Indigenous cereal crops and food security issues in Zimbabwe: the case of Matabeleland Provinces
- Authors: Nyathi, Vuyiswa Sandra
- Date: 2019
- Subjects: Food security Farms, Small
- Language: English
- Type: Thesis , Doctoral , PhD (Developmental Studies)
- Identifier: http://hdl.handle.net/10353/17070 , vital:40845
- Description: The study endeavoured to find out how indigenous cereal crops in the form of sorghum, pearl millet and finger millet, popularly known as small grain, would help in increasing cereal production in the dry regions of Zimbabwe so as to alleviate food insecurity. For the past decade the nation’s cereal production has been on the decline with the country having to rely on grain imports from neighbouring countries to prevent hunger. Studies that have been carried out have indicated that these indigenous cereal crops are better suited for semi-arid regions like Matabeleland, used as a case study, where maize has almost always been a failing crop. The study examined representations of smallholder farmers through interviews held with agricultural personnel in Matabeleland North and Matabeleland South Provinces. The study argues that instead of relying on maize only as a staple crop, in the semiarid regions of the country, indigenous cereal crops are suitable alternative staple crops in Zimbabwe. Indications from the findings of the study are that diversification of staple crop production should stress the importance of state mediation, distribution and promotion of indigenous cereal crops. The researcher thus proposes that the reliance on indigenous crops be anchored in community food security, food sovereignty and rural food system perspectives, not negating the negative effects of climate change on food production. The results showed that despite progress made by the state in assisting farmers with agricultural inputs, very little has been achieved in alleviating food insecurity in the dry regions, as indigenous cereal crops continue being pushed to the periphery of the agricultural sector. iii The study concludes by putting forward that addressing the stated challenges could lead to the potential of indigenous cerealcrops potentially increasing the cereal supply for the nation, thus alleviating food security woes as these crops grow favourably even in the most adverse weather conditions and poor topography.
- Full Text:
- Authors: Nyathi, Vuyiswa Sandra
- Date: 2019
- Subjects: Food security Farms, Small
- Language: English
- Type: Thesis , Doctoral , PhD (Developmental Studies)
- Identifier: http://hdl.handle.net/10353/17070 , vital:40845
- Description: The study endeavoured to find out how indigenous cereal crops in the form of sorghum, pearl millet and finger millet, popularly known as small grain, would help in increasing cereal production in the dry regions of Zimbabwe so as to alleviate food insecurity. For the past decade the nation’s cereal production has been on the decline with the country having to rely on grain imports from neighbouring countries to prevent hunger. Studies that have been carried out have indicated that these indigenous cereal crops are better suited for semi-arid regions like Matabeleland, used as a case study, where maize has almost always been a failing crop. The study examined representations of smallholder farmers through interviews held with agricultural personnel in Matabeleland North and Matabeleland South Provinces. The study argues that instead of relying on maize only as a staple crop, in the semiarid regions of the country, indigenous cereal crops are suitable alternative staple crops in Zimbabwe. Indications from the findings of the study are that diversification of staple crop production should stress the importance of state mediation, distribution and promotion of indigenous cereal crops. The researcher thus proposes that the reliance on indigenous crops be anchored in community food security, food sovereignty and rural food system perspectives, not negating the negative effects of climate change on food production. The results showed that despite progress made by the state in assisting farmers with agricultural inputs, very little has been achieved in alleviating food insecurity in the dry regions, as indigenous cereal crops continue being pushed to the periphery of the agricultural sector. iii The study concludes by putting forward that addressing the stated challenges could lead to the potential of indigenous cerealcrops potentially increasing the cereal supply for the nation, thus alleviating food security woes as these crops grow favourably even in the most adverse weather conditions and poor topography.
- Full Text:
Integration of indigenous knowledge in the intermediate phase school curriculum in a selected education district in the Eastern Cape, South Africa
- Mkosi, Nkosinathi Ndumiso Lizo
- Authors: Mkosi, Nkosinathi Ndumiso Lizo
- Date: 2019
- Subjects: Education -- Curricula -- South Africa -- Eastern Cape
- Language: English
- Type: Thesis , Doctoral , DPhil
- Identifier: http://hdl.handle.net/10353/16136 , vital:40671
- Description: The aims and principles of the post-apartheid South African school curricula, ranging from the Revised National Curriculum Statement Grades R-9 and the National Curriculum Statement Grades 10-12, to include the Curriculum and Assessment Policy Statements (Grades 1-12), have been aligned with the aims and principles of the South African Constitution. The aims and principles, among others, speak to the establishment of human rights, inclusivity, environmental and social justice, and valuing of indigenous knowledge systems. These are the bedrock of all the subjects and do not necessarily confine themselves to the science subjects only; even though the call of inclusion of indigenous knowledge in the sciences is oversubscribed. There has been concerns raised variously that the integration of indigenous knowledge systems in the curriculum, generally, and in the teaching of the respective subjects, particularly, does not necessarily happen as it should be. Thus, the purpose of this mixed methods approach study that adopted a concurrent triangulation mixed methods design and premised on the postpositivist paradigm investigated the integration of indigenous knowledge in the Intermediate Phase school curriculum in a selected Education District in the Eastern Cape Province, South Africa. The guiding lenses adopted for this study were two-fold. The main primary theoretical framework drew from three integration theories: (a) Huang and Newell’s (2003) Knowledge Integration Processes and Dynamics notions; (b) Beane’s (1995) Curriculum Integration and the Disciplines of Knowledge and (c) Harden’s (2000) Integration ladder: A Tool for Curriculum Planning and Evaluation. The ‘secondary’ lens of analysis, which the researcher named, the ‘supplemental framework’, was constituted by notions and constructs derived from the indigenous knowledge systems discourses and postcolonial notions and constructs. The study revealed, among other findings, that (i) whilst a majority of teachers claimed to integrate IK in their classrooms, a significant number did not, and those who claimed to be integrating were unsure about how to integrate (ii) the majority of teachers, HoDs and Subject Advisors were either poorly trained or did not receive any training in the integration of IK (iii) the support and monitoring of IK integration was poor to non-existent. Thus, the study proposes a model, the Integrative Indigenous Knowledge Integration Support and Monitoring Model (IIKISMM), which may act as a framework for the coordination of the support and monitoring of IK integration in the school curriculum. There are significant recommendations offered by the study to teachers and policy makers with regards the integration of indigenous knowledge systems in the school curriculum. Also offered by the study are possibilities for further research in the integration of indigenous knowledge system in the curriculum.
- Full Text:
- Authors: Mkosi, Nkosinathi Ndumiso Lizo
- Date: 2019
- Subjects: Education -- Curricula -- South Africa -- Eastern Cape
- Language: English
- Type: Thesis , Doctoral , DPhil
- Identifier: http://hdl.handle.net/10353/16136 , vital:40671
- Description: The aims and principles of the post-apartheid South African school curricula, ranging from the Revised National Curriculum Statement Grades R-9 and the National Curriculum Statement Grades 10-12, to include the Curriculum and Assessment Policy Statements (Grades 1-12), have been aligned with the aims and principles of the South African Constitution. The aims and principles, among others, speak to the establishment of human rights, inclusivity, environmental and social justice, and valuing of indigenous knowledge systems. These are the bedrock of all the subjects and do not necessarily confine themselves to the science subjects only; even though the call of inclusion of indigenous knowledge in the sciences is oversubscribed. There has been concerns raised variously that the integration of indigenous knowledge systems in the curriculum, generally, and in the teaching of the respective subjects, particularly, does not necessarily happen as it should be. Thus, the purpose of this mixed methods approach study that adopted a concurrent triangulation mixed methods design and premised on the postpositivist paradigm investigated the integration of indigenous knowledge in the Intermediate Phase school curriculum in a selected Education District in the Eastern Cape Province, South Africa. The guiding lenses adopted for this study were two-fold. The main primary theoretical framework drew from three integration theories: (a) Huang and Newell’s (2003) Knowledge Integration Processes and Dynamics notions; (b) Beane’s (1995) Curriculum Integration and the Disciplines of Knowledge and (c) Harden’s (2000) Integration ladder: A Tool for Curriculum Planning and Evaluation. The ‘secondary’ lens of analysis, which the researcher named, the ‘supplemental framework’, was constituted by notions and constructs derived from the indigenous knowledge systems discourses and postcolonial notions and constructs. The study revealed, among other findings, that (i) whilst a majority of teachers claimed to integrate IK in their classrooms, a significant number did not, and those who claimed to be integrating were unsure about how to integrate (ii) the majority of teachers, HoDs and Subject Advisors were either poorly trained or did not receive any training in the integration of IK (iii) the support and monitoring of IK integration was poor to non-existent. Thus, the study proposes a model, the Integrative Indigenous Knowledge Integration Support and Monitoring Model (IIKISMM), which may act as a framework for the coordination of the support and monitoring of IK integration in the school curriculum. There are significant recommendations offered by the study to teachers and policy makers with regards the integration of indigenous knowledge systems in the school curriculum. Also offered by the study are possibilities for further research in the integration of indigenous knowledge system in the curriculum.
- Full Text:
Knowledge management practices in a regional economic bloc secretariat: a case of Southern African development community
- Authors: Sikazwe, Dennis
- Date: 2019
- Subjects: Knowledge management
- Language: English
- Type: Thesis , Doctoral , PhD (Library and Information Science)
- Identifier: http://hdl.handle.net/10353/11451 , vital:39073
- Description: The effective application of appropriate Knowledge Management Practices (KMPs) is one of the innovative and creative ways for improving organisational work processes. Having been undertaken in a Regional Economic Bloc (REB) at the SADC Secretariat in Gaborone, Botswana, and at the SPGRC in Lusaka, Zambia, the study assesses KMPs among employees in these worksites. However, not all KMPs adopted can be appropriate. For example, studies show that the western epistemological perspective of knowledge that gives preference to leveraging explicit knowledge at the expense of tacit knowledge seems to be dominant in most organisations, just as evidenced in this study. This study was aimed at achieving to a limited extent exploratory and descriptive goal. The study was solidly grounded on the practice-based approach of knowing and learning in organisations, the OKC-SECI, and the dialogic Communication theories. It was aimed at assessing what, how and to what extent have KMPs utilized among REBs in the course of their day to day operations (SADC secretariat in particular). Using these theories, the study clearly shows how appropriate KMPs help improve secretariat’ work processes in any given REB secretariat’ everchanging work environment, and how it’s tested knowledge is stored, shared and applied as best practices. The study further assessed the conduciveness of the secretariat’s workplace environment in which such practices are carried out, and how appropriate the KM related ICTs available in that environment were. The theoretical underpinnings of the study were used to inform the selection of variables for the study. The approach of the study was firstly to understand what and how knowledge (both explicit and tacit) is generated, stored, shared and applied among the secretariat employees, and the focus was on the above theories. The study made use of the triangulated research approach to adequately capture and analyse both qualitative and quantitative data. By so doing, reliability and validity were enhanced. The copies of the questionnaire were administered to 138 employees of the catchment areas, and only 117 copies of the questionnaire were completed and returned for processing. From the returned copies of the questionnaire, 15 respondents whose responses vi appeared to have addressed the research questions were followed up for in-depth interviews. For qualitative data, the in-depth interviews were used together with the observation of the respondents’ behaviour, workplace environment and the appropriateness of the KM related ICTs available. Data obtained from the study were processed and analysed using SPSS for the quantitative data, while responses from the interviews and observations were sorted and coded. The process of comparing the processed quantitative and qualitative data resulted in the drawing of inferences that resolve the research problem. The study findings clearly show that the SADC secretariat was relatively good in the utilisation of appropriate KLPs; however, this was on average at a very low rate (32, 27.44%; Good), and mostly limited to the management of Information Resource Centres (47, 40.47%; Fair). This was followed by Explicit Knowledge Leveraging Practices (KLPs) (36, 30.75%; Good), while Tacit KLPs were rated the least with a (29, 25.20%; Bad) rating. The study findings further indicated that the conduciveness of the SADC secretariat workplace environment was on average fairly rated (61, 52.55%; Fair), with minimal opportunities for socialisation and collaborative work. The appropriateness of KM-related ICTs available at the secretariat was on average rated moderately at (41, 35.00%) Very good, though they were described as blind to the human, social and cultural aspects of KMPs. Finally, the study findings also revealed that the SADC secretariat was particularly rated bad (54, 45.87%) in finding possible KMP solutions, and was rated very good (51, 43.60%) in identifying the actual major challenges for managing KMPs. The use of a practice-based approach, OKC-SECI and Dialogic Communication theories to underpin the study were found suitable for investigating KMPs from a REB secretariat’s work processes context. The practice-based approach and the Dialogic Communication theory were particularly useful in addressing the issue of interaction, dialogue and sense-making in the workplace while the OKC-SECI theory helped understand knowledge conversion processes at the SADC secretariat. The findings of this study seem to propose that KMPs and KM, in general, can best be studied using a combination of methodologies because of the multi-disciplinary nature of the subject. The study, thus, proposes the “practice – theory – practice “knowledge creation and sharing workplace framework.
