Confinement and labouring women: a persistent struggle against nature
- Authors: James, Sindiwe
- Subjects: Childbirth , Labor (Obstetrics) , f-sa
- Language: English
- Type: text , Lectures
- Identifier: http://hdl.handle.net/10948/40028 , vital:35730
- Description: Nature in its essence is frequently viewed as a thing of beauty and the ultimate truth of perfection. Unfortunately, this view of nature is often undermined when it comes to the concept of women in confinement and labour. Women, naturally by virtue of being females, have the capacity to become pregnant and thus to bear children. However, in many instances this capacity becomes limited, or misunderstood. In such cases, humans start viewing or considering confinement and labour in terms of ‘being wrong and incorrect’. They only see issues around age and marital status while losing sight of the fact that nature has ordained that all women have a uterus, which has a potential to conceive, but under ‘suitable’ conditions. Yes, the uterus does not know about age and health restrictions, but will expel its contents when the time comes, and suitability around that expulsion unfortunately becomes the concern of humans (midwives or family members). Very often young girls who are in confinement are received and treated differently by these two categories of humans because they are deemed not to be at the correct age for falling pregnant and to be in labour, or they are regarded as having been ‘naughty’.
- Full Text:
- Authors: James, Sindiwe
- Subjects: Childbirth , Labor (Obstetrics) , f-sa
- Language: English
- Type: text , Lectures
- Identifier: http://hdl.handle.net/10948/40028 , vital:35730
- Description: Nature in its essence is frequently viewed as a thing of beauty and the ultimate truth of perfection. Unfortunately, this view of nature is often undermined when it comes to the concept of women in confinement and labour. Women, naturally by virtue of being females, have the capacity to become pregnant and thus to bear children. However, in many instances this capacity becomes limited, or misunderstood. In such cases, humans start viewing or considering confinement and labour in terms of ‘being wrong and incorrect’. They only see issues around age and marital status while losing sight of the fact that nature has ordained that all women have a uterus, which has a potential to conceive, but under ‘suitable’ conditions. Yes, the uterus does not know about age and health restrictions, but will expel its contents when the time comes, and suitability around that expulsion unfortunately becomes the concern of humans (midwives or family members). Very often young girls who are in confinement are received and treated differently by these two categories of humans because they are deemed not to be at the correct age for falling pregnant and to be in labour, or they are regarded as having been ‘naughty’.
- Full Text:
Congratulatory message: opening of the University of Transkei
- Authors: Henderson, Derek Scott
- Subjects: University of Transkei
- Language: English
- Type: Text
- Identifier: vital:7359 , http://hdl.handle.net/10962/d1017088
- Full Text:
- Authors: Henderson, Derek Scott
- Subjects: University of Transkei
- Language: English
- Type: Text
- Identifier: vital:7359 , http://hdl.handle.net/10962/d1017088
- Full Text:
Constitution of COSATU
- COSATU
- Authors: COSATU
- Subjects: COSATU
- Language: English
- Type: text
- Identifier: http://hdl.handle.net/10962/154382 , vital:39693
- Description: We the Trade Union representatives here present firmly commit ourselves to a unified democratic South Africa, free of oppression and economic exploitation. We believe that this can only be achieved under the leadership of a united working class. Our history has taught us that to achieve this goal we will have to carry out the following tasks: To organise the unorganised workers and build effective trade unions based on the democratic organisation of workers in the factories, mines, shops, farms and other workplaces. Organise national industrial trade unions, financed and controlled by their worker members through democratically elected committees.
- Full Text:
- Authors: COSATU
- Subjects: COSATU
- Language: English
- Type: text
- Identifier: http://hdl.handle.net/10962/154382 , vital:39693
- Description: We the Trade Union representatives here present firmly commit ourselves to a unified democratic South Africa, free of oppression and economic exploitation. We believe that this can only be achieved under the leadership of a united working class. Our history has taught us that to achieve this goal we will have to carry out the following tasks: To organise the unorganised workers and build effective trade unions based on the democratic organisation of workers in the factories, mines, shops, farms and other workplaces. Organise national industrial trade unions, financed and controlled by their worker members through democratically elected committees.
- Full Text:
Consumer health informatics in the information age and beyond
- Authors: Pottas, Dalenca
- Subjects: Medical informatics , Information technology , f-sa
- Language: English
- Type: text , Lectures
- Identifier: http://hdl.handle.net/10948/20757 , vital:29386
- Description: This paper reviews current and future trends and challenges in the field of consumer health informatics. Emergent innovations driving consumer health informatics in the information age include devices, tools and applications supporting personalised healthcare, electronic personal health record (PHR) systems and a plethora of tools in the health social media domain. Within this domain, a new kind of social media citizen, the consumer specialist or patient opinion leader, is taking the lead in online communities of patients. A new generation of personal health records combining PHRs and social media is emerging, even though pervasive adoption and use of PHRs remains elusive. The accuracy of information, security and privacy of personal health information, legislative matters and the digital divide remain recurring challenges of consumer health informatics. In future, PHR vendors will have to address the lack of espousal of PHRs in innovative ways to provide a compelling case for adoption. The continued uptake of health social media necessitates efforts to understand, through longitudinal studies, precisely who the users are, what they use it for and how it contributes to the achievement of both personal and public health outcomes. Health information consumers, of varying levels of techno-literacy, needs and preferences, must be assisted to move from simply accessing information to distilling relevant and credible information and making informed decisions. Further research is required to understand the changing relationships between patients and healthcare providers and how consumer health information technologies can best support these. There is a need to evaluate the effectiveness of consumer health information technologies to inform both public policy and the next generation of tools, technologies and artefacts that could better facilitate improved health outcomes. Lastly, more effort is required to erode digital inequalities. As we move into a future emphasising both the global and the individual, accelerated connectedness and speed of change, consumer health informatics must respond such that it remains germane and amplifies the value that can be gained by all stakeholders.
