where the Speaker is independent, introducing hefty penalties against deliberate misconduct, and the use of previous unfavorable incidents to amend the rules of the House. , Thesis (MPA) -- Faculty of Management and Commerce, 2022
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  • Date Issued: 2022-12

Challenges faced by healthcare professionals in reporting near miss incidents in a hospital, at the Amathole District, Eastern Cape Province, South Africa

  • Authors: Ntlanganiso, Lindiwe
  • Date: 2022-12
  • Subjects: Industrial accidents , Accident investigation
  • Language: English
  • Type: Master's theses , text
  • Identifier: http://hdl.handle.net/10353/27094 , vital:66276
  • Description: Background Recording and investigation of NMIs can provide valuable information on monitoring and enhancing patient safety in the healthcare facilities. This in turn, can reduce the likelihood of medico-legal claims. Regardless of attempts to establish efficient incident reporting systems across the entire healthcare industry, underreporting of errors persists worldwide. Therefore, not only do near miss incidents serve as early warning signs of impending potential failure in the healthcare system, but they also provide a chance for patient safety improvement. With that in mind, this study was undertaken to investigate challenges faced by health care professionals in reporting near miss incidents at a hospital in the Amathole District, in the Eastern Cape province of South Africa. Aim The aim of the study was to develop recommendations for healthcare management and healthcare professionals on how to better manage NMIs, and by identifying the challenges faced by health care professionals and the impact they have on the quality of care at one state-funded district hospital. Setting The study was conducted with healthcare professionals at a district hospital in the Amathole District, Eastern Cape Province, South Africa. Methods This study used a mixed method study design. Purposive and convenience sampling were used for participants’ selection for the study. Quantitative data was collected using the WHO Near-Miss Approach while individual and focus group interviews with healthcare professionals were carried out for collecting qualitative data. The maternity and neonatal intensive care units were identified as the two high-risk areas from which most medical negligence claims are lodged. The number of complications that occurred in each month of the year 2019 was determined by using components of the WHO near miss approach. The researcher adopted this approach to serve as a baseline assessment. Data was analysed using both Nvivo Version 10 and SPSS Version 20. Findings The challenges that healthcare professionals face in reporting near miss incidents at the study site included lack of knowledge about the reporting tool and system, inability to identify a near miss incident and healthcare professional attitudes and practices. The document review revealed that the NMIs are existent but not reported on the prescribed reporting system, a total of 210 actual incidents had occurred in the maternity and neonatal units of the hospital, which accounts for 62% of the 357 deliveries in the year 2019. Conclusion Based on the study result and findings, the healthcare system should shift towards a proactive rather than a reactive approach to medical and clinical errors. Continuously reducing the incidence of all patient safety incidents requires improved prevention strategies and effective strategies for recovery from possible medico-legal claims. The study further suggests that additional focus should be placed on NMI reporting and investigation so that operative improvement plans can be developed, implemented, monitored and evaluated. In essence, these improvement plans should be designed to progress patient care, reduce avoidable PSIs and reduce medico-legal claims. , Thesis (MCur) -- Faculty of Health Sciences, 2022
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  • Date Issued: 2022-12

Effectiveness of monetary policy transmission mechanism: the case of selected SADC countries

  • Authors: Tengwa, Anakho https://orcid.org/0000-0002-0700-8668
  • Date: 2022-12
  • Subjects: Monetary policy -- Africa, Southern , Transmission mechanism (Monetary policy) -- Africa, Southern , Economic development -- Africa, Southern
  • Language: English
  • Type: Master's theses , text
  • Identifier: http://hdl.handle.net/10353/26863 , vital:66037
  • Description: Monetary policy plays a significant role in countries economic development. The variability in inflation in the SADC region provides room to question the Effectiveness of the transmission of monetary policy as these countries experience inflation in different ways. The study analyses the effectiveness of monetary policy transmission mechanism on the selected 5 SADC countries, South Africa, Botswana, Mauritius, Tanzania, and Zambia. The selection of the countries was mainly based on data availability. To answer the study hypothesis, the study used secondary data from different data sources, employing the Vector Autoregression Regression. The different channels analysed include the exchange rate, interest rates as well as credit channel to measure monetary policy tools. The main variables are, Gross Domestic Product (GDP), Consumer Price Index (CPI)cpi and money supply. Panel unit root was tested to test the stationarity of the variables and the appropriate lag length was determined. Panel VAR model was estimated where the focus was mainly on variance decomposition and impulse response. Then lastly the stability of the model was tested using diagnostic test. The results revealed that interest rates channel and exchange rate channel have a more significant effect in explaining the transmission of macroeconomic shock to the rest of the economy through gpd and cpi. While the credit channel mostly transmits to the rest of the economy through money supply and cpi, its effects from GDP are rather insignificant. It is also noted that interest rates serve as the dominant channel in transmitting monetary policy shocks to the rest of the economy. When central banks decrease prime lending rates for commercial banks, this is passed to consumers making it less expensive to borrow. In the long run, attracts foreign investors which harms the domestic currency. The author has noted that future research could focus on how asset price channel affects the economy. , Thesis (MCom) -- Faculty of Management and Commerce, 2022
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  • Date Issued: 2022-12

