Showing items 1 - 20 of 29419

Your selections:

Labour dispute resolution in South Africa and Malawi: a comparative study

  • Authors: Banda, Lisa Malopa
  • Date: 2018
  • Subjects: Dispute resolution (Law) -- South Africa , Dispute resolution (Law) -- Malawi Labor laws and legislation -- South Africa Labor laws and legislation -- Malawi Arbitration, Industrial -- South Africa Arbitration, Industrial -- Malawi
  • Language: English
  • Type: Thesis , Masters , LLM
  • Identifier: http://hdl.handle.net/10948/23891 , vital:30639
  • Description: The aim of this treatise with the title Labour dispute resolution in South Africa and Malawi: A comparative study is to compare alternative dispute resolution between these two countries. It, furthermore, aims at drawing best practice to feed into each other. Another objective of this treatise is to learn by comparing and providing insight into the two countries’ alternative dispute resolution systems. This treatise comprises five chapters, each dealing with different aspects of alternative dispute resolution and an inter-country comparison. Chapter 1 introduces the concept of alternative dispute resolution and explains different types of methodologies in South Africa and Malawi in this regard. It also describes the different external alternative dispute resolution systems. In any conflicting situation, there is no guarantee that disputes will be resolved successfully, hence, one needs to apply different methodologies to try to resolve disputes, such as an alternative dispute resolution. Chapter 2 examines the Alternative Dispute Resolution System of South Africa and consists of three parts. Part 1 focuses on the historical legislative framework, Part 2 examines labour dispute resolution, as provided for in the Labour Relations Act of 1995 and Part 3 analyses the advantages and disadvantages of alternative dispute resolution systems in South Africa. Alternative dispute resolution has become popular and prominent across the globe as it ensures privacy and emphasises a cooperative and constructive way forward, which carries with it the possibility of improving employment relations in the long term. Chapter 3 provides an outline of Malawi’s relevant dispute resolution legal framework, regulated methodologies and system. Chapter 4 concentrates on evaluating and comparing alternative dispute resolution systems in South Africa with that of Malawi and later evaluates efficiencies, the effectiveness and challenges of alternative dispute resolution, which arise from the earlier comparison, with the aim of determining whether or not there is a need for reform of each country’s alternative dispute resolution system. The delivery of alternative dispute resolution systems can take place in a number of different settings, such as an employment tribunal, under the auspice of the Ministry of Labour, dispute resolution boards or a private dispute resolution. However, for the purpose of this study, the main mechanisms that will be analysed are arbitration, conciliation and mediation. Conclusions and recommendations are discussed in Chapter 5, which briefly summarises this study and synthesises the analysis of the South African and Malawian alternative dispute resolution system. Recommendations for legislation, methodologies and systems are also made.
  • Full Text:
  • Date Issued: 2018

Public Policy and Municipal Financial Management: PAD 311

  • Authors: Ijeoma, E O C , Mello, D
  • Date: 2011-06
  • Language: English
  • Type: Examination paper
  • Identifier: vital:18271 , http://hdl.handle.net/10353/d1011267
  • Description: Public Policy and Municipal Financial Management: PAD 311, degree examination June 2011.
  • Full Text: false
  • Date Issued: 2011-06

Biochemical characterisation of Pfj2, a Plasmodium falciparum heat shock protein 40 chaperone potentially involved in protein quality control in the endoplasmic reticulum