- Full Text:
- Authors: Pottas, Dalenca
- Subjects: Medical informatics , Information technology , f-sa
- Language: English
- Type: text , Lectures
- Identifier: http://hdl.handle.net/10948/20757 , vital:29386
- Description: This paper reviews current and future trends and challenges in the field of consumer health informatics. Emergent innovations driving consumer health informatics in the information age include devices, tools and applications supporting personalised healthcare, electronic personal health record (PHR) systems and a plethora of tools in the health social media domain. Within this domain, a new kind of social media citizen, the consumer specialist or patient opinion leader, is taking the lead in online communities of patients. A new generation of personal health records combining PHRs and social media is emerging, even though pervasive adoption and use of PHRs remains elusive. The accuracy of information, security and privacy of personal health information, legislative matters and the digital divide remain recurring challenges of consumer health informatics. In future, PHR vendors will have to address the lack of espousal of PHRs in innovative ways to provide a compelling case for adoption. The continued uptake of health social media necessitates efforts to understand, through longitudinal studies, precisely who the users are, what they use it for and how it contributes to the achievement of both personal and public health outcomes. Health information consumers, of varying levels of techno-literacy, needs and preferences, must be assisted to move from simply accessing information to distilling relevant and credible information and making informed decisions. Further research is required to understand the changing relationships between patients and healthcare providers and how consumer health information technologies can best support these. There is a need to evaluate the effectiveness of consumer health information technologies to inform both public policy and the next generation of tools, technologies and artefacts that could better facilitate improved health outcomes. Lastly, more effort is required to erode digital inequalities. As we move into a future emphasising both the global and the individual, accelerated connectedness and speed of change, consumer health informatics must respond such that it remains germane and amplifies the value that can be gained by all stakeholders.
- Full Text:
Cool cold jazz: this is the life!
- Unknown
- Authors: Unknown
- Subjects: McGregor, Chris--1936-1990 , Blue Notes (Musical group : South Africa) , Pukwana, Dudu , Gijima, Martin
- Language: English
- Type: Article
- Identifier: vital:13760 , http://hdl.handle.net/10962/d1012775
- Description: Photocopied article from the newspaper The World about a concert by Martin Gijima with Chris McGregor and many band combos from all over the country. There is a photo of Martin Gijima with this article.
- Full Text:
- Authors: Unknown
- Subjects: McGregor, Chris--1936-1990 , Blue Notes (Musical group : South Africa) , Pukwana, Dudu , Gijima, Martin
- Language: English
- Type: Article
- Identifier: vital:13760 , http://hdl.handle.net/10962/d1012775
- Description: Photocopied article from the newspaper The World about a concert by Martin Gijima with Chris McGregor and many band combos from all over the country. There is a photo of Martin Gijima with this article.
- Full Text:
Correctional Administration, Victimology and Crime Prevention: CRM 122
- Earl-Taylor, M, Matshaba, M, Daniel, N
- Authors: Earl-Taylor, M , Matshaba, M , Daniel, N
- Subjects: Criminology
- Language: English
- Type: Examination paper
- Identifier: vital:18191 , http://hdl.handle.net/10353/d1011178
- Description: Correctional Administration, Victimology and Crime Prevention: CRM 122,supplementary examination January/February 2010.
- Full Text: false
- Authors: Earl-Taylor, M , Matshaba, M , Daniel, N
- Subjects: Criminology
- Language: English
- Type: Examination paper
- Identifier: vital:18191 , http://hdl.handle.net/10353/d1011178
- Description: Correctional Administration, Victimology and Crime Prevention: CRM 122,supplementary examination January/February 2010.
- Full Text: false
Corruption, state capture and the betrayal of South Africa’s vulnerable
- Authors: Erasmus, Deon
- Subjects: Political corruption -- South Africa , Business enterprises -- Corrupt practices -- South Africa , f-sa
- Language: English
- Type: text , Lectures
- Identifier: http://hdl.handle.net/10948/53199 , vital:45037
- Description: The term state capture was first defined in a World Bank report on corruption in eastern Europe and central Asia in 2003. Hellman, Jones and Kaufmann (2000) point out in the report that some firms in transition economies were able to shape the rules of the game to their own advantage at a considerable social cost by creating a “capture economy.”
- Full Text:
- Authors: Erasmus, Deon
- Subjects: Political corruption -- South Africa , Business enterprises -- Corrupt practices -- South Africa , f-sa
- Language: English
- Type: text , Lectures
- Identifier: http://hdl.handle.net/10948/53199 , vital:45037
- Description: The term state capture was first defined in a World Bank report on corruption in eastern Europe and central Asia in 2003. Hellman, Jones and Kaufmann (2000) point out in the report that some firms in transition economies were able to shape the rules of the game to their own advantage at a considerable social cost by creating a “capture economy.”
- Full Text:
Cradock Circuit
- Subjects: 1888-1968
- Language: English
- Type: Text
- Identifier: vital:13965 , http://hdl.handle.net/10962/d1018514 , MS 21 001
- Description: Minute books, cash account books, and correspondence, covering the years 1888-1968, for the English, Dutch (Coloured) and Basuto churches.
- Full Text:
- Subjects: 1888-1968
- Language: English
- Type: Text
- Identifier: vital:13965 , http://hdl.handle.net/10962/d1018514 , MS 21 001
- Description: Minute books, cash account books, and correspondence, covering the years 1888-1968, for the English, Dutch (Coloured) and Basuto churches.
- Full Text:
Critic's choice
- Authors: Henriques, Kevin
- Subjects: McGregor, Chris--1936-1990 , Brotherhood of Breath (Musical group) , Jazz , Jazz musicians
- Language: English
- Type: Article
- Identifier: vital:13539 , http://hdl.handle.net/10962/d1006334 , McGregor, Chris--1936-1990 , Brotherhood of Breath (Musical group) , Jazz , Jazz musicians
- Description: Photocopied article from the English newspaper Financial Times about Chris McGregor's Brotherhood of Breath.
