Rural Tourism and Inclusive Development in Port St. Johns - South Africa
- Acha-Anyi, Paul Nkemngu, Ndolose, Ludwe, Solomon, Khunou Pula
- Authors: Acha-Anyi, Paul Nkemngu , Ndolose, Ludwe , Solomon, Khunou Pula
- Date: 2021
- Subjects: Rural tourism Community Inclusive development; Sustainable development Article
- Language: English
- Type: text , article
- Identifier: http://hdl.handle.net/11260/7023 , vital:52758 , xlink:href=":https://doi.org/10.46222/ajhtl.19770720.197"
- Description: The purpose of this study was to explore ways of achieving an inclusive approach to tourism development in rural communities. Although tourism has generally been recommended as a means of orchestrating development in rural communities, achieving this laudable goal has often been illusive due to the fragmented approach adopted by tourism stakeholders. An exploratory quantitative research approach was adopted by using a structured survey instrument to generate 307 valid responses from community members in Port St. John in the Eastern Cape Province (ECP) of South Africa. Results obtained reveal similarities and some differences based on demographic characteristics with regards to the benefits of rural tourism to the community. Importantly, the study illuminates the fragmented way in which residents perceive tourism benefits, both from a gender perspective and personal benefit versus community dichotomy. The paper discusses policy as well as practical local economic development implications. Keywords: Rural tourism; community; Port St. Johns; inclusive development; sustainable development
- Full Text:
- Date Issued: 2021
- Authors: Acha-Anyi, Paul Nkemngu , Ndolose, Ludwe , Solomon, Khunou Pula
- Date: 2021
- Subjects: Rural tourism Community Inclusive development; Sustainable development Article
- Language: English
- Type: text , article
- Identifier: http://hdl.handle.net/11260/7023 , vital:52758 , xlink:href=":https://doi.org/10.46222/ajhtl.19770720.197"
- Description: The purpose of this study was to explore ways of achieving an inclusive approach to tourism development in rural communities. Although tourism has generally been recommended as a means of orchestrating development in rural communities, achieving this laudable goal has often been illusive due to the fragmented approach adopted by tourism stakeholders. An exploratory quantitative research approach was adopted by using a structured survey instrument to generate 307 valid responses from community members in Port St. John in the Eastern Cape Province (ECP) of South Africa. Results obtained reveal similarities and some differences based on demographic characteristics with regards to the benefits of rural tourism to the community. Importantly, the study illuminates the fragmented way in which residents perceive tourism benefits, both from a gender perspective and personal benefit versus community dichotomy. The paper discusses policy as well as practical local economic development implications. Keywords: Rural tourism; community; Port St. Johns; inclusive development; sustainable development
- Full Text:
- Date Issued: 2021
Investigating the consumer decision-making process and determinants of choice for prepaid services from mobile network service providers
- Authors: Ajayi, Ella
- Date: 2021-12
- Subjects: Mobile communication systems , Consumer behavior
- Language: English
- Type: Master's theses , text
- Identifier: http://hdl.handle.net/10948/53688 , vital:45713
- Description: The mobile telecommunications industry has been a fundamental and an important enabler in the advancement of the South African economy, with mobile network providers investing billions of rands in mobile infrastructure and facilitating a functional and progressive global marketplace (ICASA Annual Performance Plan, 2020/21). South Africa’s telecommunications system is one of the most sophisticated in the emerging markets, and according to Gillwald, Mothobi, and Rademan (2018, p.6), various indices including the ICT Development Index corroborate this view. The deployment of wireless communications networks in the country has had immeasurable social benefits for many consumers. The most rural areas of the country are now able to experience the convenience and ubiquity that comes with having access to mobile network technology. Though mobile network provision is making progress in terms of bridging the digital divide, inhibitors exist within the mobile competitive landscape that prevent consumers from exploring the full benefits of the advanced technologies at their disposal. According to Chinembiri (2020, p.6), mobile data costs remain high and out of reach for the average South African consumer, despite the recent requisite data price reduction by the dominant mobile network service providers. The prepaid segment is dominated by customers who either carry multiple SIM cards or switch between mobile network operators. The adoption by ICASA of the Mobile Number Portability (MNP), the process through which customers switch between mobile operators and keep their mobile number (Yadav, Dabhade, & Dabhade, 2013, p.1), resulted in significant reduction in switching costs thus perpetuating the migration of subscribers between mobile network providers. According to Olufemi and Strydom (2018, p. 52), the fiercest competition experienced by South African mobile providers is in the prepaid market. , Thesis (MBA) -- Faculty of Business and Economic Sciences, Business School, 2021
- Full Text:
- Date Issued: 2021-12
- Authors: Ajayi, Ella
- Date: 2021-12
- Subjects: Mobile communication systems , Consumer behavior
- Language: English
- Type: Master's theses , text
- Identifier: http://hdl.handle.net/10948/53688 , vital:45713
- Description: The mobile telecommunications industry has been a fundamental and an important enabler in the advancement of the South African economy, with mobile network providers investing billions of rands in mobile infrastructure and facilitating a functional and progressive global marketplace (ICASA Annual Performance Plan, 2020/21). South Africa’s telecommunications system is one of the most sophisticated in the emerging markets, and according to Gillwald, Mothobi, and Rademan (2018, p.6), various indices including the ICT Development Index corroborate this view. The deployment of wireless communications networks in the country has had immeasurable social benefits for many consumers. The most rural areas of the country are now able to experience the convenience and ubiquity that comes with having access to mobile network technology. Though mobile network provision is making progress in terms of bridging the digital divide, inhibitors exist within the mobile competitive landscape that prevent consumers from exploring the full benefits of the advanced technologies at their disposal. According to Chinembiri (2020, p.6), mobile data costs remain high and out of reach for the average South African consumer, despite the recent requisite data price reduction by the dominant mobile network service providers. The prepaid segment is dominated by customers who either carry multiple SIM cards or switch between mobile network operators. The adoption by ICASA of the Mobile Number Portability (MNP), the process through which customers switch between mobile operators and keep their mobile number (Yadav, Dabhade, & Dabhade, 2013, p.1), resulted in significant reduction in switching costs thus perpetuating the migration of subscribers between mobile network providers. According to Olufemi and Strydom (2018, p. 52), the fiercest competition experienced by South African mobile providers is in the prepaid market. , Thesis (MBA) -- Faculty of Business and Economic Sciences, Business School, 2021
- Full Text:
- Date Issued: 2021-12
Soil and vegetation recovery following Acacia dealbata clearing in the Tsitsa catchment, Eastern Cape Province of South Africa: implications for ecological restoration
- Authors: Balintulo, Putuma
- Date: 2022-04-06
- Subjects: Acacia South Africa Eastern Cape , Invasive plants South Africa Eastern Cape , Working for Water Programme , Soil restoration South Africa Eastern Cape , Plant nutrients South Africa Eastern Cape , Restoration ecology South Africa Eastern Cape , Clearing of land South Africa Eastern Cape , Legacy effect
- Language: English
- Type: Academic theses , Master's theses , text
- Identifier: http://hdl.handle.net/10962/290778 , vital:56783
- Description: Invasion by alien plant species in South Africa continues to compromise the stability of ecosystems by causing declines in biodiversity, altering soil nutrients and processes, and subsequently transforming ecosystem functionality. Control of invasive alien plant species has been widely implemented in South Africa to minimize their negative impacts; however, the legacy effects can persist long after the plant has been removed. The impacts of Acacia dealbata clearing on soil properties and native vegetation recovery remains understudied despite their significance in ecological restoration and monitoring. This comparative study determined the impacts of A. dealbata clearing on both soil physicochemical properties and vegetation in the Eastern Cape Province of South Africa. Soils were collected from three different clearing treatments, namely, cleared, invaded, and uninvaded, on 5 m x 5 m plots over three summer months. The plots were replicated four times for each clearing treatment, making a total of 72 sampling plots. Soils were assessed for soil pH, resistivity, P, C, N, and exchangeable cations as well as soil moisture content, penetration resistance, infiltration rate, hydraulic conductivity, and water repellency. Clearing of A. dealbata did not have any significant effects on most soil nutrients, however, there were variations in soil pH, resistance, and Na. Soil pH was significantly higher in the uninvaded treatments than in the cleared and invaded treatments. Soil moisture content was significantly higher in the cleared treatments than the adjacent invaded and uninvaded treatments, but this was observed in the month of December only. Soil penetration resistance and infiltration rates were significantly higher in the month of December in the cleared treatments. For all clearing treatments, no significant differences were recorded for soil hydraulic conductivity. These results on changes in soil properties following A. dealbata clearing are varied, with some soil properties showing decreases, an indication that removal of A. dealbata has the potential to shift soil properties towards a positive recovery trajectory. This study further assessed whether the clearing of A. dealbata facilitates the recovery of native plant species. Vegetation surveys were conducted in the three above-mentioned treatments and plots. Results showed little recruitment of native grasses and forbs, but the persistence of A. dealbata seedlings in the cleared treatments. Species richness and Shannon-Wiener diversity index were significantly (P < 0.05) higher in the cleared and invaded treatments than the uninvaded treatments, and this was more visible for trees and shrubs. Cover for all species was significantly higher (P < 0.05) in the uninvaded than the cleared and invaded treatments. This study observed the recruitment of some native species in the cleared treatments that were not present in the invaded treatments. Therefore, the recruitment and establishment of some native species, mostly grasses, in the cleared treatments gives assurance that passive restoration is on a positive vegetation recovery trajectory that can lead to recovery of native vegetation after A. dealbata clearing. Therefore, the study concludes that investing in ecological restoration after alien plant clearing is a necessity for complete ecosystem recovery to be achieved. Overall, the study concludes that the removal of A. dealbata triggers changes to some soil properties. Similarly, the study observed recruitment of some native grasses in cleared areas, an indication that alien plant clearing facilitates changes in both soil properties and vegetation. However, soil and vegetation recovery are being hampered by the regrowth of A. dealbata and secondary invaders that were observed in the cleared treatments. Two key recommendations of this study are (i) clearing follow-up to remove recruiting seedlings of invasive plant species and secondary invaders should be timeous and well-funded, and (ii) active restoration should be considered to speed-up soil and vegetation recovery processes. , Thesis (MSc) -- Faculty of Science, Environmental Science, 2022
- Full Text:
- Date Issued: 2022-04-06
- Authors: Balintulo, Putuma
- Date: 2022-04-06
- Subjects: Acacia South Africa Eastern Cape , Invasive plants South Africa Eastern Cape , Working for Water Programme , Soil restoration South Africa Eastern Cape , Plant nutrients South Africa Eastern Cape , Restoration ecology South Africa Eastern Cape , Clearing of land South Africa Eastern Cape , Legacy effect
- Language: English
- Type: Academic theses , Master's theses , text
- Identifier: http://hdl.handle.net/10962/290778 , vital:56783
- Description: Invasion by alien plant species in South Africa continues to compromise the stability of ecosystems by causing declines in biodiversity, altering soil nutrients and processes, and subsequently transforming ecosystem functionality. Control of invasive alien plant species has been widely implemented in South Africa to minimize their negative impacts; however, the legacy effects can persist long after the plant has been removed. The impacts of Acacia dealbata clearing on soil properties and native vegetation recovery remains understudied despite their significance in ecological restoration and monitoring. This comparative study determined the impacts of A. dealbata clearing on both soil physicochemical properties and vegetation in the Eastern Cape Province of South Africa. Soils were collected from three different clearing treatments, namely, cleared, invaded, and uninvaded, on 5 m x 5 m plots over three summer months. The plots were replicated four times for each clearing treatment, making a total of 72 sampling plots. Soils were assessed for soil pH, resistivity, P, C, N, and exchangeable cations as well as soil moisture content, penetration resistance, infiltration rate, hydraulic conductivity, and water repellency. Clearing of A. dealbata did not have any significant effects on most soil nutrients, however, there were variations in soil pH, resistance, and Na. Soil pH was significantly higher in the uninvaded treatments than in the cleared and invaded treatments. Soil moisture content was significantly higher in the cleared treatments than the adjacent invaded and uninvaded treatments, but this was observed in the month of December only. Soil penetration resistance and infiltration rates were significantly higher in the month of December in the cleared treatments. For all clearing treatments, no significant differences were recorded for soil hydraulic conductivity. These results on changes in soil properties following A. dealbata clearing are varied, with some soil properties showing decreases, an indication that removal of A. dealbata has the potential to shift soil properties towards a positive recovery trajectory. This study further assessed whether the clearing of A. dealbata facilitates the recovery of native plant species. Vegetation surveys were conducted in the three above-mentioned treatments and plots. Results showed little recruitment of native grasses and forbs, but the persistence of A. dealbata seedlings in the cleared treatments. Species richness and Shannon-Wiener diversity index were significantly (P < 0.05) higher in the cleared and invaded treatments than the uninvaded treatments, and this was more visible for trees and shrubs. Cover for all species was significantly higher (P < 0.05) in the uninvaded than the cleared and invaded treatments. This study observed the recruitment of some native species in the cleared treatments that were not present in the invaded treatments. Therefore, the recruitment and establishment of some native species, mostly grasses, in the cleared treatments gives assurance that passive restoration is on a positive vegetation recovery trajectory that can lead to recovery of native vegetation after A. dealbata clearing. Therefore, the study concludes that investing in ecological restoration after alien plant clearing is a necessity for complete ecosystem recovery to be achieved. Overall, the study concludes that the removal of A. dealbata triggers changes to some soil properties. Similarly, the study observed recruitment of some native grasses in cleared areas, an indication that alien plant clearing facilitates changes in both soil properties and vegetation. However, soil and vegetation recovery are being hampered by the regrowth of A. dealbata and secondary invaders that were observed in the cleared treatments. Two key recommendations of this study are (i) clearing follow-up to remove recruiting seedlings of invasive plant species and secondary invaders should be timeous and well-funded, and (ii) active restoration should be considered to speed-up soil and vegetation recovery processes. , Thesis (MSc) -- Faculty of Science, Environmental Science, 2022