  • Authors: Afolayan, Omolola Folasade
  • Date: 2013
  • Subjects: Plasmodium falciparum Endoplasmic reticulum Heat shock proteins Malaria , Mosquito-borne infectious disease
  • Language: English
  • Type: Thesis , Masters , MSc
  • Identifier: vital:3883 , http://hdl.handle.net/10962/d1001617
  • Description: Plasmodium falciparum is a protozoan parasite that causes a severe form of malaria, a mosquito-borne infectious disease in humans. P. falciparum encodes a number of proteins to facilitate its life-cycle, including a type II heat shock protein 40 (Hsp40), Pfj2. Pfj2 shows a degree of homology to human ERdj5, a resident protein of the endoplasmic reticulum (ER) that promotes protein quality control by facilitating the degradation of misfolded proteins. The overall aim of this study was to further understand the function of Pfj2 in the P. falciparum cell by characterising it biochemically. A bioinformatic analysis of Pfj2 was carried out to enable the identification of a potential ER signal sequence and cleavage site. Furthermore, an analysis of Pfj2 protein sequence was performed to compare domain similarities and identities with typical type II Hsp40s namely, human ERdj5, S. cerevisiae Sis1, human Hsj1a and human DnaJB4. The method used included the insertion of the codon-optimised coding sequence for the processed ER form of Pfj2 into the prokaryotic expression vector, pQE30, to enable overproduction of a histidine-tagged protein. A 62 kDa His₆-Pfj2 was successfully expressed in Escherichia coli and purified using denaturing nickel affinity chromatography. ATPase assays were performed to determine the ability of His₆- Pfj2 to stimulate the chaperone activity of the ER Hsp70, also called immunoglobulin binding protein (BiP). Initial studies were conducted on readily available mammalian His₆-BiP as a control, which was shown to have an intrinsic activity of 12.07±3.92 nmolPi/min/mg. His₆- Pfj2 did not stimulate the ATPase activity of mammalian His₆-BiP, suggesting that it either could not act as a co-chaperone of mammalian His₆-BiP (specificity), or it required a misfolded substrate in the system. Therefore, ongoing studies are addressing the interaction of Pfj2 and misfolded substrates with P. falciparum BiP. The results of these studies will further our understanding of a poorly-studied parasite chaperone that represents a potential drug target for development of novel strategies for the control of a serious human disease
  • Full Text:
  • Date Issued: 2013

Action research case studies of participatory materials development in two community contexts in Zambia

  • Authors: Lupele, Justin Kalaba
  • Date: 2003
  • Subjects: Community development -- Zambia -- Case studies Environmental education -- Zambia -- Case studies Sustainable development -- Zambia -- Case studies
  • Language: English
  • Type: Thesis , Masters , MEd
  • Identifier: vital:1417 , http://hdl.handle.net/10962/d1003298
  • Description: This research reports on two action research case studies of participatory materials development in two rural community contexts in Zambia, namely Chiawa and Nalusanga. It aims to explore and articulate the relationships between community-based environmental education and participatory materials development in the WWF Zambia Education Project context; clarify participatory materials development processes by identifying the roles of different ‘actors’ in these processes and identify and analyse the contextual and other factors that may influence development and use of environmental education materials in rural communities. These aims were explored by means of a number of action research cycles of inquiry in the two communities. The study also articulates the significance of considering ambivalent globalising influences such as international conferences, debates, overseas development aid, national policies and how these shape and influence materials development work in a local context. In order to gain more insight into the local contexts, I developed contextual profiles on the two communities. These capture the contextual factors that influenced the participatory materials development processes. They include issues such as language, ethnicity, literacy, power relations and the local social economy, amongst others. Although this study has been predominately guided by the socially critical orientation to research and education, I have drawn on aspects of other research orientations. I have also explored some of the emerging critiques of the socially critical orientation. The findings of this study reveal the different roles participants can play in participatory materials development; participatory materials development processes as a learning process; the dynamics of participation in an African context; the role of language and literacy in materials development; the need for open-ended process models of learning amongst adult learners and the importance of merging expert and local knowledge in participatory materials development. This study opens up possibilities for further exploration of participatory materials development processes within the WWF ZEP context and beyond.
  • Full Text:
  • Date Issued: 2003

Astatotilapia tweddlei, a new species of fluviatile haplochromine cichlid fish from lakes Chilwa and Chiuta, Malawi, with zoogeographical notes

  • Authors: Jackson, P B N (Peter Brian Neville) , J.L.B. Smith Institute of Ichthyology
  • Date: 1985-06
  • Subjects: Cichlids , Fishes -- Malawi
  • Language: English
  • Type: text , book
  • Identifier: http://hdl.handle.net/10962/70202 , vital:29633 , Margaret Smith Library (South African Institute for Aquatic Biodiversity (SAIAB)) Periodicals Margaret Smith Library (South African Institute for Aquatic Biodiversity (SAIAB))
  • Description: Online version of original print edition of the Special Publication of the J.L.B. Smith Institute of Ichthyology; No. 38 , Recent collecting in the Malawi lakes Chilwa and Chiuta has revealed a new haplochromine cichlid fish, Astatotilapia tweddlei, which is described and illustrated. It is distinguished from most members of this genus by an elongate, rounded caudal fin. Although having a distinctly different colour pattern and more slender pharyngeal bone, it shows a greater similarity to A. paludinosa, known only from the Malagarasi Swamp 1200 km to the north in the Zaire ichthyofaunal province, than it does to members of this genus from the closely adjacent Zambezi province from which this wetland system, in the East Coast province is separated by only some 50 km.
  • Full Text:
  • Date Issued: 1985-06

