Perspectives of the historical–biographical criticism In the creative works of J. J. R. Jolobe
- Khumalo, Hlonpha Pamela Vivienne, Kwatsha, Linda Loretta
- Authors: Khumalo, Hlonpha Pamela Vivienne , Kwatsha, Linda Loretta
- Date: 2016
- Subjects: South African literature -- History and criticism -- Biography Xhosa literature -- History and criticism
- Language: English
- Type: Thesis , Doctoral , PhD
- Identifier: http://hdl.handle.net/10948/21983 , vital:29809
- Description: Olu phando lohlalutyo lukwaluncomo-gxeko lwemisebenzi kaJolobe, injongo yalo kukubonisa ukuba lukho uqhagamshelwano phakathi kobomi bakhe jikelele kunye noncwadi lwakhe. Ulwazi olunjalo lungathi lube luncedo kwiphulo elibalulekileyo ekuncediseni kulwazi lokubhala ibhayografi yakhe. Kubonakele kufanelekile ukuba iphulo elinjalo lenziwe ukukhumbula imisebenzi emikhulu eyenziwe ngamaqhawe abantu abaNtsundu abathe banegalelo elikhulu ekuphakanyiswni koncwadi lwemvelo kwakunye nenkuqubela phambili kwimfundo yabantu abangama-Afrika beli lizwe. Umzekelo uJolobe ulusebenzele ukuba uncwadi lwakhe ukuxwayisa abantu bakowabo abaNtsundu ngemfundo nolwazi olwakhaya. Ukwalusebenzise uncwadi lwakhe ukuvusa abantu ama-Afrika balumke kwingozi zemimoya yocinezelo lwabo ngurhulumente ocalule abantu abaNtsundu kuba bebantsundu ngebala. Nangona uncwadi lwakhe ulenze lwabasisonwabiso kodwa ikhakhulu ulusebenzise kwanokunika intuthuzelo, ithemba kwanokomelela kubantu abathe bacinezelwe zimeko zobomi ukuba bangalahli ithemba loluzuza impumelelo, kuba izinto zingatshintsha ebomini babo ngokuhamba kwamaxesha. Kwakhona ukongeza uncwadi lwakhe ulusebenzise ukuphakamisa nokuhambisela phambili ulwimi lwemveli, inkcubeko, imbali ngokusebenzisa isixhobo esiluncwadi lwakhe ukuze ezi ngongoma zikhankanyisweyo zihlale ezincwadini zakhe ezithe zazisele zolwazi, zingabi nakuze zife kuba zililifa lesizwe esiNtsundu, Uninzi loncwadi olubhalwe nguJolobe luthe lwaxoxwa kwesi sifundo, kodwa kuye kwaphonongwa ikakhulu uncwadi lwemibongo, inoveli idrama kuba kubonakele ukuba lo msebenzi ubanzi kakhulu kwaye esi sifundo kubonakele ukuba kungabanzima ukuba singagqibeka lula, kodwa ke uJolobe ubengumntu okhutheleyo. Ubhale incwadi eziliqela ngenxa yothando lwakhe lobhalo loncwadi oluqhutywe ngumbono wakhe wobuthandazwe, wokubona kubalulekile ukuba inani loncwadi olubhaliweyo esiXhoseni linyuke kwaye libe kwizinga eliphezulu, ukuze umzi wasemaXhoseni nowamanye ama-Afrika ngokubanzi ungalambathi ngoncwadi lokufunda ujongelwe phantsi ngokuba semva kwinkqubela phambili zezinye izizwe Ingokuphandle uncwadi lukaJolobe lubonakela luyinxenye yobomi bakhe. Kulunye uncwadi kwakhe kufumaniseka ukuba ukubhale endululwe zizinto ezithe azamphatha kakuhle ebomini bakhe zazaza ezo zinto zawuphazamisa umoya wakhe, nentlalo yakhe wada waqanda ukuba makabhale aphokoze okukuphuphuma kwengcinga zakhe ukuzithuthuzela kwanokuphilisa kwanabanye abantu abathe badibana neenzima ezinjalo zobomi. Umzekelo: iimeko zopolitiko zeli lizwe zithe zabuchaphazela ubomi bakhe, oko kubesisiphumo sokuba abhale incwadi yakhe yedrama apho adiza ngeemeko zokuphatheka kwabantu baseBhayi kwilokishi eyathi yabelwa bona ngurhulumnte wobandlululo, apho ebexelenga khona njengetitshala kwanoMfundisi weliZwi. Kanti noncwadi apho athe wabonisa ukuvuya khona olo luvuyo olusukela kwinto ethe yamvuyisa emalunga nobomi bakhe, izimvo zakhe kwanenkolo yakhe njengomntu, kwanendlela akhule ngayo. Umzekelo, uJolobe uye wazisa abafundi bakhe ukuba iimbalo zakhe zisukele kwizinto ezithe zamchukumisa ebomini bakhe. Ngoko ke kwabonakala ukuba olu phando luluncedo ekusungulweni kweprojekti yokubhalwa kwebhayografi kaJolobe neya kuba luncedo kwimisebenzi yophando olubalulekileyo kuncwadi kuba iincwadi ezinje zityebile ngolwazi olubalulekileyo ekungena kucingelwa ukuba lunokufunyanwa kulo.
- Full Text:
- Date Issued: 2016
- Authors: Khumalo, Hlonpha Pamela Vivienne , Kwatsha, Linda Loretta
- Date: 2016
- Subjects: South African literature -- History and criticism -- Biography Xhosa literature -- History and criticism
- Language: English
- Type: Thesis , Doctoral , PhD
- Identifier: http://hdl.handle.net/10948/21983 , vital:29809
- Description: Olu phando lohlalutyo lukwaluncomo-gxeko lwemisebenzi kaJolobe, injongo yalo kukubonisa ukuba lukho uqhagamshelwano phakathi kobomi bakhe jikelele kunye noncwadi lwakhe. Ulwazi olunjalo lungathi lube luncedo kwiphulo elibalulekileyo ekuncediseni kulwazi lokubhala ibhayografi yakhe. Kubonakele kufanelekile ukuba iphulo elinjalo lenziwe ukukhumbula imisebenzi emikhulu eyenziwe ngamaqhawe abantu abaNtsundu abathe banegalelo elikhulu ekuphakanyiswni koncwadi lwemvelo kwakunye nenkuqubela phambili kwimfundo yabantu abangama-Afrika beli lizwe. Umzekelo uJolobe ulusebenzele ukuba uncwadi lwakhe ukuxwayisa abantu bakowabo abaNtsundu ngemfundo nolwazi olwakhaya. Ukwalusebenzise uncwadi lwakhe ukuvusa abantu ama-Afrika balumke kwingozi zemimoya yocinezelo lwabo ngurhulumente ocalule abantu abaNtsundu kuba bebantsundu ngebala. Nangona uncwadi lwakhe ulenze lwabasisonwabiso kodwa ikhakhulu ulusebenzise kwanokunika intuthuzelo, ithemba kwanokomelela kubantu abathe bacinezelwe zimeko zobomi ukuba bangalahli ithemba loluzuza impumelelo, kuba izinto zingatshintsha ebomini babo ngokuhamba kwamaxesha. Kwakhona ukongeza uncwadi lwakhe ulusebenzise ukuphakamisa nokuhambisela phambili ulwimi lwemveli, inkcubeko, imbali ngokusebenzisa isixhobo esiluncwadi lwakhe ukuze ezi ngongoma zikhankanyisweyo zihlale ezincwadini zakhe ezithe zazisele zolwazi, zingabi nakuze zife kuba zililifa lesizwe esiNtsundu, Uninzi loncwadi olubhalwe nguJolobe luthe lwaxoxwa kwesi sifundo, kodwa kuye kwaphonongwa ikakhulu uncwadi lwemibongo, inoveli idrama kuba kubonakele ukuba lo msebenzi ubanzi kakhulu kwaye esi sifundo kubonakele ukuba kungabanzima ukuba singagqibeka lula, kodwa ke uJolobe ubengumntu okhutheleyo. Ubhale incwadi eziliqela ngenxa yothando lwakhe lobhalo loncwadi oluqhutywe ngumbono wakhe wobuthandazwe, wokubona kubalulekile ukuba inani loncwadi olubhaliweyo esiXhoseni linyuke kwaye libe kwizinga eliphezulu, ukuze umzi wasemaXhoseni nowamanye ama-Afrika ngokubanzi ungalambathi ngoncwadi lokufunda ujongelwe phantsi ngokuba semva kwinkqubela phambili zezinye izizwe Ingokuphandle uncwadi lukaJolobe lubonakela luyinxenye yobomi bakhe. Kulunye uncwadi kwakhe kufumaniseka ukuba ukubhale endululwe zizinto ezithe azamphatha kakuhle ebomini bakhe zazaza ezo zinto zawuphazamisa umoya wakhe, nentlalo yakhe wada waqanda ukuba makabhale aphokoze okukuphuphuma kwengcinga zakhe ukuzithuthuzela kwanokuphilisa kwanabanye abantu abathe badibana neenzima ezinjalo zobomi. Umzekelo: iimeko zopolitiko zeli lizwe zithe zabuchaphazela ubomi bakhe, oko kubesisiphumo sokuba abhale incwadi yakhe yedrama apho adiza ngeemeko zokuphatheka kwabantu baseBhayi kwilokishi eyathi yabelwa bona ngurhulumnte wobandlululo, apho ebexelenga khona njengetitshala kwanoMfundisi weliZwi. Kanti noncwadi apho athe wabonisa ukuvuya khona olo luvuyo olusukela kwinto ethe yamvuyisa emalunga nobomi bakhe, izimvo zakhe kwanenkolo yakhe njengomntu, kwanendlela akhule ngayo. Umzekelo, uJolobe uye wazisa abafundi bakhe ukuba iimbalo zakhe zisukele kwizinto ezithe zamchukumisa ebomini bakhe. Ngoko ke kwabonakala ukuba olu phando luluncedo ekusungulweni kweprojekti yokubhalwa kwebhayografi kaJolobe neya kuba luncedo kwimisebenzi yophando olubalulekileyo kuncwadi kuba iincwadi ezinje zityebile ngolwazi olubalulekileyo ekungena kucingelwa ukuba lunokufunyanwa kulo.
- Full Text:
- Date Issued: 2016
Tanzania's development agenda and poverty reduction : a case of Mkukuta I1
- Authors: Mandalu, Martin Petro
- Date: 2016
- Subjects: Poverty--Tanzania Tanzania--Economic conditions
- Language: English
- Type: Thesis , Doctoral , Development Studies
- Identifier: http://hdl.handle.net/10353/15616 , vital:40487
- Description: Poverty reduction has always been part of Tanzania‘s development agenda since independence in 1961. Despite wealth of natural resources, peace and political stability, the country has continued to be poor for decades. A number of strategies have been employed to address the problem; however, they have not been so successful. Studies have explored the problem and came up with explanations that are insufficient. In recent years, more studies on poverty reduction increased, following the country‘s magnificent economic growth which, however, fails to alleviate poverty in the country. Recent literature on poverty reduction calls for improvement in the productive sectors such as agriculture and construction to increase their contribution in poverty reduction. However, most studies did not pay attention to the development model/s that led the economy since independence. Motivated by the unsatisfactory results of the previous poverty reduction strategies, and lacunas of the preceding studies, this research, through MKUKUTA I, examines factors affecting the development agenda in Tanzania and their influence on poverty reduction. It investigates, as well, the development models employed in the country since independence. The study is guided by the change of development theories: from socialism to neo-liberalism. Furthermore, the study proposes an alternative development model beyond dependency and neo-liberalism schools of thoughts that have been struggling to influence development in the country for over five decades. The study employs mainly secondary data and primary data as supplementary methods to analyse and explain the mismatch between economic growth and poverty reduction in the country. The study argues that the productive sectors fail to produce sufficiently and contribute to poverty reduction since they are not guided by any specific development model. Findings suggest that failure in poverty reduction despite remarkable economic growth is caused by failure of growth in the agriculture sector which employs the largest part of the workforce in the country. Economic transformation in the country, which contributed to economic growth, failed to generate more jobs in the productive sectors. Incorrect methodologies used for obtaining economic data are alleged as possible logical explanation for the mismatch between economic growth and failure in poverty reduction. Failure in poverty reduction had a negative impact on human development as the poor, especially in the rural areas, had limited access to quality services of education, health care, water and sanitation. Moreover, findings revealed that neoliberal policies in the country are not effective enough in guiding the development agenda and poverty reduction. Despite the rule of law, peace, political stability and favourable conditions for capitalism in the country, significant features of a neoliberal economy have not been effectively developed. The local private sector is still weak at the embryonic stage, and the market is weakened by corruption and poor infrastructure for doing business. Moreover, findings suggest that for about three decades, Tanzania has not had a clear and distinct development model to guide its development agenda in poverty alleviation. The constitution suggests that the country is guided by a socialist development philosophy whereas the official government website and practices indicate that the country is run by neoliberal policies. To resolve the matter and in view of attaining the TDV 2025 and poverty reduction, this study proposes that Tanzania becomes a democratic developmental state while governed by a dependency-neoliberal theory from the amalgamation of reviewed dependency and neo-liberal schools of thoughts as a guiding principle since all developmental states need guiding philosophies to lead them. Moreover, the study proposes pragmatic interventions to implement the development model.
