Showing items 261 - 280 of 1451

Your selections:

Applying distributed ledger technology to digital evidence integrity

  • Authors: Weilbach, William T , Motara, Yusuf, M
  • Date: 2019
  • Language: English
  • Type: text , article
  • Identifier: http://hdl.handle.net/10962/428960 , vital:72549 , https://ieeexplore.ieee.org/abstract/document/8732798
  • Description: This paper examines the way in which blockchain technology can be used to improve the verification of integrity of evidence in digital forensics. Some background into digital forensic practices and blockchain technology are discussed to provide necessary context. A particular scalable method of verifying point-in-time existence of a piece of digital evidence, using the OpenTimestamps (OTS) service, is described, and tests are carried out to independently validate the claims made by the service. The results demonstrate that the OTS service is highly reliable with a zero false positive and false negative error rate for timestamp attestations, but that it is not suitable for timesensitive timestamping due to the variance of the accuracy of timestamps induced by block confirmation times in the Bitcoin blockchain.
  • Full Text:
  • Date Issued: 2019

Arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi as a bio-indicator of soil health under agricultural management practices in South Africa

  • Authors: Sekgota, Wendy Maphefo
  • Date: 2019
  • Subjects: Soils -- Quality -- South Africa , Soil fertility -- South Africa , Fungi in agriculture -- South Africa , Mycorrhizal fungi , Vesicular-arbuscular mycorrhizas , Fungi -- Spores , Soils -- Agricultural chemical content
  • Language: English
  • Type: text , Thesis , Masters , MSc
  • Identifier: http://hdl.handle.net/10962/72161 , vital:30011
  • Description: This study investigated the activity of arbuscular mycorrhizal (AM) fungi as a potential biological indicator of soil health under conventional and conservation agricultural management in South Africa. An experimental trial consisting of three replicates plots under conventional and reduced tillage subdivided into twelve treatments of six crops and two fertilizer inputs was assessed over four growing seasons for various AM fungal parameters such as spore density, most probable number (MPN) of propagules percentage root colonisation and easily extractable glomalin (EEG). Cropping combinations were maize monoculture; maize soybean rotation; maize cowpea rotation; maize cowpea intercropping; maize oats intercropping and maize vetch intercropping. Resident AM fungal spore numbers and EEG protein levels were very low and no root colonization was recorded in the first two growing seasons. These findings prompted the need for the inoculation of the study site in the third growing season with a commercial AM fungal product (MycorootTM). Spore numbers, EEG concentrations and percentage root colonisation increased 8 weeks after inoculation but were significantly reduced in the fourth growing season that was not inoculated. MPN infectivity increased with inoculation particularly under conventional tillage and maize monoculture. Resident spore taxa were morphologically identified into three genera Gigaspora, Scutellospora, and Glomus. For the first two growing seasons, the maize roots were heavily colonized by a pathogenic fungus after mycorrhizal inoculation no evidence of pathogenic fungi was observed. In the fourth growing season which did not receive inoculation, root colonization started to decline. Reduced tillage, high fertilizer input combined with maize cowpea rotation (MC) and maize hairy vetch intercropping (Mv) had a significant effect (P = 0.01) on AM fungal spore numbers. Cropping systems and high fertilizer input had a significant effect on EEG concentrations in the second growing season. Overall, fertilizer application and crop type had implications for mycorrhizal activity. The soil health status in this study site was deemed low as measured by the impaired mycorrhizal activity due to agricultural management practices. Field inoculation combined with classical and molecular tools could provide a more realistic assessment of the effect of agricultural management practices on AM fungi as potential bioindicators of soil health. Therefore, AM fungi could be used as bioindicators of soil health under agricultural management practices in South African soil conditions.
  • Full Text:
  • Date Issued: 2019

Archives and Records Management Programmes in selected Universities in South Africa: A Study of University of Fort Hare and Rhodes University

  • Authors: Somniso, Zoleka
  • Date: 2019
  • Subjects: Records -- Management
  • Language: English
  • Type: Thesis , Masters , MSoc. Sci (Library and information science)
  • Identifier: http://hdl.handle.net/10353/18280 , vital:42248
  • Description: The study investigates the Archives and Records Management Programmes (ARMP) in the University of Fort Hare (UFH) and Rhodes University (RU). The task of managing huge quantities of records and archives material is not an easy task when people have to use limited resources. The Research Objectives of the this study was to find out types of records created, received and maintained by university archives and records management programmes at University of Fort Hare and Rhodes University.  Establish the available infrastructure for ARMP at the UFH and RU.  Find out the legislative and regulatory frameworks that govern the ARMP at the UFH and RU.  Identify challenges if there are any facing ARMP at the UFH and Rhodes University. Interviews and questionnaires were two research instruments used in this study to collect data; additional data was collected by reading relevant documents gathered on both institutions and on their website. In this study, the sample was 26 respondents from both universities. The study dealt with administrative staff who deal with records management: Records managers/Officers and Archivists at both institutions. viii Data collected was coded and analysed using Statistical Package for Social Sciences (SPSS) and the findings were presented using pie chart , graphs. The triangulation approaches involves using more than one method to collect data and it is a way of assuring the validity of research with variety of methods to collect data. Findings revealed that respondents were unaware of ARMP in the university. And also some of the findings were the infrastructural needs such as the Lack of records storage, space, Records Preservation facilities (RH, Light), Personnel Training and Development. The challenges facing ARMP in universities includes: a lack of programmes to manage records and archives material, absence of policy that regulates archives and records keeping in the universities understudy, the existing infrastructure at hand cannot meet the requirements for regulatory framework on records and archives management. Based on these challenges mentioned above, the study recommended that both institutions should improve their infrastructure as to be able to preserve the archival material. Training and retraining of staff among others should include use of technology, filing, records creation, maintenance and disposition
  • Full Text:
  • Date Issued: 2019