- Full Text:
- Date Issued: 2022-04-06
The impact of public-private partnerships on Zambia's economic growth and economic development
- Authors: Banda, Zondwayo
- Date: 2021-12
- Subjects: Public-private sector cooperation -- Economic aspects -- Zambia , Capital investments -- Zambia
- Language: English
- Type: Doctoral theses , text
- Identifier: http://hdl.handle.net/10948/53711 , vital:45717
- Description: The current globalisation is pressuring both developed and developing nations to fast-track change and development with the intention of improving the living standards of the people. With limited financial resources and razor-thin budgets, national governments now turn to private sector to collaborate in financing infrastructure that is critical for economic and social growth. Despite the increase in public-private partnership (PPP) investments in Zambia, there have not been any formal assessments of the PPPs to evaluate their impact on Zambia’s economic growth and economic development. This research evaluates the impact of PPPs on Zambia’s economic growth (proxied by gross domestic product [GDP]) and economic development (proxied by unemployment, household consumption and Gini coefficient). The research adopts the auto-regressive distributed lag (ARDL) model as the time series approach to investigating the relationship between PPPs and gross domestic product (GDP) as well as the economic development. The ARDL model was also used for evaluating the impact of PPPs on Zambia’s GDP and economic development for the 18 years from 2000 to 2017. Thirty-two self-administered questionnaires (SAQs) were received and seven interviews were conducted with key research informants. The key research informants for both the SAQs and interviews were purposively selected to provide insights into the impact of PPPs on Zambia’s GDP and economic development. The ARDL model results have established that there is a stable and long-run relationship between PPPs and Zambia’s economic growth. Similarly, insights obtained from SAQs and interviews show that PPPs are not only important in Zambia but are related to economic growth. Therefore, Zambia should continue harnessing and promoting viable PPPs to enhance its economic growth. This also entails that private sector should continue providing financial resources and expertise to spur Zambia’s economic activities. Through the use of F-statistics, the ARDL model results reveal that PPPs are cointegrated with household consumption, unemployment and the Gini coefficient. As such the ARDL model results confirm the existence of a stable and long-run relationship between PPPs and economic development. The insights obtained from SAQs and interviews highlight that PPPs in Zambia are important. Furthermore, the insights from the key informants suggest that there is a relationship between PPPs and economic development. Hence, Zambia’s continued harnessing of PPP investments is pivotal in its quest to improve the living standards of ordinary people. Using long-run coefficients, the ARDL model results demonstrate that PPPs impact Zambia’s GDP positively. PPPs have spurred economic activities through the creation of businesses. Similarly, the insights from key informants demonstrate that PPPs relate positively to GDP. The overall results suggest that PPPs impact GDP positively. As PPPs impact GDP positively, the government of the Republic of Zambia should continue harnessing the PPP investments as a pro-poor model that bolsters economic activities and fosters economic growth. The harnessing of PPP investments means that the Zambian government, through its Finance Ministry, should scale up investments in PPPs and widen the scope of sectors for PPP investments so as to achieve inclusive and faster economic growth. The ARDL model results show that PPPs affect economic development positively through increases in household consumption and reductions in unemployment rates. However, the data on the Gini coefficient reveal that PPPs have a negative impact on economic development, as PPPs contributed to the rise in the Gini coefficient for the period under review. The key informants’ insights reveal that PPPs affect economic development positively by increasing household consumption and reducing the unemployment rate and the Gini coefficient. The mixed results on the Gini coefficient data representing income inequalities could be attributed to low-quality jobs and poor employment conditions created through PPP projects. Overall, the study’s results show that PPPs have a positive impact on economic development, as they have created businesses and employment thereby contributing to the increase in household consumption. Consequently, the Zambian government should continue engaging the private sector in PPP projects. The government should also scale up PPP investments and widen their scope to include other sectors of the economy as PPP present a viable option for the continued spurring of economic activities, the creation of employment and improvements in household consumption. The research results suggest that PPPs play an important role in improving economic growth and economic development thereby supporting the original intention of the PPP strategy for both developed and developing countries. The research strongly recommends the scaling up of investments in PPPs to contribute to the reduction or eradication of poverty in Zambia – and in other developing countries in Africa. The scaling up of PPP investments has implications that require attention from policy makers. There is a need for the development and dissemination of PPP policy guidelines to improve the design, development and implementation of PPPs in Zambia. The scaling up of investments in PPPs also requires changes to be made to the current PPP Act to widen the scope of PPP investments so as to include additional economic sectors to increase GDP, improve household consumption, create new jobs and reduce the Gini coefficient in Zambia. As PPP processes are complex, increased investments in PPPs will require further training of the PPP department’s staff, the contracting authorities and the private sector to improve their regulatory and technical capacity in the design, development and implementation of PPP projects. , Thesis (PhD) -- Faculty of Business and Economic Sciences, 2021
- Full Text:
- Date Issued: 2021-12
- Authors: Banda, Zondwayo
- Date: 2021-12
- Subjects: Public-private sector cooperation -- Economic aspects -- Zambia , Capital investments -- Zambia
- Language: English
- Type: Doctoral theses , text
- Identifier: http://hdl.handle.net/10948/53711 , vital:45717
- Description: The current globalisation is pressuring both developed and developing nations to fast-track change and development with the intention of improving the living standards of the people. With limited financial resources and razor-thin budgets, national governments now turn to private sector to collaborate in financing infrastructure that is critical for economic and social growth. Despite the increase in public-private partnership (PPP) investments in Zambia, there have not been any formal assessments of the PPPs to evaluate their impact on Zambia’s economic growth and economic development. This research evaluates the impact of PPPs on Zambia’s economic growth (proxied by gross domestic product [GDP]) and economic development (proxied by unemployment, household consumption and Gini coefficient). The research adopts the auto-regressive distributed lag (ARDL) model as the time series approach to investigating the relationship between PPPs and gross domestic product (GDP) as well as the economic development. The ARDL model was also used for evaluating the impact of PPPs on Zambia’s GDP and economic development for the 18 years from 2000 to 2017. Thirty-two self-administered questionnaires (SAQs) were received and seven interviews were conducted with key research informants. The key research informants for both the SAQs and interviews were purposively selected to provide insights into the impact of PPPs on Zambia’s GDP and economic development. The ARDL model results have established that there is a stable and long-run relationship between PPPs and Zambia’s economic growth. Similarly, insights obtained from SAQs and interviews show that PPPs are not only important in Zambia but are related to economic growth. Therefore, Zambia should continue harnessing and promoting viable PPPs to enhance its economic growth. This also entails that private sector should continue providing financial resources and expertise to spur Zambia’s economic activities. Through the use of F-statistics, the ARDL model results reveal that PPPs are cointegrated with household consumption, unemployment and the Gini coefficient. As such the ARDL model results confirm the existence of a stable and long-run relationship between PPPs and economic development. The insights obtained from SAQs and interviews highlight that PPPs in Zambia are important. Furthermore, the insights from the key informants suggest that there is a relationship between PPPs and economic development. Hence, Zambia’s continued harnessing of PPP investments is pivotal in its quest to improve the living standards of ordinary people. Using long-run coefficients, the ARDL model results demonstrate that PPPs impact Zambia’s GDP positively. PPPs have spurred economic activities through the creation of businesses. Similarly, the insights from key informants demonstrate that PPPs relate positively to GDP. The overall results suggest that PPPs impact GDP positively. As PPPs impact GDP positively, the government of the Republic of Zambia should continue harnessing the PPP investments as a pro-poor model that bolsters economic activities and fosters economic growth. The harnessing of PPP investments means that the Zambian government, through its Finance Ministry, should scale up investments in PPPs and widen the scope of sectors for PPP investments so as to achieve inclusive and faster economic growth. The ARDL model results show that PPPs affect economic development positively through increases in household consumption and reductions in unemployment rates. However, the data on the Gini coefficient reveal that PPPs have a negative impact on economic development, as PPPs contributed to the rise in the Gini coefficient for the period under review. The key informants’ insights reveal that PPPs affect economic development positively by increasing household consumption and reducing the unemployment rate and the Gini coefficient. The mixed results on the Gini coefficient data representing income inequalities could be attributed to low-quality jobs and poor employment conditions created through PPP projects. Overall, the study’s results show that PPPs have a positive impact on economic development, as they have created businesses and employment thereby contributing to the increase in household consumption. Consequently, the Zambian government should continue engaging the private sector in PPP projects. The government should also scale up PPP investments and widen their scope to include other sectors of the economy as PPP present a viable option for the continued spurring of economic activities, the creation of employment and improvements in household consumption. The research results suggest that PPPs play an important role in improving economic growth and economic development thereby supporting the original intention of the PPP strategy for both developed and developing countries. The research strongly recommends the scaling up of investments in PPPs to contribute to the reduction or eradication of poverty in Zambia – and in other developing countries in Africa. The scaling up of PPP investments has implications that require attention from policy makers. There is a need for the development and dissemination of PPP policy guidelines to improve the design, development and implementation of PPPs in Zambia. The scaling up of investments in PPPs also requires changes to be made to the current PPP Act to widen the scope of PPP investments so as to include additional economic sectors to increase GDP, improve household consumption, create new jobs and reduce the Gini coefficient in Zambia. As PPP processes are complex, increased investments in PPPs will require further training of the PPP department’s staff, the contracting authorities and the private sector to improve their regulatory and technical capacity in the design, development and implementation of PPP projects. , Thesis (PhD) -- Faculty of Business and Economic Sciences, 2021
- Full Text:
- Date Issued: 2021-12
Inflation, credit markets and economic growth: the case of BRICS Countries
- Authors: Barayi, Bavuyile
- Date: 2021-12
- Subjects: Economic development -- BRIC countries , Inflation (Finance) -- BRIC countries
- Language: English
- Type: Master's theses , text
- Identifier: http://hdl.handle.net/10948/53700 , vital:45714
