Critical assessment of the human resource capacity needs of senior management at Thaba Chweu Municipality in Mpumalanga Province, South Africa
- Authors: Dube, Boy David
- Date: 2018
- Subjects: Municipal government Rural poor Senior leadership teams
- Language: English
- Type: Thesis , Doctoral , PhD
- Identifier: http://hdl.handle.net/10353/12172 , vital:39193
- Description: The terrain of local government is not only very complex, dynamic, and challenging, but also very unique. The quality of human resources is vital in a public institution, particularly in institutions that are meant to service communities by providing sustainable basic services. Amongst the concerns raised at a municipal level are the lack of professionalism and the required competency and capacity amongst the workforce that must perform the actual duties of servicing the local communities. This study was aimed at identifying and analysing human resource development and human resource management policies, strategies and needs in line with the current circumstances and conditions at a particular municipality. A series of challenges (that a number of community members, newspaper articles, community leaders and both the Mpumalanga Provincial Government and other spheres of government raised and complained about) prompted this study. Constant complaints are leveled against municipalities about appropriate and well qualified candidates being overlooked for employment opportunities at the expense of nepotism, cronyism and blatant corrupt activities. This study is a combination of both quantitative and qualitative methods. In line with the quantitative method of generating and assembling information, the researcher used the judgement sampling method. Questionnaires were administered to collect quantitative data while primary data was collected via interviews. Data was obtained from 45 participants in Thaba Chweu Municipality. The findings show that the majority of respondents (in the form of percentages) spoke against the capacity of the officials. A smaller percentage spoke in favour of the availability of capacity. These respondents stated that municipal officials have the required skills and capacity to perform their duties. Furthermore, the study found that there was inconsistency in the implementation of council resolutions and interference in administrative matters. These factors compromised achieving the objectives of the municipal strategies and policies. The study recommends that the municipality ensures that the human resource management and development departments are consonant with current and modernised needs and that delegations to line functionaries are properly assigned and documented.
- Full Text:
- Date Issued: 2018
- Authors: Dube, Boy David
- Date: 2018
- Subjects: Municipal government Rural poor Senior leadership teams
- Language: English
- Type: Thesis , Doctoral , PhD
- Identifier: http://hdl.handle.net/10353/12172 , vital:39193
- Description: The terrain of local government is not only very complex, dynamic, and challenging, but also very unique. The quality of human resources is vital in a public institution, particularly in institutions that are meant to service communities by providing sustainable basic services. Amongst the concerns raised at a municipal level are the lack of professionalism and the required competency and capacity amongst the workforce that must perform the actual duties of servicing the local communities. This study was aimed at identifying and analysing human resource development and human resource management policies, strategies and needs in line with the current circumstances and conditions at a particular municipality. A series of challenges (that a number of community members, newspaper articles, community leaders and both the Mpumalanga Provincial Government and other spheres of government raised and complained about) prompted this study. Constant complaints are leveled against municipalities about appropriate and well qualified candidates being overlooked for employment opportunities at the expense of nepotism, cronyism and blatant corrupt activities. This study is a combination of both quantitative and qualitative methods. In line with the quantitative method of generating and assembling information, the researcher used the judgement sampling method. Questionnaires were administered to collect quantitative data while primary data was collected via interviews. Data was obtained from 45 participants in Thaba Chweu Municipality. The findings show that the majority of respondents (in the form of percentages) spoke against the capacity of the officials. A smaller percentage spoke in favour of the availability of capacity. These respondents stated that municipal officials have the required skills and capacity to perform their duties. Furthermore, the study found that there was inconsistency in the implementation of council resolutions and interference in administrative matters. These factors compromised achieving the objectives of the municipal strategies and policies. The study recommends that the municipality ensures that the human resource management and development departments are consonant with current and modernised needs and that delegations to line functionaries are properly assigned and documented.
- Full Text:
- Date Issued: 2018
Critical assessment of the quality of sustainability disclosures published by public entities in South Africa
- Authors: Nazer, Faith Catherine
- Date: 2018
- Subjects: Sustainable development reporting , Auditing -- South Africa , Finance, Public -- South Africa
- Language: English
- Type: Thesis , Masters , MCom
- Identifier: http://hdl.handle.net/10948/32845 , vital:32372
- Description: This study was performed in light of the limited research available regarding the quality of sustainability reporting in the public sector, and particularly in South Africa; and due to the important role which the public sector should play in enhancing sustainable behaviour and consequently sustainability reporting. There have been definite developments in legislation and guidelines which aim to enhance the quality of published sustainability disclosures. Therefore, in light of these developments, the objective of this study was to evaluate whether there has been an improvement in the quality of sustainability disclosures published by selected South African public entities for the 2014 financial year compared to the 2008 financial year. This study used both qualitative and quantitative methods to collect and analyse data. The content analysis method was used in this study, with the coding frame being developed deductively through the use of existing sustainability reporting guidelines. The guidelines analysed and incorporated into the coding frame for this study were the Global Reporting Initiative (GRI) Generation 4 (G4) guideline and the integrated reporting framework. To ensure that the coding frame contained codes relevant to the South African context, the King III Report on Corporate Governance (King III) and the Johannesburg Stock Exchange Social Reporting Initiative (JSE SRI) were consulted, and reporting requirements incorporated into the coding frame. Ten Schedule 2 reports and twenty Schedule 3 reports were analysed using the coding frame developed. Descriptive statistics were used to summarise the resulting data. The Spearman Rank Order Correlation and the Mann-Whitney U Test were used to test for possible statistical significance of the changes in the data observed. This study found a number of significant improvements in the quality of reporting of sustainability disclosures from 2008 to 2014. Significant improvements were noted in the areas of reporting relating to balanced economic and environmental disclosures as well as comparative social disclosures being made. There were also significantly more annual published reports labelled as integrated reports in 2014 as compared to 2008, and significantly more 2014 reports used the GRI guidelines, integrated reporting framework, King III or a combination of these in the preparation of the annual published report. Significantly more tables, graphs and diagrams were used in the disclosure of social and other related matters in 2014, which enhanced the clarity of the information reported. There were also significant improvements noted in the disclosures relating to strategic focus and future orientation of the 2014 annual published reports and in the number of non-economic performance targets included in the public entities’ performance reports. Significant improvement was also noted in the quality of overall social disclosures and specifically in the quality of social disclosures relating to labour practices and decent working conditions, and disclosures relating to the entity’s impacts on society. The word count used to disclose matters relating to stakeholder engagement and board practices, composition and remuneration saw significant increases from 2008 to 2014. Despite these improvements and consistent with prior literature, it is concluded that more needs to be done in respect of reporting on social and environmental impacts, through the use of sustainability reporting guidelines and effective stakeholder engagement. In addition, it is recommended that annual published reports aim to provide a more balanced picture of the reporting entity and that negative performance be discussed in more detail. More effort needs to be made in enhancing the reliability of the annual published reports as a whole, through obtaining external assurance on the social and environmental disclosures. Finally, politicians and decision-makers in the public sector need to address the key root causes which lead to poor quality reporting. The significant impact of the following factors on the quality of sustainability disclosures was noted: the public entity’s total asset value, its total revenue, its level of social and environmental impact, the form of the report used as well as the guidelines used to prepare the reports.
- Full Text:
- Date Issued: 2018
- Authors: Nazer, Faith Catherine
- Date: 2018
- Subjects: Sustainable development reporting , Auditing -- South Africa , Finance, Public -- South Africa
- Language: English
- Type: Thesis , Masters , MCom
- Identifier: http://hdl.handle.net/10948/32845 , vital:32372
- Description: This study was performed in light of the limited research available regarding the quality of sustainability reporting in the public sector, and particularly in South Africa; and due to the important role which the public sector should play in enhancing sustainable behaviour and consequently sustainability reporting. There have been definite developments in legislation and guidelines which aim to enhance the quality of published sustainability disclosures. Therefore, in light of these developments, the objective of this study was to evaluate whether there has been an improvement in the quality of sustainability disclosures published by selected South African public entities for the 2014 financial year compared to the 2008 financial year. This study used both qualitative and quantitative methods to collect and analyse data. The content analysis method was used in this study, with the coding frame being developed deductively through the use of existing sustainability reporting guidelines. The guidelines analysed and incorporated into the coding frame for this study were the Global Reporting Initiative (GRI) Generation 4 (G4) guideline and the integrated reporting framework. To ensure that the coding frame contained codes relevant to the South African context, the King III Report on Corporate Governance (King III) and the Johannesburg Stock Exchange Social Reporting Initiative (JSE SRI) were consulted, and reporting requirements incorporated into the coding frame. Ten Schedule 2 reports and twenty Schedule 3 reports were analysed using the coding frame developed. Descriptive statistics were used to summarise the resulting data. The Spearman Rank Order Correlation and the Mann-Whitney U Test were used to test for possible statistical significance of the changes in the data observed. This study found a number of significant improvements in the quality of reporting of sustainability disclosures from 2008 to 2014. Significant improvements were noted in the areas of reporting relating to balanced economic and environmental disclosures as well as comparative social disclosures being made. There were also significantly more annual published reports labelled as integrated reports in 2014 as compared to 2008, and significantly more 2014 reports used the GRI guidelines, integrated reporting framework, King III or a combination of these in the preparation of the annual published report. Significantly more tables, graphs and diagrams were used in the disclosure of social and other related matters in 2014, which enhanced the clarity of the information reported. There were also significant improvements noted in the disclosures relating to strategic focus and future orientation of the 2014 annual published reports and in the number of non-economic performance targets included in the public entities’ performance reports. Significant improvement was also noted in the quality of overall social disclosures and specifically in the quality of social disclosures relating to labour practices and decent working conditions, and disclosures relating to the entity’s impacts on society. The word count used to disclose matters relating to stakeholder engagement and board practices, composition and remuneration saw significant increases from 2008 to 2014. Despite these improvements and consistent with prior literature, it is concluded that more needs to be done in respect of reporting on social and environmental impacts, through the use of sustainability reporting guidelines and effective stakeholder engagement. In addition, it is recommended that annual published reports aim to provide a more balanced picture of the reporting entity and that negative performance be discussed in more detail. More effort needs to be made in enhancing the reliability of the annual published reports as a whole, through obtaining external assurance on the social and environmental disclosures. Finally, politicians and decision-makers in the public sector need to address the key root causes which lead to poor quality reporting. The significant impact of the following factors on the quality of sustainability disclosures was noted: the public entity’s total asset value, its total revenue, its level of social and environmental impact, the form of the report used as well as the guidelines used to prepare the reports.