Assessing flood vulnerability in the Nelson Mandela Bay Metro

  • Authors: Zuze, Hillary
  • Date: 2019
  • Subjects: Floods -- South Africa -- Nelson Mandela Bay Municipality , Natural disasters Hazardous geographic environments Hazardous geographic environments -- Risk assessment , Climatic changes
  • Language: English
  • Type: Thesis , Masters , MSc
  • Identifier: http://hdl.handle.net/10948/44224 , vital:37135
  • Description: Floods are the most frequent amongst all global natural disasters at present, causing problems such as bridge collapses, fatalities, building damages and traffic delays. Between 1995 and 2015, there were approximately 3062 global flood disasters which accounted for 56% of all declared natural disasters and these affected 2.3 billion people (almost a third of the world’s population at the time) (EMDAT, 2015). The cost of damages for this period incurred for buildings and other infrastructure was at an all-time high of R23.69 (US$1.891) trillion. It is postulated through various studies that the number of urban flood events reported is increasing significantly in comparison to the previous decades (Armah et al., 2010; Lóczy, 2013; Leaning and Guha-Sapir, 2013; EMDAT, 2015; Tanoue et al., 2016; Rogger et al., 2017). Some research has also noted an increase in the number of floods per year, which has ascended to an average of 171 in this decade, from an annual average of 127 in the previous one (Dozier, 2013; Guha Sapir et al., 2016). Sources such as the Centre of Research and Epidemiological Disasters (Guha Sapir et al., 2016) recorded that from 1995 to 2015, globally, millions of homes were vulnerable to weather-related disasters, along with 130,000 health and education facilities. During this period, urban floods accounted for 98% of houses damaged and 99.9% of education and health facilities demolished by a weather-related disaster (Davies, 2017). Flooding is particularly harmful in terms of fatalities in developing countries due to inadequate flood protection and mitigation measures (Di Baldassarre et al., 2010; Dozier, 2013). Some studies attribute the high fatalities in developing countries to the inadequate disaster management strategies implemented to counter the impacts of urban flooding (Egbinola et al., 2015; Pazzi et al., 2016; Mavhura et al., 2017). Other authors have attributed the high fatalities to the sheer number of people residing in areas prone to flooding, which has been the knock-on effect of rapidly expanding cities, overwhelmed government agencies, and a pre-existing political and social system that promotes marginalisation (Collins, 2008; Aboagye, 2012). The occupation of flood-prone areas by settlements, which is a common feature in developing countries, is the major contributor to the fatalities as it involves a degree of risk. Risk is exposure to an undesired event, in this case flooding, and contributes directly to differing levels of vulnerability (Samuels, 2018). Communities have differing perceptions of flood vulnerability because of a combination of factors. These include the magnitude of the flood experienced, the number of people or the value of assets potentially affected by flooding due to location, and the lack of socioeconomic capacity to do anything to alter their vulnerability to a disaster (Hall et al., 2005; Adger, 2006; Birkmann et al., 2013; Rogger et al., 2017). Some communities acknowledge that there are people residing in flood prone areas and take measures to reduce or eliminate the risk through social, political and economic networks. In other cases, communities are able to identify their exposure to flooding but do not have the capacity to reduce the effects (Bouchard et al., 2007; Agbaoye, 2012; Musungu et al., 2012; Siyongwana, Heijne, and Tele et al., 20155).
  • Full Text:
  • Date Issued: 2019

Assessing household food insecurity experience in the context of deforestation in Cameroon

Assessing in-vivo clearance of colorectal cancer-targeting peptide-functionalized gold nanoparticles

  • Authors: Xakaza, Hlumisa Belinda
  • Date: 2019
  • Subjects: Nanoparticles , Gold Nanotechnology -- Health aspects
  • Language: English
  • Type: Thesis , Masters , MSc
  • Identifier: http://hdl.handle.net/10948/44323 , vital:37153
  • Description: Colorectal cancer (CRC) is a major public health problem. Gold nanoparticles (AuNPs) have been proved as a possible diagnostic tool to target CRC by peptides conjugated to gold nanoparticles (p-AuNP). According to previous reports, AuNPs accumulate in internal organs and have raised serious concerns on toxicity and safety. Understanding their fate in the body and the physiology underlying their clearance is crucial for toxicological evaluation and clinical translations. Six groups of rats were intravenously injected with a single dose of 100μg/kg body weight of citrate-capped (c.c-AuNPs), PEG-coated (PEG-AuNPs), and peptide functionalized gold nanoparticles (p.L-AuNPs, p.C-AuNPs, and p.14-AuNPs), to assess their physiologic clearance over a short-term (over sequential time-points: day 1, 3, 5, 7 and 14) and long-term period (three months). The inductively coupled optical-electron spectrometry (ICP-OES) showed accumulated c.c-AuNPs in the liver tissue. Moreover, a rapid and decreasing pattern of concentration of AuNPs was observed in urine and feces, with total excretion at day 7. Elevated levels of urine urea nitrogen (UUN) and urine creatinine (UCREA) reported an impaired kidney function for the c.c-AuNP group, while H&E staining indicated chronic progressive nephropathy (CPN) in all groups, 3 months post-injection, which is in all probability related to aging. Signs of inflammation were observed in rats treated with c.c-AuNPs, 2 weeks post-injection. The overall findings showed that the clearance of c.c-AuNPs’ clearance is compromised, which can have side-effects, while the excretion profiles of the p-AuNPs were consistent with the reducing long-term retention in the excretory organs. The p-AuNPs were found to be non-toxic and therefore show promise for CRC diagnostics and therapeutic purposes.
  • Full Text:
  • Date Issued: 2019