- Description: The empirical study investigates the relationship between inflation, credit markets and economic growth in the context of Brazil, Russia, India, China and South Africa (BRICS) countries. The BRICS group consists of five emerging market economies and was first coined by Jim O’Neil of Goldman Sachs in 2001 whereby initially the bloc consisted of only Brazil, Russia, India, China, South Africa joined the BRICS group in 2010. The BRICS bloc was deemed to be the top fast-growing economies that showed great potential for growth. Consequent to the 2008 global financial crisis, there has been a large change in economic thinking as policy-makers have struggled to overcome the economic misfortunes caused by the crisis. Amongst the emerging countries, the BRICS countries have in effect, established a New Development Bank to play the role of the credit facilitator the BRICS countries and other emerging countries as well. This BRICS New Development Bank was established in 2014 and already has identified and funded some projects within the BRICS countries. Moreover, the main objective of this bank is to provide credit to be utilised for infrastructure, climate change measures, as well as to ensure sustainable development. Against this backdrop, the current study investigates the role played by credit and the extent of development in credit markets on enhancing growth in the BRICS countries, particularly looking at the levels of inflation that are conducive to credit market development. The study notes that in order for credit expansion to be successful, the credit received by a country must reflect positively on a country’s economic growth. In other words, with more credit coming into a country, the expected result is that there will also be a rise in economic growth. Furthermore, seeing that inflation erodes the value of money, this credit or these funds that a country receives may not have the expected influence on growth. Therefore, the study finds it imperative to investigate the levels at which inflation allows for credit expansion to promote growth in a country. Furthermore, central banks play an important role in credit markets via the interest rate channel and the study examines the role of monetary policy in credit markets of each of the BRICS countries by looking at the inflation targeting regime as well as the absence thereof within these countries. Moreover, BRICS central banks share more or less the same goal of maintaining price stability and low inflation through various monetary policy tools. Therefore, achieving this objective will allow a central bank to gain both investor and consumer confidence which plays a role in a country’s investment rates. Moreover, inflation that is not controlled results in uncertainty which makes investors hesitant and unwilling to embark on investments. Ha, Ivanova, Ohnsorge and Unsal (2019) associate a developed financial sector with low inflation, stating that stable inflation rates eliminate uncertainty and avoids the erosion of the value of money. The current study used an Autoregressive Distributed Lag (ARDL) model to examine the linear co-integration and Non-linear Autoregressive Distributed Lag (NARDL) for the non-linear empirical analysis of the relationship between inflation, credit markets and economic growth in BRICS countries. The non-linearity of this relationship is important to study as there has been many debates on the nature of the inflation-growth relationships with some studies implying that it is positive, some say it is a negative relationship and some say it is non-linear. The annual data time series is extracted from the World Bank Indicators and the Penn State database covering the period 1960-2019. The main variables used in the study are Inflation (CPI), Credit (Domestic Credit to Private Sector) and Economic growth (GDP). The study conducted various regressions including the total of five linear regressions which were run individually for each country, the non-linear regressions consisted of three regressions for each country which were on 1) Only Inflation partitioned, (2) Only Credit partitioned and (3) both Inflation and Credit were partitioned. The partitioning of the variables is made possible by the NARDL model which allows variables to be partially decomposed into negative and positive sums to identify thresholds of variables which have various effects on other variables. The overall findings of the study suggest that although inflation exerts various effects on growth, according to this study’s results, it does not have a significant impact on credit for all the countries except for China whereby credit in general is conducive to economic growth and Brazil where growth is enhanced when credit is declining. The study revealed that generally, inflation exerts a negative impact on growth, therefore, authorities must focus on keeping inflation rates low particularly for Russia, India and South Africa as Brazil’s results suggest that rising inflation is conducive to its economic growth in the long run. According to the findings of this study, credit does not have the significant impact on growth even under different inflation thresholds. Furthermore, this does not imply that the credit channel is a futile tool for authorities, the relationship between inflation, credit and growth particularly with the hypothesis that inflation enhances credit market development and therefore growth, is not significant. , Thesis (MCom) -- Faculty of Business and Economic Sciences, School of Economics, Development & Tourism, 2021
- Full Text:
- Date Issued: 2021-12
- Authors: Barayi, Bavuyile
- Date: 2021-12
- Subjects: Economic development -- BRIC countries , Inflation (Finance) -- BRIC countries
- Language: English
- Type: Master's theses , text
- Identifier: http://hdl.handle.net/10948/53700 , vital:45714
- Description: The empirical study investigates the relationship between inflation, credit markets and economic growth in the context of Brazil, Russia, India, China and South Africa (BRICS) countries. The BRICS group consists of five emerging market economies and was first coined by Jim O’Neil of Goldman Sachs in 2001 whereby initially the bloc consisted of only Brazil, Russia, India, China, South Africa joined the BRICS group in 2010. The BRICS bloc was deemed to be the top fast-growing economies that showed great potential for growth. Consequent to the 2008 global financial crisis, there has been a large change in economic thinking as policy-makers have struggled to overcome the economic misfortunes caused by the crisis. Amongst the emerging countries, the BRICS countries have in effect, established a New Development Bank to play the role of the credit facilitator the BRICS countries and other emerging countries as well. This BRICS New Development Bank was established in 2014 and already has identified and funded some projects within the BRICS countries. Moreover, the main objective of this bank is to provide credit to be utilised for infrastructure, climate change measures, as well as to ensure sustainable development. Against this backdrop, the current study investigates the role played by credit and the extent of development in credit markets on enhancing growth in the BRICS countries, particularly looking at the levels of inflation that are conducive to credit market development. The study notes that in order for credit expansion to be successful, the credit received by a country must reflect positively on a country’s economic growth. In other words, with more credit coming into a country, the expected result is that there will also be a rise in economic growth. Furthermore, seeing that inflation erodes the value of money, this credit or these funds that a country receives may not have the expected influence on growth. Therefore, the study finds it imperative to investigate the levels at which inflation allows for credit expansion to promote growth in a country. Furthermore, central banks play an important role in credit markets via the interest rate channel and the study examines the role of monetary policy in credit markets of each of the BRICS countries by looking at the inflation targeting regime as well as the absence thereof within these countries. Moreover, BRICS central banks share more or less the same goal of maintaining price stability and low inflation through various monetary policy tools. Therefore, achieving this objective will allow a central bank to gain both investor and consumer confidence which plays a role in a country’s investment rates. Moreover, inflation that is not controlled results in uncertainty which makes investors hesitant and unwilling to embark on investments. Ha, Ivanova, Ohnsorge and Unsal (2019) associate a developed financial sector with low inflation, stating that stable inflation rates eliminate uncertainty and avoids the erosion of the value of money. The current study used an Autoregressive Distributed Lag (ARDL) model to examine the linear co-integration and Non-linear Autoregressive Distributed Lag (NARDL) for the non-linear empirical analysis of the relationship between inflation, credit markets and economic growth in BRICS countries. The non-linearity of this relationship is important to study as there has been many debates on the nature of the inflation-growth relationships with some studies implying that it is positive, some say it is a negative relationship and some say it is non-linear. The annual data time series is extracted from the World Bank Indicators and the Penn State database covering the period 1960-2019. The main variables used in the study are Inflation (CPI), Credit (Domestic Credit to Private Sector) and Economic growth (GDP). The study conducted various regressions including the total of five linear regressions which were run individually for each country, the non-linear regressions consisted of three regressions for each country which were on 1) Only Inflation partitioned, (2) Only Credit partitioned and (3) both Inflation and Credit were partitioned. The partitioning of the variables is made possible by the NARDL model which allows variables to be partially decomposed into negative and positive sums to identify thresholds of variables which have various effects on other variables. The overall findings of the study suggest that although inflation exerts various effects on growth, according to this study’s results, it does not have a significant impact on credit for all the countries except for China whereby credit in general is conducive to economic growth and Brazil where growth is enhanced when credit is declining. The study revealed that generally, inflation exerts a negative impact on growth, therefore, authorities must focus on keeping inflation rates low particularly for Russia, India and South Africa as Brazil’s results suggest that rising inflation is conducive to its economic growth in the long run. According to the findings of this study, credit does not have the significant impact on growth even under different inflation thresholds. Furthermore, this does not imply that the credit channel is a futile tool for authorities, the relationship between inflation, credit and growth particularly with the hypothesis that inflation enhances credit market development and therefore growth, is not significant. , Thesis (MCom) -- Faculty of Business and Economic Sciences, School of Economics, Development & Tourism, 2021
- Full Text:
- Date Issued: 2021-12
The technical efficiency of SACU Ports: a data envelopment analysis approach
- Authors: Bekebu, Siyanda
- Date: 2021-12
- Subjects: Free ports and zones -- Africa, Southern , Harbors -- Africa, Southern
- Language: English
- Type: Master's theses , text
- Identifier: http://hdl.handle.net/10948/53813 , vital:45982
- Description: There ever growing international trade and increasing congestion of ports led to an increased focus attention on technical efficiency. Seaports are a central and necessary component in facilitating international trade. Yet, there is only limited comprehensive information available on the technical efficiency of African ports. The study investigated the technical efficiency of the SACU ports during the period 2014-2019 using DEA model. The DEA model is effective in resolving the measurement of port efficiency since the calculations are nonparametric and do not need definition or knowledge of a priori weights for the inputs or outputs, as is necessary for estimate of efficiency using production functions. To identify the roots of the technical inefficiency of the SACU ports, the study subdivided technical efficiency into pure technical and scale efficiency. The model used cargo handled, container throughput, ship calls as output variables. Whilst, quay cranes, number of tugboats, draft, quay length and number of quays were used as input variables. The study used the scores of DEA-BCC model as explanatory variables in Tobit model. The results showed that quay cranes and quay length are the cause of technical inefficiencies in the ports. , Thesis (MCom (Economics)) -- Faculty of Business and Economic Sciences, 2021
- Full Text:
- Date Issued: 2021-12
- Authors: Bekebu, Siyanda
- Date: 2021-12
- Subjects: Free ports and zones -- Africa, Southern , Harbors -- Africa, Southern
- Language: English
- Type: Master's theses , text
- Identifier: http://hdl.handle.net/10948/53813 , vital:45982
- Description: There ever growing international trade and increasing congestion of ports led to an increased focus attention on technical efficiency. Seaports are a central and necessary component in facilitating international trade. Yet, there is only limited comprehensive information available on the technical efficiency of African ports. The study investigated the technical efficiency of the SACU ports during the period 2014-2019 using DEA model. The DEA model is effective in resolving the measurement of port efficiency since the calculations are nonparametric and do not need definition or knowledge of a priori weights for the inputs or outputs, as is necessary for estimate of efficiency using production functions. To identify the roots of the technical inefficiency of the SACU ports, the study subdivided technical efficiency into pure technical and scale efficiency. The model used cargo handled, container throughput, ship calls as output variables. Whilst, quay cranes, number of tugboats, draft, quay length and number of quays were used as input variables. The study used the scores of DEA-BCC model as explanatory variables in Tobit model. The results showed that quay cranes and quay length are the cause of technical inefficiencies in the ports. , Thesis (MCom (Economics)) -- Faculty of Business and Economic Sciences, 2021
- Full Text:
- Date Issued: 2021-12
An Entrepreneurial Ecosystem framework for Nelson Mandela Bay
- Authors: Boucher, Marilyn Sasha
- Date: 2021-12
- Subjects: Entrepreneurship -- South Africa , Sustainable development--Eastern Cape (South Africa)
- Language: English
- Type: Doctoral theses , text
- Identifier: http://hdl.handle.net/10948/53562 , vital:45630
- Description: In recent years, the concept of entrepreneurial ecosystems increased in status amongst policy makers, scholars, practitioners, and mainstream media as a regional economic development strategy. Yet, despite the opportunities presented by the entrepreneurial ecosystem, it is both under-theorized and lacks data on a sub-national scale. Furthermore, research from an African and sub-Saharan African context remains in its infancy. The limited research within these resource-constrained countries creates a challenge to determine the underlying factors that influence entrepreneurship. As a result, developing economies, as in the case of sub-Saharan Africa, have applied generalizations of the entrepreneurial ecosystem, which undermine the temporal differences of places and reduce the potential to benefit from agglomeration economies. With the National Development Plan: Vision 2030, the South African government strives to achieve an inclusive economy through enhancing the capacity of the state, building capabilities, and promoting partnerships amongst sectors. Motivated by the mandate to redress the inequality caused by economic exclusion, the South African government has taken counteractive measures focused on promoting entrepreneurship as a key driver of economic growth. Despite the measures placed, South Africa struggles with high levels of inequality with a Gini coefficient of 0.63, unemployment of 32.6% and negative GDP per capita growth of - 8.137%. Furthermore, most small businesses in South Africa are informal, which means that a disproportionate concentration of employment exists in the informal sector. Against this backdrop, the problem addressed in this study is based on the challenge of creating productive entrepreneurship that acknowledges the unique structure and resources of Nelson Mandela Bay. To address this gap, a critical inquiry into entrepreneurial ecosystems was motivated. First, the inquiry is focused on a real-world context, namely Nelson Mandela Bay, which is one of the eight metropolitan regions in South Africa, a developing economy. Second, the inquiry uses multiple perspectives through multiple data collection methods. To commence the inquiry, a literature review was conducted on secondary sources to identify the factors influencing entrepreneurial ecosystems and formed the basis of the theoretical framework. The study followed the pragmatism research philosophy and used an abductive research approach. A mixed method research design was utilized and followed a sequential independent process, which was performed in two phases and independently analyzed. , Thesis (DBA) -- Faculty of Business and Economic Sciences, 2021