- Full Text:
- Authors: Sikazwe, Dennis
- Date: 2019
- Subjects: Knowledge management
- Language: English
- Type: Thesis , Doctoral , PhD (Library and Information Science)
- Identifier: http://hdl.handle.net/10353/11451 , vital:39073
- Description: The effective application of appropriate Knowledge Management Practices (KMPs) is one of the innovative and creative ways for improving organisational work processes. Having been undertaken in a Regional Economic Bloc (REB) at the SADC Secretariat in Gaborone, Botswana, and at the SPGRC in Lusaka, Zambia, the study assesses KMPs among employees in these worksites. However, not all KMPs adopted can be appropriate. For example, studies show that the western epistemological perspective of knowledge that gives preference to leveraging explicit knowledge at the expense of tacit knowledge seems to be dominant in most organisations, just as evidenced in this study. This study was aimed at achieving to a limited extent exploratory and descriptive goal. The study was solidly grounded on the practice-based approach of knowing and learning in organisations, the OKC-SECI, and the dialogic Communication theories. It was aimed at assessing what, how and to what extent have KMPs utilized among REBs in the course of their day to day operations (SADC secretariat in particular). Using these theories, the study clearly shows how appropriate KMPs help improve secretariat’ work processes in any given REB secretariat’ everchanging work environment, and how it’s tested knowledge is stored, shared and applied as best practices. The study further assessed the conduciveness of the secretariat’s workplace environment in which such practices are carried out, and how appropriate the KM related ICTs available in that environment were. The theoretical underpinnings of the study were used to inform the selection of variables for the study. The approach of the study was firstly to understand what and how knowledge (both explicit and tacit) is generated, stored, shared and applied among the secretariat employees, and the focus was on the above theories. The study made use of the triangulated research approach to adequately capture and analyse both qualitative and quantitative data. By so doing, reliability and validity were enhanced. The copies of the questionnaire were administered to 138 employees of the catchment areas, and only 117 copies of the questionnaire were completed and returned for processing. From the returned copies of the questionnaire, 15 respondents whose responses vi appeared to have addressed the research questions were followed up for in-depth interviews. For qualitative data, the in-depth interviews were used together with the observation of the respondents’ behaviour, workplace environment and the appropriateness of the KM related ICTs available. Data obtained from the study were processed and analysed using SPSS for the quantitative data, while responses from the interviews and observations were sorted and coded. The process of comparing the processed quantitative and qualitative data resulted in the drawing of inferences that resolve the research problem. The study findings clearly show that the SADC secretariat was relatively good in the utilisation of appropriate KLPs; however, this was on average at a very low rate (32, 27.44%; Good), and mostly limited to the management of Information Resource Centres (47, 40.47%; Fair). This was followed by Explicit Knowledge Leveraging Practices (KLPs) (36, 30.75%; Good), while Tacit KLPs were rated the least with a (29, 25.20%; Bad) rating. The study findings further indicated that the conduciveness of the SADC secretariat workplace environment was on average fairly rated (61, 52.55%; Fair), with minimal opportunities for socialisation and collaborative work. The appropriateness of KM-related ICTs available at the secretariat was on average rated moderately at (41, 35.00%) Very good, though they were described as blind to the human, social and cultural aspects of KMPs. Finally, the study findings also revealed that the SADC secretariat was particularly rated bad (54, 45.87%) in finding possible KMP solutions, and was rated very good (51, 43.60%) in identifying the actual major challenges for managing KMPs. The use of a practice-based approach, OKC-SECI and Dialogic Communication theories to underpin the study were found suitable for investigating KMPs from a REB secretariat’s work processes context. The practice-based approach and the Dialogic Communication theory were particularly useful in addressing the issue of interaction, dialogue and sense-making in the workplace while the OKC-SECI theory helped understand knowledge conversion processes at the SADC secretariat. The findings of this study seem to propose that KMPs and KM, in general, can best be studied using a combination of methodologies because of the multi-disciplinary nature of the subject. The study, thus, proposes the “practice – theory – practice “knowledge creation and sharing workplace framework.
- Full Text:
Land Reform and the Challenge of Rural Development in Zimbabwe: The Case of the Fast Track Reform in Mashonaland West Region
- Authors: Chigarira, Tangai Sylvester
- Date: 2019
- Subjects: Land reform -- Zimbabwe Agriculture and state -- Zimbabwe Zimbabwe -- Politics and government
- Language: English
- Type: Thesis , Doctoral , PhD
- Identifier: http://hdl.handle.net/10353/18665 , vital:42704
- Description: A largely agricultural country, land remains an important factor of production and a critical element in the livelihoods of rural Zimbabweans. Small-scale farmers rely on land for food and income. The post-independence development of Zimbabwe has been tied to land holding. As such, land reform aimed at addressing colonial racial land inequalities and rural underdevelopment became an imperative. In the post-independence era, Zimbabwe undertook two phases of land reform – the first occurred between 1980 and 1999 and was known as the Land reform and Resettlement Programme (LRRP). This was based on the ‘willing-buyer and willing seller’. The second phase which took place from 2000, known as the Fast Track Land Reform Programme (FTLRP), took a radical approach. However, due to a variety of reasons, including the dominance of small-scale farming and challenges of land reform, agricultural productivity remains low. Moreover, despite land reform, including massive land redistribution, the process appears incomplete and inconclusive. This is so essentially because the land reform neither increased food production nor reduced poverty. Accordingly, sustainable development remains a distant reality, especially among rural small-scale farmers. The study aimed at assessing the impact of the fast track land reform (FTLRP) on poverty reduction and sustainable rural development in Zimbabwe. Despite undertaking one of Southern Africa’s largest post-colonial redistributive land reform to date, the provision of land on its own has not been sufficient to address rural poverty and achieving meaningful rural development. This is so because the land reform has not articulated integrated growth as remoteness and poverty remain endemic, which is connected to the land. So, resolving the land question still remains crucial for sustainable rural development in Zimbabwe.
- Full Text:
- Authors: Chigarira, Tangai Sylvester
- Date: 2019
- Subjects: Land reform -- Zimbabwe Agriculture and state -- Zimbabwe Zimbabwe -- Politics and government
- Language: English
- Type: Thesis , Doctoral , PhD
- Identifier: http://hdl.handle.net/10353/18665 , vital:42704
- Description: A largely agricultural country, land remains an important factor of production and a critical element in the livelihoods of rural Zimbabweans. Small-scale farmers rely on land for food and income. The post-independence development of Zimbabwe has been tied to land holding. As such, land reform aimed at addressing colonial racial land inequalities and rural underdevelopment became an imperative. In the post-independence era, Zimbabwe undertook two phases of land reform – the first occurred between 1980 and 1999 and was known as the Land reform and Resettlement Programme (LRRP). This was based on the ‘willing-buyer and willing seller’. The second phase which took place from 2000, known as the Fast Track Land Reform Programme (FTLRP), took a radical approach. However, due to a variety of reasons, including the dominance of small-scale farming and challenges of land reform, agricultural productivity remains low. Moreover, despite land reform, including massive land redistribution, the process appears incomplete and inconclusive. This is so essentially because the land reform neither increased food production nor reduced poverty. Accordingly, sustainable development remains a distant reality, especially among rural small-scale farmers. The study aimed at assessing the impact of the fast track land reform (FTLRP) on poverty reduction and sustainable rural development in Zimbabwe. Despite undertaking one of Southern Africa’s largest post-colonial redistributive land reform to date, the provision of land on its own has not been sufficient to address rural poverty and achieving meaningful rural development. This is so because the land reform has not articulated integrated growth as remoteness and poverty remain endemic, which is connected to the land. So, resolving the land question still remains crucial for sustainable rural development in Zimbabwe.
- Full Text:
Land rental policy and land market in Mashonaland East Province, Zimbabwe: implications on farmer decisions, efficiency and equity under A1 and A2 models
- Authors: Tatsvarei , Simbarashe
- Date: 2019
- Subjects: Farms, Small Agricultural extension work
- Language: English
- Type: Thesis , Doctoral , PhD
- Identifier: http://hdl.handle.net/10353/15666 , vital:40501
- Description: Government promulgated the land rental policy starting in the year 2007. The policy required that A1 (market residual) and A2 (indigenous commercial) farmers pay rentals to the state. Since then, there has also been an emerging trend in which farmers have been renting in and out land, resulting in an informal market for land rentals. The study therefore assessed farmers’ perceptions of land rental policy and evaluated the possible association of this policy to farmers’ decision making on land rental markets as well as its implications on farmers’ efficiency and equity. The study was carried out in Mashonaland East Province of Zimbabwe, covering two districts, Goromonzi and Marondera. The focus was specifically on A1 and A2 farmers, as the rental policy was directed at these resettlement models only and much of the informal land rental markets were prevalent among these categories of farmers. Data collection utilised the survey approach. This was supported by key informant interviews and focus group discussions, with a final sample of 339 households selected using multi-stage sampling method. Survey data were transcribed on CsPro 6, and analysed using Stata, SPSS and Frontier 4.1. Results showed that about a third of household respondents was from Marondera and twothirds was from Goromonzi, while 79% and 21% was A1 and A2 farmers respectively. About 80% was male headed households and the remainder was female headed households. About half of the households were not participating in land rental markets while the other half was split almost equally between those renting-in and renting-out land. In general, A2 farmers were better in agricultural productivity than A1 farmers. It was concluded that farmers had a fairly good knowledge of the agricultural land rental policy enunciated in the Finance Bills. A1 farmers were more knowledgeable than A2 farmers, but no vii significant differences were observed between male and female headed households and farmers involved and not involved in land rental markets. Farmers’ attitudes in relation to policy were categorised as fair, with significant differences based on gender and land market participation. Practice scores showed a poor adherence to policy for all categories of farmers. Overall perceptions of farmers on rental policy was inferred as fair with significant differences existing between land rental market participants and non-participants (autarky). The results of a bivariate Tobit model results showed that the decision to rent-in land was significantly influenced by gender, household income, permanent labour, cultivated area, tenure certainty, irrigable land size and crop diversification. On the other hand, age, permanent labour, irrigable land size and crop diversification significantly influenced farmers’ decisions to rent-out land. The conclusion was that household characteristics, land endowments and transaction costs significantly influenced the decision to rent-in land while the former two were strong in influencing renting-out decisions. Results from the linearized Cobb Douglas model showed that economic efficiency for most farmers was above 50%. Farmers renting-out land under A1 were found to be the most economically efficient, followed by those who were renting-in and least efficient were farmers not participating in land rental markets, though the differences were marginal. For the A2 model, renting-in farmers were the most efficient, followed by those in autarky position, while renting-out farmers were the least. Overall, the most efficient farmers were those renting-in, followed by those renting-out while farmers in autarky were the least efficient. Overall efficiency was higher for A2 farmers than for A1 farmers. For farmers not participating in rental markets, the sources of inefficiency were crop type, crop area and labour. For farmers renting-in, it was proportion of irrigable land, size of irrigable land, crop type, crop area and viii labour, while inefficiency drivers for renting-out farmers were crop type and associated area. Equity analysis showed that participation in land rental markets reduced inequality for farmers in the two districts and male and female headed households. Inequality was increased among A1 farmers and remained unchanged among A2 farmers. Overall, the emerging position was that participation in land rental markets resulted in higher efficiency and reduced inequality in land holding among the sampled farmers. It is recommended that government should be consistent on land rental policy and bring into place effective administration of land rental policy. Government may also consider formal acceptance of land rental markets in light of the marginal efficiency and equity benefits shown in the study. However, formalizing land rental markets alone may not be a panacea to improved efficiency and needs to be supported by other productivity measures given the average efficiency values for farmers. Crop and livestock production based on compatibility with the natural regions and defined minimum size of land should be encouraged to improve efficiency
- Full Text:
- Authors: Tatsvarei , Simbarashe
- Date: 2019
- Subjects: Farms, Small Agricultural extension work
- Language: English
- Type: Thesis , Doctoral , PhD
- Identifier: http://hdl.handle.net/10353/15666 , vital:40501
- Description: Government promulgated the land rental policy starting in the year 2007. The policy required that A1 (market residual) and A2 (indigenous commercial) farmers pay rentals to the state. Since then, there has also been an emerging trend in which farmers have been renting in and out land, resulting in an informal market for land rentals. The study therefore assessed farmers’ perceptions of land rental policy and evaluated the possible association of this policy to farmers’ decision making on land rental markets as well as its implications on farmers’ efficiency and equity. The study was carried out in Mashonaland East Province of Zimbabwe, covering two districts, Goromonzi and Marondera. The focus was specifically on A1 and A2 farmers, as the rental policy was directed at these resettlement models only and much of the informal land rental markets were prevalent among these categories of farmers. Data collection utilised the survey approach. This was supported by key informant interviews and focus group discussions, with a final sample of 339 households selected using multi-stage sampling method. Survey data were transcribed on CsPro 6, and analysed using Stata, SPSS and Frontier 4.1. Results showed that about a third of household respondents was from Marondera and twothirds was from Goromonzi, while 79% and 21% was A1 and A2 farmers respectively. About 80% was male headed households and the remainder was female headed households. About half of the households were not participating in land rental markets while the other half was split almost equally between those renting-in and renting-out land. In general, A2 farmers were better in agricultural productivity than A1 farmers. It was concluded that farmers had a fairly good knowledge of the agricultural land rental policy enunciated in the Finance Bills. A1 farmers were more knowledgeable than A2 farmers, but no vii significant differences were observed between male and female headed households and farmers involved and not involved in land rental markets. Farmers’ attitudes in relation to policy were categorised as fair, with significant differences based on gender and land market participation. Practice scores showed a poor adherence to policy for all categories of farmers. Overall perceptions of farmers on rental policy was inferred as fair with significant differences existing between land rental market participants and non-participants (autarky). The results of a bivariate Tobit model results showed that the decision to rent-in land was significantly influenced by gender, household income, permanent labour, cultivated area, tenure certainty, irrigable land size and crop diversification. On the other hand, age, permanent labour, irrigable land size and crop diversification significantly influenced farmers’ decisions to rent-out land. The conclusion was that household characteristics, land endowments and transaction costs significantly influenced the decision to rent-in land while the former two were strong in influencing renting-out decisions. Results from the linearized Cobb Douglas model showed that economic efficiency for most farmers was above 50%. Farmers renting-out land under A1 were found to be the most economically efficient, followed by those who were renting-in and least efficient were farmers not participating in land rental markets, though the differences were marginal. For the A2 model, renting-in farmers were the most efficient, followed by those in autarky position, while renting-out farmers were the least. Overall, the most efficient farmers were those renting-in, followed by those renting-out while farmers in autarky were the least efficient. Overall efficiency was higher for A2 farmers than for A1 farmers. For farmers not participating in rental markets, the sources of inefficiency were crop type, crop area and labour. For farmers renting-in, it was proportion of irrigable land, size of irrigable land, crop type, crop area and viii labour, while inefficiency drivers for renting-out farmers were crop type and associated area. Equity analysis showed that participation in land rental markets reduced inequality for farmers in the two districts and male and female headed households. Inequality was increased among A1 farmers and remained unchanged among A2 farmers. Overall, the emerging position was that participation in land rental markets resulted in higher efficiency and reduced inequality in land holding among the sampled farmers. It is recommended that government should be consistent on land rental policy and bring into place effective administration of land rental policy. Government may also consider formal acceptance of land rental markets in light of the marginal efficiency and equity benefits shown in the study. However, formalizing land rental markets alone may not be a panacea to improved efficiency and needs to be supported by other productivity measures given the average efficiency values for farmers. Crop and livestock production based on compatibility with the natural regions and defined minimum size of land should be encouraged to improve efficiency