- Full Text:
- Date Issued: 2016
- Authors: Mandalu, Martin Petro
- Date: 2016
- Subjects: Poverty--Tanzania Tanzania--Economic conditions
- Language: English
- Type: Thesis , Doctoral , Development Studies
- Identifier: http://hdl.handle.net/10353/15616 , vital:40487
- Description: Poverty reduction has always been part of Tanzania‘s development agenda since independence in 1961. Despite wealth of natural resources, peace and political stability, the country has continued to be poor for decades. A number of strategies have been employed to address the problem; however, they have not been so successful. Studies have explored the problem and came up with explanations that are insufficient. In recent years, more studies on poverty reduction increased, following the country‘s magnificent economic growth which, however, fails to alleviate poverty in the country. Recent literature on poverty reduction calls for improvement in the productive sectors such as agriculture and construction to increase their contribution in poverty reduction. However, most studies did not pay attention to the development model/s that led the economy since independence. Motivated by the unsatisfactory results of the previous poverty reduction strategies, and lacunas of the preceding studies, this research, through MKUKUTA I, examines factors affecting the development agenda in Tanzania and their influence on poverty reduction. It investigates, as well, the development models employed in the country since independence. The study is guided by the change of development theories: from socialism to neo-liberalism. Furthermore, the study proposes an alternative development model beyond dependency and neo-liberalism schools of thoughts that have been struggling to influence development in the country for over five decades. The study employs mainly secondary data and primary data as supplementary methods to analyse and explain the mismatch between economic growth and poverty reduction in the country. The study argues that the productive sectors fail to produce sufficiently and contribute to poverty reduction since they are not guided by any specific development model. Findings suggest that failure in poverty reduction despite remarkable economic growth is caused by failure of growth in the agriculture sector which employs the largest part of the workforce in the country. Economic transformation in the country, which contributed to economic growth, failed to generate more jobs in the productive sectors. Incorrect methodologies used for obtaining economic data are alleged as possible logical explanation for the mismatch between economic growth and failure in poverty reduction. Failure in poverty reduction had a negative impact on human development as the poor, especially in the rural areas, had limited access to quality services of education, health care, water and sanitation. Moreover, findings revealed that neoliberal policies in the country are not effective enough in guiding the development agenda and poverty reduction. Despite the rule of law, peace, political stability and favourable conditions for capitalism in the country, significant features of a neoliberal economy have not been effectively developed. The local private sector is still weak at the embryonic stage, and the market is weakened by corruption and poor infrastructure for doing business. Moreover, findings suggest that for about three decades, Tanzania has not had a clear and distinct development model to guide its development agenda in poverty alleviation. The constitution suggests that the country is guided by a socialist development philosophy whereas the official government website and practices indicate that the country is run by neoliberal policies. To resolve the matter and in view of attaining the TDV 2025 and poverty reduction, this study proposes that Tanzania becomes a democratic developmental state while governed by a dependency-neoliberal theory from the amalgamation of reviewed dependency and neo-liberal schools of thoughts as a guiding principle since all developmental states need guiding philosophies to lead them. Moreover, the study proposes pragmatic interventions to implement the development model.
- Full Text:
- Date Issued: 2016
Investigating emerging deleuzoguattarian connections to the environment via information technology
- Authors: Siwak, Jakub
- Date: 2016
- Subjects: Mass media and the environment , Neoliberalism
- Language: English
- Type: Thesis , Doctoral , DPhil
- Identifier: http://hdl.handle.net/10948/8329 , vital:26343
- Description: This thesis explores whether or not it is possible to positively inflect – via digital means – people’s orientations toward nature through connecting their duration to the time of animals. The thesis opens with an overview of the contemporary environmental crisis, mapping related significant discourses, events and responses from the early 1960s onward. In this regard, after thematizing the relatively ineffective global institutional response to the environmental crisis to date – in spite of both consistent criticisms proffered by a range of stakeholders and widely available information on the scope of current environmental degradation – the lack of any concerted effort to deal with this issue is accounted for in terms of the dimensions of what Kilbourne, Beckmann and Thelen refer to as the ‘Dominant Social Paradigm’ (DSP). However, it is argued that of these dimensions, the technological dimension is most amenable to pro-environmental inflection, particularly through recent developments within information technology. That is, despite the latter being the privileged technology of neoliberalism, and despite the environmental cost of its current material infrastructure, it is also highly unlikely that societies will abandon their dependence on information technology in the near future. Given this, the importance of considering how such technology can be harnessed to positively re-orientate users’ perceptions of the natural world, in a way that also avoids the pitfall of technophilia, is advanced. In terms of this, both positive and negative appraisals of information technology by prominent new media theorists are discussed, and information technology is put forward as a tool that remains indeterminate in terms of its use. After this, and with a view to exploring how the technological dimension of the DSP might possibly be inflected in a pro-environmental manner, the thesis draws on the works of Gilles Deleuze and Félix Guattari who promote desire and difference outside the ambit of capitalism, particularly through desubjectivation in relation to their concept of ‘becoming-animal.’ Finally, after dealing in addition with some potential theoretical challenges to the application of Deleuze’s ideas within the digital realm, focus shifts to three contemporary digital artefacts which have the capacity, albeit to varying degrees, to facilitate a becoming-animal. In this regard, a distinction is made between those artefacts that precipitate first-, second- and third-order hybrid durationality, and it is argued that the latter category presents the greatest promise of interfacing the time of humans with the time of animals.
- Full Text:
- Date Issued: 2016
- Authors: Siwak, Jakub
- Date: 2016
- Subjects: Mass media and the environment , Neoliberalism
- Language: English
- Type: Thesis , Doctoral , DPhil
- Identifier: http://hdl.handle.net/10948/8329 , vital:26343
- Description: This thesis explores whether or not it is possible to positively inflect – via digital means – people’s orientations toward nature through connecting their duration to the time of animals. The thesis opens with an overview of the contemporary environmental crisis, mapping related significant discourses, events and responses from the early 1960s onward. In this regard, after thematizing the relatively ineffective global institutional response to the environmental crisis to date – in spite of both consistent criticisms proffered by a range of stakeholders and widely available information on the scope of current environmental degradation – the lack of any concerted effort to deal with this issue is accounted for in terms of the dimensions of what Kilbourne, Beckmann and Thelen refer to as the ‘Dominant Social Paradigm’ (DSP). However, it is argued that of these dimensions, the technological dimension is most amenable to pro-environmental inflection, particularly through recent developments within information technology. That is, despite the latter being the privileged technology of neoliberalism, and despite the environmental cost of its current material infrastructure, it is also highly unlikely that societies will abandon their dependence on information technology in the near future. Given this, the importance of considering how such technology can be harnessed to positively re-orientate users’ perceptions of the natural world, in a way that also avoids the pitfall of technophilia, is advanced. In terms of this, both positive and negative appraisals of information technology by prominent new media theorists are discussed, and information technology is put forward as a tool that remains indeterminate in terms of its use. After this, and with a view to exploring how the technological dimension of the DSP might possibly be inflected in a pro-environmental manner, the thesis draws on the works of Gilles Deleuze and Félix Guattari who promote desire and difference outside the ambit of capitalism, particularly through desubjectivation in relation to their concept of ‘becoming-animal.’ Finally, after dealing in addition with some potential theoretical challenges to the application of Deleuze’s ideas within the digital realm, focus shifts to three contemporary digital artefacts which have the capacity, albeit to varying degrees, to facilitate a becoming-animal. In this regard, a distinction is made between those artefacts that precipitate first-, second- and third-order hybrid durationality, and it is argued that the latter category presents the greatest promise of interfacing the time of humans with the time of animals.
- Full Text:
- Date Issued: 2016
Land-use effects on mammal communities in the Fish-Kowie corridor, Eastern Cape, South Africa, with particular reference to carnivores
- Authors: Kok, Armand du Preez
- Date: 2016
- Language: English
- Type: Thesis , Doctoral , PhD
- Identifier: http://hdl.handle.net/10962/561 , vital:19970
- Description: Human population growth is causing an increase in habitat transformation on a global scale, and this transformation is driven by changes in land-use practices. One consequence of habitat transformation is the negative effect it can have on mammal communities, especially carnivores. Carnivores are important components of ecosystems as they play an essential structuring role, but also often come into conflict with people. I studied the impact of land-use on mammalian diversity, the attitudes of landowners/managers towards carnivores, the distribution of carnivores, and the interactions among carnivore species in the Fish-Kowie corridor (FKC), an area of conservation concern, in the Eastern Cape, South Africa. Livestock and game farming are the two dominant land-use types in the FKC. Carnivore distribution data were collected between 2012 and 2014 using a robust camera trap survey that consisted of 432 camera stations (216 on livestock and 216 on game farms). In addition, the attitudes of 55 landowners/managers were assessed using semi- structured questionnaire interviews that were conducted in person. My results revealed that mammal diversity was similar on the two land-use types. However, individual species differed in their distribution on the two land-use types. In general, both livestock and game farmers had negative attitudes towards carnivores in the FKC, due to their depredation of valuable livestock and game species. Black-backed jackals (Canis mesomelas), caracals (Caracal caracal), leopards (Panthera pardus), and brown hyaenas (Parahyaena brunnea) were considered the most problematic carnivores, but sensitivity to land-use varied among these four species. Black- backed jackals had the highest occupancy rates of all four predators and were 3.8 times more likely to occupy sites on game farms compared to livestock farms. By contrast, leopards and brown hyaenas were only detected on game farms, and caracals did not appear to be sensitive to the effects of land-use. In general, the interactions among carnivores were weak and were likely driven by carnivore diversity, resource partitioning, and anthropogenic pressures. While there were many subtle differences in the distribution of mammal species and human attitudes towards wildlife on livestock and game farms in the FKC, there were also many similarities. My study has produced results that can be used by the FKC community to better understand how mammals and humans interact across the landscape, information that will ultimately contribute to future conservation planning in the area.
- Full Text:
- Date Issued: 2016
- Authors: Kok, Armand du Preez
- Date: 2016
- Language: English
- Type: Thesis , Doctoral , PhD
- Identifier: http://hdl.handle.net/10962/561 , vital:19970
- Description: Human population growth is causing an increase in habitat transformation on a global scale, and this transformation is driven by changes in land-use practices. One consequence of habitat transformation is the negative effect it can have on mammal communities, especially carnivores. Carnivores are important components of ecosystems as they play an essential structuring role, but also often come into conflict with people. I studied the impact of land-use on mammalian diversity, the attitudes of landowners/managers towards carnivores, the distribution of carnivores, and the interactions among carnivore species in the Fish-Kowie corridor (FKC), an area of conservation concern, in the Eastern Cape, South Africa. Livestock and game farming are the two dominant land-use types in the FKC. Carnivore distribution data were collected between 2012 and 2014 using a robust camera trap survey that consisted of 432 camera stations (216 on livestock and 216 on game farms). In addition, the attitudes of 55 landowners/managers were assessed using semi- structured questionnaire interviews that were conducted in person. My results revealed that mammal diversity was similar on the two land-use types. However, individual species differed in their distribution on the two land-use types. In general, both livestock and game farmers had negative attitudes towards carnivores in the FKC, due to their depredation of valuable livestock and game species. Black-backed jackals (Canis mesomelas), caracals (Caracal caracal), leopards (Panthera pardus), and brown hyaenas (Parahyaena brunnea) were considered the most problematic carnivores, but sensitivity to land-use varied among these four species. Black- backed jackals had the highest occupancy rates of all four predators and were 3.8 times more likely to occupy sites on game farms compared to livestock farms. By contrast, leopards and brown hyaenas were only detected on game farms, and caracals did not appear to be sensitive to the effects of land-use. In general, the interactions among carnivores were weak and were likely driven by carnivore diversity, resource partitioning, and anthropogenic pressures. While there were many subtle differences in the distribution of mammal species and human attitudes towards wildlife on livestock and game farms in the FKC, there were also many similarities. My study has produced results that can be used by the FKC community to better understand how mammals and humans interact across the landscape, information that will ultimately contribute to future conservation planning in the area.
- Full Text:
- Date Issued: 2016
An exploration of challenges in leadership development within Eskom's distribution division operating unit : a case-study of Limpopo Province
- Authors: Mashau, Mbangiseni Adam
- Date: 2016
- Subjects: Eskom (Firm) Leadership -- South Africa Government business enterprises -- South Africa
- Language: English
- Type: Thesis , Doctoral , PhD
- Identifier: http://hdl.handle.net/10353/8198 , vital:31965
- Description: Although the issue of leadership is a sensitive subject especially when dealt with it in the context of State Owned Entities operations, avoiding the need to highlight the seriousness of plights and challenges hampering adequate development of current and prospective leaders may be regarded as an act of ignorance. It is certainly better to have the knowledge and not use it than to want to use critical information but you do not have it at all. As South Africans, we are currently more than lucky to be living in the democratic era where a thirst and hunger of knowledge is entirely one’s choice. The South African communities and Sate Owned Enterprises leaders deserve to be informed about issues regarding the performance of these entities in order for them to partake positively. State Owned Entities are undoubtedly the face of the country and consequently, their leadership is expected to play exemplary role of the highest order because their acts and/or omissions may not go unnoticed. Although all State Owned Entities are essential, Eskom is known to be the blood and oxygen for the country’s competitiveness and driving force behind the economy. Adequate leadership development within Eskom’s Limpopo Operating Unit can only positively impact on the major operations in the province and the country in particular. Although Eskom Distribution Division is found throughout South Africa, Limpopo province was selected to be a case to be studied. The study used a qualitative research methodology with the aim of eliciting narrated data from participants. Through this research methodology, a focus group approach was applied in order to narrow down the scope of the study. The study revealed that factors such as lack of self-confidence, fear of possible positional take-over by new comers, lack of succession planning and failure to implement the contents of Individual Development Plans are amongst a barrage of hindrances of adequate leadership development in the Business Unit. Despite the fact that the aforementioned impediments are seemingly known by the Business Unit’s senior management, it has also been revealed that officials are obscured by the need to focus on results whilst neglecting development of human capital. Due to the critical role that is played by Eskom in the country, the study has potential of positively contributing to the body of knowledge, other SOEs and professional practices in general.