- Full Text:
- Date Issued: 2021-12
- Authors: Boucher, Marilyn Sasha
- Date: 2021-12
- Subjects: Entrepreneurship -- South Africa , Sustainable development--Eastern Cape (South Africa)
- Language: English
- Type: Doctoral theses , text
- Identifier: http://hdl.handle.net/10948/53562 , vital:45630
- Description: In recent years, the concept of entrepreneurial ecosystems increased in status amongst policy makers, scholars, practitioners, and mainstream media as a regional economic development strategy. Yet, despite the opportunities presented by the entrepreneurial ecosystem, it is both under-theorized and lacks data on a sub-national scale. Furthermore, research from an African and sub-Saharan African context remains in its infancy. The limited research within these resource-constrained countries creates a challenge to determine the underlying factors that influence entrepreneurship. As a result, developing economies, as in the case of sub-Saharan Africa, have applied generalizations of the entrepreneurial ecosystem, which undermine the temporal differences of places and reduce the potential to benefit from agglomeration economies. With the National Development Plan: Vision 2030, the South African government strives to achieve an inclusive economy through enhancing the capacity of the state, building capabilities, and promoting partnerships amongst sectors. Motivated by the mandate to redress the inequality caused by economic exclusion, the South African government has taken counteractive measures focused on promoting entrepreneurship as a key driver of economic growth. Despite the measures placed, South Africa struggles with high levels of inequality with a Gini coefficient of 0.63, unemployment of 32.6% and negative GDP per capita growth of - 8.137%. Furthermore, most small businesses in South Africa are informal, which means that a disproportionate concentration of employment exists in the informal sector. Against this backdrop, the problem addressed in this study is based on the challenge of creating productive entrepreneurship that acknowledges the unique structure and resources of Nelson Mandela Bay. To address this gap, a critical inquiry into entrepreneurial ecosystems was motivated. First, the inquiry is focused on a real-world context, namely Nelson Mandela Bay, which is one of the eight metropolitan regions in South Africa, a developing economy. Second, the inquiry uses multiple perspectives through multiple data collection methods. To commence the inquiry, a literature review was conducted on secondary sources to identify the factors influencing entrepreneurial ecosystems and formed the basis of the theoretical framework. The study followed the pragmatism research philosophy and used an abductive research approach. A mixed method research design was utilized and followed a sequential independent process, which was performed in two phases and independently analyzed. , Thesis (DBA) -- Faculty of Business and Economic Sciences, 2021
- Full Text:
- Date Issued: 2021-12
The contribution of urban agriculture to food sovereignty and household food security in Lingelihle
- Authors: Buso, Lelethu
- Date: 2021-12
- Subjects: Food security -- South Africa -- Eastern Cape , Food sovereignty -- South Africa -- Eastern Cape , Urban agriculture -- South Africa -- Eastern Cape
- Language: English
- Type: Master's theses , text
- Identifier: http://hdl.handle.net/10948/53834 , vital:46005
- Description: Most urban households in South Africa are food insecure even though poor households spend 60–80% of their income on food. Most of these households are low-income households who depend on social grants and whose main source of food are markets. This research assessed the contribution of urban agriculture to food sovereignty and household food security in Lingelihle Township, Cradock, in the Chris Hani district, South Africa. The research data were collected both from households that practise farming in Lingelihle Township and those that do not. The study used Participatory Rural Appraisal (PRA) methods such as observation, transect walks, resource mapping, food consumption diaries, focus group discussions and semi-structured interviews to collect data. The research findings revealed that urban agriculture has the potential to contribute to achieving food sovereignty and household food security. The comparison between households that farm and households that do not farm proved that households that farm are more food secure and have more disposable income than households that do not farm. The study offers recommendations on how urban agriculture can be supported to contribute to household food security and food sovereignty. , Thesis (MA) -- Faculty of Business and Economic Sciences, 2021
- Full Text:
- Date Issued: 2021-12
- Authors: Buso, Lelethu
- Date: 2021-12
- Subjects: Food security -- South Africa -- Eastern Cape , Food sovereignty -- South Africa -- Eastern Cape , Urban agriculture -- South Africa -- Eastern Cape
- Language: English
- Type: Master's theses , text
- Identifier: http://hdl.handle.net/10948/53834 , vital:46005
- Description: Most urban households in South Africa are food insecure even though poor households spend 60–80% of their income on food. Most of these households are low-income households who depend on social grants and whose main source of food are markets. This research assessed the contribution of urban agriculture to food sovereignty and household food security in Lingelihle Township, Cradock, in the Chris Hani district, South Africa. The research data were collected both from households that practise farming in Lingelihle Township and those that do not. The study used Participatory Rural Appraisal (PRA) methods such as observation, transect walks, resource mapping, food consumption diaries, focus group discussions and semi-structured interviews to collect data. The research findings revealed that urban agriculture has the potential to contribute to achieving food sovereignty and household food security. The comparison between households that farm and households that do not farm proved that households that farm are more food secure and have more disposable income than households that do not farm. The study offers recommendations on how urban agriculture can be supported to contribute to household food security and food sovereignty. , Thesis (MA) -- Faculty of Business and Economic Sciences, 2021
- Full Text:
- Date Issued: 2021-12
The perceived success of selected therapy programmes on mitigating the relapses of patients with substance use disorders in Gauteng, South Africa
- Authors: Chatikobo, Nyasha
- Date: 2021-12
- Subjects: Substance abuse -- Treatment , Psychotherapy
- Language: English
- Type: Doctoral theses , text
- Identifier: http://hdl.handle.net/10353/21860 , vital:51833
- Description: This study aimed at evaluating the perceived success of selected therapy programs in mitigating the relapse of patients with substance use disorders at two selected rehabilitation centres in the Gauteng province of South Africa. The methodology used for this study was a mixed-method approach, although more emphasis was on qualitative methods. The qualitative data was collected from four focus groups, and 6 in-depth interviews from key informants. The quantitative data was collected using questionnaires that were completed by 100 primary carers of discharged patients from the selected drug treatment centres. The main findings of the study showed that substance use disorder is a complex disease that requires several factors to be considered to avoid any relapses. The study showed that rehabilitation centres are hugely contributing to efforts of solving substance use in Gauteng and South Africa as a whole. These rehabilitation centres offered various treatment programs to individuals who suffer from substance use disorders. The findings also indicated that the selected therapy programmes at the rehabilitation centres met their objectives. However, some of the programmes were successful in mitigating the relapses of patients recovering from addiction to a lesser extent. The study also found out that the number of individuals who relapse is relatively high, however, the study did not dive into the depth of the causing factors. This may be room for future studies. Findings further indicated that the rehabilitation centres lacked in the application of a holistic approach to addiction treatment, even though there were several treatment programs offered. The issue of exorbitant residential fees in private rehabilitation facilities was also highlighted by the data collected. The research concluded by suggesting several recommendations such as research to improve policy for substance use with a focus on the human rights approach to the drug problem. Recommendations to the Department of Social Development which is responsible for the rehabilitation centres in South Africa. To ensure that all centres that are registered for offering treatment for substance use disorder be mandated to use a comprehensive multidisciplinary approach, diversifying and individualizing treatments for better outcomes. Lastly, recommendations were suggested to the social work practice, to support rehabilitation facilities by providing continuous specialized training to their social workers. Recommendations to social work training and curriculum to include in-depth substance use disorders during education, training, and field placements, for best practice amongst new social work practitioners placed in rehabilitation centres. , Thesis (PhD) -- Faculty of Social Sciences and Humanities, 2021
- Full Text:
- Date Issued: 2021-12
- Authors: Chatikobo, Nyasha
- Date: 2021-12
- Subjects: Substance abuse -- Treatment , Psychotherapy
- Language: English
- Type: Doctoral theses , text
- Identifier: http://hdl.handle.net/10353/21860 , vital:51833
- Description: This study aimed at evaluating the perceived success of selected therapy programs in mitigating the relapse of patients with substance use disorders at two selected rehabilitation centres in the Gauteng province of South Africa. The methodology used for this study was a mixed-method approach, although more emphasis was on qualitative methods. The qualitative data was collected from four focus groups, and 6 in-depth interviews from key informants. The quantitative data was collected using questionnaires that were completed by 100 primary carers of discharged patients from the selected drug treatment centres. The main findings of the study showed that substance use disorder is a complex disease that requires several factors to be considered to avoid any relapses. The study showed that rehabilitation centres are hugely contributing to efforts of solving substance use in Gauteng and South Africa as a whole. These rehabilitation centres offered various treatment programs to individuals who suffer from substance use disorders. The findings also indicated that the selected therapy programmes at the rehabilitation centres met their objectives. However, some of the programmes were successful in mitigating the relapses of patients recovering from addiction to a lesser extent. The study also found out that the number of individuals who relapse is relatively high, however, the study did not dive into the depth of the causing factors. This may be room for future studies. Findings further indicated that the rehabilitation centres lacked in the application of a holistic approach to addiction treatment, even though there were several treatment programs offered. The issue of exorbitant residential fees in private rehabilitation facilities was also highlighted by the data collected. The research concluded by suggesting several recommendations such as research to improve policy for substance use with a focus on the human rights approach to the drug problem. Recommendations to the Department of Social Development which is responsible for the rehabilitation centres in South Africa. To ensure that all centres that are registered for offering treatment for substance use disorder be mandated to use a comprehensive multidisciplinary approach, diversifying and individualizing treatments for better outcomes. Lastly, recommendations were suggested to the social work practice, to support rehabilitation facilities by providing continuous specialized training to their social workers. Recommendations to social work training and curriculum to include in-depth substance use disorders during education, training, and field placements, for best practice amongst new social work practitioners placed in rehabilitation centres. , Thesis (PhD) -- Faculty of Social Sciences and Humanities, 2021
- Full Text:
- Date Issued: 2021-12
Exploration of remote work and wellbeing of academics in a South African tertiary institution
- Authors: Chikutu, Michelle
- Date: 2022-10-14
- Subjects: Uncatalogued
- Language: English
- Type: Academic theses , Master's theses , text
- Identifier: http://hdl.handle.net/10962/405963 , vital:70223
- Description: Thesis embargoed. To be released in 2024. , Thesis (MA) -- Faculty of Humanities, Psychology, 2022
- Full Text:
- Date Issued: 2022-10-14
- Authors: Chikutu, Michelle
- Date: 2022-10-14
- Subjects: Uncatalogued
- Language: English
- Type: Academic theses , Master's theses , text
- Identifier: http://hdl.handle.net/10962/405963 , vital:70223
- Description: Thesis embargoed. To be released in 2024. , Thesis (MA) -- Faculty of Humanities, Psychology, 2022
- Full Text:
- Date Issued: 2022-10-14
Evaluation of the effectiveness of small aperture network telescopes as IBR data sources
- Authors: Chindipha, Stones Dalitso
- Date: 2023-03-31
- Subjects: Computer networks Monitoring , Computer networks Security measures , Computer bootstrapping , Time-series analysis , Regression analysis , Mathematical models
- Language: English
- Type: Academic theses , Doctoral theses , text
- Identifier: http://hdl.handle.net/10962/366264 , vital:65849 , DOI https://doi.org/10.21504/10962/366264