Assessing teaching capacity of novice teachers through mentoring in primary schools.

  • Authors: Mthi,Tanduxolo Nicholas
  • Date: 2019
  • Subjects: Mentoring in education Teachers -- In-service training
  • Language: English
  • Type: Thesis , Masters , MEd
  • Identifier: http://hdl.handle.net/10353/16566 , vital:40732
  • Description: The quality of teacher education seems to have become a crucial point of debate worldwide. However, teaching seems to be one of the careers without a recognised apprenticeship. Therefore, mentoring has been seen as an appropriate way for experienced teachers to guide, assist, coach and motivate teachers in their teaching capacity. Teaching capacity is described as having a broad content which can be related to quality teaching, teacher effectiveness and teacher behaviour in the classroom or in the school. The lens with which the study was viewed was through Lave and Wenger’s (1998) theory, Community of Practice (CoP). Community of Practice is defined as a process of social learning that occurs when people who have a common interest in a subject or area collaborate over an extended period of time, sharing ideas and strategies, determining solutions and building innovations. The study used mixed methods and concurrent triangulation design in sampling 60 participants for quantitative data and 6 participants for qualitative data. The unit of analysis were novice teachers who were randomly and purposively selected. Data gathering methods included questionnaires, classroom observations and document analysis. The focus was on the primary schools, Foundation Phase (FP) novice teachers. The findings revealed utilisation of different mentoring approaches such as one on one; Foundation Phase Team and school- based mentoring. Although the study reveals that the work of the mentor teachers and novice teachers has evolved to include Learning Teams to improve the teaching capacity of teachers; some mentoring approaches were less effective. The study suggests, therefore, that schoolbased and district-based mentoring programmes to be formally organised as part of developing novice teachers’ teaching capacity.
  • Full Text:
  • Date Issued: 2019

Assessing the abundance of non-timber forest products in relation to forest succession on the Wild Coast, South Africa

  • Authors: Njwaxu, Afika
  • Date: 2019
  • Subjects: Non-timber forest products -- South Africa -- Eastern Cape , Forest ecology -- South Africa -- Eastern Cape , Rural development -- South Africa -- Eastern Cape , Non-timber forest products -- South Africa -- Willowvale , Forest ecology -- South Africa -- Willowvale , Rural development -- South Africa -- Willowvale , Forest plants -- South Africa -- Eastern Cape
  • Language: English
  • Type: text , Thesis , Masters , MSc
  • Identifier: http://hdl.handle.net/10962/94090 , vital:30999
  • Description: The number of people in the Eastern Cape, South Africa, that are engaging in arable cropping has declined markedly over the last few decades. This is due to a number of factors such as a decrease in human capital because of migration of able-bodied people to urban areas, disinclination to participate in farming, raiding of crops by livestock and lack of equipment. This has resulted in abandoned croplands being invaded by trees and shrubs as the start of forest succession leading to a change in species composition and the ecosystem benefits reaped from these sites. Key amongst these benefits is a variety of non-timber forests products (NTFPs) which are an integral part of livelihoods in the area. The study was conducted in Willowvale, on the Wild Coast, South Africa. Aerial photographs were used to determine when cessation of cropping occurred in local fields and when revegetation began in order to determine the age of old fields. Botanical inventory and Braun-Blanquet scale were used to assess species richness, composition and abundance of vegetation in fields abandoned at different times. Focus groups were used to identify NTFPs found in these old fields, their uses as well as rank their importance to the local people. Results showed an increase in woody cover with time since field abandonment. Species richness also increased with age of the old field with approximately three species gained per decade. When species richness was disaggregated by growth forms, herbaceous plants were abundant in the early stages of succession, shrubs in the mature stages and trees increased steadily with time. A total of 177 species were recorded from 50 plots that were sampled during the ecological data collection. Of these, 70 species (39.6%) were identified by the focus group participants as NTFPs. The participants grouped the NTFPs into six categories namely: food, building, medicinal, craft, cultural and energy. There was an increase of richness of NTFPs with forest succession; however the proportion of NTFPs decreased with age suggesting an increase in non-useful species. This suggests that harvesting from plots of different ages would be the optimal way for local people to get access to a large variety of NTFPs.
  • Full Text:
  • Date Issued: 2019

Assessing the difficulties in teaching and learning of geometry in grade 9 based on the van hiele theory in Komga, East London Education District in South Africa’s Eastern Cape Province

