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Application of lie group analysis to mathematical models in epidemiology

  • Authors: Otieno, Andrew Alex Omondi
  • Date: 2013
  • Subjects: Epidemiology -- Mathematical models
  • Language: English
  • Type: Thesis , Masters , MSc
  • Identifier: vital:18486 , http://hdl.handle.net/11260/100
  • Description: Lie group analysis is arguably the most systematic vehicle for finding exact solutions of differential equations. Using this approach one has at one's disposal a variety of algorithms that make the solution process of many differential equations algorithmic. Vital properties of a given differential equation can often be inferred from the symmetries admitted by the equation. However, Lie group analysis has not enjoyed wide-spread application to systems of first-order ordinary differential equations. This is because such systems typically admit an infinite number of Lie point symmetries, and there is no systematic way to find even a single nontrivial one-dimensional Lie symmetry algebra. In the few applications available, the approach has been to circumvent the problem by transforming a given system of first-order ordinary differential equations into one in which at least one of the equations is of order two or greater. It is therefore fair to say that the full power of Lie group analysis has not been sufficiently harnessed in the solution of systems of first-order ordinary differential equations. In this dissertation we review some applications of Lie group analysis to systems of first order ordinary differential equations. We shed light on the integration procedure for first-order systems of ordinary differential equations admitting a solvable Lie algebra. We do this via instructive examples drawn from mathematical epidemiology models. In particular we revisit the work of Nucci and Torrisi [54] and improve the exposition of the Lie-symmetry-inspired solution of a mathematical model which describes a HIV transmission. To aid implementation of the integration strategy for systems of ordinary differential equations, we have developed ad-hoc routines for finding particular types of admitted symmetries and checking if a given symmetry is indeed admitted by a system of ordinary differential equations.
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  • Date Issued: 2013

Aspects of constructive dismissal

  • Authors: Diedericks, Shaun Sylvester
  • Date: 2013
  • Subjects: Labor courts , Employees -- Dismissal of
  • Language: English
  • Type: Thesis , Masters , LLM
  • Identifier: vital:10269 , http://hdl.handle.net/10948/d1011641 , Labor courts , Employees -- Dismissal of
  • Description: Before the introduction of the concept of constructive dismissal in the LRA, the old industrial courts relied on the strides made in this field by the English and American courts. Constructive dismissal is the fourth type of dismissal and it is instituted by the employee through his/her resignation, unlike the other three types of dismissals which is instituted by the employer. Section 186(e) of the LRA defines constructive dismissal as the termination a contract of employment with or without notice by the employee because the employer made continued employment intolerable for the employee. With a fundamental breach in the contract of employment employees have a choice to either base their claims on constructive dismissal in the LRA or repudiation of the contract in common law, depending on the circumstances. Landmark judgments like Jooste v Transnet and Pretoria Society for the Care of the Retarded v Loots set the tone for constructive dismissal law in South Africa. It introduced the concept of intolerability as well as looking at the employer‟s conduct as a whole and judging it reasonable. The test for constructive dismissal throughout the evolution of case law in South Africa has not changed. Constructive Dismissal under the common law is also discussed in depth by looking at the landmark judgment of Murray v Minister of Defence. Sexual Harassment in the workplace is of a growing concern. If continued sexual harassment makes continued employment intolerable, the employee subjected to the harassment has the option of resigning and approaching the CCMA or bargaining councils, and claim that they have been constructively dismissed. Cases such as Payten v Premier Chemicals and Gerber v Algorax (Pty) Ltd really shows us how difficult it is to proof constructive dismissal as a result of sexual harassment because in most instances there won‟t be witnesses and it would be a case of he said, she said. These cases also show us that it can be proven based on a balance of probabilities. Grogan states that in dismissal proceedings, the onus is on the employees to prove that they were in fact dismissed and on the employer to show that the dismissal was fair. Section 192 of the LRA places another burden on the employee that requires him to not only prove the existence of a dismissal, but also that the conduct of the employer was intolerable. Unlike normal dismissal cases, commissioners generally award compensation as a remedy for constructive dismissal. A claim by an employee for reinstatement would be contradicting a claim that the employment relationship became intolerable and an award for reinstatement would be very inappropriate in a case of constructive dismissal. In short, unlike a normal dismissal, a constructive dismissal is a termination of the employment contract by the employee rather than the employer‟s own immediate act.
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  • Date Issued: 2013

Aspects of isiXhosa poetry with special reference to poems produced about women

  • Authors: Jadezweni, Mhlobo Wabantwana
  • Date: 2013
  • Subjects: Laudatory poetry, Xhosa African poetry (English) -- History and criticism Women in literature Women and literature -- South Africa African poetry -- Women authors
  • Language: English
  • Type: Thesis , Doctoral , PhD
  • Identifier: vital:3616 , http://hdl.handle.net/10962/d1006364
  • Description: This study investigates the use of modern and izibongo (praise poetry) techniques in representing women in selected isiXhosa poems. The main interest of the study is to determine whether the same techniques to depict men are used when writing about women. It is also the interest of the study to ascertain how gender issues are dealt with in the selected poems. Seminal studies on izibongo by eminent scholars in this field show a serious lack of critique and little recognition of women in African languages’ poetry in general and in isiXhosa in particular. Pioneering studies in Nguni poetry about women have thus recommended that serious studies on poetry about women be undertaken. The analyses of selected poems by established isiXhosa poets show that modern poetry conventions are significantly used together with izibongo techniques. These techniques are used without any gender differentiation, which is another point of interest of this study. There are however instances where images specific to women are used. Such use has however not been found to be demeaning of women in any way. Poems where modern poetry forms and conventions are used tend to deal with subjects who have international or an urban area background. Even though the modern poetry conventions are used with izibongo techniques the presence of the modern literary conventions is prominent. This is the case particularly with poems about women in politics. That some female poet seems to accept some cultural practices that are viewed to be undermining the status of women does not take away the voice of protest against this oppression by some of the selected poets. These two voices, one of acceptance and the other one of protest are used as a basis for a debate around a need for a literary theory that addresses the question of African culture with special reference to isiXhosa poetry about women. The success of the selected poets with both modern and izibongo techniques is a good sign for the development of isiXhosa poetry in general and isiXhosa poetry about women. It is strongly recommended that continued research of a serious nature concerning poetry about, and produced by women, be undertaken.
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  • Date Issued: 2013

Assemblage dynamics of larval fishes associated with various shallow water nursery habitats in Algoa Bay, South Africa