- Full Text:
- Authors: Henriques, Kevin
- Subjects: McGregor, Chris--1936-1990 , Brotherhood of Breath (Musical group) , Jazz , Jazz musicians
- Language: English
- Type: Article
- Identifier: vital:13539 , http://hdl.handle.net/10962/d1006334 , McGregor, Chris--1936-1990 , Brotherhood of Breath (Musical group) , Jazz , Jazz musicians
- Description: Photocopied article from the English newspaper Financial Times about Chris McGregor's Brotherhood of Breath.
- Full Text:
Cybersecurity: reducing the attack surface
- Authors: Thomson, Kerry-Lynn
- Subjects: Computer security , Computer networks -- Security measures , f-sa
- Language: English
- Type: Lectures
- Identifier: http://hdl.handle.net/10948/52885 , vital:44319
- Description: Almost 60% of the world’s population has access to the internet and most organisations today rely on internet connectivity to conduct business and carry out daily operations. Further to this, it is estimated that concepts such as the Internet of Things (IoT) will facilitate the connections of over 125 billion ‘things’ by the year 2030. However, as people and devices are becoming more and more interconnected, and more data is being shared, the question that must be asked is – are we doing so securely? Each year, cybercriminals cost organisations and individuals millions of dollars, using techniques such as phishing, social engineering, malware and denial of service attacks. In particular, together with the Covid-19 pandemic, there has been a so-called ‘cybercrime pandemic’. Threat actors adapted their techniques to target people with Covid-19-themed cyberattacks and phishing campaigns to exploit their stress and anxiety during the pandemic. Cybersecurity and cybercrime exist in a symbiotic relationship in cyberspace, where, as cybersecurity gets stronger, so the cybercriminals need to become stronger to overcome those defenses. And, as the cybercriminals become stronger, so too must the defenses. Further, this symbiotic relationship plays out on what is called the attack surface. Attack surfaces are the exposed areas of an organisation that make systems more vulnerable to attacks and, essentially, is all the gaps in an organisation’s security that could be compromised by a threat actor. This attack surface is increased through organisations incorporating things such as IoT technologies, migrating to the cloud and decentralising its workforce, as happened during the pandemic with many people working from home. It is essential that organisations reduce the digital attack surface, and the vulnerabilities introduced through devices connected to the internet, with technical strategies and solutions. However, the focus of cybersecurity is often on the digital attack surface and technical solutions, with less of a focus on the human aspects of cybersecurity. The human attack surface encompasses all the vulnerabilities introduced through the actions and activities of employees. These employees should be given the necessary cybersecurity awareness, training and education to reduce the human attack surface of organisations. However, it is not only employees of organisations who are online. All individuals who interact online should be cybersecurity aware and know how to reduce their own digital and human attack surfaces, or digital footprints. This paper emphasises the importance of utilising people as part of the cybersecurity defense through the cultivation of cybersecurity cultures in organisations and a cybersecurity conscious society.
- Full Text:
- Authors: Thomson, Kerry-Lynn
- Subjects: Computer security , Computer networks -- Security measures , f-sa
- Language: English
- Type: Lectures
- Identifier: http://hdl.handle.net/10948/52885 , vital:44319
- Description: Almost 60% of the world’s population has access to the internet and most organisations today rely on internet connectivity to conduct business and carry out daily operations. Further to this, it is estimated that concepts such as the Internet of Things (IoT) will facilitate the connections of over 125 billion ‘things’ by the year 2030. However, as people and devices are becoming more and more interconnected, and more data is being shared, the question that must be asked is – are we doing so securely? Each year, cybercriminals cost organisations and individuals millions of dollars, using techniques such as phishing, social engineering, malware and denial of service attacks. In particular, together with the Covid-19 pandemic, there has been a so-called ‘cybercrime pandemic’. Threat actors adapted their techniques to target people with Covid-19-themed cyberattacks and phishing campaigns to exploit their stress and anxiety during the pandemic. Cybersecurity and cybercrime exist in a symbiotic relationship in cyberspace, where, as cybersecurity gets stronger, so the cybercriminals need to become stronger to overcome those defenses. And, as the cybercriminals become stronger, so too must the defenses. Further, this symbiotic relationship plays out on what is called the attack surface. Attack surfaces are the exposed areas of an organisation that make systems more vulnerable to attacks and, essentially, is all the gaps in an organisation’s security that could be compromised by a threat actor. This attack surface is increased through organisations incorporating things such as IoT technologies, migrating to the cloud and decentralising its workforce, as happened during the pandemic with many people working from home. It is essential that organisations reduce the digital attack surface, and the vulnerabilities introduced through devices connected to the internet, with technical strategies and solutions. However, the focus of cybersecurity is often on the digital attack surface and technical solutions, with less of a focus on the human aspects of cybersecurity. The human attack surface encompasses all the vulnerabilities introduced through the actions and activities of employees. These employees should be given the necessary cybersecurity awareness, training and education to reduce the human attack surface of organisations. However, it is not only employees of organisations who are online. All individuals who interact online should be cybersecurity aware and know how to reduce their own digital and human attack surfaces, or digital footprints. This paper emphasises the importance of utilising people as part of the cybersecurity defense through the cultivation of cybersecurity cultures in organisations and a cybersecurity conscious society.
- Full Text:
Daily Telegraph - Chris McGregor
- Unknown
- Authors: Unknown
- Subjects: McGregor, Chris--1936-1990 , Brotherhood of Breath (Musical group) , Blue Notes (Musical group : South Africa) , Jazz
- Language: English
- Type: Article
- Identifier: vital:13702 , http://hdl.handle.net/10962/d1012713
- Description: Photocopied epitaph of Chris McGregor from the newspaper Daily Telegraph.
- Full Text:
- Authors: Unknown
- Subjects: McGregor, Chris--1936-1990 , Brotherhood of Breath (Musical group) , Blue Notes (Musical group : South Africa) , Jazz
- Language: English
- Type: Article
- Identifier: vital:13702 , http://hdl.handle.net/10962/d1012713
- Description: Photocopied epitaph of Chris McGregor from the newspaper Daily Telegraph.
