Water service delivery for improved quality of life in the Mbizana Local Municipal
- Authors: Mpange, Zolisa Bavuyise
- Date: 2012
- Subjects: Public administration -- South Africa -- Eastern Cape , Water-supply -- South Africa -- Eastern Cape , Municipal services -- South Africa -- Eastern Cape
- Language: English
- Type: Thesis , Masters , MA
- Identifier: vital:9146 , http://hdl.handle.net/10948/d1018891
- Description: This study deals with water service delivery for improved quality of life in the Mbizana Local Municipality. The study sets out to determine how the inner workings of water service delivery work in the Mbizana Local Municipality, situated in the Eastern Cape, and how this should function in terms of South African legislation. The objectives of the study are to understand the current state of water service delivery in the Mbizana Local Municipality, finding out information about South African legislation regarding the ideal state of water service delivery, and recommending development programmes to improve water service delivery. This study is about understanding trends in the body of scientific knowledge or literature, and studying (as objects) the ideas and writings of other scholars. No empirical study was conducted. The research methodology for this study is descriptive, with data sourced from available literature. The findings in this study indicate that backlogs for water service delivery remain high in the Mbizana Local Municipality. Regrettably, the situation has worsened since 2004; backlogs have shifted from 45 percent to 94 percent of households with no access to tap water. A number of normative criteria to deal with the research problem were extracted from available literature, from which conclusions were drawn and recommendations made.
- Full Text:
- Date Issued: 2012
- Authors: Mpange, Zolisa Bavuyise
- Date: 2012
- Subjects: Public administration -- South Africa -- Eastern Cape , Water-supply -- South Africa -- Eastern Cape , Municipal services -- South Africa -- Eastern Cape
- Language: English
- Type: Thesis , Masters , MA
- Identifier: vital:9146 , http://hdl.handle.net/10948/d1018891
- Description: This study deals with water service delivery for improved quality of life in the Mbizana Local Municipality. The study sets out to determine how the inner workings of water service delivery work in the Mbizana Local Municipality, situated in the Eastern Cape, and how this should function in terms of South African legislation. The objectives of the study are to understand the current state of water service delivery in the Mbizana Local Municipality, finding out information about South African legislation regarding the ideal state of water service delivery, and recommending development programmes to improve water service delivery. This study is about understanding trends in the body of scientific knowledge or literature, and studying (as objects) the ideas and writings of other scholars. No empirical study was conducted. The research methodology for this study is descriptive, with data sourced from available literature. The findings in this study indicate that backlogs for water service delivery remain high in the Mbizana Local Municipality. Regrettably, the situation has worsened since 2004; backlogs have shifted from 45 percent to 94 percent of households with no access to tap water. A number of normative criteria to deal with the research problem were extracted from available literature, from which conclusions were drawn and recommendations made.
- Full Text:
- Date Issued: 2012
Web-based visualisation techniques for reporting zoonotic outbreaks
- Authors: Ncube, Sinini Paul
- Date: 2012
- Subjects: Zoonoses -- Reporting , Communicable diseases -- Reporting , Communication in medicine , Medical telematics , Internet , Information visualization
- Language: English
- Type: Thesis , Masters , MSc
- Identifier: vital:4664 , http://hdl.handle.net/10962/d1006672 , Zoonoses -- Reporting , Communicable diseases -- Reporting , Communication in medicine , Medical telematics , Internet , Information visualization
- Description: Zoonotic diseases are diseases that are transmitted from animals or vectors to humans and vice versa. The public together with veterinarian authorities should readily access disease information as it is vital in rapidly controlling resultant zoonotic outbreak threats through improved awareness. Currently, the reporting of disease information in South Africa is predominantly limited to traditional methods of Information Communication Technologies (ICTs) like faxes, monthly newspaper reports, radios, phones and televisions. Although these are effective ways of communication, their disadvantage is that the information that most of them offer can only be accessed at specific times during a crisis. New technologies like the internet have become the most efficient way of distributing information in near-real-time. Many developed countries have used web-based reporting platforms to deliver timely information through temporal and geographic visualisation techniques. There has been an attempt in the use of web-based reporting in South Africa but most of these sites are characterised by heavy text which makes them time consuming to use or maintain. As a result most sites have not been updated or have ceased to exist because of the work load involved. The success of web reporting mechanisms in developed countries offers evidence that web-based reporting systems when appropriately visualised can improve the easy understanding of information and efficiency in the analysis of that data. In this thesis, a web-based reporting prototype was proposed after gathering information from different sources: literature related to disease reporting and the visualisation of infectious diseases; the exploration of the currently deployed web systems; and the investigation of user requirements from relevant parties. The proposed prototype system was then developed using Adobe Flash tools, Java and MySQL languages. A focus group then reviewed the developed system to ascertain that the relevant requirements had been incorporated and to obtain additional ideas about the system. This led to the proposal of a new prototype system that can be used by the authorities concerned as a plan to develop a fully functional disease reporting system for South Africa.