- Full Text:
Lending technologies and small, micro and medium enterprise borrowing: evidence from the Eastern Cape province of South
- Authors: Mbedzi, Edson
- Date: 2019
- Subjects: Financial services industry -- Information technology Banks and banking -- Information technology Small business -- South Africa -- Eastern Cape
- Language: English
- Type: Thesis , Doctoral , PhD (Economics)
- Identifier: http://hdl.handle.net/10353/12621 , vital:39293
- Description: Small, Micro and Medium Enterprises (SMMEs) play a major role in contributing to the development of most economies globally. However, such small firms often lack external financing due to their information opacity. Besides, the small firm size nature of most SMMEs impairs their ability to access finance as motivated by the market power theory. In order to address the information asymmetry problem associated with such small firms, financial institutions use different forms of lending technologies as the basis upon which lending decisions are made, that is, whether to loan or not and if the decision to lend is taken, how the intrinsic credit risks are taken into consideration. In the evaluation of the credit worthiness of small businesses, the decision to lend or not depends on soft or hard information acquired through use of a particular lending technology. Many studies in the literature cite access to credit as the main hindrance to SMMEs success. Lending technologies being the conduits transmitting that credit access, the study hypothesises that more emphasis be placed on the relationship between lending technologies and the success of small firms. Success in this case is measured in two ways; the level of SMME credit rationing that small firms endure and the resultant growth of small businesses if they access funding. However, the use of lending technologies as a measure of SMME finance access is missing in academic literature. Specifically, literature on SMMEs in South Africa only narrate the structure of SMMEs and factors affecting SMMEs funding and growth without providing a link on how these eventually influence lending technologies used that determine the lending process. This study therefore traces types of lending technologies used, factors influencing their usage and the subsequent level of credit rationing and growth of small firms. The study uses only formal and registered small firms that are members of the Border-Kei Chamber of Business and Nelson Mandela Bay Business Chamber and listed in their data bases. The study adopts a mixed methods methodology in a two stage analysis approach. In the first stage, the study identifies types of lending technologies used by funding institutions in the study area and factors lenders take into account in order to extend funding to small vi businesses. Based on interview data gathered from eight financial institutions, the types of lending technologies and factors that influence lending decisions are identified using thematic analysis method. In the second stage, the study then interrogates how lending technologies shape the credit rationing and growth of SMMEs within the Eastern Cape Province in South Africa. A sample of three hundred and twenty one (321) randomly selected SMMEs from Buffalo City and Nelson Mandela Bay metropolitans in the Eastern Cape Province is used. Data collected from SMMEs using questionnaires has been analysed to reveal the extent of credit rationing and firm growth variations among SMMEs based on the main lender and firm characteristics identified in the first stage. Credit rationing is both dichotomous, by the firm being either rationed or not, and categorical, by forms of credit rationing experienced by firms. The analysis therefore uses a combination of binary and multinomial logistic regression to evaluate effects of determinants of lending technologies on credit rationing of firms. Financial efficiency scores of firms are used as the proxy for growth of firms. The financial efficiency score is preferred because in its derivation several firm activities are incorporated as opposed to using only one growth indicator such as sales volume. The efficiency scores are generated using Data Enveloping Analysis based on selected main activity inputs and outputs of sampled firms. Since efficiency scores of a firm representing growth are a scale dependent variable, a two-way factorial analysis is used to determine the effect of lender and firm characteristics on the firm’s growth. Both the main and interaction effects of the lender and firm characteristics are captured in the analysis of both credit rationing and growth of firms. Results show that four classes of financial institutions financed formal and registered SMMEs. These are commercial banks, government-owned development financial institutions, private-owned development financial institutions and microfinance institutions. In addition, four types of lending technologies have been used to finance SMMEs in which financial institutions consider people, firm and financial information vii factors as pillars of financing decisions. Findings indicate extensive discriminatory credit rationing among SMMEs in South Africa and that growth paths followed by firms vary significantly as a result of these characteristics. The study therefore recommends the implementation of a financing framework model that allocates funds to different company structures based on credit rationing risk profiles of enterprises so as to minimize the extent of inequality exhibited in the South African population structures which have historical differences on the basis of enterprise size, ownership structure and race. The study further recommends matching of types of lending technologies with types of lenders in order to minimize overall industry credit rationing level in the SMME sector as a supplementary funding model. However, this may need further research to evaluate its application. This is important given that financial institutions use different lending technologies at the same time and further, not all financing institutions may use all forms of lending technologies. For example, microfinance institutions may not have the capacity to use venture capital lending technologies
- Full Text:
- Authors: Mbedzi, Edson
- Date: 2019
- Subjects: Financial services industry -- Information technology Banks and banking -- Information technology Small business -- South Africa -- Eastern Cape
- Language: English
- Type: Thesis , Doctoral , PhD (Economics)
- Identifier: http://hdl.handle.net/10353/12621 , vital:39293
- Description: Small, Micro and Medium Enterprises (SMMEs) play a major role in contributing to the development of most economies globally. However, such small firms often lack external financing due to their information opacity. Besides, the small firm size nature of most SMMEs impairs their ability to access finance as motivated by the market power theory. In order to address the information asymmetry problem associated with such small firms, financial institutions use different forms of lending technologies as the basis upon which lending decisions are made, that is, whether to loan or not and if the decision to lend is taken, how the intrinsic credit risks are taken into consideration. In the evaluation of the credit worthiness of small businesses, the decision to lend or not depends on soft or hard information acquired through use of a particular lending technology. Many studies in the literature cite access to credit as the main hindrance to SMMEs success. Lending technologies being the conduits transmitting that credit access, the study hypothesises that more emphasis be placed on the relationship between lending technologies and the success of small firms. Success in this case is measured in two ways; the level of SMME credit rationing that small firms endure and the resultant growth of small businesses if they access funding. However, the use of lending technologies as a measure of SMME finance access is missing in academic literature. Specifically, literature on SMMEs in South Africa only narrate the structure of SMMEs and factors affecting SMMEs funding and growth without providing a link on how these eventually influence lending technologies used that determine the lending process. This study therefore traces types of lending technologies used, factors influencing their usage and the subsequent level of credit rationing and growth of small firms. The study uses only formal and registered small firms that are members of the Border-Kei Chamber of Business and Nelson Mandela Bay Business Chamber and listed in their data bases. The study adopts a mixed methods methodology in a two stage analysis approach. In the first stage, the study identifies types of lending technologies used by funding institutions in the study area and factors lenders take into account in order to extend funding to small vi businesses. Based on interview data gathered from eight financial institutions, the types of lending technologies and factors that influence lending decisions are identified using thematic analysis method. In the second stage, the study then interrogates how lending technologies shape the credit rationing and growth of SMMEs within the Eastern Cape Province in South Africa. A sample of three hundred and twenty one (321) randomly selected SMMEs from Buffalo City and Nelson Mandela Bay metropolitans in the Eastern Cape Province is used. Data collected from SMMEs using questionnaires has been analysed to reveal the extent of credit rationing and firm growth variations among SMMEs based on the main lender and firm characteristics identified in the first stage. Credit rationing is both dichotomous, by the firm being either rationed or not, and categorical, by forms of credit rationing experienced by firms. The analysis therefore uses a combination of binary and multinomial logistic regression to evaluate effects of determinants of lending technologies on credit rationing of firms. Financial efficiency scores of firms are used as the proxy for growth of firms. The financial efficiency score is preferred because in its derivation several firm activities are incorporated as opposed to using only one growth indicator such as sales volume. The efficiency scores are generated using Data Enveloping Analysis based on selected main activity inputs and outputs of sampled firms. Since efficiency scores of a firm representing growth are a scale dependent variable, a two-way factorial analysis is used to determine the effect of lender and firm characteristics on the firm’s growth. Both the main and interaction effects of the lender and firm characteristics are captured in the analysis of both credit rationing and growth of firms. Results show that four classes of financial institutions financed formal and registered SMMEs. These are commercial banks, government-owned development financial institutions, private-owned development financial institutions and microfinance institutions. In addition, four types of lending technologies have been used to finance SMMEs in which financial institutions consider people, firm and financial information vii factors as pillars of financing decisions. Findings indicate extensive discriminatory credit rationing among SMMEs in South Africa and that growth paths followed by firms vary significantly as a result of these characteristics. The study therefore recommends the implementation of a financing framework model that allocates funds to different company structures based on credit rationing risk profiles of enterprises so as to minimize the extent of inequality exhibited in the South African population structures which have historical differences on the basis of enterprise size, ownership structure and race. The study further recommends matching of types of lending technologies with types of lenders in order to minimize overall industry credit rationing level in the SMME sector as a supplementary funding model. However, this may need further research to evaluate its application. This is important given that financial institutions use different lending technologies at the same time and further, not all financing institutions may use all forms of lending technologies. For example, microfinance institutions may not have the capacity to use venture capital lending technologies
- Full Text:
Listening to silenced voices: The lived experiences of Xhosa mothers during the initiation period of their sons
- Authors: Makupula, Mahlodi
- Date: 2019
- Subjects: Ethnocentrism Circumcision
- Language: English
- Type: Thesis , Doctoral , PhD
- Identifier: http://hdl.handle.net/10353/15815 , vital:40529
- Description: The aim of this study was to explore and describe the lived experiences of Xhosa mothers during the initiation period of their sons. The male rite of initiation among the amaXhosa has various taboos that prohibit women from getting involved in decision-making regarding the ritual. This creates a challenge as the number of female-headed households are increasing. The rationale for this study was to give Xhosa mothers a voice to relate their narratives of how they experienced the initiation period of their sons. In order to carry out this aim, the paradigm of Afrocentricity was used to anchor the study. Afrocentricity is a paradigm that supports the agency of African people in a study conducted about their issues. It also aims to give the previously oppressed groups a voice so that they can speak for themselves. Interpretative Phenomenological Analysis (IPA) as set out by Jonathan Smith was used as a qualitative research methodology in this study. Data was generated, recorded and transcribed from semi-structured interviews with eight selected participants. The biological mothers of Xhosa initiates, that experienced the initiation of their sons, took part in this study. The over-arching inclusion criteria were that the mothers gave permission for their sons to be initiated, and that their sons did not experience any major complications during the ritual. They met the inclusion criteria as set out by the researcher. The findings of the study indicated that the mothers’ experiences were multifaceted. They included the spiritual, psychological and emotional experiences, as well as their experiences as women, and, more especially, as mothers. The challenges that mothers faced during this period included lack of feedback regarding the health of their sons. This led to the experiencing of somatic symptoms like lack of sleep, poor appetite, and anxiety. In order to deal with their symptoms, the main coping mechanism that the participants used, was prayer. LISTENING TO SILENCED VOICES ii This study has highlighted the importance of listening to previously silenced voices in order to contribute to local knowledge. It is envisaged that the findings of this study will contribute to policy decisions that affect women, by ensuring the involvement of women in higher decision-making bodies. This is particularly important with the high number of femaleheaded households in the country.
- Full Text:
- Authors: Makupula, Mahlodi
- Date: 2019
- Subjects: Ethnocentrism Circumcision
- Language: English
- Type: Thesis , Doctoral , PhD
- Identifier: http://hdl.handle.net/10353/15815 , vital:40529
- Description: The aim of this study was to explore and describe the lived experiences of Xhosa mothers during the initiation period of their sons. The male rite of initiation among the amaXhosa has various taboos that prohibit women from getting involved in decision-making regarding the ritual. This creates a challenge as the number of female-headed households are increasing. The rationale for this study was to give Xhosa mothers a voice to relate their narratives of how they experienced the initiation period of their sons. In order to carry out this aim, the paradigm of Afrocentricity was used to anchor the study. Afrocentricity is a paradigm that supports the agency of African people in a study conducted about their issues. It also aims to give the previously oppressed groups a voice so that they can speak for themselves. Interpretative Phenomenological Analysis (IPA) as set out by Jonathan Smith was used as a qualitative research methodology in this study. Data was generated, recorded and transcribed from semi-structured interviews with eight selected participants. The biological mothers of Xhosa initiates, that experienced the initiation of their sons, took part in this study. The over-arching inclusion criteria were that the mothers gave permission for their sons to be initiated, and that their sons did not experience any major complications during the ritual. They met the inclusion criteria as set out by the researcher. The findings of the study indicated that the mothers’ experiences were multifaceted. They included the spiritual, psychological and emotional experiences, as well as their experiences as women, and, more especially, as mothers. The challenges that mothers faced during this period included lack of feedback regarding the health of their sons. This led to the experiencing of somatic symptoms like lack of sleep, poor appetite, and anxiety. In order to deal with their symptoms, the main coping mechanism that the participants used, was prayer. LISTENING TO SILENCED VOICES ii This study has highlighted the importance of listening to previously silenced voices in order to contribute to local knowledge. It is envisaged that the findings of this study will contribute to policy decisions that affect women, by ensuring the involvement of women in higher decision-making bodies. This is particularly important with the high number of femaleheaded households in the country.