- Full Text:
- Date Issued: 2018
Critical success factors of a route-to-market strategy in the South African beverage industry
- Mackenzie, Robert Duncan Mcintyre
- Authors: Mackenzie, Robert Duncan Mcintyre
- Date: 2018
- Subjects: Delivery of goods -- South Africa -- Management , Beverage industry -- South Africa , Marketing -- South Africa -- Management , Sales management -- South Africa , Customer services -- South Africa -- Management
- Language: English
- Type: Thesis , Masters , MBA
- Identifier: http://hdl.handle.net/10948/22552 , vital:30005
- Description: Effective distribution has become a big challenge in the Fast Moving Consumer Goods (FMCG) industry, especially beverage manufacturers. This study has covered an analysis of the varying Route-to-Market strategies for primary and secondary distributors, and this data was used to provide a foundation for formulating a beverage industry Route-to-Market model based on identified critical success factors. It offers insight into the implementation process in the varying markets, highlighting the importance of tailoring the Route-to-Market model to specific markets, and the importance of keeping the processes customer focused. The objective of this study was to identify the critical success factors of Route-to-Market in the beverage industry of South Africa, specifically investigating the financial viability of the selected distribution method, the knowledge and talent management of the employees and customers, the impact and effect of product availability, the level and importance of service excellence, and analysing the significance of strategic planning. This was followed by a qualitative explanatory case study methodology and research design, using multiple embedded units of analysis, in the form of semi-structured interviews and provided a valuable insight into success factors of Route-to-Market in the beverage industry of South Africa. The overall conclusion is that an effective Route-to-Market model, which has a well-established customer base at its centre, will significantly improve the satisfaction of customers in terms of quality and respect for services rendered. It is recommended that a company should review its Route-to-Market strategies regularly as to ensure the model is as relevant as possible.
- Full Text:
- Date Issued: 2018
- Authors: Mackenzie, Robert Duncan Mcintyre
- Date: 2018
- Subjects: Delivery of goods -- South Africa -- Management , Beverage industry -- South Africa , Marketing -- South Africa -- Management , Sales management -- South Africa , Customer services -- South Africa -- Management
- Language: English
- Type: Thesis , Masters , MBA
- Identifier: http://hdl.handle.net/10948/22552 , vital:30005
- Description: Effective distribution has become a big challenge in the Fast Moving Consumer Goods (FMCG) industry, especially beverage manufacturers. This study has covered an analysis of the varying Route-to-Market strategies for primary and secondary distributors, and this data was used to provide a foundation for formulating a beverage industry Route-to-Market model based on identified critical success factors. It offers insight into the implementation process in the varying markets, highlighting the importance of tailoring the Route-to-Market model to specific markets, and the importance of keeping the processes customer focused. The objective of this study was to identify the critical success factors of Route-to-Market in the beverage industry of South Africa, specifically investigating the financial viability of the selected distribution method, the knowledge and talent management of the employees and customers, the impact and effect of product availability, the level and importance of service excellence, and analysing the significance of strategic planning. This was followed by a qualitative explanatory case study methodology and research design, using multiple embedded units of analysis, in the form of semi-structured interviews and provided a valuable insight into success factors of Route-to-Market in the beverage industry of South Africa. The overall conclusion is that an effective Route-to-Market model, which has a well-established customer base at its centre, will significantly improve the satisfaction of customers in terms of quality and respect for services rendered. It is recommended that a company should review its Route-to-Market strategies regularly as to ensure the model is as relevant as possible.
- Full Text:
- Date Issued: 2018
Cropland abandonment in South African smallholder communal lands: Land cover change (1950–2010) and farmer perceptions of contributing factors
- Blair, Dale, Shackleton, Charlie M, Mograbi, Penelope J
- Authors: Blair, Dale , Shackleton, Charlie M , Mograbi, Penelope J
- Date: 2018
- Subjects: To be catalogued
- Language: English
- Type: text , article
- Identifier: http://hdl.handle.net/10962/180297 , vital:43351 , xlink:href="https://doi.org/10.3390/land7040121"
- Description: Despite agricultural land abandonment threatening the food security and the livelihoods of smallholder farmers, it is pervasive globally and in developing countries. Yet land abandonment is an understudied aspect of land use change in social–ecological systems. Here we provide more information on this phenomenon by exploring cropland abandonment during 1950–2010 in four former South African ‘homelands’—part of the ‘Apartheid’ era racially-based land allocation programs—characterized by rural, smallholder farmers. Cropland abandonment 1950–2010 was widespread in all surveyed sites (KwaZulu: 0.08% year−1, Transkei: 0.13% year−1, Lebowa: 0.23% year−1, Venda: 0.28% year−1), with rates peaking between 1970 and 1990, with concomitant increases (up to 0.16% year−1) of woody vegetation cover at the expense of grassland cover. Active and past farmers attributed cropland abandonment to a lack of draught power, rainfall variability and droughts, and a more modernized youth disinclined to living a marginal agrarian lifestyle. We discuss the potential social and ecological implications of abandoned croplands at the local and regional scales, as the deagrarianization trend is unlikely to abate considering the failure of current South African national agricultural incentives.
- Full Text:
- Date Issued: 2018
- Authors: Blair, Dale , Shackleton, Charlie M , Mograbi, Penelope J
- Date: 2018
- Subjects: To be catalogued
- Language: English
- Type: text , article
- Identifier: http://hdl.handle.net/10962/180297 , vital:43351 , xlink:href="https://doi.org/10.3390/land7040121"
- Description: Despite agricultural land abandonment threatening the food security and the livelihoods of smallholder farmers, it is pervasive globally and in developing countries. Yet land abandonment is an understudied aspect of land use change in social–ecological systems. Here we provide more information on this phenomenon by exploring cropland abandonment during 1950–2010 in four former South African ‘homelands’—part of the ‘Apartheid’ era racially-based land allocation programs—characterized by rural, smallholder farmers. Cropland abandonment 1950–2010 was widespread in all surveyed sites (KwaZulu: 0.08% year−1, Transkei: 0.13% year−1, Lebowa: 0.23% year−1, Venda: 0.28% year−1), with rates peaking between 1970 and 1990, with concomitant increases (up to 0.16% year−1) of woody vegetation cover at the expense of grassland cover. Active and past farmers attributed cropland abandonment to a lack of draught power, rainfall variability and droughts, and a more modernized youth disinclined to living a marginal agrarian lifestyle. We discuss the potential social and ecological implications of abandoned croplands at the local and regional scales, as the deagrarianization trend is unlikely to abate considering the failure of current South African national agricultural incentives.
- Full Text:
- Date Issued: 2018
Cross-Border Migration, Social Cohesion and African Continental Integration: Perspectives of African Immigrants and South African Nationals in Gauteng, South Africa
- Authors: Maseng, Jonathan Oshupeng
- Date: 2018
- Subjects: Migration -- Africa Emigration and immigration Social integration
- Language: English
- Type: Thesis , Doctoral , PhD(Sociology)
- Identifier: http://hdl.handle.net/10353/8855 , vital:33673
- Description: Using the Sunnyside suburb of South Africa’s capital city of Pretoria as a case study, this study sought to gather, analyse and engage the perspectives, narratives and idealisations of African migrants and South African nationals in Gauteng province on cross-border migration, social cohesion and African continental integration. The goal was to interrogate the dominant discourse and assumption in migration scholarship that contact between nationals and immigrants is inherently conflict-inducing. The study adopted a qualitative methodology, with in-depth interviews, “street ethnography”, expert interviews and document analysis as the main sources of primary data. Overall, 85 in-depth interviews were conducted with immigrants and nationals of different occupational, gender and class backgrounds. The study found, among other things, that while many respondents expressed negative sentiments with regard to how cross-border migration affected their experience of social cohesion and idealisations about African continental integration, the relations between African immigrants and South African nationals in the study area were overwhelmingly congenial. This was even when there was no policy-oriented action by government to promote these positive relations. Respondents attributed this congeniality to, among other things, the fact that most small immigrant businesses depended on a predominantly South African clientele, while South African nationals in the study area saw such businesses as filling a crucial gap in their immediate socio-economic environments. Importantly, service provider-client relations served as “enhancers” of social cohesion in the study area. On the other hand, the relative dominance of immigrants in the small business sector in the study area served as a “threat” to social cohesion. From these findings, the study concluded that, contact between immigrants and nationals was not necessarily inherently conflict-inducing, and that social cohesion also rested on the logic of mutual dependence.