- Full Text:
Democratization of state institutions and processes: a critical ingredient for good governance
- Authors: Masango, Sebenzile
- Subjects: Democracy -- South Africa , South Africa -- Politics and government , f-sa
- Language: English
- Type: text , Lectures
- Identifier: http://hdl.handle.net/10948/20341 , vital:29265
- Description: In itself ‘democratization’ is a wide field of study which can be subdivided into various subfields. The content of this lecture is mainly derived from the key focus areas of the research I have conducted. My research mainly contributes to the building and strengthening of democracy and good governance.
- Full Text:
- Authors: Masango, Sebenzile
- Subjects: Democracy -- South Africa , South Africa -- Politics and government , f-sa
- Language: English
- Type: text , Lectures
- Identifier: http://hdl.handle.net/10948/20341 , vital:29265
- Description: In itself ‘democratization’ is a wide field of study which can be subdivided into various subfields. The content of this lecture is mainly derived from the key focus areas of the research I have conducted. My research mainly contributes to the building and strengthening of democracy and good governance.
- Full Text:
Demystifying leadership connectivity: rediscovering the soul of leadership
- Authors: Poisat, Paul
- Subjects: Leadership , f-sa
- Language: English
- Type: text , Lectures
- Identifier: http://hdl.handle.net/10948/35773 , vital:33811
- Description: INTRODUCTION: A Google search on ‘leadership’ produced 4.2 million articles, books, blogs and webinars on how to become a better leader. Most of the literature, comprising experts and the popular press, abound with formulistic prescriptive steps endorsed by two or three iconic figures that support their regimen. Regardless of the plethora of literature in leadership providing practical and logical tactics, many fall short on implementation and thus result in failure. What numerous sources fail to acknowledge is that the great leaders apply these tactics together with their innate skills to offer clear direction for themselves and their followers. Providing a clear vision and/or strategy to deal with uncertainty and ambiguity is one of the foremost abilities distinguishing leaders in our rapidly changing world and the ability to take employees with them. In addition, various individual (personality, values, cultural, ability) and contextual (nature of the business, complexity, rate of change, work team, diversity) factors may contribute to leadership failure that is characterised by a lack of vision, uncertainty, bullying, management by exclusion, and in extreme cases fraud and corruption. Regardless of the proliferation of leadership literature the world has never been more desperate for sound leadership. We have enough leaders but not enough leadership. With all the literature on leadership, how do you find the essence of leadership?
- Full Text:
- Authors: Poisat, Paul
- Subjects: Leadership , f-sa
- Language: English
- Type: text , Lectures
- Identifier: http://hdl.handle.net/10948/35773 , vital:33811
- Description: INTRODUCTION: A Google search on ‘leadership’ produced 4.2 million articles, books, blogs and webinars on how to become a better leader. Most of the literature, comprising experts and the popular press, abound with formulistic prescriptive steps endorsed by two or three iconic figures that support their regimen. Regardless of the plethora of literature in leadership providing practical and logical tactics, many fall short on implementation and thus result in failure. What numerous sources fail to acknowledge is that the great leaders apply these tactics together with their innate skills to offer clear direction for themselves and their followers. Providing a clear vision and/or strategy to deal with uncertainty and ambiguity is one of the foremost abilities distinguishing leaders in our rapidly changing world and the ability to take employees with them. In addition, various individual (personality, values, cultural, ability) and contextual (nature of the business, complexity, rate of change, work team, diversity) factors may contribute to leadership failure that is characterised by a lack of vision, uncertainty, bullying, management by exclusion, and in extreme cases fraud and corruption. Regardless of the proliferation of leadership literature the world has never been more desperate for sound leadership. We have enough leaders but not enough leadership. With all the literature on leadership, how do you find the essence of leadership?
- Full Text:
Deregulation and working hours in the retail sector
- Authors: Lewis, Peter
- Subjects: National Labour & Economic Development Institute
- Language: English
- Type: text , pamphlet
- Identifier: http://hdl.handle.net/10962/110804 , vital:33336
- Description: This research report investigates changes in working time in the retail sector in the 1990s in the broad context of the extension of trading hours, the deregulation of the distribution of goods in the South African economy and the resulting intensification of competition in the sector. The research data that forms the basis of the analysis comes from two surveys undertaken by the author in the course of 1996. The first was conducted in the Cape Town branch of the South African Commercial, Catering and Allied Workers’ Union (SACCAWU), which gave detailed information on working hours, employment practices and conditions (hereafter referred to as the “Cape Town survey”). The second survey was a questionnaire sent in November 1996 to Human Resource Managers of 51 of the larger retail companies in clothing, footwear, jewelry, furniture, general merchandise, and miscellaneous markets (hereafter referred to as the “retail survey”). Although the response rate was very poor (only 7 companies responded), the information from the replies is nevertheless informative. The report begins with an account of the deregulation of retailing that has taken place rapidly from the late 1980s onwards, part and parcel of the shift in political power. For important sections of the formal retail trade sector, competitive pressures have increased significantly increased by this development. Employers have reacted by attacking wage costs, which has led to a change in the forms of labour contract in retailing towards insecure, “flexible” part- time or fixed term contract work, and a decline in the influence of trade unions in the sector. These developments form the environment for the report’s focus on working time issues in retailing. The report examines the existing regime of working time for the retail trade sector as determined by Wage Determination 478 for the Commercial Distributive Trade. It assesses the impact on the Wage Determination of the current proposals and approach in the Employment Standards Bill, which will likely pass into legislation in some form during the current session of parliament. The paper analyses the Bill’s proposals for flexible working time standards, and concludes that they contain several problematic clauses that would hamper trade union efforts to secure a positive outcome to flexible working time innovations in the retail sector. The data from the Cape Town survey is used to illustrate the normal working time patterns in retail based on the Wage Determination, and shows that working hours are generally longer than 40 hours per week for full-time permanent workers who work a 5.5-day week. Furthermore, weekend and evening trading is covered by “flexible workers” working various kinds of “non-standard” contracts. The national employment and output profile of the sector is then examined through official statistics. They show that total retail sector employment reached a 40-year peak around 1988/9, it has since declined, despite the continuous