- Full Text:
Local web news as tools for framing food security: the content analysis of four selected Eastern Cape web newspapers
- Metula , Nolukhanyo Theorida
- Authors: Metula , Nolukhanyo Theorida
- Date: 2019
- Subjects: Food security World Wide Web
- Language: English
- Type: Thesis , Doctoral , PhD
- Identifier: http://hdl.handle.net/10353/17484 , vital:41080
- Description: This study evaluates how the Eastern Cape local web newspapers frame food security in the Eastern Cape Province. A qualitative content analysis by means of textual analysis was used to evaluate the selected local web newspaper’s content on food security related stories within the period of July-December 2017. The sample was drawn from four Eastern Cape local web newspapers- Daily Dispatch Live, Herald Live, Go and Express and The Talk of the Town. The analysis sought to determine how the selected local web newspapers frame food security concerning food availability, accessibility and affordability in the Eastern Cape Province. Additionally, the study aimed to ascertain the issues about food security that are raised by the Eastern Cape local web newspapers and, to establish the extent to which these Eastern Cape local web newspapers’ framing is helpful in ensuring participation, empowerment and community mobilization for food securing purposes. The results of this study indicate that the local web newspapers frame Eastern Cape Province as untapped food basket. The framing suggests that the Province can leverage its agricultural resources for job creation which will ensure economic growth and food security. The local web newspapers framing suggests that there are numerous channels such as natural food production, livestock production, smallholder farming that can enhance availability and access to affordable food to people in the Eastern Cape Province. The findings revealed that local web newspapers frame increased agricultural production as an important issue that demand serious and urgent attention of the Provincial government as it has the potential of not only ensuring food security but also impacting positively on the income of local farmers. The local web newspapers frame farm attacks, land redistribution and reinstatement as important factors that hinder food production and, ultimately, food security in the Eastern Cape v Province. Furthermore, this study discovered that the frame of references used by the local web newspapers, especially the emphasis on local farming, land redistribution and private sector help to empower and mobilize individuals and communities to participate in food security initiatives. This study concludes that Eastern Cape Local Web Newspapers can be veritable tools to enhance food security channels in the Eastern Cape Province
- Full Text:
- Authors: Metula , Nolukhanyo Theorida
- Date: 2019
- Subjects: Food security World Wide Web
- Language: English
- Type: Thesis , Doctoral , PhD
- Identifier: http://hdl.handle.net/10353/17484 , vital:41080
- Description: This study evaluates how the Eastern Cape local web newspapers frame food security in the Eastern Cape Province. A qualitative content analysis by means of textual analysis was used to evaluate the selected local web newspaper’s content on food security related stories within the period of July-December 2017. The sample was drawn from four Eastern Cape local web newspapers- Daily Dispatch Live, Herald Live, Go and Express and The Talk of the Town. The analysis sought to determine how the selected local web newspapers frame food security concerning food availability, accessibility and affordability in the Eastern Cape Province. Additionally, the study aimed to ascertain the issues about food security that are raised by the Eastern Cape local web newspapers and, to establish the extent to which these Eastern Cape local web newspapers’ framing is helpful in ensuring participation, empowerment and community mobilization for food securing purposes. The results of this study indicate that the local web newspapers frame Eastern Cape Province as untapped food basket. The framing suggests that the Province can leverage its agricultural resources for job creation which will ensure economic growth and food security. The local web newspapers framing suggests that there are numerous channels such as natural food production, livestock production, smallholder farming that can enhance availability and access to affordable food to people in the Eastern Cape Province. The findings revealed that local web newspapers frame increased agricultural production as an important issue that demand serious and urgent attention of the Provincial government as it has the potential of not only ensuring food security but also impacting positively on the income of local farmers. The local web newspapers frame farm attacks, land redistribution and reinstatement as important factors that hinder food production and, ultimately, food security in the Eastern Cape v Province. Furthermore, this study discovered that the frame of references used by the local web newspapers, especially the emphasis on local farming, land redistribution and private sector help to empower and mobilize individuals and communities to participate in food security initiatives. This study concludes that Eastern Cape Local Web Newspapers can be veritable tools to enhance food security channels in the Eastern Cape Province
- Full Text:
Male nurses’ occupational experiences and meaning ascribed to dirty work in a female-dominated profession: A case of a hospital in the Eastern Cape Province of South Africa
- Authors: Chikungwa-Everson , Tarisai
- Date: 2019
- Subjects: Quality of work life Occupational prestige
- Language: English
- Type: Thesis , Doctoral , PhD (Industrial Psychology)
- Identifier: http://hdl.handle.net/10353/13314 , vital:39633
- Description: Orientation: Work and individual pursuit for career development have become critical in modern society. Within this, new forms of work and categories of work have emerged. Given these new forms of work and categories of work, there is a need to understand individual sense-making and experiences of transition. Research Purpose: The study explores male nurses’ occupational experiences and meaning ascribed to dirty work in a female-dominated profession. Motivation of the Study: Calls exist within the extant literature to understand modern forms of work and individual transition. One such area is that of dirty work – classified as any form of work with physical, moral or emotional taint. Little research within an Industrial and Organisational Psychology context exists on dirty work. Research Approach, Design/Method: An interpretivist, qualitative research approach using the exploratory research design was utilised to explore male nurse's occupational experiences and meaning ascribed to dirty work in a female-dominated profession. Narrative analysis was used as a basis for analysis using 27 male nurses working within the Eastern Cape Province of South Africa. Main Findings: Based on the analysis of the 27 participants that took part in the study five main narratives emerged. These included: a) a career in nursing as framed as a recursive discourse; b) the experience of a nurse as oscillating as an agentic prowess and a communal assemblage of continued suspicion; c) striving more agentic domains ahead of communal domains in entering and surviving within dirty work; d) male nurses fulfilling a gendered utility role that female nurses cannot occupy and finally, e) male nurses’ ephemeral intention of being in the nursing profession influenced by the conditions of work. ii Practical/Managerial Implications: Based on the findings of the research, interventions are proposed with ramifications for the individual, organisation and career counselling. Contribution/Value-Add: Based on the findings of the research a theoretical framework of dirty work experiences and meaning of work amongst male nurses is proposed. The framework represents a departure away from traditional career theories espoused in the work of Holland and Super as it illustrates the role of intersectionality and marginality in shaping career development. Further, the proposed framework founded from the findings of the research (though supporting modern career models such as the Systems Theory Framework and the Career Construction Theory) uniquely show drivers towards dirty work, b) the processual work accompanying dirty work involvement and finally, c) the meaning ascribed to dirty work. The study becomes the first within a South African context.
- Full Text:
- Authors: Chikungwa-Everson , Tarisai
- Date: 2019
- Subjects: Quality of work life Occupational prestige
- Language: English
- Type: Thesis , Doctoral , PhD (Industrial Psychology)
- Identifier: http://hdl.handle.net/10353/13314 , vital:39633
- Description: Orientation: Work and individual pursuit for career development have become critical in modern society. Within this, new forms of work and categories of work have emerged. Given these new forms of work and categories of work, there is a need to understand individual sense-making and experiences of transition. Research Purpose: The study explores male nurses’ occupational experiences and meaning ascribed to dirty work in a female-dominated profession. Motivation of the Study: Calls exist within the extant literature to understand modern forms of work and individual transition. One such area is that of dirty work – classified as any form of work with physical, moral or emotional taint. Little research within an Industrial and Organisational Psychology context exists on dirty work. Research Approach, Design/Method: An interpretivist, qualitative research approach using the exploratory research design was utilised to explore male nurse's occupational experiences and meaning ascribed to dirty work in a female-dominated profession. Narrative analysis was used as a basis for analysis using 27 male nurses working within the Eastern Cape Province of South Africa. Main Findings: Based on the analysis of the 27 participants that took part in the study five main narratives emerged. These included: a) a career in nursing as framed as a recursive discourse; b) the experience of a nurse as oscillating as an agentic prowess and a communal assemblage of continued suspicion; c) striving more agentic domains ahead of communal domains in entering and surviving within dirty work; d) male nurses fulfilling a gendered utility role that female nurses cannot occupy and finally, e) male nurses’ ephemeral intention of being in the nursing profession influenced by the conditions of work. ii Practical/Managerial Implications: Based on the findings of the research, interventions are proposed with ramifications for the individual, organisation and career counselling. Contribution/Value-Add: Based on the findings of the research a theoretical framework of dirty work experiences and meaning of work amongst male nurses is proposed. The framework represents a departure away from traditional career theories espoused in the work of Holland and Super as it illustrates the role of intersectionality and marginality in shaping career development. Further, the proposed framework founded from the findings of the research (though supporting modern career models such as the Systems Theory Framework and the Career Construction Theory) uniquely show drivers towards dirty work, b) the processual work accompanying dirty work involvement and finally, c) the meaning ascribed to dirty work. The study becomes the first within a South African context.
- Full Text:
Medicinal Plants Used to Treat and Manage Respiratory Infections in the Limpopo Province, South Africa: Phytotherapeutic Study of Bapedi Traditional Healers’ Practices
- Authors: Semenya, Sebua Silas
- Date: 2019
- Subjects: Medicinal plants Respiratory infections -- Alternative treatment
- Language: English
- Type: Thesis , Doctoral , PhD
- Identifier: http://hdl.handle.net/10353/15716 , vital:40512
- Description: There is paucity of data on South African traditional healers’ (THs) phytotherapeutic practices regarding respiratory infections (RIs). Several people in South Africa are contracting RIs due to prevalence of risk factors. This situation is exacerbated by limited modern health care facilities and associated personnel in some provinces in the country. The primary objectives of this study were twofold. First purpose was to execute a comprehensive social and ethnobotanical surveys aimed at (a) establishing the types of RIs treated by THs and diagnosis techniques used, (b) plants used as therapies for RIs and associated indigenous knowledge practices, (c) source/s of plants used as medicines, (d) harvesting practices, current local availability status, conservation status and threats of indigenous plants as well as the level of conservation knowledge possessed by THs. The second objective was to assess the therapeutic value of the four most frequently used plant species by THs by (a) analysing the phytochemical profile of the plant extracts, (b) their antioxidant activities, and (c) their antibacterial activities. Information linked to the social and ethnobotanical surveys was gathered via a semi-structured questionnaires, supplemented by field observations during face-to-face interview with 240 conveniently selected THs practicing in the municipalities of Capricorn, Sekhukhune and Waterberg districts of the Limpopo Province, South Africa. Data were generally analysed using Microsoft Excel and Statistical Package for the Social Sciences (SPSS). In addition to these softwares, ethnobotanical data were analysed via quantitative ethnobotanical indexes namely use mention (UM), fidelity level (FL), use value (UV) and preference ranking (PR). For laboratory experiments, qualitative phytochemical constitutes of the crude extracts were determined using the standard screening methods. The antioxidant activities of acetone, dichlomethane, hexane, methanol and water crude extracts were evaluated using qualitative and quantitative 2, 2-diphenyl-1-picrylhydrazyl (DPPH) assays. Antibacterial activities of these extracts was assessed using microdilution and bioautography assays. Six types of RIs; tuberculosis (84.1%), sore throat (65%), asthma (58.3%), sinusitis (55%), pneumonia (53.3%) and rhinitis (43.7%) were treated by THs practicing as herbalists (58.7%), herbalists and diviners (40.5%), and diviners (0.4%). The identification of these RIs was based on the patients’ presentation of certain clinical symptoms, with THs practicing both herbalism and divination additionally using bone casting. There was a broad overlap between the clinical signs used to diagnose most of the RIs, and the specificity of symptoms followed when ascertaining an individual infection was low. A total of 224 plant species (83% indigenous and 16.9% exotics) belonging to 177 genera and 85 botanical families, mainly the Fabaceae (25 spp.) and Asteraceae (16 spp.) were used by THs as herbal medicines for the aforesaid RIs and perceived related symptoms (RSs). Most of the documented plant species were used for tuberculosis (82.1%) and asthma (46.4%). Roots (64%) and leaves (13%) formed an important mainstay for medicinal recipes preparations. Different routes of administering these recipes were noted, with oral (75.6%) and nasal (18.8%) being the most preferred. The most widely used species by THs to treat and manage all the six RIs with high UM, FL, UV and PR values included Clerodendrum ternatum, Cryptocarya transvaalensis, Enicostema axillare, Lasiosiphon caffer and Stylochaeton natalensis. Overall larger numbers of species used by Bapedi THs including the mentioned ones are recorded for the first time in scientific literature as remedies for RIs and RSs, thus reflecting a need for more similar studies amongst other ethnic groups of South Africa and elsewhere. The phytochemical screening of four most used plants C. ternatum, C. transvaalensis, E. axillare and L. caffer crude extracts revealed the presence of alkaloids, anthraquinones, cardiac glycosides, flavonoids, phlobatannin, saponins, steroids, tannins and terpenes. All plants including those that did not display any antioxidant activities using qualitative DPPH assay displayed a certain level of scavenging activity when quantified, with the mentioned extracts from E. axillare (water and hexane), L. caffer (water and acetone) and C. ternatum (acetone) showing excellent activity almost comparable to a standard antioxidant drug (ascorbic acid). Plant extracts from all used solvents were active against Mycobacterium smegmatis, Klebsiella pneumoniae, Staphylococcus aureus and Pseudomonas aeruginosa with miniumum bactericidal concentration values ranging between 0.019 and 2.5 mg/ml depending on the plant species. Some of plant extracts exhibited minimum inhibitory concentration values ranging between 0.63 to 2.5 mg/ml. This study showed that most of the diagnosis methods used by Bapedi THs and their herbal medicines have the potential to contribute towards the management and treatment of RIs and RSs. iii | Page Future endeavour should be focused on the following: (a) possibility of collaboration between questioned THs and local western health care practitioners in the treatment of these diseases, and (b) isolation, purification and characterization of the biologically active compounds from extract of the above-stated plants, amongst other inquiries.