- Description: The use of network telescopes to collect unsolicited network traffic by monitoring unallocated address space has been in existence for over two decades. Past research has shown that there is a lot of activity happening in this unallocated space that needs monitoring as it carries threat intelligence data that has proven to be very useful in the security field. Prior to the emergence of the Internet of Things (IoT), commercialisation of IP addresses and widespread of mobile devices, there was a large pool of IPv4 addresses and thus reserving IPv4 addresses to be used for monitoring unsolicited activities going in the unallocated space was not a problem. Now, preservation of such IPv4 addresses just for monitoring is increasingly difficult as there is not enough free addresses in the IPv4 address space to be used for just monitoring. This is the case because such monitoring is seen as a ’non-productive’ use of the IP addresses. This research addresses the problem brought forth by this IPv4 address space exhaustion in relation to Internet Background Radiation (IBR) monitoring. In order to address the research questions, this research developed four mathematical models: Absolute Mean Accuracy Percentage Score (AMAPS), Symmetric Absolute Mean Accuracy Percentage Score (SAMAPS), Standardised Mean Absolute Error (SMAE), and Standardised Mean Absolute Scaled Error (SMASE). These models are used to evaluate the research objectives and quantify the variations that exist between different samples. The sample sizes represent different lens sizes of the telescopes. The study has brought to light a time series plot that shows the expected proportion of unique source IP addresses collected over time. The study also imputed data using the smaller /24 IPv4 net-block subnets to regenerate the missing data points using bootstrapping to create confidence intervals (CI). The findings from the simulated data supports the findings computed from the models. The CI offers a boost to decision making. Through a series of experiments with monthly and quarterly datasets, the study proposed a 95% - 99% confidence level to be used. It was known that large network telescopes collect more threat intelligence data than small-sized network telescopes, however, no study, to the best of our knowledge, has ever quantified such a knowledge gap. With the findings from the study, small-sized network telescope users can now use their network telescopes with full knowledge of gap that exists in the data collected between different network telescopes. , Thesis (PhD) -- Faculty of Science, Computer Science, 2023
- Full Text:
- Date Issued: 2023-03-31
- Authors: Chindipha, Stones Dalitso
- Date: 2023-03-31
- Subjects: Computer networks Monitoring , Computer networks Security measures , Computer bootstrapping , Time-series analysis , Regression analysis , Mathematical models
- Language: English
- Type: Academic theses , Doctoral theses , text
- Identifier: http://hdl.handle.net/10962/366264 , vital:65849 , DOI https://doi.org/10.21504/10962/366264
- Description: The use of network telescopes to collect unsolicited network traffic by monitoring unallocated address space has been in existence for over two decades. Past research has shown that there is a lot of activity happening in this unallocated space that needs monitoring as it carries threat intelligence data that has proven to be very useful in the security field. Prior to the emergence of the Internet of Things (IoT), commercialisation of IP addresses and widespread of mobile devices, there was a large pool of IPv4 addresses and thus reserving IPv4 addresses to be used for monitoring unsolicited activities going in the unallocated space was not a problem. Now, preservation of such IPv4 addresses just for monitoring is increasingly difficult as there is not enough free addresses in the IPv4 address space to be used for just monitoring. This is the case because such monitoring is seen as a ’non-productive’ use of the IP addresses. This research addresses the problem brought forth by this IPv4 address space exhaustion in relation to Internet Background Radiation (IBR) monitoring. In order to address the research questions, this research developed four mathematical models: Absolute Mean Accuracy Percentage Score (AMAPS), Symmetric Absolute Mean Accuracy Percentage Score (SAMAPS), Standardised Mean Absolute Error (SMAE), and Standardised Mean Absolute Scaled Error (SMASE). These models are used to evaluate the research objectives and quantify the variations that exist between different samples. The sample sizes represent different lens sizes of the telescopes. The study has brought to light a time series plot that shows the expected proportion of unique source IP addresses collected over time. The study also imputed data using the smaller /24 IPv4 net-block subnets to regenerate the missing data points using bootstrapping to create confidence intervals (CI). The findings from the simulated data supports the findings computed from the models. The CI offers a boost to decision making. Through a series of experiments with monthly and quarterly datasets, the study proposed a 95% - 99% confidence level to be used. It was known that large network telescopes collect more threat intelligence data than small-sized network telescopes, however, no study, to the best of our knowledge, has ever quantified such a knowledge gap. With the findings from the study, small-sized network telescope users can now use their network telescopes with full knowledge of gap that exists in the data collected between different network telescopes. , Thesis (PhD) -- Faculty of Science, Computer Science, 2023
- Full Text:
- Date Issued: 2023-03-31
Factors influencing the performance of staff members in a tertiary hospital
- Combrink, Cornelius Johannes
- Authors: Combrink, Cornelius Johannes
- Date: 2021-12
- Subjects: Community health services
- Language: English
- Type: Master's theses , text
- Identifier: http://hdl.handle.net/10353/21642 , vital:51737
- Description: Healthcare services within a hospital setting are the basic aspects for the success of service delivery and staff performance in this regard. The paramount component of human resources makes a positive contribution to a healthcare system. Recently, it has been recognised that the performance of healthcare personnel ought to be a key factor for a sustainable performance system. Nevertheless, it is generally known that healthcare workers fail to accomplish the anticipated outcomes of health interventions. This concept leads to the research question: Why is the public sector known for poor service delivery and poor performance? This study aims to determine the factors that impact on the health worker’s performance in a tertiary hospital in South-Africa. A framework will be carefully constructed and cautiously implemented to improve and develop the performance of healthcare workers in this hospital. The vast scope and population involved in this study make a quantitative research approach most suitable, along with a non-probability purposive sampling method. A survey method using an electronic questionnaire that was circulated via a web survey, and a paper-based questionnaire that was distributed within the hospital were used to obtain a diverse perception of the healthcare workers. Data analysis included determining factors, group differences and correlations using the SPSS-27 program. The target population included all healthcare workers in the tertiary hospital – from junior employees to senior management level staff. Statistical data analysis collected for this study revealed four major factors (politics-related resources, resource, training and socioeconomic) that play a major role in the trends of performance culture at the selected tertiary hospital. These results lead to the understanding that the hospital is currently experiencing inadequate human resources management components such as recognition of employees who perform above expectations; execution of a performance appraisal system; lack in implementing the annual salary increase; unfavourable working conditions (lack of resources); troublesome management skills, and insufficient feedback on performance outcomes. These features are directly associated with the quality and degree of the performance of healthcare personnel. Based on the results, a management framework was proposed. The framework consists of activities that will improve the healthcare profession; strengthen expertise and knowledge; develop management skills; enhance knowledge through research and, ultimately, upgrade the performance of healthcare personnel. , Thesis (MPH) -- Faculty of Health Sciences, Public Health, 2021
- Full Text:
- Date Issued: 2021-12
- Authors: Combrink, Cornelius Johannes
- Date: 2021-12
- Subjects: Community health services
- Language: English
- Type: Master's theses , text
- Identifier: http://hdl.handle.net/10353/21642 , vital:51737
- Description: Healthcare services within a hospital setting are the basic aspects for the success of service delivery and staff performance in this regard. The paramount component of human resources makes a positive contribution to a healthcare system. Recently, it has been recognised that the performance of healthcare personnel ought to be a key factor for a sustainable performance system. Nevertheless, it is generally known that healthcare workers fail to accomplish the anticipated outcomes of health interventions. This concept leads to the research question: Why is the public sector known for poor service delivery and poor performance? This study aims to determine the factors that impact on the health worker’s performance in a tertiary hospital in South-Africa. A framework will be carefully constructed and cautiously implemented to improve and develop the performance of healthcare workers in this hospital. The vast scope and population involved in this study make a quantitative research approach most suitable, along with a non-probability purposive sampling method. A survey method using an electronic questionnaire that was circulated via a web survey, and a paper-based questionnaire that was distributed within the hospital were used to obtain a diverse perception of the healthcare workers. Data analysis included determining factors, group differences and correlations using the SPSS-27 program. The target population included all healthcare workers in the tertiary hospital – from junior employees to senior management level staff. Statistical data analysis collected for this study revealed four major factors (politics-related resources, resource, training and socioeconomic) that play a major role in the trends of performance culture at the selected tertiary hospital. These results lead to the understanding that the hospital is currently experiencing inadequate human resources management components such as recognition of employees who perform above expectations; execution of a performance appraisal system; lack in implementing the annual salary increase; unfavourable working conditions (lack of resources); troublesome management skills, and insufficient feedback on performance outcomes. These features are directly associated with the quality and degree of the performance of healthcare personnel. Based on the results, a management framework was proposed. The framework consists of activities that will improve the healthcare profession; strengthen expertise and knowledge; develop management skills; enhance knowledge through research and, ultimately, upgrade the performance of healthcare personnel. , Thesis (MPH) -- Faculty of Health Sciences, Public Health, 2021
- Full Text:
- Date Issued: 2021-12
Assessing the implementation of environmental education school policy in Buffalo City Metro Education District South Africa
- Authors: Damoah, Benjamin
- Date: 2021-12
- Subjects: Environmental education , Environmental policy -- South Africa , Education and state -- South Africa
- Language: English
- Type: Doctoral theses , text
- Identifier: http://hdl.handle.net/10353/21602 , vital:51703
- Description: Environmental Education (EE) is essential for addressing environmental challenges.The advantages of EE are undeniable; it might be used to address specific environmental concerns and their implications, as well as to modify behaviours that lead to environmental catastrophes.EE strengthens people's resilience to climaterelated hazards. Global environmental issues have heightened interest in educational policy outcomes and their implications for economic growth and social citizenship. It is worth noting that an effective EE policy has a significant influence on the development of learners' environmental literacy. This study assessed the implementation of environmental education school policy in the Buffalo City Metro Education District, South Africa. This study adopted the pragmatism paradigm of Mixed Method Research(MMR). Concurrent triangulation, which is a design that employs a single data collection technique in which quantitative and qualitative data gathering and analysis are carried out independently yet concurrently, was used for this study. The target population of this study involved 60,412 teachers, 1,770,289 learners in 5205 public schools, and 1 Pro-EE civil society organisation in the Eastern Cape province. This was narrowed down to over 268 public and independent schools, teachers, and principals within the enclave of the Buffalo Metropolitan education district. The study adopted stratified purposeful and simple random probability sampling. In this technique, the sampling frame of the study was divided into strata or groups (principals, teachers, learners, and CSOs) and a sample was purposefully selected from each stratum (Migiro & Magangi, 2011). The stratified purposeful random sampling techniques draw data from 10 principals, 175 teachers, 1500 learners, and 1 CSO. Structured questionnaire; Implementation of EE Policy Questionnaire (IEEPQ) whose reliability co-efficient value using Cronbach Alpha was 0.74, semi-structured interview and documents were the instruments used to collect data for this study. The data were analysed using descriptive statistics of percentage, mean, and standard deviation for the quantitative data while the thematic approach of sorting, coding, transcribing, and categorization was used for the qualitative data. The study revealed the following. When asked whether teachers had studied environmental education in tertiary institutions as part of their professional training, the majority of the teachers'respondents, 108, representing 61.7percent, disagreed with this view. On the flip side, a handful of teachers 67, (38.3percent) agreed with the view of having had some sort of EE knowledge during their professional training as teachers. With regards to the view that learners learn environmental issues through other subjects, most of the learner respondents, 1316 representing 87.7percent, agreed with this view. On the contrary, a minority of the respondents 184 (12,3percent) had a dissenting opinion. This indicates that most learners in school learn about environmental concerns through other traditional subjects. The study established that EE content is manifest in teachers' and learners' textbooks, teaching methods, and co-curricular activities. However, the study identified lapses in how teachers and learners integrate EE into their day-to-day practices. Therefore, the implementation of the EE policy seems to be an exercise in futility. The absence of a policy guideline document has made teachers and school administrators incapacitated in the implementation of EE school policy. , Thesis (PhD) -- Faculty of Education, 2022
- Full Text:
- Date Issued: 2021-12
- Authors: Damoah, Benjamin
- Date: 2021-12
- Subjects: Environmental education , Environmental policy -- South Africa , Education and state -- South Africa
- Language: English
- Type: Doctoral theses , text
- Identifier: http://hdl.handle.net/10353/21602 , vital:51703