- Full Text:
- Date Issued: 2016
- Authors: Mashau, Mbangiseni Adam
- Date: 2016
- Subjects: Eskom (Firm) Leadership -- South Africa Government business enterprises -- South Africa
- Language: English
- Type: Thesis , Doctoral , PhD
- Identifier: http://hdl.handle.net/10353/8198 , vital:31965
- Description: Although the issue of leadership is a sensitive subject especially when dealt with it in the context of State Owned Entities operations, avoiding the need to highlight the seriousness of plights and challenges hampering adequate development of current and prospective leaders may be regarded as an act of ignorance. It is certainly better to have the knowledge and not use it than to want to use critical information but you do not have it at all. As South Africans, we are currently more than lucky to be living in the democratic era where a thirst and hunger of knowledge is entirely one’s choice. The South African communities and Sate Owned Enterprises leaders deserve to be informed about issues regarding the performance of these entities in order for them to partake positively. State Owned Entities are undoubtedly the face of the country and consequently, their leadership is expected to play exemplary role of the highest order because their acts and/or omissions may not go unnoticed. Although all State Owned Entities are essential, Eskom is known to be the blood and oxygen for the country’s competitiveness and driving force behind the economy. Adequate leadership development within Eskom’s Limpopo Operating Unit can only positively impact on the major operations in the province and the country in particular. Although Eskom Distribution Division is found throughout South Africa, Limpopo province was selected to be a case to be studied. The study used a qualitative research methodology with the aim of eliciting narrated data from participants. Through this research methodology, a focus group approach was applied in order to narrow down the scope of the study. The study revealed that factors such as lack of self-confidence, fear of possible positional take-over by new comers, lack of succession planning and failure to implement the contents of Individual Development Plans are amongst a barrage of hindrances of adequate leadership development in the Business Unit. Despite the fact that the aforementioned impediments are seemingly known by the Business Unit’s senior management, it has also been revealed that officials are obscured by the need to focus on results whilst neglecting development of human capital. Due to the critical role that is played by Eskom in the country, the study has potential of positively contributing to the body of knowledge, other SOEs and professional practices in general.
- Full Text:
- Date Issued: 2016
Financial characteristics of the nonprofit organisation: theory and evidence for the assessment of the financial condition of South African public universities
- Authors: Bunting, Mark Bevan
- Date: 2016
- Language: English
- Type: Thesis , Doctoral , PhD
- Identifier: vital:923 , http://hdl.handle.net/10962/d1021298 , http://orcid.org/0000-0002-3392-554X
- Description: In this thesis, an analytical framework is developed for the assessment of the financial condition of South African public universities. Foundational constructs of nonprofit economics are applied in the consideration of financial theories of nonprofit organisations in general, and public universities in particular. From this review, a number of hypotheses are developed. Each of these specifies a positive or negative association between a university's financial condition and a particular dimension of its assets, liabilities, equity, revenues, expenses and surplus. From the nonprofit financial analysis literature, ratios and indicators relevant to these hypotheses are selected. Audited data from the annual financial statements of the universities for the seven year period 2007 to 2013 are substantially transformed in mitigation of failures in accounting, auditing and accountability. The adjusted accounting numbers are used to calculate the financial indicators applicable to each university. Exploratory factor analysis is implemented to categorise and organise this large indicator set on the basis of identified associations with a smaller number of factors. It is found that the financial condition of South African public universities is defined by two broad financial characteristics, capital and revenue. Assessment of the capital dimension is informed by a focus on institutional equity, with particular emphasis on expendable equity and its proportionate relationships with surplus, total capital, and total expenses. The revenue dimension is appropriately evaluated in the context of a comparative and interactive consideration of the three main components of South African public university revenue, as well as the proportionate relationship between non-staff operating expenses and total expenses. The framework displays considerable levels of stability and consistency over the seven year review period, and its constructs are, in addition, robust to the application of multiple alternative confirmatory tests involving financial data that are independent of the factor solutions. The financial condition assessment framework developed in this thesis offers a contribution to a broader discourse in nonprofit finance and accounting, with a focus on public university finances.
- Full Text:
- Date Issued: 2016
- Authors: Bunting, Mark Bevan
- Date: 2016
- Language: English
- Type: Thesis , Doctoral , PhD
- Identifier: vital:923 , http://hdl.handle.net/10962/d1021298 , http://orcid.org/0000-0002-3392-554X
- Description: In this thesis, an analytical framework is developed for the assessment of the financial condition of South African public universities. Foundational constructs of nonprofit economics are applied in the consideration of financial theories of nonprofit organisations in general, and public universities in particular. From this review, a number of hypotheses are developed. Each of these specifies a positive or negative association between a university's financial condition and a particular dimension of its assets, liabilities, equity, revenues, expenses and surplus. From the nonprofit financial analysis literature, ratios and indicators relevant to these hypotheses are selected. Audited data from the annual financial statements of the universities for the seven year period 2007 to 2013 are substantially transformed in mitigation of failures in accounting, auditing and accountability. The adjusted accounting numbers are used to calculate the financial indicators applicable to each university. Exploratory factor analysis is implemented to categorise and organise this large indicator set on the basis of identified associations with a smaller number of factors. It is found that the financial condition of South African public universities is defined by two broad financial characteristics, capital and revenue. Assessment of the capital dimension is informed by a focus on institutional equity, with particular emphasis on expendable equity and its proportionate relationships with surplus, total capital, and total expenses. The revenue dimension is appropriately evaluated in the context of a comparative and interactive consideration of the three main components of South African public university revenue, as well as the proportionate relationship between non-staff operating expenses and total expenses. The framework displays considerable levels of stability and consistency over the seven year review period, and its constructs are, in addition, robust to the application of multiple alternative confirmatory tests involving financial data that are independent of the factor solutions. The financial condition assessment framework developed in this thesis offers a contribution to a broader discourse in nonprofit finance and accounting, with a focus on public university finances.
- Full Text:
- Date Issued: 2016
The relationship between language and xenophobia: a developmental perspective
- Authors: Chikanda, Flora
- Date: 2016
- Subjects: Xenophobia -- South Africa , Xenophobia in language , Immigrants -- South Africa
- Language: English
- Type: Thesis , Doctoral , DPhil
- Identifier: http://hdl.handle.net/10948/4942 , vital:20768
- Description: Modernisation, globalisation, neoliberalism and the increase in immigration have morphed into xenophobia, as they have resulted in structures that increased inequalities and competition for scarce resources, although there are other factors such as the global recession that is deepening inequalities and social classes. In South Africa, xenophobia is a topical matter, with chronic violent outbursts. The study addresses the gap in knowledge in the relationship between language and xenophobia. Language is central to human communication and to human socialisation and is not neutral but is embedded in ideologies that favour specific interest groups. The neoliberal ideology compels people as human capital to develop linguistic capital. The paradox is that globalisation transcends the national to transnational, while at the same time being conscious of the local or the indigenous language. Globalisation promotes hybridity and diversity, while at the same time promoting homogeneity or Westernisation, which is contrary to the nationalist ideology to protect the cultural heritage of the locals. This thesis is guided by a range of classical and more contemporary development theories. It includes the use of Marxist theory with regard to ownership and unequal distribution of resources. The culture of violence that manifests in xenophobia in South Africa can also be related to the violence of the colonial and apartheid periods. This thesis is also guided by the post-colonial theory. It also looks at theories of modernity and of globalisation, suggesting that a truly ‘modern’ society should be transformed in all spheres and should value multifaceted human well-being (and not only in terms of economic ‘growth’). A primary objective of this study is to explore the role of language in social institutions such as education in order to understand how matters of language exacerbate xenophobia and to document the challenges related to language that ‘foreigners’ from other parts of Africa face in South Africa. Questions asked include whether they can survive/thrive without knowledge of local languages, whether they are victims of crime because they cannot speak the local languages and whether and how they are being assimilated into South African society. This research therefore, recommends that language planning in South Africa should maintain a balance in the use of the English language as a lingua franca and the use of the indigenous languages so as to avoid the language endangerment of the indigenous languages and monolingualism, as well as subtractive bilingualism. This research is against institutional discrimination of foreigners by use of language as a gate keeper or an entry fee into the higher domains. The results of this research lead to the recommendation on language planning that leads to economic opportunity, higher economic productivity, educational development, enrichment in the sense of creativity innovation, cognitive flexibility, and more effective social integration, while restoring citizens’ sense of self-worth and their experience of emotional and social security, and also promoting social integrity and nation-building. Good language planning should be a crucial aspect of development planning. This research contributes to the field of Development Studies in that it analyses the conflicting issues within language and xenophobia in South Africa, while using the complexity theory to restore a modernised society with modern values that are not xenophobic but open to the global society. It also contributes to the politics of culture by keeping a balance between the endogenous culture versus the exogenous culture; a localised culture versus a globalised culture.
- Full Text:
- Date Issued: 2016
- Authors: Chikanda, Flora
- Date: 2016
- Subjects: Xenophobia -- South Africa , Xenophobia in language , Immigrants -- South Africa
- Language: English
- Type: Thesis , Doctoral , DPhil
- Identifier: http://hdl.handle.net/10948/4942 , vital:20768
- Description: Modernisation, globalisation, neoliberalism and the increase in immigration have morphed into xenophobia, as they have resulted in structures that increased inequalities and competition for scarce resources, although there are other factors such as the global recession that is deepening inequalities and social classes. In South Africa, xenophobia is a topical matter, with chronic violent outbursts. The study addresses the gap in knowledge in the relationship between language and xenophobia. Language is central to human communication and to human socialisation and is not neutral but is embedded in ideologies that favour specific interest groups. The neoliberal ideology compels people as human capital to develop linguistic capital. The paradox is that globalisation transcends the national to transnational, while at the same time being conscious of the local or the indigenous language. Globalisation promotes hybridity and diversity, while at the same time promoting homogeneity or Westernisation, which is contrary to the nationalist ideology to protect the cultural heritage of the locals. This thesis is guided by a range of classical and more contemporary development theories. It includes the use of Marxist theory with regard to ownership and unequal distribution of resources. The culture of violence that manifests in xenophobia in South Africa can also be related to the violence of the colonial and apartheid periods. This thesis is also guided by the post-colonial theory. It also looks at theories of modernity and of globalisation, suggesting that a truly ‘modern’ society should be transformed in all spheres and should value multifaceted human well-being (and not only in terms of economic ‘growth’). A primary objective of this study is to explore the role of language in social institutions such as education in order to understand how matters of language exacerbate xenophobia and to document the challenges related to language that ‘foreigners’ from other parts of Africa face in South Africa. Questions asked include whether they can survive/thrive without knowledge of local languages, whether they are victims of crime because they cannot speak the local languages and whether and how they are being assimilated into South African society. This research therefore, recommends that language planning in South Africa should maintain a balance in the use of the English language as a lingua franca and the use of the indigenous languages so as to avoid the language endangerment of the indigenous languages and monolingualism, as well as subtractive bilingualism. This research is against institutional discrimination of foreigners by use of language as a gate keeper or an entry fee into the higher domains. The results of this research lead to the recommendation on language planning that leads to economic opportunity, higher economic productivity, educational development, enrichment in the sense of creativity innovation, cognitive flexibility, and more effective social integration, while restoring citizens’ sense of self-worth and their experience of emotional and social security, and also promoting social integrity and nation-building. Good language planning should be a crucial aspect of development planning. This research contributes to the field of Development Studies in that it analyses the conflicting issues within language and xenophobia in South Africa, while using the complexity theory to restore a modernised society with modern values that are not xenophobic but open to the global society. It also contributes to the politics of culture by keeping a balance between the endogenous culture versus the exogenous culture; a localised culture versus a globalised culture.
- Full Text:
- Date Issued: 2016
The influence of introduced forest management practices on transformative social learning in a selected social-ecological forest community : a case of PFM and REDD projects at Pugu and Kazimzumbwi Forest Reserves in Tanzania
- Authors: Ferdinand, Victoria Ugulumu
- Date: 2016
- Subjects: Forest management -- Tanzania , Forest reserves -- Tanzania , Transformative learning , Social ecology
- Language: English
- Type: Thesis , Doctoral , PhD
- Identifier: vital:2064 , http://hdl.handle.net/10962/d1020333
- Description: This research investigates the influence of introduced forest management approaches on transformative social learning in the community surrounding the Pugu and Kazimzumbwi forest reserves in Tanzania from 2000 to 2015. The term transformative social learning reflects an understanding of learning processes that emerge through conscious changes in the perspectives of individuals or communities while interacting with forest management practices. The investigation explores the learning (if any) that occurred in the community and how and why the learning occurred. It also explores whether the learning was social and transformative and examines the conditions that enable or constrain transformative social learning at the Pugu and Kazimzumbwi community. Thus, the three concepts of social learning, transformative learning, and social practices are central to the research. Participatory Forest Management (PFM) emerged globally in the early 1980s to mobilise rural capabilities and resources in development and environmental stewardship. The Pugu and Kazimzumbwi community was introduced to Participatory Forest Management (PFM) projects by the late 1990s. The recent global focus on empowering communities around forests has drawn attention towards transformational adaptation to climate change impacts and building resilience capacities. As a result, in 2011 the Pugu and Kazimzumbwi community started working with a project for Reduction of Emissions through Deforestation and forest Degradation (REDD), which forms a key focus in this study as the most recently introduced PFM with embedded social learning assumptions. This research is designed and conducted as a qualitative case study. The research seeks to study the complex object of socially and contextually constructed learning through a systemic exploration of learning,using semi-structured interviews, focus group discussions, analysis of documents and archival records as well as observations and a reflexive workshop. Supportive information throughfield notes and audio voice and video recording was also generated. A contextual profile of the research site was conducted in March 2012, prior to the actual data collection in 2013 and 2014. Field explorations during the contextual profile helped to describe the research site and promote initial understanding of the context. During data collection, field inquiries based on interactive relationships between a researcher and participants stimulated practice memories and people’s living experiences with forestry and the introduced PFM projects under examination. Analysis of data employed analytical modes of induction, abduction and retroduction. Thick descriptions of learning obtained from fieldi based interactionswere produced before re-contextualising data through theoretical lenses. The research employed realist social theory by Archer (1995), under-laboured by critical realism, and practice theory advanced by Schatzki (2012) and Kemmis et al. (2014). The research process as a whole was underlaboured by the layered ontology of critical realism which proposes emergence of phenomena in open systems as shaped by interacting mechanisms which in this study were both material / ecological and social /political /economic /cultural. And more...