  • Authors: Xakwe, Nomawethu
  • Date: 2019
  • Subjects: Special education Geometry
  • Language: English
  • Type: Thesis , Masters , MEd
  • Identifier: http://hdl.handle.net/10353/16588 , vital:40734
  • Description: Geometry prepares learners by equipping them with the knowledge to use higher order thinking skills. The purpose of this research was to assess the difficulties in the teaching and learning of geometry in Grade 9 based on the van Hiele theory in a rural education district in South Africa’s Eastern Cape Province. van Hiele levels complement each other and therefore, geometry educators need to have good pedagogical content knowledge and apply effective teaching and learning strategies to promote geometry learning. The study adopted the pragmatic paradigm and mixed method approach. Convenient sampling based on proximity to the researcher’s workplace was used to select three schools in Komga education circuit for data collection. The educators’ sample consisted of the Grade 9 mathematics educators from each of the three schools making up a total of 3 educators. The learners’ sample consisted of 27 Grade 9 learners,9 from each of the same three schools from where the educators were selected. Quantitative data were collected from educators and learners using different questionnaires. Qualitative data were collected using different in-depth interview schedules for educators and learners. All members of the sample were interviewed. Observations also were carried out in the classroom during teaching and learning of geometry in order to probe the use of strategies by educators. The quantitative data were subjected to descriptive statistical analysis and tabulated. The qualitative data from interviews were thematically analysed and observation data were transcribed, analysed and tabulated. Final conclusions were drawn through triangulating the different data sets. Findings revealed the strengths and weakenesses of the strategies used by educators and the difficulties faced by the learners. Some of the prominent strengths for educators’ strategies were: ability to promote interactive learning and facilitating a conducive environment, enhancement of critical thinking and development of learners’ confidence through participation. Some of the prominent weakenesses of educators’ strategies were:lack of understanding on how to deal with slow learners and inability to change teaching methods to accommodate all learners, thus inhibiting inclusive education.The prominent strenghts for learners were eagerness to participate in all activities and exhibition of confidence in problem solving. The prominent weakenesses of learners were that the respondents struggled with the P a g e | ii geometrical vocabulary and language needed to express their understanding, deficiency in the understanding of geometric concepts and not having the required understanding of the characteristics of triangles. The study recommends that the geometry educators should plan activities for geometry lessons that will encourage the development of geometric vocabulary among their learners. Geometry educators also need to to include questions in their assessments that test conceptual understanding. In-service workshops should be conducted to equip the educators about how to deal with inclusive education.
  • Full Text:
  • Date Issued: 2019

Assessing the effects of misplacement of qualified personnel on the implementation of policies: Eastern Cape Department of Basic Education – a case of Head Office, Zone 6- Zwelitsha

  • Authors: Ntuni, Zingisa
  • Date: 2019
  • Subjects: Career development -- South Africa -- Eastern Cape Educational change -- Government policy -- South Africa -- Eastern Cape
  • Language: English
  • Type: Thesis , Masters , MPA
  • Identifier: http://hdl.handle.net/10353/12513 , vital:39270
  • Description: This dissertation sought to review literature on the skills underutilisation in the Eastern Cape Department of Education, a case of Head Office –Zone 6-Zwelitsha. The study intended to delve deeper into the depth of this challenge and understand the effects of this misdeed on the policy implementation in the department. This problem was compounded by the lackadaisical approach to the skills development by the department as it seemed to be employing a shotgun approach to the training and education of its labour-force. The consulted literature pointed to the existence and commonness of the skills underutilisation and its occasioning in reduced outputs and low worker-morale in the workplace. This study played a crucial role in terms of its contribution to the body of knowledge, being a reference point not only for the department of education, nonetheless, for other departments and organisations as well. The study could help the department to rectify its weaknesses and deal with their current challenges of personnel underutilisation. Policy makers and consultants could use the results of this study to formulate policies for their institutions. Lastly, students could also benefit from this study by using it as a source of reference. The qualitative method and case study as a research design employed in the study, semi-structured interviews used as a data collection method, snowballing sampling procedure used. The employees of the Department of Education used as the respondents in the study. The empirical findings in the study revealed the multiplicity of challenges associated with misplacement of qualified personnel in the department which entailed, inter alia, poor implementation of policies, programs and projects, low staff morale, poor delivery of services to the departmental clientele.
  • Full Text:
  • Date Issued: 2019

Assessing the effects of misplacement of qualified personnel on the implementation of policies: Eastern Cape Department of Basic Education – a case of Head Office, Zone 6- Zwelitsha

  • Authors: Ntuni, Zingisa
  • Date: 2019
  • Subjects: Education -- Standards Full employment policies
  • Language: English
  • Type: Thesis , Masters , MPA
  • Identifier: http://hdl.handle.net/10353/18654 , vital:42703
  • Description: This dissertation sought to review literature on the skills underutilisation in the Eastern Cape Department of Education, a case of Head Office –Zone 6-Zwelitsha. The study intended to delve deeper into the depth of this challenge and understand the effects of this misdeed on the policy implementation in the department. This problem was compounded by the lackadaisical approach to the skills development by the department as it seemed to be employing a shotgun approach to the training and education of its labour-force. The consulted literature pointed to the existence and commonness of the skills underutilisation and its occasioning in reduced outputs and low worker-morale in the workplace. This study played a crucial role in terms of its contribution to the body of knowledge, being a reference point not only for the department of education, nonetheless, for other departments and organisations as well. The study could help the department to rectify its weaknesses and deal with their current challenges of personnel underutilisation. Policy makers and consultants could use the results of this study to formulate policies for their institutions. Lastly, students could also benefit from this study by using it as a source of reference. The qualitative method and case study as a research design employed in the study, semi-structured interviews used as a data collection method, snowballing sampling procedure used. The employees of the Department of Education used as the respondents in the study. The empirical findings in the study revealed the multiplicity of challenges associated with misplacement of qualified personnel in the department which entailed, inter alia, poor implementation of policies, programs and projects, low staff morale, poor delivery of services to the departmental clientele.
  • Full Text:
  • Date Issued: 2019