increase in total retail sales during the transition from apartheid to democracy. Full-time “regular” or full-time employment has remained static in the sector since 1988, and the number of full-time equivalent posts has similarly been static. “Flexible” jobs such as part-time, “late sales”, and casual jobs have however fluctuated quite widely over the same period, from a low point of around 12% of total employment in 1988 and 1994, to high points of 25% in 1989, and 16% in 1994. The overall pattern is one where flexible labour is used by employers to manage variation in demand over the working week, seasonal variation during the working year, and longer-term business cycle fluctuations, such as the period of limited economic growth since 1994. Measured as the ratio between total retail sales and total employment, labour productivity increased over the period 1988-1995. Using the data from the retail survey and the Cape Town survey, the relationship between extended trading hours, turnover, and flexible labour contracts is examined in more detail. Weekend trading accounts for a very significant proportion of retail sales, and various forms of casual contracts take up between 20% and 50% of available labour contracts in the companies concerned. For some companies, new stores are now designed around only 30% “core” permanent staff, with the other 70% of contracts being “flexible”. A situation has therefore developed where full time “regular” workers are working relatively long hours (standard 45 per week + overtime), but are increasingly being supplanted by flexible workers with much shorter hours, poor pay, poor job security, and few (if any) fringe benefits of employment. This also undermines the bargaining position of trade unions in the industry, as bargaining units shrink. Because of the strong feelings of workers around reduction of working time to 40 hours, impending legislation on the issue, and the strong relationship in the industry between flexible labour, extended weekly trading hours, and seasonal variations in consumer demand, the issue of working time offers an opportunity to retail unions to make gains in shorter working hours, job creation, and employment security, if they can accept flexibility of working time for their established constituency. Innovations in working time such as “chosen time” and flexible working schedules need concerted attention from retail unions to prevent employers from controlling working time and employment contracts. Success depends on the degree to which unions can force employers into centralised bargaining. The paper looks at the failed attempt by SACCAWU to gain a centralised bargaining forum during 1996, which would have been an ideal instrument to address the issues around working time. This suggests that the best strategy for unions now is to concentrate on the struggle over the reduction of hours around the employment standards statute, and work on a “model” agreement with a large national employer, which can then be imitated with other employers, and then in a future centralised bargaining forum. The report then looks at examples where this opportunity has been exploited internationally, and there have been some trade union successes in company level bargaining. These examples combine job creation with reduced working hours, and some choice for workers over what hours they will work within the overall pattern of extended trading hours. The 1986 guidelines on flexible working time from the European retail workers’ federation are examined, and are recommended as still a useful approach for the South African retail unions in the mid-1990s. The report ends by looking at contemporary workers’ experiences of working time in South Africa at shop level as revealed by the Cape Town survey. The main barriers to workers accepting flexible working time are examined: these include problems of transport (and personal security), and child care. The section also assesses the way in which employers have maintained control over working time alterations at shop level to date. There is some interest among workers in shorter working hours - even with loss of some earnings - as well as changes in starting and finishing times of work. However, attempts by workers to negotiate favourable changes with their employers are usually unsuccessful, whereas unilateral changes in working time made by employers are more common.
- Full Text:
- Authors: Lewis, Peter
- Subjects: National Labour & Economic Development Institute
- Language: English
- Type: text , pamphlet
- Identifier: http://hdl.handle.net/10962/110804 , vital:33336
- Description: This research report investigates changes in working time in the retail sector in the 1990s in the broad context of the extension of trading hours, the deregulation of the distribution of goods in the South African economy and the resulting intensification of competition in the sector. The research data that forms the basis of the analysis comes from two surveys undertaken by the author in the course of 1996. The first was conducted in the Cape Town branch of the South African Commercial, Catering and Allied Workers’ Union (SACCAWU), which gave detailed information on working hours, employment practices and conditions (hereafter referred to as the “Cape Town survey”). The second survey was a questionnaire sent in November 1996 to Human Resource Managers of 51 of the larger retail companies in clothing, footwear, jewelry, furniture, general merchandise, and miscellaneous markets (hereafter referred to as the “retail survey”). Although the response rate was very poor (only 7 companies responded), the information from the replies is nevertheless informative. The report begins with an account of the deregulation of retailing that has taken place rapidly from the late 1980s onwards, part and parcel of the shift in political power. For important sections of the formal retail trade sector, competitive pressures have increased significantly increased by this development. Employers have reacted by attacking wage costs, which has led to a change in the forms of labour contract in retailing towards insecure, “flexible” part- time or fixed term contract work, and a decline in the influence of trade unions in the sector. These developments form the environment for the report’s focus on working time issues in retailing. The report examines the existing regime of working time for the retail trade sector as determined by Wage Determination 478 for the Commercial Distributive Trade. It assesses the impact on the Wage Determination of the current proposals and approach in the Employment Standards Bill, which will likely pass into legislation in some form during the current session of parliament. The paper analyses the Bill’s proposals for flexible working time standards, and concludes that they contain several problematic clauses that would hamper trade union efforts to secure a positive outcome to flexible working time innovations in the retail sector. The data from the Cape Town survey is used to illustrate the normal working time patterns in retail based on the Wage Determination, and shows that working hours are generally longer than 40 hours per week for full-time permanent workers who work a 5.5-day week. Furthermore, weekend and evening trading is covered by “flexible workers” working various kinds of “non-standard” contracts. The national employment and output profile of the sector is then examined through official statistics. They show that total retail sector employment reached a 40-year peak around 1988/9, it has since declined, despite the continuous increase in total retail sales during the transition from apartheid to democracy. Full-time “regular” or full-time employment has remained static in the sector since 1988, and the number of full-time