- Full Text:
- Date Issued: 2018
- Authors: Maseng, Jonathan Oshupeng
- Date: 2018
- Subjects: Migration -- Africa Emigration and immigration Social integration
- Language: English
- Type: Thesis , Doctoral , PhD(Sociology)
- Identifier: http://hdl.handle.net/10353/8855 , vital:33673
- Description: Using the Sunnyside suburb of South Africa’s capital city of Pretoria as a case study, this study sought to gather, analyse and engage the perspectives, narratives and idealisations of African migrants and South African nationals in Gauteng province on cross-border migration, social cohesion and African continental integration. The goal was to interrogate the dominant discourse and assumption in migration scholarship that contact between nationals and immigrants is inherently conflict-inducing. The study adopted a qualitative methodology, with in-depth interviews, “street ethnography”, expert interviews and document analysis as the main sources of primary data. Overall, 85 in-depth interviews were conducted with immigrants and nationals of different occupational, gender and class backgrounds. The study found, among other things, that while many respondents expressed negative sentiments with regard to how cross-border migration affected their experience of social cohesion and idealisations about African continental integration, the relations between African immigrants and South African nationals in the study area were overwhelmingly congenial. This was even when there was no policy-oriented action by government to promote these positive relations. Respondents attributed this congeniality to, among other things, the fact that most small immigrant businesses depended on a predominantly South African clientele, while South African nationals in the study area saw such businesses as filling a crucial gap in their immediate socio-economic environments. Importantly, service provider-client relations served as “enhancers” of social cohesion in the study area. On the other hand, the relative dominance of immigrants in the small business sector in the study area served as a “threat” to social cohesion. From these findings, the study concluded that, contact between immigrants and nationals was not necessarily inherently conflict-inducing, and that social cohesion also rested on the logic of mutual dependence.
- Full Text:
- Date Issued: 2018
Cultural De-colonization versus Liberal approaches to abortion in Africa: The politics of representation and voice
- Chiweshe, Malvern T, Macleod, Catriona I
- Authors: Chiweshe, Malvern T , Macleod, Catriona I
- Date: 2018
- Subjects: To be catalogued
- Language: English
- Type: text , article
- Identifier: http://hdl.handle.net/10962/443661 , vital:74142 , xlink:href="DOI/Handle/URL https://www.ajol.info/index.php/ajrh/article/view/175092"
- Description: Political discussions on abortion in Africa take place in the context of most countries having restrictive abortion legislation and high levels of unsafe abortion. In this paper two major political positions regarding abortion in Africa: a de-colonisation approach based on a homogenized view of ―culture‖, and a liberal approach based on ―choice‖ and rights are outlined. Using the Questions and Answers sessions of a United Nations event on maternal health in Africa as an exemplar of these positions, the paper argues that neither approach is emancipatory in the African context. A de-colonisation approach that uses static and homogenized understanding of ''culture'' risks engaging in a politics of representation that potentially silences the ―Other‖ (in this case women who terminate their pregnancies) and glosses over complexities and multiple power relations that exist on the continent. A liberal approach, premised on choice and reproductive rights, risks foregrounding individual women‘s agency at the expense of contextual dynamics, including the conditions that create unsupportable pregnancies. The paper argues for a grounded reproductive justice perspective that draws on the insights of the reproductive justice movement, but grounds these notions within the African philosophy of Hunhu/Ubuntu.
- Full Text:
- Date Issued: 2018
- Authors: Chiweshe, Malvern T , Macleod, Catriona I
- Date: 2018
- Subjects: To be catalogued
- Language: English
- Type: text , article
- Identifier: http://hdl.handle.net/10962/443661 , vital:74142 , xlink:href="DOI/Handle/URL https://www.ajol.info/index.php/ajrh/article/view/175092"
- Description: Political discussions on abortion in Africa take place in the context of most countries having restrictive abortion legislation and high levels of unsafe abortion. In this paper two major political positions regarding abortion in Africa: a de-colonisation approach based on a homogenized view of ―culture‖, and a liberal approach based on ―choice‖ and rights are outlined. Using the Questions and Answers sessions of a United Nations event on maternal health in Africa as an exemplar of these positions, the paper argues that neither approach is emancipatory in the African context. A de-colonisation approach that uses static and homogenized understanding of ''culture'' risks engaging in a politics of representation that potentially silences the ―Other‖ (in this case women who terminate their pregnancies) and glosses over complexities and multiple power relations that exist on the continent. A liberal approach, premised on choice and reproductive rights, risks foregrounding individual women‘s agency at the expense of contextual dynamics, including the conditions that create unsupportable pregnancies. The paper argues for a grounded reproductive justice perspective that draws on the insights of the reproductive justice movement, but grounds these notions within the African philosophy of Hunhu/Ubuntu.
- Full Text:
- Date Issued: 2018
Current trend in synthesis, Post-Synthetic modifications and biological applications of Nanometal-Organic frameworks (NMOFs)
- Baa, Ebenezer, Watkins, Gary M, Krause, Rui W M, Tantoh, Derek N
- Authors: Baa, Ebenezer , Watkins, Gary M , Krause, Rui W M , Tantoh, Derek N
- Date: 2018
- Language: English
- Type: text , article
- Identifier: http://hdl.handle.net/10962/127042 , vital:35946 , https://doi.org/10.1002/cjoc.201800407
- Description: Since the early reports of MOFs and their interesting properties, research involving these materials has grown wide in scope and applications. Various synthetic approaches have ensued in view of obtaining materials with optimised properties, the extensive scope of application spanning from energy, gas sorption, catalysis biological applications has meant exponentially evolved over the years. The far‐reaching synthetic and PSM approaches and porosity control possibilities have continued to serve as a motivation for research on these materials. With respect to the biological applications, MOFs have shown promise as good candidates in applications involving drug delivery, BioMOFs, sensing, imaging amongst others. Despite being a while away from successful entry into the market, observed results in sensing, drug delivery, and imaging put these materials on the spot light as candidates poised to usher in a revolution in biology. In this regard, this review article focuses current approaches in synthesis, post functionalization and biological applications of these materials with particular attention on drug delivery, imaging, sensing and BioMOFs.
- Full Text:
- Date Issued: 2018
- Authors: Baa, Ebenezer , Watkins, Gary M , Krause, Rui W M , Tantoh, Derek N
- Date: 2018
- Language: English
- Type: text , article
- Identifier: http://hdl.handle.net/10962/127042 , vital:35946 , https://doi.org/10.1002/cjoc.201800407
- Description: Since the early reports of MOFs and their interesting properties, research involving these materials has grown wide in scope and applications. Various synthetic approaches have ensued in view of obtaining materials with optimised properties, the extensive scope of application spanning from energy, gas sorption, catalysis biological applications has meant exponentially evolved over the years. The far‐reaching synthetic and PSM approaches and porosity control possibilities have continued to serve as a motivation for research on these materials. With respect to the biological applications, MOFs have shown promise as good candidates in applications involving drug delivery, BioMOFs, sensing, imaging amongst others. Despite being a while away from successful entry into the market, observed results in sensing, drug delivery, and imaging put these materials on the spot light as candidates poised to usher in a revolution in biology. In this regard, this review article focuses current approaches in synthesis, post functionalization and biological applications of these materials with particular attention on drug delivery, imaging, sensing and BioMOFs.
- Full Text:
- Date Issued: 2018
Dangerous liaisons or critical alliances: student perceptions of community engagement at Rhodes University, South Africa
- Authors: Levy, Simone Arielle
- Date: 2018
- Subjects: Rhodes University -- Students -- Public services , Community and college -- South Africa -- Eastern Cape , Education, Higher -- Social aspects -- South Africa
- Language: English
- Type: text , Thesis , Masters , MA
- Identifier: http://hdl.handle.net/10962/57411 , vital:26907
- Description: Community Engagement (CE) in South Africa is an increasingly important feature of the relationship between the university and a broader community, and may aid in bridging the entrenched social divisions of this nation. This will only be possible if CE succeeds in uniting the knowledge production interests of the university and the broader community. Through CE, knowledge production and dissemination from within the university should be made more relevant and applicable because it is based on a relationship or engagement with a community. Based on the perceptions of student volunteers in a CE programme at a South African university, this thesis set out to ask whether or not students are transformed through university-community collaboration. This research examines the perceptions and motivations of student volunteers entering community partnership programmes. More importantly, it asks whether these engagements are merely a “weekend special” consisting of shallow engagements, which last only a few hours a week that provide institutional window dressing; or well-intended engagements through which students build meaningful relationships and experience learning opportunities that prepare them for real world civic participation. As this thesis focuses on the student perspective, it explores whether or not CE has an impact, both personally and educationally or academically, on the lives of individual student volunteers. The literature on CE argues that students’ participation in CE opportunities should enhance academic learning, personal growth and promote a sense of citizenship or civic responsibility. Based on the perceptions of a small group of student volunteers at one university, this thesis identifies possible successes and limitations of CE volunteering programmes in order to see if what is promoted in the literature or institutional policies is being experienced or achieved in practice at universities. I argue that students are indeed transformed through processes of CE, often in unexpected ways, and despite many difficulties. Therefore, if CE provides students with more holistic learning opportunities while attending universities for academic ends, it is important to look at in what ways this is achieved.