- Full Text:
- Date Issued: 2012
- Authors: Ncube, Sinini Paul
- Date: 2012
- Subjects: Zoonoses -- Reporting , Communicable diseases -- Reporting , Communication in medicine , Medical telematics , Internet , Information visualization
- Language: English
- Type: Thesis , Masters , MSc
- Identifier: vital:4664 , http://hdl.handle.net/10962/d1006672 , Zoonoses -- Reporting , Communicable diseases -- Reporting , Communication in medicine , Medical telematics , Internet , Information visualization
- Description: Zoonotic diseases are diseases that are transmitted from animals or vectors to humans and vice versa. The public together with veterinarian authorities should readily access disease information as it is vital in rapidly controlling resultant zoonotic outbreak threats through improved awareness. Currently, the reporting of disease information in South Africa is predominantly limited to traditional methods of Information Communication Technologies (ICTs) like faxes, monthly newspaper reports, radios, phones and televisions. Although these are effective ways of communication, their disadvantage is that the information that most of them offer can only be accessed at specific times during a crisis. New technologies like the internet have become the most efficient way of distributing information in near-real-time. Many developed countries have used web-based reporting platforms to deliver timely information through temporal and geographic visualisation techniques. There has been an attempt in the use of web-based reporting in South Africa but most of these sites are characterised by heavy text which makes them time consuming to use or maintain. As a result most sites have not been updated or have ceased to exist because of the work load involved. The success of web reporting mechanisms in developed countries offers evidence that web-based reporting systems when appropriately visualised can improve the easy understanding of information and efficiency in the analysis of that data. In this thesis, a web-based reporting prototype was proposed after gathering information from different sources: literature related to disease reporting and the visualisation of infectious diseases; the exploration of the currently deployed web systems; and the investigation of user requirements from relevant parties. The proposed prototype system was then developed using Adobe Flash tools, Java and MySQL languages. A focus group then reviewed the developed system to ascertain that the relevant requirements had been incorporated and to obtain additional ideas about the system. This led to the proposal of a new prototype system that can be used by the authorities concerned as a plan to develop a fully functional disease reporting system for South Africa.
- Full Text:
- Date Issued: 2012
What girls could and should become: an analysis of how the print media portray career opportunities for young women
- Authors: Matomela, Nwabisa Dineo
- Date: 2012
- Subjects: Stereotypes (Social psychology) -- South Africa -- Nelson Mandela Bay Municipacility , Young women -- Press coverage , Young women -- Vocational guidance
- Language: English
- Type: Thesis , Masters , MA
- Identifier: vital:8419 , http://hdl.handle.net/10948/d1014076
- Description: This treatise investigates the representation of career opportunities for young girls as portrayed in three English-medium newspapers published in the Nelson Mandela Bay in 2010.While there have been numerous researches on the representation of women in the media, studies on career opportunities for young girls have yet to be conducted. Previous studies have established that girls were socialized to occupy nurturing roles in society: through parents, schools and social institutions like churches were chief socialization instruments. The use of language and rhetoric in the media often reiterates this socialization. Due to the power of the media to influence perceptions, this research reflects on the messages obtained by readers of the publications. The research is important because it aims to identify the trends of representation of career and life opportunities for girls in: The Herald, the Weekend Post and La Femme newspapers. A pilot study of articles on women and young girls was completed; this was followed by a main study. A content analysis of articles only on women and girls was conducted; whilst articles on young boys and men were excluded from this research, as its main focus was on women. The theoretical frameworks applied were the theories of journalism and feminism to determine the nature of representation. While the media organisations operate solely as a business, whose interest is to make profit, they have the fundamental responsibility of promoting values, particularly in South Africa. Under the leadership of the ANC-led government, plans have been executed to promote a 50/50 representation in government. Also, the participation of women in the private sector has improved through the requirements of the policy of Black Economic Empowerment, which aims to redress the wrongs of the past. This project has established that although the world has embraced feminism and the equality of women and men, much still needs to be done to reinforce these ideals, especially in the socialization of children.
- Full Text:
- Date Issued: 2012
- Authors: Matomela, Nwabisa Dineo
- Date: 2012
- Subjects: Stereotypes (Social psychology) -- South Africa -- Nelson Mandela Bay Municipacility , Young women -- Press coverage , Young women -- Vocational guidance
- Language: English
- Type: Thesis , Masters , MA
- Identifier: vital:8419 , http://hdl.handle.net/10948/d1014076
- Description: This treatise investigates the representation of career opportunities for young girls as portrayed in three English-medium newspapers published in the Nelson Mandela Bay in 2010.While there have been numerous researches on the representation of women in the media, studies on career opportunities for young girls have yet to be conducted. Previous studies have established that girls were socialized to occupy nurturing roles in society: through parents, schools and social institutions like churches were chief socialization instruments. The use of language and rhetoric in the media often reiterates this socialization. Due to the power of the media to influence perceptions, this research reflects on the messages obtained by readers of the publications. The research is important because it aims to identify the trends of representation of career and life opportunities for girls in: The Herald, the Weekend Post and La Femme newspapers. A pilot study of articles on women and young girls was completed; this was followed by a main study. A content analysis of articles only on women and girls was conducted; whilst articles on young boys and men were excluded from this research, as its main focus was on women. The theoretical frameworks applied were the theories of journalism and feminism to determine the nature of representation. While the media organisations operate solely as a business, whose interest is to make profit, they have the fundamental responsibility of promoting values, particularly in South Africa. Under the leadership of the ANC-led government, plans have been executed to promote a 50/50 representation in government. Also, the participation of women in the private sector has improved through the requirements of the policy of Black Economic Empowerment, which aims to redress the wrongs of the past. This project has established that although the world has embraced feminism and the equality of women and men, much still needs to be done to reinforce these ideals, especially in the socialization of children.
- Full Text:
- Date Issued: 2012
Why do learners and teachers experience problems with the concept of zero?