- Description: Environmental Education (EE) is essential for addressing environmental challenges.The advantages of EE are undeniable; it might be used to address specific environmental concerns and their implications, as well as to modify behaviours that lead to environmental catastrophes.EE strengthens people's resilience to climaterelated hazards. Global environmental issues have heightened interest in educational policy outcomes and their implications for economic growth and social citizenship. It is worth noting that an effective EE policy has a significant influence on the development of learners' environmental literacy. This study assessed the implementation of environmental education school policy in the Buffalo City Metro Education District, South Africa. This study adopted the pragmatism paradigm of Mixed Method Research(MMR). Concurrent triangulation, which is a design that employs a single data collection technique in which quantitative and qualitative data gathering and analysis are carried out independently yet concurrently, was used for this study. The target population of this study involved 60,412 teachers, 1,770,289 learners in 5205 public schools, and 1 Pro-EE civil society organisation in the Eastern Cape province. This was narrowed down to over 268 public and independent schools, teachers, and principals within the enclave of the Buffalo Metropolitan education district. The study adopted stratified purposeful and simple random probability sampling. In this technique, the sampling frame of the study was divided into strata or groups (principals, teachers, learners, and CSOs) and a sample was purposefully selected from each stratum (Migiro & Magangi, 2011). The stratified purposeful random sampling techniques draw data from 10 principals, 175 teachers, 1500 learners, and 1 CSO. Structured questionnaire; Implementation of EE Policy Questionnaire (IEEPQ) whose reliability co-efficient value using Cronbach Alpha was 0.74, semi-structured interview and documents were the instruments used to collect data for this study. The data were analysed using descriptive statistics of percentage, mean, and standard deviation for the quantitative data while the thematic approach of sorting, coding, transcribing, and categorization was used for the qualitative data. The study revealed the following. When asked whether teachers had studied environmental education in tertiary institutions as part of their professional training, the majority of the teachers'respondents, 108, representing 61.7percent, disagreed with this view. On the flip side, a handful of teachers 67, (38.3percent) agreed with the view of having had some sort of EE knowledge during their professional training as teachers. With regards to the view that learners learn environmental issues through other subjects, most of the learner respondents, 1316 representing 87.7percent, agreed with this view. On the contrary, a minority of the respondents 184 (12,3percent) had a dissenting opinion. This indicates that most learners in school learn about environmental concerns through other traditional subjects. The study established that EE content is manifest in teachers' and learners' textbooks, teaching methods, and co-curricular activities. However, the study identified lapses in how teachers and learners integrate EE into their day-to-day practices. Therefore, the implementation of the EE policy seems to be an exercise in futility. The absence of a policy guideline document has made teachers and school administrators incapacitated in the implementation of EE school policy. , Thesis (PhD) -- Faculty of Education, 2022
- Full Text:
- Date Issued: 2021-12
Orthographic knowledge in isiXhosa and its relation to phonological processing, letter-sound knowledge, reading and spelling
- Authors: Daries, Mikaela Ann
- Date: 2022-10-14
- Subjects: Xhosa language Orthography and spelling , Phonological awareness , Psycholinguistics , Oral reading Usage , Literacy South Africa , Reading Phonetic method
- Language: English
- Type: Academic theses , Master's theses , text
- Identifier: http://hdl.handle.net/10962/406703 , vital:70300
- Description: Despite international research confirming its importance, writing and related metalinguistic skills have often been neglected in comparison to reading in literacy research (Cunningham et al., 2001; Castles & Coltheart, 2004; Nag, 2007; Roman et al., 2009; Zhao et al., 2017). On a national level there are very few studies that have explored the writing aspect of literacy in South Africa, and none that has investigated orthographic knowledge in a Southern Bantu language, such as isiXhosa. In an attempt to address this gap, this thesis explores orthographic knowledge and its components in isiXhosa. In particular, it seeks to investigate the unique predictors of word specific and general orthographic knowledge as well as their role for reading and spelling in isiXhosa while controlling for phonological awareness (PA), rapid automatized naming (RAN), and letter-sound knowledge. Furthermore, the thesis attempts to situate its findings within the main premises of the self-teaching hypothesis and dual route approach to orthographic processing in order to contribute to linguistic theories of reading with cross-linguistic evidence (Jorm & Share, 1983; Share & Jorm, 1987; Share, 1995; Grainger & Ziegler, 2011). A quantitative cross-sectional study was conducted with 140 isiXhosa home language third grade learners in which word specific and general orthographic knowledge tasks were specifically designed. These tasks were administered along with oral reading fluency (ORF), spelling, PA, RAN, and letter-sound knowledge. The findings revealed that letter-sound knowledge and PA contributed the largest variance towards both word specific and general orthographic knowledge. Further, word specific orthographic knowledge and letter-sound knowledge were the only significant predictors of spelling. Similarly, both word specific and letter-sound knowledge were significant predictors of reading, along with RAN and general orthographic knowledge. Quantile linear regression analyses revealed that word specific orthographic knowledge was a robust predictor of spelling and letter-sound knowledge was a robust predictor of reading across ability levels confirming the importance for word specific orthographic knowledge for spelling and letter-sound knowledge for reading in isiXhosa. In relation to the two reading theories considered in this thesis, the findings reflect similarities between the assertions of the self-teaching hypothesis and current thesis with suggestions made for further inquiry. The dual route approach to orthographic processing provides insights into the potential processing of orthographic information while reading in isiXhosa. The findings of this study confirm the importance of orthographic knowledge for reading and spelling for languages with transparent orthographies such as isiXhosa. , Thesis (MA) -- Faculty of Humanities, Linguistics and Applied Language Studies, 2022
- Full Text:
- Date Issued: 2022-10-14
- Authors: Daries, Mikaela Ann
- Date: 2022-10-14
- Subjects: Xhosa language Orthography and spelling , Phonological awareness , Psycholinguistics , Oral reading Usage , Literacy South Africa , Reading Phonetic method
- Language: English
- Type: Academic theses , Master's theses , text
- Identifier: http://hdl.handle.net/10962/406703 , vital:70300
- Description: Despite international research confirming its importance, writing and related metalinguistic skills have often been neglected in comparison to reading in literacy research (Cunningham et al., 2001; Castles & Coltheart, 2004; Nag, 2007; Roman et al., 2009; Zhao et al., 2017). On a national level there are very few studies that have explored the writing aspect of literacy in South Africa, and none that has investigated orthographic knowledge in a Southern Bantu language, such as isiXhosa. In an attempt to address this gap, this thesis explores orthographic knowledge and its components in isiXhosa. In particular, it seeks to investigate the unique predictors of word specific and general orthographic knowledge as well as their role for reading and spelling in isiXhosa while controlling for phonological awareness (PA), rapid automatized naming (RAN), and letter-sound knowledge. Furthermore, the thesis attempts to situate its findings within the main premises of the self-teaching hypothesis and dual route approach to orthographic processing in order to contribute to linguistic theories of reading with cross-linguistic evidence (Jorm & Share, 1983; Share & Jorm, 1987; Share, 1995; Grainger & Ziegler, 2011). A quantitative cross-sectional study was conducted with 140 isiXhosa home language third grade learners in which word specific and general orthographic knowledge tasks were specifically designed. These tasks were administered along with oral reading fluency (ORF), spelling, PA, RAN, and letter-sound knowledge. The findings revealed that letter-sound knowledge and PA contributed the largest variance towards both word specific and general orthographic knowledge. Further, word specific orthographic knowledge and letter-sound knowledge were the only significant predictors of spelling. Similarly, both word specific and letter-sound knowledge were significant predictors of reading, along with RAN and general orthographic knowledge. Quantile linear regression analyses revealed that word specific orthographic knowledge was a robust predictor of spelling and letter-sound knowledge was a robust predictor of reading across ability levels confirming the importance for word specific orthographic knowledge for spelling and letter-sound knowledge for reading in isiXhosa. In relation to the two reading theories considered in this thesis, the findings reflect similarities between the assertions of the self-teaching hypothesis and current thesis with suggestions made for further inquiry. The dual route approach to orthographic processing provides insights into the potential processing of orthographic information while reading in isiXhosa. The findings of this study confirm the importance of orthographic knowledge for reading and spelling for languages with transparent orthographies such as isiXhosa. , Thesis (MA) -- Faculty of Humanities, Linguistics and Applied Language Studies, 2022
- Full Text:
- Date Issued: 2022-10-14
The aesthetics of hegemony: a speculative design proposal exploring the convergence of surveillance capitalism and brain-computer interface technologies in the future
- Authors: Davies, James Tibbott
- Date: 2021-12
- Subjects: Port Elizabeth (South Africa) , Eastern Cape (South Africa) , South Africa
- Language: English
- Type: Master's theses , text
- Identifier: http://hdl.handle.net/10948/54417 , vital:46517
- Description: This study examines the power dynamics of surveillance capitalism, and its role in shaping cultural hegemony. The research was expressed using graphic design to illustrate a (potential) future where Brain-Computer Interfaces (BCIs) and surveillance capitalism converge. The critique focused on Google and Facebook’s hegemony in the data-surveillance marketplace and what role this has in shaping global discourse. Both companies are funding the development of BCIs, with the aim of using brain signals as a means of interacting with the digital world, which would give the two biggest advertising companies in the world access to new sources of data. A speculative design framework was utilized to visually question the societal implications of this emerging technology and the funding behind its development. A theoretical investigation of the concepts underpinning critical theory and critical design was conducted to help clarify and critically inform this methodological approach, promoting the use of practice-based design as a critically reflective investigative tool. The resulting artefacts designed using this process were showcased in the form of a website and video that act as a visual embodiment the research, demonstrating the efficacy of this approach and the value of using communication design as a mechanism to question the status quo. , Thesis (MA) -- Faculty of Humanities, School of Visual and Performing Arts, 2021
- Full Text:
- Date Issued: 2021-12
- Authors: Davies, James Tibbott
- Date: 2021-12
- Subjects: Port Elizabeth (South Africa) , Eastern Cape (South Africa) , South Africa
- Language: English
- Type: Master's theses , text
- Identifier: http://hdl.handle.net/10948/54417 , vital:46517
- Description: This study examines the power dynamics of surveillance capitalism, and its role in shaping cultural hegemony. The research was expressed using graphic design to illustrate a (potential) future where Brain-Computer Interfaces (BCIs) and surveillance capitalism converge. The critique focused on Google and Facebook’s hegemony in the data-surveillance marketplace and what role this has in shaping global discourse. Both companies are funding the development of BCIs, with the aim of using brain signals as a means of interacting with the digital world, which would give the two biggest advertising companies in the world access to new sources of data. A speculative design framework was utilized to visually question the societal implications of this emerging technology and the funding behind its development. A theoretical investigation of the concepts underpinning critical theory and critical design was conducted to help clarify and critically inform this methodological approach, promoting the use of practice-based design as a critically reflective investigative tool. The resulting artefacts designed using this process were showcased in the form of a website and video that act as a visual embodiment the research, demonstrating the efficacy of this approach and the value of using communication design as a mechanism to question the status quo. , Thesis (MA) -- Faculty of Humanities, School of Visual and Performing Arts, 2021
- Full Text:
- Date Issued: 2021-12
Corporate social responsibility from the community perspective
- Authors: De Kock, Breched Richard
- Date: 2021-12
- Subjects: Social responsibility of business -- South Africa -- Northern Cape
- Language: English
- Type: Master's theses , text
- Identifier: http://hdl.handle.net/10948/53846 , vital:46016
- Description: Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) is a strategy that is used by organisations to take responsibility for the social and environmental responsibility of where they are operating. The organisation has to make sure that the community in which they are operating benefits from their operations through Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR). The researcher conducted this study which focuses on the developmental side of Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) as an instrument for supplementing the role of governments in developing communities, particularly in the Northern Cape, South Africa, where poverty and underdevelopment have become prevalent. The study explores CSR investments from a community perspective, community participation, supporting enterprise and social trust development within the respective communities. While Renewable Energy Independent Power Producers (REIPP) made every effort to implement CSR as part of their contribution to developing the communities they operate in, CSR is used as a tick box exercise for many. While some of these companies do it for more than just bragging rights, these CSR strategies normally follow a top-down approach. Some of these implementation programmes are purely based on desktop research and are so far removed from the current realities and needs of the communities that the money and effort spend does not have the multiplier effect that everyone desires. The study aimed to analyse Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) from a community perspective, thus, the study explored the view of the community on Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR). The study discovered that many of the respondents have a general understanding of CSR and how it should impact the community. This impact, however, is not being seen with the research indicating that most of the youth are uneducated and unemployed. The majority have also pointed towards dissatisfaction and the lack of trust in how the government and REIPP are applying the renewable energy sector CSR principles within these communities. , Thesis (MBA) -- Faculty of Business and Economic Sciences, 2021