- Full Text:
- Authors: Semenya, Sebua Silas
- Date: 2019
- Subjects: Medicinal plants Respiratory infections -- Alternative treatment
- Language: English
- Type: Thesis , Doctoral , PhD
- Identifier: http://hdl.handle.net/10353/15716 , vital:40512
- Description: There is paucity of data on South African traditional healers’ (THs) phytotherapeutic practices regarding respiratory infections (RIs). Several people in South Africa are contracting RIs due to prevalence of risk factors. This situation is exacerbated by limited modern health care facilities and associated personnel in some provinces in the country. The primary objectives of this study were twofold. First purpose was to execute a comprehensive social and ethnobotanical surveys aimed at (a) establishing the types of RIs treated by THs and diagnosis techniques used, (b) plants used as therapies for RIs and associated indigenous knowledge practices, (c) source/s of plants used as medicines, (d) harvesting practices, current local availability status, conservation status and threats of indigenous plants as well as the level of conservation knowledge possessed by THs. The second objective was to assess the therapeutic value of the four most frequently used plant species by THs by (a) analysing the phytochemical profile of the plant extracts, (b) their antioxidant activities, and (c) their antibacterial activities. Information linked to the social and ethnobotanical surveys was gathered via a semi-structured questionnaires, supplemented by field observations during face-to-face interview with 240 conveniently selected THs practicing in the municipalities of Capricorn, Sekhukhune and Waterberg districts of the Limpopo Province, South Africa. Data were generally analysed using Microsoft Excel and Statistical Package for the Social Sciences (SPSS). In addition to these softwares, ethnobotanical data were analysed via quantitative ethnobotanical indexes namely use mention (UM), fidelity level (FL), use value (UV) and preference ranking (PR). For laboratory experiments, qualitative phytochemical constitutes of the crude extracts were determined using the standard screening methods. The antioxidant activities of acetone, dichlomethane, hexane, methanol and water crude extracts were evaluated using qualitative and quantitative 2, 2-diphenyl-1-picrylhydrazyl (DPPH) assays. Antibacterial activities of these extracts was assessed using microdilution and bioautography assays. Six types of RIs; tuberculosis (84.1%), sore throat (65%), asthma (58.3%), sinusitis (55%), pneumonia (53.3%) and rhinitis (43.7%) were treated by THs practicing as herbalists (58.7%), herbalists and diviners (40.5%), and diviners (0.4%). The identification of these RIs was based on the patients’ presentation of certain clinical symptoms, with THs practicing both herbalism and divination additionally using bone casting. There was a broad overlap between the clinical signs used to diagnose most of the RIs, and the specificity of symptoms followed when ascertaining an individual infection was low. A total of 224 plant species (83% indigenous and 16.9% exotics) belonging to 177 genera and 85 botanical families, mainly the Fabaceae (25 spp.) and Asteraceae (16 spp.) were used by THs as herbal medicines for the aforesaid RIs and perceived related symptoms (RSs). Most of the documented plant species were used for tuberculosis (82.1%) and asthma (46.4%). Roots (64%) and leaves (13%) formed an important mainstay for medicinal recipes preparations. Different routes of administering these recipes were noted, with oral (75.6%) and nasal (18.8%) being the most preferred. The most widely used species by THs to treat and manage all the six RIs with high UM, FL, UV and PR values included Clerodendrum ternatum, Cryptocarya transvaalensis, Enicostema axillare, Lasiosiphon caffer and Stylochaeton natalensis. Overall larger numbers of species used by Bapedi THs including the mentioned ones are recorded for the first time in scientific literature as remedies for RIs and RSs, thus reflecting a need for more similar studies amongst other ethnic groups of South Africa and elsewhere. The phytochemical screening of four most used plants C. ternatum, C. transvaalensis, E. axillare and L. caffer crude extracts revealed the presence of alkaloids, anthraquinones, cardiac glycosides, flavonoids, phlobatannin, saponins, steroids, tannins and terpenes. All plants including those that did not display any antioxidant activities using qualitative DPPH assay displayed a certain level of scavenging activity when quantified, with the mentioned extracts from E. axillare (water and hexane), L. caffer (water and acetone) and C. ternatum (acetone) showing excellent activity almost comparable to a standard antioxidant drug (ascorbic acid). Plant extracts from all used solvents were active against Mycobacterium smegmatis, Klebsiella pneumoniae, Staphylococcus aureus and Pseudomonas aeruginosa with miniumum bactericidal concentration values ranging between 0.019 and 2.5 mg/ml depending on the plant species. Some of plant extracts exhibited minimum inhibitory concentration values ranging between 0.63 to 2.5 mg/ml. This study showed that most of the diagnosis methods used by Bapedi THs and their herbal medicines have the potential to contribute towards the management and treatment of RIs and RSs. iii | Page Future endeavour should be focused on the following: (a) possibility of collaboration between questioned THs and local western health care practitioners in the treatment of these diseases, and (b) isolation, purification and characterization of the biologically active compounds from extract of the above-stated plants, amongst other inquiries.
- Full Text:
Muscle nanostructure, fat colour related fatty acids and Check-All-That-Apply visual profiling of South African A2 beef longissimus
- Authors: Soji, Zimkhitha
- Date: 2019
- Subjects: Meat -- Quality
- Language: English
- Type: Thesis , Doctoral , PhD
- Identifier: http://hdl.handle.net/10353/15264 , vital:40332
- Description: The main objective of this study was to determine the effect of muscle nanostructure on tenderness, fat colour related fatty acids and Check-All-That-Apply visual profiling of South African A2 beef longissimus. Fifty two A-class steers (n=52) of five breeds (Bonsmara (n=19), Beef master (n=7), Hereford (n=9) and Simbra (n=17)) typically processed in different South African feedlots were studied. The animals were humanely slaughtered at an abattoir following the commercial standard procedures. Fat colour measurements (CIE b*) were taken at the P8 site on hot carcasses at the abattoir. Carcass mass (warm and cold) was recorded at the slaughter line before chilling (warm) and after chilling (cold) while pH0 and temperature were measured at 45 minutes post-mortem on the Longissimus thoracis et lumborum (LTL) muscle. Thereafter, a 20 g subsection of the LTL muscle on the left side of each carcass was sampled for muscle nanostructure analysis. At 24 hours post-slaughter, ultimate pH (pH24) was measured, further subsections of the LTL muscle (20 g) were harvested for further muscle nanostructure analysis and 2.5 kg of the LTL muscle was also harvested for analysis of tenderness, fatty acids and sensory evaluation. The muscle nanostructure (myofibril diameter (MYD), myofibril spacing (MYS), muscle fibre diameter (MFD), muscle fibre spacing (MFS) and sarcomere length (SL)) was analysed using the scanning electron microscope (SEM) while tenderness was measured using Warner Bratzler Shear Force after 45mins, 24hrs, 3 and 7 days aging period at -20 ºC refrigerator temperature. Some proximate fractions (total extractable intramuscular fat (Fat %), Fat Free Dry matter (FFDM %) and Moisture content) and fatty acid profile were measured using extracted fat and fatty acid indices (desaturase index, atherogenicity index) were calculated. Lastly a Check-All-That-Apply visual profiling method rated by an 80-member consumer panel was done to assess consumer meat preferences and perceptions of Bonsmara, Hereford and Simbra A2 fresh steaks. At 45mins post-slaughter breed affected (P<0.05) MYD and MYS, while at 24hrs breed affected MFD and MFS only. Early post-mortem pH (pH0) had no effect on the muscle nanostructure and tenderness while ultimate pH (pH24) affected MYD and MYS only. Muscle temperature at 45mins affected (P<0.05) the MYD, MFD and MFS, while 24hrs muscle temperature affected (P<0.05) MYD only. Tenderness was not related to the muscle nanostructure early post-mortem and there was no uniformity on the changes in muscle nanostructure and tenderness from early post-mortem to 24hrs against the multifaceted carcass mass, muscle pH and temperature effects. During ageing, breed affected the MYD and MYS at 45mins, while at 24hrs in addition to the myofibril structure breed also had an effect on muscle fibre bundle characteristics (MFD and MFS). The changes in MYD, MYS and MFS became constant on day 3 while variations in the MFD still progressed. There was no uniformity on the SL pattern during ageing and a very weak linear relationship between tenderness, SL, MFD and MFS was observed. Notably there was also no uniformity on how the muscle texture features; including the surface structure, fibre separation, and the mechanism of muscle contraction and relaxation; changed throughout the ageing period across and within the breeds. Moreover, breed had a significant effect on pentadecyclic acid, total saturated fatty acids (SFA) and docosahexanoic acid. Differences (P<0.05) in SFA, monounsaturated fatty acids (MUFA), polyunsaturated fatty acids (PUFA), n-6, n-3, fatty acid ratios, and desaturase index were observed among the white, creamy-white and creamy fat colour. The distribution of fatty acid classes was SFA>MUFA>PUFA in descending order of concentrations of mean values (44.19:40.06:15.75, respectively), while the n-6: n-3 ratio was 12:1. In sensory evaluation, consumers indicated how they would prefer to pay premium for meat with guaranteed muscle and fat colour, low fat content, high marbling and tenderness. Consumers observed breed differences (P<0.05) in muscle fibre separation and muscle colour. The overall liking of each attribute was more on moderate bright cherry red lean colour, moderate yellow fat, very abundant marbling and slight separation of muscle fibres. Differences on discrete liking of each attribute among consumers had an effect on the overall liking of each steak with Hereford steaks being more preferred by consumers. It was concluded that meat from beef animals within the same feeding regime has a different fatty acid composition owing to different breed synthetic pathways and feed ingredients and that meat tenderness is not affected by the muscle nanostructure early post-mortem. However, during ageing, meat tenderness is directly linked to breed related myofibril structure changes in particular the myofibril diameter, spacing between myofibrils and their interaction; while the muscle texture features, fibre diameter, spacing between muscle fibres and sarcomere length explain the non-uniformity of beef tenderness. Also the organoleptic and health related quality of meat assumed more importance among consumers in sensory evaluation. Thus meat classification systems should include more credence aspects or indicators that support credence quality of meat
- Full Text:
- Authors: Soji, Zimkhitha
- Date: 2019
- Subjects: Meat -- Quality
- Language: English
- Type: Thesis , Doctoral , PhD
- Identifier: http://hdl.handle.net/10353/15264 , vital:40332
- Description: The main objective of this study was to determine the effect of muscle nanostructure on tenderness, fat colour related fatty acids and Check-All-That-Apply visual profiling of South African A2 beef longissimus. Fifty two A-class steers (n=52) of five breeds (Bonsmara (n=19), Beef master (n=7), Hereford (n=9) and Simbra (n=17)) typically processed in different South African feedlots were studied. The animals were humanely slaughtered at an abattoir following the commercial standard procedures. Fat colour measurements (CIE b*) were taken at the P8 site on hot carcasses at the abattoir. Carcass mass (warm and cold) was recorded at the slaughter line before chilling (warm) and after chilling (cold) while pH0 and temperature were measured at 45 minutes post-mortem on the Longissimus thoracis et lumborum (LTL) muscle. Thereafter, a 20 g subsection of the LTL muscle on the left side of each carcass was sampled for muscle nanostructure analysis. At 24 hours post-slaughter, ultimate pH (pH24) was measured, further subsections of the LTL muscle (20 g) were harvested for further muscle nanostructure analysis and 2.5 kg of the LTL muscle was also harvested for analysis of tenderness, fatty acids and sensory evaluation. The muscle nanostructure (myofibril diameter (MYD), myofibril spacing (MYS), muscle fibre diameter (MFD), muscle fibre spacing (MFS) and sarcomere length (SL)) was analysed using the scanning electron microscope (SEM) while tenderness was measured using Warner Bratzler Shear Force after 45mins, 24hrs, 3 and 7 days aging period at -20 ºC refrigerator temperature. Some proximate fractions (total extractable intramuscular fat (Fat %), Fat Free Dry matter (FFDM %) and Moisture content) and fatty acid profile were measured using extracted fat and fatty acid indices (desaturase index, atherogenicity index) were calculated. Lastly a Check-All-That-Apply visual profiling method rated by an 80-member consumer panel was done to assess consumer meat preferences and perceptions of Bonsmara, Hereford and Simbra A2 fresh steaks. At 45mins post-slaughter breed affected (P<0.05) MYD and MYS, while at 24hrs breed affected MFD and MFS only. Early post-mortem pH (pH0) had no effect on the muscle nanostructure and tenderness while ultimate pH (pH24) affected MYD and MYS only. Muscle temperature at 45mins affected (P<0.05) the MYD, MFD and MFS, while 24hrs muscle