- Authors: Jooste, Zonia
- Date: 2012
- Subjects: Numbers, Divisibility of -- Study and teaching (Primary) -- South Africa Numbers, Divisibility of -- Study and teaching (Secondary) -- South Africa Mathematics teachers -- Training of -- South Africa -- Eastern Cape Mathematics teachers -- Training of -- South Africa -- Western Cape Education, Primary -- Curricula -- South Africa Education, Secondary -- Curricula -- South Africa
- Language: English
- Type: Thesis , Masters , MEd
- Identifier: vital:1906 , http://hdl.handle.net/10962/d1006764
- Description: The controversy around the inclusion of zero in the number system has been widely documented. Influential mathematicians in various ancient cultures did not accept zero as a number. The idea of the empty set was too abstract and they could not conceptualise division by zero. Surprisingly, understanding of the concept is still a matter of concern today. In spite of expansive reports on and recommendations for developing conceptualisation of the concept, learners and teachers still experience problems similar to those that ancient mathematicians struggled with. The study was initiated by an observation of Grade 7 learners' inability to solve the problems 4 × 0 and 0 ÷ 7 effectively or at all. I investigated why Grade 3 to 6 learners and mathematics teachers on a BEd (in-service) course and an accredited ACE course experience problems with the concept of zero. I was especially interested in the understanding of multiplication and division by zero. I investigated teachers' knowledge of zero's characteristics as a number, the history of zero and how they teach the concept, in order to support my assumptions. The data production process was performed over a period of two years. It involved a multi-case opportunity sample approach embedded in the empirical field that formed the backdrop of my involvement as mathematics education specialist in schools in the Western and Eastern Cape. The interpretative orientation of the study allowed me to conduct inquiries that served to confirm or challenge my assumptions and enabled me to construct generalisations that depict learners' and teachers' knowledge construction. The qualitative data analysis informed the presentation and discussion of the findings. The single most important message conveyed to readers of this study is that the value of zero as a number, its importance in the number system, its properties and its behaviour in calculations, should not be underrated. Teaching of this abstract concept requires competent teachers who are able to mediate understanding in the most effective and innovative manner. Professional development programmes should orchestrate this competence and curriculum developers and textbook authors should acknowledge the significance of learning and teaching the concept of zero.
- Full Text:
- Date Issued: 2012
- Authors: Jooste, Zonia
- Date: 2012
- Subjects: Numbers, Divisibility of -- Study and teaching (Primary) -- South Africa Numbers, Divisibility of -- Study and teaching (Secondary) -- South Africa Mathematics teachers -- Training of -- South Africa -- Eastern Cape Mathematics teachers -- Training of -- South Africa -- Western Cape Education, Primary -- Curricula -- South Africa Education, Secondary -- Curricula -- South Africa
- Language: English
- Type: Thesis , Masters , MEd
- Identifier: vital:1906 , http://hdl.handle.net/10962/d1006764
- Description: The controversy around the inclusion of zero in the number system has been widely documented. Influential mathematicians in various ancient cultures did not accept zero as a number. The idea of the empty set was too abstract and they could not conceptualise division by zero. Surprisingly, understanding of the concept is still a matter of concern today. In spite of expansive reports on and recommendations for developing conceptualisation of the concept, learners and teachers still experience problems similar to those that ancient mathematicians struggled with. The study was initiated by an observation of Grade 7 learners' inability to solve the problems 4 × 0 and 0 ÷ 7 effectively or at all. I investigated why Grade 3 to 6 learners and mathematics teachers on a BEd (in-service) course and an accredited ACE course experience problems with the concept of zero. I was especially interested in the understanding of multiplication and division by zero. I investigated teachers' knowledge of zero's characteristics as a number, the history of zero and how they teach the concept, in order to support my assumptions. The data production process was performed over a period of two years. It involved a multi-case opportunity sample approach embedded in the empirical field that formed the backdrop of my involvement as mathematics education specialist in schools in the Western and Eastern Cape. The interpretative orientation of the study allowed me to conduct inquiries that served to confirm or challenge my assumptions and enabled me to construct generalisations that depict learners' and teachers' knowledge construction. The qualitative data analysis informed the presentation and discussion of the findings. The single most important message conveyed to readers of this study is that the value of zero as a number, its importance in the number system, its properties and its behaviour in calculations, should not be underrated. Teaching of this abstract concept requires competent teachers who are able to mediate understanding in the most effective and innovative manner. Professional development programmes should orchestrate this competence and curriculum developers and textbook authors should acknowledge the significance of learning and teaching the concept of zero.
- Full Text:
- Date Issued: 2012
Willingness to pay for pharmacist-provided services directed towards reducing risks of medication-related problems
- Authors: Mushunje, Irvine Tawanda
- Date: 2012
- Subjects: Pharmaceutical industry , Pharmacy -- Practice -- Finance , Pharmacist and patient , Prescription pricing
- Language: English
- Type: Thesis , Masters , MPharm
- Identifier: vital:10133 , http://hdl.handle.net/10948/d1008053 , Pharmaceutical industry , Pharmacy -- Practice -- Finance , Pharmacist and patient , Prescription pricing
- Description: Pharmacists as members of health care teams, have a central role to play with respect to medication. The pharmaceutical care and cognitive services which pharmacists are able to provide can help prevent, ameliorate or correct medication-related problems. There are however many barriers to the provision of these services and one of the barriers commonly cited by pharmacists is the lack of remuneration for their expert services. The aim of this study is to ascertain if patients in South Africa are willing to pay for pharmacist-provided services which may reduce medication related problems, and thereby determine the perceived value of the pharmacist-provided services, by patients. The study will also seek to determine factors that influence willingness to pay (WTP), including financial status, gender, race, age and level of education. In addition the perceived value of the pharmacist‘s role in patient care, by third party payers (SA Medical Aid providers) and their WTP for pharmacist-provided services (such as DSM) on behalf of patients through their monthly premiums will also be investigated. The study was conducted as a two-phase process: the first phase focused on the opinions of patients and the second phase on the medical aid companies. In phase-1 a convenience sample of 500 patients was recruited by fifty community pharmacies distributed throughout the nine South African provinces. Data collection, consisting of telephonic administration of the questionnaires, was conducted and the survey responses were captured on a Microsoft Excel® spreadsheet. All the captured information was analyzed using descriptive statistics, box and whisker plots, analysis of variance (ANOVA) and regression analysis. In phase-2, medical aid schemes that are registered with the Council of Medical Schemes (CMSs) of South Africa were included in this research. A fifteen point questionnaire was completed electronically via e-mail by willing medical aid participants. Data was analyzed using descriptive statistics only. Only 233 or 88.6 percent, of the 263 participating respondents, were willing to pay at least one rand towards pharmacist-provided services. On average respondents were willing to pay R126.76 as out-of-pocket expenses. Respondents‘ WTP increased as the risk associated with medication-related problems was reduced due to pharmaceutical care intervention. Of the 263 respondents who took part in this research, fifty percent were willing to pay at least R100 for a risk reduction of 30 percent, R120 for a 60 percent reduction and approximately R150 for a greater than 90 percent risk reduction. It was also found that the respondents‘ willingness to pay was influenced by their age, earnings, racial grouping, employment status, medical aid status and their level of satisfaction with pharmacist-provided care services. Of the thirty-one open medical aid schemes only eight (25.8 percent) participated in the study. Findings indicate that all the participating medical aid respondents were unwilling to pay for pharmacist-provided care services, although they perceived pharmacists as very influential healthcare providers and as having a significant role to play in reducing medication-related problems. In conclusion it was found that majority of participants were willing to pay for pharmacist-provided services directed towards reducing risks associated with medication-related problems. Until pharmacists are able to prove pharmaceutical care‘s utility and cost-effectiveness to third-party payers, pharmacists must look to the patient for reimbursement.