- Full Text:
- Date Issued: 2021-12
- Authors: De Kock, Breched Richard
- Date: 2021-12
- Subjects: Social responsibility of business -- South Africa -- Northern Cape
- Language: English
- Type: Master's theses , text
- Identifier: http://hdl.handle.net/10948/53846 , vital:46016
- Description: Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) is a strategy that is used by organisations to take responsibility for the social and environmental responsibility of where they are operating. The organisation has to make sure that the community in which they are operating benefits from their operations through Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR). The researcher conducted this study which focuses on the developmental side of Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) as an instrument for supplementing the role of governments in developing communities, particularly in the Northern Cape, South Africa, where poverty and underdevelopment have become prevalent. The study explores CSR investments from a community perspective, community participation, supporting enterprise and social trust development within the respective communities. While Renewable Energy Independent Power Producers (REIPP) made every effort to implement CSR as part of their contribution to developing the communities they operate in, CSR is used as a tick box exercise for many. While some of these companies do it for more than just bragging rights, these CSR strategies normally follow a top-down approach. Some of these implementation programmes are purely based on desktop research and are so far removed from the current realities and needs of the communities that the money and effort spend does not have the multiplier effect that everyone desires. The study aimed to analyse Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) from a community perspective, thus, the study explored the view of the community on Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR). The study discovered that many of the respondents have a general understanding of CSR and how it should impact the community. This impact, however, is not being seen with the research indicating that most of the youth are uneducated and unemployed. The majority have also pointed towards dissatisfaction and the lack of trust in how the government and REIPP are applying the renewable energy sector CSR principles within these communities. , Thesis (MBA) -- Faculty of Business and Economic Sciences, 2021
- Full Text:
- Date Issued: 2021-12
Coordination polymers for denitrogenation of fuel oils
- Authors: Dembaremba, Tendai O
- Date: 2021-12
- Subjects: Port Elizabeth (South Africa) , Eastern Cape (South Africa) , South Africa
- Language: English
- Type: Doctoral theses , text
- Identifier: http://hdl.handle.net/10948/53630 , vital:45682
- Description: In this thesis, we present adsorptive removal of nitrogen-containing compounds from fuel oil as an alternative to complement conventional hydrotreatment to obtain ultra-low sulfur and nitrogen levels. This is in cognizance of the challenges nitrogen-containing compounds pose to the hydrotreatment process, particularly their inhibition and/or poisoning of the catalysts used in the process, of which basic nitrogen-containing compounds are the major culprits. Selectivity is the biggest challenge for adsorptive removal of nitrogen-containing compounds. We explore reticular synthesis of metal organic frameworks and the use of coordinatively unsaturated metal sites in 1-dimensional coordination polymers to achieve good selectivity for nitrogen-containing compounds. In the first part of the thesis, reticular synthesis of metal organic frameworks to control the size of the cavity, and strategically use the linkers and metal centres was envisaged. In this work we explored variation of the metal centres in the secondary building units (SBUs of the MOFs as the first step to the testing and implementation of the design strategies. Carbazole, representing carbazoles which the major compounds that remain in hydrotreated fuel, was the target compound. Four MOFs of zinc (Zn-CDC-bpe), copper (Cu-CDC-bpe), nickel (Ni-CDC-bpe) and cobalt (Co-CDC-bpe) based on the formation of a dinuclear metal paddlewheel SBUs with the ligand 9H-Carbazole-3,6-dicarboxylic acid (H2CDC) and occupation of the axial positions of the paddlewheel by 1,2-Bis(4-pyridyl)ethane (bpe) to form porous networks were synthesized. A fifth MOF containing only CDC which forms a [Zn4O(O2C-R)5(O2HC-R)] SBU was also synthesized (Zn-CDC). The ligand H2CDC was inspired by the possibility of improving selectivity for carbazole via π–π interactions through the more preferred parallel-offset stacking as well as the possibility for further substitution of the carbazole N-H to add groups that improve selectivity. The sizes of the MOF cavities can then be controlled by choosing different lengths of ligands analogous to 1,2-Bis(4-pyridyl)ethane (bpe), e.g. 4,4’-bipyridine and pyrazine. All the MOFs showed good selectivity of carbazole. The Zn-CDC MOF also had good selectivity for the basic nitrogen-containing compounds tested: quinoline, isoquinoline, quinaldine and 1-naphthylamine. Its uptake of carbazole was also slightly higher. This was attributed to the presence of an unsaturated Zn site in the SBU. Adsorption in all the MOFs was primarily due to physisorption. It was concluded that the role of the metal centre does not play a significant role in the adsorption of carbazole besides providing a template for reticular synthesis. , Thesis (PhD) -- Faculty of Science, School of Biomolecular and Chemical Sciences, 2021
- Full Text: false
- Date Issued: 2021-12
- Authors: Dembaremba, Tendai O
- Date: 2021-12
- Subjects: Port Elizabeth (South Africa) , Eastern Cape (South Africa) , South Africa
- Language: English
- Type: Doctoral theses , text
- Identifier: http://hdl.handle.net/10948/53630 , vital:45682
- Description: In this thesis, we present adsorptive removal of nitrogen-containing compounds from fuel oil as an alternative to complement conventional hydrotreatment to obtain ultra-low sulfur and nitrogen levels. This is in cognizance of the challenges nitrogen-containing compounds pose to the hydrotreatment process, particularly their inhibition and/or poisoning of the catalysts used in the process, of which basic nitrogen-containing compounds are the major culprits. Selectivity is the biggest challenge for adsorptive removal of nitrogen-containing compounds. We explore reticular synthesis of metal organic frameworks and the use of coordinatively unsaturated metal sites in 1-dimensional coordination polymers to achieve good selectivity for nitrogen-containing compounds. In the first part of the thesis, reticular synthesis of metal organic frameworks to control the size of the cavity, and strategically use the linkers and metal centres was envisaged. In this work we explored variation of the metal centres in the secondary building units (SBUs of the MOFs as the first step to the testing and implementation of the design strategies. Carbazole, representing carbazoles which the major compounds that remain in hydrotreated fuel, was the target compound. Four MOFs of zinc (Zn-CDC-bpe), copper (Cu-CDC-bpe), nickel (Ni-CDC-bpe) and cobalt (Co-CDC-bpe) based on the formation of a dinuclear metal paddlewheel SBUs with the ligand 9H-Carbazole-3,6-dicarboxylic acid (H2CDC) and occupation of the axial positions of the paddlewheel by 1,2-Bis(4-pyridyl)ethane (bpe) to form porous networks were synthesized. A fifth MOF containing only CDC which forms a [Zn4O(O2C-R)5(O2HC-R)] SBU was also synthesized (Zn-CDC). The ligand H2CDC was inspired by the possibility of improving selectivity for carbazole via π–π interactions through the more preferred parallel-offset stacking as well as the possibility for further substitution of the carbazole N-H to add groups that improve selectivity. The sizes of the MOF cavities can then be controlled by choosing different lengths of ligands analogous to 1,2-Bis(4-pyridyl)ethane (bpe), e.g. 4,4’-bipyridine and pyrazine. All the MOFs showed good selectivity of carbazole. The Zn-CDC MOF also had good selectivity for the basic nitrogen-containing compounds tested: quinoline, isoquinoline, quinaldine and 1-naphthylamine. Its uptake of carbazole was also slightly higher. This was attributed to the presence of an unsaturated Zn site in the SBU. Adsorption in all the MOFs was primarily due to physisorption. It was concluded that the role of the metal centre does not play a significant role in the adsorption of carbazole besides providing a template for reticular synthesis. , Thesis (PhD) -- Faculty of Science, School of Biomolecular and Chemical Sciences, 2021
- Full Text: false
- Date Issued: 2021-12
Perceptions of small-scale vegetable farmers on drought mitigation strategies in the Amathole District Municipality of the Eastern Cape Province
- Authors: Dingiswayo, Xolisile
- Date: 2021-12
- Subjects: Port Elizabeth (South Africa) , Eastern Cape (South Africa) , South Africa
- Language: English
- Type: Master's theses , text
- Identifier: http://hdl.handle.net/10948/53676 , vital:45686
- Description: The present study aimed to investigate perceptions of small-scale vegetable farmers on drought mitigation strategies in the Amathole District Municipality of the Eastern Cape Province. The research objective was to investigate what small-scale vegetable farmers’ perceptions and readiness are in terms of strategies to cope with drought conditions. The study was conducted within the Mbashe, Mnquma, Amahlathi and Great Kei local municipalities of the Eastern Cape. Primary data collection was conducted among 44 small-scale vegetable farmers of the Amathole municipal district. These are farmers who receive social support from the government, are registered with the Department of Rural Development and Agrarian Reform and contribute to the fight against food insecurity in the Amathole district. The primary data was also collected from 13 agricultural extension officers with high experience in advising small-scale farmers residing in the Amathole district. Data collection took place in various local municipalities under Amathole District Municipality, namely: Mbashe, Mnquma, Amahlathi and Great Kei. A multi-method approach was adopted in this study as an appropriate technique to create an improved quality of research which eliminates the deep-rooted bias to either qualitative or quantitative methods alone. A self-administered questionnaires with both closed and open-ended questions – one for the small-scale farmer survey and the second for the extension officer survey – was employed as data collection instrument. The demographic characteristics of small-scale vegetable farmers in the survey area indicated that the present majority of farmers are married male Xhosa farmers between the ages of 56 and 65 years old, with a secondary level of education. The majority of the farmers are typically resource-poor − which implies that the added menace of drought poses the risk that small-scale vegetable farming could decline to mere subsistence level or worse. Drought was found to be a major problem in Mbashe, Mnquma, Amahlathi and Great Kei local municipalities within the Amathole municipal district, with an acute impact on farmers’ production and generation of income. From the data, it emerged that farmers are not sufficiently informed about and do not receive specific training in drought mitigation strategies. Farmers rely on drought alleviation methods but there is a lack of adaptive strategies and timely, long-term ii state intervention. Being resource-poor, these small-scale producers are reliant on natural resources – notably water for irrigating crops. The study established further that there is neither the resources nor sufficient training by and involvement of the extension service. Farmers therefore rely on the use of drought coping mechanisms and drought mitigation techniques and on adapting their production systems. The information-sharing sessions recommended can assist in improving rural livelihoods and the productivity of small-scale vegetable farmers. The absence of engagement of youth in farming means that modern conservation and innovative farming techniques and systems are not implemented towards reducing the impacts of climate change − as well as revitalizing rural areas such Amathole. Access to education about drought, improved drought coping mechanisms and adaptive strategies should be created to facilitate an exchange of traditional and modern agricultural information. The development of infrastructure in rural communities and farming areas is another factor crucial to improving farming systems and operations in the Amathole municipal district. , Thesis (MSc) -- Faculty of Science, School of Natural Resource Management, 2021
- Full Text: false
- Date Issued: 2021-12
- Authors: Dingiswayo, Xolisile
- Date: 2021-12
- Subjects: Port Elizabeth (South Africa) , Eastern Cape (South Africa) , South Africa
- Language: English
- Type: Master's theses , text
- Identifier: http://hdl.handle.net/10948/53676 , vital:45686
- Description: The present study aimed to investigate perceptions of small-scale vegetable farmers on drought mitigation strategies in the Amathole District Municipality of the Eastern Cape Province. The research objective was to investigate what small-scale vegetable farmers’ perceptions and readiness are in terms of strategies to cope with drought conditions. The study was conducted within the Mbashe, Mnquma, Amahlathi and Great Kei local municipalities of the Eastern Cape. Primary data collection was conducted among 44 small-scale vegetable farmers of the Amathole municipal district. These are farmers who receive social support from the government, are registered with the Department of Rural Development and Agrarian Reform and contribute to the fight against food insecurity in the Amathole district. The primary data was also collected from 13 agricultural extension officers with high experience in advising small-scale farmers residing in the Amathole district. Data collection took place in various local municipalities under Amathole District Municipality, namely: Mbashe, Mnquma, Amahlathi and Great Kei. A multi-method approach was adopted in this study as an appropriate technique to create an improved quality of research which eliminates the deep-rooted bias to either qualitative or quantitative methods alone. A self-administered questionnaires with both closed and open-ended questions – one for the small-scale farmer survey and the second for the extension officer survey – was employed as data collection instrument. The demographic characteristics of small-scale vegetable farmers in the survey area indicated that the present majority of farmers are married male Xhosa farmers between the ages of 56 and 65 years old, with a secondary level of education. The majority of the farmers are typically resource-poor − which implies that the added menace of drought poses the risk that small-scale vegetable farming could decline to mere subsistence level or worse. Drought was found to be a major problem in Mbashe, Mnquma, Amahlathi and Great Kei local municipalities within the Amathole municipal district, with an acute impact on farmers’ production and generation of income. From the data, it emerged that farmers are not sufficiently informed about and do not receive specific training in drought mitigation strategies. Farmers rely on drought alleviation methods but there is a lack of adaptive strategies and timely, long-term ii state intervention. Being resource-poor, these small-scale producers are reliant on natural resources – notably water for irrigating crops. The study established further that there is neither the resources nor sufficient training by and involvement of the extension service. Farmers therefore rely on the use of drought coping mechanisms and drought mitigation techniques and on adapting their production systems. The information-sharing sessions recommended can assist in improving rural livelihoods and the productivity of small-scale vegetable farmers. The absence of engagement of youth in farming means that modern conservation and innovative farming techniques and systems are not implemented towards reducing the impacts of climate change − as well as revitalizing rural areas such Amathole. Access to education about drought, improved drought coping mechanisms and adaptive strategies should be created to facilitate an exchange of traditional and modern agricultural information. The development of infrastructure in rural communities and farming areas is another factor crucial to improving farming systems and operations in the Amathole municipal district. , Thesis (MSc) -- Faculty of Science, School of Natural Resource Management, 2021
