Showing items 101 - 120 of 897

Your selections:

Ilam's Archival Revitalisation: the past five years at the International Library of African Music

  • Authors: Still-Drewett, F
  • Date: 2011
  • Language: English
  • Type: Article
  • Identifier: vital:6983 , http://hdl.handle.net/10962/d1006719
  • Description: The International Library for African Music (ILAM) was begun in 1954 by ethnomusicologist Hugh Tracey (1903–1977). Since 2007, an active set of projects in preservation and digitisation of both sound and photographic archives have meant that this highly important archive of traditional African music has been stabilized and conserved. New outreach education projects are helping distribute the wealth of the collection back to the African people. ILAM now has a more secure future and makes seminal contributions in the fields of research, publication and education for African music. French Abstract La Bibliothèque Internationale pour la Musique Africaine (ILAM) a été établie en 1954 par l’ethnomusicologue Hugh Tracey (1903–1977). Depuis 2007, un ensemble de projets actifs dans la préservation et la numérisation des archives sonores et photographiques, a eu comme résultat que ces archives très importantes de la musique traditionnelle africaine ont été stabilisées et conservées. De nouveaux projets d’éducation et de sensibilisation aident à distribuer la richesse de cette collection à la population africaine. ILAM a maintenant un avenir plus sûr et apporte une contribution fondamentale dans les domaines de la recherche, la publication et l’enseignement de la musique africaine. German Abstract Die International Library for African Music (ILAM) wurde im Jahr 1954 durch den Musi kethnolo - gen Hugh Tracey (1903–1977) gegründet. Seit 2007 laufende Projekte zur Bestandssicherung und Digitalisierung des Schall- und Fotoarchivs helfen, dieses überaus wichtige Archiv für traditionelle afrikanische Musik zu erhalten und in seiner Existenz zu stabilisieren. Neue, nach außen wirkende Bildungsprojekte tragen dazu bei, den Reichtum der Sammlung an die afrikanische Bevölkerung zurückzugeben. Durch seine nun gesicherte Zukunft kann ILAM für die afrikanische Musik grundlegende Beiträge in Forschung, Veröffentlichung und Bildung leisten. Afrikaans Abstract Die International Library of African Music (ILAM) is in 1954 deur die etnomusikoloog, Hugh Tracey (1903–1977), gestig. Aktiewe preserverings- en digitaliseringsprojekte van beide klank- en foto-argiewe sedert 2007, het tot gevolg gehad dat hierdie hoogs belangrike argief van tradisionele Afrikamusiek gestabiliseer en bewaar kon word. Nuwe ontwikkelings-uitreikprojekte dra daartoe by dat die rykdom van hierdie versameling teruggeploeg word aan Afrika. ILAM het tans ‘n meer versekerde toekoms en lewer invloedryke bydraes op die gebied van navorsing, publikasie en opleiding in Afrikamusiek. IsiXhosa Abstract Ithala lehlabathi lomculo wase-Afrika, i- International Library for African Music (ILAM) laqalwa ngo- 1954 yingcali yomculo weentlanga ngeentlanga, uHugh Tracey (1903–1977). Ukususela ngo-2007 umsebenzi wokulondoloza nokugcina ngekhompyutha isandi seengoma kwakunye neefoto uthetha ukuba le mbali ibalulekileyo kumculo we-Afrika wemveli iqiniselwe kwaye igcinwe ngononophelo. Iiprojekti ezintsha zokolulela isandla kwabanye abantu ziyanceda ekusasazeni le ndyebo kwabo bantu isuka kubo, ama-Afrika. Ngoku i-ILAM inekamva elingagunqgiyo kwaye inegalelo elibonakalayo kuphando, upapasho nemfundo ngomculo wase-Afrika.
  • Full Text:
  • Date Issued: 2011

A framework for the development of a personal information security agent

  • Authors: Stieger, Ewald Andreas
  • Date: 2011
  • Subjects: Computer networks -- Security measures , Information storage and retrieval systems , Artificial intelligence
  • Language: English
  • Type: Thesis , Masters , MTech
  • Identifier: vital:9803 , http://hdl.handle.net/10948/d1012326 , Computer networks -- Security measures , Information storage and retrieval systems , Artificial intelligence
  • Description: Nowadays information is everywhere. Organisations process, store and create information in unprecedented quantities to support their business processes. Similarly, people use, share and synthesise information to accomplish their daily tasks. Indeed, information and information technology are the core of business activities, and a part of daily life. Information has become a crucial resource in today‘s information age and any corruption, destruction or leakage of information can have a serious negative impact on an organisation. Thus, information should be kept safe. This requires the successful implementation of information security, which ensures that information assets are only used, modified and accessed by authorised people. Information security faces many challenges; and organisations still have not successfully addressed them. One of the main challenges is the human element. Information security depends to a large extent on people and their ability to follow and apply sound security practices. Unfortunately, people are often not very security-conscious in their behaviour; and this is the cause of many security breaches. There are a variety of reasons for this such as a lack of knowledge and a negative attitude to security. Many organisations are aware of this; and they attempt to remedy the situation by means of information security awareness programs. These programs aim to educate, train and increase the security awareness of individuals. However, information security awareness programs are not always successful. They are not a once-off remedy that can quickly cure information security. The programs need to be implemented effectively, and they require an ongoing effort. Unfortunately, this is where many organisations fail. Furthermore, changing individuals‘ security behaviour is difficult due to the complexity of factors that influence everyday behaviour. In view of the above, this research project proposes an alternative approach in the form of a personal information security agent. The goal of this agent is to influence individuals to adopt more secure behaviour. There are a variety of factors that need to be considered, in order to achieve this goal, and to positively influence security behaviour. Consequently, this research establishes criteria and principles for such an agent, based on the theory and practice. From a theoretical point of view, a variety of factors that influence human behaviour such as self-efficacy and normative beliefs were investigated. Furthermore, the field of persuasive technology has provided for strategies that can be used by technology to influence individuals. On the practical side, a prototype of a personal information security agent was created and evaluated through a technical software review process. The evaluation of the prototype showed that the theoretical criteria have merit but their effectiveness is largely dependent on how they are implemented. The criteria were thus revised, based on the practical findings. The findings also suggest that a personal information security agent, based on the criteria, may be able to positively influence individuals to be more secure in their behaviour. The insights gained by the research are presented in the form of a framework that makes both theoretical and practical recommendations for developing a personal information security agent. One may, consequently, conclude that the purpose of this research is to provide a foundation for the development of a personal information security agent to positively influence computer users to be more security-conscious in their behavior.
  • Full Text:
  • Date Issued: 2011

Brand loyalty in the South African tyre industry

  • Authors: Stewart, Russel
  • Date: 2011
  • Language: English
  • Type: Thesis , Masters , MBA
  • Identifier: vital:8796 , http://hdl.handle.net/10948/d1015983
  • Description: The tyre industry plays an important role in the concept of mobility. Mobility defines the human need for transportation, which has been growing at an accelerated pace since the dawn of the nineteenth century. More importantly, modern mobility cannot be achieved without the use of a pneumatic tyre, a commodity that has become increasingly complex and competitive with countless brands and products available on a global scale. In order to stand out in this competitive market landscape, big brands attempt to build an amount of brand awareness within the market place, while maintaining a balance in creating a demand for their product in pull marketing strategies. While the market place becomes increasingly competitive on a both a global and local level, tyre brands are all trying various tactics in an effort to secure wheel positions on consumer’s vehicles. Within the marketing mix there are various strategies and tactics that can be adopted by tyre brands to secure a share of voice within the mind of the consumer when the need arises for new tyres, however in South Africa, only the established brands have the spending power to employ traditional media space in an effort to communicate with the consumer. It has also become increasingly difficult for established brands to remain dominant within the decision journey of consumers, especially when the retailer has the final contact with the consumer and may be promoting the purchase of a tyre brands that results in higher margins that the brand originally requested by the consumer. The tyre industry plays an important role in the concept of mobility. Mobility defines the human need for transportation, which has been growing at an accelerated pace since the dawn of the nineteenth century. More importantly, modern mobility cannot be achieved without the use of a pneumatic tyre, a commodity that has become increasingly complex and competitive with countless brands and products available on a global scale. In order to stand out in this competitive market landscape, big brands attempt to build an amount of brand awareness within the market place, while maintaining a balance in creating a demand for their product in pull marketing strategies. While the market place becomes increasingly competitive on a both a global and local level, tyre brands are all trying various tactics in an effort to secure wheel positions on consumer’s vehicles. Within the marketing mix there are various strategies and tactics that can be adopted by tyre brands to secure a share of voice within the mind of the consumer when the need arises for new tyres, however in South Africa, only the established brands have the spending power to employ traditional media space in an effort to communicate with the consumer. It has also become increasingly difficult for established brands to remain dominant within the decision journey of consumers, especially when the retailer has the final contact with the consumer and may be promoting the purchase of a tyre brands that results in higher margins that the brand originally requested by the consumer. The questions that remain are; do retailers have a high degree of influence on consumer behaviour or are high levels of brand awareness enough for a brand owner to be assured of a consistent demand on their product? This research aims to validate the interdependence of brand awareness and retailer influence on the consumer decision journey within the South African tyre industry. The research starts by setting the scene within the global and local tyre industry through the use of the Continental Corporation for illustration purposes. Once the scene is set in terms of the industry in which the research is taking place, brand theory is exhaustively discussed providing relevance and context within the tyre industry. Within the discussion of brand equity, the consumer decision journey and touch points are introduced as process and influence before the final purchase is made. With the theory of the tyre industry and branding covered, qualitative fieldwork was undertaken by two researchers at a tyre retail group in Tswane, South Africa. The fieldwork consisted of questionnaires that needed to be completed by consumers who had just concluded their purchase decision and were waiting in the retailer for the work to be concluded on their vehicle. The results of the fieldwork are extensively analysed and discussed upon which conclusions and recommendations for future research are drawn. The sample attained is sufficient for qualitative analysis; however the conclusions need to be read within the context of the sample size and geographical location in which the research was conducted. Further context was provided from the retail store owner who provided expert comment and insight based on experience within the industry and retail environment. The comment was utilised along with the theory to either validate or disprove findings, which formed the basis for recommendations for future research.
  • Full Text:
  • Date Issued: 2011

Human DNAJ in cancer and stem cells:

  • Authors: Sterrenberg, Jason N , Edkins, Adrienne L , Blatch, Gregory L
  • Date: 2011
  • Language: English
  • Type: text , article
  • Identifier: http://hdl.handle.net/10962/165118 , vital:41210 , DOI: 10.1016/j.canlet.2011.08.019
  • Description: The heat shock protein 40 kDa (HSP40/DNAJ) co-chaperones constitute the largest and most diverse sub-group of the heat shock protein (HSP) family. DNAJ are widely accepted as regulators of HSP70 function, but also have roles as co-chaperones for the HSP90 chaperone machine, and a growing number of biological functions that may be independent of either of these chaperones. The DNAJ proteins are differentially expressed in human tissues and demonstrate the capacity to function to both promote and suppress cancer development by acting as chaperones for tumour suppressors or oncoproteins. We review the current literature on the function and expression of DNAJ in cancer, stem cells and cancer stem cells. Combining data from gene expression, proteomics and studies in other systems, we propose that DNAJ will be key regulators of cancer, stem cell and possibly cancer stem cell function. The diversity of DNAJ and their assorted roles in a range of biological functions means that selected DNAJ, provided there is limited redundancy and that a specific link to malignancy can be established, may yet provide an attractive target for specific and selective drug design for the development of anti-cancer treatments.
  • Full Text:
  • Date Issued: 2011

Assessing communication challenges between clerks and deaf patients at Nelson Mandela Academic Hospital in Mthatha