- Full Text:
- Date Issued: 2012
- Authors: Mushunje, Irvine Tawanda
- Date: 2012
- Subjects: Pharmaceutical industry , Pharmacy -- Practice -- Finance , Pharmacist and patient , Prescription pricing
- Language: English
- Type: Thesis , Masters , MPharm
- Identifier: vital:10133 , http://hdl.handle.net/10948/d1008053 , Pharmaceutical industry , Pharmacy -- Practice -- Finance , Pharmacist and patient , Prescription pricing
- Description: Pharmacists as members of health care teams, have a central role to play with respect to medication. The pharmaceutical care and cognitive services which pharmacists are able to provide can help prevent, ameliorate or correct medication-related problems. There are however many barriers to the provision of these services and one of the barriers commonly cited by pharmacists is the lack of remuneration for their expert services. The aim of this study is to ascertain if patients in South Africa are willing to pay for pharmacist-provided services which may reduce medication related problems, and thereby determine the perceived value of the pharmacist-provided services, by patients. The study will also seek to determine factors that influence willingness to pay (WTP), including financial status, gender, race, age and level of education. In addition the perceived value of the pharmacist‘s role in patient care, by third party payers (SA Medical Aid providers) and their WTP for pharmacist-provided services (such as DSM) on behalf of patients through their monthly premiums will also be investigated. The study was conducted as a two-phase process: the first phase focused on the opinions of patients and the second phase on the medical aid companies. In phase-1 a convenience sample of 500 patients was recruited by fifty community pharmacies distributed throughout the nine South African provinces. Data collection, consisting of telephonic administration of the questionnaires, was conducted and the survey responses were captured on a Microsoft Excel® spreadsheet. All the captured information was analyzed using descriptive statistics, box and whisker plots, analysis of variance (ANOVA) and regression analysis. In phase-2, medical aid schemes that are registered with the Council of Medical Schemes (CMSs) of South Africa were included in this research. A fifteen point questionnaire was completed electronically via e-mail by willing medical aid participants. Data was analyzed using descriptive statistics only. Only 233 or 88.6 percent, of the 263 participating respondents, were willing to pay at least one rand towards pharmacist-provided services. On average respondents were willing to pay R126.76 as out-of-pocket expenses. Respondents‘ WTP increased as the risk associated with medication-related problems was reduced due to pharmaceutical care intervention. Of the 263 respondents who took part in this research, fifty percent were willing to pay at least R100 for a risk reduction of 30 percent, R120 for a 60 percent reduction and approximately R150 for a greater than 90 percent risk reduction. It was also found that the respondents‘ willingness to pay was influenced by their age, earnings, racial grouping, employment status, medical aid status and their level of satisfaction with pharmacist-provided care services. Of the thirty-one open medical aid schemes only eight (25.8 percent) participated in the study. Findings indicate that all the participating medical aid respondents were unwilling to pay for pharmacist-provided care services, although they perceived pharmacists as very influential healthcare providers and as having a significant role to play in reducing medication-related problems. In conclusion it was found that majority of participants were willing to pay for pharmacist-provided services directed towards reducing risks associated with medication-related problems. Until pharmacists are able to prove pharmaceutical care‘s utility and cost-effectiveness to third-party payers, pharmacists must look to the patient for reimbursement.
- Full Text:
- Date Issued: 2012
Winston Leonard Spencer Churchill: a psychobiographical study
- Authors: Moolman, Bilué Anton
- Date: 2012
- Subjects: Churchill, Winston -- 1874-1965 , Psychology -- Biographical methods
- Language: English
- Type: Thesis , Masters , MA
- Identifier: vital:9903 , http://hdl.handle.net/10948/d1009434 , Churchill, Winston -- 1874-1965 , Psychology -- Biographical methods
- Description: Psychobiography is a qualitative approach to exploring and understanding the life story of an individual through the lens of psychological theory. The application of theory is typically conducted on the finished lives of well-known or enigmatic people. This study explores and describes the psychological development across the lifespan of Winston Leonard Spencer Churchill, by applying the Individual Psychology of Alfred Adler. Winston Churchill voted the greatest Briton of the twentieth century, was an author, painter, adventure, soldier, politician and Prime Minister that led the United Kingdom during World War Two. Extensive data has been examined in this work to ensure an accurate description of Winston Churchill‘s life. Alexander‘s model of identifying salient themes was used to analyse the data within a conceptual framework derived from the theory. Churchill‘s difficult childhood motivated him to succeed, his passion for the nation of Britain and his dislike of the Nazi regime meant that Churchill was always abreast with current affairs, anticipating every possible scenario of attack. When the time came to fight the Nazi‘s Churchill was ready to die for his country. The research findings highlight Churchill‘s ability to rise above his childhood stigmas and surpass all expectations and so cementing his name into the history of a country he loved and a democratic world he hoped for. Alfred Adler‘s Individual Psychology proposes that an individual‘s potential weaknesses can be used as a means to strive and achieve greatness within their sphere of influence.