- Full Text:
- Date Issued: 2018
- Authors: Levy, Simone Arielle
- Date: 2018
- Subjects: Rhodes University -- Students -- Public services , Community and college -- South Africa -- Eastern Cape , Education, Higher -- Social aspects -- South Africa
- Language: English
- Type: text , Thesis , Masters , MA
- Identifier: http://hdl.handle.net/10962/57411 , vital:26907
- Description: Community Engagement (CE) in South Africa is an increasingly important feature of the relationship between the university and a broader community, and may aid in bridging the entrenched social divisions of this nation. This will only be possible if CE succeeds in uniting the knowledge production interests of the university and the broader community. Through CE, knowledge production and dissemination from within the university should be made more relevant and applicable because it is based on a relationship or engagement with a community. Based on the perceptions of student volunteers in a CE programme at a South African university, this thesis set out to ask whether or not students are transformed through university-community collaboration. This research examines the perceptions and motivations of student volunteers entering community partnership programmes. More importantly, it asks whether these engagements are merely a “weekend special” consisting of shallow engagements, which last only a few hours a week that provide institutional window dressing; or well-intended engagements through which students build meaningful relationships and experience learning opportunities that prepare them for real world civic participation. As this thesis focuses on the student perspective, it explores whether or not CE has an impact, both personally and educationally or academically, on the lives of individual student volunteers. The literature on CE argues that students’ participation in CE opportunities should enhance academic learning, personal growth and promote a sense of citizenship or civic responsibility. Based on the perceptions of a small group of student volunteers at one university, this thesis identifies possible successes and limitations of CE volunteering programmes in order to see if what is promoted in the literature or institutional policies is being experienced or achieved in practice at universities. I argue that students are indeed transformed through processes of CE, often in unexpected ways, and despite many difficulties. Therefore, if CE provides students with more holistic learning opportunities while attending universities for academic ends, it is important to look at in what ways this is achieved.
- Full Text:
- Date Issued: 2018
De-identification of personal information for use in software testing to ensure compliance with the Protection of Personal Information Act
- Authors: Mark, Stephen John
- Date: 2018
- Subjects: Data processing , Information technology -- Security measures , Computer security -- South Africa , Data protection -- Law and legislation -- South Africa , Data encryption (Computer science) , Python (Computer program language) , SQL (Computer program language) , Protection of Personal Information Act (POPI)
- Language: English
- Type: text , Thesis , Masters , MSc
- Identifier: http://hdl.handle.net/10962/63888 , vital:28503
- Description: Encryption of Personally Identifiable Information stored in a Structured Query Language Database has been difficult for a long time. This is owing to block-cipher encryption algorithms changing the length and type of the input data when encrypted, which cannot subsequently be stored in the database without altering its structure. As the enactment of the South African Protection of Personal Information Act, No 4 of 2013 (POPI), was set in motion with the appointment of the Information Regulators Office in December 2016, South African companies are intensely focused on implementing compliance strategies and processes. The legislation, promulgated in 2013, encompasses the processing and storage of personally identifiable information (PII), ensuring that corporations act responsibly when collecting, storing and using individuals’ personal data. The Act comprises eight broad conditions that will become legislation once the new Information Regulator’s office is fully equipped to carry out their duties. POPI requires that individuals’ data should be kept confidential from all but those who specifically have permission to access the data. This means that not all members of IT teams should have access to the data unless it has been de-identified. This study tests an implementation of the Fixed Feistel 1 algorithm from the National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST) “Special Publication 800-38G: Recommendation for Block Cipher Modes of Operation : Methods for Format-Preserving Encryption” using the LibFFX Python library. The Python scripting language was used for the experiments. The research shows that it is indeed possible to encrypt data in a Structured Query Language Database without changing the database schema using the new Format-Preserving encryption technique from NIST800-38G. Quality Assurance software testers can then run their full set of tests on the encrypted database. There is no reduction of encryption strength when using the FF1 encryption technique, compared to the underlying AES-128 encryption algorithm. It further shows that the utility of the data is not lost once it is encrypted.
- Full Text:
- Date Issued: 2018
- Authors: Mark, Stephen John
- Date: 2018
- Subjects: Data processing , Information technology -- Security measures , Computer security -- South Africa , Data protection -- Law and legislation -- South Africa , Data encryption (Computer science) , Python (Computer program language) , SQL (Computer program language) , Protection of Personal Information Act (POPI)
- Language: English
- Type: text , Thesis , Masters , MSc
- Identifier: http://hdl.handle.net/10962/63888 , vital:28503
- Description: Encryption of Personally Identifiable Information stored in a Structured Query Language Database has been difficult for a long time. This is owing to block-cipher encryption algorithms changing the length and type of the input data when encrypted, which cannot subsequently be stored in the database without altering its structure. As the enactment of the South African Protection of Personal Information Act, No 4 of 2013 (POPI), was set in motion with the appointment of the Information Regulators Office in December 2016, South African companies are intensely focused on implementing compliance strategies and processes. The legislation, promulgated in 2013, encompasses the processing and storage of personally identifiable information (PII), ensuring that corporations act responsibly when collecting, storing and using individuals’ personal data. The Act comprises eight broad conditions that will become legislation once the new Information Regulator’s office is fully equipped to carry out their duties. POPI requires that individuals’ data should be kept confidential from all but those who specifically have permission to access the data. This means that not all members of IT teams should have access to the data unless it has been de-identified. This study tests an implementation of the Fixed Feistel 1 algorithm from the National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST) “Special Publication 800-38G: Recommendation for Block Cipher Modes of Operation : Methods for Format-Preserving Encryption” using the LibFFX Python library. The Python scripting language was used for the experiments. The research shows that it is indeed possible to encrypt data in a Structured Query Language Database without changing the database schema using the new Format-Preserving encryption technique from NIST800-38G. Quality Assurance software testers can then run their full set of tests on the encrypted database. There is no reduction of encryption strength when using the FF1 encryption technique, compared to the underlying AES-128 encryption algorithm. It further shows that the utility of the data is not lost once it is encrypted.
- Full Text:
- Date Issued: 2018
Death, suffering and silencing as explored in the book Thief and the devil's arithmetic
- Authors: Coetzer, Ashley
- Date: 2018
- Subjects: Feminist literary criticism War in literature Children's literature, English
- Language: English
- Type: Thesis , Masters , English
- Identifier: http://hdl.handle.net/10353/17116 , vital:40857
- Description: World War II is a devastating event in the world‘s history, which still haunts society today. It was a war in which millions of Jews and others losing their lives because of the Nazi regime‘s prejudiced beliefs. The primary focus of this study is to investigate concepts such as death, suffering, silencing, language and literature, as well as secrecy as evidenced in selected children‘s literature. The project provides a comparative analysis of two texts which fall under the children‘s war literature genre: The Book Thief by Markus Zusak and The Devil’s Arithmetic by Jane Yolen. Death, suffering and silencing were significant aspects of the war which crushed the minds and hearts of millions of human lives. Language and literacy are also important notions in the novels, as the historical context allowed for oppression through these areas. A feminist and cultural studies theoretical framework have been used as paradigms in this study as both address oppression in its many forms. The authors‘ biographical backgrounds as well as the historical context of their novels will be outlined in order to provide a context for the chosen theories. World War II relied on oppression based on race and religion. It is for this reason that I use cultural studies theory for an exploration of the many factors which enforced the oppression of the Jewish race by the Nazi regime. Furthermore, a feminist theoretical framework allows for an investigation of the oppression of women during this historical period. While the extent of suffering can never be completely understood, the novels attempt to honour the millions of lives lost by telling the stories of those forgotten. Teun A. Van Dijk‘s cultural studies theory explores manipulation, discourse and racism which are pertinent to a study of the novels. Within both The Book Thief and The Devil’s Arithmetic, there are oppressed female characters which drive the novel. Feminist studies encourage numerous forms of emancipation from a patriarchal society and these novels provide examples of females finding emancipation through various means. In conclusion, this study seeks to highlight the cultural as well as feminist aspects of the children‘s war literature novels, The Book Thief and The Devil’s Arithmetic. In addition, the concepts which will be analysed in this study allow for an in-depth understanding of the context of war within these novels. While these novels have been analysed individually, there is a gap in the literature as these novels have not yet been compared and contrasted. This study, therefore, aims to broaden and encourage further academic discussion in the field of children‘s war literature.
- Full Text:
- Date Issued: 2018
- Authors: Coetzer, Ashley
- Date: 2018
- Subjects: Feminist literary criticism War in literature Children's literature, English
- Language: English
- Type: Thesis , Masters , English
- Identifier: http://hdl.handle.net/10353/17116 , vital:40857
- Description: World War II is a devastating event in the world‘s history, which still haunts society today. It was a war in which millions of Jews and others losing their lives because of the Nazi regime‘s prejudiced beliefs. The primary focus of this study is to investigate concepts such as death, suffering, silencing, language and literature, as well as secrecy as evidenced in selected children‘s literature. The project provides a comparative analysis of two texts which fall under the children‘s war literature genre: The Book Thief by Markus Zusak and The Devil’s Arithmetic by Jane Yolen. Death, suffering and silencing were significant aspects of the war which crushed the minds and hearts of millions of human lives. Language and literacy are also important notions in the novels, as the historical context allowed for oppression through these areas. A feminist and cultural studies theoretical framework have been used as paradigms in this study as both address oppression in its many forms. The authors‘ biographical backgrounds as well as the historical context of their novels will be outlined in order to provide a context for the chosen theories. World War II relied on oppression based on race and religion. It is for this reason that I use cultural studies theory for an exploration of the many factors which enforced the oppression of the Jewish race by the Nazi regime. Furthermore, a feminist theoretical framework allows for an investigation of the oppression of women during this historical period. While the extent of suffering can never be completely understood, the novels attempt to honour the millions of lives lost by telling the stories of those forgotten. Teun A. Van Dijk‘s cultural studies theory explores manipulation, discourse and racism which are pertinent to a study of the novels. Within both The Book Thief and The Devil’s Arithmetic, there are oppressed female characters which drive the novel. Feminist studies encourage numerous forms of emancipation from a patriarchal society and these novels provide examples of females finding emancipation through various means. In conclusion, this study seeks to highlight the cultural as well as feminist aspects of the children‘s war literature novels, The Book Thief and The Devil’s Arithmetic. In addition, the concepts which will be analysed in this study allow for an in-depth understanding of the context of war within these novels. While these novels have been analysed individually, there is a gap in the literature as these novels have not yet been compared and contrasted. This study, therefore, aims to broaden and encourage further academic discussion in the field of children‘s war literature.