  • Authors: Pattrick, Paula
  • Date: 2013
  • Subjects: Spawning -- South Africa -- Algoa Bay , Fishes -- Larvae -- South Africa -- Algoa Bay
  • Language: English
  • Type: Thesis , Doctoral , DPhil
  • Identifier: vital:10727 , http://hdl.handle.net/10948/d1021042
  • Description: The success of the larval stage in fishes plays a critical role in structuring adult fish populations. It is well understood that juveniles of many marine fish species are closely associated with nearshore and coastal habitats that serve as nursery areas while adult assemblages are more widely distributed. The larval phase however, particularly pertaining to nursery habitat use, remains poorly understood in South Africa. A mixed-method, larval and juvenile fish study was conducted in the warm-temperate shallow coastal waters of Algoa Bay, South Africa. Two years (2010 – 2012) of seasonal sampling at 27 stations at various habitat types revealed distinct spatio-temporal patterns in larval fish composition and abundance. In total, 164 species from 50 families were collected in the nearshore (<30 m), over reef and sand, in the surf zone and large estuarine habitats in Algoa Bay. Engraulidae dominated the larval fish catch in the nearshore (38.4 percent) and over the selected reef and sand habitats (37.8 percent). Cynoglossidae (28.1 percent) and Sparidae (8.4 percent) were the second and third most abundant fish families in the nearshore. In subtidal reef and sand habitats, Gobiidae (23.4 percent) and Clupeidae (9.2 percent) were the second and third most abundant families respectively. Sparidae dominated (71.4 percent) surf zones followed by Soleidae (10.8 percent) and Mugilidae (5.3 percent), while in the mouth area of two permanently open estuaries in Algoa Bay, Gobiidae (35.9 percent) Sparidae (30.1 percent) and Mugilidae (12.4 percent) dominated. Several species from the Blenniidae, Gobiesocidae, Gobiidae, Scorpaenidae and Tripterygiidae fish families complete their pelagic larval phase in the reef habitats in Algoa Bay. These reef habitats therefore serve as important nursery areas for the larvae of benthic species. The sand and nearshore habitats serve as nursery areas for Clupeidae and Engraulidae. Highest densities of Carangidae, Sciaenidae and Sparidae larvae were observed at the subtidal reef habitats indicating that this area is important for accumulation of the early developmental stages of these fishes. The nearshore serves as an important accumulation habitat for species in the Haemulidae and Soleidae families whose juveniles are known to recruit into estuarine nursery areas. The nearshore therefore is a specific area of presettlement buildup of larvae prior to settlement of larvae or juveniles in estuarine nursery areas. Cynoglossidae larvae are also using the nearshore as an accumulation area prior to settlement and recruitment into adult populations occurring in shallow water habitats. In the surf zone, not only are estuary-dependent fish species utilizing this habitat as a nursery area, but marinespecies whose adults are either associated with rocky shores or surf zones are similarly using these areas as nursery habitats. In addition, estuary-dependent fish species which spawn in the marine environment are actively recruiting into estuarine nursery areas on both tides. Active recruitment against the outgoing ebb tide flow was a conclusive finding in this study. These larvae and juveniles are actively swimming against the ebb tide in the shallower, slower-flowing marginal areas where current flow is reduced. Strong environmental gradients on multiple temporal and spatial scales occur in Algoa Bay. Seasonal patterns were evident in larval densities, richness and diversity. Peaks in density, richness and diversity occurred during spring and summer (September to February) associated with increasing water temperatures and a high productivity providing a good food environment for larval fishes. Thereafter densities declined steadily as a result of natural mortality, settlement or adult spawning activity, until autumn when numbers dropped suddenly as the surviving larvae moved to settlement habitats. The relationship between larval fish and environmental variables provides information useful to determine distributions. Therefore the Bay is particularly suited for modelling larval fish distributions. Using generalized linear models, larval fish density in the nearshore of Algoa Bay responded to different ocean features to varying degrees. Larval fish density responded positively to both upwelling and when warm water plumes, originating from an Agulhas Current meander, entered Algoa Bay. On subtidal reefs, habitat complexity played an important role in determining larval fish composition and diversity. The less structurally complex, reefassociated sand habitats, yielded higher species richness and diversity than the high and low profile reef habitats. Therefore, it is likely that the importance of less structurally complex habitats has been overlooked relative to other habitats in terms of their function for larval fishes. In the surf zone, wave period and wave height, which can be related to exposure, were the most significant environmental factors influencing larval fish assemblages. Greatest species diversity was observed in the surf zone habitats heavily influenced by wave action in the windward sector of Algoa Bay. The identification of spawning areas and the mapping of distributions of early developmental stages of fishes are important in providing data pertaining to the protection of these habitats. This is particularly relevant as a new marine protected area MPA)is planned for the eastern sector of Algoa Bay. Results from retrogressive plots indicate that the spawning locations of several species of coastal and pelagic fishes are occurring outside of the Bay, with the bay therefore serving as an accumulation area. Furthermore, distribution modelling results demonstrate that the early developmental stages of fishes in the shallow coastal habitats of Algoa Bay exhibit high spatial variability in their distributions. Results presented in this thesis help fill the knowledge gaps critical to the understanding of larval fish nursery areas of several economically and ecologically important fish species in Algoa Bay.
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  • Date Issued: 2013

Assessing asset management in the Nelson Mandela Metropolitan Municipality

  • Authors: Mahlangabeza, Bukeka
  • Date: 2013
  • Subjects: Asset management accounts -- South Africa -- Port Elizabeth , Local government -- South Africa -- Port Elizabeth , Strategic planning -- South Africa -- Port Elizabeth , Management -- South Africa -- Port Elizabeth
  • Language: English
  • Type: Thesis , Masters , MBA
  • Identifier: vital:8848 , http://hdl.handle.net/10948/d1020108
  • Description: Due to scarce financial resources, over-stretched budgets, pressures for service delivery and the dynamic nature of local government, asset management plays a key strategic role in enhancing local municipal functionality and efficiency. Asset management is the management of physical assets, infrastructure, and immoveable assets. It is an evolving discipline that is enhanced by the understanding of asset conditions and performance. It improves decision-making within local government. Every year, local government announces millions of Rands’ worth of assets that are unaccounted for and that go missing in annual reports. It was the purpose of this study to assess the asset management function at the Nelson Mandela Bay Municipality (NMBM). The aim is to improve the management of moveable assets by investigating the following variables: strategic management of assets, knowledge management, governance, leadership, the impact of corruption and skills management. The approach to the study is a qualitative research paradigm with a case study methodology and an interview as a research instrument. The sample chosen comprised people from the top level of municipal management down to municipal asset controllers. The two forms of data that were collected in the study were primary data and secondary data. Primary data was collected from municipal workers and collated together for analysis purposes. Secondary data was gathered from library sources such as journals, books, conference papers, government acts, municipal policies and local newspapers. This data informed the interview questions. The interview strategy was chosen as the best way to conduct the empirical part of this research and was guided by an interview guide. The study found that there are operational defects in the way asset management is organised. This makes the function seem unimportant. The results also indicated a lack of staff members and skills shortages; such as management and computer skills. Indications are that theft, negligence, corruption and carelessness negatively impact the management of assets. Recommendations include the filling of vacant posts, tightening of internal controls, providing the necessary training and improving the asset management. The study makes a contribution to the current body of knowledge.
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  • Date Issued: 2013

Assessing employee perceptions of quality at Fresenius Kabi Manufacturing South Africa (FKMSA)