temperature affected (P<0.05) MYD only. Tenderness was not related to the muscle nanostructure early post-mortem and there was no uniformity on the changes in muscle nanostructure and tenderness from early post-mortem to 24hrs against the multifaceted carcass mass, muscle pH and temperature effects. During ageing, breed affected the MYD and MYS at 45mins, while at 24hrs in addition to the myofibril structure breed also had an effect on muscle fibre bundle characteristics (MFD and MFS). The changes in MYD, MYS and MFS became constant on day 3 while variations in the MFD still progressed. There was no uniformity on the SL pattern during ageing and a very weak linear relationship between tenderness, SL, MFD and MFS was observed. Notably there was also no uniformity on how the muscle texture features; including the surface structure, fibre separation, and the mechanism of muscle contraction and relaxation; changed throughout the ageing period across and within the breeds. Moreover, breed had a significant effect on pentadecyclic acid, total saturated fatty acids (SFA) and docosahexanoic acid. Differences (P<0.05) in SFA, monounsaturated fatty acids (MUFA), polyunsaturated fatty acids (PUFA), n-6, n-3, fatty acid ratios, and desaturase index were observed among the white, creamy-white and creamy fat colour. The distribution of fatty acid classes was SFA>MUFA>PUFA in descending order of concentrations of mean values (44.19:40.06:15.75, respectively), while the n-6: n-3 ratio was 12:1. In sensory evaluation, consumers indicated how they would prefer to pay premium for meat with guaranteed muscle and fat colour, low fat content, high marbling and tenderness. Consumers observed breed differences (P<0.05) in muscle fibre separation and muscle colour. The overall liking of each attribute was more on moderate bright cherry red lean colour, moderate yellow fat, very abundant marbling and slight separation of muscle fibres. Differences on discrete liking of each attribute among consumers had an effect on the overall liking of each steak with Hereford steaks being more preferred by consumers. It was concluded that meat from beef animals within the same feeding regime has a different fatty acid composition owing to different breed synthetic pathways and feed ingredients and that meat tenderness is not affected by the muscle nanostructure early post-mortem. However, during ageing, meat tenderness is directly linked to breed related myofibril structure changes in particular the myofibril diameter, spacing between myofibrils and their interaction; while the muscle texture features, fibre diameter, spacing between muscle fibres and sarcomere length explain the non-uniformity of beef tenderness. Also the organoleptic and health related quality of meat assumed more importance among consumers in sensory evaluation. Thus meat classification systems should include more credence aspects or indicators that support credence quality of meat
- Full Text:
Nutritional quality of sausage made with edible meat waste and the perception of consumers on offal product in Eastern Cape Province, South Africa
- Authors: Oluwasegun, Babatunde Alao
- Date: 2019
- Subjects: Meat -- Quality
- Language: English
- Type: Thesis , Doctoral , PhD
- Identifier: http://hdl.handle.net/10353/19021 , vital:40094
- Description: Meat processing at the abattoir provides meat by product and waste while, the major part of the muscle which constitutes a third is edible. The edible by products (EBP) of meat have a notable position in our day-to-day life and are used in diverse forms. However, the quality of offal meat may differ according to intrinsic and extrinsic attributes that may occasionally be shaped by the attitude of consumers towards the products. Therefore, the first objective of this thesis focused on features that might influence consumer preferences and their perception of offal meat. A total of 202 consumers from three Municipalities in Amathole District were randomly sampled using exponential nondiscriminative snowball sampling. Data were gathered through a structured questionnaire containing open ended and closed ended questions. The study showed that consumers were more influenced by the freshness, price and availability of the product and these factors are used to determine the purchase outlet. Differences were observed in the offal meat consumption between the age groups. Age groups 25-34 (29.7%) and 35-44 (27.4%) showed the highest offal meat consumption, while the decline was observed in age groups of 55-64 (11.9%), 65- 74 (5.9%) and 75-85 (0.01%) respectively. The most preferred purchase point for offal meat in this study was in butcheries. However, it was observed that the factors influencing offal consumption in Amathole District were similar to meat consumption except that, offals were mainly purchased at butcher shops. The second objective in this study was to determine the sensory characteristics and consumer acceptance of sausages with 10% fat, 30% edible meat waste and 50% edible meat waste. Sensory descriptive attributes such as appearance, texture, colour, taste, flavour and overall acceptance of the sausage were evaluated by sensory panel (n = 60). The sensory panel comprised of students from undergraduates, post-graduates, post-doctoral fellows and lecturers at the University of Fort Hare. The findings of the study indicated that 50% replacement of xiii edible meat waste was similar to the commercial 10% fat with regard to several sensory attributes and pooled liking. Therefore, the utilization of the edible meat waste in production of sausages has the potential to increase profitability in meat industry and minimise meat waste in the industry. However, the cooking method that was more acceptable to consumers in this study was using the microwave as compared to oven-grilling. Furthermore, the effects of different cooking methods (microwave and oven-grilling) on proximate and mineral composition of the formulated sausages were determined. However, the cooking process appeared to have a significant effect on most of the minerals in the sausage. The cooking methods had a significant effect at P <0.01 on the nutrients composition of the formulated sausage. It was observed that the nutritional values of the sausage was better preserved after the cooking process due to higher mean values obtained after cooking. The mean values for calcium (173.1, 221.76, 231.29), potassium (444.57, 158.58, 156.67), magnesium (84.43, 257.97, 127.27), zinc (52.94, 35.27, 27.13), copper (8.8, 7.07, 4.44), manganese (8.74, 0.65, 0.08), sodium (589.42, 604.45, 529.79) and iron (63.3, 85.38, 74.81) in cooked. And the mean values for calcium (286.18, 132.18, 114.79), potassium (206.64, 113.83, 207.81), magnesium (189.89, 33.97, 48.11), zinc (61.05, 28.09, 26.44), copper (2.92, 2.73, 3.89), manganese (1.42, 0.11, 0.35), sodium (566.47, 530.79, 527.35) and iron (77.56, 58.68, 45.42) in uncooked sausage varied greatly among the treatments. Although, the disparities in the mineral content may be attributed to the different edible meat waste from different parts of the cattle which are either from feedlot or pastured based. In regard to the results obtained from proximate and mineral composition, microwave cooking method was found to be the best cooking technique for healthy eating. Finally, the effect of frying with two different oils (sunflower oil and olive oil) on the fatty acid composition of sausage made with edible meat waste was examined. The results revealed that beef sausage containing 70% edible meat wastes and 30% beef (T1) had a higher fat content xiv (25.7%±0.83%) than other treatments. On the other hand, beef sausage fortified with 10% fat and 90% beef (T3) had the lowest fat content but highest FFDM (55.85±0.57%) and moisture content (69.15±0.62) than other treatments. Despite the increase in omega-3: omega-6 fatty acid ratio in the sausage treatments after cooking, the mean value of omega-3: omega-6 fatty acid ratio was greater than 1:5 (0.2) which is within the FAO/WHO recommended range. The omega-3: omega-6 association is well-known for its importance in the diet because it is a key factor for balanced eicosanoid production in the living organism. The significant reduction in saturated fatty acids after cooking showed that there could also be a positive influence on the human health if consumed. Therefore, it may be concluded from the findings of the study that sausage made with edible meat waste as fat replacer is safe for human consumption.
- Full Text:
- Authors: Oluwasegun, Babatunde Alao
- Date: 2019
- Subjects: Meat -- Quality
- Language: English
- Type: Thesis , Doctoral , PhD
- Identifier: http://hdl.handle.net/10353/19021 , vital:40094
- Description: Meat processing at the abattoir provides meat by product and waste while, the major part of the muscle which constitutes a third is edible. The edible by products (EBP) of meat have a notable position in our day-to-day life and are used in diverse forms. However, the quality of offal meat may differ according to intrinsic and extrinsic attributes that may occasionally be shaped by the attitude of consumers towards the products. Therefore, the first objective of this thesis focused on features that might influence consumer preferences and their perception of offal meat. A total of 202 consumers from three Municipalities in Amathole District were randomly sampled using exponential nondiscriminative snowball sampling. Data were gathered through a structured questionnaire containing open ended and closed ended questions. The study showed that consumers were more influenced by the freshness, price and availability of the product and these factors are used to determine the purchase outlet. Differences were observed in the offal meat consumption between the age groups. Age groups 25-34 (29.7%) and 35-44 (27.4%) showed the highest offal meat consumption, while the decline was observed in age groups of 55-64 (11.9%), 65- 74 (5.9%) and 75-85 (0.01%) respectively. The most preferred purchase point for offal meat in this study was in butcheries. However, it was observed that the factors influencing offal consumption in Amathole District were similar to meat consumption except that, offals were mainly purchased at butcher shops. The second objective in this study was to determine the sensory characteristics and consumer acceptance of sausages with 10% fat, 30% edible meat waste and 50% edible meat waste. Sensory descriptive attributes such as appearance, texture, colour, taste, flavour and overall acceptance of the sausage were evaluated by sensory panel (n = 60). The sensory panel comprised of students from undergraduates, post-graduates, post-doctoral fellows and lecturers at the University of Fort Hare. The findings of the study indicated that 50% replacement of xiii edible meat waste was similar to the commercial 10% fat with regard to several sensory attributes and pooled liking. Therefore, the utilization of the edible meat waste in production of sausages has the potential to increase profitability in meat industry and minimise meat waste in the industry. However, the cooking method that was more acceptable to consumers in this study was using the microwave as compared to oven-grilling. Furthermore, the effects of different cooking methods (microwave and oven-grilling) on proximate and mineral composition of the formulated sausages were determined. However, the cooking process appeared to have a significant effect on most of the minerals in the sausage. The cooking methods had a significant effect at P <0.01 on the nutrients composition of the formulated sausage. It was observed that the nutritional values of the sausage was better preserved after the cooking process due to higher mean values obtained after cooking. The mean values for calcium (173.1, 221.76, 231.29), potassium (444.57, 158.58, 156.67), magnesium (84.43, 257.97, 127.27), zinc (52.94, 35.27, 27.13), copper (8.8, 7.07, 4.44), manganese (8.74, 0.65, 0.08), sodium (589.42, 604.45, 529.79) and iron (63.3, 85.38, 74.81) in cooked. And the mean values for calcium (286.18, 132.18, 114.79), potassium (206.64, 113.83, 207.81), magnesium (189.89, 33.97, 48.11), zinc (61.05, 28.09, 26.44), copper (2.92, 2.73, 3.89), manganese (1.42, 0.11, 0.35), sodium (566.47, 530.79, 527.35) and iron (77.56, 58.68, 45.42) in uncooked sausage varied greatly among the treatments. Although, the disparities in the mineral content may be attributed to the different edible meat waste from different parts of the cattle which are either from feedlot or pastured based. In regard to the results obtained from proximate and mineral composition, microwave cooking method was found to be the best cooking technique for healthy eating. Finally, the effect of frying with two different oils (sunflower oil and olive oil) on the fatty acid composition of sausage made with edible meat waste was examined. The results revealed that beef sausage containing 70% edible meat wastes and 30% beef (T1) had a higher fat content xiv (25.7%±0.83%) than other treatments. On the other hand, beef sausage fortified with 10% fat and 90% beef (T3) had the lowest fat content but highest FFDM (55.85±0.57%) and moisture content (69.15±0.62) than other treatments. Despite the increase in omega-3: omega-6 fatty acid ratio in the sausage treatments after cooking, the mean value of omega-3: omega-6 fatty acid ratio was greater than 1:5 (0.2) which is within the FAO/WHO recommended range. The omega-3: omega-6 association is well-known for its importance in the diet because it is a key factor for balanced eicosanoid production in the living organism. The significant reduction in saturated fatty acids after cooking showed that there could also be a positive influence on the human health if consumed. Therefore, it may be concluded from the findings of the study that sausage made with edible meat waste as fat replacer is safe for human consumption.