Ibali lama Hlubi

  • Authors: Ndawo, H. M. (Henry Masila)
  • Date: 194?
  • Subjects: Ndawo, Henry Masila Hlubi (African people) Xhosa language -- Texts
  • Language: Xhosa
  • Type: text
  • Identifier: http://hdl.handle.net/10962/47149 , vital:25683 , This manuscript is held at the Cory Library for Humanities Research at Rhodes University. For further information contact cory@ru.ac.za. The digitisation of this image was made possible through a generous grant received from the Andrew W. Mellon Foundation 2014-2017. , MS 16 337(a)
  • Description: Original author's text of Ibali lamaHlubi, published in 1945 by Lovedale Press.
  • Full Text:
  • Date Issued: 194?

Humanitarian intervention in conflict management in Africa: selected case study analysis of Sudan and Libya

  • Authors: Muruviwa, Tapiwa Gladmore
  • Date: 2015-04
  • Subjects: Humanitarian intervention , Conflict management -- Africa
  • Language: English
  • Type: Master's theses , text
  • Identifier: http://hdl.handle.net/10353/24772 , vital:63550
  • Description: The study investigates the effectiveness of humanitarian intervention as a strategy in conflict management in Africa drawing from case studies in Sudan and Libya. The research utilized an interaction of both primary and secondary data sources. Primary sources used are African Union (AU) official reports, United Nations Security Council (UNSC) official reports as well as official International Commission on Intervention and State Sovereignty (ICISS) reports. Secondary sources used include journal articles, newspapers, books and other online publications. Among others, the study found out that humanitarian intervention in Sudan by the AU from 2004 until 2006 lacked the capacity and political will to effectively manage the conflict. At the same time, an analysis of the North Atlantic Treaty Organization‟s (NATO) military intervention in Libya in 2011 reveals that western-led interventions in Africa are often driven by geostrategic interests rather than the need to save people in danger. Against this backdrop, the study recommends amongst others that the AU should have a capacitated standby-force that will rapidly respond to manage conflicts in Africa. Also, UN peacekeeping operations in Africa should be coordinated by the African Union. , Thesis (MSoc) -- Faculty of Social Sciences and Humanities, 2015
  • Full Text:
  • Date Issued: 2015-04

Strategies for retaining talented staff and knowledge managers : a case study

  • Authors: Gatyeni, Litha
  • Date: 2008
  • Subjects: Employee retention -- South Africa , Employee motivation -- South Africa
  • Language: English
  • Type: Thesis , Masters , MBA
  • Identifier: vital:8710 , http://hdl.handle.net/10948/958 , Employee retention -- South Africa , Employee motivation -- South Africa
  • Description: The South African government is currently targeting 6 per cent economic growth for the country (Mail & Guardian, 2006). The construction industry is one of the growing forces contributing to the current economic growth of South Africa. However, in the speech made by the president Thabo Mbeki, he highlighted the labour market as one of the key constraints to achieving higher and sustainable growth. It is believed that there is a skills shortage or a mismatch in the labour market (Mail & Guardian, 2006). The construction industry has seen a steady growth over the past number of years. When South Africa won the bid to host the 2010 world cup, this required more building work to be done, such as construction of stadia, hotels, etc. This has put further strain in the construction industry. As the work load increases, the companies in the industry require more resources, with the human resources being the most affected. This has seen a high rate of talented staff turnover in the industry as companies seek to increase their capacity to allow them cope with the current work load. The consulting engineering industry plays a critical role of the construction industry. The selected company is part of the electrical and mechanical consulting engineering industry which has also been affected by the high talented staff turnover. The main purpose for this research was to identify retention strategies that can be used by the selected company to reduce the turnover of their talented staff. The research also investigated methods to retain the knowledge within the company that was possibly lost due to a high talented staff turnover rate. The first step used to resolve the issues discussed above was to complete a full literature study. The literature study sought to reveal what characteristics were required in the company that ensured staff would be happy in that company and remain there for a long time. The literature study also covered what knowledge iv management methods can be used by the company to retain its valuable knowledge. Secondly, the views of current staff, ex-staff and management of the selected company on staff and knowledge management strategies were asked in an empirical study, which involved completing questionnaires and conducting structured interviews. Based on the findings of the literature study and the empirical study, the last step was to make recommendations on what strategies should be implemented to retain staff and knowledge for the selected company.
  • Full Text:
  • Date Issued: 2008