  • Authors: Bango, Nomasango Ida
  • Date: 2013
  • Subjects: Pharmaceutical industry -- South Africa -- Quality control , Quality assurance -- South Africa -- Management , Manufactures -- South Africa
  • Language: English
  • Type: Thesis , Masters , MBA
  • Identifier: vital:8830 , http://hdl.handle.net/10948/d1019778
  • Description: The pharmaceutical industry is one of the fastest growing and developing industries in the world today. With the ever advancing technology and manufacturing techniques, quality assurance has become the focus of regulatory bodies all over the world. The implementation of quality management systems (QMS) that ensures that quality is built into every step of the design and manufacturing process has been the focus of many pharmaceutical companies. With the implementation of quality systems, employee’s perception of those systems and overall quality standards of the organisation is very important in establishing the quality culture of the organisation. To benefit from sustainable quality systems the organisations must ensure that employees understand the importance of the systems and that employee’s take personal responsibility for ensuring that their functions are performed correctly the first time. FKMSA has invested in a QMS that seeks to integrate all quality issues. The quality system includes documentation, deviations, corrective and preventative action (CAPA), change controls and quality risk management (QRM) in the entire facility. This system is administered by the quality control department, but each department takes ownership for their quality issues with support and guidance from the quality unit. FKMSA also firmly believes that quality cannot merely rely on the quality control test results; every step of the production process has a quality aspect built in to ensure that quality standards are adhered to. Every employee is trained, assessed and deemed competent before they can perform their duties; this is to ensure that human errors are kept to a minimum. Employee’s perception of quality is an integral part of quality assurance and it is important for the organisation to know what the employees believe to be the company’s standards of quality.
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  • Date Issued: 2013

Assessing financial viability of selected urban and rural municipalities in the Eastern Cape

  • Authors: Maclean, Sindisile
  • Date: 2013
  • Subjects: Finance, Public -- South Africa -- Eastern Cape , Municipal government -- South Africa -- Eastern Cape , Sustainable development -- South Africa -- Eastern Cape , Human services -- South Africa -- Eastern Cape , Municipal services -- South Africa -- Eastern Cape , South Africa -- Economic policy , South Africa -- Economic conditions
  • Language: English
  • Type: Thesis , Doctoral , PhD (in Public Administration)
  • Identifier: vital:11661 , http://hdl.handle.net/10353/d1007093 , Finance, Public -- South Africa -- Eastern Cape , Municipal government -- South Africa -- Eastern Cape , Sustainable development -- South Africa -- Eastern Cape , Human services -- South Africa -- Eastern Cape , Municipal services -- South Africa -- Eastern Cape , South Africa -- Economic policy , South Africa -- Economic conditions
  • Description: The purpose of the research is to assess the financial viability of selected urban and rural municipalities in the Eastern Cape. Municipalities that are not financially viable and sustainable will always struggle to deliver basic services to communities. Without sound financial management systems, municipalities will be forced to discontinue their operations. Municipalities, particularly small and rural ones, are not self-sufficient and often rely on grants and transfers to satisfy their immediate short-term goal of providing basic services to satisfy the needs of their communities. Therefore, finance is regarded as an overriding and decisive factor for determining the viability of municipalities. The study seeks to investigate the financial viability of selected urban and rural municipalities in the Eastern Cape. Its key research questions are: Are municipalities able to provide sufficient funds to provide a range of services at an acceptable service level? To what extent do municipalities rely on external funding? Do municipalities have revenue collection capacity and revenue policies? The study asserts that most municipalities lack the required financial resources. They depend mainly on transfers from Provincial Government and equitable share and conditional grants from National Government. Section 152 (1) of the Constitution of the Republic of South Africa, Act 8 of 1996, states, amongst other things, that Local Government should ensure the provision of services to communities in a sustainable manner. The constitution further states that a municipality must strive, within its financial and administrative capacity, to achieve its objectives. The Municipal Finance Management Act, Act 56 of 2003, creates a framework for municipalities to borrow money and determine the conditions for short- and long-term borrowing. The Act assigns clear roles and responsibilities to the various role players involved in local government financial management. According to the Act, an annual budget for a municipality may only be funded from realistically anticipated revenues to be collected. As revenue projections in the budget must be realistic, the Municipal Property Rates Act, Act 6 of 2004, facilitates the collection of revenue in municipalities and establishes a uniform property rating system across South Africa. Property tax is the biggest element of local government tax revenue and is central to municipal finance. The Municipal Systems Act, Act 32 of 2000, amongst its objectives, provides for the manner in which municipal powers and functions are exercised as well as establishes a simple framework for the core processes of planning, performance management and resource mobilisation. The Act also provides a framework for public administration and human resource development. Finally, it also empowers the poor and ensures that municipalities put in place service tariffs and credit control policies that take their needs into account. The research contends that, whilst there is legislation and structures to assist and direct municipalities, it has been established that municipalities do not properly collect rates and taxes due to them to augment their revenue. The study has shown nevertheless that metropolitan municipalities have the capacity to collect revenue for municipal services. This is confirmed by their collection rate which ranges between 94 % and 97 %. There is also the culture of non-payment by communities for services rendered by the municipalities. Rural municipalities are exempted from property tax, while other rural municipalities who have an urban component, have to collect. There is also the question of unemployment and poverty. Consequently, municipalities are not self-sufficient and rely on grants and equitable share to survive. As a result of this lack of self-sufficiency, it is difficult to implement service delivery and also difficult to attract skilled personnel. The study has investigated why some municipalities fail to collect revenue and depend on national grants. The study employed both qualitative and quantitative methods. The findings of the quantitative paradigm have been presented in the form of graphs and charts. The major findings include: All municipalities have limited borrowing capacity; have not exceeded their budgets in terms of their spending; small municipalities have households as their main contributor of revenue collected; metropolitan municipalities get the big slice of their revenue from business; small and rural municipalities rely on grants and transfers and are therefore not financially viable; metropolitan municipalities are, to a great extent, financially viable but lack skills and capacity to utilize their resources for effective service delivery; and all municipalities under-spend their budgets. The study, after elaborating on the findings, makes recommendations on how municipalities should become financially viable.
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  • Date Issued: 2013

Assessing household assets to understand vulnerability to HIV/Aids and climate change in the Eastern Cape, South Africa

Assessing soil carbon and carbon dioxide effluxes under different vegetation cover conditions in the Eastern Cape Province, South Africa