- Full Text:
Ontological Model for Xhosa Beadwork in Marginalised Rural Communities: A Case of the Eastern Cape
- Authors: Tinarwo, Loyd
- Date: 2019
- Subjects: Ontology Beadwork
- Language: English
- Type: Thesis , Doctoral , PhD
- Identifier: http://hdl.handle.net/10353/15749 , vital:40516
- Description: In South Africa, computational ontologies have gained traction and are increasingly viewed as one of the viable solutions to address the problem of fragmented and unstructured nature of indigenous knowledge (IK) particularly in the marginalized rural communities. The continual existence of IK in tacit form has impeded the use of IK as a potential resource that can catalyze socio-economic and cultural development in South Africa. This study was, therefore, designed to address part of this challenge by developing a Xhosa Beadwork Ontology (XBO) with the goal of structuring the domain knowledge into a reusable body of knowledge. Such a reusable body of knowledge promotes efficient sharing of a common understanding of Xhosa Beadwork in a computational form. The XBO is in OWL 2 DL. The development of the XBO was informed by the NeOn methodology and the iterativeincremental ontology development life cycle within the ambit of Action Research (AR). The XBO was developed around personal ornamentation Xhosa Beadwork consisting of Necklace, Headband, Armlet, Waistband, Bracelet, and Anklet. In this study, the XBO was evaluated focused on ascertaining that the created ontology is a comprehensive representation of the Xhosa Beadwork and is of the required standard. In addition, the XBO was documented into a human understandable and readable resource and was published. The outcome of the study has indicated that the XBO is an adequate, shareable and reusable semantic artifact that can indeed support the formalization and preservation of IK in the domain of Xhosa Beadwork
- Full Text:
- Authors: Tinarwo, Loyd
- Date: 2019
- Subjects: Ontology Beadwork
- Language: English
- Type: Thesis , Doctoral , PhD
- Identifier: http://hdl.handle.net/10353/15749 , vital:40516
- Description: In South Africa, computational ontologies have gained traction and are increasingly viewed as one of the viable solutions to address the problem of fragmented and unstructured nature of indigenous knowledge (IK) particularly in the marginalized rural communities. The continual existence of IK in tacit form has impeded the use of IK as a potential resource that can catalyze socio-economic and cultural development in South Africa. This study was, therefore, designed to address part of this challenge by developing a Xhosa Beadwork Ontology (XBO) with the goal of structuring the domain knowledge into a reusable body of knowledge. Such a reusable body of knowledge promotes efficient sharing of a common understanding of Xhosa Beadwork in a computational form. The XBO is in OWL 2 DL. The development of the XBO was informed by the NeOn methodology and the iterativeincremental ontology development life cycle within the ambit of Action Research (AR). The XBO was developed around personal ornamentation Xhosa Beadwork consisting of Necklace, Headband, Armlet, Waistband, Bracelet, and Anklet. In this study, the XBO was evaluated focused on ascertaining that the created ontology is a comprehensive representation of the Xhosa Beadwork and is of the required standard. In addition, the XBO was documented into a human understandable and readable resource and was published. The outcome of the study has indicated that the XBO is an adequate, shareable and reusable semantic artifact that can indeed support the formalization and preservation of IK in the domain of Xhosa Beadwork
- Full Text:
Patriarchy and the participation of women in Zimbabwean national politics: a study of selected women Politicians in Matabeleland Region
- Authors: Manyevere, Sithabile
- Date: 2019
- Subjects: Women politicians Women -- Political activity -- Zimbabwe
- Language: English
- Type: Thesis , Doctoral , PhD
- Identifier: http://hdl.handle.net/10353/17506 , vital:41082
- Description: The research sought to analyse how patriarchal perceptions have affected women in Zimbabwean national politics with specific focus on women politicians in Matabeleland region. The researcher observed that women politicians in this region seem to face multiple oppressions and yet seem to have been excluded in previous studies. The mixed method approach was adopted for the research. Questionnaires were used for the quantitative method, while key informant interviews and focus group discussions were utilised for the qualitative method. Findings from the survey revealed stereotypical perceptions such as that men are better leaders than women, women are not capable of holding decision making positions and the perception that politics is not safe for women. The findings from the key informants indicate that women politicians in Matabeleland face quite a number of challenges emanating from these patriarchal perceptions. The challenges include violence, humiliation and cultural stigmatization. Although women have attempted to resist patriarchy, it seems that the resistance has not been enough to eliminate the patriarchal mentality and the oppressions that accompany it. The research adopts a combination of feminist and intersectionality theory as a framework for analysis of the problem under investigation. The research potentially contributes to academic discourse by advancing literature on the multi-faceted aspects of patriarchy. The study recommends psychological and financial empowerment of women, electoral reforms and criminalization of offenders. The implementation of proper reforms and corrective measures envisage the long-awaited new dawn among women whom since time memorial, have been suppressed by deep-seated societal and patriarchal beliefs.
- Full Text:
- Authors: Manyevere, Sithabile
- Date: 2019
- Subjects: Women politicians Women -- Political activity -- Zimbabwe
- Language: English
- Type: Thesis , Doctoral , PhD
- Identifier: http://hdl.handle.net/10353/17506 , vital:41082
- Description: The research sought to analyse how patriarchal perceptions have affected women in Zimbabwean national politics with specific focus on women politicians in Matabeleland region. The researcher observed that women politicians in this region seem to face multiple oppressions and yet seem to have been excluded in previous studies. The mixed method approach was adopted for the research. Questionnaires were used for the quantitative method, while key informant interviews and focus group discussions were utilised for the qualitative method. Findings from the survey revealed stereotypical perceptions such as that men are better leaders than women, women are not capable of holding decision making positions and the perception that politics is not safe for women. The findings from the key informants indicate that women politicians in Matabeleland face quite a number of challenges emanating from these patriarchal perceptions. The challenges include violence, humiliation and cultural stigmatization. Although women have attempted to resist patriarchy, it seems that the resistance has not been enough to eliminate the patriarchal mentality and the oppressions that accompany it. The research adopts a combination of feminist and intersectionality theory as a framework for analysis of the problem under investigation. The research potentially contributes to academic discourse by advancing literature on the multi-faceted aspects of patriarchy. The study recommends psychological and financial empowerment of women, electoral reforms and criminalization of offenders. The implementation of proper reforms and corrective measures envisage the long-awaited new dawn among women whom since time memorial, have been suppressed by deep-seated societal and patriarchal beliefs.
- Full Text:
Personality and Psychological Conditions in Relation to Job Engagement among Municipal Workers in the Eastern Cape Province, South Africa
- Authors: Mhlanga, Tatenda Shaleen
- Date: 2019
- Subjects: Job stress -- South Africa -- Eastern Cape Municipal government -- South Africa -- Eastern Cape
- Language: English
- Type: Thesis , Doctoral , D.Com (Industrial Psychology)
- Identifier: http://hdl.handle.net/10353/13729 , vital:39702
- Description: The efficiency of the public service delivery depends on the performance of the public employees. Due to high protest in the Eastern Cape due to poor service delivery, it is crucial to understand if the employees are engaged in doing their work. Although researchers have discovered many of the beneficial and positive consequences of job engagement, little is known about the multitude of antecedent factors that lead to employee engagement such as personality. The motivation of this study is to examine the relationship between the big five personality traits (openness to experience, conscientiousness, extraversion, agreeableness and neuroticism) and job engagement (physical, cognitive and emotional engagement) among municipal employees working in the six district municipalities of the Eastern Cape Province of South Africa. The study also looked at psychological conditions (availability, meaningfulness and safety) as a moderating factor between personality and job engagement. This contributes to the theoretical and conceptual knowledge of how job engagement can be enhanced through the hiring employees with certain personality traits and enhancing meaningfulness, safety and availability of psychological resources in the workplace. Survey questionnaires were used to collect data. Inferential analysis from SPSS was carried out to understand the relationship between the study variables. An overall model of the study was also identified through which showed the relationship on the study variables. The study findings show that openness to experience, conscientiousness, extraversion, agreeableness had a positive relationship with job engagement while neuroticism has a negative relationship with job engagement. All psychological conditions had a positive correlation with job engagement and when combined with the big five personality traits they added more variance in job engagement. The results validate aspects of Kahn’s personal engagement model. v The study recommends managers to switch from an intervention-based focus to a selection-based focus as municipalities can maximize their resources by being able to better predict job success early in the selection process as opposed to trying to maximize performance on a continual basis through interventions. In addition, management practitioners should regularly measure and track employee engagement for the effectiveness of strategic efforts to increase employee engagement to be monitored and evaluated
- Full Text:
- Authors: Mhlanga, Tatenda Shaleen
- Date: 2019
- Subjects: Job stress -- South Africa -- Eastern Cape Municipal government -- South Africa -- Eastern Cape
- Language: English
- Type: Thesis , Doctoral , D.Com (Industrial Psychology)
- Identifier: http://hdl.handle.net/10353/13729 , vital:39702
- Description: The efficiency of the public service delivery depends on the performance of the public employees. Due to high protest in the Eastern Cape due to poor service delivery, it is crucial to understand if the employees are engaged in doing their work. Although researchers have discovered many of the beneficial and positive consequences of job engagement, little is known about the multitude of antecedent factors that lead to employee engagement such as personality. The motivation of this study is to examine the relationship between the big five personality traits (openness to experience, conscientiousness, extraversion, agreeableness and neuroticism) and job engagement (physical, cognitive and emotional engagement) among municipal employees working in the six district municipalities of the Eastern Cape Province of South Africa. The study also looked at psychological conditions (availability, meaningfulness and safety) as a moderating factor between personality and job engagement. This contributes to the theoretical and conceptual knowledge of how job engagement can be enhanced through the hiring employees with certain personality traits and enhancing meaningfulness, safety and availability of psychological resources in the workplace. Survey questionnaires were used to collect data. Inferential analysis from SPSS was carried out to understand the relationship between the study variables. An overall model of the study was also identified through which showed the relationship on the study variables. The study findings show that openness to experience, conscientiousness, extraversion, agreeableness had a positive relationship with job engagement while neuroticism has a negative relationship with job engagement. All psychological conditions had a positive correlation with job engagement and when combined with the big five personality traits they added more variance in job engagement. The results validate aspects of Kahn’s personal engagement model. v The study recommends managers to switch from an intervention-based focus to a selection-based focus as municipalities can maximize their resources by being able to better predict job success early in the selection process as opposed to trying to maximize performance on a continual basis through interventions. In addition, management practitioners should regularly measure and track employee engagement for the effectiveness of strategic efforts to increase employee engagement to be monitored and evaluated
- Full Text:
Personality in relation to work-family conflict among employees in a mining company in South Africa
- Authors: Ruzungunde, Vongai Sarah
- Date: 2019
- Subjects: Job stress Role conflict Work and family
- Language: English
- Type: Thesis , Doctoral , PhD (Industrial Psychology)
- Identifier: http://hdl.handle.net/10353/17007 , vital:40809
- Description: The study set out to investigate how the Big Five personality traits related to work family conflict, taking into consideration the different forms of work family conflict within the mining industry. The study made use of the quantitative design, with the sample consisting of 270 respondents from the selected mine in South Africa. Probability sampling was used to select respondents from the whole population. Data was analysed using descriptive statistical analysis. To examine the association between variables, linear regression analysis was used. Confirmatory analysis was used to measure validity for work-family conflict (WFC). To measure the validity for personality; face validity, construct and content validity were used. Reliability was measured using the Cronbach alpha. The results of the study showed a significant negative relationship between the personality traits and WFC except for the agreeableness trait. The results also showed significant negative correlations with the different forms of WFC, except for the agreeableness trait. Further, the results showed that, when combined, personality traits had greater variance on the experiences of WFC than each of them separately. The findings of this study are helpful to the mining industry as they assist in the implementation of procedures and policies that will help to reduce WFC and its consequences in the work environment.
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- Authors: Ruzungunde, Vongai Sarah
- Date: 2019
- Subjects: Job stress Role conflict Work and family
- Language: English
- Type: Thesis , Doctoral , PhD (Industrial Psychology)
- Identifier: http://hdl.handle.net/10353/17007 , vital:40809
- Description: The study set out to investigate how the Big Five personality traits related to work family conflict, taking into consideration the different forms of work family conflict within the mining industry. The study made use of the quantitative design, with the sample consisting of 270 respondents from the selected mine in South Africa. Probability sampling was used to select respondents from the whole population. Data was analysed using descriptive statistical analysis. To examine the association between variables, linear regression analysis was used. Confirmatory analysis was used to measure validity for work-family conflict (WFC). To measure the validity for personality; face validity, construct and content validity were used. Reliability was measured using the Cronbach alpha. The results of the study showed a significant negative relationship between the personality traits and WFC except for the agreeableness trait. The results also showed significant negative correlations with the different forms of WFC, except for the agreeableness trait. Further, the results showed that, when combined, personality traits had greater variance on the experiences of WFC than each of them separately. The findings of this study are helpful to the mining industry as they assist in the implementation of procedures and policies that will help to reduce WFC and its consequences in the work environment.
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Political education as a determinant of university students’ political participation in the Eastern Cape, South Africa
- Authors: Badaru, Kazeem Ajasa
- Date: 2019
- Subjects: Citizenship -- Study and teaching -- South Africa Democracy and education -- South Africa -- Eastern Cape
- Language: English
- Type: Thesis , Doctoral , DPhil
- Identifier: http://hdl.handle.net/10353/15793 , vital:40524
- Description: Globally, there is a downward trend in youths’ political interest and participation in the learning of political education in their school curricula as a measure to combat the apparent dangers posed by the declining young citizens’ participation in the political processes.This study therefore investigated political education as a determinant of university students’ political participation in the Province of the Eastern Cape, South Africa. The study employed a mixed methods design. Using the probability sampling technique, a sample of 375 participants was randomly selected from one university in the Eastern Cape Province while semi-structured interviews were conducted among five (5) purposively selected members of the same university’s Student Representative Council (SRC) executive committee. Simple descriptive statistics such as frequency counts and percentages were used to summarize all categories of variables; while Pearson correlation statistics, Chi-square and Ordinary least square regression were used to examine the relationship between dependent and independent variables at a 95percent confidence interval. Alpha values less than 0.05 were considered to be statistically significant. Thematic content analysis was performed on the qualitative data. The quantitative analysis revealed that students’ level of political awareness was high; 98.1percent of them were aware of their rights to vote and be voted for. Students’ political judgment was positively correlated with participation in campus (r =0.182) and national politics (r = 0.030) respectively. Most of the students agreed to take part in the 2018 SRC (78.8percent) and 2019 national elections (77.9percent) respectively. Political interest was significantly correlated with participation in campus (r = 0.375) and national politics (r =0. 404). The findings from the multivariate analysis showed that political interest (<0.001), parents’ political involvement (<0.001) and year of study (<0.001) were the significant determinants of students’ participation in politics. The qualitative findings also showed that there was a positive relationship between political education and students’ participation in politics. Since political interest and family are element and agent of political education respectively, it is concluded that political education is to a large extent a determinant of university students’ political participation. It is recommended that the universities, the Department of Higher Education and Training (DHET) and other stakeholders should do a thorough review of the university education curricula and programmes to ensure that political education is adequately accommodated and taken care of in a way that would increase students’ interest, awareness and participation in politics. When this is amply done, students’ cognitive skills and capacities would be enhanced to increase their participation in the political processes in South Africa.