- Full Text:
- Date Issued: 2016
- Authors: Ferdinand, Victoria Ugulumu
- Date: 2016
- Subjects: Forest management -- Tanzania , Forest reserves -- Tanzania , Transformative learning , Social ecology
- Language: English
- Type: Thesis , Doctoral , PhD
- Identifier: vital:2064 , http://hdl.handle.net/10962/d1020333
- Description: This research investigates the influence of introduced forest management approaches on transformative social learning in the community surrounding the Pugu and Kazimzumbwi forest reserves in Tanzania from 2000 to 2015. The term transformative social learning reflects an understanding of learning processes that emerge through conscious changes in the perspectives of individuals or communities while interacting with forest management practices. The investigation explores the learning (if any) that occurred in the community and how and why the learning occurred. It also explores whether the learning was social and transformative and examines the conditions that enable or constrain transformative social learning at the Pugu and Kazimzumbwi community. Thus, the three concepts of social learning, transformative learning, and social practices are central to the research. Participatory Forest Management (PFM) emerged globally in the early 1980s to mobilise rural capabilities and resources in development and environmental stewardship. The Pugu and Kazimzumbwi community was introduced to Participatory Forest Management (PFM) projects by the late 1990s. The recent global focus on empowering communities around forests has drawn attention towards transformational adaptation to climate change impacts and building resilience capacities. As a result, in 2011 the Pugu and Kazimzumbwi community started working with a project for Reduction of Emissions through Deforestation and forest Degradation (REDD), which forms a key focus in this study as the most recently introduced PFM with embedded social learning assumptions. This research is designed and conducted as a qualitative case study. The research seeks to study the complex object of socially and contextually constructed learning through a systemic exploration of learning,using semi-structured interviews, focus group discussions, analysis of documents and archival records as well as observations and a reflexive workshop. Supportive information throughfield notes and audio voice and video recording was also generated. A contextual profile of the research site was conducted in March 2012, prior to the actual data collection in 2013 and 2014. Field explorations during the contextual profile helped to describe the research site and promote initial understanding of the context. During data collection, field inquiries based on interactive relationships between a researcher and participants stimulated practice memories and people’s living experiences with forestry and the introduced PFM projects under examination. Analysis of data employed analytical modes of induction, abduction and retroduction. Thick descriptions of learning obtained from fieldi based interactionswere produced before re-contextualising data through theoretical lenses. The research employed realist social theory by Archer (1995), under-laboured by critical realism, and practice theory advanced by Schatzki (2012) and Kemmis et al. (2014). The research process as a whole was underlaboured by the layered ontology of critical realism which proposes emergence of phenomena in open systems as shaped by interacting mechanisms which in this study were both material / ecological and social /political /economic /cultural. And more...
- Full Text:
- Date Issued: 2016
Estuarine species and habitat :distribution and connectivity
- Veldkornet, Dimitri Allastair
- Authors: Veldkornet, Dimitri Allastair
- Date: 2016
- Subjects: Estuarine ecology -- Research -- South Africa Estuarine fishes -- Speciation -- South Africa , Aquatic plants -- South Africa
- Language: English
- Type: Thesis , Doctoral , PHD
- Identifier: http://hdl.handle.net/10948/45388 , vital:38604
- Description: This study explored the distribution of estuarine macrophyte genetic lineages, species and habitats in relation to environmental gradients at various spatial scales. A database was assembled to determine the area and species composition of different estuarine habitats. This can now be used to retrieve information as a baseline for further monitoring and conservation planning. Research has shown that macrophytes occur over a wide range of physiochemical conditions, suggesting that these species have great genetic and phenotypic variation to occupy broad niche ranges. In eight estuaries along the South African coast, sediment and groundwater characteristics were measured in quadrants spanning the salt marsh, ecotone and terrestrial habitats. The results suggested that, in the absence of competition and disturbance at the salt marsh-terrestrial boundary, salt marshes would be unaffected by sea-level rise; and they would migrate landward. However, disturbance at the landward margin of salt marshes has already resulted in changes in species composition and altered environmental conditions. This promotes the encroachment of terrestrial alien invasive plants, leading to a loss of connectivity. A holistic assessment of land-cover changes showed that only 28% of South African estuaries still remain in a natural state. The delineation of all estuaries needs to be consistent and inclusive of all estuarine physical and biological processes, to curb future changes. The research results have been used in national assessments of estuarine health; and they have made a significant contribution to estuary-management plans. In addition, three scientific articles have been published from the thesis; and two more are currently under review.
- Full Text:
- Date Issued: 2016
- Authors: Veldkornet, Dimitri Allastair
- Date: 2016
- Subjects: Estuarine ecology -- Research -- South Africa Estuarine fishes -- Speciation -- South Africa , Aquatic plants -- South Africa
- Language: English
- Type: Thesis , Doctoral , PHD
- Identifier: http://hdl.handle.net/10948/45388 , vital:38604
- Description: This study explored the distribution of estuarine macrophyte genetic lineages, species and habitats in relation to environmental gradients at various spatial scales. A database was assembled to determine the area and species composition of different estuarine habitats. This can now be used to retrieve information as a baseline for further monitoring and conservation planning. Research has shown that macrophytes occur over a wide range of physiochemical conditions, suggesting that these species have great genetic and phenotypic variation to occupy broad niche ranges. In eight estuaries along the South African coast, sediment and groundwater characteristics were measured in quadrants spanning the salt marsh, ecotone and terrestrial habitats. The results suggested that, in the absence of competition and disturbance at the salt marsh-terrestrial boundary, salt marshes would be unaffected by sea-level rise; and they would migrate landward. However, disturbance at the landward margin of salt marshes has already resulted in changes in species composition and altered environmental conditions. This promotes the encroachment of terrestrial alien invasive plants, leading to a loss of connectivity. A holistic assessment of land-cover changes showed that only 28% of South African estuaries still remain in a natural state. The delineation of all estuaries needs to be consistent and inclusive of all estuarine physical and biological processes, to curb future changes. The research results have been used in national assessments of estuarine health; and they have made a significant contribution to estuary-management plans. In addition, three scientific articles have been published from the thesis; and two more are currently under review.
- Full Text:
- Date Issued: 2016
Modelling dispersal processes in impala-cheetah-lion ecosystems with infection in the lions
- Authors: Mbava, Willard
- Date: 2016
- Subjects: Predation (Biology) -- South Africa -- Kruger National Park Endangered species -- South Africa -- Kruger National Park
- Language: English
- Type: Thesis , Doctoral , PhD
- Identifier: http://hdl.handle.net/10948/11782 , vital:26968
- Description: The study involved the predator-prey interaction of three species namely the predator (Cheetah Acinonyx jubatus), the super-predator (Lion Panthera leo), and their common prey (Impala Aepyceros melampus). The study area is the Kruger National Park. The predator being an endangered species, faces a survival problem. It is frequently killed by the super-predator to reduce competition for prey. The super-predator also scares away the predator o_ its kills. The prey forms the main diet of the predator. The plight of the predator motivated the author to formulate disease and reaction-diffusion models for the species interactions. The purpose of the models were to predict and explain the effect of large competition from the super-predator on the predator population. Important parameters related to additional predator mortality due to presence of super-predator, the disease incidence rate and induced death rate formed the focal points of the analysis. The dynamics of a predator-prey model with disease in super-predator were investigated. The super-predator species is infected with bovine Tuberculosis. In the study, the disease is considered as biological control to allow the predator population to regain from low numbers. The results highlight that in the absence of additional mortality on the predator by the super-predator, the predator population survives extinction. Furthermore, at current levels of disease incidence, the super-predator population is wiped out by the disease. However, the super-predator population survives extinction if the disease incidence rate is low. Persistence of all populations is possible in the case of low disease incidence rate and no additional mortality imparted on the predator. Furthermore, a two-species subsystem, prey and predator, is considered as a special case to determine the effect of super-predator removal from the system, on the survival of the predator. This is treated as a contrasting case from the smaller parks. The results show that the predator population thrives well in the total absence of its main competitor, with its population rising to at least twice the initial value. A reaction-diffusion three-species predator-prey model was formulated and analysed. Stability of the temporal and the spatio-temporal systems, existence and non-existence of stationary steady state solutions were studied. Conditions for the emergence of stationary patterns were deduced. The results show that by choosing the diffusion coeffcient d2 > _D 2 suffciently large, a non-constant positive solution is generated, that is, stationary patterns emerge, depicting dispersal of species. Predators were observed to occupy habitats surrounding prey. However, super-predators were observed to alternate their habitats, from staying away from prey to invading prey habitat. In the investigation, strategies to determine ways in which the predator species could be saved from extinction and its population improved were devised, and these included isolation of the predator from the super-predator.
- Full Text:
- Date Issued: 2016
- Authors: Mbava, Willard
- Date: 2016
- Subjects: Predation (Biology) -- South Africa -- Kruger National Park Endangered species -- South Africa -- Kruger National Park
- Language: English
- Type: Thesis , Doctoral , PhD
- Identifier: http://hdl.handle.net/10948/11782 , vital:26968
- Description: The study involved the predator-prey interaction of three species namely the predator (Cheetah Acinonyx jubatus), the super-predator (Lion Panthera leo), and their common prey (Impala Aepyceros melampus). The study area is the Kruger National Park. The predator being an endangered species, faces a survival problem. It is frequently killed by the super-predator to reduce competition for prey. The super-predator also scares away the predator o_ its kills. The prey forms the main diet of the predator. The plight of the predator motivated the author to formulate disease and reaction-diffusion models for the species interactions. The purpose of the models were to predict and explain the effect of large competition from the super-predator on the predator population. Important parameters related to additional predator mortality due to presence of super-predator, the disease incidence rate and induced death rate formed the focal points of the analysis. The dynamics of a predator-prey model with disease in super-predator were investigated. The super-predator species is infected with bovine Tuberculosis. In the study, the disease is considered as biological control to allow the predator population to regain from low numbers. The results highlight that in the absence of additional mortality on the predator by the super-predator, the predator population survives extinction. Furthermore, at current levels of disease incidence, the super-predator population is wiped out by the disease. However, the super-predator population survives extinction if the disease incidence rate is low. Persistence of all populations is possible in the case of low disease incidence rate and no additional mortality imparted on the predator. Furthermore, a two-species subsystem, prey and predator, is considered as a special case to determine the effect of super-predator removal from the system, on the survival of the predator. This is treated as a contrasting case from the smaller parks. The results show that the predator population thrives well in the total absence of its main competitor, with its population rising to at least twice the initial value. A reaction-diffusion three-species predator-prey model was formulated and analysed. Stability of the temporal and the spatio-temporal systems, existence and non-existence of stationary steady state solutions were studied. Conditions for the emergence of stationary patterns were deduced. The results show that by choosing the diffusion coeffcient d2 > _D 2 suffciently large, a non-constant positive solution is generated, that is, stationary patterns emerge, depicting dispersal of species. Predators were observed to occupy habitats surrounding prey. However, super-predators were observed to alternate their habitats, from staying away from prey to invading prey habitat. In the investigation, strategies to determine ways in which the predator species could be saved from extinction and its population improved were devised, and these included isolation of the predator from the super-predator.
- Full Text:
- Date Issued: 2016
An assessment of the role of guidance and counselling in promoting learner discipline in secondary schools in the Oshikoto region of Namibia:a case study of learners with discipline problems
- Authors: Mbongo, Emelia Ndapandula
- Date: 2016
- Subjects: Educational counseling Counseling in secondary education -- Namibia School discipline -- Namibia
- Language: English
- Type: Thesis , Doctoral , Degree
- Identifier: http://hdl.handle.net/10353/5358 , vital:29215
- Description: The study assessed the role of guidance and counselling in promoting learner discipline in secondary schools in the Oshikoto region of Namibia. The study used the mixed methods approach, which resulted in providing qualitative and quantitative data to provide an understanding of the problem. The instruments for data collection were questionnaires for principals, teachers, teacher counsellors and learners, as well as one-on-one interviews with learners. Thirty-one (31) principals, ninety-eight (98) teachers, thirty-seven (37) teacher counsellors and four hundred and eighty-nine (489) learners participated in the study. Results from the questionnaires were analysed by using descriptive statistics in the form of frequencies and percentages. Data presentation took the form of tables and bar graphs. Qualitative data collected from interviews were transcribed and put into themes and categories. The study revealed that schools experienced a wide range of disciplinary problems. It was further revealed that learners are affected by issues emanating from the environment, namely, schools and societies which influence their behaviour negatively. The principals and teachers believe that exclusionary and punitive methods are effective in managing learner indiscipline, while teacher counsellors and learners were against the use of such methods. In addition, principals, teachers and teacher counsellors all have a major role to play in maintaining discipline in schools through guidance and counselling. Suggestions were thus made to strengthen the use of guidance and counselling in promoting learner discipline in secondary schools by: improving training for teacher counsellors/Life Skills teachers in guidance and counselling, sensitisation of school managers about the roles and responsibilities of teacher counsellors, including the role played by teacher counsellors in learner discipline, improved leadership from school principals, strengthening the co-ordination and communication among the school personnel, and by strengthening the referral system from teachers to teacher counsellors and from teacher counsellors to outside agencies. It was recommended that the use of guidance and counselling in promoting learner discipline would be strengthened if teacher counsellors’ training is improved, school principals are sensitised on the roles of teacher counsellors, including their role in learner discipline as well as improved co-ordination and communication among school personnel regarding learner discipline. The study further recommended that the referral system of learners experiencing problems from teachers to teacher counsellors and from teacher counsellors to outside agencies should be strengthened.