Assessing the impact of the expanded Global Gag Rule in South Africa

  • Authors: du Plessis, Ulandi , Sofika, Dumisa , Macleod, Catriona I , Mthethwa, Thobile
  • Date: 2019
  • Subjects: To be catalogued
  • Language: English
  • Type: text , report
  • Identifier: http://hdl.handle.net/10962/434306 , vital:73047 , ISBN Report , https://www.ru.ac.za/media/rhodesuniversity/content/criticalstudiesinsexualitiesandreproduction/documents/IWHC_Report.pdf
  • Description: South Africa has one of the most progressive abortion laws in the world and as the constitution states, South Africans also have “the right to make deci-sions concerning reproduction”(Constitution of the Republic of South Africa, 1996). Alongside being a free service, this should seemingly translate into accessible country-wide abortion services. However, less than one in ten public clinics actually perform abortions (Amnesty International, 2017). One of the main reasons for this has been the failure, on the part of the Depart-ment of Health, to regulate conscientious objection, ie the right of a healthcare worker to refuse to provide a service against which they are mor-ally opposed. Another reason is a lack of resources, in terms of both health professionals and finances, which manifest particularly in rural areas. As a result, women who are considering abortion either turn to illegal providers whose advertisements are scattered around towns, or towards private ser-vice providers such as Marie Stopes. Both options are usually costly, espe-cially to poor women. And illegal backstreet abortions often result in sepsis and infection. Recent data on abortion services in South Africa indicate that between 2016 and 2017, 20% of all abortions performed on women aged between 15-44 years were provided by the public health sector, while 26% and 54% of abortions were performed by illegal providers and the private health sector respectively (Lince-Deroche et al., 2018).
  • Full Text:
  • Date Issued: 2019

Assessing the impact of the income generating projects funded by the department of social development in Uitenhage, Eastern Cape

  • Authors: Charles, Phatheka Patience
  • Date: 2019
  • Subjects: Economic development projects -- South Africa -- Eastern Cape , Community development -- South Africa -- Eastern Cape Economic assistance, Domestic
  • Language: English
  • Type: Thesis , Masters , MA
  • Identifier: http://hdl.handle.net/10948/37947 , vital:34267
  • Description: Income-generating projects represent one strategy adopted by the Department of Social Development to alleviate poverty. This study assessed the impact of income-generating projects funded by the department of social development in Uitenhage, Eastern Cape. The study is based on five specific objectives which sought to: assess the effectiveness of income-generating projects in Uitenhage; evaluate the formulation, implementation and overall management of income-generating projects by the Department of Social Development; 3)determine the involvement of the beneficiaries in improving their welfare; assess the roleplayed by the Department of Social Development in capacitating the project; and examine the possible challenges that the projects face that hinder them from achieving the alleviation of poverty. A sample of 22 people was selected to represent the income-generating projects members population. Non-probability sampling techniques were used in choosing the sample. Specifically, purposive sampling was one of the non-probability techniques used to ensure that all the projects were included in the research. Data were collected using questionnaires. The collected data were analyzed by using the documentation method. The result from this study showed that there are different income-generating activities and that all have need for regular monitoring and evaluation visits from officials from the Department. Project members also need training in financial management so that they do not mismanage their project finances. The research findings further indicated, clearly, that strategies currently used by the Department are not effective enough to achieve the desired goals of poverty alleviation.
  • Full Text:
  • Date Issued: 2019

Assessing the local government turnaround strategy (2009) and implementation strategy (2010) focusing on municipal service delivery in rural municipalities. Case study: Ngqushwa Local Municipality

  • Authors: Brown, Joelene
  • Date: 2019
  • Subjects: Municipal services -- South Africa -- Eastern Cape , Local government -- South Africa -- Eastern Cape Human services -- South Africa -- Eastern Cape
  • Language: English
  • Type: Thesis , Masters , MBA
  • Identifier: http://hdl.handle.net/10948/37731 , vital:34232
  • Description: Analysing the root causes of the challenges experienced by local municipalities in service delivery. A single case study research approach was utilised and the study was qualitative in nature. The research focussed on the challenges of rural local municipalities rendering municipal services to their communities and the root causes of these challenges. It furthermore assess whether the Local Government Turnaround Strategy can make a positive impact on service delivery, specifically within rural municipalities such as the Ngqushwa Local Municipality. The case study made use of an in depth literature review based on secondary sources as well as a semi structured interview with the Municipal Manager of the Ngqushwa Local Municipality. In the event that the root causes hampering service delivery can be solved, specifically in rural municipal areas, it will not only assist municipalities to comply with their constitutional duties, but will also assist with various socio-economic problems which exist within communities specifically in rural areas. The researcher experienced reluctance by the relevant employees of municipalities to part take in the research effort and to make themselves available for interviews. Large backlogs exist in relation to service delivery of municipalities specifically in rural areas. The research effort provided relevant information in relation to the root causes of the challenges which are experienced by local municipalities and what problems must be solved in order for municipalities to effectively and efficiently render service to communities in a sustainable manner.
  • Full Text:
  • Date Issued: 2019