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- Authors: Badaru, Kazeem Ajasa
- Date: 2019
- Subjects: Citizenship -- Study and teaching -- South Africa Democracy and education -- South Africa -- Eastern Cape
- Language: English
- Type: Thesis , Doctoral , DPhil
- Identifier: http://hdl.handle.net/10353/15793 , vital:40524
- Description: Globally, there is a downward trend in youths’ political interest and participation in the learning of political education in their school curricula as a measure to combat the apparent dangers posed by the declining young citizens’ participation in the political processes.This study therefore investigated political education as a determinant of university students’ political participation in the Province of the Eastern Cape, South Africa. The study employed a mixed methods design. Using the probability sampling technique, a sample of 375 participants was randomly selected from one university in the Eastern Cape Province while semi-structured interviews were conducted among five (5) purposively selected members of the same university’s Student Representative Council (SRC) executive committee. Simple descriptive statistics such as frequency counts and percentages were used to summarize all categories of variables; while Pearson correlation statistics, Chi-square and Ordinary least square regression were used to examine the relationship between dependent and independent variables at a 95percent confidence interval. Alpha values less than 0.05 were considered to be statistically significant. Thematic content analysis was performed on the qualitative data. The quantitative analysis revealed that students’ level of political awareness was high; 98.1percent of them were aware of their rights to vote and be voted for. Students’ political judgment was positively correlated with participation in campus (r =0.182) and national politics (r = 0.030) respectively. Most of the students agreed to take part in the 2018 SRC (78.8percent) and 2019 national elections (77.9percent) respectively. Political interest was significantly correlated with participation in campus (r = 0.375) and national politics (r =0. 404). The findings from the multivariate analysis showed that political interest (<0.001), parents’ political involvement (<0.001) and year of study (<0.001) were the significant determinants of students’ participation in politics. The qualitative findings also showed that there was a positive relationship between political education and students’ participation in politics. Since political interest and family are element and agent of political education respectively, it is concluded that political education is to a large extent a determinant of university students’ political participation. It is recommended that the universities, the Department of Higher Education and Training (DHET) and other stakeholders should do a thorough review of the university education curricula and programmes to ensure that political education is adequately accommodated and taken care of in a way that would increase students’ interest, awareness and participation in politics. When this is amply done, students’ cognitive skills and capacities would be enhanced to increase their participation in the political processes in South Africa.
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Pragmatics teaching: on the development of learners’ linguistic competence among selected East London District schools
- Authors: Myoli, Ndileka
- Date: 2019
- Subjects: Pragmatics -- Study and teaching Language and languages -- Study and teaching
- Language: English
- Type: Thesis , Doctoral , PhD
- Identifier: http://hdl.handle.net/10353/11232 , vital:37607
- Description: South Africa was listed amongst the countries with a percentage of students with achievement too low for estimation by “Progress International Results in Reading” in 2011. Meanwhile, there was also an indication that, high school learners in the Eastern Cape Province are highly challenged, as far as their ability to produce speech, as well as the ability to interpret meaning beyond what is literally suggested. Since such difficulties usually pose problems of content understanding, concerned researchers in the field of language took it upon themselves to investigate the underlying cause of the problem, in order to prevent more problems of pragmatics incompetence, such as, problems with social interaction that could retard one’s ability to function independently as an adult. While many studies have been conducted in the area of Pragmatics language competence, this study found it necessary to contribute around this debate. Since the study was two-fold, isiXhosa Home language learners of Grades 10 to 12 were investigated with an objective to determine the extent of pragmatic incompetence and the Teachers were investigated to determine the effectiveness of their teaching of pragmatics language. A number of 108 high school isiXhosa learners, of ages of between 16 and 18 years, from East London Directorate, 36 per Grade, from the three selected schools high schools, were sampled, 36 consisting of 18 males and 18 females per grade from each selected high school. 9 isiXhosa Home Language teachers of between the ages of 45 to 54 years were sampled from the selected schools. This study used an assessment test for the learners and the questionnaire for the teachers, as a means of data collection techniques. The study applied a high consideration of validity as well as of ethical matters in order to ensure the reliability of results. The study found that, isiXhosa Home language learners’ levels of pragmatic competence are high and with the appropriate use of good methods of pragmatics language teaching, learners’ pragmatics competence can develop.This study will be able to encourage syllabus designers to collaborate with subject teachers, beginning right at the inception of the syllabus planning. IsiXhosa language teachers can develop teaching material appropriate for their primary goal, which is the development of pragmatic competence. Further research is recommended to investigate more around this area of study to a point where isiXhosa Home language can be counted amongst the great and valued languages of South Africa.
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- Authors: Myoli, Ndileka
- Date: 2019
- Subjects: Pragmatics -- Study and teaching Language and languages -- Study and teaching
- Language: English
- Type: Thesis , Doctoral , PhD
- Identifier: http://hdl.handle.net/10353/11232 , vital:37607
- Description: South Africa was listed amongst the countries with a percentage of students with achievement too low for estimation by “Progress International Results in Reading” in 2011. Meanwhile, there was also an indication that, high school learners in the Eastern Cape Province are highly challenged, as far as their ability to produce speech, as well as the ability to interpret meaning beyond what is literally suggested. Since such difficulties usually pose problems of content understanding, concerned researchers in the field of language took it upon themselves to investigate the underlying cause of the problem, in order to prevent more problems of pragmatics incompetence, such as, problems with social interaction that could retard one’s ability to function independently as an adult. While many studies have been conducted in the area of Pragmatics language competence, this study found it necessary to contribute around this debate. Since the study was two-fold, isiXhosa Home language learners of Grades 10 to 12 were investigated with an objective to determine the extent of pragmatic incompetence and the Teachers were investigated to determine the effectiveness of their teaching of pragmatics language. A number of 108 high school isiXhosa learners, of ages of between 16 and 18 years, from East London Directorate, 36 per Grade, from the three selected schools high schools, were sampled, 36 consisting of 18 males and 18 females per grade from each selected high school. 9 isiXhosa Home Language teachers of between the ages of 45 to 54 years were sampled from the selected schools. This study used an assessment test for the learners and the questionnaire for the teachers, as a means of data collection techniques. The study applied a high consideration of validity as well as of ethical matters in order to ensure the reliability of results. The study found that, isiXhosa Home language learners’ levels of pragmatic competence are high and with the appropriate use of good methods of pragmatics language teaching, learners’ pragmatics competence can develop.This study will be able to encourage syllabus designers to collaborate with subject teachers, beginning right at the inception of the syllabus planning. IsiXhosa language teachers can develop teaching material appropriate for their primary goal, which is the development of pragmatic competence. Further research is recommended to investigate more around this area of study to a point where isiXhosa Home language can be counted amongst the great and valued languages of South Africa.
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Pre-service education students’ application of visualisation strategies to solve mathematical word-problems
- Authors: Shaw, Peter
- Date: 2019
- Subjects: Word problems (Mathematics)
- Language: English
- Type: Thesis , Doctoral , DPhil
- Identifier: http://hdl.handle.net/10353/16604 , vital:40735
- Description: This classroom-based action research dissertation examined visualisation strategies used by pre-service Intermediate Phase PGCE education students to solve mathematical word-problems. The setting was an Eastern Cape university. Previous literature indicated a positive correlation between the use of visual scaffolds and success in solving word problems. However, a gap was found insofar as little research had been published on the application of visualisation to word-problems by student teachers in South Africa. This thesis advances our understanding of the role visualisation may play in assisting student teachers to solve word-problems. The theoretic framework was informed by Bruner’s theory of learning. The research was grounded in the hermeneutic tradition. An interpretivist research paradigm was expedited by using an inductive, naturalistic perspective and relativist ontology. Thirty-eight student-teachers participated in the study. Parallel and convergent qualitative and quantitative data gathering instruments were used, thereby facilitating triangulation and examination for microgenesis. It was found that vestiges of past teaching practices initially limited the participants’ knowledge to a deeply-flawed, banking model of routines and an instrumental perception of mathematics. Disruptive calls for social justice impeded progress. Albeit visualisation strategies liberated understanding, many foundational concepts and skills had to be reconstructed. The confluence of time and rehearsal culminated in some measure of expertise. Sustained effort enabled new knowledge to be compressed and consigned to long-term memory. Salient visual representations assisted participants to conceptualise relational mathematical meta-concepts and reduced the cognitive demands imposed by word-problems but that achievement was a hard-won prize.
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- Authors: Shaw, Peter
- Date: 2019
- Subjects: Word problems (Mathematics)
- Language: English
- Type: Thesis , Doctoral , DPhil
- Identifier: http://hdl.handle.net/10353/16604 , vital:40735
- Description: This classroom-based action research dissertation examined visualisation strategies used by pre-service Intermediate Phase PGCE education students to solve mathematical word-problems. The setting was an Eastern Cape university. Previous literature indicated a positive correlation between the use of visual scaffolds and success in solving word problems. However, a gap was found insofar as little research had been published on the application of visualisation to word-problems by student teachers in South Africa. This thesis advances our understanding of the role visualisation may play in assisting student teachers to solve word-problems. The theoretic framework was informed by Bruner’s theory of learning. The research was grounded in the hermeneutic tradition. An interpretivist research paradigm was expedited by using an inductive, naturalistic perspective and relativist ontology. Thirty-eight student-teachers participated in the study. Parallel and convergent qualitative and quantitative data gathering instruments were used, thereby facilitating triangulation and examination for microgenesis. It was found that vestiges of past teaching practices initially limited the participants’ knowledge to a deeply-flawed, banking model of routines and an instrumental perception of mathematics. Disruptive calls for social justice impeded progress. Albeit visualisation strategies liberated understanding, many foundational concepts and skills had to be reconstructed. The confluence of time and rehearsal culminated in some measure of expertise. Sustained effort enabled new knowledge to be compressed and consigned to long-term memory. Salient visual representations assisted participants to conceptualise relational mathematical meta-concepts and reduced the cognitive demands imposed by word-problems but that achievement was a hard-won prize.
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Quality of work life and job embeddedness as predictors of turnover intentions among academic staff at selected Universities in the Eastern cape province of South Africa
- Authors: Tendai , Tichangwa
- Date: 2019
- Subjects: Employee retention Organizational behavior Work -- Psychological aspects
- Language: English
- Type: Thesis , Doctoral , D.Com (Industrial Psychology)
- Identifier: http://hdl.handle.net/10353/19153 , vital:39873
- Description: Rapid higher education change in South Africa has adversely affected academics job experiences, resulting in high academic staff turnover. Despite the extant literature on the impact of higher education change, few studies have assessed how higher education change has influenced academics‟ quality of work life (QWL), job embeddedness (JE) and intention to quit (ITQ). This study investigated academic staff QWL and JE as predictors of their ITQ. A sample of 250 teaching staff (n = 250) was selected from two universities in the Eastern Cape province of South Africa using quota sampling. Data were gathered using questionnaires and analysed using descriptive (frequency distributions and measures of central tendency and variability) and inferential (Pearson correlation, significance testing and regression analysis) statistical methods. The findings confirmed the hypothesised significant negative relationships of QWL and JE with ITQ. Partial evidence suggested that QWL and JE combined explained significantly more ITQ variance than both variables did separately. JE did not moderate the QWL-ITQ association, but explained substantially greater variance in ITQ than QWL did. The sample registered high QWL and moderate JE and ITQ levels. Acceptable instrument validity and reliability were reported. The findings suggest that intrainstitutional factors somewhat mitigate the adverse effects of higher education change on academics‟ QWL, JE and ITQ and a need to enhance JE aspects, in particular, to reduce academic staff turnover intentions and behaviour. Recommendations are offered for future policy, research and practice.
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- Authors: Tendai , Tichangwa
- Date: 2019
- Subjects: Employee retention Organizational behavior Work -- Psychological aspects
- Language: English
- Type: Thesis , Doctoral , D.Com (Industrial Psychology)
- Identifier: http://hdl.handle.net/10353/19153 , vital:39873
- Description: Rapid higher education change in South Africa has adversely affected academics job experiences, resulting in high academic staff turnover. Despite the extant literature on the impact of higher education change, few studies have assessed how higher education change has influenced academics‟ quality of work life (QWL), job embeddedness (JE) and intention to quit (ITQ). This study investigated academic staff QWL and JE as predictors of their ITQ. A sample of 250 teaching staff (n = 250) was selected from two universities in the Eastern Cape province of South Africa using quota sampling. Data were gathered using questionnaires and analysed using descriptive (frequency distributions and measures of central tendency and variability) and inferential (Pearson correlation, significance testing and regression analysis) statistical methods. The findings confirmed the hypothesised significant negative relationships of QWL and JE with ITQ. Partial evidence suggested that QWL and JE combined explained significantly more ITQ variance than both variables did separately. JE did not moderate the QWL-ITQ association, but explained substantially greater variance in ITQ than QWL did. The sample registered high QWL and moderate JE and ITQ levels. Acceptable instrument validity and reliability were reported. The findings suggest that intrainstitutional factors somewhat mitigate the adverse effects of higher education change on academics‟ QWL, JE and ITQ and a need to enhance JE aspects, in particular, to reduce academic staff turnover intentions and behaviour. Recommendations are offered for future policy, research and practice.
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