- Full Text:
- Date Issued: 2016
- Authors: Mbongo, Emelia Ndapandula
- Date: 2016
- Subjects: Educational counseling Counseling in secondary education -- Namibia School discipline -- Namibia
- Language: English
- Type: Thesis , Doctoral , Degree
- Identifier: http://hdl.handle.net/10353/5358 , vital:29215
- Description: The study assessed the role of guidance and counselling in promoting learner discipline in secondary schools in the Oshikoto region of Namibia. The study used the mixed methods approach, which resulted in providing qualitative and quantitative data to provide an understanding of the problem. The instruments for data collection were questionnaires for principals, teachers, teacher counsellors and learners, as well as one-on-one interviews with learners. Thirty-one (31) principals, ninety-eight (98) teachers, thirty-seven (37) teacher counsellors and four hundred and eighty-nine (489) learners participated in the study. Results from the questionnaires were analysed by using descriptive statistics in the form of frequencies and percentages. Data presentation took the form of tables and bar graphs. Qualitative data collected from interviews were transcribed and put into themes and categories. The study revealed that schools experienced a wide range of disciplinary problems. It was further revealed that learners are affected by issues emanating from the environment, namely, schools and societies which influence their behaviour negatively. The principals and teachers believe that exclusionary and punitive methods are effective in managing learner indiscipline, while teacher counsellors and learners were against the use of such methods. In addition, principals, teachers and teacher counsellors all have a major role to play in maintaining discipline in schools through guidance and counselling. Suggestions were thus made to strengthen the use of guidance and counselling in promoting learner discipline in secondary schools by: improving training for teacher counsellors/Life Skills teachers in guidance and counselling, sensitisation of school managers about the roles and responsibilities of teacher counsellors, including the role played by teacher counsellors in learner discipline, improved leadership from school principals, strengthening the co-ordination and communication among the school personnel, and by strengthening the referral system from teachers to teacher counsellors and from teacher counsellors to outside agencies. It was recommended that the use of guidance and counselling in promoting learner discipline would be strengthened if teacher counsellors’ training is improved, school principals are sensitised on the roles of teacher counsellors, including their role in learner discipline as well as improved co-ordination and communication among school personnel regarding learner discipline. The study further recommended that the referral system of learners experiencing problems from teachers to teacher counsellors and from teacher counsellors to outside agencies should be strengthened.
- Full Text:
- Date Issued: 2016
Effects of frequent changes in curriculum on effective teaching and learning for creating safe, caring and child-friendly schools : a South African case study
- Authors: Makwarela, Mawela Convince
- Date: 2016
- Subjects: School discipline--South Africa School violence--South Africa School management and organization--South Africa
- Language: English
- Type: Thesis , Doctoral , Education
- Identifier: http://hdl.handle.net/10353/15594 , vital:40481
- Description: South Africa‟s government strategy for Child Protection Programmes is the pre-requisite that plans to articulate its work on school learner protection as a distinct area of programmatic intervention. Hence, this study explores an assessment of the implementation of DoE and UNICEF guidelines for creating safe, caring and child-friendly schools. A sequential mixed method approach was used in this study; both questionnaires and interviews were used. The design allows using both quantitative and qualitative data collection methods to elicit implicit and explicit information from the same case through pattern-matching; a technique linking several pieces when a holistic and in-depth investigation is required. The sample of the study consisted of 24 school principals, 24 HoDs, 24 SGB members, 24 educators, 24 educators‟ union members and 24 learners who were conveniently selected from 24 secondary schools across Vhembe District. Survey data were obtained from school principals, HoDs, SGB members, educators, educators‟ union members and learners regarding the ways and degree to which participants are involved in school incidents, decision-making processes, and their own experiences regarding safe, caring and child-friendly schools. In terms of data analysis, validation indicates concurrent and construct validity obtained by combining participant‟s responses from interviews and self-report questionnaires based on experiences of incidents from their schools. Statistically significant results point the way to validating the approaches taken as best practices. The findings reveals among others that the factors contributing to learner aggression include family factors, environmental factors and school-related factors, whilst the most common forms of learner incidents in schools are verbal violence, physical violence and bullying. The results also indicate that a safe school climate is not enough for learners to speak freely and report unwanted sexual experiences. The study concludes with the role that the school, parents and the Department of Education can play in addressing learner problems in schools.
- Full Text:
- Date Issued: 2016
- Authors: Makwarela, Mawela Convince
- Date: 2016
- Subjects: School discipline--South Africa School violence--South Africa School management and organization--South Africa
- Language: English
- Type: Thesis , Doctoral , Education
- Identifier: http://hdl.handle.net/10353/15594 , vital:40481
- Description: South Africa‟s government strategy for Child Protection Programmes is the pre-requisite that plans to articulate its work on school learner protection as a distinct area of programmatic intervention. Hence, this study explores an assessment of the implementation of DoE and UNICEF guidelines for creating safe, caring and child-friendly schools. A sequential mixed method approach was used in this study; both questionnaires and interviews were used. The design allows using both quantitative and qualitative data collection methods to elicit implicit and explicit information from the same case through pattern-matching; a technique linking several pieces when a holistic and in-depth investigation is required. The sample of the study consisted of 24 school principals, 24 HoDs, 24 SGB members, 24 educators, 24 educators‟ union members and 24 learners who were conveniently selected from 24 secondary schools across Vhembe District. Survey data were obtained from school principals, HoDs, SGB members, educators, educators‟ union members and learners regarding the ways and degree to which participants are involved in school incidents, decision-making processes, and their own experiences regarding safe, caring and child-friendly schools. In terms of data analysis, validation indicates concurrent and construct validity obtained by combining participant‟s responses from interviews and self-report questionnaires based on experiences of incidents from their schools. Statistically significant results point the way to validating the approaches taken as best practices. The findings reveals among others that the factors contributing to learner aggression include family factors, environmental factors and school-related factors, whilst the most common forms of learner incidents in schools are verbal violence, physical violence and bullying. The results also indicate that a safe school climate is not enough for learners to speak freely and report unwanted sexual experiences. The study concludes with the role that the school, parents and the Department of Education can play in addressing learner problems in schools.
- Full Text:
- Date Issued: 2016
The mediating processes within social learning: women’s food and water security practices in the rural Eastern Cape
- Authors: Rivers, Nina
- Date: 2016
- Language: English
- Type: Thesis , Doctoral , PhD
- Identifier: http://hdl.handle.net/10962/888 , vital:20000
- Description: The focus of this study was to explore the implicit and explicit mediating processes within the social learning of women’s food and water security practices in the rural Eastern Cape, South Africa. The study was undertaken in response to a growing problem of learning resources being decontextualised and therefore being of little relevance or use to the everyday practices of the people they were developed for. The central thesis of this study is that if the mediating processes that shape practice and learning are understood then these practices and learning can be better supported. One of the main foci of this study therefore is the concept of mediation and the importance of understanding the implicit and explicit mediating processes that shape learning and practice within the context of rainwater harvesting and food gardening practices of rural women. The study interprets these as social learning processes after the work of Lev Vygotsky and post-Vygotskian learning and activity development research, which recognises that all learning is socially mediated. This study also attempts to show that ontological factors also shape social learning processes via structural mediations (which are often also socially structured over time in history). Working within the broad framework of change oriented social learning, education for sustainability and the southern African water and food nexus the study is focused around two central research questions: 1) What are the mediating processes evident in and surrounding the learning of rainwater harvesting in the context of women’s water and food security in rural communities? And 2) How can a question-based learning resource extend the learning practices in this context? Drawing on three sensitising concepts of dialectics, reflexivity and agency, the study worked with Cultural Historical Activity Theory (CHAT), underpinned by critical realism, to reveal how the learning of rainwater and food gardening practitioners is constrained and enabled by mediating processes. The theory of mediation provided a useful theoretical lens with which to examine data generated. A case study approach was used in two sites in the rural Eastern Cape. The first was Cata village in the Amathole district and the second was a peri-urban settlement called Glenconnor in the Cacadu district. Each case study is constituted within a networked activity system. The study also used a narrative inquiry approach in order to bring to life the case studies, activity systems and some of the dynamics of social learning within the study. The methodological tools of document analysis, observations, in-depth interviews and focus group discussions were used to explore the implicit and explicit mediating processes that shape research participants’ rainwater harvesting and food gardening practices and their learning. Inductive, abductive and retroductive modes of inference were used to analyse data in and across case studies. One of the first findings of this study is that learning is embedded in and emergent from context in that it is mediated by implicit and explicit processes within each context. This makes such learning social, in the sense of social used by Vygotsky. The second finding showed that implicit and explicit mediation processes are constantly interacting in a dialectical process whether people are conscious of this interplay or not. This is an important dynamic to understand when trying to bring about societal transformation through education. Understanding the interaction between the implicit and explicit alerts researchers to the sociocultural dynamics inherent within social learning processes and therefore informs how learning resources and educational and development programmes should be designed and implemented. This study contributes to new knowledge in the environmental education field and the water knowledge sector. It makes a theoretical and empirical contribution to the body of knowledge concerned with socially mediated learning and situated learning approaches. The study illustrates how learning is embedded in context and also how learning emerges in relation to context via interactions between implicit and explicit mediation processes, and considers what this means for learning and development in the rural nexus of water and food security practices. This study also contributes to the growing body of post-Vygotskian social learning research in southern Africa that is being developed in the context of cultural historical activity theory as it shows the dialectical relationship that exists between implicit and explicit forms of mediation as these are embedded in, emergent from, and are externally mediated into activity systems in rural community contexts. This study contributes to a second area of knowledge: the water sector. With a background in anthropology which sensitised the researcher to contextual factors and approaching the study through an educational lens, the data has been worked with to surface and present the nuanced mediating processes that shape the learning and knowledge around water issues. This way of working and this focus on the socio-cultural is relatively new in the water sector in South Africa and gains significance in the light of an emergent interest in more complex social studies in the water sector which has traditionally been dominated by natural sciences and engineering. The significance of this study for rural South African women’s lives is that by understanding and taking account of their history, context, struggles and experiences, their learning and practices can be better supported through more relevant learning resources and programmes.
- Full Text:
- Date Issued: 2016
- Authors: Rivers, Nina
- Date: 2016
- Language: English
- Type: Thesis , Doctoral , PhD
- Identifier: http://hdl.handle.net/10962/888 , vital:20000
- Description: The focus of this study was to explore the implicit and explicit mediating processes within the social learning of women’s food and water security practices in the rural Eastern Cape, South Africa. The study was undertaken in response to a growing problem of learning resources being decontextualised and therefore being of little relevance or use to the everyday practices of the people they were developed for. The central thesis of this study is that if the mediating processes that shape practice and learning are understood then these practices and learning can be better supported. One of the main foci of this study therefore is the concept of mediation and the importance of understanding the implicit and explicit mediating processes that shape learning and practice within the context of rainwater harvesting and food gardening practices of rural women. The study interprets these as social learning processes after the work of Lev Vygotsky and post-Vygotskian learning and activity development research, which recognises that all learning is socially mediated. This study also attempts to show that ontological factors also shape social learning processes via structural mediations (which are often also socially structured over time in history). Working within the broad framework of change oriented social learning, education for sustainability and the southern African water and food nexus the study is focused around two central research questions: 1) What are the mediating processes evident in and surrounding the learning of rainwater harvesting in the context of women’s water and food security in rural communities? And 2) How can a question-based learning resource extend the learning practices in this context? Drawing on three sensitising concepts of dialectics, reflexivity and agency, the study worked with Cultural Historical Activity Theory (CHAT), underpinned by critical realism, to reveal how the learning of rainwater and food gardening practitioners is constrained and enabled by mediating processes. The theory of mediation provided a useful theoretical lens with which to examine data generated. A case study approach was used in two sites in the rural Eastern Cape. The first was Cata village in the Amathole district and the second was a peri-urban settlement called Glenconnor in the Cacadu district. Each case study is constituted within a networked activity system. The study also used a narrative inquiry approach in order to bring to life the case studies, activity systems and some of the dynamics of social learning within the study. The methodological tools of document analysis, observations, in-depth interviews and focus group discussions were used to explore the implicit and explicit mediating processes that shape research participants’ rainwater harvesting and food gardening practices and their learning. Inductive, abductive and retroductive modes of inference were used to analyse data in and across case studies. One of the first findings of this study is that learning is embedded in and emergent from context in that it is mediated by implicit and explicit processes within each context. This makes such learning social, in the sense of social used by Vygotsky. The second finding showed that implicit and explicit mediation processes are constantly interacting in a dialectical process whether people are conscious of this interplay or not. This is an important dynamic to understand when trying to bring about societal transformation through education. Understanding the interaction between the implicit and explicit alerts researchers to the sociocultural dynamics inherent within social learning processes and therefore informs how learning resources and educational and development programmes should be designed and implemented. This study contributes to new knowledge in the environmental education field and the water knowledge sector. It makes a theoretical and empirical contribution to the body of knowledge concerned with socially mediated learning and situated learning approaches. The study illustrates how learning is embedded in context and also how learning emerges in relation to context via interactions between implicit and explicit mediation processes, and considers what this means for learning and development in the rural nexus of water and food security practices. This study also contributes to the growing body of post-Vygotskian social learning research in southern Africa that is being developed in the context of cultural historical activity theory as it shows the dialectical relationship that exists between implicit and explicit forms of mediation as these are embedded in, emergent from, and are externally mediated into activity systems in rural community contexts. This study contributes to a second area of knowledge: the water sector. With a background in anthropology which sensitised the researcher to contextual factors and approaching the study through an educational lens, the data has been worked with to surface and present the nuanced mediating processes that shape the learning and knowledge around water issues. This way of working and this focus on the socio-cultural is relatively new in the water sector in South Africa and gains significance in the light of an emergent interest in more complex social studies in the water sector which has traditionally been dominated by natural sciences and engineering. The significance of this study for rural South African women’s lives is that by understanding and taking account of their history, context, struggles and experiences, their learning and practices can be better supported through more relevant learning resources and programmes.