  • Authors: Zengeni, Rebecca
  • Date: 2013
  • Subjects: Soils -- Carbon content -- Measurement , Carbon dioxide mitigation -- South Africa , Greenhouse gas mitigation -- South Africa
  • Language: English
  • Type: Thesis , Doctoral , PhD
  • Identifier: vital:10665 , http://hdl.handle.net/10948/d1018676
  • Description: Albany thicket is prevalent in the Eastern Cape Province of South Africa. Its spread has diminished through overgrazing and heavy browsing by animals, land clearance and urban expansion. The result is highly degraded land characterized by invasion of alien species. There is a wealth of documented evidence on the high carbon sequestration ability of thicket biome, but not much has been done to assess its effect on carbon dioxide emissions from the soil. Given that the concentration of atmospheric greenhouse gases has been constantly rising since the industrial era, it is imperative to assess the influence of thicket biome as a source or sink of these gases. There is evidence of shifts in the climate in southern Africa as reflected by changes in rainfall patterns, increased temperatures, recurrent droughts and fires. As such, the historical rainfall variability in an Albany thicket region and its interaction with the temporal land use / cover changes was studied. This served to give some background information about the study area for more detailed study on C and carbon dioxide effluxes in thicket vegetation under different levels of degradation. This study thus aimed to determine the influence of thicket vegetation at various levels of degradation on soil carbon and carbon dioxide fluxes. The impact of plant photosynthetic pathway on soil C residence time and gas effluxes were analysed to elucidate on the land-use and cover patterns occurring in the area. All this was done to shed some light on the role of soil and thicket vegetation on carbon dioxide emissions and C storage in the spectrum of a shifting climate. The main area of research was Amakhala reserve in an Albany thicket in Eastern Cape Province; and it concentrated on three land cover types namely intact thicket, degraded thicket and grassland. The objectives mentioned above were achieved by assessing historical rainfall variability from 1970 to 2010 through trend and time series analysis at nine rainfall stations located at Amakhala reserve, Grahamstown, Bathurst, Port Alfred, Uitenhage and Port Elizabeth. The land use changes that have occurred in the Albany thicket region covering Amakhala reserve, Grahamstown, Bathurst and Port Alfred were also assessed for 1989, 1999 and 2009 through satellite image analysis with Idrisi Andes GIS software; then their interaction with rainfall variability were determined. To elucidate on the vegetation species composition and land use / cover changes that have occurred in the study area, plant biomass as well carbon (C) and nitrogen (N) isotope measurements were done. Plant biomass was assessed for the dominant species through use of pre-existing allometric equations that required data on plant basal diameter, canopy area, stem numbers and height. The plant carbon was then estimated through use of a conversion factor of 0.48 on above-ground biomass, while soil organic C was determined through the modified Walkely - Black method. Carbon and N isotope ratios were determined from the foliar material of three replicate samples of dominant plant species then analyzed through mass spectrometry. Soil carbon dioxide effluxes were then monitored in each of the intact thicket (IT), degraded thicket (DT) and grassland (G) over a 10 month period; by measuring the net carbon dioxide exchange rate (NCER) through the dynamic chamber method. An automated carbon dioxide exchange analyzer, coupled to a soil temperature probe and photosynthetic active radiation (PAR) sensor was used; with NCER measurements taken every 20-30 days. Soil temperature, moisture, penetration resistance and PAR readings were taken during each assay and later used to interpret the NCER. Results showed that long term variability in annual rainfall had a declining trend at Grahamstown (r = -0.59), Uitenhage and Bathurst stations (r = -0.32 at both stations), but was not significant at Amakhala, Port Alfred and Port Elizabeth stations. Most reductions in rainfall occurred in the 1980s and 1990s with the autumn, winter and summer rainfalls, the daily rainfall index and the daily rainfall subclasses of 10 mm and above showing a similar trend. The land use change detection gave a significant increase in proportion of degraded and transformed (moderately degraded) land between 1989 and 2009 with most of the increases occurring from 1989 to 1999, while farmland area decreased by 1.8 percent over the years. Thus the Albany region had over 30 percent of its land occupied by transformed vegetation, with heavy browsing and uncontrolled grazing being attributed to the destruction of pristine vegetation. Land-use change to game ranching and goat pastoralism was attributed to the reduction in farmland. Rainfall variability – land use change linkages were most significant in 1999 that recorded the least rainfall and had the lowest mean, maximum and sum of the NDVI. Grahamstown had the most significant rainfall-NDVI trends as it had the lowest NDVIs in 1999 when rainfall was lowest, the highest NDVI in 1989 when rainfall was highest and moderate NDVIs in 2009 when rainfall was moderate. Vegetation at the IT was characterized by a dense thicket with diverse growth forms of canopy trees, woody shrubs, succulent shrubs and ephemerals which mostly had the C3 type of pathway. This was in contrast with the IT soil isotopy that showed more positive C isotope ratios, indicating a switch between C3 and CAM photosynthesis in original vegetation. Most of the canopy trees had disappeared in the DT to be replaced by herbs, shrubs and grasses. As such, there was a huge difference in isotope ratios between DT plants and soils with the plants having mostly C3 metabolism while the soil showed a predominance of CAM plants in previous vegetation, indicating significant changes in land cover. The G site mostly comprised the grasses Themeda triandra and Panicum maximum and a few herbs. It maintained a dominance of C4 metabolism in both plants and soils showing very little change in species composition over the years. Because of the higher species diversity at IT, its soil organic C was quite high reaching levels of 3.4 percent (i.e. 3.4 t C / ha) in the top 10 cm then decreasing with depth (p < 0.001); but was moderate at DT (1.1-1.3 percent) and very low at G ( 0.5 percent C) (p < 0.001). In the same manner above-ground biomass was highest at IT i.e. 330 000 kg/ha; but was only 22 000 kg/ha in DT and as low as 6 700 kg/ha in G vegetation. High biomass at IT was mostly attributed to the succulent shrub Portulacaria afra and the canopy trees Euclea undulate, Rhus longispina and Schotia afra. This above-ground biomass translated to biomass C amounts of 158 000 kg/ha at IT, 10 600 kg/ha at DT and 3 200 kg/ha at G. Thus the IT had the highest while G the least and DT moderate plant and soil C sequestration ability. In all, the conversion of IT to DT led to a net loss of 147 000 Kg of biomass C / ha and 12 000kg less organic C / ha of land. Soil carbon dioxide effluxes were however variable between seasons as they were affected by differences in soil properties and seasonal weather patterns. High soil moisture levels (up to 16 percent gravimetric moisture) resulted in reduced soil penetration resistance (1 to 4 Kg/cm2) which raised effluxes at G and DT sites (up to 1.2 μmols m-2 sec-1) in winter, while low moisture (2 percent) resulted in hard dry soil (14 Kgm-2 penetration resistance) with suppressed CO2 effluxes in spring (0.2 μmols m-2 sec-1) especially in DT and G soils. Rising temperature generally caused accelerated gas emissions but only when moisture was not limiting (as was the case in IT). Thus the high summer temperatures (up to 40oC) gave lower effluxes especially in DT and G (< 1 μm-2sec-1) due to limited moisture supply (< 10 percent); while the Autumn period that had very high temperature (up to 48 oC) and good moisture (up to 16 percent) saw accelerated soil CO2 emissions (averaging 2 μmols m-2 sec-1) from all cover types. The high biomass and litter fall at IT served as ready substrate for soil respiration as long as moisture was not limiting and temperatures were favourable, while reduced cover at DT resulted in poor moisture conservation and creation of hard dry soils in spring and summer with reduced respiration. It was concluded that the DT had high CO2 effluxes in winter and reduced emissions in summer; while the opposite was true for the IT. All the cover types had minimal CO2 effluxes in spring and accelerated emissions in autumn. The grassland on the other hand was a fairly moderate source or sink of CO2 in most seasons compared with the other two covers. It was observed that an environment of good moisture and low-moderate temperatures (such as that in the winter) minimises effluxes while maintaining good plant productivity. It was concluded that thicket vegetation is a good sink of carbon that should be preserved in its natural condition to optimize its carbon sequestration potential. All three land covers served as sources or sinks of CO2 depending on soil and seasonal conditions. Thus high moisture and low penetration resistance generally increased effluxes of thicket ecosystems. The effect of increasing temperature on effluxes was only significant when moisture was not limiting. Conditions of good moisture and low-moderate temperatures gave reasonable amounts of effluxes while maintaining good plant productivity. Though the dry soil conditions significantly reduced effluxes in all land covers; they were not desirable since they decreased plant productivity and ultimately its C sequestration potential. Moreover, prolonged dry conditions only serve to exacerbate recovery of thicket plants as they increase mortality of canopy species in degraded and transformed areas in comparison with intact thicket.
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  • Date Issued: 2013