The influence of indigenous languages on Ugandan English as used in the media

  • Authors: Tukwasibwe, Constance
  • Date: 2014
  • Subjects: Mass media and language -- Uganda , Languages in contact -- Uganda , English language -- Uganda , Language transfer (Language learning) -- Uganda , Communication and culture -- Uganda , Bilingualism -- Uganda , Linguistic demography -- Uganda , Uganda -- Languages
  • Language: English
  • Type: Thesis , Doctoral , PhD
  • Identifier: vital:3646 , http://hdl.handle.net/10962/d1015637
  • Description: When two or more languages come in contact, they influence each other in various ways, for example through word borrowing, transfer of sounds, morphology and syntax taken from one language system and imported to another. In this study, the primary concern is on the indigenous communities of Uganda learning the English language, plus the influence that this interaction brings into the linguistic space. Bringing the Ugandan multilingual situation into perspective, the study looks at how the English language has interacted with the local languages and the local speech habits, customs and traditions of the indigenous people, to the extent that it has been indigenized. Some word usage results in miscommunication due to the socio-cultural uniqueness of Ugandan cultural expressions. As an example, because of the practice of polygamy in most Ugandan cultures, words like co-wife are coined to mean 'a woman who shares a husband, or a husband's other wife', a word that is absent in both the language and culture of native English speakers. Furthermore some words are formed by calquing some indigenous language expressions, e.g. 'to eat money' or 'to eat cash', an expression that is calqued from the Luganda phrase, kulya sente. Such word coinages are meant to fill the 'shortfall' where the English language fails to provide adequate equivalents. Understanding the context of this kind of English usage and the influence from the indigenous languages is helpful in handling inter-cultural discourses, as the same expression may convey different senses to different people in different contexts. So then, this study deals with some peculiarities of Ugandan English, namely; the features of Ugandan English grammar which are influenced by the indigenous languages. Evidence from the Corpus of Ugandan English is explored to establish that indigenous languages in Uganda have a significant influence on the English language variety spoken in the country, and that a large part of English bilingual speakers cannot speak English without transferring the features from their mother tongue or indeed, switching and mixing codes. A British corpus was used for the purposes of comparison with Ugandan English. The research was conducted in Uganda, drawing data from English newspapers, radio and television talk -shows that were recorded to provide a structural analysis of the contact situations. The result of the study points to the fact that, indeed, the phonological, morpho-syntactic and semantic characteristics of Ugandan English have a considerable amount of influence from indigenous local languages. This study is hinged on the assumption that when indigenous languages and the target language come together in a linguistic contact situation, the resulting variety would exhibit distinct phonological, lexical, grammatical and semantic/pragmatic features ( cf. Sankoff, 2001; Thomason, 1995; Thomason & Kaufman, 1988; Winford, 2005). However, some of these innovations have attracted criticism from 'prescriptivists' such as Quirk (1985, 1988, 1990); Gaudio (2011); and Abbot (1991) who perceive them as 'nonstandard', 'incorrect English language usage' and a 'direct translation from the language user's mother tongue into English'. Yet, indigenous languages continue to play important roles in shaping the kind of English language usage in Uganda.
  • Full Text:
  • Date Issued: 2014

The dramatic theory of William Hazlitt : "Imagination in criticism"

A pilot study of secondary teachers' understanding of population dynamics

  • Authors: Hockey, Athol James Temlett
  • Date: 1996
  • Subjects: Environmental education -- South Africa , Population -- Study and teaching (Secondary) -- South Africa
  • Language: English
  • Type: Thesis , Masters , MEd
  • Identifier: vital:1703 , http://hdl.handle.net/10962/d1003586
  • Description: Population dynamics is a South African secondary school biology syllabus topic which deals specifically with ecology or concepts within the realm of ecology. It is currently taught in a way which largely emphasises the teaching and learning of facts and concepts, often out of any context to which students can relate. While it is important to convey scientific concepts, it is just as important to address social and political issues regarding overpopulation and the environment. This research involved the administration of a questionnaire to Std 10 biology teachers in the Department of Education and Training (DET), which sought to obtain information about various aspects of teachers' teaching of population dynamics. These included their feelings toward the teaching of the specific sections of the population dynamics syllabus, and their knowledge and views of environmental issues and human population expansion. The findings of the research suggest that population dynamics is an important topic for students to learn about. The traditional teacher-centred approach to teaching is used by the teachers in the research sample. The sections considered by the teachers to be most important for learning were also considered the most interesting and the easiest to teach. The majority of the teachers in the research sample recognised that human population growth is a global and local problem and that South Africa cannot sustain its present population growth. The teachers in the sample show a diversity of opinions about sustainable development, and have a limited understanding of the links between population, poverty and consumption. Important information gained from the research will be significant in the development of a teaching and learning module on population dynamics that reflects the aims and purpose of environmental education.
  • Full Text:
  • Date Issued: 1996