Grain size analysis, coastal hydrodynamics and erosion protection: a case study from Knysna and Plettenberg Bay, South Africa

  • Authors: Pezisa, Ayabulela Raymond
  • Date: 2022-12
  • Subjects: Grain -- Analysis , Hydrodynamics , Shore protection
  • Language: English
  • Type: Master's theses , text
  • Identifier: http://hdl.handle.net/10353/27698 , vital:69394
  • Description: The modern beach sands and Cretaceous Knysna Formation distributed along the coast of Plettenberg Bay and Knysna coast in the Western Cape Province of South Africa, have been examined and studied in the field outcrops and laborataries via grain-size analysis, XRD, SEM, EDX and microcope petrography analyses. This study looked into the coastal hydrodynamics and environment protection. The project aims to investigate the sediment distribution, grain-size variation, sedimentary structures, coast erosion and mitigation in the Plettenberg and Knysna coast to address environmental issues in the south coast of South Africa. The research will provide new insight onto coastal sedimentation, hydrodynamic condition, coastline erosion and the safety of the coastal environment and human property. The study will promote government attention on the sea level change, which caused flooding and environmental disaster along the south coastal area of South Africa. The rock sequence in the inland side of the study areas belongs to Cretaceous Knysna Formation, which comprises seven upward fining sequences. The stratigraphic sequence is underlain by the Table Mountain quartzite of the Cape Supergroup, and is overlain by Tertiary sediments and modern coastal dune sands. The Knysna Formation at the research area consists of massive conglomerate, sandstone and minor mudstone of mainly fluvial dominated sediments. The grain size analysis reveals that the modern fluvial channels at Plettenberg Bay and Knysna areas are of dominant coarse sands with minor silt and mud, which defines the sediments were deposited by moderate to high energy currents. Whilst the beach zones in Plettenberg Bay are predominated by fine to medium-grained marine sands. Grain-size analyses of beach sands show well-sorted, fine to coarse skewed in grain size distribution, indicating a relative lower to medium uniform energy condition during transportation and deposition. The bivariate plots of grain-size distribution demonstrate of the shallow agitated marine environment with the influence of tide and aeolian processes. Hydrodynamic condition in the beach area was more persistant and less variation compared to the river environment. The mineralogy and petrology studies revealed that in Plettenberg Bay and Knysna sediments are predominantly consisted of minerals quartz, feldspar, calcite, muscovite, aragonite, clay minerals, and salts (halite). Skeletal carbonate minerals (shell and coral fragments) are more than chemical precipitated carbonate minerals. The microtextures detected on the surface of the fluvial and marine sand grais involve V-shaped pits, upturn pits, dissolution pits and secondary mineral precipitation that were created by chemical and mechanical processes formed via sea-water dissolution, corrosion, and transport crashing. Whereas the boring holes and burrows created by activity of microorganisms boing into the surface of the grains. These microtextures of the river and beach sands exhibit a shallow marine and fluvial environments with medium to high energy conditions and active organic activities. Several sedimentary structures were detected in the coastal environments, including various types of ripple marks and dunes, burst bubble-hole, swash line, rill marks, rhomboid marks, burrows, boring and bioturbation, planar lamination and gravel pavement. In addition, sedimentary structures were also identified in the Cretaceous Knysna Formation such as air/water escape hole, convolute bedding, lenticular bedding, tabular cross-bedding and load cast. The sedimetnary structures closely linked with hydrodynamic conditions and therefore can be used as indicators for depositional environments. Flooding and erosion had become a coastal disaster that results in sediment redistribution throughout the coastal system and therefore caused landscape reform like coastal cliffs and sharpened dunes in erosive areas. Particularly, coastal hazards become more and more serious in recent years due to climate and sea leavel changes. Thus, to recognise coastal erosion and disaster and make a management strategy is of significant importance to compete against coastline retreat and to protect infrastructure and human safety in the coast area. The author had proposed a number of mitigation methods for environmental protection and for combating coastal erosion, including breakwaters, groins, jetties, vertical walls, rock armour, vegetation, boundary hardening, and revetment etc, which are the effective ways for protection of coast retreat, property damage and human safety. , Thesis (MSci) -- Faculty of Science and Agriculture, 2022
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  • Date Issued: 2022-12
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