equivalent posts has similarly been static. “Flexible” jobs such as part-time, “late sales”, and casual jobs have however fluctuated quite widely over the same period, from a low point of around 12% of total employment in 1988 and 1994, to high points of 25% in 1989, and 16% in 1994. The overall pattern is one where flexible labour is used by employers to manage variation in demand over the working week, seasonal variation during the working year, and longer-term business cycle fluctuations, such as the period of limited economic growth since 1994. Measured as the ratio between total retail sales and total employment, labour productivity increased over the period 1988-1995. Using the data from the retail survey and the Cape Town survey, the relationship between extended trading hours, turnover, and flexible labour contracts is examined in more detail. Weekend trading accounts for a very significant proportion of retail sales, and various forms of casual contracts take up between 20% and 50% of available labour contracts in the companies concerned. For some companies, new stores are now designed around only 30% “core” permanent staff, with the other 70% of contracts being “flexible”. A situation has therefore developed where full time “regular” workers are working relatively long hours (standard 45 per week + overtime), but are increasingly being supplanted by flexible workers with much shorter hours, poor pay, poor job security, and few (if any) fringe benefits of employment. This also undermines the bargaining position of trade unions in the industry, as bargaining units shrink. Because of the strong feelings of workers around reduction of working time to 40 hours, impending legislation on the issue, and the strong relationship in the industry between flexible labour, extended weekly trading hours, and seasonal variations in consumer demand, the issue of working time offers an opportunity to retail unions to make gains in shorter working hours, job creation, and employment security, if they can accept flexibility of working time for their established constituency. Innovations in working time such as “chosen time” and flexible working schedules need concerted attention from retail unions to prevent employers from controlling working time and employment contracts. Success depends on the degree to which unions can force employers into centralised bargaining. The paper looks at the failed attempt by SACCAWU to gain a centralised bargaining forum during 1996, which would have been an ideal instrument to address the issues around working time. This suggests that the best strategy for unions now is to concentrate on the struggle over the reduction of hours around the employment standards statute, and work on a “model” agreement with a large national employer, which can then be imitated with other employers, and then in a future centralised bargaining forum. The report then looks at examples where this opportunity has been exploited internationally, and there have been some trade union successes in company level bargaining. These examples combine job creation with reduced working hours, and some choice for workers over what hours they will work within the overall pattern of extended trading hours. The 1986 guidelines on flexible working time from the European retail workers’ federation are examined, and are recommended as still a useful approach for the South African retail unions in the mid-1990s. The report ends by looking at contemporary workers’ experiences of working time in South Africa at shop level as revealed by the Cape Town survey. The main barriers to workers accepting flexible working time are examined: these include problems of transport (and personal security), and child care. The section also assesses the way in which employers have maintained control over working time alterations at shop level to date. There is some interest among workers in shorter working hours - even with loss of some earnings - as well as changes in starting and finishing times of work. However, attempts by workers to negotiate favourable changes with their employers are usually unsuccessful, whereas unilateral changes in working time made by employers are more common.
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Designing adaptaptive user interfaces for enterprise resource planning systems for small enterprises
- Authors: Singh, Akash
- Subjects: User interfaces (Computer systems)
- Language: English
- Type: Thesis , Doctoral , PhD
- Identifier: vital:10458 , http://hdl.handle.net/10948/2073 , User interfaces (Computer systems)
- Description: It is widely acknowledged that enterprise resource planning (ERP) systems suffer from complex user interfaces. The complexity of these user interfaces negatively affects the usability of these systems. Current research has shown that a need exists to improve the overall usability of ERP systems. This research proposes the use of adaptive user interfaces (AUIs) as a means of improving the overall usability of ERP systems. Research has shown that AUIs are capable of improving system usability by reducing user interface complexity and improving the overall user experience. The primary objective of this research was to determine how AUIs could be designed to improve the usability of ERP systems. An adaptation taxonomy, ERP system architecture (incorporating an AUI), a set of AUI components and a set of usability heuristics for ERP systems were proposed to support the design, development and evaluation of AUIs for ERP systems. The proposed adaptation taxonomy provides support for three types of adaptation: content adaptation, presentation adaptation and navigation adaptation. The proposed ERP system architecture is a three-tiered system architecture, consisting of a Presentation Layer (incorporating an AUI), an Application Layer and a Database Layer. The proposed set of AUI components comprise a user model, a task model and a dialog model. The set of proposed usability heuristics aims to identify usability issues of ERP systems within the areas of Navigation, Presentation, Task Support, Learnability and Customisation. An AUI prototype was developed based on selected adaptive techniques from the proposed adaptation taxonomy and selected components from the proposed system architecture. All of the proposed AUI components were implemented. The AUI prototype was developed for an existing ERP system, namely SAP Business One (SBO). This prototype was designed, in order to resolve the usability issues of SBO identified through the use of the proposed set of heuristics. The development of the AUI prototype was made possible through the use of a software development kit (SDK) provided with SBO. The AUI prototype made use of content adaptation, presentation adaptation and navigation adaptation in order to address the identified usability issues. An empirical evaluation was conducted on the AUI prototype to determine whether it provided any usability benefits over the standard SBO system. The results from the empirical evaluation revealed that the AUI presented usability benefits with regard to learnability and satisfaction. Users who used the AUI prototype were able to learn how to use the ERP system a lot quicker and were more satisfied than users of the standard SBO system. The successful implementation of the AUI prototype provided practical evidence that the proposed adaptation taxonomy and the proposed system architecture can be implemented. This research has provided empirical evidence that the use of AUIs can improve the usability of ERP systems. Future research has outlined several possibilities to utilise and enhance the proposed adaptation taxonomy, the ERP system architecture and ERP heuristics, for the purpose of furthering research within the area of AUIs for ERP systems.