- Full Text:
- Date Issued: 2012
- Authors: Moolman, Bilué Anton
- Date: 2012
- Subjects: Churchill, Winston -- 1874-1965 , Psychology -- Biographical methods
- Language: English
- Type: Thesis , Masters , MA
- Identifier: vital:9903 , http://hdl.handle.net/10948/d1009434 , Churchill, Winston -- 1874-1965 , Psychology -- Biographical methods
- Description: Psychobiography is a qualitative approach to exploring and understanding the life story of an individual through the lens of psychological theory. The application of theory is typically conducted on the finished lives of well-known or enigmatic people. This study explores and describes the psychological development across the lifespan of Winston Leonard Spencer Churchill, by applying the Individual Psychology of Alfred Adler. Winston Churchill voted the greatest Briton of the twentieth century, was an author, painter, adventure, soldier, politician and Prime Minister that led the United Kingdom during World War Two. Extensive data has been examined in this work to ensure an accurate description of Winston Churchill‘s life. Alexander‘s model of identifying salient themes was used to analyse the data within a conceptual framework derived from the theory. Churchill‘s difficult childhood motivated him to succeed, his passion for the nation of Britain and his dislike of the Nazi regime meant that Churchill was always abreast with current affairs, anticipating every possible scenario of attack. When the time came to fight the Nazi‘s Churchill was ready to die for his country. The research findings highlight Churchill‘s ability to rise above his childhood stigmas and surpass all expectations and so cementing his name into the history of a country he loved and a democratic world he hoped for. Alfred Adler‘s Individual Psychology proposes that an individual‘s potential weaknesses can be used as a means to strive and achieve greatness within their sphere of influence.
- Full Text:
- Date Issued: 2012
Winter rotational cover crops effects on soil strength, aggregate stability and water conservation of a hardsetting cambisol in Eastern Cape Province, South Africa
- Authors: Mupambwa, Hupenyu Allan
- Date: 2012
- Subjects: Cover crops -- South Africa -- Eastern Cape , Soil mechanics , Crop rotation , Crops and soils , Soil penetration test
- Language: English
- Type: Thesis , Masters , MSc Agric (Crop Science)
- Identifier: vital:11868 , http://hdl.handle.net/10353/453 , Cover crops -- South Africa -- Eastern Cape , Soil mechanics , Crop rotation , Crops and soils , Soil penetration test
- Description: Winter rotational cover crops (WRCC) are often used to boost soil fertility and plant nutrition. However, selection and use of WRCC for soil physical improvement is usually overlooked. The objective of this study was to determine the effects of WRCC on soil strength, aggregate stability and water conservation of a hardsetting soil. The soil physical properties were determined after four rotations of growing monocultures of vetch (Vicia dasycarpa cv. Max), lupin (Lupinus angustifolius cv. Tanjil) and oats (Avena sativa cv. Sederberg) and after two rotations of growing bicultures of oats (Avena sativa cv. Pallinup) and vetch (Vicia dasycarpa cv. Max) across two soil layers, 0 to 15 cm and 15 to 30 cm. The individual WRCC and a weedy fallow constituted the treatments in the monoculture study whilst in the biculture study the various combinations of WRCC namely; 90% oat plus 10% vetch (O90V10); 70% oat plus 30% vetch (O70V30) and 50% oat plus 50% vetch (O50V50) and a weedy fallow constituted the treatments. After four rotations with cover crop monocultures, oats significantly (P ≤ 0.05) reduced penetration resistance (PR) whilst vetch increased PR in both soil layers compared to the weedy fallow control. The effect of the biculture treatments was only experienced within the 15 to 30 cm depth. The treatments O50V50 and O70V30 increased the PR compared to the control. The WRCC in monoculture significantly increased the soil aggregate stability relative to the control in both soil layers. Vetch, lupin and oats resulted in a 41.7%; 20.4% and 15.7% increase in MWD in the 0 to 15 cm soil layer and 47.2%; 44.2% and 39.7% in the 15 to 30 cm depth, respectively. An increase in aggregate stability was associated with increased macro-aggregation. Under the biculture, WRCC slightly increased, non- significantly, the aggregate stability. Both hot water and dilute acid extractable polysaccharides showed no significant correlation with aggregate stability in the two studies. Oats monoculture resulted in a significant difference (P ≤ 0.05) on cumulative infiltration compared to the control. However, after 2 h vetch and lupin showed no significant difference from the control on cumulative infiltration. Oats resulted in a 7.8% increase in final infiltration rate (FIR) whilst vetch and lupin reduced FIR by 9% and 16.7% respectively, compared to the control. Bicultures of oats and vetch significantly (P ≤ 0.05) increased cumulative infiltration compared to the weedy fallow control. A similar significant increase in FIR was also observed under bicultures. The treatments O50V50; O90V10 and O70V30 resulted in a 163.3%; 113.3% and 105.4% increase in FIR respectively, compared to the control. Cover crop monocultures significantly (P ≤ 0.05) increased plant available water (PAW) compared to the weedy fallow, with vetch, oats and lupin resulting in a 28.3%; 22% and 23.9% increase respectively, in PAW. However, no significant differences were observed on PAW after two rotations with bicultures. Compared with winter weedy fallow, WRCC improved most of the soil physical properties under study, with the most suitable results expected under bicultures compared to monocultures. Under CA, selection of WRCC like oats, vetch and lupin, one should therefore take into consideration their effects on soil physical properties as a selection criterion and not biomass and fertility alone.