Assessing the competitiveness of small and medium sized retail business in South Africa

  • Authors: Herholdt, Petrus Stephanus
  • Date: 2013
  • Subjects: Competition -- South Africa , Small business -- South Africa , Chain stores -- South Africa
  • Language: English
  • Type: Thesis , Masters , MBA
  • Identifier: vital:8867 , http://hdl.handle.net/10948/d1020279
  • Description: The South African economy and especially its retail environment are continuously experiencing the impact of globalisation. The continuous expansions of large public retail businesses that consist of numerous chain stores are evident in both the local and international arena. South Africa has witnessed large amounts of foreign direct investment (FDI) invested into its retail sector. The above mentioned facts hold a serious challenge for small and medium retail businesses in South Africa (SMEs). In order for SME retail businesses to stay competitive against these global retail businesses, it needs to be able to withstand the competition in the environment it operates. This is not always an easy challenge given the limited access to resources that the majority of SME businesses have access to. This study presents how South African SME retail businesses can remain competent and profitable in spite of serious competition from large retail businesses of both local and international origin. In order to suggest recommendations for South African SME retail businesses to be more competent in relation to large retail businesses, the researcher identified some areas of improvement, which is perceived to be the most important for enhancing the competitiveness of SMEs. These variables include uniqueness, entrepreneurial leadership, cost effectiveness, technology and quality management. These variables were researched to understand how they affect SME retail businesses and where tested using quantitative analysis to ascertain if managers and owners of SME retail businesses believed that these variables would help them to improve the level of competitiveness in relation to large retail businesses. The results indicated that SME owners and managers felt that uniqueness, entrepreneurial leadership, cost effectiveness, technology and quality management all contributes to the competitiveness of their business. Empirical evidence shows that owners and managers of SME retail business felt that all of the above factors will result in their SME retail business being more competitive as compared to large retail businesses. The former will lead to better chances of success which again are most likely to lead to increased probability.
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  • Date Issued: 2013

Assessing the effect of Public Participation and development communications on service delivery: the case of the department of Social Development in the Eastern Cape (2004-2010)

  • Authors: Maswana, Gcobani
  • Date: 2013
  • Subjects: Political participation -- South Africa -- Eastern Cape , Human services -- South Africa -- Eastern Cape , Community development -- South Africa -- Eastern Cape , Civil service -- South Africa -- Eastern Cape , Municipal services -- South Africa -- Eastern Cape , Human capital -- South Africa -- Eastern Cape , Sustainable development -- South Africa -- Eastern Cape
  • Language: English
  • Type: Thesis , Masters , MPA
  • Identifier: vital:11652 , http://hdl.handle.net/10353/d1006979 , Political participation -- South Africa -- Eastern Cape , Human services -- South Africa -- Eastern Cape , Community development -- South Africa -- Eastern Cape , Civil service -- South Africa -- Eastern Cape , Municipal services -- South Africa -- Eastern Cape , Human capital -- South Africa -- Eastern Cape , Sustainable development -- South Africa -- Eastern Cape
  • Description: Public Participation is a critical facet of development communication. The Republic of South Africa (RSA) Constitution 1996 promotes a set of values of good governance setting a framework for the public participation, and democratization of the public sector through instruments such as developmental communication in order to impact better service delivery. Public participation is an effective communication platform of a new democratic South Africa, as such, public participation forms part of the Constitution of the RSA Act (108 of 1996). To necessitate good governance, it is very imperative that the citizenry, being voters to take an active role in the affairs of governance. The credibility, legitimacy, acceptability, support for governance structures and sustainability of any government is dependable mostly on how citizens are participating in the affairs of government.The research topic being-assessing the effect of Public Participation and Development Communications on service delivery:the case of the department of Social Development in the Eastern Cape focused on Ingquza Municipality in O.R.Tambo District of the Eastern Cape.The public administration has positioned financial management and human resources as critical elements for effective and efficient system. The study has identified that the omission of public participation and development communication as a gap that need to be optimally utilized to avoid communication gap that leads to unnecessary service delivery protests. The study position communication as strategic and management function of each and every manager. The importance of Public Participation is that it could help to ensure that the citizens take ownership of processes as an important democratic principle.The imbizo’s as public participation tool and effective communication platform has been proven to be effective. The strengthening of development communication in the department to empower communities through development communication cadres and information dissemination is paramount important. Furthermore this will make sure that there is a continuous feedback on quality assurance programme in implementing political pronouncements that are made during imbizo’s.
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  • Date Issued: 2013

Assessing the entrepreneurial attributes of undergraduate business students at Nelson Mandela Metropolitan University