- Full Text:
Designing adaptaptive user interfaces for enterprise resource planning systems for small enterprises
- Authors: Singh, Akash
- Subjects: User interfaces (Computer systems)
- Language: English
- Type: Thesis , Doctoral , PhD
- Identifier: vital:10458 , http://hdl.handle.net/10948/2073 , User interfaces (Computer systems)
- Description: It is widely acknowledged that enterprise resource planning (ERP) systems suffer from complex user interfaces. The complexity of these user interfaces negatively affects the usability of these systems. Current research has shown that a need exists to improve the overall usability of ERP systems. This research proposes the use of adaptive user interfaces (AUIs) as a means of improving the overall usability of ERP systems. Research has shown that AUIs are capable of improving system usability by reducing user interface complexity and improving the overall user experience. The primary objective of this research was to determine how AUIs could be designed to improve the usability of ERP systems. An adaptation taxonomy, ERP system architecture (incorporating an AUI), a set of AUI components and a set of usability heuristics for ERP systems were proposed to support the design, development and evaluation of AUIs for ERP systems. The proposed adaptation taxonomy provides support for three types of adaptation: content adaptation, presentation adaptation and navigation adaptation. The proposed ERP system architecture is a three-tiered system architecture, consisting of a Presentation Layer (incorporating an AUI), an Application Layer and a Database Layer. The proposed set of AUI components comprise a user model, a task model and a dialog model. The set of proposed usability heuristics aims to identify usability issues of ERP systems within the areas of Navigation, Presentation, Task Support, Learnability and Customisation. An AUI prototype was developed based on selected adaptive techniques from the proposed adaptation taxonomy and selected components from the proposed system architecture. All of the proposed AUI components were implemented. The AUI prototype was developed for an existing ERP system, namely SAP Business One (SBO). This prototype was designed, in order to resolve the usability issues of SBO identified through the use of the proposed set of heuristics. The development of the AUI prototype was made possible through the use of a software development kit (SDK) provided with SBO. The AUI prototype made use of content adaptation, presentation adaptation and navigation adaptation in order to address the identified usability issues. An empirical evaluation was conducted on the AUI prototype to determine whether it provided any usability benefits over the standard SBO system. The results from the empirical evaluation revealed that the AUI presented usability benefits with regard to learnability and satisfaction. Users who used the AUI prototype were able to learn how to use the ERP system a lot quicker and were more satisfied than users of the standard SBO system. The successful implementation of the AUI prototype provided practical evidence that the proposed adaptation taxonomy and the proposed system architecture can be implemented. This research has provided empirical evidence that the use of AUIs can improve the usability of ERP systems. Future research has outlined several possibilities to utilise and enhance the proposed adaptation taxonomy, the ERP system architecture and ERP heuristics, for the purpose of furthering research within the area of AUIs for ERP systems.
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Devastating strike hits SAA
- South African Transport and Allied Workers Union (SATAWU)
- Authors: South African Transport and Allied Workers Union (SATAWU)
- Subjects: SATAWU
- Language: English
- Type: text
- Identifier: http://hdl.handle.net/10962/168914 , vital:41660
- Description: This year we are five years old. It is an important time in the history of our young merged union representing transport, cleaning and security workers under the revolutionary banner of federation COSATU, the liberation movement and the working class as a whole. On the 18 may 2000 we launched the new SATAWU comprising of members from the former SATAWU and former TGWU, bringing together public and private sector transport workers and cleaning and security workers. The battles that we have had to engage in, have been decisive and have contributed fundamentally to changing our society for the better. The bruising 1989 SARHWU strike stands out as one event that altered the labour relations in the public sector through the power and determination of organised transport workers. While the historic strike by our security members in kzn in 1993 also led to the first historic wage negotiations and the resultant sectoral determination in the industry setting a minimum floor of rights for all workers.
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- Authors: South African Transport and Allied Workers Union (SATAWU)
- Subjects: SATAWU
- Language: English
- Type: text
- Identifier: http://hdl.handle.net/10962/168914 , vital:41660
- Description: This year we are five years old. It is an important time in the history of our young merged union representing transport, cleaning and security workers under the revolutionary banner of federation COSATU, the liberation movement and the working class as a whole. On the 18 may 2000 we launched the new SATAWU comprising of members from the former SATAWU and former TGWU, bringing together public and private sector transport workers and cleaning and security workers. The battles that we have had to engage in, have been decisive and have contributed fundamentally to changing our society for the better. The bruising 1989 SARHWU strike stands out as one event that altered the labour relations in the public sector through the power and determination of organised transport workers. While the historic strike by our security members in kzn in 1993 also led to the first historic wage negotiations and the resultant sectoral determination in the industry setting a minimum floor of rights for all workers.
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Develoment of a navigation system for an autonomous guided vehicle using android technology
- Authors: Snyman, Christo Johannes
- Subjects: Automated guided vehicle systems , Global Positioning System
- Language: English
- Type: Thesis , Masters , MEngineering (Mechatronics)
- Identifier: vital:9660 , http://hdl.handle.net/10948/d1020917
- Description: Modern cell phone hardware, due to its integrated peripherals, provides a low cost intelligent controller for use in the navigation of an Automated Guided Vehicle (AGV). Most commercial AGV’s use proprietary hardware which is expensive to replace and also difficult to maintain. Using industrial hardware components combined with Android mobile platforms could provide a low-cost alternative. This would be easier to maintain, using existing in-house factory maintenance knowledge. A prototype AGV was designed and developed based on an integrated system between an industrial Programmable Logic Controller (PLC) and an Android operating system mobile platform. This system utilises the mobile platforms integrated Global Position System (GPS) or video camera as tools for navigation. Experimental tests were performed to determine whether the prototype can navigate a predefined course by making use of GPS and camera line following algorithms. The accuracy of the line following algorithm was influenced by the speed at which the research AGV moved. Mounting the Android camera higher above the ground improved the vision and therefore accuracy of the algorithm. The GPS algorithm successfully navigated to various waypoints. The accuracy of the implemented GPS unit on the Android device is its limitation. The research unit was only capable of reaching a waypoint consistently within a three-metre radius.