- Full Text: false
- Date Issued: 2021-12
Ocean structures and dynamics of two open bays on the eastern Agulhas Bank
- Authors: Dlomo, Xolisa
- Date: 2021-12
- Subjects: Port Elizabeth (South Africa) , Eastern Cape (South Africa) , South Africa
- Language: English
- Type: Doctoral theses , text
- Identifier: http://hdl.handle.net/10948/53607 , vital:45680
- Description: Upwelling, bay-scale currents, fronts and mixing in Algoa Bay and St Francis Bay occur over both short and long time periods. These physical ocean dynamics drive the temporal and spatial distribution of nutrients in the bays, there by influencing primary and secondary production. Thermal gradients and fronts are driven by the wind and open ocean influences, such as the Agulhas Current, daily and seasonal variations in solar radiation, long and short period waves, air-sea fluxes, coastal trapped waves and terrestrial freshwater inflow. These phenomena are poorly understood along this part of the coastline and were the focus of this study. I investigated the dominant temperature scales of variability in both bays, to determine which isotherm is best suited to describe temperature fluctuations and thermocline spatiotemporal variability in and between the two bays. I investigated upwelling spatiotemporal variability in the two bays and tested whether upwelling occurs at the opposite sides of the bays with a change in wind direction. Thereafter studied the occurrence and drivers of winter upwelling events. The wind-driven current spatiotemporal variability and correlations were investigated at the extremities of the two bays. The daily, intra-seasonal and yearly variation in temperature structures in Algoa Bay and St. Francis Bay were mainly driven by the local winds, coastal topography, and bathymetry. The most suitable isotherm to describe thermal fluctuations and variability in Algoa Bay shallower sites was 16.5 °C and its mean depth was 16.2 m. The best isotherm for the deeper sites in Algoa Bay was 15.7 °C with a depth of 33.1 m. The average temperature and depth of the best isotherm to describe thermal fluctuations in St. Francis Bay for the shallower sites was15.80 °C and 16.83 m, and for the deeper sites it was 15.10 °C and 32.08 m. Algoa Bay showed an average cooling trend of -0.000172 °C per year, whereas in St. Francis Bay a warming average trend of 0.0188 °C per year was observed over the study period often and six years, respectively. The wind, Coriolis Effect and Ekman Transport were the main external forces that influenced upwelling throughout the year. Since the available mesoscale indices for upwelling intensity lack the resolution needed to characterize and compare inner-shelf upwelling regimes at small spatial scales, I developed a new local, quantitative index of thermal variability. Index calculations were based on hourly records of in site depth-averaged temperatures, measured at 6 sites in St. Francis Bay and at 8 sites in Algoa Bay. Using the Multivariate Upwelling Zone Index of Cooling (MUZIC) I found that Woody Cape and Blue Horizon Bay had the highest upwelling intensity in Algoa Bay and St. Francis Bay, respectively. The other sites were ordinated and ranked according to their upwelling rates and intensity. Evidence of wind-driven winter upwelling was found to be a common occurrence in both bays. There was no obvious current seasonality observed, however, strong spectral signals in the period of a weather band (4 –7 days) were present. Current structures were generally positively correlated with wind variations in both bays. Thus, when westerly/easterly winds blew the overall surface current direction was eastward/westward. I observed a pronounced current spatiotemporal variability that was driven by local winds. The Bird Island surface currents in Algoa Bay were strongly correlated at 0–lag day with the winds, however, in Cape Recife the strongest correlations were usually observed at 1–lag day highlighting the spatiotemporal influence of wind regimes on current structures in Algoa Bay. Bird Island current speeds were higher and had an obvious bimodal directional variation (south westward /north eastward) compared to Cape Recife currents, which generally had a slower current speed with a strong west-north westward direction. In St. Francis Bay, the Schoenmakerskop surface currents showed weak positive correlation with winds at 0–lag day, however, stronger negative correlations were observed at 4–lag days. The current surface speeds in Schoenmakerskop were the lowest and varied directionally between north-north eastward and south-south eastward. The basic data requirements (i.e. SST/ UTR and ADCP time series) and the simplicity of the calculations make these indices a useful tool to apply to a large number of sites nationally and internationally, and to examine the generality of community and population-level responses to physical forcing. , Thesis (PhD) -- Faculty of Science, Journalsim and Media Studies, 2021
- Full Text:
- Date Issued: 2021-12
- Authors: Dlomo, Xolisa
- Date: 2021-12
- Subjects: Port Elizabeth (South Africa) , Eastern Cape (South Africa) , South Africa
- Language: English
- Type: Doctoral theses , text
- Identifier: http://hdl.handle.net/10948/53607 , vital:45680
- Description: Upwelling, bay-scale currents, fronts and mixing in Algoa Bay and St Francis Bay occur over both short and long time periods. These physical ocean dynamics drive the temporal and spatial distribution of nutrients in the bays, there by influencing primary and secondary production. Thermal gradients and fronts are driven by the wind and open ocean influences, such as the Agulhas Current, daily and seasonal variations in solar radiation, long and short period waves, air-sea fluxes, coastal trapped waves and terrestrial freshwater inflow. These phenomena are poorly understood along this part of the coastline and were the focus of this study. I investigated the dominant temperature scales of variability in both bays, to determine which isotherm is best suited to describe temperature fluctuations and thermocline spatiotemporal variability in and between the two bays. I investigated upwelling spatiotemporal variability in the two bays and tested whether upwelling occurs at the opposite sides of the bays with a change in wind direction. Thereafter studied the occurrence and drivers of winter upwelling events. The wind-driven current spatiotemporal variability and correlations were investigated at the extremities of the two bays. The daily, intra-seasonal and yearly variation in temperature structures in Algoa Bay and St. Francis Bay were mainly driven by the local winds, coastal topography, and bathymetry. The most suitable isotherm to describe thermal fluctuations and variability in Algoa Bay shallower sites was 16.5 °C and its mean depth was 16.2 m. The best isotherm for the deeper sites in Algoa Bay was 15.7 °C with a depth of 33.1 m. The average temperature and depth of the best isotherm to describe thermal fluctuations in St. Francis Bay for the shallower sites was15.80 °C and 16.83 m, and for the deeper sites it was 15.10 °C and 32.08 m. Algoa Bay showed an average cooling trend of -0.000172 °C per year, whereas in St. Francis Bay a warming average trend of 0.0188 °C per year was observed over the study period often and six years, respectively. The wind, Coriolis Effect and Ekman Transport were the main external forces that influenced upwelling throughout the year. Since the available mesoscale indices for upwelling intensity lack the resolution needed to characterize and compare inner-shelf upwelling regimes at small spatial scales, I developed a new local, quantitative index of thermal variability. Index calculations were based on hourly records of in site depth-averaged temperatures, measured at 6 sites in St. Francis Bay and at 8 sites in Algoa Bay. Using the Multivariate Upwelling Zone Index of Cooling (MUZIC) I found that Woody Cape and Blue Horizon Bay had the highest upwelling intensity in Algoa Bay and St. Francis Bay, respectively. The other sites were ordinated and ranked according to their upwelling rates and intensity. Evidence of wind-driven winter upwelling was found to be a common occurrence in both bays. There was no obvious current seasonality observed, however, strong spectral signals in the period of a weather band (4 –7 days) were present. Current structures were generally positively correlated with wind variations in both bays. Thus, when westerly/easterly winds blew the overall surface current direction was eastward/westward. I observed a pronounced current spatiotemporal variability that was driven by local winds. The Bird Island surface currents in Algoa Bay were strongly correlated at 0–lag day with the winds, however, in Cape Recife the strongest correlations were usually observed at 1–lag day highlighting the spatiotemporal influence of wind regimes on current structures in Algoa Bay. Bird Island current speeds were higher and had an obvious bimodal directional variation (south westward /north eastward) compared to Cape Recife currents, which generally had a slower current speed with a strong west-north westward direction. In St. Francis Bay, the Schoenmakerskop surface currents showed weak positive correlation with winds at 0–lag day, however, stronger negative correlations were observed at 4–lag days. The current surface speeds in Schoenmakerskop were the lowest and varied directionally between north-north eastward and south-south eastward. The basic data requirements (i.e. SST/ UTR and ADCP time series) and the simplicity of the calculations make these indices a useful tool to apply to a large number of sites nationally and internationally, and to examine the generality of community and population-level responses to physical forcing. , Thesis (PhD) -- Faculty of Science, Journalsim and Media Studies, 2021
- Full Text:
- Date Issued: 2021-12
Microstructural characterization of Swift Heavy Ion (SHI) induced rotation in single crystal NiO
- Authors: Douglas-Henry, Danielle
- Date: 2021-12
- Subjects: Port Elizabeth (South Africa) , Eastern Cape (South Africa) , South Africa
- Language: English
- Type: Doctoral theses , text
- Identifier: http://hdl.handle.net/10948/53648 , vital:45685
- Description: Swift Heavy Ions (SHI) are characterised by having energies greater than 1 MeV per nucleon with an atomic mass greater than 6 amu. Exposure to irradiation of this type has been known to produce latent tracks in insulators. This is due to the energy loss through the material being governed by electronic excitation processes. The extent of the track formation and microstructural changes induced has been reported to be material specific. Models such as the thermal spike model have been used to explain these changes, however rough approximations are still made. A particularly under studied phenomena is the collective rotation seen in materials exposed to off-normal incidence irradiation. To date the only available experimental data is X-Ray Diffraction (XRD) spectra and surface shifts. This does not allow for depth-dependent rotation studies and very little can be deduced regarding the microstructure of the modified volume. In this study, the microstructural changes in single crystal Nickel Oxide (NiO) have been studied using electron microscopy techniques. A depth dependent investigation of the crystal rotation was performed using Selected Area Electron Diffraction (SAED), Transmission Kikuchi Diffraction (TKD) and Electron Backscatter Diffraction (EBSD). Transmission Electron Microscopy (TEM) and Scanning Transmission Electron Microscopy (STEM) were utilized to interrogate the microstructural changes facilitating the bulk rotation. Five different NiO specimens were investigated. Specimens had surfaces parallel to either the {0 0 1} or {1 1 1} planes. Ion energies used were 593 MeV, 940 MeV and 1.6 GeV, while fluences ranged from 1.0 x 1011 ions/cm² to 9.6 x 1014 ions/cm². Latent track formation in both low fluence (nonoverlapping regime) and high fluence (overlapping regime) specimens were investigated and compared. , Thesis (PhD) -- Faculty of Science, School of Computer Science, Mathematics, Physics and Statistics, 2021
- Full Text: false
- Date Issued: 2021-12
- Authors: Douglas-Henry, Danielle
- Date: 2021-12
- Subjects: Port Elizabeth (South Africa) , Eastern Cape (South Africa) , South Africa
- Language: English
- Type: Doctoral theses , text
- Identifier: http://hdl.handle.net/10948/53648 , vital:45685
- Description: Swift Heavy Ions (SHI) are characterised by having energies greater than 1 MeV per nucleon with an atomic mass greater than 6 amu. Exposure to irradiation of this type has been known to produce latent tracks in insulators. This is due to the energy loss through the material being governed by electronic excitation processes. The extent of the track formation and microstructural changes induced has been reported to be material specific. Models such as the thermal spike model have been used to explain these changes, however rough approximations are still made. A particularly under studied phenomena is the collective rotation seen in materials exposed to off-normal incidence irradiation. To date the only available experimental data is X-Ray Diffraction (XRD) spectra and surface shifts. This does not allow for depth-dependent rotation studies and very little can be deduced regarding the microstructure of the modified volume. In this study, the microstructural changes in single crystal Nickel Oxide (NiO) have been studied using electron microscopy techniques. A depth dependent investigation of the crystal rotation was performed using Selected Area Electron Diffraction (SAED), Transmission Kikuchi Diffraction (TKD) and Electron Backscatter Diffraction (EBSD). Transmission Electron Microscopy (TEM) and Scanning Transmission Electron Microscopy (STEM) were utilized to interrogate the microstructural changes facilitating the bulk rotation. Five different NiO specimens were investigated. Specimens had surfaces parallel to either the {0 0 1} or {1 1 1} planes. Ion energies used were 593 MeV, 940 MeV and 1.6 GeV, while fluences ranged from 1.0 x 1011 ions/cm² to 9.6 x 1014 ions/cm². Latent track formation in both low fluence (nonoverlapping regime) and high fluence (overlapping regime) specimens were investigated and compared. , Thesis (PhD) -- Faculty of Science, School of Computer Science, Mathematics, Physics and Statistics, 2021
- Full Text: false
- Date Issued: 2021-12