- Full Text:
- Date Issued: 2012
- Authors: Mupambwa, Hupenyu Allan
- Date: 2012
- Subjects: Cover crops -- South Africa -- Eastern Cape , Soil mechanics , Crop rotation , Crops and soils , Soil penetration test
- Language: English
- Type: Thesis , Masters , MSc Agric (Crop Science)
- Identifier: vital:11868 , http://hdl.handle.net/10353/453 , Cover crops -- South Africa -- Eastern Cape , Soil mechanics , Crop rotation , Crops and soils , Soil penetration test
- Description: Winter rotational cover crops (WRCC) are often used to boost soil fertility and plant nutrition. However, selection and use of WRCC for soil physical improvement is usually overlooked. The objective of this study was to determine the effects of WRCC on soil strength, aggregate stability and water conservation of a hardsetting soil. The soil physical properties were determined after four rotations of growing monocultures of vetch (Vicia dasycarpa cv. Max), lupin (Lupinus angustifolius cv. Tanjil) and oats (Avena sativa cv. Sederberg) and after two rotations of growing bicultures of oats (Avena sativa cv. Pallinup) and vetch (Vicia dasycarpa cv. Max) across two soil layers, 0 to 15 cm and 15 to 30 cm. The individual WRCC and a weedy fallow constituted the treatments in the monoculture study whilst in the biculture study the various combinations of WRCC namely; 90% oat plus 10% vetch (O90V10); 70% oat plus 30% vetch (O70V30) and 50% oat plus 50% vetch (O50V50) and a weedy fallow constituted the treatments. After four rotations with cover crop monocultures, oats significantly (P ≤ 0.05) reduced penetration resistance (PR) whilst vetch increased PR in both soil layers compared to the weedy fallow control. The effect of the biculture treatments was only experienced within the 15 to 30 cm depth. The treatments O50V50 and O70V30 increased the PR compared to the control. The WRCC in monoculture significantly increased the soil aggregate stability relative to the control in both soil layers. Vetch, lupin and oats resulted in a 41.7%; 20.4% and 15.7% increase in MWD in the 0 to 15 cm soil layer and 47.2%; 44.2% and 39.7% in the 15 to 30 cm depth, respectively. An increase in aggregate stability was associated with increased macro-aggregation. Under the biculture, WRCC slightly increased, non- significantly, the aggregate stability. Both hot water and dilute acid extractable polysaccharides showed no significant correlation with aggregate stability in the two studies. Oats monoculture resulted in a significant difference (P ≤ 0.05) on cumulative infiltration compared to the control. However, after 2 h vetch and lupin showed no significant difference from the control on cumulative infiltration. Oats resulted in a 7.8% increase in final infiltration rate (FIR) whilst vetch and lupin reduced FIR by 9% and 16.7% respectively, compared to the control. Bicultures of oats and vetch significantly (P ≤ 0.05) increased cumulative infiltration compared to the weedy fallow control. A similar significant increase in FIR was also observed under bicultures. The treatments O50V50; O90V10 and O70V30 resulted in a 163.3%; 113.3% and 105.4% increase in FIR respectively, compared to the control. Cover crop monocultures significantly (P ≤ 0.05) increased plant available water (PAW) compared to the weedy fallow, with vetch, oats and lupin resulting in a 28.3%; 22% and 23.9% increase respectively, in PAW. However, no significant differences were observed on PAW after two rotations with bicultures. Compared with winter weedy fallow, WRCC improved most of the soil physical properties under study, with the most suitable results expected under bicultures compared to monocultures. Under CA, selection of WRCC like oats, vetch and lupin, one should therefore take into consideration their effects on soil physical properties as a selection criterion and not biomass and fertility alone.
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- Date Issued: 2012
Women leadership: a case study in the Otjozondjupa Region, Namibia
- Authors: Araes, Cornelia
- Date: 2012
- Subjects: Women -- Education (Primary) -- Namibia Leadership in women -- Education (Primary) -- Namibia Management -- Education (Primary) -- Namibia Educational leadership -- Namibia
- Language: English
- Type: Thesis , Masters , MEd
- Identifier: vital:1825 , http://hdl.handle.net/10962/d1003711
- Description: Empowerment of women in leadership and in particular, school leadership has been the focus of the Namibian government and the country since independence in 1990. Different policies and laws, post‐independence, make provision for women empowerment and leadership in a range of organisations and institutions throughout the country. However, reports on gender equity in leadership positions suggest that Namibia is not really moving towards these policy goals at a sufficiently quick pace. A lot still needs to be achieved in terms of transforming the gender stereotyping in Namibia, which still suffers from the legacy of gender discrimination of the apartheid era. Modern‐day academic authors and journalists portray an increasing interest in an awareness of the advantages of women leadership. Women are increasingly perceived to have leadership styles more suitable for contemporary conditions than men. It is against this backdrop that this study sought to investigate women leadership in the Otjiwarongo circuit in the Otjozondjupa educational region in Namibia. The study used a qualitative, interpretive research paradigm. It adopted a case study approach. The primary participants consisted of four women principals in the Otjiwarongo circuit and the secondary participants included four women education officers from the same circuit. Semi‐structured interviews, a focus group interview and observation were applied as methods for collecting data and the data collection period was just over six weeks. Data analysis was done through coding and identification of categories. The findings revealed that women principals possessed the qualities of commitment, good communication and are passionate about their work, which are qualities normally associated with effective leadership. In terms of their role in their schools, they emerged as democratic leaders who involved all stakeholders in the decision making process through consensus. In addition, they demonstrated distributive and servant leadership in their interactions with stakeholders. The main challenge to the leadership position of these women principals seemed to be the stereotypical view held, that as women, they had to work twice as hard as men at leading schools. The study recommended that people oriented leadership styles, such as the ones enacted by the women principals in this study, are highly recommended for effective leadership in the 21st century.