  • Authors: Saunders, Shelley
  • Date: 2013
  • Subjects: Entrepreneurship -- South Africa -- Port Elizabeth , Business students -- South Africa -- Port Elizabeth
  • Language: English
  • Type: Thesis , Masters , MCom
  • Identifier: vital:9316 , http://hdl.handle.net/10948/d1020129
  • Description: To improve and develop South Africa’s entrepreneurial activity, it is vital that the population acquires certain attributes which are common among individuals who exhibit entrepreneurial behaviour. As the occurrence of entrepreneurial attributes increases in the population, so too will the probability of entrepreneurial behaviour and entrepreneurial activity. A possible first step in ensuring that a population possesses the necessary attributes is to assess the current levels of development of these entrepreneurial attributes among students of business. Underdeveloped attributes can then be identified, and steps taken to bring about improvements. The primary objective of this study was to assess the entrepreneurial attributes of undergraduate business students at the Nelson Mandela Metropolitan University. In order to achieve this objective an in-depth analysis of secondary sources was conducted. The nature of entrepreneurship was defined and its importance highlighted. Furthermore, the status of entrepreneurship both globally and nationally was elaborated on. Entrepreneurship education was also addressed, and its role in developing entrepreneurial attributes was discussed. The 16 entrepreneurial attributes associated with successful entrepreneurs were described. The most commonly used intentions-based models were also discussed. In line with the intentions-based theories, the greater the perception of possessing the attributes associated with a successful entrepreneur by an individual, the greater the belief by that individual that he or she has the capacity and competence to become an entrepreneur, which in turn will influence their entrepreneurial intentions. Against the background of the literature overview, several hypotheses were formulated and subjected to empirical testing. A quantitative research approach was selected, the sample consisting of all undergraduate business students studying at three South African universities as well as two international universities. Convenience sampling was implemented in this study. The validity of the measuring instrument was determined by means of a factor analysis, and the reliability by means of calculating Cronbach alpha coefficients. The statistical techniques used to analyse the data included calculating descriptive statistics (the mean, standard deviation and frequency distributions), t-tests and Cohen’s d, a multivariate analysis of variance (MANOVA), an analysis of variance (ANOVA), Chi-squared statistic, and Cramer’s V. The results of the study show that NMMU students regarded the attributes Commitment, High energy level, Planning and perseverance and Overcoming failure as the four most-developed attributes, while they regarded Continuous learning, Knowledge-seeking, Initiative and responsibility and Communication ability as the least-developed. With the exception of the attributes Commitment and Overcoming failure, the level of development of the entrepreneurial attributes of NMMU students showed significant improvement between the 2001 and the 2010 studies. With the exception of Continuous learning, no significant differences were reported in the levels of development of the various entrepreneurial attributes between students at NMMU and students at the other South African universities participating in the study. When comparing the significant differences in the level of development of the 16 entrepreneurial attributes between NMMU and the international universities, a large practical significance was found for the attributes High energy level, Continuous learning and Knowledge seeking. For the attributes Planning and perseverance, Communication ability, Overcoming failure, Initiative and responsibility, High energy level, Creativity and flexibility, Knowledge seeking, Continuous learning, Financial proficiency and Business knowledge, students with entrepreneurial intentions reported significantly higher mean scores than students without entrepreneurial intentions. In other words, students with higher levels of development of these attributes are more likely to have entrepreneurial intentions. It was also found that significant differences in the levels of development of entrepreneurial attributes were reported for the demographic variables Levels of study, Gender and Age. No significant differences were found to exist between the demographic variables Level of study, Gender and Self-employment status of parents and the Entrepreneurial intention of NMMU students. This study has contributed to the field of entrepreneurship research by identifying several entrepreneurial attributes that are more likely to be found in students with entrepreneurial intentions than those without them. This study has also shown that certain demographic factors are related to the levels of development of certain entrepreneurial attributes, as well as to entrepreneurial intentions. Furthermore, through the assessment of entrepreneurial attributes of NMMU students and by making comparisons with other universities, this study has contributed to entrepreneurship education at NMMU as well as to entrepreneurship education in South Africa and abroad. Educators of entrepreneurship have been given insights into the levels of development of several entrepreneurial attributes among their students. In addition, recommendations have been made on how to improve the levels of development of the attributes investigated in this study.
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  • Date Issued: 2013

Assessing the impact of class antagonism on administration of land redistribution in the Eastern Cape Amatole district (2004-2009)

  • Authors: Njoli, P V
  • Date: 2013
  • Language: English
  • Type: Thesis , Masters , MPA
  • Identifier: http://hdl.handle.net/10353/1064 , vital:26522
  • Description: The research is to investigate the equality and equity case with regards to land redistribution in the Amathole District of Eastern Cape. This research is based on the administration of land redistribution and reality that the majority of the poor and landless people reside in the rural areas. Therefore the land question is a focal point to which the main question of the research, assessing the impact of class antagonism on the administration of land redistribution, will be directed to. This research is mainly about the pursuit of policies that relate to redistribution of land, particularly the farms from the rich White farmers to the previously disadvantaged emerging rural Black farmers. Thus the land reform is viewed as one strategy to alleviate the crushing poverty situation in South Africa, particularly in the rural areas of Amathole District.The research is to investigate the administrative policies with regards to land redistribution and also check and confirm how the race and class intertwining affects the implementation of these administrative policies. Since S.A is a class society, the research has to actually investigate the impact of class antagonism on the process of redistribution. This is due to the conviction that the officials of the departments of state, in anywhere, are out in search of wealth hence the fraud and corruption. In S.A., land reform also has an ethical and political-economic dimension. It seeks to favour A over B. This research, therefore, intends to investigate whether the administrative policies of land redistribution are manipulated on the basis of race and class.
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  • Date Issued: 2013

Assessing the impact of shifting traditional leadership roles on local government in service delivery: a case study of the Bor County, Jonglei State, South Sudan

  • Authors: Bior, Ajang Duot
  • Date: 2013
  • Language: English
  • Type: Thesis , Masters , MPA
  • Identifier: vital:11694 , http://hdl.handle.net/10353/d1015046
  • Description: The local level of government plays a pivotal role in the delivering of service in Bor county of Jonglei State in South Sudan. As the world‟s newest nation attained independence in July 2011, the republic of South Sudan face a huge mountain to climb in terms of service delivery for socio – economic transformation. A country which has ransacked by civil wars and economic exclusion of its people in the past, South Sudan needs to pool resources together for the sustainable betterment of its citizens. Service is solely dependent on leadership and effective and efficient service rendering, requires a people – centred, accountable and professional leadership. Traditional leaders have played a key role in the welfare of their subjects in South Sudan beginning long back, they have led, counselled, mediated disputes, allocated and managed land as well as preservation of customs and cultures. The study sought to assess shifting roles of traditional leaders in local government services delivery. It comprises of six chapters which are chronologically arranged. The main objectives of the study were to establish role which were played by Bor traditional leadership to promote service delivery at the local government level before independence, after independence, the extent to which the roles shifted, challenges they face currently and ways of solving them. The research question which guided the sought to find the answers to what roles traditional leaders played before and after independence, the shifting of roles, challenges and ways of addressing them. The paradigm used in the study is the qualitative research approach where empirical data was collected from a representative sample of 9 respondents. Data was collected using the non-random sampling techniques of purposely sampling. The researcher observed strict ethical guideline which includes informed consent, privacy and confidentiality. The study found out that traditional leaders played various roles under various governments. There were shifts in traditional leadership roles leaders can play and did not completely divert the roles leaders can play in service delivery. The study further established that Bor traditional leaders were willing service at the local government level but that they faced challenges particularly that of insecurity and war – related problems. The study therefore, recommended that government should pay attention to security in Bor County and the county at large. It was also recommended that government should train traditional leadership roles such as those applied in Ghana, Uganda, South Africa and Zimbabwe. Despite the said shift in roles, traditional leaders remain a key asset to the development of South Sudan.
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  • Date Issued: 2013

Assessing the implementation of gender equity policies in education in Bor County, South Sudan