Reality: a Journal of Liberal Opinion

  • Date: 1969-1972
  • Subjects: South Africa -- Politics and government -- Periodicals , Politics, Practical -- Periodicals , Political rights -- Periodicals
  • Language: English
  • Type: text , book
  • Identifier: http://hdl.handle.net/10962/76071 , vital:30499
  • Description: Here the agreement between these two Ministers comes to an abrupt end. For while Dr. Koornhof says categorically that the only honourable way in which to do this, is by developing the resources of the homelands, Mr. Froneman states equally categorically that it is no part of the white man's duty to do so. Dr. Koornhof speaks of the moral and altruistic elements in the policy of separate development. Mr. Froneman speaks in the harshest and most callous terms of millions of "surplus" Africans, who must be sent back to their homelands, no matter what awaits them there. He says that African labourers in "white" areas must not be burdened with "superfluous appendages", such as wives, children, and dependents who could not provide service. These two men are in the same Cabinet. If one has been rebuked, it was done in private. And if it was done, it was no doubt done in a semi-jocular manner — "Fronnie, old boy, we all know what you mean, but you must learn to talk prettily." These two men do not represent two irreconcilable wings of the Nationalist Party, they represent the two essential elements of the policy of separate development. And these two elements are essential to each other. Either by itself would be dangerous. Either by itself would be unacceptable. Neither Mr. Froneman nor Dr. Koornhof has reached the stage when one cannot bear to be in the same Cabinet as the other. Although each of these two elements and each of these prototypes, is essential to the other, they do not co-exist in perfect harmony. The one is a naked baas, the other is a bass clothed in soft raiment. The first thinks the second is a sissy, the second thinks the first is a barbarian. They do not say so publicly, but their newspapers do, and that is not good. In the absence of any official pronouncement we must assume that they have been told that the sissy and the barbarian are essential to one another. The sissy will get the barbarian into nice company, the barbarian will protect the sissy if the nice company turns nasty. Why is it that although the barbarian and the sissy do not co-exist in harmony, they are (in spite of the dreams of rift-seekers) essential, the one to the other? Why do the callousness and the altruism not go to civil war? The answer is that neither of them is a fundamental. They are both imposed on something that is fundamental, and that is the preservation of white supremacy (which can be more gently called self-preservation, a soft word that turns wrath in some circles). Neither the callousness nor the altruism is part of the deep monolithic core. The cracks can show, the paint can peel, the fragments can flake off, but the core remains untouched. In times of ease (such as the present), one sees and hears and reads much of the cracking and the fragmentation. In times of danger (which will come), one is conscious of the monolithic core, which is like an ironwood heart in a softwood tree. If we accept the view that Mr. Froneman and Dr. Koornhof have something deep and fundamental in common, is there therefore nothing to choose between them? Or are Dr. Koornhof and his kind, bearers of hope for the future? For Mr. Froneman and his kind certainly are not. Their dream of the total separation of the races, if one chooses to dignfiy it by the use of such a term, is a dream which must be realised at whatever cost, and the cost will be the bitterness, and inevitably the hatred, of millions of Africans towards the white masters who make such heartless use of their power. It is claimed by our rulers that such bitterness does not exist except in the imaginations of sentimentalists and agitators, and it is true that the patience of Africans appears to be infinite. It takes a train disaster to strip the mask from the smiling face. Are Dr. Koornhof and his kind, bearers of hope for the future? Like Mr. Froneman, Dr. Koornhof believes in the policy of separate development. He does not attempt to conceal that this is to be done in the interests of self- preservation. If the homelands are developed, then more and more Africans will leave "white" South Africa to return to the places from which they were driven by the need for work, money, and food. Although Dr. Koornhof did not say so, it is justifiable to infer that he believes that white South Africa will be more secure if it sheds itself of its Africans, surplus or otherwise. There will be no competition in the labour market, no crime by rootless young black men in the beautiful white suburbs, and most important of all, no night of the long knife. But Dr. Koornhof wants this transformation to be made with justice. There must be work and food and hope in the homelands, and they must be helped to achieve autonomy, political and cultural and economic. It is the economic autonomy that poses the greatest difficulty. Even if it does not mean economic independence, it should mean a healthy economic relationship with "white" South Africa. This is where Mr. Froneman parts company with Dr. Koornhof. And this is where REALITY parts company with Dr. Koornhof too. The recognition that there can he no political and cultural autonomy unless there is at least a healthy relationship with “white” South Africa, is for REALITY a recognition by its political opponents that there are moral considera' tions which transcend those of naed self-preservation. These considerations were blue-printed (inadequately) by Professor Tomlinson in the ninteen- fifties, inexplicably ignored by Dr, Verwoerd (his biographer may one day explain why), and are now, in 1969, alternately honoured and dismissed by a two-tongued Cabinet. In any case REALITY rejects the Tomlinson or any other similar blueprint. The wealth of “white” South Africa was created by all of us jointly, and it belongs to all those who created is. , Journal includes vol. 1 no. 2 to vol. 1 no. 6 ; vol 2 no. 1 to vol. 2 no. 6 and vol. 3 no. 1 to vol. 3 no. 6 , Vol. 2 no. 3 is missing
  • Full Text:
  • Date Issued: 1969-1972