- Full Text:
- Date Issued: 2016
Synthesis and characterization of group 12 dithiolate complexes as single source precursors for the preparation of hexadecylamine capped metal sulfide nanoparticles and polymer
- Authors: Osuntokun, Jejenija
- Date: 2016
- Subjects: Nanotechnology Nanoparticles Semiconductors
- Language: English
- Type: Thesis , Doctoral , PhD
- Identifier: http://hdl.handle.net/10353/14060 , vital:39801
- Description: A series of heteroleptic mixed ligand complexes of some alkyl substituted thiourea, tetramethyl thiuram disulfide and 1-cyano-1-carboethoxy-2,2 ditholate of Zn(II) Cd(II) and Hg(II) have been synthesized by stoichiometry reactions of the ligands with respective metal salts. They have been characterized with analytical and spectroscopic techniques. Seven out of the 19 complexes synthesized are pyridine 2, 2 bipyridine and 1, 10 phenanthroline adducts of dissopropyl parent adducts of Zn(II) and Cd(II) complexes. All the complexes are proposed as four coordinate except the pyridine adducts, 2, 2’ bipyridine and 1, 10 phenanhroline adducts that are proposed as five and six coordinate respectively. All the complexes are solid, air stable and moisture stable for a many months. They are not soluble in common organic solvents but partially soluble in coordinating solvents like DMF and DMSO and due to their insolubility problems all attempts to grow single crystal of the complexes proved abortive. The complexes gave respective metal sulfide on thermal decomposition in TGA and this makes them to be potentially useful single source precursor for the synthesis of metal sulfide. All the complexes were invariably thermolysed in HDA to synthesis a series of HDA-capped ZnS, CdS and HgS nanoparticles. The optical properties of the nanoparticles reveal that they are all blue-shifted from the absorbance edge and this confirms quantum confinement of the nanoparticles. The transmittance electron microscope showed that the nanoparticles are in nanodimension. ZnS nanoparticles from the pyridine adducts gave HDA-capped ZnS nanoparticles with a mixture of hexagonal and cubic phases while the HDA capped CdS from the 2, 2 bipyridine and 1,10 phenanthroline gave anisotropic nanoparticles. The sizes of the CdS from the 1,10 phenanthroline adducts were also found to be biggest while CdS nanoparticles from 2,2 bipyridine adduct were also revealed to be bigger than the particle sizes obtained from the parent complex, (1-cyano-1 carboethoxyethylene-2,2-dithiolato- κ,S’S)-bis(N, N’-diisopropylthiourea -κS)cadmium(II). ZnS and CdS polymer encapsulated nanocomposites were also synthesized using a solution casting method. The polymers employed were; Polymethyl metharcrylate (PMMA), Poly(vinly alcohol) (PVA), and poly vinyl pyrrolidone (PVP). The structural and thermal properties of the pure polymers and the respective nanocomposites were investigated. It was observed that the ZnS/PVA and CdS/PVA were the most thermally stable composites when the thermal stability of the pure polymers were compared relative to the nanocomposites using data obtained from thermal decomposition results of the TGA.
- Full Text:
- Date Issued: 2016
- Authors: Osuntokun, Jejenija
- Date: 2016
- Subjects: Nanotechnology Nanoparticles Semiconductors
- Language: English
- Type: Thesis , Doctoral , PhD
- Identifier: http://hdl.handle.net/10353/14060 , vital:39801
- Description: A series of heteroleptic mixed ligand complexes of some alkyl substituted thiourea, tetramethyl thiuram disulfide and 1-cyano-1-carboethoxy-2,2 ditholate of Zn(II) Cd(II) and Hg(II) have been synthesized by stoichiometry reactions of the ligands with respective metal salts. They have been characterized with analytical and spectroscopic techniques. Seven out of the 19 complexes synthesized are pyridine 2, 2 bipyridine and 1, 10 phenanthroline adducts of dissopropyl parent adducts of Zn(II) and Cd(II) complexes. All the complexes are proposed as four coordinate except the pyridine adducts, 2, 2’ bipyridine and 1, 10 phenanhroline adducts that are proposed as five and six coordinate respectively. All the complexes are solid, air stable and moisture stable for a many months. They are not soluble in common organic solvents but partially soluble in coordinating solvents like DMF and DMSO and due to their insolubility problems all attempts to grow single crystal of the complexes proved abortive. The complexes gave respective metal sulfide on thermal decomposition in TGA and this makes them to be potentially useful single source precursor for the synthesis of metal sulfide. All the complexes were invariably thermolysed in HDA to synthesis a series of HDA-capped ZnS, CdS and HgS nanoparticles. The optical properties of the nanoparticles reveal that they are all blue-shifted from the absorbance edge and this confirms quantum confinement of the nanoparticles. The transmittance electron microscope showed that the nanoparticles are in nanodimension. ZnS nanoparticles from the pyridine adducts gave HDA-capped ZnS nanoparticles with a mixture of hexagonal and cubic phases while the HDA capped CdS from the 2, 2 bipyridine and 1,10 phenanthroline gave anisotropic nanoparticles. The sizes of the CdS from the 1,10 phenanthroline adducts were also found to be biggest while CdS nanoparticles from 2,2 bipyridine adduct were also revealed to be bigger than the particle sizes obtained from the parent complex, (1-cyano-1 carboethoxyethylene-2,2-dithiolato- κ,S’S)-bis(N, N’-diisopropylthiourea -κS)cadmium(II). ZnS and CdS polymer encapsulated nanocomposites were also synthesized using a solution casting method. The polymers employed were; Polymethyl metharcrylate (PMMA), Poly(vinly alcohol) (PVA), and poly vinyl pyrrolidone (PVP). The structural and thermal properties of the pure polymers and the respective nanocomposites were investigated. It was observed that the ZnS/PVA and CdS/PVA were the most thermally stable composites when the thermal stability of the pure polymers were compared relative to the nanocomposites using data obtained from thermal decomposition results of the TGA.
- Full Text:
- Date Issued: 2016
The influence of decentralisation on community development in Gasabo district of Rwanda
- Authors: Indoha, Janvier Kimenyi
- Date: 2016
- Subjects: Decentralization in government -- Rwanda Community development -- Rwanda
- Language: English
- Type: Thesis , Doctoral , DPhil
- Identifier: http://hdl.handle.net/10948/14345 , vital:27572
- Description: This study investigated the influence of decentralisation on community development in the Gasabo district of Rwanda. It was based on the assumption that the participation of citizens in decision-making, planning based on local needs and priorities and the implementation of development programmes associated with the decentralisation policy can improve service delivery and result in community development. It is vital that the decentralization policy be well understood so that appropriate strategies may be adopted and implemented with the aim of maximising advantages associated with it. This study provides, in addition to a literature review, a brief historical background of the evolution and transformation of governance in Rwanda. The country‟s system of governance as well as the challenges it has encountered along the way through different régimes are briefly addressed. Also, the legal and regulatory framework of the decentralization policy and strategies adopted and mechanisms of resource transfer are explained. The study used both qualitative and quantitative methods. Primary and secondary data were used in analysing the influence of decentralisation on community development in the Gasabo district of Rwanda. Primary data was collected through survey questionnaires, interviews and focus group discussions, while secondary data were gathered through a literature survey of relevant textbooks, peer-reviewed journals, reports and legislation. The research findings indicated that in the Gasabo district, decentralisation has contributed significantly towards improving governance aspects such as accountability, and citizen participation in development programmes, which are prerequisite factors of development. Concerning the planning process, the research found that the district development plan (DDP) was crafted through drawing its priorities from the national development plans embedded in the Economic Development and Poverty Reduction Strategies (EDPRS) and Rwanda‟s Vision 2020. However, despite the existence of the Joint Action Development Forum (JADF), created to join the development plans of development partners to the DDP, testimonies from development partners revealed that their relationship with the district is characterised by the lack of frank collaboration, leading to their not being fully associated in the planning process. This research also found that the decentralisation policy has contributed only to a limited extent to the improvement of service delivery in Gasabo district. It was observed that effective service delivery is still hampered by the lack of skilled employees, especially in the areas of education, health and engineering, a budget insufficient for the effective implementation of development projects in such a way as to satisfy the expectations of beneficiaries. In view of the aforementioned findings, the study recommends that the central government intervene in training district tax officers regarding mechanisms and strategies of maximising tax collection to draw sufficient funds to carry out development plans. Through building their capacity, the imbalance between the responsibilities and means allocated for carrying out their achievement can be progressively reduced. Furthermore, to prevent development from taking place in a random manner, district authorities should receive technical support from the central government through linking the local planning process to national poverty reduction efforts. The annual performance contract system needs to be strengthened and monitored to evaluate the implementation of district development plans so as to prevent any kind of poor leadership performance, with the aim of optimising available resources.
- Full Text:
- Date Issued: 2016
- Authors: Indoha, Janvier Kimenyi
- Date: 2016
- Subjects: Decentralization in government -- Rwanda Community development -- Rwanda
- Language: English
- Type: Thesis , Doctoral , DPhil
- Identifier: http://hdl.handle.net/10948/14345 , vital:27572
- Description: This study investigated the influence of decentralisation on community development in the Gasabo district of Rwanda. It was based on the assumption that the participation of citizens in decision-making, planning based on local needs and priorities and the implementation of development programmes associated with the decentralisation policy can improve service delivery and result in community development. It is vital that the decentralization policy be well understood so that appropriate strategies may be adopted and implemented with the aim of maximising advantages associated with it. This study provides, in addition to a literature review, a brief historical background of the evolution and transformation of governance in Rwanda. The country‟s system of governance as well as the challenges it has encountered along the way through different régimes are briefly addressed. Also, the legal and regulatory framework of the decentralization policy and strategies adopted and mechanisms of resource transfer are explained. The study used both qualitative and quantitative methods. Primary and secondary data were used in analysing the influence of decentralisation on community development in the Gasabo district of Rwanda. Primary data was collected through survey questionnaires, interviews and focus group discussions, while secondary data were gathered through a literature survey of relevant textbooks, peer-reviewed journals, reports and legislation. The research findings indicated that in the Gasabo district, decentralisation has contributed significantly towards improving governance aspects such as accountability, and citizen participation in development programmes, which are prerequisite factors of development. Concerning the planning process, the research found that the district development plan (DDP) was crafted through drawing its priorities from the national development plans embedded in the Economic Development and Poverty Reduction Strategies (EDPRS) and Rwanda‟s Vision 2020. However, despite the existence of the Joint Action Development Forum (JADF), created to join the development plans of development partners to the DDP, testimonies from development partners revealed that their relationship with the district is characterised by the lack of frank collaboration, leading to their not being fully associated in the planning process. This research also found that the decentralisation policy has contributed only to a limited extent to the improvement of service delivery in Gasabo district. It was observed that effective service delivery is still hampered by the lack of skilled employees, especially in the areas of education, health and engineering, a budget insufficient for the effective implementation of development projects in such a way as to satisfy the expectations of beneficiaries. In view of the aforementioned findings, the study recommends that the central government intervene in training district tax officers regarding mechanisms and strategies of maximising tax collection to draw sufficient funds to carry out development plans. Through building their capacity, the imbalance between the responsibilities and means allocated for carrying out their achievement can be progressively reduced. Furthermore, to prevent development from taking place in a random manner, district authorities should receive technical support from the central government through linking the local planning process to national poverty reduction efforts. The annual performance contract system needs to be strengthened and monitored to evaluate the implementation of district development plans so as to prevent any kind of poor leadership performance, with the aim of optimising available resources.
- Full Text:
- Date Issued: 2016
Evaluation of the implementation of local economic development policy for poverty alleviation at selected municipalities in the province of eastern cape (2012-2014)
- Authors: Sidumo, Andile Morrison
- Date: 2016
- Subjects: Economic development -- South Africa -- Eastern Cape Sustainable development -- South Africa -- Eastern Cape Poverty -- Government policy -- South Africa -- Eastern Cape
- Language: English
- Type: Thesis , Doctoral , PhD
- Identifier: http://hdl.handle.net/10353/7708 , vital:30708
- Description: This thesis evaluated the implementation of local economic development policy for poverty alleviation at selected municipalities in the Province of the Eastern Cape. Poverty is a global challenge of sustainable development that faces communities at international, national, provincial and local sphere of government however, the focus was at selected municipalities in the Province of Eastern Cape. It is the responsibility of municipal authorities to satisfy the basic needs and promote the general welfare of communities at specific geographic areas in the Province which is vastly rural depending on agriculture and partly on the industrial development. Local economic development is a tool or method to alleviate poverty.