- Full Text:
- Date Issued: 2018
Decentralization and quality assurance in the Ugandan primary education sector
- Authors: Abu-Baker, Mutaaya Sirajee
- Date: 2018
- Subjects: Schools -- Decentralization -- Uganda , Education, Primary -- Uganda , Educational change -- Uganda
- Language: English
- Type: text , Thesis , Doctoral , PhD
- Identifier: http://hdl.handle.net/10962/57390 , vital:26897
- Description: The study presented in this thesis is a case study analysis of decentralization and quality assurance in a decentralized set up of the Ugandan Primary Schooling. The research looked at how the monitoring and evaluation informed the policy formulation process to regulate quality assurance in a decentralized governance of primary education. The Study was positioned in the critical realist paradigm, interpretive in orientation and used both coding and thematic techniques to understand the teachers’, SMC members’, and officers’ (at district and ministry levels) experiences and perceptions of quality assurance in a decentralized set up. Data was gathered using interviews, document analysis and observation methods. The findings indicated that the study was affected by eleven themes: Management System and Leadership, Human Resource Management, Finance Administration and Management, Parenting and Nutrition, Politics, Motivation, Social Structures and Patterns, Legislative Process and Policies, Infrastructure Development and Management, Community Involvement in Education and Curriculum and Professionalism. The monitoring and evaluation system had a framework in which it operates, though there was no quality assurance policy to guide the provision of quality education. The study finally indicated that there are more threats in a decentralized set up that put Quality in danger. Secondly, there was absence of supervision/inspection in schools as there was no evidence to prove this due to absence of reports. However, document analysis indicated visits of officers to schools. Records management was a problem to schools. Decentralization was adopted at different levels by different countries to address specific problems identified in view of service delivery. Finally, though monitoring and evaluation results informed the policy and decision makers, there was no quality assurance policy to guide the provision of quality education in institutions.
- Full Text:
- Date Issued: 2018
- Authors: Abu-Baker, Mutaaya Sirajee
- Date: 2018
- Subjects: Schools -- Decentralization -- Uganda , Education, Primary -- Uganda , Educational change -- Uganda
- Language: English
- Type: text , Thesis , Doctoral , PhD
- Identifier: http://hdl.handle.net/10962/57390 , vital:26897
- Description: The study presented in this thesis is a case study analysis of decentralization and quality assurance in a decentralized set up of the Ugandan Primary Schooling. The research looked at how the monitoring and evaluation informed the policy formulation process to regulate quality assurance in a decentralized governance of primary education. The Study was positioned in the critical realist paradigm, interpretive in orientation and used both coding and thematic techniques to understand the teachers’, SMC members’, and officers’ (at district and ministry levels) experiences and perceptions of quality assurance in a decentralized set up. Data was gathered using interviews, document analysis and observation methods. The findings indicated that the study was affected by eleven themes: Management System and Leadership, Human Resource Management, Finance Administration and Management, Parenting and Nutrition, Politics, Motivation, Social Structures and Patterns, Legislative Process and Policies, Infrastructure Development and Management, Community Involvement in Education and Curriculum and Professionalism. The monitoring and evaluation system had a framework in which it operates, though there was no quality assurance policy to guide the provision of quality education. The study finally indicated that there are more threats in a decentralized set up that put Quality in danger. Secondly, there was absence of supervision/inspection in schools as there was no evidence to prove this due to absence of reports. However, document analysis indicated visits of officers to schools. Records management was a problem to schools. Decentralization was adopted at different levels by different countries to address specific problems identified in view of service delivery. Finally, though monitoring and evaluation results informed the policy and decision makers, there was no quality assurance policy to guide the provision of quality education in institutions.
- Full Text:
- Date Issued: 2018
Deep learning applied to the semantic segmentation of tyre stockpiles
- Barfknecht, Nicholas Christopher
- Authors: Barfknecht, Nicholas Christopher
- Date: 2018
- Subjects: Neural networks (Computer science)
- Language: English
- Type: Thesis , Masters , MSc
- Identifier: http://hdl.handle.net/10948/23947 , vital:30647
- Description: The global push for manufacturing which is environmentally sustainable has disrupted standard methods of waste tyre disposal. This push is further intensified by the health and safety risks discarded tyres pose to the surrounding population. Waste tyre recycling initiatives in South Africa are on the increase; however, there is still a growing number of undocumented tyre stockpiles developing throughout the country. The plans put in place to eradicate these tyre stockpiles have been met with collection, transport and storage logistical issues caused by the remoteness and distant locales. Eastwood (2016) aimed at optimising the logistics associated with collection, by estimating the number of visible tyres from images of tyre stockpiles. This research was limited by the need for manual segmentation of each tyre stockpile located within each image. This research proposes the use of semantic segmentation to automatically segment images of tyre stockpiles. An initial review of neural network, convolutional network and semantic segmentation literature resulted in the selection of Dilated Net as the semantic segmentation architecture for this research. Dilated Net builds upon the VGG-16 classification architecture to perform semantic segmentation. This resulted in classification experiments which were evaluated using precision, recall and f1-score. The results indicated that regardless of tyre stockpile image dimension, fairly accurate levels of classification accuracy can be attained. This was followed by semantic segmentation experiments which made use of intersection over union (IoU) and pixel accuracy to evaluate the effectiveness of Dilated Net on images of tyre stockpiles. The results indicated that accurate tyre stockpile segmentation regions can be obtained and that the trained model generalises well to unseen images.
- Full Text:
- Date Issued: 2018
- Authors: Barfknecht, Nicholas Christopher
- Date: 2018
- Subjects: Neural networks (Computer science)
- Language: English
- Type: Thesis , Masters , MSc
- Identifier: http://hdl.handle.net/10948/23947 , vital:30647
- Description: The global push for manufacturing which is environmentally sustainable has disrupted standard methods of waste tyre disposal. This push is further intensified by the health and safety risks discarded tyres pose to the surrounding population. Waste tyre recycling initiatives in South Africa are on the increase; however, there is still a growing number of undocumented tyre stockpiles developing throughout the country. The plans put in place to eradicate these tyre stockpiles have been met with collection, transport and storage logistical issues caused by the remoteness and distant locales. Eastwood (2016) aimed at optimising the logistics associated with collection, by estimating the number of visible tyres from images of tyre stockpiles. This research was limited by the need for manual segmentation of each tyre stockpile located within each image. This research proposes the use of semantic segmentation to automatically segment images of tyre stockpiles. An initial review of neural network, convolutional network and semantic segmentation literature resulted in the selection of Dilated Net as the semantic segmentation architecture for this research. Dilated Net builds upon the VGG-16 classification architecture to perform semantic segmentation. This resulted in classification experiments which were evaluated using precision, recall and f1-score. The results indicated that regardless of tyre stockpile image dimension, fairly accurate levels of classification accuracy can be attained. This was followed by semantic segmentation experiments which made use of intersection over union (IoU) and pixel accuracy to evaluate the effectiveness of Dilated Net on images of tyre stockpiles. The results indicated that accurate tyre stockpile segmentation regions can be obtained and that the trained model generalises well to unseen images.
- Full Text:
- Date Issued: 2018
Delivery of pharmaceutical services and care at three primary healthcare clinics with different dispensing models in the Nelson Mandela Bay Health District
- Authors: Bobbins, Amy Claire
- Date: 2018
- Subjects: National health insurance -- South Africa , Community health services -- South Africa Pharmaceutical services -- South Africa
- Language: English
- Type: Thesis , Masters , MPharm
- Identifier: http://hdl.handle.net/10948/23580 , vital:30583
- Description: As South Africa moves into an era of National Health Insurance (NHI), the idea of primary health care (PHC) re-engineering is placed at the forefront; however, the role of the pharmacist in this process remains vague. Task-shifting of the dispensing process to pharmacist’s assistants and nurses in PHC clinics is a common phenomenon, but the implications of this on the provision of pharmaceutical services and care to patients is largely unstudied. Thus, this study aims to explore these pharmacist-based, pharmacist’s assistant-based and nurse-based dispensing models present in PHC clinics. A two-phase, mixed methods approach was utilised, comprising of a pharmaceutical services audit and semi-structured interviews. The interviews provided insight into the lived experiences of personnel and patients of pharmaceutical care provision. Results revealed that although basic pharmaceutical services may be available at clinics with each of the three dispensing models, the quality is of a varying standard due to challenges in infrastructure and maintenance and poor personnel support. Furthermore, the provision of quality pharmaceutical care is minimal with all three dispensing models, resulting in a missed opportunity to optimise patient health outcomes in patient-centred PHC.
- Full Text:
- Date Issued: 2018
- Authors: Bobbins, Amy Claire
- Date: 2018
- Subjects: National health insurance -- South Africa , Community health services -- South Africa Pharmaceutical services -- South Africa
- Language: English
- Type: Thesis , Masters , MPharm
- Identifier: http://hdl.handle.net/10948/23580 , vital:30583
- Description: As South Africa moves into an era of National Health Insurance (NHI), the idea of primary health care (PHC) re-engineering is placed at the forefront; however, the role of the pharmacist in this process remains vague. Task-shifting of the dispensing process to pharmacist’s assistants and nurses in PHC clinics is a common phenomenon, but the implications of this on the provision of pharmaceutical services and care to patients is largely unstudied. Thus, this study aims to explore these pharmacist-based, pharmacist’s assistant-based and nurse-based dispensing models present in PHC clinics. A two-phase, mixed methods approach was utilised, comprising of a pharmaceutical services audit and semi-structured interviews. The interviews provided insight into the lived experiences of personnel and patients of pharmaceutical care provision. Results revealed that although basic pharmaceutical services may be available at clinics with each of the three dispensing models, the quality is of a varying standard due to challenges in infrastructure and maintenance and poor personnel support. Furthermore, the provision of quality pharmaceutical care is minimal with all three dispensing models, resulting in a missed opportunity to optimise patient health outcomes in patient-centred PHC.