- Full Text:
- Date Issued: 2012
- Authors: Araes, Cornelia
- Date: 2012
- Subjects: Women -- Education (Primary) -- Namibia Leadership in women -- Education (Primary) -- Namibia Management -- Education (Primary) -- Namibia Educational leadership -- Namibia
- Language: English
- Type: Thesis , Masters , MEd
- Identifier: vital:1825 , http://hdl.handle.net/10962/d1003711
- Description: Empowerment of women in leadership and in particular, school leadership has been the focus of the Namibian government and the country since independence in 1990. Different policies and laws, post‐independence, make provision for women empowerment and leadership in a range of organisations and institutions throughout the country. However, reports on gender equity in leadership positions suggest that Namibia is not really moving towards these policy goals at a sufficiently quick pace. A lot still needs to be achieved in terms of transforming the gender stereotyping in Namibia, which still suffers from the legacy of gender discrimination of the apartheid era. Modern‐day academic authors and journalists portray an increasing interest in an awareness of the advantages of women leadership. Women are increasingly perceived to have leadership styles more suitable for contemporary conditions than men. It is against this backdrop that this study sought to investigate women leadership in the Otjiwarongo circuit in the Otjozondjupa educational region in Namibia. The study used a qualitative, interpretive research paradigm. It adopted a case study approach. The primary participants consisted of four women principals in the Otjiwarongo circuit and the secondary participants included four women education officers from the same circuit. Semi‐structured interviews, a focus group interview and observation were applied as methods for collecting data and the data collection period was just over six weeks. Data analysis was done through coding and identification of categories. The findings revealed that women principals possessed the qualities of commitment, good communication and are passionate about their work, which are qualities normally associated with effective leadership. In terms of their role in their schools, they emerged as democratic leaders who involved all stakeholders in the decision making process through consensus. In addition, they demonstrated distributive and servant leadership in their interactions with stakeholders. The main challenge to the leadership position of these women principals seemed to be the stereotypical view held, that as women, they had to work twice as hard as men at leading schools. The study recommended that people oriented leadership styles, such as the ones enacted by the women principals in this study, are highly recommended for effective leadership in the 21st century.
- Full Text:
- Date Issued: 2012
μCloud : a P2P cloud platform for computing service provision
- Authors: Fouodji Tasse, Ghislain
- Date: 2012 , 2012-08-22
- Subjects: Cloud computing , Peer-to-peer architecture (Computer networks) , Computer architecture , Computer service industry
- Language: English
- Type: Thesis , Masters , MSc
- Identifier: vital:4663 , http://hdl.handle.net/10962/d1006669 , Cloud computing , Peer-to-peer architecture (Computer networks) , Computer architecture , Computer service industry
- Description: The advancements in virtualization technologies have provided a large spectrum of computational approaches. Dedicated computations can be run on private environments (virtual machines), created within the same computer. Through capable APIs, this functionality is leveraged for the service we wish to implement; a computer power service (CPS). We target peer-to-peer systems for this service, to exploit the potential of aggregating computing resources. The concept of a P2P network is mostly known for its expanded usage in distributed networks for sharing resources like content files or real-time data. This study adds computing power to the list of shared resources by describing a suitable service composition. Taking into account the dynamic nature of the platform, this CPS provision is achieved using a self stabilizing clustering algorithm. So, the resulting system of our research is based around a hierarchical P2P architecture and offers end-to-end consideration of resource provisioning and reliability. We named this system μCloud and characterizes it as a self-provisioning cloud service platform. It is designed, implemented and presented in this dissertation. Eventually, we assessed our work by showing that μCloud succeeds in providing user-centric services using a P2P computing unit. With this, we conclude that our system would be highly beneficial in both small and massively deployed environments. , KMBT_223 , Adobe Acrobat 9.51 Paper Capture Plug-in
- Full Text:
- Date Issued: 2012
- Authors: Fouodji Tasse, Ghislain
- Date: 2012 , 2012-08-22
- Subjects: Cloud computing , Peer-to-peer architecture (Computer networks) , Computer architecture , Computer service industry
- Language: English
- Type: Thesis , Masters , MSc
- Identifier: vital:4663 , http://hdl.handle.net/10962/d1006669 , Cloud computing , Peer-to-peer architecture (Computer networks) , Computer architecture , Computer service industry
- Description: The advancements in virtualization technologies have provided a large spectrum of computational approaches. Dedicated computations can be run on private environments (virtual machines), created within the same computer. Through capable APIs, this functionality is leveraged for the service we wish to implement; a computer power service (CPS). We target peer-to-peer systems for this service, to exploit the potential of aggregating computing resources. The concept of a P2P network is mostly known for its expanded usage in distributed networks for sharing resources like content files or real-time data. This study adds computing power to the list of shared resources by describing a suitable service composition. Taking into account the dynamic nature of the platform, this CPS provision is achieved using a self stabilizing clustering algorithm. So, the resulting system of our research is based around a hierarchical P2P architecture and offers end-to-end consideration of resource provisioning and reliability. We named this system μCloud and characterizes it as a self-provisioning cloud service platform. It is designed, implemented and presented in this dissertation. Eventually, we assessed our work by showing that μCloud succeeds in providing user-centric services using a P2P computing unit. With this, we conclude that our system would be highly beneficial in both small and massively deployed environments. , KMBT_223 , Adobe Acrobat 9.51 Paper Capture Plug-in
- Full Text:
- Date Issued: 2012
Measuring employee participation initiatives within RoyalServe Cleaning (Pty) Ltd
- Authors: Ntini, Vusani
- Subjects: Management -- Employee participation , Strategic planning -- Employee participation
- Language: English
- Type: Thesis , Masters , MA
- Identifier: vital:9430 , http://hdl.handle.net/10948/d1018677