- Full Text:
- Date Issued: 2016
- Authors: Sidumo, Andile Morrison
- Date: 2016
- Subjects: Economic development -- South Africa -- Eastern Cape Sustainable development -- South Africa -- Eastern Cape Poverty -- Government policy -- South Africa -- Eastern Cape
- Language: English
- Type: Thesis , Doctoral , PhD
- Identifier: http://hdl.handle.net/10353/7708 , vital:30708
- Description: This thesis evaluated the implementation of local economic development policy for poverty alleviation at selected municipalities in the Province of the Eastern Cape. Poverty is a global challenge of sustainable development that faces communities at international, national, provincial and local sphere of government however, the focus was at selected municipalities in the Province of Eastern Cape. It is the responsibility of municipal authorities to satisfy the basic needs and promote the general welfare of communities at specific geographic areas in the Province which is vastly rural depending on agriculture and partly on the industrial development. Local economic development is a tool or method to alleviate poverty.
- Full Text:
- Date Issued: 2016
The role of transformative mediation in post-electoral violence: the case of Kenya 2007-2008
- Authors: Ondigo, Anne Achieng Oyier
- Date: 2016
- Subjects: Political violence -- Kenya Conflict management -- Kenya
- Language: English
- Type: Thesis , Doctoral , PhD
- Identifier: http://hdl.handle.net/10948/12962 , vital:27138
- Description: Free and fair elections, accompanied by smooth transitions of democratically elected leaders, constitute one of the key pillars of democracy. The dawn of democratisation and advent of multi-party politics after the end of the Cold War in 1991, seemingly held great promise for Africa. However, in recent years, many elections in Africa have consistently become a source of violence. Electoral violence is threatening to become an intractable source of conflict on the African continent, making it hard for emerging democracies to consolidate their status as free democratic societies. Many remain largely autocratic or semi-democratic. African leaders are all too often not ready to relinquish political power, while political elites are ‘power hungry’ and use violence to skew the outcomes of elections in their favour. Hence, electoral violence is employed in order to manipulate civilian election choices and outcomes. Election violence is often deliberately used to target civilians, and in countries like Kenya involves inter-ethnic clashes. These “new wars” are fought unconventionally using ‘crude weapons’, (Kaldor 2013). Kaldor describes how these ‘new wars’ are fought as intra-state (within the state) wars in developing countries. Often, they are waged via state or county networks based on identity or ethnicity. The consequences of electoral violence include the destruction of property, reversed development, injuries, rape, death, internally displaced persons and refugees. Electoral violence persists despite attempts to contain it and measures to effectively manage these processes often prove to be inadequate. The study utilises an exploratory case study of Kenya during 2007-2008 Post-Election violence. The causes, the immediate steps that were initiated to mitigate violence and the reforms undertaken to generate peace structures and prevent future occurrences of post-election violence were explored. Forty-five participants representing involved citizens, negotiators and mediators were interviewed. The research was triangulated via the interview process, together with the use of primary document analysis and an extensive review of the literature. The data was analysed via the use of grounded theory. The research findings reveal that the causes of electoral violence are multi-faceted and multi-layered, with deep underlying issues. The causes include weak institutions, corruption, a non-representational electoral system, ethnicity and ethnic militia. Further causes include statelessness as experienced by certain groups, abuse of state resources and human rights violations. The role of political elites who withhold crucial information, thus denying the public the opportunity to make informed choices during elections was also found to contribute to electoral violence. Other information-related causes include biased media and sensational reporting. Findings also show that socio-economic issues such as poverty, unemployment, scarce resources and unmet basic human needs cannot be underestimated. Lastly, the causes of electoral violence included diverse interests of internal and external actors at play during elections. The findings revealed that although the Kenyan mediation process included the signing of a peace agreement, the root causes of electoral violence such as corruption, weak institutions, abuse of state resources and the unjust electoral system were not adequately addressed. A model for mediation for electoral violence which was explored and developed sought to build on the strengths of the Kenyan mediation process and address its inherent weaknesses, thus making this a significant contribution flowing from the study. The election model for mediation proposes certain key phases which include a pre-mediation process that will ensure a cessation of all hostilities; the mapping of the root causes of electoral violence and electoral reforms that provide resolutions that are acceptable to all the parties. Training of personnel at all levels of government to implement these reforms is also proposed. These measures can ensure the integrity and independence of electoral institutions from political manipulation. Training constitutes a crucial stage in the process of consolidating the emerging democracies. The model for mediation developed is therefore not only meant to mitigate electoral violence but is also intended to serve as a preventive measure. Many African states currently experience structural weaknesses similar to those that existed in Kenya before the 2007-2008 elections (and still persist). These fault lines include corruption, weak institutions, human rights violations, and lack of information. The proposed model for mediation which aims to counter these problems can thus be applied and adapted for implementation in Africa and globally. Several recommendations with implications for policy development are proposed to curb electoral violence. They include constitutional reforms, training of government and electoral officials and the introduction of a properly representational election system. This study, which focuses specifically on post-election violence, recommends further research investigating the pre-election phase, and ‘voting day’ causes of electoral violence for a more comprehensive approach to electoral violence research.
- Full Text:
- Date Issued: 2016
- Authors: Ondigo, Anne Achieng Oyier
- Date: 2016
- Subjects: Political violence -- Kenya Conflict management -- Kenya
- Language: English
- Type: Thesis , Doctoral , PhD
- Identifier: http://hdl.handle.net/10948/12962 , vital:27138
- Description: Free and fair elections, accompanied by smooth transitions of democratically elected leaders, constitute one of the key pillars of democracy. The dawn of democratisation and advent of multi-party politics after the end of the Cold War in 1991, seemingly held great promise for Africa. However, in recent years, many elections in Africa have consistently become a source of violence. Electoral violence is threatening to become an intractable source of conflict on the African continent, making it hard for emerging democracies to consolidate their status as free democratic societies. Many remain largely autocratic or semi-democratic. African leaders are all too often not ready to relinquish political power, while political elites are ‘power hungry’ and use violence to skew the outcomes of elections in their favour. Hence, electoral violence is employed in order to manipulate civilian election choices and outcomes. Election violence is often deliberately used to target civilians, and in countries like Kenya involves inter-ethnic clashes. These “new wars” are fought unconventionally using ‘crude weapons’, (Kaldor 2013). Kaldor describes how these ‘new wars’ are fought as intra-state (within the state) wars in developing countries. Often, they are waged via state or county networks based on identity or ethnicity. The consequences of electoral violence include the destruction of property, reversed development, injuries, rape, death, internally displaced persons and refugees. Electoral violence persists despite attempts to contain it and measures to effectively manage these processes often prove to be inadequate. The study utilises an exploratory case study of Kenya during 2007-2008 Post-Election violence. The causes, the immediate steps that were initiated to mitigate violence and the reforms undertaken to generate peace structures and prevent future occurrences of post-election violence were explored. Forty-five participants representing involved citizens, negotiators and mediators were interviewed. The research was triangulated via the interview process, together with the use of primary document analysis and an extensive review of the literature. The data was analysed via the use of grounded theory. The research findings reveal that the causes of electoral violence are multi-faceted and multi-layered, with deep underlying issues. The causes include weak institutions, corruption, a non-representational electoral system, ethnicity and ethnic militia. Further causes include statelessness as experienced by certain groups, abuse of state resources and human rights violations. The role of political elites who withhold crucial information, thus denying the public the opportunity to make informed choices during elections was also found to contribute to electoral violence. Other information-related causes include biased media and sensational reporting. Findings also show that socio-economic issues such as poverty, unemployment, scarce resources and unmet basic human needs cannot be underestimated. Lastly, the causes of electoral violence included diverse interests of internal and external actors at play during elections. The findings revealed that although the Kenyan mediation process included the signing of a peace agreement, the root causes of electoral violence such as corruption, weak institutions, abuse of state resources and the unjust electoral system were not adequately addressed. A model for mediation for electoral violence which was explored and developed sought to build on the strengths of the Kenyan mediation process and address its inherent weaknesses, thus making this a significant contribution flowing from the study. The election model for mediation proposes certain key phases which include a pre-mediation process that will ensure a cessation of all hostilities; the mapping of the root causes of electoral violence and electoral reforms that provide resolutions that are acceptable to all the parties. Training of personnel at all levels of government to implement these reforms is also proposed. These measures can ensure the integrity and independence of electoral institutions from political manipulation. Training constitutes a crucial stage in the process of consolidating the emerging democracies. The model for mediation developed is therefore not only meant to mitigate electoral violence but is also intended to serve as a preventive measure. Many African states currently experience structural weaknesses similar to those that existed in Kenya before the 2007-2008 elections (and still persist). These fault lines include corruption, weak institutions, human rights violations, and lack of information. The proposed model for mediation which aims to counter these problems can thus be applied and adapted for implementation in Africa and globally. Several recommendations with implications for policy development are proposed to curb electoral violence. They include constitutional reforms, training of government and electoral officials and the introduction of a properly representational election system. This study, which focuses specifically on post-election violence, recommends further research investigating the pre-election phase, and ‘voting day’ causes of electoral violence for a more comprehensive approach to electoral violence research.
- Full Text:
- Date Issued: 2016
Influence of increased processing speed on the microstructure evolution and mechanical property relationship in friction stir welding of AA5182-H111 (T500)
- Authors: Bernard, Dreyer
- Date: 2016
- Subjects: Friction stir welding , Aluminum alloys -- Welding
- Language: English
- Type: Thesis , Doctoral , PhD
- Identifier: http://hdl.handle.net/10948/7322 , vital:21319
- Description: Friction stir welding of 5xxx series aluminium is generally carried out at low travel speeds, which limits the commercial applications of this process. This manuscript discusses the dynamic eformation characteristics of AA5182-H111 (T500), which allowed a travel speed of 1500 mm/min to be realised. This was achieved by using a spindle speed of 500 rev/min; the same as that required to make a weld of 200 mm/min. The thermal cycles, microstructural evolution due to tool / work-piece interaction, and the local microstructural and mechanical properties of the completed weld are discussed for a travel speed for 200 mm/min and 1500 mm/min. At a rate of 200 mm/min, heat generated due to contact between the shoulder and work-piece surface was transferred ahead of the tool, driving dynamic recrystallization which lowered the flow stress. Hereafter the material entered the stir zone where it was extruded around the pin during a process of continuous dynamic crystallization. At a travel speed of 1500 mm/min, the rate of heat conduction ahead of the tool was not rapid enough, and the material was deformed at low temperatures. A low weld pitch rotations per unit length travelled) was required to ensure that the material was sufficiently strained, to allow the formation of geometric necessary boundaries, which resulted in grain subdivision. The number of high angle grain boundaries was increased through subdivision, thus, increasing the nucleation sites for dynamically recrystallized necklace grains to form. In the absence of heat conduction from the shoulder, the high plastic strain ahead of the tool provided the energy required to drive dynamic recrystallization. Heat was generated from the high plastic strain and during recrystallization, where the stored plastic energy was adiabatically released. Once the material entered the stir zone, the high strain rates associated with the tool rotation which drove dynamic recrystallization that allowed the material to reach high levels of strain, resulted significant grain refinement. The weld zone of the 200 mm/min displayed weld a slight increase in yield strength, with respect to the parent material, due to grain refinement to 10 μm, while the yield strength of the 1500 mm/min weld was significantly increased due to grain refinement to 5 μm. The high weld speed did, however, generate high tensile residual stresses. This work is not only significant for the field of friction stir welding, but also in terms of material processing. The dynamic deformation characteristics associated with Al-5Mg-Mn, alloys which was observed ahead of the tool, is of high value in processes where plastic deformation is applied to improve the mechanical properties of these alloys.
- Full Text:
- Date Issued: 2016
- Authors: Bernard, Dreyer
- Date: 2016
- Subjects: Friction stir welding , Aluminum alloys -- Welding
- Language: English
- Type: Thesis , Doctoral , PhD
- Identifier: http://hdl.handle.net/10948/7322 , vital:21319
- Description: Friction stir welding of 5xxx series aluminium is generally carried out at low travel speeds, which limits the commercial applications of this process. This manuscript discusses the dynamic eformation characteristics of AA5182-H111 (T500), which allowed a travel speed of 1500 mm/min to be realised. This was achieved by using a spindle speed of 500 rev/min; the same as that required to make a weld of 200 mm/min. The thermal cycles, microstructural evolution due to tool / work-piece interaction, and the local microstructural and mechanical properties of the completed weld are discussed for a travel speed for 200 mm/min and 1500 mm/min. At a rate of 200 mm/min, heat generated due to contact between the shoulder and work-piece surface was transferred ahead of the tool, driving dynamic recrystallization which lowered the flow stress. Hereafter the material entered the stir zone where it was extruded around the pin during a process of continuous dynamic crystallization. At a travel speed of 1500 mm/min, the rate of heat conduction ahead of the tool was not rapid enough, and the material was deformed at low temperatures. A low weld pitch rotations per unit length travelled) was required to ensure that the material was sufficiently strained, to allow the formation of geometric necessary boundaries, which resulted in grain subdivision. The number of high angle grain boundaries was increased through subdivision, thus, increasing the nucleation sites for dynamically recrystallized necklace grains to form. In the absence of heat conduction from the shoulder, the high plastic strain ahead of the tool provided the energy required to drive dynamic recrystallization. Heat was generated from the high plastic strain and during recrystallization, where the stored plastic energy was adiabatically released. Once the material entered the stir zone, the high strain rates associated with the tool rotation which drove dynamic recrystallization that allowed the material to reach high levels of strain, resulted significant grain refinement. The weld zone of the 200 mm/min displayed weld a slight increase in yield strength, with respect to the parent material, due to grain refinement to 10 μm, while the yield strength of the 1500 mm/min weld was significantly increased due to grain refinement to 5 μm. The high weld speed did, however, generate high tensile residual stresses. This work is not only significant for the field of friction stir welding, but also in terms of material processing. The dynamic deformation characteristics associated with Al-5Mg-Mn, alloys which was observed ahead of the tool, is of high value in processes where plastic deformation is applied to improve the mechanical properties of these alloys.