- Full Text:
- Date Issued: 2018
Demographic change in the Upper Tsitsa Catchment: the integration of census and land cover data for 2001 and 2011
- Authors: Hodgson, Danuta Lorina
- Date: 2018
- Subjects: Land use -- South Africa -- Eastern Cape , Watersheds -- South Africa -- Eastern Cape , Thematic maps -- South Africa -- Eastern Cape , Population density -- South Africa -- Eastern Cape , Mzimvubu River Watershed (South Africa) -- Census , Upper Tsitsa Catchment (South Africa)
- Language: English
- Type: text , Thesis , Masters , MSc
- Identifier: http://hdl.handle.net/10962/57296 , vital:26870
- Description: The purpose of this research was to determine if the integration of census and land cover data could provide evidence of spatial patterns and temporal change for the Upper Tsitsa Catchment. This thesis contributed to academic literature with regards to dasymetric mapping and provided a database for the Ntabelanga and Laleni Ecological Infrastructure Project. The study took place in the Upper Tsitsa Catchment which is located in the north-eastern region of the Eastern Cape and falls within the uMzimvubu Catchment. South Africa National Population Censuses for 2001 and 2011 and the National Land Cover data sets for 2000 and 2013/14 were used to create dasymetric maps depicting demographic changes over time for the catchment area. Spatial statistics were performed on the dasymetric and choropleth map to determine the accuracy of the data that was created. From the results, it was found that although the statistics were skewed, the method was more accurate in displaying the population densities, which was noted during the sampling process of the spatial analysis. It was found that there had been a decrease in the population density within the catchment. This affected the density of several other variables such as population race group, language and employment status statistics as decreases in these values could be due to individuals migrating out of the catchment as well as socio-economic upliftment, such as having better access to services. The use of dasymetric mapping allowed an accurate representation of the population density from the census data to be created. The results of the dasymetric mapping were more accurate as they depicted where the population within the enumeration areas were located, and recognised that some areas were populated while some areas were not. To conclude, it was found that using dasymetric mapping provided reliable and useful data about population density and enables comparison over time.
- Full Text:
- Date Issued: 2018
- Authors: Hodgson, Danuta Lorina
- Date: 2018
- Subjects: Land use -- South Africa -- Eastern Cape , Watersheds -- South Africa -- Eastern Cape , Thematic maps -- South Africa -- Eastern Cape , Population density -- South Africa -- Eastern Cape , Mzimvubu River Watershed (South Africa) -- Census , Upper Tsitsa Catchment (South Africa)
- Language: English
- Type: text , Thesis , Masters , MSc
- Identifier: http://hdl.handle.net/10962/57296 , vital:26870
- Description: The purpose of this research was to determine if the integration of census and land cover data could provide evidence of spatial patterns and temporal change for the Upper Tsitsa Catchment. This thesis contributed to academic literature with regards to dasymetric mapping and provided a database for the Ntabelanga and Laleni Ecological Infrastructure Project. The study took place in the Upper Tsitsa Catchment which is located in the north-eastern region of the Eastern Cape and falls within the uMzimvubu Catchment. South Africa National Population Censuses for 2001 and 2011 and the National Land Cover data sets for 2000 and 2013/14 were used to create dasymetric maps depicting demographic changes over time for the catchment area. Spatial statistics were performed on the dasymetric and choropleth map to determine the accuracy of the data that was created. From the results, it was found that although the statistics were skewed, the method was more accurate in displaying the population densities, which was noted during the sampling process of the spatial analysis. It was found that there had been a decrease in the population density within the catchment. This affected the density of several other variables such as population race group, language and employment status statistics as decreases in these values could be due to individuals migrating out of the catchment as well as socio-economic upliftment, such as having better access to services. The use of dasymetric mapping allowed an accurate representation of the population density from the census data to be created. The results of the dasymetric mapping were more accurate as they depicted where the population within the enumeration areas were located, and recognised that some areas were populated while some areas were not. To conclude, it was found that using dasymetric mapping provided reliable and useful data about population density and enables comparison over time.
- Full Text:
- Date Issued: 2018
Deriving an optimal threshold of waist circumference for detecting cardiometabolic risk in sub-Saharan Africa
- Longo–Mbenza, Benjamin, K Ekoru, GAV Murphy, EH Young, H Delisle, CS Jerome , F Assah, JPD Nzambi, JBK On'Kin , F Buntix, MC Muyer, DL Christensen, CS Wesseh, A Sabir, C Okafor, ID Gezawa, F Puepet, O Enang, T Raimi, E Ohwovoriole, OO Oladapo, P Bovet, W Mollentze, N Unwin, WK Gray, R Walker K Agoudavi, S Siziya, J Chifamba, M Njelekela, CM Fourie, S Kruger, AE Schutte, C Walsh, D Gareta, A Kamali, J Seeley, SA Norris NJ Crowther, D Pillay, P Kaleebu, AA Motala and MS Sandhu on behalf of the African Partnership for Chronic Disease Research (APCDR)
- Authors: Longo–Mbenza, Benjamin , K Ekoru, GAV Murphy, EH Young, H Delisle, CS Jerome , F Assah, JPD Nzambi, JBK On'Kin , F Buntix, MC Muyer, DL Christensen, CS Wesseh, A Sabir, C Okafor, ID Gezawa, F Puepet, O Enang, T Raimi, E Ohwovoriole, OO Oladapo, P Bovet, W Mollentze, N Unwin, WK Gray, R Walker K Agoudavi, S Siziya, J Chifamba, M Njelekela, CM Fourie, S Kruger, AE Schutte, C Walsh, D Gareta, A Kamali, J Seeley, SA Norris NJ Crowther, D Pillay, P Kaleebu, AA Motala and MS Sandhu on behalf of the African Partnership for Chronic Disease Research (APCDR)
- Date: 2018
- Language: English
- Type: text , article
- Identifier: http://hdl.handle.net/11260/5389 , vital:44560 , https://www.nature.com/articles/ijo2017240
- Description: BACKGROUND: Waist circumference (WC) thresholds derived from western populations continue to be used in sub-Saharan Africa (SSA) despite increasing evidence of ethnic variation in the association between adiposity and cardiometabolic disease and availability of data from African populations. We aimed to derive a SSA-specific optimal WC cut-point for identifying individuals at increased cardiometabolic risk. METHODS: We used individual level cross-sectional data on 24 181 participants aged ⩾15 years from 17 studies conducted between 1990 and 2014 in eight countries in SSA. Receiver operating characteristic curves were used to derive optimal WC cutpoints for detecting the presence of at least two components of metabolic syndrome (MS), excluding WC. RESULTS: The optimal WC cut-point was 81.2 cm (95% CI 78.5–83.8 cm) and 81.0 cm (95% CI 79.2–82.8 cm) for men and women, respectively, with comparable accuracy in men and women. Sensitivity was higher in women (64%, 95% CI 63–65) than in men (53%, 95% CI 51–55), and increased with the prevalence of obesity. Having WC above the derived cut-point was associated with a twofold probability of having at least two components of MS (age-adjusted odds ratio 2.6, 95% CI 2.4–2.9, for men and 2.2, 95% CI 2.0–2.3, for women). CONCLUSION: The optimal WC cut-point for identifying men at increased cardiometabolic risk is lower (⩾81.2 cm) than current guidelines (⩾94.0 cm) recommend, and similar to that in women in SSA. Prospective studies are needed to confirm these cut-points based on cardiometabolic outcomes.
- Full Text:
- Date Issued: 2018
- Authors: Longo–Mbenza, Benjamin , K Ekoru, GAV Murphy, EH Young, H Delisle, CS Jerome , F Assah, JPD Nzambi, JBK On'Kin , F Buntix, MC Muyer, DL Christensen, CS Wesseh, A Sabir, C Okafor, ID Gezawa, F Puepet, O Enang, T Raimi, E Ohwovoriole, OO Oladapo, P Bovet, W Mollentze, N Unwin, WK Gray, R Walker K Agoudavi, S Siziya, J Chifamba, M Njelekela, CM Fourie, S Kruger, AE Schutte, C Walsh, D Gareta, A Kamali, J Seeley, SA Norris NJ Crowther, D Pillay, P Kaleebu, AA Motala and MS Sandhu on behalf of the African Partnership for Chronic Disease Research (APCDR)
- Date: 2018
- Language: English
- Type: text , article
- Identifier: http://hdl.handle.net/11260/5389 , vital:44560 , https://www.nature.com/articles/ijo2017240
- Description: BACKGROUND: Waist circumference (WC) thresholds derived from western populations continue to be used in sub-Saharan Africa (SSA) despite increasing evidence of ethnic variation in the association between adiposity and cardiometabolic disease and availability of data from African populations. We aimed to derive a SSA-specific optimal WC cut-point for identifying individuals at increased cardiometabolic risk. METHODS: We used individual level cross-sectional data on 24 181 participants aged ⩾15 years from 17 studies conducted between 1990 and 2014 in eight countries in SSA. Receiver operating characteristic curves were used to derive optimal WC cutpoints for detecting the presence of at least two components of metabolic syndrome (MS), excluding WC. RESULTS: The optimal WC cut-point was 81.2 cm (95% CI 78.5–83.8 cm) and 81.0 cm (95% CI 79.2–82.8 cm) for men and women, respectively, with comparable accuracy in men and women. Sensitivity was higher in women (64%, 95% CI 63–65) than in men (53%, 95% CI 51–55), and increased with the prevalence of obesity. Having WC above the derived cut-point was associated with a twofold probability of having at least two components of MS (age-adjusted odds ratio 2.6, 95% CI 2.4–2.9, for men and 2.2, 95% CI 2.0–2.3, for women). CONCLUSION: The optimal WC cut-point for identifying men at increased cardiometabolic risk is lower (⩾81.2 cm) than current guidelines (⩾94.0 cm) recommend, and similar to that in women in SSA. Prospective studies are needed to confirm these cut-points based on cardiometabolic outcomes.