Assessing the performance of the ‘Aquaculture Operation Phakisa Strategy’ implementation from a stakeholder perspective

  • Authors: Halley, Keagan Desmond
  • Date: 2019
  • Subjects: Marine resources -- Government policy -- South Africa , Fishery management -- South Africa , Aquaculture -- South Africa , Aquaculture industry -- South Africa , Operation Phakisa (South Africa)
  • Language: English
  • Type: text , Thesis , Masters , MBA
  • Identifier: http://hdl.handle.net/10962/93867 , vital:30964
  • Description: The global demand in aquatic products has seen a number of fisheries depleted worldwide through increase fishing pressure and over exploitation. South Africa in itself has 52 fisheries that are being exploited, of which 48% of these fisheries are of concern, either depleted or heavily depleted. Countries around world have now taken on the responsibility to reduce the reliance on capture fisheries and move towards a more sustainable form of ensuring fish supply. A stabilisation of fisheries stock worldwide has seen the rise of aquaculture as alternative activity that would contribute to reducing pressure on the global fisheries stocks while feeding the demand for fish protein. Aquaculture has since almost equaled the capture based fish supply, contributing to 44.1% of the world’s total fisheries products in 2014 (FAO, 2016). Over the last few years the South African government has focused on developing the aquaculture sector through the development of strategies and policies. The most recent strategy launched in 2014 was Operation Phakisa: Unlocking the Economic Potential of South Africa’s Oceans. The approach of Operation Phakisa looked at accelerating the delivery of government development priorities pertaining to the oceans economy, through development of plans and collaboration of delivery through all stakeholders (public and private stakeholders). Operation Phakisa methodology included bringing key stakeholders within academia, private and public sector, as well as civil society organisations to work together and develop strategies with clear targets that would drive the growth of their specific sectors. The year 2017 marked the midway point of the five year strategy implementation time frame, and an opportunity to assess the performance of the strategy implementation. In order to assess performance of the strategy implementation, the strategy implementation framework developed by Okumus (2003) was identified. Okumus (2003) identifies 11 implementation factors and categorizes these into four categories in the strategy implementation process, based on their role and characteristics, namely: Strategic Content (development of strategy), Strategic Context (internal and external context), Operational Process (operational planning, resource allocation, people, communication, and control) and Outcome (results of implementations process) (Okumus, 2003). The research involved the reviewing of documentation based on the strategy implementation as well as facilitated semi-structure interviews with two stakeholder groups. This was to gain an understanding from the stakeholders’ perspective, on whether the Aquaculture Operation Phakisa Strategy (AOPS) is implemented according to Okumus (2003) Strategy Implementation Framework. Two stakeholder groups were interviewed, namely the officials implementing the strategy, and the aquaculture farmers being affected by the strategy implementation. The research found that eight of out of 11 factors from Okumus (2003) Strategy Implementation Framework were identified as being gaps within the implementation of the AOPS. These gaps were identified across all four main categories for strategy implementation (Strategic content, strategic context, operational process and outcomes). They included; strategy development, organisation structure, organisational culture, leadership, resource allocation, people, communication and outcomes. Furthermore, the researcher found that the perception from the officials differed to that of the aquaculture farmers, with the officials observing a more negative perception towards factors pertaining to organisational structure, organisational culture, leadership, resources allocated, people, communication and outcomes. This negative perception was experience towards the DAFF, Branch Fisheries Management as a whole, rather than within the officials own Chief Directorate (CD:AED), responsible for implementing the strategy. The research assisted with understanding the challenges affecting the implementation of the AOPS as well as unpacked strategy implementation in literature. This aided with developing recommendation to assist with enhancing strategy implementation performance of the AOPS. The following recommendation were provided: Change management within DAFF, Branch Fisheries Management; Identify responsible structures and personnel in DAFF, Branch Fisheries Management; Developing communication platforms within DAFF, Branch Fisheries Management; Review of outcomes of AOPS; and Ensure commitment from all at DAFF, Branch Fisheries Management (leadership). The research paper presents a simple method of assessing the strategy implementation process through the use of a strategy implementation framework.
  • Full Text:
  • Date Issued: 2019

Assessing the readiness for the implementation of municipal standard chart of accounts (mSCOA)

  • Authors: Kwetana, Bulumko
  • Date: 2019
  • Subjects: Municipal finance -- South Africa , Municipal finance -- Accounting -- South Africa Accounting
  • Language: English
  • Type: Thesis , Masters , MBA
  • Identifier: http://hdl.handle.net/10948/40489 , vital:36170
  • Description: The research project was undertaken to explore the readiness for the implementation of the municipal standard chart of accounts (mSCOA) in Eastern Cape municipalities. The Municipal Finance Management Act (MFMA) and other reporting guidelines emphasise on enhancing the quality of information to improve the relevance of financial reporting. They also make emphasis on the importance of preparing regular, accurate and complete financial and performance reports that are supported and evidenced by reliable information. In South Africa, the reporting system of the municipalities has been decentralised, and various municipalities use different financial reporting systems. The recently introduced mSCOA provides a uniform and standardised financial transaction classification framework. Essentially this means that mSCOA prescribes the method (the how) and format (the look) that municipalities and their entities should use to record and classify all expenditure (capital and operating), revenue, assets, liabilities, equity, policy outcomes and legislative reporting. The literature review explores the existing information for correlation with the implementation of mSCOA and recommendations are made to the National Treasury to ensure an approach and conversion plan that would be relevant and practical in the current municipal environment and address all challenges and concerns identified within a reasonable time frame. Overall, the municipalities were not ready for the overall mSCOA implementation as depicted by the challenges municipalities are facing. However, the results of the study showed that stakeholders play a huge role in facilitating the transition to mSCOA and can also create an enabling environment for change. Management should ensure more training mechanisms are in place to ensure all employees are well- versed with the management information systems that they use daily. Management should encourage enterprise risk management principles to be part of the culture of the municipalities on every project. The importance of the research for the public sector resides in recognition of the need for a better understanding of mSCOA as a wide public-sector reform so that significant risks and challenges related to mSCOA implementation are well anticipated.
  • Full Text:
  • Date Issued: 2019

Assessing the use of private sector techniques and strategies in the public sector: the case of the department of provincial treasury & planning, Eastern Cape Province

  • Authors: Cembi, Amanda Vuyo Obuhle
  • Date: 2019
  • Subjects: Finance, Public , Finance, Public -- Law and legislation -- South Africa -- Eastern Cape Financial management Public administration
  • Language: English
  • Type: Thesis , Masters , MPA
  • Identifier: http://hdl.handle.net/10948/37929 , vital:34264
  • Description: The aim of this study was to determine and investigate the extent to which the Department of Treasury and Planning manage public finance making use of relevant private sector techniques and strategies. Financial management is a critical element of good governance and it requires a great deal of attention with parallel internal systems and controls. The study determines the role of various bodies within the public finance environment and the relevant legislative frameworks towards efficient and effective financial management by departments. The Public Finance Management Act(1999) and National Treasury Regulations (2009) require all government departments to ensure accountability on resource allocated to be able to measure value for money in relation to the delivery services to communities. The primary objective of this study was to assess the effectiveness and efficient management of public finance in terms of the PFMA as the legislative framework and the MTEF as a financial management tool. The Constitution Republic of South Africa (Act 108 of 1996) makes a provision that all the three government spheres to be developmental-oriented in nature with clear accountability and transparency lines towards service delivery. On the same breath, The Public Finance Management Act of 1999 (PFMA) is meant “To regulate financial management in the national government and provincial governments; to ensure that all revenue, expenditure, assets and liabilities of those governments are managed efficiently and effectively; to provide for the responsibilities of persons entrusted with financial management in those governments; and to provide for matters connected therewith”. With the above introductory contentions from different authors and researchers, this study will basically be on providing more details on the policy documents namely; PFMA so to establish the nature and extent to which effective and efficient financial management has improved good governance in the Department of Treasury & Planning, Eastern Cape Province.
  • Full Text:
  • Date Issued: 2019

Assessment of capacity building programmes offered to cooperatives in the Eastern Cape

  • Authors: Salman, Lusanda
  • Date: 2019
  • Subjects: Cooperative societies -- South Africa -- Eastern Cape , Cooperative societies -- Economic aspects Economic development projects -- South Africa -- Eastern Cape
  • Language: English
  • Type: Thesis , Masters , MA
  • Identifier: http://hdl.handle.net/10948/43523 , vital:36905
  • Description: Cooperatives play an important role in delivering services to those in need within the communities. Capacity building efforts for cooperatives are very crucial in increasing their effectiveness and to redress problems associated with limited administrative and organisational capacity. By providing technical assistance, training, and grant funds, the functioning of the cooperatives is enhanced and ultimately the outcomes are improved. Despite consensus about the importance of capacity-building, little high-quality evidence exists on the impact of capacity-building investments. This research paper presents the findings from the assessment conducted on the impact of capacity- building initiatives offered to cooperatives. The participants of the study were cooperatives from the Eastern Cape, all eight district municipalities were represented and the study included stakeholders working with cooperatives that included various government departments, agencies and the private sector. Findings from the study provide clear evidence that capacity-building efforts increase the effectiveness of cooperatives to plan, organise and manage their organisations. It has emerged strongly from research that cooperatives that have received capacity-building support in any form, have improved in terms of their functioning compared to those that have never been capacitated before. However, cooperatives are still faced with many challenges specifically relating to operational challenges, which include administration, financial, and governance and weak capability in terms of the knowledge and skills they possess.
  • Full Text:
  • Date Issued: 2019

Assessment of phytochemical constituents, antioxidant properties and cytotoxicity potentials of Leonutis leonurus and Boophone disticha extracts used in the management of Alzheimer’s disease in Hogsback, Eastern Cape, South Africa

  • Authors: Tonisi, Sipho
  • Date: 2019
  • Subjects: Medicinal plants Alzheimer's disease
  • Language: English
  • Type: Thesis , Masters , MSc (Microbiology)
  • Identifier: http://hdl.handle.net/10353/14726 , vital:40067
  • Description: In this present study, the phytochemical compounds, antioxidant activities, and cytotoxicity potentials of solvent extracts (polar solvents) of Leonotis leonurus (L. leonurus) and Boophone disitcha (B. disticha) commonly used in the management of Alzheimer’s diseases in Hogsback, in the Eastern Cape, South Africa were investigated. The phytochemical compounds were determined by standard protocols of Folin–Ciocalteu method, aluminium chloride colorimetric method as well as Mayer’s and Wagner’s method. The antioxidant capabilities were assessed using 2,2-diphenyl-1-picrylhydrazyl (DPPH), hydrogen peroxide, 2,2'-azino-bis(3-ethylbenzothiazoline-6-sulphonic acid) (ABTS) and nitric oxide radical scavenging assays. The majority of extracts from both plant species exhibited free radical scavenging potential for oxidants they were tested against viz; DPPH, hydrogen peroxide, ABTS and nitric oxide. They further displayed good reducing potential against ferric iron. The results have shown a concentration-dependent dose of inhibition/scavenging activity (in DPPH, hydrogen peroxide, ABTS and nitric oxide assays) and reducing ability (in ferric reducing assay). However, leaf extracts of L. leonurus displayed ineffective scavenging activity against nitric oxide whereas extracts from L. leonurus flower and B. disticha bulb had higher scavenging potential against the production of nitric oxide radical. The GC-MS profiles of the plants extracts revealed the presence of numerous bioactive compounds that are known to possess excellent anti-inflammatory and most importantly antioxidant properties. Another interesting observation of GC-MS analysis data was the presence of compounds reported to inhibit Acetycholinesterase (AChE), which is a key enzyme targeted in the treatment of Alzheimers’ Disease (AD). The cytotoxicy tests for these extracts were carried out in order to assess the potentential detrimental effects on human health using Alamar Blue assay. It was noted that an increase in the extract concentration of both plant species resulted in a noticeable decline in cell population. These extracts were then declared xix to be quite toxic against HeLa (human cervix adenocarcinoma cells) cells as the cell viability in some extracts was quite low. Hence, toxicity testing of the studied plants’ extracts against normal cells is highly imperative in the future study. The results from this present study scientifically validated the use of the studied plants in folkoric medicine for the management of Alzheimer’s diseases.
  • Full Text:
  • Date Issued: 2019

Assessment of quality nursing care in healthcare facilities of Mnquma Sub-District

  • Authors: Manyela, Nosiphiwo
  • Date: 2019
  • Subjects: Health facilities
  • Language: English
  • Type: Thesis , Masters , MPH
  • Identifier: http://hdl.handle.net/10353/16747 , vital:40770
  • Description: Aim: The purpose of the study was to assess the quality of patient care in the Primary Health Care (PHC) facilities of Mnquma Sub-district with the goal of improving or maintaining quality nursing in the area. Methodology: This study followed a quantitative research approach and it is descriptive in nature. The study involved 561 participants, of whom 406 participants were from urban clinics and 155 were from rural facilities, all these participants were attending clinics at Mnquma Sub-district. A structured questionnaire was used for data collection, since the participants were able to read and write in either English and or IsiXhosa. The data was analyzed with the help of a statistician using Statistical Package for Social Sciences (SPSS) program, software for windows version 21.0 Results: Results showed that participant’s responses to five of the twelve items on patient safety were found to have significant associations with residential setting. Rural participants were less likely to disagree with statements on availability of signage at the entrance of health establishment that indicates times when various services are offered, availability of the security guards to ensure patient safety, warning signs always put in place when the floors are wet, availability of at least one toilet for disabled patients in the health establishment and the fact that health professionals are always wearing name tags. This means that patient safety and security is practiced and implemented at the rural facilities according to the national core standards. The findings of the study confirmed that 13 items out of 19 under care and attitudes were found to have significant associations with residential setting. The items were patients spending less than 2 hours in the health facility; staff treating patients politely, illness being explained clearly to the patients, and ability of the patients to ask questions about their illness. Other items included nursing attitudes during opening and closing times of the health establishment, staff responding well when requested to assist, patients are being treated with empathy, patients are addressed by names and patients are being given all the treatment that they need, nurses explains the treatment side effects, and explains how to deal with side effects. This means that responses to these items depend on whether the patient is from a rural or urban clinic. Rural communities were found to be vi less likely to disagree with statements as compared to urban communities. This means that nurses are compliant with nursing care and attitudes in rural clinics. Findings of the study with respect to facility cleanliness, shows that there is no significant associations between the responses to the items which are: surroundings of the clinic are free of unpleasant smells, grounds of the clinic are clean, safe and clean grounds, bin waste inside and outside storage poses no health risks, and setting were detected. This means that the facilities are and cleanliness status remains the same across the residential settings. However, the younger age group was found be significantly more likely to disagree that toilets are clean and odorless and that grounds are safe and clean compared to the older age group. This suggests that the environment is clean except the toilets. Conclusion: Staffs at the facilities are at times ignorant and have negative attitudes at the opening and closing times and facilities have been reported to have long waiting times. The study indicated that the safety and security measures in the urban health facilities are not all practiced according to the National Core Standards checklist/Assessment tool, particularly wet warning signs, disabled toilets, and wearing of nametags. Majority of the participants indicated that, the status of cleanliness was on par at the urban and rural facilities.
  • Full Text:
  • Date Issued: 2019
  • Disclaimer
  • Privacy
  • Copyright
  • Contact