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- Authors: Snyman, Christo Johannes
- Subjects: Automated guided vehicle systems , Global Positioning System
- Language: English
- Type: Thesis , Masters , MEngineering (Mechatronics)
- Identifier: vital:9660 , http://hdl.handle.net/10948/d1020917
- Description: Modern cell phone hardware, due to its integrated peripherals, provides a low cost intelligent controller for use in the navigation of an Automated Guided Vehicle (AGV). Most commercial AGV’s use proprietary hardware which is expensive to replace and also difficult to maintain. Using industrial hardware components combined with Android mobile platforms could provide a low-cost alternative. This would be easier to maintain, using existing in-house factory maintenance knowledge. A prototype AGV was designed and developed based on an integrated system between an industrial Programmable Logic Controller (PLC) and an Android operating system mobile platform. This system utilises the mobile platforms integrated Global Position System (GPS) or video camera as tools for navigation. Experimental tests were performed to determine whether the prototype can navigate a predefined course by making use of GPS and camera line following algorithms. The accuracy of the line following algorithm was influenced by the speed at which the research AGV moved. Mounting the Android camera higher above the ground improved the vision and therefore accuracy of the algorithm. The GPS algorithm successfully navigated to various waypoints. The accuracy of the implemented GPS unit on the Android device is its limitation. The research unit was only capable of reaching a waypoint consistently within a three-metre radius.
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Development of Graphene/CdSe Quantum Dots-Co Phthalocyanine Nanocomposite for Oxygen Reduction Reaction
- Nyoni, Stephen, Nyokong, Tebello
- Authors: Nyoni, Stephen , Nyokong, Tebello
- Language: English
- Type: Article
- Identifier: vital:7300 , http://hdl.handle.net/10962/d1020368
- Description: Nanocomposites containing CdSe quantum dots, tetra(4-(4,6-diaminopyrimidin-2-ylthio) phthalocyaninatocobalt(II)) (CoPyPc) and reduced graphene nanosheets (rGNS) were devoloped and used for the modification of a glassy carbon electrode. Characterization of the nanocomposites was done by transmission electron microscopy (TEM) and X-ray diffraction (XRD) analyses. Cyclic voltammetry (CV) was used for electrochemical characterization of the prepared nanocomposite for oxygen reduction reaction. The oxygen reduction activity for rGNS/CdSe-CoPyPc nanocomposite was found to be superior over the individual nanomaterials in this study. The activity of the nanocomposite towards oxygen reduction was also tested for tolerance to methanol crossover effect using chronoamperometry (CA) and electrochemical impedance spectroscopy (EIS) studies. , Original publication is available at http://dx.doi.org/10.1002/elan.201400372
- Full Text: false
- Authors: Nyoni, Stephen , Nyokong, Tebello
- Language: English
- Type: Article
- Identifier: vital:7300 , http://hdl.handle.net/10962/d1020368
- Description: Nanocomposites containing CdSe quantum dots, tetra(4-(4,6-diaminopyrimidin-2-ylthio) phthalocyaninatocobalt(II)) (CoPyPc) and reduced graphene nanosheets (rGNS) were devoloped and used for the modification of a glassy carbon electrode. Characterization of the nanocomposites was done by transmission electron microscopy (TEM) and X-ray diffraction (XRD) analyses. Cyclic voltammetry (CV) was used for electrochemical characterization of the prepared nanocomposite for oxygen reduction reaction. The oxygen reduction activity for rGNS/CdSe-CoPyPc nanocomposite was found to be superior over the individual nanomaterials in this study. The activity of the nanocomposite towards oxygen reduction was also tested for tolerance to methanol crossover effect using chronoamperometry (CA) and electrochemical impedance spectroscopy (EIS) studies. , Original publication is available at http://dx.doi.org/10.1002/elan.201400372
- Full Text: false
Diaries and letters of Ellen Case
- Case, Ellen, Case, John James
- Authors: Case, Ellen , Case, John James
- Subjects: Eastern Cape, South Africa , Church of the Province of Southern Africa -- Missions , Peddie, South Africa -- History
- Language: English
- Type: Text
- Identifier: vital:13463 , http://hdl.handle.net/10962/d1020073 , MS 20 011
- Description: This is the transcription of two diaries written by Ellen Case, wife of Rev. Philip Henry Case, describing their life in the service of the Anglican church from 1888-1894, while they were based at St Cuthbert's Mission near Tsolo, (1888-1889) and a year at Peddie in 1892. A volume containing copies of her letters home are also transcribed, as well as the account of a family holiday at Hluleka, Transkei coast, in 1902. The note books are in a fragile condition; they have been transcribed by her grandson, John James Case, who deposited the collection in Cory Library in December 2003, and the transcription in 2014. , Donated by John J. Case in 2014.
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- Authors: Case, Ellen , Case, John James
- Subjects: Eastern Cape, South Africa , Church of the Province of Southern Africa -- Missions , Peddie, South Africa -- History
- Language: English
- Type: Text
- Identifier: vital:13463 , http://hdl.handle.net/10962/d1020073 , MS 20 011
- Description: This is the transcription of two diaries written by Ellen Case, wife of Rev. Philip Henry Case, describing their life in the service of the Anglican church from 1888-1894, while they were based at St Cuthbert's Mission near Tsolo, (1888-1889) and a year at Peddie in 1892. A volume containing copies of her letters home are also transcribed, as well as the account of a family holiday at Hluleka, Transkei coast, in 1902. The note books are in a fragile condition; they have been transcribed by her grandson, John James Case, who deposited the collection in Cory Library in December 2003, and the transcription in 2014. , Donated by John J. Case in 2014.
- Full Text:
Diary
- Authors: Taylor, Laurie
- Language: English
- Type: Article
- Identifier: vital:13657 , http://hdl.handle.net/10962/d1012568
- Description: Photocopied article from the newspaper New Statesman and Society about the new formation of the Brotherhood of Breath after the death of three of the key members Chris McGregor, Dudu Pukwana and Johnny Dyani.
- Full Text:
- Authors: Taylor, Laurie
- Language: English
- Type: Article
- Identifier: vital:13657 , http://hdl.handle.net/10962/d1012568
- Description: Photocopied article from the newspaper New Statesman and Society about the new formation of the Brotherhood of Breath after the death of three of the key members Chris McGregor, Dudu Pukwana and Johnny Dyani.
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