- Full Text:
- Date Issued: 2018
Design and development of a context sensitive rural development software application for eService provisioning
- Authors: Masikisiki, Lizo
- Date: 2018
- Subjects: Rural development Electronic commerce Computer networks
- Language: English
- Type: Thesis , Masters , MSc
- Identifier: http://hdl.handle.net/10353/15332 , vital:40366
- Description: After more than a decade since South Africa realized the importance of Information and Communication Technology (ICT) and the role it can play to deliver services, the country is still confronted by a number of challenges challenges that hinder the implementation of a fully-fledged ICT-based system in a form of electronic government to better deliver services and information. While rural development remains as one of the country’s greatest concerns, ICT is among approaches and perspectives that are recognized for not only accelerating rural development but also for providing the country’s economic growth. This research was set to investigate approaches to implement ICT solutions for rural development and service provisioning in the context of electronic government. The research focused more on the technical skills to implement such ICT systems for the benefit of rural development and e-government stakeholders that have an interest in design and development of an integrated and interoperable solution to accelerate service delivery, especially in rural communities. A mixed methods approach was used throughout the research accompanied by an evolutionary prototyping to development the desired prototype. A study was then conducted to gain an understanding of the state and the needs of rural communities to date. The results of the study yielded a number of urbanized service providers that rural dwellers need to timeously visit to consume services. Scenarios to design and develop the intended prototypes were then drawn from these results. The overall implementation of the prototypes produced an integrated platform that allows multiple disparate systems to communicate, share and use information. The qualities of the prototype are what this research recommends to relevant to stakeholders in order to implement an integrated and interoperable e-government system that elevates rural development programs and service delivery.
- Full Text:
- Date Issued: 2018
- Authors: Masikisiki, Lizo
- Date: 2018
- Subjects: Rural development Electronic commerce Computer networks
- Language: English
- Type: Thesis , Masters , MSc
- Identifier: http://hdl.handle.net/10353/15332 , vital:40366
- Description: After more than a decade since South Africa realized the importance of Information and Communication Technology (ICT) and the role it can play to deliver services, the country is still confronted by a number of challenges challenges that hinder the implementation of a fully-fledged ICT-based system in a form of electronic government to better deliver services and information. While rural development remains as one of the country’s greatest concerns, ICT is among approaches and perspectives that are recognized for not only accelerating rural development but also for providing the country’s economic growth. This research was set to investigate approaches to implement ICT solutions for rural development and service provisioning in the context of electronic government. The research focused more on the technical skills to implement such ICT systems for the benefit of rural development and e-government stakeholders that have an interest in design and development of an integrated and interoperable solution to accelerate service delivery, especially in rural communities. A mixed methods approach was used throughout the research accompanied by an evolutionary prototyping to development the desired prototype. A study was then conducted to gain an understanding of the state and the needs of rural communities to date. The results of the study yielded a number of urbanized service providers that rural dwellers need to timeously visit to consume services. Scenarios to design and develop the intended prototypes were then drawn from these results. The overall implementation of the prototypes produced an integrated platform that allows multiple disparate systems to communicate, share and use information. The qualities of the prototype are what this research recommends to relevant to stakeholders in order to implement an integrated and interoperable e-government system that elevates rural development programs and service delivery.
- Full Text:
- Date Issued: 2018
Design of a dedicated IFT microcontroller
- Authors: Himunzowa, Grayson
- Date: 2018
- Subjects: Feedback control systems , Automatic control , Engineering design -- Data processing
- Language: English
- Type: Thesis , Doctoral , DPhil
- Identifier: http://hdl.handle.net/10948/30017 , vital:30809
- Description: The design of a Dedicated IFT Microcontroller originated from the successful implementation of the Iterative Feedback Tuning (IFT) technique into the Digital Signal Processor microcontroller (DSP56F807C) at the University of Cape Town in 2006. However, implementation of the IFT technique on a general-purpose microcontroller is neither optimal, nor a cost-effective exercise, as most of the microcontroller peripherals remain unused, and drain energy for doing nothing. In addition, microcontrollers and DSPs are software-driven devices whose nature is sequential in executing algorithms, and hence have a significant effect on the bandwidth of the closed-loop control. To mitigate the said problem, the design of a Dedicated IFT Microcontroller is proposed in this thesis. To accomplish this goal, the preliminary task was to explore the IFT theory and its applications, followed by a review of the literature on FPGA design methodology for industrial control systems, Microcontroller design principles, and FPGA theory and trends. Furthermore, a survey of electronic design automation (EDA) tools and other application software was also conducted. After the literature review, the IFT was investigated exhaustively by applying it to three types of plants, namely: a DC motor, an oscillatory plant, and an unstable plant. Each of these plants were tested using three types of initial controllers, namely heavilydamped, critically damped and under-damped initial controllers. The plants were also tested by varying the amplitude of the reference signal, followed by using a single-step signal of constant amplitude of one volt. The intention of exploring all of these possibilities was meant to firmly expose the IFT boundaries of applicability, so that the final product would not be vulnerable to unnecessary post-production discoveries. The design methodology adopted in this research was a popular hierarchical and modular top-down procedure, which is an array of abstraction levels that are detailed as: system level, behavioural level, Register-Transfer Level (RTL) and Gate level. At system level, the Dedicated IFT Microcontroller was defined. Thereafter, at behavioural level, the design was simulated using VHDL, created by porting the LabView IFT code to the Xilinx EDA tool. At the RTL, the synthesisable VHDL code utilising fixed-point number representation was written. The compiled bit file was downloaded onto National Instruments (NI) Digital Electronics FPGA Board featuring iii the Spartan 3 series FPGA. This was tested, using a method known as simulation in the hardware. The key contribution of this thesis is the experimental validation of the IFT technique on FPGA hardware as it has never been published before, the work described in chapter four and five. The other contribution is the analysis of 1DOF IFT technique in terms of limitations of applicability for correct implementation, which is the main work of chapter three. This work could be used to explore other computational methods, like the use of floating-point number representation for high resolution and accuracy in numerical computations. Another avenue that could be exploited is Xilinx's recent Vivado methodology, which has the capacity for traditional programming languages like C or C++, as these have in-built floating-point number capability. Finally, out of this work, two papers have already been published by Springer and IEEE Xplore Publishers, and a journal paper has also been written for publication in the Control Systems Technology journal.
- Full Text:
- Date Issued: 2018
- Authors: Himunzowa, Grayson
- Date: 2018
- Subjects: Feedback control systems , Automatic control , Engineering design -- Data processing
- Language: English
- Type: Thesis , Doctoral , DPhil
- Identifier: http://hdl.handle.net/10948/30017 , vital:30809
- Description: The design of a Dedicated IFT Microcontroller originated from the successful implementation of the Iterative Feedback Tuning (IFT) technique into the Digital Signal Processor microcontroller (DSP56F807C) at the University of Cape Town in 2006. However, implementation of the IFT technique on a general-purpose microcontroller is neither optimal, nor a cost-effective exercise, as most of the microcontroller peripherals remain unused, and drain energy for doing nothing. In addition, microcontrollers and DSPs are software-driven devices whose nature is sequential in executing algorithms, and hence have a significant effect on the bandwidth of the closed-loop control. To mitigate the said problem, the design of a Dedicated IFT Microcontroller is proposed in this thesis. To accomplish this goal, the preliminary task was to explore the IFT theory and its applications, followed by a review of the literature on FPGA design methodology for industrial control systems, Microcontroller design principles, and FPGA theory and trends. Furthermore, a survey of electronic design automation (EDA) tools and other application software was also conducted. After the literature review, the IFT was investigated exhaustively by applying it to three types of plants, namely: a DC motor, an oscillatory plant, and an unstable plant. Each of these plants were tested using three types of initial controllers, namely heavilydamped, critically damped and under-damped initial controllers. The plants were also tested by varying the amplitude of the reference signal, followed by using a single-step signal of constant amplitude of one volt. The intention of exploring all of these possibilities was meant to firmly expose the IFT boundaries of applicability, so that the final product would not be vulnerable to unnecessary post-production discoveries. The design methodology adopted in this research was a popular hierarchical and modular top-down procedure, which is an array of abstraction levels that are detailed as: system level, behavioural level, Register-Transfer Level (RTL) and Gate level. At system level, the Dedicated IFT Microcontroller was defined. Thereafter, at behavioural level, the design was simulated using VHDL, created by porting the LabView IFT code to the Xilinx EDA tool. At the RTL, the synthesisable VHDL code utilising fixed-point number representation was written. The compiled bit file was downloaded onto National Instruments (NI) Digital Electronics FPGA Board featuring iii the Spartan 3 series FPGA. This was tested, using a method known as simulation in the hardware. The key contribution of this thesis is the experimental validation of the IFT technique on FPGA hardware as it has never been published before, the work described in chapter four and five. The other contribution is the analysis of 1DOF IFT technique in terms of limitations of applicability for correct implementation, which is the main work of chapter three. This work could be used to explore other computational methods, like the use of floating-point number representation for high resolution and accuracy in numerical computations. Another avenue that could be exploited is Xilinx's recent Vivado methodology, which has the capacity for traditional programming languages like C or C++, as these have in-built floating-point number capability. Finally, out of this work, two papers have already been published by Springer and IEEE Xplore Publishers, and a journal paper has also been written for publication in the Control Systems Technology journal.