  • Authors: Duot, Kulang Mayen Kulang
  • Date: 2013
  • Language: English
  • Type: Thesis , Masters , MPA
  • Identifier: vital:11698 , http://hdl.handle.net/10353/d1015134
  • Description: Education is a fundamental human right, a vital resource in overcoming poverty and inequality globally. All children have the right to quality basic education, the bedrock for a productive life. But key to this success is ensuring that girls, as well as boys, have full, equal access to a good quality education system, which gives them knowledge and skills (Fast-tracking, 2011:2). This research study explores the main challenges in the implementation of policies on gender equity in the education in Bor County in South Sudan. An exploratory research design was applied to explain to what extent policies on gender equity in the education system in Bor County, has been achieved and implemented. Quantitative and qualitative research methodologies were applied through questionnaire administration and focus group discussion interviews. Of the sampled respondents about ninety percent (90%) of the respondents were males, while only ten percent (10%) were females, seventy-three percent (73%) were in the middle aged group of 26-45 years. Forty-six percent (46%) had secondary level of education, while about fifty-four (54%) had a tertiary level education. About eighty-four percent (84%) of the respondents reported the existence of policies on gender equity in the education system in Bor County. Ninety-eight percent, (98%) of the respondents were of the perceptions that it was critically important that policies on gender equity in the education system in Bor County be effectively implemented. About seventy-four percent (74%) of them reported that the institutions responsible for formulating or contributing to policy making include among others: the Ministry of Education, Science and Technology National government and Jonglei State Ministry of Education, National and State Parliaments, Ministry of Gender, Child and Social Welfare, Jonglei state and South Sudan transitional Constitutions, with the support from United Nations agencies such as World Food Programme (WFP) and UNICEF, IOM and UNMIISS, also other NGOs for example, Hold the Child, CRS, Save the Children Sweden, JAM and fifty-six percent (56%) reported that these policies did not address the gender equity in education system in Bor County. Respondents pointed to some of the challenges related to implementation of policies on gender equity in the education in Bor County. These challenges entail: lack of financial support to implement gender policies in education, rigid communal traditions and customs, long distance of schools from homes which impact on girls accessing education, illiteracy among the communities which makes them resist enrolling girls in schools, early and forced marriages by the parents, lack of clear gender equity policies in the state Ministry of Education in Jonglei state and Bor County Department of Education, parents who regard their daughters as sources of wealth through marriages, lack of commitment and dedication from the concerned authorities on the implementation of gender policies in education and lack of sensitisation of the community on gender policies in education by the County department of education. The study findings also suggest lack of monitoring and evaluation during the implementation of gender policies in education. Further to this, domestic chores by the girl child as well as poor road network to facilitate movement from one point to another to sensitise people on gender policies in education impede efforts to implement gender equity policies in education. Furthermore some parents regarded schools as places for unlimited freedom for girls. The findings of this study indicated that policies on gender equity in education system in Bor County were formulated and not implemented. The stakeholders in implementing these policies were experiencing challenges that hampered their individual initiative to implement the policies. This was as a result of many factors that have affected the efforts and the roles of stakeholders involving in the implementation of gender equity policies in education in Bor County in South Sudan.
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  • Date Issued: 2013

Assessing the municipal performance management system on service delivery : the case of Lukhanji Municipality

  • Authors: Bam, Liseka Lindelwa
  • Date: 2013
  • Subjects: Performance -- Management , Local officials and employees -- South Africa -- Queenstown , Employees -- Rating of -- South Africa -- Queenstown , Public administration -- South Africa -- Queenstown , Local government -- South Africa -- Queenstown
  • Language: English
  • Type: Thesis , Masters , MPA
  • Identifier: vital:8319 , http://hdl.handle.net/10948/d1020140
  • Description: The performance management system has been introduced in the South African public service with the intensions of monitoring, reviewing, assessing performance, developing underperformers and recognising and rewarding good performance. This study was undertaken as an attempt to assess whether the Lukhanji municipality performance management systems contribute to the improvement of service delivery and employee productivity. The literature review undertaken in this study, shows that there is a general poor understanding of performance management systems in Lukhanji municipality. The literature review further establishes that there are several challenges that hinder the effective implementation of a performance management system in the municipality. Other findings of the study include that there is a challenge in setting the unrealistic performance targets which are unrealisable by employees. These are the reasons why productivity levels are not always realised and targets not achieved by Lukhanji municipality. The main findings of the study are that, although performance management systems play a significant role in the improvement of service delivery, it has not contributed in the improvement of employee productivity of the Lukhanji municipality. The main recommendation on the basis of this finding is that there should be thorough and regular training of officials within the Lukhanji Municipality about the performance management system and how it influences productivity and service delivery. In conclusion, the Municipal Executive Mayoral Committee should demand verifiable evidence to justify a higher rating during quarterly assessments, and that punitive disciplinary measures be taken against those who do not comply with the provision of the performance management system framework, particularly failure to submit performance instruments.
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  • Date Issued: 2013

Assessing the skills development challenges facing the Department of Health in the Eastern Cape and its impact on the delivery of quality services: a case of Victoria Hospital in Amathole District

  • Authors: Matsila, Thomas Sipho
  • Date: 2013
  • Language: English
  • Type: Thesis , Masters , MPA
  • Identifier: vital:11711 , http://hdl.handle.net/10353/d1015242
  • Description: Post- Apartheid South Africa has seen the emergence of an unskilled workforce, which has resulted in many challenges in service delivery especially in the public sector. To ensure that the problem of shortage of skills is addressed the government came up with policy strategies that were aimed at ensuring that the workers are equipped with the right skills within the work and in different institutions. The government came up with different policy frameworks that supported skills development of the South African Workforce. The current study of challenges facing Skills Development at Victoria Hospital has shown that the health sector in South Africa is stills fraught with shortage of skilled manpower although there are policy provisions that promote and encourage training and development of the employees. The findings from the study have indicated that at Victoria Hospital there is an ageing workforce and that the employees are not knowledgeable of skills development programmes that are taking place. The findings of the study also indicated that perceived organizational support, demographic factors, political and legislative policy frameworks are important factors to consider in ensuring the success of skills development or training programmes within the health system in South Africa. The broad aim of the study was to investigate challenges facing Skills Development within Department of Health at Victoria Hospital in the Eastern Cape Province. The study was quantitative in nature and data was collected through survey based Likert questionnaires. Deductive logic was utilized in this study based on the premises of the Social Exchange Theory and the Equity theory.
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  • Date Issued: 2013

Assessment of drug resistant Tuberculosis and Human Immunodeficiency Virus and Acquired Immunodeficiency Syndrome: knowledge levels among community members in Nelson Mandela Metropolitan Municipality