- Full Text:
- Date Issued: 2016
Critical assessment of corruption in municipalities and its impact in service delivery : case study Buffalo City Metropolitan Municipality
- Authors: Basopu, Price Mike
- Date: 2016
- Subjects: Misconduct in office -- South Africa -- Eastern Cape Corruption -- South Africa -- Eastern Cape Local government -- South Africa -- Eastern Cape
- Language: English
- Type: Thesis , Doctoral , PhD
- Identifier: http://hdl.handle.net/10353/1558 , vital:27445
- Description: Many African countries including Africa South have been experiencing many challenges such as corruption, fraud and misaprpriation of fund in this new democratic dispensation. In this regard, the municipalities are viewed as the most affected institutions, with the Eastern Cape Province identified as culprit number one engaging in corrupt activities. There are a number of contributing factors, as attributed in the study, but most prevalent among these are capacity issues in most of these municipalities, with fewer personnel and less capacity. Challenges of corruption in municipalities are perpetrated mainly by municipal officials, councilors and members of the public. This study, identified corruption as one of the challenges facing municipalities in the Eastern Cape. It involves both the achievements and limitations that have been experienced; and indeed, there are still numerous issues to be addressed and accomplished. It discusses some critical issues such as how corruption has been the mother of the day in South Africa and its effect on the public sector in general. Inadditon, misappropriation of public resources and corruption immersed the nation as a whole into a greater challenge rather than focusing on service delivery issues. There are situations, within municipalities, where the majority of senior officials, who may be in possession of valuable information, are always under suspension. The findings of the study also show that all the municipalities operating in this new democaticatic dispensation have not been able to prepare a transparent annual financial year report at the end of the year. In fact, the majority of them always obtain disclaimer or adverse reports from the Office of Auditor-General (AG), despite numerous attempts and interventions by the AG‟s office and the Provincial Treasury to rectify the situation. The challenges of leadership crises in some of these municipalities, both administratively and politically have been critically examined. The findings show that between 2012 and 2015 financial years, some of these municipalities have been without full-time Accounting Officers; people were only seconded or in acting capacity, and some of them were under adminisistration, which is section 139 (c) of the constitution. There were numerous attempts of interventions by the national leadership of the ANC in the ANC regional structures which in many instances were the root cause of the problems or divisions, as well as in municipalities where in Buffalo City Metro and Nelson Mandela Metro respectively there were leadership changes or redeployments. The issue of corruption in the municipalities is compromising and impact negatively in the service delivery. It can be concluded that municipalities are characterized by a number of instances of corruption perpetrated mainly by municipal officials, councilors and members of society. Bribery, fraud, nepotism, and systematic corruption are some of the forms of corruption that take place in municipalities in South Africa. There are systems in place to fight corruption, but the reality is that they are very weak and ineffective. The anti-corruption strategies put in municipalities have general functioned poorly hence the prevailing the situation. There is glaring non-compliance with the Municipal Finance Management Act (MFMA), the Treasury Regulations and their own Procurement Procedures and Procurement Policies. It is evident that despite the achievement by an ANC led government for almost over 21 years of democracy, there remain many political and administrative challenges especial in municipalities. The fundamental question need to be posed and address therefore is, how best these challenges can be addressed and turn around service delivery to a tangible outcome. The Constitution of the Republic of South Africa provides for the promotion and maintenance of a high standard of professional ethics in the public service. Public resources are vulnerable to abuse by unscrupulous elements, both inside and outside government and therefore requires careful monitoring and control. The existing legislative framework is solid but fragmented and requires review and consolidation to improve its efficiency. To achieve that government requires an approach that is developmental in nature. Governance should be able to take control of the organization’s systems and at the same time adaptable to the environment in a way strengthens the capacity to achieve goals.
- Full Text:
- Date Issued: 2016
- Authors: Basopu, Price Mike
- Date: 2016
- Subjects: Misconduct in office -- South Africa -- Eastern Cape Corruption -- South Africa -- Eastern Cape Local government -- South Africa -- Eastern Cape
- Language: English
- Type: Thesis , Doctoral , PhD
- Identifier: http://hdl.handle.net/10353/1558 , vital:27445
- Description: Many African countries including Africa South have been experiencing many challenges such as corruption, fraud and misaprpriation of fund in this new democratic dispensation. In this regard, the municipalities are viewed as the most affected institutions, with the Eastern Cape Province identified as culprit number one engaging in corrupt activities. There are a number of contributing factors, as attributed in the study, but most prevalent among these are capacity issues in most of these municipalities, with fewer personnel and less capacity. Challenges of corruption in municipalities are perpetrated mainly by municipal officials, councilors and members of the public. This study, identified corruption as one of the challenges facing municipalities in the Eastern Cape. It involves both the achievements and limitations that have been experienced; and indeed, there are still numerous issues to be addressed and accomplished. It discusses some critical issues such as how corruption has been the mother of the day in South Africa and its effect on the public sector in general. Inadditon, misappropriation of public resources and corruption immersed the nation as a whole into a greater challenge rather than focusing on service delivery issues. There are situations, within municipalities, where the majority of senior officials, who may be in possession of valuable information, are always under suspension. The findings of the study also show that all the municipalities operating in this new democaticatic dispensation have not been able to prepare a transparent annual financial year report at the end of the year. In fact, the majority of them always obtain disclaimer or adverse reports from the Office of Auditor-General (AG), despite numerous attempts and interventions by the AG‟s office and the Provincial Treasury to rectify the situation. The challenges of leadership crises in some of these municipalities, both administratively and politically have been critically examined. The findings show that between 2012 and 2015 financial years, some of these municipalities have been without full-time Accounting Officers; people were only seconded or in acting capacity, and some of them were under adminisistration, which is section 139 (c) of the constitution. There were numerous attempts of interventions by the national leadership of the ANC in the ANC regional structures which in many instances were the root cause of the problems or divisions, as well as in municipalities where in Buffalo City Metro and Nelson Mandela Metro respectively there were leadership changes or redeployments. The issue of corruption in the municipalities is compromising and impact negatively in the service delivery. It can be concluded that municipalities are characterized by a number of instances of corruption perpetrated mainly by municipal officials, councilors and members of society. Bribery, fraud, nepotism, and systematic corruption are some of the forms of corruption that take place in municipalities in South Africa. There are systems in place to fight corruption, but the reality is that they are very weak and ineffective. The anti-corruption strategies put in municipalities have general functioned poorly hence the prevailing the situation. There is glaring non-compliance with the Municipal Finance Management Act (MFMA), the Treasury Regulations and their own Procurement Procedures and Procurement Policies. It is evident that despite the achievement by an ANC led government for almost over 21 years of democracy, there remain many political and administrative challenges especial in municipalities. The fundamental question need to be posed and address therefore is, how best these challenges can be addressed and turn around service delivery to a tangible outcome. The Constitution of the Republic of South Africa provides for the promotion and maintenance of a high standard of professional ethics in the public service. Public resources are vulnerable to abuse by unscrupulous elements, both inside and outside government and therefore requires careful monitoring and control. The existing legislative framework is solid but fragmented and requires review and consolidation to improve its efficiency. To achieve that government requires an approach that is developmental in nature. Governance should be able to take control of the organization’s systems and at the same time adaptable to the environment in a way strengthens the capacity to achieve goals.
- Full Text:
- Date Issued: 2016
The development of trilingual literacy in primary schools in Kenya
- Authors: Mose, Peter N
- Date: 2016
- Language: English
- Type: Thesis , Doctoral , PhD
- Identifier: http://hdl.handle.net/10962/815 , vital:19993
- Description: The Kenyan language in education policy contemplates development of trilingual literacy skills in pupils by the end of standard three. The purpose of this study was to determine to what extent standard three pupils were literate in their mother tongue (Ekegusii), Kiswahili, and English. The study was undertaken in the context of; a language in education policy that provides for the use of mother tongues and Kiswahili (as languages of instruction) in rural and urban schools respectively up to the end of standard three, followed by a transition to an English medium from standard four; a general negative public attitude towards mother tongue instruction; and substantial empirical evidence in support of mother tongue instruction in basic education. Cummins’ Linguistic Interdependence and Linguistic Threshold Hypotheses guided the study. Adopting a mixed methods approach, the study used direct classroom observations, face-to-face interviews, document analyses, and reading tests to obtain data. Thematic, content, and statistical approaches were used in data analysis. It was found that various stakeholders understand key aspects of the language in education policy differently. Secondly, efforts in mother tongue instruction in schools are not motivated by theoretical and empirical foundations; development efforts are hence ineffective and inadequate leaving majority of learners with below average literacy skills in their mother tongue by the end of standard three. Thirdly, teachers do not implement the language in education policy as spelt out in the relevant documents; the three languages have therefore been allocated various classroom functions. Fourthly, the factors that motivate the disregard of the language policy include the language of examinations and textbooks, and transition to standard four in which English is the language of instruction. Lastly, reading scores indicate that majority of pupils transiting to standard four do not possess adequate reading skills to enable them read to learn in a mother tongue, Kiswahili, and English. This is observed across rural, peri-urban, and urban schools. The study recommends that: The ministry of education conducts workshops to re-educate the relevant stakeholders on the meaning and significance of the language in education policy and the significance of mother tongue instruction in second language, literacy, and skill development. This should be followed by a re-classification of primary schools on the basis of linguistic homogeneity, or otherwise, to ensure the intention of the policy is achieved. This could include empowering individual schools to determine language of instruction in lower primary based on language predominance. Secondly, the ministry should provide relevant resources for mother tongues and Kiswahili to develop them as effective languages of instruction as recommended by various past education commission reports. Additionally, a bilingual course in teacher training colleges to equip primary school teachers for bilingualism and biliteracy development should be introduced; one implication of this is teachers giving notes and tests in the languages spelt out in the policy. Thirdly, the ministry should intensify inspection of schools to assess implementation of the policy. Fourthly, future studies should assess mother tongue literacies as well, since they determine the extent and success of second language acquisition and learning; and measures should be put to ensure English is adequately resourced and taught well. Finally, mother tongue instruction should be extended up to, at least, standard five.
- Full Text:
- Date Issued: 2016
- Authors: Mose, Peter N
- Date: 2016
- Language: English
- Type: Thesis , Doctoral , PhD
- Identifier: http://hdl.handle.net/10962/815 , vital:19993
- Description: The Kenyan language in education policy contemplates development of trilingual literacy skills in pupils by the end of standard three. The purpose of this study was to determine to what extent standard three pupils were literate in their mother tongue (Ekegusii), Kiswahili, and English. The study was undertaken in the context of; a language in education policy that provides for the use of mother tongues and Kiswahili (as languages of instruction) in rural and urban schools respectively up to the end of standard three, followed by a transition to an English medium from standard four; a general negative public attitude towards mother tongue instruction; and substantial empirical evidence in support of mother tongue instruction in basic education. Cummins’ Linguistic Interdependence and Linguistic Threshold Hypotheses guided the study. Adopting a mixed methods approach, the study used direct classroom observations, face-to-face interviews, document analyses, and reading tests to obtain data. Thematic, content, and statistical approaches were used in data analysis. It was found that various stakeholders understand key aspects of the language in education policy differently. Secondly, efforts in mother tongue instruction in schools are not motivated by theoretical and empirical foundations; development efforts are hence ineffective and inadequate leaving majority of learners with below average literacy skills in their mother tongue by the end of standard three. Thirdly, teachers do not implement the language in education policy as spelt out in the relevant documents; the three languages have therefore been allocated various classroom functions. Fourthly, the factors that motivate the disregard of the language policy include the language of examinations and textbooks, and transition to standard four in which English is the language of instruction. Lastly, reading scores indicate that majority of pupils transiting to standard four do not possess adequate reading skills to enable them read to learn in a mother tongue, Kiswahili, and English. This is observed across rural, peri-urban, and urban schools. The study recommends that: The ministry of education conducts workshops to re-educate the relevant stakeholders on the meaning and significance of the language in education policy and the significance of mother tongue instruction in second language, literacy, and skill development. This should be followed by a re-classification of primary schools on the basis of linguistic homogeneity, or otherwise, to ensure the intention of the policy is achieved. This could include empowering individual schools to determine language of instruction in lower primary based on language predominance. Secondly, the ministry should provide relevant resources for mother tongues and Kiswahili to develop them as effective languages of instruction as recommended by various past education commission reports. Additionally, a bilingual course in teacher training colleges to equip primary school teachers for bilingualism and biliteracy development should be introduced; one implication of this is teachers giving notes and tests in the languages spelt out in the policy. Thirdly, the ministry should intensify inspection of schools to assess implementation of the policy. Fourthly, future studies should assess mother tongue literacies as well, since they determine the extent and success of second language acquisition and learning; and measures should be put to ensure English is adequately resourced and taught well. Finally, mother tongue instruction should be extended up to, at least, standard five.
- Full Text:
- Date Issued: 2016