- Description: Employee participation is a common and popular aspect of most labour relations systems in many countries, including South Africa (the RSA). For years now, there have been debates around the actual benefits of employee participation initiatives to both the business and its employees. Various factors influence the development of participation initiatives within businesses. Some of these factors include legislation, management perceptions and attitudes, socio-economic factors, political and business complexities. These factors vary from one economy to another, from industry to industry, from company to company and may be classified into internal or external factors. It is even suggested that participation initiatives and levels of implementation may be different within the same organization, from department to department, and from one geographic set-up to another within the same organisation. It is for this reason that this research was undertaken. RoyalServe(RS) has an average of 12 000 employees and about 800 sites or branches or units within the RSA. A number of employee participation models and initiatives exist within RS, and it has been argued by many (inter alia trade unions, employees, managers) that the implementation of these models varies from one site to the next - with one of the major influencing factors being the size of a branch or site. Employee participation initiatives and models are established either voluntarily or in response to compliance with legislation. Some scholars and practitioners have suggested that employee participation models that yield positive results for both parties are the ones that are voluntary and have not been undertaken for legal compliance purposes. Others argue that even in cases where it is legislated and practiced for compliance, the end result remains the same. From a comparative point of view, the Japanese and German models of employee participation have been, for some time now, crowned as classic examples of employee participation. Interestingly, the two models (Japanese and German) were implemented for contrasting reasons. The Japanese model is voluntary whereas the German model is legislated. Both models remain leading examples of how successful participation can be, regardless of the reasons for its implementation. Royal Serve Cleaning operates in three Sub Saharan countries: South Africa, Lesotho and Namibia (making it a transnational organisation). The Head Office is situated in Midrand, Johannesburg, RSA. The following regional offices exist to provide immediate and more flexible support to both employees and clients at regional level: Cape Town: Western Cape; Midrand: Gauteng Province, Limpopo, North West and Mpumalanga; Bloemfontein: Free State, Lesotho and Northern Cape; Durban: KZN; Port Elizabeth: Eastern Cape; Namibia.The primary goal of this research was to investigate how the size of a site influences the implementation of employee participation within RoyalServe Cleaning (Pty) Ltd. Put differently, the question to be answered by the research is: are employee participation initiatives applied similarly across all sites within RoyalServe regardless of size? Another question that has been answered in this research report, albeit indirectly, is: do RoyalServe employees understand the various participation initiatives in place at all levels of the organisation? Accusations have been leveled by some employees that employee participation initiatives at RS are benefiting only those employees based at the big sites at the expense of the smaller ones. The research methodology followed in this paper includes: A review of the available literature about RoyalServe employee participation strategies, initiatives, minutes, reports and practices; The development of a questionnaire which was then distributed to selected employees at all levels within the organisation. The analysis of information gathered in the above activities and recommendations formulated was based on gathered data.
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- Authors: Ntini, Vusani
- Subjects: Management -- Employee participation , Strategic planning -- Employee participation
- Language: English
- Type: Thesis , Masters , MA
- Identifier: vital:9430 , http://hdl.handle.net/10948/d1018677
- Description: Employee participation is a common and popular aspect of most labour relations systems in many countries, including South Africa (the RSA). For years now, there have been debates around the actual benefits of employee participation initiatives to both the business and its employees. Various factors influence the development of participation initiatives within businesses. Some of these factors include legislation, management perceptions and attitudes, socio-economic factors, political and business complexities. These factors vary from one economy to another, from industry to industry, from company to company and may be classified into internal or external factors. It is even suggested that participation initiatives and levels of implementation may be different within the same organization, from department to department, and from one geographic set-up to another within the same organisation. It is for this reason that this research was undertaken. RoyalServe(RS) has an average of 12 000 employees and about 800 sites or branches or units within the RSA. A number of employee participation models and initiatives exist within RS, and it has been argued by many (inter alia trade unions, employees, managers) that the implementation of these models varies from one site to the next - with one of the major influencing factors being the size of a branch or site. Employee participation initiatives and models are established either voluntarily or in response to compliance with legislation. Some scholars and practitioners have suggested that employee participation models that yield positive results for both parties are the ones that are voluntary and have not been undertaken for legal compliance purposes. Others argue that even in cases where it is legislated and practiced for compliance, the end result remains the same. From a comparative point of view, the Japanese and German models of employee participation have been, for some time now, crowned as classic examples of employee participation. Interestingly, the two models (Japanese and German) were implemented for contrasting reasons. The Japanese model is voluntary whereas the German model is legislated. Both models remain leading examples of how successful participation can be, regardless of the reasons for its implementation. Royal Serve Cleaning operates in three Sub Saharan countries: South Africa, Lesotho and Namibia (making it a transnational organisation). The Head Office is situated in Midrand, Johannesburg, RSA. The following regional offices exist to provide immediate and more flexible support to both employees and clients at regional level: Cape Town: Western Cape; Midrand: Gauteng Province, Limpopo, North West and Mpumalanga; Bloemfontein: Free State, Lesotho and Northern Cape; Durban: KZN; Port Elizabeth: Eastern Cape; Namibia.The primary goal of this research was to investigate how the size of a site influences the implementation of employee participation within RoyalServe Cleaning (Pty) Ltd. Put differently, the question to be answered by the research is: are employee participation initiatives applied similarly across all sites within RoyalServe regardless of size? Another question that has been answered in this research report, albeit indirectly, is: do RoyalServe employees understand the various participation initiatives in place at all levels of the organisation? Accusations have been leveled by some employees that employee participation initiatives at RS are benefiting only those employees based at the big sites at the expense of the smaller ones. The research methodology followed in this paper includes: A review of the available literature about RoyalServe employee participation strategies, initiatives, minutes, reports and practices; The development of a questionnaire which was then distributed to selected employees at all levels within the organisation. The analysis of information gathered in the above activities and recommendations formulated was based on gathered data.
- Full Text: