Pyramidal deliberative democracy
- Authors: Danielsen, James
- Date: 2019
- Subjects: Democracy , Information technology -- Political aspects , Internet in public administration , Political participation -- Computer network resources , World politics
- Language: English
- Type: text , Thesis , Doctoral , PhD
- Identifier: http://hdl.handle.net/10962/74502 , vital:30309
- Description: This dissertation has two main objectives. First, to outline an ICT-facilitated model of democracy called ‘pyramidal democracy’ that reconciles deliberative democracy with mass engagement. Second, to suggest how this model of democracy might engender the democratisation of the global economy and thus the provision of a basic level of economic security for all global citizens. At the core of the model is the pyramidal deliberative network, a means of organising citizens into small online deliberative groups and linking these groups together by means of an iterative process of delegate-selection and group-formation. The pyramidal network enables citizens to aggregate their preferences in a deliberative manner, and then project social power by authorizing the delegates at the top-tier of the pyramidal network to communicate their social demands to elected officials or to other points of authority. The envisioned outcome is the democratisation of the public sphere by means of the proliferation of deliberative networks in the government, market, and civil society spheres. Transnational pyramidal networks may make it feasible to instantiate a new citizen-based schema of global governance and, thereby, facilitate the reform of the United Nations and enable a transition towards global peace, sustainability, and distributive justice. Distributive justice might be achieved by means of implementing the six components of a democratised economy: participatory budgeting, fee-and-dividend taxes, a basic income, monetary reform, workplace democracy, and the sharing economy. Taken together, these components might enable the universal provision of a social minimum – a universal basic income sufficient for basic security and real freedom. Taken to its logical conclusion, a democratised economy may also enable a transition towards a post-scarcity economic order characterised by a maximal stock of humanmade and natural capital that would not exceed the sustainable carrying capacity of the earth.
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- Date Issued: 2019
Uses, knowledge, and management of the threatened pepper-bark tree (Warburgia salutaris) in southern Mozambique
- Authors: Senkoro, Annae M , Shackleton, Charlie M , Voeks, Robert A , Ribeiro, Ana I
- Date: 2019
- Language: English
- Type: text , article
- Identifier: http://hdl.handle.net/10962/177430 , vital:42821 , https://doi.org/10.1007/s12231-019-09468-x
- Description: Uses, Knowledge, and Management of the Threatened Pepper-Bark Tree (Warburgia salutaris) in Southern Mozambique.Warburgia salutaris, the pepper-bark tree, is one of the most highly valued medicinal plant species in southern Africa. Due to its popularity in folk medicine, it is overexploited in many regions and is deemed threatened throughout its range. We identified cultural and social drivers of use, compared knowledge distribution, determined management practices, and explored local ecological knowledge related to the species in the Lebombo Mountains, Tembe River, and Futi Corridor areas in southern Mozambique. Stratified random, semistructured interviews were conducted (182), complemented by 17 focus group discussions in the three study areas. W. salutaris was used medicinally to treat 12 health concerns, with the bark being the most commonly used part.
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- Date Issued: 2019
Political education as a determinant of university students’ political participation in the Eastern Cape, South Africa
- Authors: Badaru, Kazeem Ajasa
- Date: 2019
- Subjects: Citizenship -- Study and teaching -- South Africa Democracy and education -- South Africa -- Eastern Cape
- Language: English
- Type: Thesis , Doctoral , DPhil
- Identifier: http://hdl.handle.net/10353/15793 , vital:40524
- Description: Globally, there is a downward trend in youths’ political interest and participation in the learning of political education in their school curricula as a measure to combat the apparent dangers posed by the declining young citizens’ participation in the political processes.This study therefore investigated political education as a determinant of university students’ political participation in the Province of the Eastern Cape, South Africa. The study employed a mixed methods design. Using the probability sampling technique, a sample of 375 participants was randomly selected from one university in the Eastern Cape Province while semi-structured interviews were conducted among five (5) purposively selected members of the same university’s Student Representative Council (SRC) executive committee. Simple descriptive statistics such as frequency counts and percentages were used to summarize all categories of variables; while Pearson correlation statistics, Chi-square and Ordinary least square regression were used to examine the relationship between dependent and independent variables at a 95percent confidence interval. Alpha values less than 0.05 were considered to be statistically significant. Thematic content analysis was performed on the qualitative data. The quantitative analysis revealed that students’ level of political awareness was high; 98.1percent of them were aware of their rights to vote and be voted for. Students’ political judgment was positively correlated with participation in campus (r =0.182) and national politics (r = 0.030) respectively. Most of the students agreed to take part in the 2018 SRC (78.8percent) and 2019 national elections (77.9percent) respectively. Political interest was significantly correlated with participation in campus (r = 0.375) and national politics (r =0. 404). The findings from the multivariate analysis showed that political interest (<0.001), parents’ political involvement (<0.001) and year of study (<0.001) were the significant determinants of students’ participation in politics. The qualitative findings also showed that there was a positive relationship between political education and students’ participation in politics. Since political interest and family are element and agent of political education respectively, it is concluded that political education is to a large extent a determinant of university students’ political participation. It is recommended that the universities, the Department of Higher Education and Training (DHET) and other stakeholders should do a thorough review of the university education curricula and programmes to ensure that political education is adequately accommodated and taken care of in a way that would increase students’ interest, awareness and participation in politics. When this is amply done, students’ cognitive skills and capacities would be enhanced to increase their participation in the political processes in South Africa.
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- Date Issued: 2019
Development of polypropylene – waste tyre crumbs based tpe's with the aid of vistamaxxtm as a compatibiliser
- Authors: Masele, Siyamtanda
- Date: 2019
- Subjects: Polymers , Polymerization Crumb rubber Rubber
- Language: English
- Type: Thesis , Masters , MTech
- Identifier: http://hdl.handle.net/10948/42589 , vital:36670
- Description: Polypropylene (PP) is a semi crystalline thermoplastic polymer and one of the most commonly used polyolefins. It is well known for its poor impact resistance; hence, for industries such as the automotive and packaging, reinforced PP is widely used. In general plastic waste disposal is a global crisis raising environmental and human health concerns, with PP being the highest consumed polymer globally; hence a push in the reuse and recycling of PP. Recycled polypropylene has limited uses for industrial applications due to its highly reduced properties owing to the recycling process which inhabits cutting of chains lengths, broadened molecular weight distributions and compromised crystallinity. Several studies have investigated the use of reinforcing fillers and modifiers in order to improve properties of PP. Inorganic materials and minerals such as CaCO3, Mica, Talc and glass fibre are used as fillers to improve mechanical properties (tensile and hardness), but still lacks in improving the impact resistance. Thermoplastic elastomers (TPE) are typically used where elastomer and thermoplastics fail as individual components. This is because they have the benefit of thermoplastic properties at hypo ambient condition and elastomer properties such as good impact and elongation at sub-zero conditions. The study took a route of using PP and waste tyre crumb rubber (CR) material to prepare potentially low-cost waste based TPE’s, which would then inherit both properties of PP and the rubber component. VistamaxxTM 6202 (EPR), a commercial name for ethylene-propylene monomer (EPR), was used as a compatibiliser to improve interaction between PP and CR and to contribute towards the overall improvement of various properties such as mechanical properties. VistamaxxTM has a low glass transition temperature (Tg, = -30 ºC), which is important for low temperature applications such as cold storage; it also has a very high elongation and as a result contributed significantly to the overall properties when used in TPE blends. The study highlighted differences between two TPE compounding formulation pathways; namely master-batch (MB) and design of experiments (DoE). The MB formulations were blends that were prepared by a conventional way of compounding; where a pre-mixed CR/EPR blend, in the ratio of 80(CR):20(EPR), was used to form a master-batch. Results showed that there are some similarities between TPEs prepared in different ways, which suggests that the ultimate properties such as thermal stability are in fact more PP matrix based. Thermal analyses results revealed that when high amount of CR was added to the TPE blends, there was a substantial amount of residue mainly due to inherent carbon black. The degree of crystallinity of the blends decreased with increased amounts of CR irrespective of whether it was the MB or DoE blends. The MB TPE blends demonstrated that hardness is not linked to the amount of the MB nor the crystallinity of blends. Meanwhile, tensile elongation and tensile stress were affected by crystallinity. On the other hand, the impact strength findings showed that the amount of MB in TPE blends reached a threshold at 30%. The DoE based TPE blends demonstrated that the optimum mechanical properties are observed when components of the blends are incorporated individually during compounding. This was observed for impact strength, tensile stress as well as elongation at break. The results showed that the incorporation of EPR should be at least 20% for good impact and elongation properties; however, for tensile and hardness, the PP matrix must be high. The study also showed that, for better mechanical properties it was more suitable to use the blends formulated with DoE, because the master-batch approach limited the improving of the mechanical properties by an addition of up to 30% of both the CR and EPR. The storage modulus as well as the tan delta for both MB and DoE decreased when the elastomeric phases were added on both methods, whereas tan delta Tg values decreased as more of the elastomeric phase was added. Evidence from morphology studies showed that the majority of TPE blends suffer from inadequate distribution and adhesion between PP and elastomer; resulting in poor mechanical properties. Furthermore, a threshold of matrix invasion is observed from 30% and above of CR in the blend, where lack of in capsulated lamps of CR were observed hindering the stress induced crystallization and relaxation of the PP phase. The latter was observed irrespective of the type of blend, which strongly suggests and highlights the limits of blending PP with elastomers. Study demonstrated the ability of VistamaxxTM to be utilized as a binding material for PP and CR and displaying the challenges that might arise when used as a master-batch with crumb rubber.
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- Date Issued: 2019
SME development policy and financing of women-owned enterprises in Zimbabwe
- Authors: Chikwavarara, Bigbouy
- Date: 2019
- Subjects: Women-owned business enterprises -- Zimbabwe , Small business -- women -- Zimbabwe Business enterprises -- Finance -- Zimbabwe Small business -- Finance -- Zimbabwe
- Language: English
- Type: Thesis , Masters , MPhil
- Identifier: http://hdl.handle.net/10948/37969 , vital:34275
- Description: This cross-sectional quasi-experimental research applied a combination of an indepth literature review, key informant interviews and a small- and medium-sized enterprise (SME) survey to identify key policies which influence access to formal finance for women-owned SMEs in Zimbabwe. The study then applied Sandiford and Rossmiller’s 4Es (effectiveness, efficiency, enforceability and equity) framework for policy analysis to identify gaps in the SME development policy framework, which inhibit female entrepreneurs from access to formal finance. The study also reviewed India’s SME development policy framework to identify lessons that Zimbabwe could learn. The study found that female entrepreneurs in Zimbabwe are rarely engaged during the design and implementation of SME policies; hence they lack knowledge of interventions which affect their businesses. The study also found that Zimbabwe lacks current data and knowledge on how the current SME policy framework affects women-owned SMEs to access finance. As a result, SME policies are not evidence based, are hurriedly implemented and lead to duplication and uncoordinated efforts. In addition, SME policies are not systematically evaluated so as to better inform implementation thereof or follow on policies. The study concluded that Zimbabwe’s SME development policy ranks low on all the 4Es - effectiveness, efficiency, enforceability and equity in promoting access to finance for women-owned SMEs. The study recommends the Government of Zimbabwe (GoZ) to invest in timely policy research and analysis to better understand women-owned SMEs’ access to finance challenges and adopt evidence based policy making and implementation. The study also recommends the GoZ to learn from India how to enhance the SME development policy framework by building the capacity of female entrepreneurs and financial institutions to close the deeply entrenched information and confidence gaps on access to finance issues.
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- Date Issued: 2019
Distribution of virulence determinants in some members of the ESKAPE pathogens isolated from selected hospital wastewater effluents in the Eastern Cape, South Africa
- Authors: Mapipa, Qaqamba
- Date: 2019
- Subjects: Effluent quality Water -- Purification
- Language: English
- Type: Thesis , Masters , MSc (Microbiology)
- Identifier: http://hdl.handle.net/10353/14704 , vital:40061
- Description: Members of ESKAPE pathogens are grouped under the acronymn made up of Enterococcus faecium, Staphylococcus aureus, Klebsiella pneumoniae, Acinetobacter baumannii, Pseudomonas aeruginosa, and Enterobacter species. ESKAPE pathogens, isolated from hospitals and communities, have just been characterized for new pathogenesis and transmission patterns and overcoming the usefulness of available drugs, this leads to infections that tend to increase the rate of disease in a population and death rate and cost our society massively. The distribution of virulence determinants and the antibiotic susceptibility patterns in some members of the ESKAPE pathogens isolated from hospital wastewater facilities that were selected within the Eastern Cape Province, South Africa was evaluated. Water samples from the hospital wastewater facilities were collected fortnightly over a period of three (3) months (February to April). Spread plate technique was employed for the enumeration and isolation of the members of ESKAPE pathogens. A total of 725 presumptive ESKAPE isolates were collected, screened and Polymerase Chain Reaction (PCR) amplification of target determinants was performed. Results showed that Klebsiella pneumoniae tested positive for ninety two (92=35.9%) samples, Enterobacter cloacae fifty seven (57=22.2%) samples tested positive, Pseudomonas aeruginosa fifty four (54=21.09%) isolates tested positive and fifty three (53=20.7%) isolates tested positive for Acinetobacter baumannii making a total of 256 isolates which tested positive for some members of ESKAPE pathogens. The detection of some members of the ESKAPE pathogens in these Hospitals is a cause of concern to public health. A total of 256 ESKAPE isolates that were obtained from the hospital wastewater facilities; were subjected to antibiotic susceptibility test in order to determine their antibiotic-resistant profiles. ESKAPE isolates recovered from the three hospital effluents showing resistance to antimicrobial agents in this study were further evaluated for resistance determinants namely, sulfonamides resistance determinants (sulI and sulII), β-lactams (ampC, blaTEM and blaZ), tetracyclines (tetA, tetB, tetC and tetM), 10 chloramphenicol’s (catI and catII) and aminoglycoside resistance determinants (aacC2, apHAI and apHAII). The resistant determinants targeted have been evaluated through their prevalence and the following distributions were obtained: [β-Lactams; ampC (80%), blaTEM (77%)]; [Tetracyclines; tetA (87%)]; [Sulfonamides; sulI (79%)]; [Aminoglycosides; aacC2 (12%), aphA2 (52%) and aadA (18%)]. With the worldwide increase in these resistant occurrences, the execution of strict infection control policies and treatment with different antimicrobials needs hasty detection. Comprehensive data are therefore needed so that the history of infection, identification of genes present in organisms and monitoring of changes in infection patterns can be traced correctly.
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- Date Issued: 2019
A critical realist exploration of the culture of resistance in educational technology integration practices at a South African university
- Authors: Tshuma, Nompilo
- Date: 2019
- Subjects: Critical realism , Educational technology -- South Africa , Education, Higher -- Effect of technological innovations on -- South Africa , College teachers -- South Africa , College teaching -- Sociological aspects -- South Africa
- Language: English
- Type: text , Thesis , Doctoral , PhD
- Identifier: http://hdl.handle.net/10962/72318 , vital:30033
- Description: This thesis seeks to address a number of troubling concerns related to research and practice in the field of educational technology in South African higher education. Firstly, educational technology research has been criticised for a lack of theoretical rigour resulting in perspectives that are tightly focused mostly on practice but fail to adequately interrogate the socio-political complexities of integrating educational technology. Secondly, while research in the field has been criticised for failing to adequately contextualise the study of educational technology, it also fails to interrogate the impact of colonial legacies and Western-developed technologies on integration practices. Thirdly, there seems to be a disconnect between academics’ practices and choices with educational technology, and the expectations and assumptions of educational technologists. As such, this thesis predominantly follows inductive reasoning where literature and theory are applied to the empirical situation retrospectively in order to avoid the potential influences and biases of mostly Western-driven discourses on educational technology integration practices. Critical realism is used to ‘underlabour’ this study. This meta-theory asserts that there are multiple perspectives of an independent reality, and the work of research is to use these perspectives to draw closer to an understanding of that reality. As such, it allows me to interrogate my perspectives firstly, and secondly those of my research participants, about factors that constrain educational technology integration in the South African context through the use of theory (abstract concepts) and data (research participants’ multiple perspectives). However, critical realism is somewhat cautious in how to access this reality. Therefore, a critical ethnographic epistemology is employed to strengthen critical realism’s aim of accessing knowledge. A critical epistemology emphasises exposing hidden power structures, value judgements as well as self-knowledge and reflexivity. The thesis thus shows how a critical realist ontology could be complemented by a critical ethnographic methodology, particularly in critically-orientated research that has an emancipatory focus which seeks to uncover the socio-political context within which educational technology practices take place. A key argument is that critical realism can be employed as an ontological underlabourer for critical research because of: 1) its immanent critique of traditionally-accepted philosophies, 2) its emphasis on critique of our knowledge claims and value judgements, 3) its insistence that knowledge of the social world necessarily precedes emancipation, and 4) its different conceptions of power (oppressive power and transformatory power). This critical ethnographic research is conducted in a South African university with eight female academics. Data collection is in the form of interviews, observations and reflections, as well as informal and work-related interactions. At each data collection moment, I have had to be reflexively aware of my positionality as an educational technologist, the impact of a colonially-motivated methodology and an ethically-aware approach that seeks to put the needs of the research participants first. Critical ethnography’s meaning-making and critical realism’s abduction and retroduction are used to analyse and make sense of the data. In my attempt to contextualise the study’s findings, I first uncover structural forces and their impact on the academic role before attempting to correlate this with educational technology practices. The study’s findings point to two main structural forces in the socio-political context of South African higher education: the teaching/research tension and the elevation of one dominant culture. In terms of the teaching/research tension, the female academics in this study have to balance the urgent teaching function with the valued research function. They struggle to find this balance because of ambiguous messages from different structures, their passion for teaching, oppressive departmental dynamics and the pressures of their career trajectory. The elevation of one dominant culture is demonstrated through both oppressive cultural practices and untransformed curricula. The study shows that academics mitigate these structural constraints mostly through subtle every day resistance that seeks to mitigate their effect on both the academics and, where applicable, their students. Archer’s morphogenetic/morphostatic cycle is used retrospectively, in response to fieldwork, to conceptualise why this resistance comes about. A resistance framework developed using Archer is then used to understand educational technology choices and practices. The results of the research show that while academics are often pictured as resistant to technology as a response to different barriers, they actually often employ technology to resist structural forces. That is, with this thesis I show that there is a focus on resistance with technology rather than resistance to technology. The study shows how the research participants resist structural forces (teaching tension and dominant culture) by using technology to create safe and responsive learning spaces. As such, this thesis challenges educational technologists to re-think the way they support academics by recommending support strategies that acknowledge both the structural forces in the South African higher education context, as well as the culture of resistance, both of which impact academics’ educational technology choices and practices.
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- Date Issued: 2019
The impact of perceived ethical leadership on employees’ predisposition to behave ethically: a case study within a South African-based financial institution
- Authors: Rudzani, Magau
- Date: 2019
- Subjects: Leadership -- Moral and ethical aspects , Leadership Business ethics Ethics
- Language: English
- Type: Thesis , Masters , MBA
- Identifier: http://hdl.handle.net/10948/40768 , vital:36234
- Description: Ethical leaders consistently set ethical principles within the institution and act in accordance with them; hence, leaders should be a key source of ethical guidance for employees. As the business world is constantly evolving, leaders increasingly are required to ethically lead across different sectors. Current literature on ethical leadership and its influence of employees reflects mostly a Western, European and Asian-based private-sector perspective, pointing toward a compliance-oriented understanding of ethical and unethical leadership. This study examined how perceived ethical orientation of a leader has an impact on employees’ predisposition to behave ethically within a South African context. Qualitative data was collected as the study adopted the interpretivist paradigm, which made it easier for participants to use descriptive words and qualifying statements to express the level of influence their leaders had on their ethical orientation. The target population of the study included all staff of the institution; and participants were chosen using the purposive sampling method. Data was collected from 12 employees using semi-structure interviews. Thereafter, thematic analysis was used to identify and organise participants’ experiences into themes that established the basis for the study findings. These findings confirmed that perceived leader ethical orientation has an impact on employees’ predisposition to behave ethically. The study found that ethical leaders had a track record of being consistent, honest, trustworthy, truthful and credible, and being a role model. In addition, the study also found that unethical leaders are easily identifiable by their perpetual inability to uphold principles of integrity, reliability, rationality, and social justice and fairness. The researcher concluded that the moral identity of the leader has an influence on followers’ predisposition to behave ethically or unethically. The implications of this study are that ethical morals, by their very nature, are transferable from one person to the other and ethical leadership was one antecedent through which this transfer takes place. However, ethical leadership was not the only apparatus that influenced employees’ ethical predisposition and these afford opportunities for future research.
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- Date Issued: 2019
Exploring cultural understandings of traumatic stress among the Amaxhosa traditional healers in the Eastern Cape
- Authors: Mlonyeni, Makhi
- Date: 2019
- Subjects: Post-traumatic stress disorder -- South Africa -- Eastern Cape , Herbalists -- Psychological aspects Herbalists -- South Africa -- Eastern Cape
- Language: English
- Type: Thesis , Masters , MA
- Identifier: http://hdl.handle.net/10948/45042 , vital:38228
- Description: Psychology is an essentially Eurocentric discipline. In a world that is becoming progressively aware, tolerant and accepting of differences among people, there is growing interest to challenge and amend psychological constructs that are unfairly generalized universally. Literature abounds with appeals for more research to be conducted on nonwestern cultures so that scholars can be at a better position to ‘decolonise’ the PTSD diagnosis as they will then have an improved understanding of understudied non-western societies. The Eastern Cape province of South Africa is home to the AmaXhosa tribe, the second largest ethnic group in the country. This study seeks to explore indigenous understandings and coping strategies of these people in regards to traumatic exposure. This is done through gaining insights of AmaXhosa traditional healers- Amagqirha (Diviners) and AmaXhwele (Herbalists). A sample of eight participants is sourced from Grahamstown (Makhanda) and the rural areas of Peddie (Ngqushwa). Through the use of two case studies that are presented and open ended follow up questions, the traditional healers relate their perspectives on how they interpret symptoms of psychological trauma and the strategies they employ to facilitate coping/healing of their clients in their context. It was discovered that traditional healers perceived traumatic events as phenomena that befalls only those that are spiritually vulnerable, either due to strained relationships with their ancestors, bewitchment by an enemy or jealous person or simply torment by a wandering wicked spirit. Rituals and practices of how to combat this vulnerability are then outlined.
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- Date Issued: 2019
Pigs vs people: the use of pigs as analogues for humans in forensic entomology and taphonomy research
- Authors: Matuszewski, Szymon , Hall, Martin J R , Moreau, Gaétan , Schoenly, Kenneth G , Tarone, Aaron M , Villet, Martin H
- Date: 2019
- Language: English
- Type: text , article
- Identifier: http://hdl.handle.net/10962/140557 , vital:37898 , DOI: 10.1007/s00414-019-02074-5
- Description: Most studies of decomposition in forensic entomology and taphonomy have used non-human cadavers. Following the recommendation of using domestic pig cadavers as analogues for humans in forensic entomology in the 1980s, pigs became the most frequently used model cadavers in forensic sciences. They have shaped our understanding of how large vertebrate cadavers decompose in, for example, various environments, seasons and after various ante- or postmortem cadaver modifications. They have also been used to demonstrate the feasibility of several new or well-established forensic techniques. The advent of outdoor human taphonomy facilities enabled experimental comparisons of decomposition between pig and human cadavers. Recent comparisons challenged the pig-as-analogue claim in entomology and taphonomy research. In this review, we discuss in a broad methodological context the advantages and disadvantages of pig and human cadavers for forensic research and rebut the critique of pigs as analogues for humans. We conclude that experiments using human cadaver analogues (i.e. pig carcasses) are easier to replicate and more practical for controlling confounding factors than studies based solely on humans and, therefore, are likely to remain our primary epistemic source of forensic knowledge for the immediate future. We supplement these considerations with new guidelines for model cadaver choice in forensic science research.
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- Date Issued: 2019
Sectioned or whole otoliths? A global review of hard structure preparation techniques used in ageing sparid fishes
- Authors: Winkler, Alexander C , Duncan, Murray I , Farthing, Matthew W , Potts, Warren M
- Date: 2019
- Language: English
- Type: text , article
- Identifier: http://hdl.handle.net/10962/126733 , vital:35917 , https://doi.10.1007/s11160-019-09571-1
- Description: While otoliths are considered the most reliable structure to accurately age fish, a variety of otolith preparation techniques are available, which have consequences on the otolith’s optical properties and therefore interpretation of growth bands. Recently, numerous studies from a variety of authors have criticised the use of whole otoliths in ageing sparids with sectioned otoliths subsequently acknowledged as the most reliable preparation technique. Despite this criticism; ageing data is still being generated from whole otoliths and other unreliable structures such as scales. In an attempt to understand the severity of this issue we conducted a global literature review of otolith preparation protocols used for sparids. We identified global spatial inconsistencies in otolith preparation techniques with some regions predominately using methods other than sectioned otoliths to age sparids. The review highlights the need for a standardisation of otolith preparation methods and a move towards the use of sectioned otoliths, or at least valid support where alternative structures or preparation techniques are used. Given that large numbers of studies have been conducted on whole otoliths in certain regions, it may be necessary to revaluate the existing growth parameters to ensure that accurate information is incorporated into management structures.
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- Date Issued: 2019
Blockchain potential and disruptors for South Africa towards 2030
- Authors: Muntean, George
- Date: 2019
- Subjects: Electronic funds transfers -- Security measures , Blockchains (Databases) Finance -- Technological innovations Technological innovations -- Economic aspects -- South Africa
- Language: English
- Type: Thesis , Masters , MBA
- Identifier: http://hdl.handle.net/10948/41603 , vital:36544
- Description: Blockchain (also called distributed ledger technology), the technology that underpins cryptocurrencies, is resulting in a new era of openness, decentralisation and global inclusion (World Economic Forum, 2017). Blockchain technology is set to complement another emerging field or group of technologies which are collectively defined as the Fourth Industrial Revolution. This revolution is characterised by a “range of new technologies that are blending the physical, digital and biological worlds, impacting all disciplines, economies and industries, and even challenging ideas about what it means to be human” (World Economic Forum, 2017). Certain features of Blockchain technology namely; decentralisation, implied anonymity, transparency and immutability presents people with a technology that may well transform business models and indeed entire industries in the world and in South Africa. Some of these industries are explored further in this research, delving into ideas of how Blockchains may add value to them. This research effort approaches Blockchain technology from a future studies perspective, and assesses whether South Africa is ready to embrace the technology. The research also explores what South African stakeholders can do to be better prepared for expected disruptors and opportunities that the technology will bring. South Africa is seen as a developing nation in the global context and can well benefit from strategic use of emerging technologies such as Blockchain. This research effort will implement Inayatullah’s (2008) six pillars methodology, incorporating the various tools and methodologies within each pillar, in an effort to describe and present possible future scenarios for Blockchains in South Africa. This insight will be used to provide well thought out strategic recommendations for South Africa to prepare for adoption of Blockchain technologies, which could ultimately provide a competitive advantage for the country in the global marketplace.
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- Date Issued: 2019
Design of metal ion-selective reagents for recovery of precious metals
- Authors: Moleko-Boyce, Pulleng
- Date: 2019
- Subjects: Bioinorganic chemistry , Metal complexes Speciation (Chemistry)
- Language: English
- Type: Thesis , Doctoral , DPhil
- Identifier: http://hdl.handle.net/10948/42510 , vital:36664
- Description: The study is divided into two sections; namely, (1) the design of rhodium(III) specific chelating ligands (tridentate bis-benzimidazole derivatives), and (2) the development of iridium(IV)-specific quaternary diammonium cations with electron donating and electron withdrawing groups. Bis-benzimidazole chelating ligands used were bis((1H-benzimidazol-2-yl)methyl)amine (NNN1), bis((1H-benzimidazol-2-yl)ethyl)amine (NNN2), bis((1H-benzimidazol-2-yl)methyl)sulfide (NSN1) and bis((1H-benzimidazol-2-yl)ethyl)sulfide (NSN2). Quaternary diammonium cations used were tetramethylbenzyl-1,10-diammonium chloride (QuatDMDAMeBnz), tetrabenzyl-1,10-diammonium chloride (QuatDMDABnz), tetratrifluoromethylbenzyl-1,10-diammonium chloride (QuatDMDACF3Bnz) and tetranitrobenzyl-1,10-diammonium chloride (QuatDMDANO2Bnz). For both studies, polyvinylbenzylchloride (PVBC) nanofibers were used as support material. The PVBC nanofibers which were functionalised with bis-benzimidazole derivatives and quaternary diammonium cations, respectively, were investigated for the selectivity for Rh(III) over Ir(III), Pt(II), Pd(II) and Ni(II), and for separation of Ir(IV) from Rh(III), respectively. The sorbent materials were characterised by FTIR, SEM, BET surface area, TGA, EDS and elemental analysis, and the results showed that the functionalization of the sorbent materials was successful.The efficiency of bis-benzimidazole derivatives and quaternary diammonium cations, respectively, were investigated in a column study under dynamic flow adsorption conditions. The adsorption kinetics and isotherms were investigated under batch conditions and fitted on pseudo-first-order and pseudo-second-order model, and Freundlich and Langmuir isotherm, respectively. It was observed that the bis-benzimidazole derivatives showed uptake of [RhCl3(H2O)3], and the loading capacities were observed in the following order; NSN1 (181.06 mg/g) > NSN2 (148.55 mg/g) > NNN1 (131.88 mg/g) > NNN2 (75.87 mg/g). The bis-benzimidazole derivatives preference for metal ions was further investigated with a multi-element solution containing Rh(III), Ir(III), Pt(II), Pd(II) and Ni(II). The bis-benzimidazole derivatives showed the following order of loading capacity: NSN1 (47.28 mg/g) > NSN2 (23.89 mg/g) > NNN1 (17.47 mg/g) > NNN2 (14.91 mg/g) for Rh(III); NSN2 (10.64 mg/g) > NNN2 (6.84 mg/g) > NSN1 (5.74 mg/g) > NNN1 (5.02 mg/g) for Ir(III); NNN2 (33.96 mg/g) > NSN1 (30.95 mg/g) > NSN2 (19.95 mg/g) > NNN1 (14.92 mg/g) for Pt(II); NNN1 (47.94 mg/g) > NNN2 (28.90 mg/g) > NSN1 (16.22 mg/g) > NSN2 (15.83 mg/g) for Pd(II). Bis-benzimidazole derivatives showed no uptake of nickel(II) under these conditions. It was observed the ligand-selectivity order for Rh(III) was similar in both single-element and multi-element studies. This order showed that the bis-benzimidazoles containing a sulfur atom showed a high preference for rhodium(III) compared to Pt(II) which had a high preference for NNN2 as well as Pd(II) which had a high preference for NNN1. Ir(III) generally had a lower preference for the ligands presumably due to its higher kinetic inertness compared with Rh(III). Column sorption of [IrCl6]2- and [RhCl5(H2O)]2- on nanofibers functionalized with diammonium cations was carried out and the loading capacities of [IrCl6]2- were obtained. [RhCl5(H2O)]2- was not adsorbed by the sorbent materials while [IrCl6]2- was loaded onto the column. The loading capacities of [IrCl6]2- with the quaternary diammonium sorbent materials increased in the order of F-QuatDMDAMeBnz (60.29 mg/g) < F-QuatDMDABnz (67.61 mg/g) < F-QuatDMDACF3Bnz (107.59 mg/g) < F-QuatDMDANO2Bnz (140.47 mg/g). The loading capacity for Ir(IV) with quaternary diammonium cationic nanofibers increased with an increase in the electron-withdrawing nature of the quaternizing group. The charge delocalizing ability of the nitrobenzyl group resulted in the best interaction of the diammonium cation with [IrCl6]2-. Batch equilibrium studies were carried out to assess the efficiency of bis-benzimidazole chelating derivatives as adsorbents using a multi-metal solution (Rh(III), Ir(III), Pt(II), Pd(II) and Ni(II)) in 0.5 M HCl. The efficiency of the quaternary diammonium cations was tested using a binary metal solution (Ir(IV) and Rh(III)) in 6 M HCl. The isothermal batch adsorption studies of a multi-metal solution with bis-benzimidazoles derivatives fitted the Langmuir isotherm model which confirmed monolayer adsorption onto a homogeneous surface. The Langmuir isotherm parameter (qe (mg/g)), using functionalized nanofibers, showed the order of NNN2 (128.21 mg/g) > NSN1 (99.01 mg/g) > NSN2 (91.74 mg/g) > NNN1 (84.03 mg/g) for Pt(II); NNN1 (66.23 mg/g) > NNN2 (5.89 mg/g) > NSN1 (1.40 mg/g) > NSN2 (0.59 mg/g) for Pd(II); NSN2 (10.64 mg/g) > NNN2 (6.84 mg/g) > NSN1 (5.74 mg/g) > NNN1 (5.02 mg/g) for Ir(III); NSN1 (140.85 mg/g) > NSN2 (109.89 mg/g) > NNN1 (104.17 mg/g) > NNN2 (91.74 mg/g) for Rh(III). The pseudo-first-order kinetics model was found to be the best fit to describe the adsorption kinetics of all metal ions onto all the sorbent materials. K1 (min-1) value in pseudo-first-order kinetics showed the same order of adsorption as observed in the Langmuir isotherms. The isothermal batch adsorption studies of [IrCl6]2- and [RhCl5(H2O)]2- with quaternary diammonium cations fitted the Freundlich isotherm model and confirmed to be effective for multiple-layered adsorption onto a heterogeneous surface. The Freundlich isotherm parameter (kf (mg/g)) using functionalized quaternary diammonium cationic nanofibers increased in the order of F-QuatDMDANO2Bnz (794.33 mg/g) > F-QuatDMDACF3Bnz (185.35 mg/g) > F-QuatDMDABnz (156.32 mg/g) > F-QuatDMDAMeBnz (112.46 mg/g) for Ir(IV) uptake. F-QuatDMDANO2Bnz resin showed the highest adsorption than that of F-QuatDMDAMeBnz, F-QuatDMDABnz and F-QuatDMDACF3Bnz and this order is similar to what was observed in column studies. The quaternary diammonium cations were shown to have the highest adsorption capacity for Ir(IV) compared with Rh(III). The adsorption of Rh(III) was also observed to increase in the order of F-QuatDMDANO2Bnz (177.83 mg/g) > F-QuatDMDACF3Bnz (40.37 mg/g) > F-QuatDMDABnz (36.98 mg/g) > F-QuatDMDAMeBnz (12.71 mg/g). The pseudo-second-order kinetic model was found to be the best fit to describe the adsorption kinetics of both metal ions onto all the sorbent materials. K2 (g.mg-1min-1) value in pseudo-second-order kinetics showed the same order of adsorption as observed in the Freundlich isotherms. The adsorption studies showed adsorption takes place via chemisorption process. This thesis presents PGMs and iridium-specific materials that could be applied in solutions of secondary PGMs sources containing rhodium, platinum and palladium with bis-benzimidazoles as well as in feed solutions from ore processing with diammonium cations for iridium recovery.
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- Date Issued: 2019
An assessment of school food and nutrition environments for strengthening the integrated school health policy in the Eastern Cape, South Africa
- Authors: Okeyo, Alice Phelgona
- Date: 2019
- Subjects: Nutrition policy -- South Africa -- Eastern Cape School health services -- South Africa -- Eastern Cape
- Language: English
- Type: Thesis , Doctoral , DPhil
- Identifier: http://hdl.handle.net/10353/17039 , vital:40836
- Description: The 2012 Integrated School Health Policy (ISHP) offers a framework for adequate school food environment. It aims to contribute to the improvement of the general health of school-going children and to address health barriers to learning in order to improve education outcomes. This study assessed the school food and nutrition environment and critically appraised the position of nutrition within ISHP in order to make recommendations for best practice and promotion of healthy-eating in quintiles 1 – 3 secondary school learners of the Eastern Cape, South Africa. Areas evaluated included the school food environment (National School Food Nutrition Programme, NSNP, tuck-shop, vendor, lunch box, and school vegetable garden); eating practice; nutrition knowledge; and nutrition status. A quantitative and qualitative cross-sectional design was applied in data collection. Data was collected from 1,357 learners at 18 secondary schools in three districts: Buffalo City Metropolitan Municipality, Chris Hani and OR Tambo, using semi-structured questionnaires. Five major food items provided in the school food and nutrition environment included: beans, pap, sour-milk, rice, and samp (maize) (NSNP); chips, sandwich, pap, biscuits, and cake (tuck-shop); chips, sandwich, pap, cake, and pop-corn (vendor); and samp (maize), noodles, fat-cake, chips, and Russian/Viennas (lunch boxes). Only three of the 16 schools had school vegetable gardens which produced vegetables and no fruits. Five most frequently eaten foods for breakfast were porridge, rusks, stiff-pap, bread-with-spread, eggs, and polony. Learners from quintile 3 (60.8percent) significantly ate more cooked porridge than learners from quintiles 1 and 2 (51.9percent) (p = 0.015). Leaners from quintile 3 (59.4percent) significantly ate more brown bread-with-spread than learners from quintiles 1 and 2 (50.4) (p = 0.022). The majority of learners (72.7percent) ate breakfast; more male learners (24.4percent) than female learners (29.1percent) skipped breakfast. The majority (62.2percent) of learners had poor nutritional knowledge; significantly, more male (35percent) than female (27percent) learners had poor nutritional knowledge (p = 0.003). Nutritional knowledge increased with age; significantly more grade 8 learners had poor (42.6percent) nutritional knowledge than grade 12 learners (14.1percent) (p < 0.001). Leaners from quintile 3 had good (23.5percent) nutritional knowledge than learners from quintiles 1 and 2 (15.7percent) (p < 0.001). School lessons, books and television were the most important source for nutritional information to learners. The most significant source was lessons (72.0percent; p < 0.001); followed by television (69.4percent; p < 0.001) and books (67.8percent; p = 0.014), in that ranking order. The majority of learners (64percent) had normal body weight. The prevalence of underweight, overweight and obesity was 13.0percent, 15.0percent and 8.0percent, respectively. The prevalence of overweight and obesity was higher in females than males (21.3percent vs 5.3percent; overweight; p < 0.001)) and (11.6percent vs 1.2percent; obesity; p < 0.001), respectively; while the prevalence in terms of underweight was significantly higher in male (21.3percent) learners than in female learners (8.1percent); p < 0.001. The study indicated that the school food environment was not supported by ISHP. The Integrated School Health Policy did not include on-site package for nutritional assessment, thus, there is need to offer nutritional interventions in schools.
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- Date Issued: 2019
[Post] Colonial Histories: Trauma, Memory and Reconciliation in the Context of the Angolan Civil War
- Authors: Baines, Gary F
- Date: 2019
- Language: English
- Type: text , article
- Identifier: http://hdl.handle.net/10962/125752 , vital:35814 , https://doi.10.1080/03612759.2019.1587342
- Description: In 2007, a former South African Defence Force (SADF) paratrooper, Marius van Niekerk, embarked on a journey to confront his shameful memories relating to his role in the Angolan Civil War. From Sweden (where he had gone into exile), Van Niekerk returned to Angola, where he had been deployed during the mid-1980s, and recruited three other veterans of the war to join his party: Patrick Johannes, who had been coerced to fight for the Popular Armed Forces for the Liberation of Angola (FAPLA); Samuel Machado Amaru, who was forcefully enlisted by the National Union for the Total Independence of Angola (UNITA); and Mario Mahonga, who had fought for the Portuguese colonial army before he was recruited by the SADF to fight against the Popular Movement for the Liberation of Angola (MPLA) regime. Van Niekerk had been conscripted at the age of seventeen, and the others had been coerced into their respective militias at more tender ages. It is not clear how the three Angolans were induced to participate in the project, whose objectives they evidently did not share.
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- Date Issued: 2019
HIV-related stigma in rural areas: a case of citrus farm workers based in Addo community in Eastern Cape
- Authors: Mazorodze, Tasara
- Date: 2019
- Subjects: Stigma (Social psychology) -- South Africa -- Eastern Cape , Discrimination -- Psychology HIV infections -- Psychology AIDS (Disease) -- Psychology
- Language: English
- Type: Thesis , Doctoral , DPhil
- Identifier: http://hdl.handle.net/10948/41526 , vital:36501
- Description: While South Africa has recently joined the rest of the world in the race to achieve an AIDS free generation by the year of 2030, little has been done to develop the scientific interventions that address HIV-related stigma, which is one of the major barriers to the fight against HIV. To the researcher’s knowledge, this is the first study in the South African context that seeks to assess the forms of HIV- related stigma in a local context and in a rural area in particular, where HIV related stigma research and interventions remains scant. This study acknowledges the dynamic, unique, multidimensional and sensitive nature of HIV-related stigma and, therefore, an explanatory mixed approach enabled the researcher to provide a comprehensive assessment of HIV-related stigma amongst the citrus farm workers who are based in Addo, Eastern Cape. Quantitative data was collected from 200 participants across five farms, whereas 50 employees across the 5 farms were also selected to take part in the focus group discussions. An assessment of the reliability and validity of local HIV-related stigma scales (Kalichman et al., 2005 personal stigma scale-English, isiXhosa and Afrikaans version and Visser et al. 2008 personal and attributed stigma scale-English version) and the UNAIDS (2012) HIV knowledge scale was conducted. The assessment showed that the reliability of these scales of measurement tend to vary according to context. In this study, the Kalichman et al., (2005) personal stigma scale (English version) scored a weaker reliability score (alpha=0.58). Thus, as the scale is not reliable for the rural context, it was not considered. Furthermore, quantitative findings show that citrus farm workers are characterised by lack of/ little knowledge about HIV, which results in the stigmatisation of people who are HIV positive in the form of symbolic, instrumental, personal and attributed stigma, as well as a fear of HIV disclosure. Findings also revealed that participants who display a high personal stigma score are likely to display a high attributed stigma score (r=0.47, p<0.00). This confirm the assumption of social identity theory that people tend to use stigma as a ‘protective function’ to protect their identity by labelling other people as ‘’deviant’ or ‘stigmatising’. This finding is particularly relevant in that it reveals that, while many people are aware that stigmatising people with HIV is not morally acceptable, they rather attribute stigmatising attitudes to their communities. Thus future studies need to consider emphasising the assessment of attributed stigma in a rural context. Quantitative findings also revealed that the effect of the following demographic variables, namely race (F=20.1, p=0.00), marital status (F=3.58, p=0.00), religion (F=7.17, p=0.03) and education (F=2.63, p=0.03) on HIV-related stigma was statistically significant. This provides proof that HIV-related interventions that were developed for the Addo community need to consider the above-mentioned demographics variables. The qualitative findings provided an in-depth analysis of the key quantitative findings. A lack of knowledge about HIV among participants was further confirmed by the following themes that were common during focus group discussions: misconceptions about HIV transmission and prevention; false beliefs that healthy looking people cannot have HIV; HIV symptoms are clearly visible; and HIV can be transmitted through contact with people who are HIV positive. Possible causes of HIV-related stigma as revealed by the qualitative findings include; fear of death; the belief that HIV is a punishment for bad behaviour; and the fear of being isolated and rejected. The qualitative approach revealed other forms of HIV-related stigma that were not common in the quantitative studynamely; healthcare, employment and verbal stigma. The focus group discussions revealed the major reasons why a large number of the farm works may be reluctant to disclose their status, namely fear of the unknown and attributed stigma. The study concluded by offering recommendations for the designing and tailoring of HIV-related interventions in the rural context and in the citrus sector in particular.
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- Date Issued: 2019
An investigation of the Social and Structural basis for the emergence of social movements in Zimbabwe. A Comparative study of the Combined Harare Residents Association and Zimbabwe National Liberation War Veterans Association
- Authors: Chaitezvi, Trevour
- Date: 2019
- Subjects: Social movements
- Language: English
- Type: Thesis , Masters , MSoc. Sci (Sociology)
- Identifier: http://hdl.handle.net/10353/17564 , vital:41091
- Description: The emergence of urban social movements in the Zimbabwean context is mainly attributed to the political economic crisis, which resulted in the decline of municipal services and other socioeconomic rights central to the ordinary people. In the rural areas many scholars have alluded to the failure of the state to institute a radical transformation of the rural areas as the reason for the emergence of land movement and the subsequent land revolutions that followed in the early 2000s. Within this context, this study sought to investigate the social and structural basis for the emergence of social movements in Zimbabwe. The argument of this study hinges on the central premise of the political opportunity structure approach, which states that the emergence and success of social movements depends on certain political opportunities within the political environment. Building upon the guidance of the qualitative paradigm, whose method of investigation includes in-depth interviews and focus group discussions, the findings illustrate that the emergence of rural social movements in Zimbabwe was mainly to address the land question; such initiatives were to be done through fighting imperialism that hinges upon neo-liberal policies. In addition, one of the objectives for the emergence of rural social movements was to complete the objective of the liberation war, which was to give back the land to the indigenous black people. The tactics of the rural social movement included engaging the state and confronting it in other instances. Further, illegal land occupations were also one of the tactics of this movement. Ideologically, the movement used a Pan-African ideology to confront neo-colonization. On the other hand, the findings of the study illustrate that the emergence of urban social movements was mainly to provide a platform for the marginalized people to voice their discontent of the decline of service delivery in the urban context. Since most of these aspects were linked to the broader economic crisis facing the country, urban social movements also intended to initiate a political transition. The tactics of urban social movements included disruption, the establishment of networks with other social movements and the use of media, while constructing their ideology within the human rights framewo
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- Date Issued: 2019
Using a multi-method approach to understand the movement patterns and the associated environmental correlates of an iconic West African recreational fish
- Authors: Winkler, Alexander Claus
- Date: 2019
- Subjects: Carangidae fishing , Carangidae -- Migration , Carangidae -- Namibia , Carangidae -- Angola , Fish tagging , Carangidae -- Benguela Current , Underwater acoustic telemetry , Ocean temperature -- Physiological effect , Fishes -- Effect of temperature on
- Language: English
- Type: text , Thesis , Doctoral , PhD
- Identifier: http://hdl.handle.net/10962/76530 , vital:30597
- Description: The leerfish (Lichia amia), is a large, primarily coastal recreational fish species with a distribution extending from Portugal down the west coast of African to southern Mozambique. Owing to its large size (30 kg), strong fighting abilities and habit of taking surface artificial lures, this species has taken on an iconic stature among shore-based recreational anglers. Its reputation has made it an important angling tourism species that makes an important contribution to the economy of developing countries. For example, the species brought US$243 per harvested kilogramme into the local southern Angola economy. Despite its high value, little is known about its movement patterns in the northern Benguela coastal region, a region which includes southern Angola and northern Namibia. While much is known about the migratory patterns of the South African stock of L. amia, recent molecular studies have shown that the northern Benguela stock of L. amia has been isolated from the South African population for at least two million years, a consequence of the development of the cold Lüderitz upwelling cell in southern Namibia. Although the global population of L. amia is considered a single species, prominent biogeographic barriers within its distribution and subtle morphological differences between specimens captured within its tropical versus warm-temperate distribution suggest otherwise. A multi-method approach incorporating passive acoustic telemetry (PAT), recreational catch-per-unit-effort (CPUE) and conventional tagging (CT) in southern Angola, as well as recreational fisher-ecological knowledge (FEK) from Namibia, was used to investigate the large-scale movement patterns of L. amia within the northern Benguela coastal region. While each method had its own associated limitations, the combination provided a holistic picture of the population's seasonal migratory patterns. Furthermore, PAT successfully identified partial migration with 25% vs 75% of monitored fish exhibiting resident (movements < 100 km) or migratory (movements > 100 km) behaviour, respectively. Further behavioural diversity was observed with ‘resident’, ‘roaming’ and ‘embayment’ contingents identified based on varying levels of affinity to certain habitats. The presence of both resident and migratory individuals within the northernmost study during June and July, combined with available biological information, suggested that area-specific spawning may take place. While PAT, CPUE and CT largely aligned in determining area specific high-area use, results from network analyses and mixed effects models conducted on the PAT data supported the spawning hypothesis, with anomalous behaviour around specific receivers during the spawning season. All fish, regardless of behavioural contingent, displayed similar movement behaviour during the spawning season and this was driven by factors generally associated with reproduction, such as lunar illumination. Interestingly, these drivers were different from those that determined the area specific use of individuals outside of the spawning season. The environmental drivers of longshore migration into the northern study site were identified as a decline in water temperature and shorter day lengths. The results of this study highlight the importance of using a multi-method approach in determining migratory movement behaviour, area specific area use, and stock structure of key fisheries species. The identification of different behavioural contingents highlights the importance of acknowledging individual variation in movement and habitat-use patterns. This is particularly relevant as future climate change and spatiotemporal variation in fishing effort may artificially skew natural selection processes to favour certain behavioural groups. This study also highlighted the importance of scientists forming relationships with resource-users, such as recreational angling lodges in areas where limited research has been conducted. This is particularly relevant within the West African context where little is known about many of the fish species that are being increasingly targeted by tourism angling ventures.
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- Date Issued: 2019
Risk assessment to interpret the physiological host range of Hydrellia egeriae, a biocontrol agent for Egeria densa
- Authors: Smith, Rosalie , Mangan, Rosie , Coetzee, Julie A
- Date: 2019
- Subjects: To be catalogued
- Language: English
- Type: text , article
- Identifier: http://hdl.handle.net/10962/418053 , vital:71504 , xlink:href="https://doi.org/10.1007/s10526-019-09942-4"
- Description: Egeria densa Planchon (Hydrocharitaceae) is a submerged macrophyte native to South America. It forms part of a new suite of invasive aquatic plants that has benefited from open nutrient-rich freshwater systems following the successful biological control of floating aquatic plants in South Africa. The specificity of the leaf-mining fly, Hydrellia egeriae Rodrigues (Diptera: Ephydridae) was tested, using traditional laboratory host-specificity testing (i.e., no-choice and paired choice). Only one non-target species, Lagarosiphon major Deeming (Hydrocharitaceae) supported larval development during pair-choice tests. In order to avoid the rejection of a safe and potentially effective agent, continuation (i.e., multiple generations) tests were conducted to measure the ability of the non-target species to nutritionally support a population indefinitely. None of these species could sustain a viable agent population for more than three generations. Laboratory host-specificity tests are limited as they exempt certain insect-host behaviours. To enhance the interpretation of host-specificity results, a risk assessment was conducted using agent preference (i.e., choice tests) and performance (i.e., choice and continuation tests) results. The feeding and reproductive risk that H. egeriae poses to non-target species is below 2%. Based on these findings, permission for its release in South Africa has been obtained.
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- Date Issued: 2019
The influence of briefing on Eastern Cape government project outcomes
- Authors: Binqela, Lukhanyo
- Date: 2019
- Subjects: Government projects -- Eastern Cape
- Language: English
- Type: Thesis , Masters , MSc
- Identifier: http://hdl.handle.net/10948/44562 , vital:38128
- Description: South African Government projects are frequently completed with large cost overruns, extended schedules, quality concerns and an increase in emerging contractors making a significant loss in projects they undertake. The construction phase has been the focus of many studies on the causes of unfavourable project outcomes. However, the crucial stages in the construction process that influence the success of a project are the early ones. This is where major decisions that influence the features and form of a project occur. This study, which adopts a case study approach, aims to establish the influence of the brief development process on the outcome of Government projects in the Eastern Cape. Through the reviewed literature and primary data collection, the study aimed at establishing the influence of the brief that is utilised for a need analysis, to define a detailed scope of works, stakeholder engagement and the time management on Eastern Cape Government project outcomes. The Sarah Baartman district was the selected geographical scope of research. Five projects were selected; these included three schools, one emergency medical service facility and one office facility. The study revealed that Eastern Cape Government projects brief development is based on the client department 2013 Published Norms and Standards for state buildings and a need analysis for other stakeholders is not considered. The study further revealed that there is no stakeholder management in government projects; therefore, there is no stakeholder engagement plan during the brief development. The study further revealed that government time management is suboptimal because stakeholder needs are not realised. The research also found that Eastern Cape Government projects do not achieve stakeholder satisfaction and are delivered late. However, some Government projects are able to meet the desired quality and are within budget. The study thus proposes that the Eastern Cape Government projects need to adopt the dynamic brief development process and implement stakeholder management. The brief development process should be an ongoing process extending throughout the project life cycle responding in an innovative manner to emerging stakeholder requirements.
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- Date Issued: 2019