Whither state, private or public service broadcasting? : an analysis of the construction of news on ZBC TV during the 2002 presidential election campaign in Zimbabwe

  • Authors: Dlamini, Tula
  • Date: 2013-07-16
  • Subjects: Zimbabwe Broadcasting Corporation Journalism -- Political aspects -- Zimbabwe Mass media -- Political aspects -- Zimbabwe Political campaigns -- Zimbabwe Elections -- Zimbabwe Television and politics -- Zimbabwe Zimbabwe -- Politics and government -- 1980-
  • Language: English
  • Type: Thesis , Masters , MA
  • Identifier: vital:3520 , http://hdl.handle.net/10962/d1008257
  • Description: The study sets out to examine the television coverage of the 2002 presidential campaign in Zimbabwe by examining the extent to which the Zimbabwe Broadcasting Corporation fulfilled the mandate of public service broadcasting. The primary objective of this study is to assess how ZBC television newscasts mediated pluralistic politics in the coverage of the country's presidential election campaign, in line with the normative public sphere principles. The thesis comprises seven chapters organized, first, with an introductory chapter, which provides the general background of the study. The chapter offers the rationale for the focus on TV rather than other media fomls . There are two theoretical and contextual chapters in which the use of both qualitative and quantitative methods is explained and findings are presented. Finally, the conclusion offers recommendations about the form broadcasting might take to fulfil a public service mandate and these include the strengthening of the public service broadcasting model along normative public sphere principles. The findings of the analysed election newscasts confirm that ZBC television election news was constructed in favour of ZANU PF at the expense of voices from other social and political constituencies. , KMBT_363 , Adobe Acrobat 9.54 Paper Capture Plug-in
  • Full Text:

Using iterative learning to improve understanding during the informed consent process in a South African psychiatric genomics study

  • Authors: Campbell, Megan M , Susser, Ezra , Mall, Sumaya , Mqulwana, Sibonile G , Mndini, Michael M , Ntola, Odwa A , Nagdee, Mohamed , Zingela, Zukiswa , Van Wyk, Stephanus , Stein, Dan J
  • Date: 2017
  • Subjects: Informed consent (Medical law) , Patient education
  • Language: English
  • Type: text , article
  • Identifier: http://hdl.handle.net/11260/6114 , vital:45124 , https://doi.org/10.1371/journal.pone.0188466
  • Description: Obtaining informed consent is a great challenge in global health research. There is a need for tools that can screen for and improve potential research participants’ understanding of the research study at the time of recruitment. Limited empirical research has been conducted in low and middle income countries, evaluating informed consent processes in genomics research. We sought to investigate the quality of informed consent obtained in a South African psychiatric genomics study. A Xhosa language version of the University of California, San Diego Brief Assessment of Capacity to Consent Questionnaire (UBACC) was used to screen for capacity to consent and improve understanding through iterative learning in a sample of 528 Xhosa people with schizophrenia and 528 controls. We address two questions: firstly, whether research participants’ understanding of the research study improved through iterative learning; and secondly, what were predictors for better understanding of the research study at the initial screening? During screening 290 (55%) cases and 172 (33%) controls scored below the 14.5 cut-off for acceptable understanding of the research study elements, however after iterative learning only 38 (7%) cases and 13 (2.5%) controls continued to score below this cut-off. Significant variables associated with increased understanding of the consent included the psychiatric nurse recruiter conducting the consent screening, higher participant level of education, and being a control. The UBACC proved an effective tool to improve understanding of research study elements during consent, for both cases and controls. The tool holds utility for complex studies such as those involving genomics, where iterative learning can be used to make significant improvements in understanding of research study elements. The UBACC may be particularly important in groups with severe mental illness and lower education levels. Study recruiters play a significant role in managing the quality of the informed consent process.
  • Full Text:
  • Date Issued: 2017