  • Authors: Fana, Thanduxolo
  • Date: 2013
  • Subjects: Multidrug-resistant tuberculosis -- South Africa -- Port Elizabeth , Tuberculosis -- South Africa -- Port Elizabeth -- Prevention
  • Language: English
  • Type: Thesis , Masters , MPA
  • Identifier: vital:8276 , http://hdl.handle.net/10948/d1016076
  • Description: The aim of this study was to assess community members’ knowledge levels regarding Drug Resistant TB and HIV and AIDS. The study was conducted at ward 40 in Green bushes area in Nelson Mandela Metropolitan Municipality (NMMM). A quantitative research method was used in this study. Random sampling is the type of probability sampling method that was used in this study. The sample consisted of 100 respondents above 18 years who were randomly selected from the beneficiary list of for the RDP houses in Green bushes area in the Nelson Mandela Metropolitan Municipality. Data for this study were collected using close ended questions which were administered by the researcher to the selected participants. Data was analysed using bivariate and descriptive statistics according to the identified themes. The study revealed that community members had high knowledge levels regarding Drug Resistant TB and HIV and AIDS prevention, transmission modes and diagnosis and treatment methods. The findings revealed that community members were highly knowledgeable and aware of the fact that abstaining and practising safe sex were means of preventing the spread of HIV and AIDS as it was spread through unprotected sex, while opening of windows and minimisation of close contact with HIV positive people and children with people infected with Drug Resistant TB are infection control measures or methods of preventing the spread of the disease. Additionally, the study indicated that female respondents were more aware and knowledgeable about prevention, transmission modes and diagnosis and treatment of Drug Resistant TB and HIV and AIDS than male respondents. Furthermore, the findings revealed that the respondents were highly knowledgeable and aware about transmission of Drug Resistant TB and HIV and AIDS; knowledgeable about prevention and less knowledgeable about diagnosis and treatment. A high percentage of female respondents knew that there was no vaccine to neither prevent nor cure HIV and AIDS and that antiretroviral drug were used to manage it. The study also showed that female respondents knew that all people irrespective of race and economic class can be infected with Drug Resistant TB and HIV and AIDS. It is important to note that the respondents between 41-60 years possessed more knowledge regarding Drug Resistant TB and HIV and AIDS than the respondents who were between 18-40 years. Lastly, the study showed that there were significant differences in gender and knowledge and no significant differences in age and knowledge of the respondents regarding Drug Resistant TB and HIV and AIDS. It is recommended that in future, research regarding knowledge levels about Drug Resistant TB and HIV and AIDS be extended to other wards in the Nelson Mandela Metropolitan Municipality (NMMM). Accurate knowledge should be provided by ensuring that educational materials that are developed, are appropriate for the various levels of literacy, and that more appropriate and relevant information regarding these diseases is made more accessible to community members in their home languages. The researcher further recommends that during training interventions and educational campaigns more emphasis should be put on prevention, diagnosis and treatment of Drug Resistant TB and HIV and AIDS.
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  • Date Issued: 2013

Assessment of local economic development in the O.R. Tambo District Municipality: agriculture and food production

  • Authors: Nongogo, Mbuyiselo Theophilus
  • Date: 2013
  • Subjects: Economic development projects -- South Africa -- Eastern Cape , Community development -- South Africa -- O.R. Tambo District Municipality , Municipal government -- South Africa -- Eastern Cape , Agriculture and state -- South Africa -- Eastern Cape
  • Language: English
  • Type: Thesis , Masters , MBA
  • Identifier: vital:8344 , http://hdl.handle.net/10948/d1020761
  • Description: Local economic development (LED) is a government policy tool that seeks to build the economic capacity of a local area to improve its economic future and the quality of life for all. Partnerships between the public sector and the private sector are considered to be an important foundation for successful LED planning and implementation. The aim of the study was to assess whether the LED interventions, with specific emphasis on agriculture and food production programmes, are improving the livelihoods of the poor communities within the OR Tambo District Municipality. The researcher used the qualitative and quantitative research methods to collect the data through interviews and questionnaires respectively. Probability and non-probability sampling techniques were employed to identify the research sample from the target population. The researcher sampled the OR Tambo District Municipality as well as all the local municipalities therein. The target population consisted of LED directors, LED and IDP managers as well as LED councillors as respondents. Furthermore, the researcher also sampled other stakeholders that are crucial in LED, namely the Department of Economic Development and Environmental Affairs, the Department of Rural Development and Agrarian Reform and Transformation, the Eastern Cape Department of Local Government and Traditional Affairs, the Department of Social Development and Special Programmes as well as the Ntinga OR Tambo Development Agency. Budgetary constraints and agricultural infrastructure backlogs were identified as the main challenges facing the district. These challenges hinder the effectiveness of implementing sound LED programmes. Consequently, LED benefits are minimal. It is recommended that the municipality develop strategies for income generation to boost its financial viability in order to strengthen its financial capacity, embark on vigorous infrastructure rollout which will have a positive economic impact and open employment opportunities for the local communities. This can be achieved by the strengthening of partnerships and the attraction of private investors in order for the municipality to implement the LED programmes effectively and change the lives of the people in the local area.
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  • Date Issued: 2013

Assessment of sources of livelihoods and opportunities to improve the contribution of farming within available food chains

  • Authors: Mbusi, Nontembeko
  • Date: 2013
  • Subjects: Households -- South Africa -- Eastern Cape , Rural poor -- South Africa -- Eastern Cape , Community development -- South Africa -- Eastern Cape , Food security -- South Africa -- Eastern Cape , Agricultural development projects -- South Africa -- Eastern Cape , Livelihood strategies , Outcomes , Poverty , Farming , Employment
  • Language: English
  • Type: Thesis , Masters , MSc Agric (Agricultural Economics)
  • Identifier: vital:11204 , http://hdl.handle.net/10353/d1007575 , Households -- South Africa -- Eastern Cape , Rural poor -- South Africa -- Eastern Cape , Community development -- South Africa -- Eastern Cape , Food security -- South Africa -- Eastern Cape , Agricultural development projects -- South Africa -- Eastern Cape , Livelihood strategies , Outcomes , Poverty , Farming , Employment
  • Description: Official statistics suggest that as many as 40 percent to 60 percent of people in South Africa are living in poverty, and the 15 percent poorest are in a desperate struggle for survival. Since 1994, Government has been making an effort to help smallholder agriculture through numerous programmes, including those that address land ownership and provide credit and grants for farms and households, but very little change has taken place. Understanding the sources of livelihood and opportunities to improve the contribution of farming within available food chains is therefore an important practical need. The study investigated sources of livelihood and mapped the livelihoods profile of the farming households in parts of the Eastern Cape. The study was conducted in the Alice and Peddie communities in the Amathole district municipality. A set of structured questionnaires were used to interview the sample of 80 farming households selected through a random process within two irrigation schemes and communities that were selected purposively in line with the focus of the larger project on which this study is based. The resulting data were analyzed by means of descriptive statistics and multiple linear regression. The descriptive results indicated that members of most rural households were old, married, uneducated and unemployed. Farming was primary livelihood strategy employed in these areas. Rural households were also dependent on remittances, social grants and pension funds because the farming strategy could not meet all their household needs. The major crops that were grown for income and food security to sustain their livelihoods included maize, potatoes, onions and butternut. Factors that had significant influences on outcomes were extension services, grants, pension and remittances, land productivity, type of irrigation system, market accessibility, output price difference and value adding. The available opportunities were land productivity, irrigation facilities, government or NGO programmes and working as a group. For improved livelihood of rural communities in Alice and Peddie, government needs to strengthen agricultural activities and equip farmers with market information, improve their access to irrigation schemes, provide training on value adding and also improve access to extension services.
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  • Date Issued: 2013
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