  • Authors: Stemela, Unati
  • Date: 2011
  • Subjects: Clerks and deaf patients -- Communication -- Hospital
  • Language: English
  • Type: Thesis , Masters , MPH
  • Identifier: vital:18417 , http://hdl.handle.net/11260/d1006597
  • Description: A study on assessing communication challenges between clerks and deaf patients at Nelson Mandela Academic Hospital was conducted in 2010. The aim was to assess the existence of communication challenges, possible reasons and solutions to these. The literature reviewed identified a gap in the knowledge of communication between staff and deaf patients. A health systems’ study was conducted using a descriptive, cross sectional survey. The study population was made up of 33 clerks who worked at the registration and records area and deaf patients who stayed at Efata and received health services from the hospital. All clerks were interviewed and a random sample of 106 deaf patients was estimated using Epidat statistical software. Self administered questionnaires were used for data collection. Results confirmed the existence of communication challenges between the two groups. A majority of clerks were not trained in Sign Language. They used a combination of methods to communicate with deaf patients, and few clerks could use Sign Language. The patients also used a combination of methods due to the frustration of not having a common method of communication with clerks. The findings clearly showed that there are communication challenges between the two groups and Sign Language needed to be introduced to clerks in order to accommodate deaf patients. Further research may be done on all healthcare providers and to all deaf patients in the region served by Nelson Mandela Academic Hospital, and this could have a positive impact on the quality of service offered by the hospital to the deaf community.
  • Full Text:
  • Date Issued: 2011

An investigation into international transfer pricing guidelines and the anomalies arising from business restructurings by multi-national enterprises

  • Authors: Stelloh, Marcus Matthias
  • Date: 2011
  • Language: English
  • Type: text , Thesis , Masters , MCom
  • Identifier: vital:879 , http://hdl.handle.net/10962/d1001633
  • Description: The number of multinational enterprises has increased substantially. In part due to the integration of national economies (the European Union), improvements in communication and technology and the opportunity to reduce costs as a result of globalisation. Transfer pricing and especially business restructuring within multinationals is a fairly new concept.Professional legal and audit firms have different views on how to approach business restructurings. This research analyses important transfer pricing aspects and the anomalies that arise through business restructurings. The research method used in this research paper is primarily qualitative, comprising the analysis of various documentary sources of data. Relevant South African and international case law, tax legislation, the OECD Transfer Pricing Guidelines for Multinational Enterprises and Tax Administrations, the Transfer Pricing Aspects of Business Restructurings Discussion Draft and other reports were consulted and analysed. Further the views of recognised legal and tax experts that have been published in technical journals and text books were also considered and examined. A hypothetical example of a business restructuring transaction was constructed in order to illustrate practical issues and different approaches to solving them. The research has argued that the arm’s length principle, which forms the bases of transfer pricing regulation, is not an exact science but theoretically it is the most suitable measure.It may not be able to incorporate all variables, such as the cost savings through synergies of multinational enterprises, but it promotes international trade and investment by ensuring that transactions are based on fair prices. Business restructurings create anomalies in applying the arm’s length principle but these anomalies can be dealt with within the regulatory structure. The business restructuring approach recommended is realistic and pragmatic, but more clarity may be needed in certain circumstances. The research has also discussed the avoidance of transfer pricing audits, including having appropriate transfer pricing policies and documentation.
  • Full Text:
  • Date Issued: 2011

Identity, belonging and ecological crisis in South African speculative fiction

  • Authors: Steenkamp, Elzette Lorna
  • Date: 2011
  • Subjects: South African fiction -- History and criticism Identity (Philosophical concept) in literature Group identity in literature Ecology in literature Science fiction, South African -- History and criticism Fantasy fiction, South African -- History and criticism Ecofiction -- History and criticism Ecocriticism
  • Language: English
  • Type: Thesis , Doctoral , PhD
  • Identifier: vital:2219 , http://hdl.handle.net/10962/d1002262
  • Description: This study examines a range of South African speculative novels which situate their narratives in futuristic or ‘alternative’ milieus, exploring how these narratives not only address identity formation in a deeply divided and rapidly changing society, but also the ways in which human beings place themselves in relation to Nature and form notions of ‘ecological’ belonging. It offers close readings of these speculative narratives in order to investigate the ways in which they evince concerns which are rooted in the natural, social and political landscapes which inform them. Specific attention is paid to the texts’ treatment of the intertwined issues of identity, belonging and ecological crisis. This dissertation draws on the fields of Ecocriticism, Postcolonial Studies and Science Fiction Studies, and assumes a culturally specific approach to primary texts while investigating possible cross-cultural commonalities between Afrikaans and English speculative narratives, as well as the cross-fertilisation of global SF/speculative features. It is suggested that South African speculative fiction presents a socio-historically situated, rhizomatic approach to ecology – one that is attuned to the tension between humanistic- and ecological concerns.
  • Full Text:
  • Date Issued: 2011

An organisation development intervention in a secondary school in the Erongo region of Namibia

  • Authors: Steenkamp, Angeline Anna
  • Date: 2011
  • Subjects: School management and organization -- Namibia -- Erongo Organizational change -- Namibia -- Erongo Curriculum planning -- Namibia -- Erongo
  • Language: English
  • Type: Thesis , Masters , MEd
  • Identifier: vital:1683 , http://hdl.handle.net/10962/d1003566
  • Description: The challenge for Namibia is to translate Vision 2030 into realistic and implementable programmes and to develop and adopt a set of interventions which will raise the quality of education. The quality of education currently on offer varies from school to school and, indeed, from class to class (Namibia. MoE, 2006, p. 1). The National Standards and Performance Indicators (ETSIP, 2006) for schools in Namibia and the Education and Training Sector Improvement Programme (ETSIP), have been developed to address the quality of education across the country, and to make provision for school managers to be trained. Organisation Development is a planned change approach which focuses on the change processes of the organisation, by opening up communication, decreasing internal destructiveness – such as win-lose conflicts – and by increasing creativity in problem solving. It is based on the values and assumptions about people and their organisations. OD promotes interdependence and interconnectedness, involvement in problem solving and decision making. OD is a process for teaching people how to solve problems, take advantage of opportunities, and learn how to do better over time. OD was introduced to Evergreen Senior Secondary School in the form of a Survey Data Feedback (SDF) where data was collected, analysed and fed back to the participants. The case study involved 20 staff members made up of the principal, two head of departments and 17 teachers. Formal and focus-group interviews, as well as observation, were used to collect data. What was derived from the data was that the OD approach was something new to the participants, and served as an eye-opener. Further, it became evident from the data that participants had high hopes that OD would bring about immediate visible changes regarding the operation of their organisation. It is essential to remind participants that OD is a long-term change process, and not a “quick fix”.
  • Full Text:
  • Date Issued: 2011

Financial system development and economic growth in selected African countries: evidence from a panel cointegration analysis

  • Authors: Starkey, Randall Ashley
  • Date: 2011
  • Subjects: Economic development -- Africa Economic development -- Developing countries Banks and banking -- Africa Banks and banking -- Developing countries Stock exchanges -- Africa Stock exchanges -- Developing countries Econometric models Economic policy -- Africa Economic policy -- Developing countries
  • Language: English
  • Type: Thesis , Masters , MCom
  • Identifier: vital:979 , http://hdl.handle.net/10962/d1002713
  • Description: Financial systems (i.e. banking systems and stock markets) can influence economic growth by performing the five key financial functions, namely: mobilising savings, allocating capital, easing of exchange, monitoring and exerting corporate governance, as well as ameliorating risk. The level of development of the financial system is a key determinant of how effectively and efficiently these functions are performed. This study examines the short-run and long-run relationships between financial system development and economic growth for a panel of seven African countries (namely: Egypt, Ivory Coast, Kenya, Morocco, Nigeria, South Africa and Tunisia) covering the period 1988 to 2008. While numerous empirical studies have researched this topic, none of the previous African empirical literature have investigated thjs by using three groups of financial development measures (i.e. overall financial development, banking system development and stock market development measures) as well as employing panel cointegration analyses. The investigation of the long-run finance-growth relationship is conducted using two methods; the Pedroni panel cointegration approach and the Kao panel cointegration technique. The Pedroni panel cointegracion approach is more often applied in empirical research as it has less restrictive deterministic trend assumptions, while the Kao panel cointegration technique is employed in this study for comparison purposes. Furthermore, the short-run linkages bet\veen financial development and economic growth are analysed using the Holtz-Eakin d of (1989) panel Granger causality test. The results of the Pedroni cointegration tests show that there are long-run relationships between overall financial development (measured by LOFD and OFD2) and economic growth, banking system development (measured by LPSC) and economic growth, as well as stock marker development (measured by LMCP and LVLT) and economic growth. In contrast, the Kao test fails to find any cointegration between finance and growth. However, on the balance, findings largely support a conclusion of cointegration between financial development and economic growth since the Pedroni approach is more appropriate for examining cointegration in heterogeneous panels. Estimates of these long-run cointegrating relationships show that all five financial development measures have the expected positive linkages with growth. However, only four of the five financial development measures were found to have significant long-run linkages with growth, as the relationship between LOFD and growth was not found to be significant in the long-run. The panel Granger causality results show that economic growth Granger causes banking system development in the short-run (i.e. there is demand-following finance), irrespective of the measure of banking development used. While there is bi-directional, reciprocal causality between economic growth and both of the measures of overall financial development and one measure of srock market development (i.e. LVLT). Thus, pulicy makers should focus on formulating policy which promotes faster paced economic growth so as to stimulate financial development, while at the same time encourage policy that promotes the balanced expansion of the banking systems and srock markets in ordet to augment economic growth.
  • Full Text:
  • Date Issued: 2011

From physics to music: an analysis of the role of overtones in the improvement of choral tone

  • Authors: Starker, Leonard Bonn
  • Date: 2011
  • Subjects: Choral singing , Choral singing -- Intonation , Choral singing -- Instruction and study , Voice culture
  • Language: English
  • Type: Thesis , Masters , MMus
  • Identifier: vital:8518 , http://hdl.handle.net/10948/d1012937
  • Description: Numerous studies exist examining the link in solo singers between timbre and overtone spectra. The purpose of this study is to examine if similar results can be obtained by applying the same techniques to choral singing. The study is aimed at non-scientific readers and therefore introduces the subject with background to the relevant physics. In this study a number of recorded samples of choirs were taken from www.youtube.com and analyzed. The analysis included computation of long-term average spectra (LTAS) and singing power ratio‟s (SPR), which provided an indication of the relative energy in the higher overtone region of every choir. This was compared to a binary value judgment of the choirs. The results indicate that the SPR as applied to soloists cannot be directly applied to choirs. A link between SPR and a perceived “good” choral tone could exist but would have to be interpreted differently than in the case of soloists. It was also found that a possible link could exist between frequency peaks in LTAS and a choir‟s intonation.
  • Full Text:
  • Date Issued: 2011

From physics to music: an analysis of the role of overtones in the improvement of choral tone

  • Authors: Starker, Leonard Bonn
  • Date: 2011
  • Language: English
  • Type: Thesis , Masters , MMus
  • Identifier: vital:8502 , http://hdl.handle.net/10948/1650
  • Description: Numerous studies exist examining the link in solo singers between timbre and overtone spectra. The purpose of this study is to examine if similar results can be obtained by applying the same techniques to choral singing. The study is aimed at non-scientific readers and therefore introduces the subject with background to the relevant physics. In this study a number of recorded samples of choirs were taken from www.youtube.com and analyzed. The analysis included computation of long-term average spectra (LTAS) and singing power ratio‟s (SPR), which provided an indication of the relative energy in the higher overtone region of every choir. This was compared to a binary value judgment of the choirs. The results indicate that the SPR as applied to soloists cannot be directly applied to choirs. A link between SPR and a perceived “good” choral tone could exist but would have to be interpreted differently than in the case of soloists. It was also found that a possible link could exist between frequency peaks in LTAS and a choir's intonation.
  • Full Text:
  • Date Issued: 2011

A legal-comparative study of the interpretation and application of the doctrines of the sham and the alter-ego in the context of South African trust law: the dangers of translocating company law principles into trust law

  • Authors: Stafford, Rowan Bell
  • Date: 2011
  • Subjects: Trusts and trustees -- South Africa , Equity -- South Africa , Law reform -- South Africa
  • Language: English
  • Type: Thesis , Masters , LLM
  • Identifier: vital:3695 , http://hdl.handle.net/10962/d1003210 , Trusts and trustees -- South Africa , Equity -- South Africa , Law reform -- South Africa
  • Description: This thesis analyses the doctrines of the sham and the alter-ego and their application to the law of trusts in South Africa. Following an initial examination of the historical development of the law of trusts in English law and the principles of equity law, the study focuses on the current legal status of the trust inter vivos in South Africa and the similarities to its English forerunner. The work traces the sham doctrine back to its origins in English law, where the term “sham” was first used in the context of fraud and dishonesty in cases involving matters arising from hire-purchase agreements, and explains how it gradually began to find its place in the law of trusts. During the exploration, the work highlights the cornerstone of the sham doctrine’s development, the Snook test, which in effect became the internationally accepted guideline for any sham trust enquiry. In terms of the alter-ego doctrine, the work highlights the birth of the principle in Australian law and the doctrine’s immediate reception into other common law jurisdictions and its resultant development. The growth, maturity and popularity of the doctrines are key to the thesis and, in the course of the investigation, the study provides a legal-comparative analysis of the treatment of the doctrines in the context of trusts against that in other common law countries. The study then shifts its focus to South Africa’s interpretation and application of these doctrines in trust law, and reveals the erroneous judicial development in which the courts have in some instances mistakenly replaced the sham doctrine with the company law doctrine of piercing the corporate veil or, in other instances, have erroneously conflated the two trust doctrines. The results highlight a breach of a fundamental rule observed overseas – the “no half way house” rule, which specifically cautions against South Africa’s chosen direction when allowing the lifting of a trust’s veil. The study closes with suggestions as to how the country could reconcile the problems underlined in the thesis by means of law reform, as well as offering practical advice for settlors, trustees and beneficiaries, the core of which is given in the handbook that accompanies this thesis.
  • Full Text:
  • Date Issued: 2011

Investigation into the extended capabilities of the new DPS-4D ionosonde

  • Authors: Ssessanga, Nicholas
  • Date: 2011
  • Subjects: Ionosondes , Ionosphere , Ionosphere -- Observations -- South Africa -- Hermanus (Cape of Good Hope) , Ionosphere -- Research -- South Africa -- Hermanus (Cape of Good Hope)
  • Language: English
  • Type: Thesis , Masters , MSc
  • Identifier: vital:5472 , http://hdl.handle.net/10962/d1005257 , Ionosondes , Ionosphere , Ionosphere -- Observations -- South Africa -- Hermanus (Cape of Good Hope) , Ionosphere -- Research -- South Africa -- Hermanus (Cape of Good Hope)
  • Description: The DPS-4D is the latest version of digital ionosonde developed by the UMLCAR (University of Massachusetts in Lowell Center for Atmospheric Research) in 2008. This new ionosonde has advances in both the hardware and software which allows for the promised advanced capabilities. The aim of this thesis was to present results from an experiment undertaken using the Hermanus DPS-4D (34.4°S 19.2°E, South Africa), the first of this version to be installed globally, to answer a science question outside of the normally expected capabilities of an ionosonde. The science question posed focused on the ability of the DPS-4D to provide information on day-time Pc3 pulsations evident in the ionosphere. Day-time Pc3 ULF waves propagating down through the ionosphere cause oscillations in the Doppler shift of High Frequency (HF) radio transmissions that are correlated with the magnetic pulsations recorded on the ground. Evidence is presented which shows that no correlation exists between the ground magnetic pulsation data and DPS-4D ionospheric data. The conclusion was reached that although the DPS-4D is more advanced in its eld of technology than its predecessors it may not be used to observe Pc3 pulsations.
  • Full Text:
  • Date Issued: 2011

Sedimentology of plio-pleistocene gravel barrier deposits in the palaeo-Orange River mouth, Namibia : depositional history and diamond mineralisation

  • Authors: Spaggiari, Renato Igino
  • Date: 2011 , 2013-08-19
  • Subjects: Diamond mines and mining -- Namibia Sediments (Geology) -- South Africa and Namibia -- Orange River Estuary Diamond deposits -- Namibia Orange River Estuary (Namibia and South Africa)
  • Language: English
  • Type: Thesis , Doctoral , PhD
  • Identifier: vital:4927 , http://hdl.handle.net/10962/d1004636
  • Description: The largest known marine diamond placer, the Namibian mega-placer, lies along the Atlantic coast of south-western Africa from the Orange River mouth 1,000 km northwards to the Namibian-Angolan border. The most economically viable portion of the Namibian mega-placer (>75 million carats recovered at >95% gem quality) comprises onshore and offshore marine deposits that are developed within ∼100km of the Orange River outfall. For much of the Cainozoic, this long-lived fluvial system has been the main conduit transporting diamonds from kimberlitic and secondary sources in the cratonic hinterland of southern Africa to the Atlantic shelf that has been neutrally buoyant over this period. Highly energetic marine processes, driven in part, by southerly winds with an attendant northward-directed longshore drift, have generated terminal placers that are preserved both onshore and offshore. This study, through detailed field sedimentological and diamond analyses, investigates the development and mineralisation of gravel barrier deposits within the ancestral Orange River mouth area during a major ∼30 m regional transgression ('30 m Package') in the Late Pliocene. At that time, diamond supply from this fluvial conduit was minimal, yet the corresponding onshore marine deposits to the north of the Orange River mouth were significantly diamond enriched, enabling large-scale alluvial diamond mining to take place for over 75 years. Of the entire coastline of south-western Africa, the most complete accumulation of the '30 m Package' is preserved within the palaeo-Orange River mouth as barrier spit and barrier beach deposits. Arranged vertically and laterally in a 16m thick succession, these are deposits of: (1) intertidal beach, (2) lagoon and washover, (3) tidal inlet and spit recurve and (4) storm-dominated subtidal settings. These were parts of larger barrier features, the bulk of which are preserved as highstand deposits that are diamond-bearing with varying, but generally low grades (<13 stones (diamonds) per hundred tons, spht). Intertidal beach and spit recurve deposits have higher economic grades (12-13 spht) due to the energetic sieving and mobile trapping mechanisms associated with their emplacement. In contrast, the less reworked and more sandy subtidal, tidal inlet and washover deposits have un-economic grades (<2 spht). Despite these low grades, the barrier deposits have the largest average stone (diamond) size (1-2 carats/stone, cts/stn) of the entire Namibian mega-placer, given their proximity to the ancestral Orange River outfall. This study demonstrates that barrier shoreline evolution at the fluvial/marine interface was controlled by: (1) a strong and coarse fluvial sediment supply that sustained shoreline growth on a highly energetic coast, (2) accommodation space facilitating sediment preservation and (3) short-duration, high-frequency sea-level cycles superimposed on the∼30 m regional transgression, promoting hierarchal stacking of progradational deposits. During these sea-level fluctuations, diamonds were 'farmed' from older, shelf sequences in the offshore and driven landward to accumulate in '30 m Package' highstand barrier deposits. In spite of the large supply of diamonds, their retention in these deposits was poor due to an incompetent footwall of ancestral Orange River mouth sediment and the inherent cobble-boulder size of the barrier gravels. Thus the principal process controlling diamond entrapment in these barrier deposits was kinetic sieving in a coarse-grained framework. Consequently, at the marine/fluvial interface and down-drift for ∼5 km, larger diamonds (1-2 cts/stn) were retained in low-grade (<2 spht), coarse-gravel barrier shorelines. Smaller diamonds (mostly < I cts/stn) were rejected into the northward-driven littoral sediments and further size-sorted along ∼95 km of Namibian coast to accumulate in finer, high-grade beach placers (> 100 spht) where bedrock footwall promoted such high concentrations. The gravel-dominated palaeo-Orange River mouth is considered to be the ' heart' of the Namibian mega-placer, controlling sediment and diamond supply to the littoral zone further north. Although coarse gravel is retained at the river mouth, the incompetence of this highly energetic setting to trap diamonds renders it sub-economic. This ineffectiveness at the fluvial/marine interface is thus fundamental in enriching the coastal tract farther down-drift and developing highly economic coastal placers along the Atlantic coast of south-western Africa. , KMBT_363 , Adobe Acrobat 9.54 Paper Capture Plug-in
  • Full Text:
  • Date Issued: 2011

The extent of the use of ICT in schools in the Nelson Mandela Bay area

  • Authors: Sonkwala, Mzikayise Richard
  • Date: 2011
  • Subjects: Educational technology -- South Africa -- Port Elizabeth , Computer-assisted instruction -- South Africa -- Port Elizabeth , Information technology
  • Language: English
  • Type: Thesis , Masters , MA
  • Identifier: vital:9102 , http://hdl.handle.net/10948/d1012284 , Educational technology -- South Africa -- Port Elizabeth , Computer-assisted instruction -- South Africa -- Port Elizabeth , Information technology
  • Description: It is the 21st Century and the world is a global village. The development of technology like Information and Communication Technology (ICT) has thus become the dominant means of communication. Education has not been left out of this wave of change. In many countries Information and Communication Technology (ICT) has a clear impact in the development of educational curriculum. This cannot be said about South Africa where huge disparities in terms of ICT related resources still exist. There is a range of uses of ICT in South African schools and it varies according to the economic and social conditions where that school is located. For example, the former Model C schools are well-resourced in terms of computers and access to internet whilst township schools lack these resources. In township schools very few students are exposed to computers due to the limited number of computers and lack of properly qualified educators in the field of ICT. In the Nelson Mandela Bay area township schools only offer CAT (Computer Applications Technology) as an ICT related subject whilst the former Model C schools offer CAT and IT (Information Technology).This treatise attempts to show the digital divide that still exists between a former Model C school and a township school, and the impact it has in quality of education in these schools.
  • Full Text:
  • Date Issued: 2011

The use of Afrikaans-English-Xhosa code switching and code mixing as a teaching strategy in the teaching of Afrikaans additional language in the secondary schools of the Transkei Region of the Eastern Cape Province (RSA)

  • Authors: Songxaba, S L
  • Date: 2011
  • Subjects: Code switching and code mixing -- Teaching -- Afrikaans-English-Xhosa , Education (Secondary) -- Afrikaans language
  • Language: English
  • Type: Thesis , Masters , M Ed
  • Identifier: vital:18414 , http://hdl.handle.net/11260/d1006565
  • Description: This study seeks to report on the investigation into the need to use code switching as one of the language teaching strategies in the teaching and learning of Afrikaans as Additional Language in the FET band, in predominantly Xhosa-speaking environments in the Eastern Cape. The study was conducted in twelve secondary schools of the Transkei where Afrikaans is taught as an additional language. The sample of the study comprised the educators, the learners and the school managers of the twelve researched schools. The research was a case study of the selected schools. The participants were studied in their own environment and the data was collected by means of both the interviews and structured questionnaires. South Africa is a multilingual and multicultural country. This state of affairs calls for a serious re-evaluation of the existing teaching methodologies. Children acquire language skills in and outside the classroom in two different ways in multilingual societies. While children acquire proficiency in languages outside the classroom in a natural way, in the classroom they are constrained by rigid purist rules that compel them to learn languages in artificial ways. This manner of language acquisition in the predominantly Xhosa-speaking environments of the Eastern Cape, often goes hand in hand with code switching from source language to target language and vice versa. These children can be described as compound informal bilinguals (polyglots) as far as the indigenous languages are concerned since they acquire the indigenous languages from early childhood in natural settings. In the context of formal acquisition of European languages and Afrikaans in schools, they can be categorised as coordinate bilinguals. The linguistic disparities between classroom and natural acquisition practices were revealed in this investigation. In the classroom, code switching has two contradictory sides. On one hand code switching provides the teacher with ease of expression, confidence and satisfaction that the learners understand the lesson. Notwithstanding the dynamic attributes of code switching in the classroom, the learners are faced with the dilemma of having to avoid code switching as much as possible in the examinations since there is no room for code switching in the examinations. This investigation showed that despite the fact that non-mother tongue teaching is supposed to take place through the medium of the target language, both the teachers and the learners admitted that they code switch during Afrikaans classes and they perceive code switching as the best way to facilitate understanding. The findings of this study revealed that code switching was a natural and inevitable strategy in teaching an additional language. However, it also surfaced that some teachers resorted to using code switching because of their own lack of proficiency in the target language. Informed by the above findings, the study recommended that code switching be considered as one of the strategies to be used in the teaching and learning of Afrikaans as additional language. It was also recommended that learners be credited if they used code switching in the examinations since all respondents admitted that code switching was every-day practice in the classroom. This, however is to be done with extreme caution and with the sole purpose of assisting the learners achieve full mastery of the target language at the end of their learning career. Since this kind of exercise needs highly-skilled personnel, it was recommended that practising teachers be retrained and resource materials be expanded to all schools that offer Afrikaans as additional language. Although the arguments presented in this investigation do not reject the reality of the impeding effect code switching might have on the learning of an additional language, the study maintains that for purposes of mutual understanding, code switching is an enabling factor that impacts positively on the teaching-learning situation.
  • Full Text:
  • Date Issued: 2011

Perceptions of Chinese students on the quality of the academic programmes and services offered at Nelson Mandela Metropolitan University

  • Authors: Song, Junli
  • Date: 2011
  • Subjects: Nelson Mandela Metropolitan University -- Curricula -- Chinese students , Chinese students -- Education (Higher) -- South Africa -- Port Elizabeth , Strategic planning , Service industries -- Marketing
  • Language: English
  • Type: Thesis , Masters , MCom
  • Identifier: vital:9359 , http://hdl.handle.net/10948/1368 , Nelson Mandela Metropolitan University -- Curricula -- Chinese students , Chinese students -- Education (Higher) -- South Africa -- Port Elizabeth , Strategic planning , Service industries -- Marketing
  • Description: With English as the medium of academic exchange, Chinese students are the largest single overseas student group in the English speaking countries (2010). Relative to the outbound education market of other countries, the Chinese education market is large, and it is currently receiving much attention globally. Not only is South Africa one of countries where English is spoken, it has relatively speaking, low study fees and easily-accessed visas compared with countries in Europe and the United States. Therefore, South African universities have a virtually unlimited potential for receiving Chinese students. For South African education providers, particularly NMMU as the host university for the research in question, in order to render the expected education quality and to cater for the Chinese education market effectively, it is of utmost importance that the institutions have a clear understanding of Chinese students’ expectations as well as their actual academic experiences (in the broadest context) when studying at this university. The above is closely linked to the expected educational quality, the actual educational delivery as experienced by Chinese students, as well as the levels of satisfaction they experience as students at NMMU. The purpose of this research project is twofold. Firstly, it aims to construct a theoretical model showing the variables and relationships pertaining to expected and actual educational delivery as experienced by Chinese students. Having assessed the perceptions of the respondents based on the findings, another purpose is to design appropriate educational marketing strategies suitable to address the academic needs and expectations of Chinese students in the broadest context. By designing appropriate education strategies, the potential to develop the Chinese education market in South Africa will be enhanced. Given the purpose and nature of the research in question, methodological triangulation strategies were used. A Likert seven-point scale research instrument was developed and administered. Due to the limited number of respondents (n=61), the Likert scale instrument was further subjected to enrich the data by means of face-to-face interviews with 61 Chinese students (respondents), who shared their perceptions on the expectations and actual experiences of NMMU academic programme quality encounters. By following the methodological triangulation strategies, the validity of the findings is enhanced. The phenomenological dimension of the research was conducted according to guidelines as documented in secondary sources. The findings of the matched pair t-tests indicated that significant statistical differences do exist between the ‘expectations’ and ‘actual experiences’ of Chinese students’ perceived academic programme quality. Sufficient evidence is available at the 95 percent level of significance to support the hypothesis H1, namely: “There are differences between Chinese students’ ‘expected’ and ‘perceived’ academic programme quality (actual experience) of NMMU”. Besides the matched pair t-tests, further statistical analyses were performed by means of calculating Cohen’s ‘d’ values and relative percentage ratings to assess the magnitude of the “gap” between expectations and actual experiences of Chinese students studying at NMMU. The findings revealed that the Chinese students were not completely satisfied with their actual experiences when studying at NMMU. The above statistical findings were endorsed by the qualitative findings. Three sets of conclusions and recommendations were identified for this research. Firstly, conclusions emanating from secondary sources on service quality and students’ satisfaction literature were provided, such that students satisfaction is seen more as a psychological state which reveals an overall feeling of the students’ purchase and consumption experience. Secondly, the conclusions linked to the empirical findings revealed significant statistical differences between the expectations and perceptions (actual experiences) of Chinese students’ perceived academic programme quality. Finally, recommendations on relevant NMMU educational marketing objectives/ strategies can be grouped into four domains: - To build a customer-led education business which adheres to the principles of true marketing orientation with the focus on Chinese students. To achieve this objective a high level of understanding of Chinese students’ specific needs and wants when studying at NMMU is of utmost importance. The effective marketing positioning of NMMU can render leverage benefits to themselves and their clientele. - Findings from the biographic data analyses are significant to the positioning strategies and market segmentation strategies of NMMU. - The decision on a proper positioning strategy entails the choice of target market segments, which will determine where and how the education business competes and its choice of differential advantages. - The South African education providers should have appropriate educational brands to entice the Chinese students’ support.
  • Full Text:
  • Date Issued: 2011

Assessment of capacity development through public-private partnership: a case study of the Department of Economic Development and Environmental Affairs in the Eastern Cape

  • Authors: Sogoni, Mbulelo
  • Date: 2011
  • Subjects: Human capital -- South Africa -- Eastern Cape , Public-private sector cooperation -- South Africa -- Eastern Cape , Economic development -- South Africa -- Eastern Cape , Sustainable development -- South Africa -- Eastern Cape , Community development -- South Africa -- Eastern Cape
  • Language: English
  • Type: Thesis , Masters , MPA
  • Identifier: vital:11619 , http://hdl.handle.net/10353/327 , Human capital -- South Africa -- Eastern Cape , Public-private sector cooperation -- South Africa -- Eastern Cape , Economic development -- South Africa -- Eastern Cape , Sustainable development -- South Africa -- Eastern Cape , Community development -- South Africa -- Eastern Cape
  • Description: The aim of this study was to examine the effectiveness of a capacity development programme initiated by the Department of Economic Development and Environmental Affairs (DEDEA) as a mechanism to enhance the performance of the employees in order to improve service delivery to the people of the Eastern Cape. The public service is enjoined by the Constitution to provide services that citizens need, and for this reason it is in need of educated, trained and professional public servants, especially in the technical, professional and managerial categories. The department also recognized the potential of public–private partnerships (PPPs) to improve performance in the areas of transformation and service delivery, and that it required investments aimed at developing and strengthening public management capacity. However, the effectiveness of the PPP as a mechanism for capacity development, remained unknown. The literature reviewed overwhelmingly supported the assertion that human capital development is critical for performance in the public service. The review also highlighted the importance of partnerships, especially the role of the private sector in the area of capacity development, advancing the argument that PPPs should be pursued in order to leverage ideas, resources, and capabilities to achieve public service goals. Various research tools, namely interviews, questionnaires and document analysis were used to conduct the study. Data collected and analysed provided empirical evidence of improved performance of both the individual managers and the department in the functional areas of financial governance and management; programme and project management; as well as ethics and professionalism. It suggested a strong correlation between training, capacity development and service delivery. This research found the DEDEA/National Business Initiative (NBI) PPP initiative, as a capacity development mechanism to enhance the performance of the department‟s employees, effective. On strength of the overwhelming evidence gathered through this research, it strongly recommends that the programme be rolled out to other employees.
  • Full Text:
  • Date Issued: 2011

An investigation into the effect of carbon type addictives on the negative electrode during the partial state of charge capacity cycling of lead acid batteries

  • Authors: Snyders, Charmelle
  • Date: 2011
  • Subjects: Lead-acid batteries
  • Language: English
  • Type: Thesis , Masters , MSc
  • Identifier: vital:10379 , http://hdl.handle.net/10948/1494 , Lead-acid batteries
  • Description: It is well known that a conventional lead acid cell that is exposed to a partial state of charge capacity cycling (PSoCCC) would experience a build-up of irreversible PbSO4 on the negative electrode. This results into a damaged negative electrode due to excessive PbSO4 formation by the typical visual “Venetian Blinds” effect of the active material. This displays the loss of adhesion of the active material with the electrode’s grids thereby making large sections of the material ineffective and reducing the cells useful capacity during high current applications. The addition of certain graphites to the negative paste mix had proven to be successful to reduce this effect. In the first part of the study, the physical and chemical properties of the various additives that are added to the negative electrode paste mix were comparatively studied. This was done to investigate any significant differences between various suppliers that could possibly influence the electrochemical characteristics of the Pb-acid battery performance. This comparative study was done by using the following analytical techniques; BET surface area, laser diffraction particle size, PXRD, TGA-MS and SEM. The study showed that there were no significant differences between the additives supplied from different suppliers except for some anomalies in the usefulness of techniques such as N2 adsorption to study the BET surface area of BaSO4. In order to reduce the sulphation effect from occurring within the Pb-acid battery a number of adjustments are made to the electrode active material. For example, Pb-acid battery manufacturers make use of an inert polymer based material, known as Polymat, to cover the electrode surfaces as part of their continuous electrode pasting process. It is made from a non woven polyester fiber that is applied to the pasted electrodes during the continuous pasting process. In this study the Polymat pasted electrodes has demonstrated a better physical adhesion of the active material to the grid support thereby maintaining the active material’s physical integrity. This however did not reduce the sulphation effect due to the high rate partial state of capacity cycling (HRPSoCCC) test but reduced the physical damage due to the irreversible active material blistering effect. The study investigated what effect the Polymat on the electrodes has on the III battery’s Cold Cranking Ability (CCA) at -18 degree C, the HRPSoCCC cycling and its active material utilization. The study showed that there was little or no differences in the CCA and HRPSoCCC capabilities of cells made with the Polymat when compared to cells without the Polymat, with significant improvement in active material’s adhesion and integrity to the grid wire. This was confirmed by PXRD and SEM analysis. Negative electrodes were made with four types of graphites (natural, flake, expanded and nano fibre) added to the negative paste mixture in order to reduce the effect of sulphation. The study looked at using statistical design of experiment (DoE) principles to investigate the variables (additives) such as different graphites, BaSO4 and Vanisperse to the negative electrode paste mixture where upon measuring the responses (electrochemical tests) a set of controlled experiments were done to study the extent of the variables interaction, dependency and independency on the cells electrochemical properties. This was especially in relation to the improvement of the battery’s ability to work under HRPSoCCC. The statistical analysis showed that there was a notable significant influence of the amounts of vanisperse, BaSO4 and their respective interactions on a number of electrochemical responses, such as the Peukert constant (n), CCA discharge time, material utilization at different discharge rates and the ability to capacity cycle under the simulated HRPSoCCC testing. The study did not suggest an optimized concentration of the additives, but did give an indication that there was a statistical significant trend in certain electrochemical responses with an interaction between the amounts of the additives BaSO4 and Vanisperse. The study also showed that the addition of a small amount of Nano carbon can significantly change the observed crystal morphology of the negative active material and that an improvement in the number of capacity cycles can be achieved during the HRPSoCCC test when compared to the other types of graphite additives.
  • Full Text:
  • Date Issued: 2011

The experiences of Fringe producers at the South African National Arts Festival: production, profits and non-market benefits

  • Authors: Snowball, Jeanette D , Antrobus, Geoffrey G
  • Date: 2011
  • Language: English
  • Type: text , article
  • Identifier: http://hdl.handle.net/10962/143123 , vital:38203 , DOI: 10.1080/10137548.2009.9687901
  • Description: Unlike the performing arts generally, festivals and special events have been growing in popularity worldwide: since the 1980s there has been an explosion of the number of festival of all types, not just arts festivals, but folk festivals, harvest festivals, food festivals, family festivals, carnivals, literary festivals – the list is long. It is estimated that there are more than 300 festivals in the UK (British Federation of Festivals 2004), 1300 in Australia (Johnson et al 2005) and more than 5000 in the US (Blumenthal 2002).
  • Full Text:
  • Date Issued: 2011
  • Disclaimer
  • Privacy
  • Copyright
  • Contact