A case study on the incidence and extent of medullated and coloured fibres in the commercially produced South African wool clip 2010 – 2017

  • Authors: Zietsman, Jolandrie
  • Date: 2022-04
  • Subjects: Port Elizabeth (South Africa) , Eastern Cape (South Africa) , South Africa
  • Language: English
  • Type: Master's theses , text
  • Identifier: http://hdl.handle.net/10948/55445 , vital:52002
  • Description: No formal study on the incidence and extent of medullated and coloured fibres has been performed in South Africa. The purpose of this research project was to investigate the validity of the claims that there has been an increase in the production of wool contaminated with medullated and coloured fibres. Therefore, the main aim of this study was to determine whether the incidence and extent of medullated and coloured fibres in the South African wool clip have changed over time. Secondly, the study aimed to determine whether the incidence and extent of medullated and coloured fibres have a distinct geographic distribution. This study explored eight years of wool production records (2010 to 2017) obtained from BKB, the largest wool broker in South Africa. For the purpose of this research, the wool-producing areas of South Africa were divided into 6 regions, according to average annual rainfall, vegetation type and major farming practices applied in the area. Statistical analysis of the data included descriptive statistics, analysis of variance and post-hoc tests, as well as regression analyses. This study succeeded in quantifying the extent and prevalence of contamination with medullated and coloured fibres in the South African wool clip. The overarching conclusions were: • Floating kemp is the most important contaminant of wool in South Africa, with the incidence of harsh kemp and coloured fibres being very low. • Generally, the most important areas that need attention in combatting contamination in the South African wool clip, are the Mixed Farming Summer Rainfall Region, the Semi-Arid Grassveld and the High Rainfall Grassland. , Thesis (MSc) -- Faculty of Science, School of Environmental Sciences, 2022
  • Full Text:
  • Date Issued: 2022-04

Wage agreement entered into by and between FAWU obo members and Ah-Vest Limited t/a All Joy Foods

Budget Deficits, the Savings Gap and Current Account Deficits in the Southern African Development Community

  • Authors: Kopeledi, Alyssa
  • Date: 2020
  • Subjects: Budget deficits -- South Africa Accounts current
  • Language: English
  • Type: Thesis , Masters , MCom (Economics)
  • Identifier: http://hdl.handle.net/10353/12392 , vital:39259
  • Description: This study examines the validity of the triple deficit hypothesis for a selected number of SADC countries, utilising secondary annual data for the period 1996-2018. Based on previous studies and theory, current account deficit was chosen as the dependent variable and budget deficit and the savings gap as the independent variables. The study makes use of both first generation and second-generation unit root tests to examine the time series properties of the data. The empirical results show that the data is integrated of different orders. Kao, Pedroni and Westerlund cointegration tests were carried out to examine the long-term relationship between the variables of interest. The empirical results revealed that there is a long-term relationship between current account deficit, budget deficit s and the savings gap. The long-run model under the Autoregressive Distributed Lag test revealed that, a positive and significant relationship exists between budget deficit and current account deficit at a significance level of 10% and a negative and insignificant relationship exists between savings gap and current account deficit in the long run. This suggests that an improvement in the current account balance in SADC countries requires fiscal stringency
  • Full Text:
  • Date Issued: 2020

Welcome at joint annual congress of S.A. Pharmacological Society, Physiological Society of Southern Africa, and Bio-medical Engineering Eociety of South Africa

  • Authors: Henderson, Derek Scott
  • Date: 1980-10-15
  • Language: English
  • Type: Text
  • Identifier: vital:7413 , http://hdl.handle.net/10962/d1018290
  • Full Text:
  • Date Issued: 1980-10-15

Modelling the performance of a calorifier installed at a university residence intended to be retrofited by an air source heat pump

  • Authors: Mzolo, Noluthando Precious Duduzile
  • Date: 2017
  • Subjects: Caloric engines Heat pumps
  • Language: English
  • Type: Thesis , Masters , MSc
  • Identifier: http://hdl.handle.net/10353/4660 , vital:28485
  • Description: Sanitary hot water production contributes significantly to the electrical energy consumption in the university campus. An in-depth understanding of the current hot water technology, number of students, capacity of water used per student, time of use of hot water, total volume of hot water consumed and the total energy used on an average weekday in a university residence are very crucial in opting for energy efficient technology like an air source heat pump (ASHP) water heater. The study focused on quantitative and qualitative analysis of data collected for the hot water profiles in one of the university residences (Elitheini 1) from the conduction of experiment and questionnaires. The results revealed that 94% of the 75 students used hot water during the Eskom morning peak and 61% during the Eskom evening peak. In addition, the average daily energy consumption of the 12 kW Calorifier was 139.49 kWh, while the measured volume of hot water usage was 1950 L which is in strong agreement with the total volume (1945 L) of hot water consumption from the questionnaires. The p-value of the average volume of hot water usage measured by experiment and questionnaires was 0.7 and is of no mean significant difference. The monthly energy consumption for the week days was projected to be 2929.31 kWh. By retrofitting of calorifier with an ASHP unit, the energy consumption could reduce to 976.43 kWh based on its consecutive coefficient of performance of 3. Finally, from the energy consumption reduction analysis and the current Eskom tariffs, it can be alluded that the payback period of the proposedASHP unit as a retrofit to the calorifier is going to be less than 2 years and is worthy to invest into such technology under this study due to its favourable payback period and the reliability and lifespan of the ASHP unit.
  • Full Text:
  • Date Issued: 2017

The management of conflict between employees: a case study of an information technology company in Johannesburg

  • Authors: Monakali, Robin
  • Date: 2019
  • Subjects: Conflict management -- South Africa -- Johannesburg , Conflict management -- Case studies Interpersonal relations Personnel management -- Psychological aspects Management
  • Language: English
  • Type: Thesis , Masters , MA
  • Identifier: http://hdl.handle.net/10948/41997 , vital:36616
  • Description: The global working environment has transformed significantly over the last two decades, with rapid advancements in technology and information as well as the levels of diversity in the workplace. This process of adaptation, the failure to adapt or weaknesses in adaptation can be an underlying cause of conflict within organizations. For an organization to be successful, there must be effective conflict management techniques in place in order to resolve or keep the conflict at a minimum. The aim of this exploratory case study was to therefore explore the management of conflict between employees in an Information Technology company in Johannesburg. The human needs theory, which states that the deprivation of human needs is a major source of conflict, was used as the theoretical framework guiding this study. A mixed methods approach, also known as methodological triangulation, was used, which involved combining qualitative and quantitative research methods in order to achieve triangulation of data. The qualitative research method that was used comprised individual semi-structured interviews with two Human Resources managers and the quantitative research method involved the completion of self-administered questionnaires by 94 employees of the IT company. The researcher used a purposive sampling design for the interviews and simple random sampling for the questionnaires. Ethics permission for this research was received from Nelson Mandela University’s Research Ethics Committee and the study was conducted in accordance with the university’s Policy on Research Ethics. The findings of this study have revealed that the type of conflict mainly experienced in this organization was employee conflict, due to interpersonal clashes relating to personality differences. The employees were unanimous that conflict can have both a positive and negative effect. The interviews confirmed that the IT company makes use of negotiation and mediation to resolve workplace conflict, with the literature review providing evidence that negotiation and mediation are useful means of managing conflict between employees. However, the results from the completed questionnaires revealed that employees attempt to manage conflict by avoiding the conflict, which could be due to employees having limited awareness of the organization’s procedures to address conflict. This study can therefore potentially be beneficial to organizations and assist the latter in developing conflict management skills and practices, which can enhance organizational performance, productivity and employee retention.
  • Full Text:
  • Date Issued: 2019
  • Disclaimer
  • Privacy
  • Copyright
  • Contact