- Full Text:
- Date Issued: 2018
Designing and prototyping WebRTC and IMS integration using open source tools
- Authors: Motsumi, Tebagano Valerie
- Date: 2018
- Subjects: Internet Protocol multimedia subsystem , Session Initiation Protocol (Computer network protocol) , Computer software -- Development , Web Real-time Communications (WebRTC)
- Language: English
- Type: text , Thesis , Masters , MSc
- Identifier: http://hdl.handle.net/10962/63245 , vital:28386
- Description: WebRTC, or Web Real-time Communications, is a collection of web standards that detail the mechanisms, architectures and protocols that work together to deliver real-time multimedia services to the web browser. It represents a significant shift from the historical approach of using browser plugins, which over time, have proven cumbersome and problematic. Furthermore, it adopts various Internet standards in areas such as identity management, peer-to-peer connectivity, data exchange and media encoding, to provide a system that is truly open and interoperable. Given that WebRTC enables the delivery of multimedia content to any Internet Protocol (IP)-enabled device capable of hosting a web browser, this technology could potentially be used and deployed over millions of smartphones, tablets and personal computers worldwide. This service and device convergence remains an important goal of telecommunication network operators who seek to enable it through a converged network that is based on the IP Multimedia Subsystem (IMS). IMS is an IP-based subsystem that sits at the core of a modern telecommunication network and acts as the main routing substrate for media services and applications such as those that WebRTC realises. The combination of WebRTC and IMS represents an attractive coupling, and as such, a protracted investigation could help to answer important questions around the technical challenges that are involved in their integration, and the merits of various design alternatives that present themselves. This thesis is the result of such an investigation and culminates in the presentation of a detailed architectural model that is validated with a prototypical implementation in an open source testbed. The model is built on six requirements which emerge from an analysis of the literature, including previous interventions in IMS networks and a key technical report on design alternatives. Furthermore, this thesis argues that the client architecture requires support for web-oriented signalling, identity and call handling techniques leading to a potential for IMS networks to natively support these techniques as operator networks continue to grow and develop. The proposed model advocates the use of SIP over WebSockets for signalling and DTLS-SRTP for media to enable one-to-one communication and can be extended through additional functions resulting in a modular architecture. The model was implemented using open source tools which were assembled to create an experimental network testbed, and tests were conducted demonstrating successful cross domain communications under various conditions. The thesis has a strong focus on enabling ordinary software developers to assemble a prototypical network such as the one that was assembled and aims to enable experimentation in application use cases for integrated environments.
- Full Text:
- Date Issued: 2018
- Authors: Motsumi, Tebagano Valerie
- Date: 2018
- Subjects: Internet Protocol multimedia subsystem , Session Initiation Protocol (Computer network protocol) , Computer software -- Development , Web Real-time Communications (WebRTC)
- Language: English
- Type: text , Thesis , Masters , MSc
- Identifier: http://hdl.handle.net/10962/63245 , vital:28386
- Description: WebRTC, or Web Real-time Communications, is a collection of web standards that detail the mechanisms, architectures and protocols that work together to deliver real-time multimedia services to the web browser. It represents a significant shift from the historical approach of using browser plugins, which over time, have proven cumbersome and problematic. Furthermore, it adopts various Internet standards in areas such as identity management, peer-to-peer connectivity, data exchange and media encoding, to provide a system that is truly open and interoperable. Given that WebRTC enables the delivery of multimedia content to any Internet Protocol (IP)-enabled device capable of hosting a web browser, this technology could potentially be used and deployed over millions of smartphones, tablets and personal computers worldwide. This service and device convergence remains an important goal of telecommunication network operators who seek to enable it through a converged network that is based on the IP Multimedia Subsystem (IMS). IMS is an IP-based subsystem that sits at the core of a modern telecommunication network and acts as the main routing substrate for media services and applications such as those that WebRTC realises. The combination of WebRTC and IMS represents an attractive coupling, and as such, a protracted investigation could help to answer important questions around the technical challenges that are involved in their integration, and the merits of various design alternatives that present themselves. This thesis is the result of such an investigation and culminates in the presentation of a detailed architectural model that is validated with a prototypical implementation in an open source testbed. The model is built on six requirements which emerge from an analysis of the literature, including previous interventions in IMS networks and a key technical report on design alternatives. Furthermore, this thesis argues that the client architecture requires support for web-oriented signalling, identity and call handling techniques leading to a potential for IMS networks to natively support these techniques as operator networks continue to grow and develop. The proposed model advocates the use of SIP over WebSockets for signalling and DTLS-SRTP for media to enable one-to-one communication and can be extended through additional functions resulting in a modular architecture. The model was implemented using open source tools which were assembled to create an experimental network testbed, and tests were conducted demonstrating successful cross domain communications under various conditions. The thesis has a strong focus on enabling ordinary software developers to assemble a prototypical network such as the one that was assembled and aims to enable experimentation in application use cases for integrated environments.
- Full Text:
- Date Issued: 2018
Designing devotion: the visual mechanisms used to build a personality cult
- Authors: Muller, Ruehl
- Date: 2018
- Subjects: Design -- Social aspects , Design -- Human factors Communication in design Graphic arts
- Language: English
- Type: Thesis , Masters , MTech
- Identifier: http://hdl.handle.net/10948/22968 , vital:30158
- Description: This study develops a model that aims to prove that, regardless of sociopolitical system, where a cult of personality exists, the mechanisms that are used to construct it and to maintain it, from a visual communication perspective, exhibit a methodological sameness. Drawing on Collins’ (2004) theory of emotional energy and interaction rituals, and Márquez’s (2013; 2017) application of said theory as an explanation of the personality cult phenomenon, the model seeks to identify, with regard to affectiveemotional constructions, what is required from leader-based foci to initiate this process. To achieve this, artefacts (visual representations) of Kim Jongil, Ayatollah Khomeini, King Mswati III, and Saparmurat Niyazov and Gurbanguly Berdimuhamedow were collated from within North Korea, Iran, Swaziland and Turkmenistan respectively. Analyses of both the design and semiotic components of the artefacts were conducted and the findings used to develop the model. The model was tested through four unique case studies of personality cults not affiliated with its construction.
- Full Text:
- Date Issued: 2018
- Authors: Muller, Ruehl
- Date: 2018
- Subjects: Design -- Social aspects , Design -- Human factors Communication in design Graphic arts
- Language: English
- Type: Thesis , Masters , MTech
- Identifier: http://hdl.handle.net/10948/22968 , vital:30158
- Description: This study develops a model that aims to prove that, regardless of sociopolitical system, where a cult of personality exists, the mechanisms that are used to construct it and to maintain it, from a visual communication perspective, exhibit a methodological sameness. Drawing on Collins’ (2004) theory of emotional energy and interaction rituals, and Márquez’s (2013; 2017) application of said theory as an explanation of the personality cult phenomenon, the model seeks to identify, with regard to affectiveemotional constructions, what is required from leader-based foci to initiate this process. To achieve this, artefacts (visual representations) of Kim Jongil, Ayatollah Khomeini, King Mswati III, and Saparmurat Niyazov and Gurbanguly Berdimuhamedow were collated from within North Korea, Iran, Swaziland and Turkmenistan respectively. Analyses of both the design and semiotic components of the artefacts were conducted and the findings used to develop the model. The model was tested through four unique case studies of personality cults not affiliated with its construction.
- Full Text:
- Date Issued: 2018
Designing fashion identities: the influence of social media on representation
- Authors: Barnard, Mieke
- Date: 2018
- Subjects: Fashion , Fashion -- Social aspects Fashion -- Forecasting Identity (Psychology)
- Language: English
- Type: Thesis , Masters , MA
- Identifier: http://hdl.handle.net/10948/21790 , vital:29779
- Description: Fashion visually communicates identity. The clothing one wears influences how others perceive and interact with one. The relationship between fashion and identity is important, since fashion communicates aspects of identity without verbal communication. Identity formation and influences would therefore also affect fashion choices. These fashion choices are referred to as fashion identities. Various aspects influence the development of identity. Social interaction and media are two of the main influencers. In contemporary society these two influencers have been combined through social media platforms. This leads to the research questions: “What influence does social media have on identity development?”, “What influence would social media have on fashion identities?” and “Could online fashion content be utilised as a guide in the fashion design process?” These research questions are addressed through both theoretical research and online questionnaire responses from participants. The study consists of two components, namely the theoretical component and a practical component. The two components support, inform and validate one another’s findings. The study found that multiple identity types (personal, social and role) collectively form a person’s identity. The multiplicity of identities makes the representation process unique. Fashion identity can represent each of the identity types, separately or collectively. Furthermore, social media’s fashion content influences online users’ fashion identity and could lead to follow-through purchasing. In order to test the theoretical findings, eight of the questionnaire participants were selected for the practical component. The researcher interpreted their questionnaire responses and fashion content from social media platforms they had submitted with the questionnaire. The analysis and interpretation were used to design eight sketch-ranges. From these eight, two ranges were selected for physical production. The eight participants were asked for feedback pertaining to whether the designs captured their fashion identity and communicated aspects of this identity. The responses affirmed that designs had the necessary appeal suggesting that online fashion content can be used as a guide to the design process, in order to encapsulate identity representation.
- Full Text:
- Date Issued: 2018
- Authors: Barnard, Mieke
- Date: 2018
- Subjects: Fashion , Fashion -- Social aspects Fashion -- Forecasting Identity (Psychology)
- Language: English
- Type: Thesis , Masters , MA
- Identifier: http://hdl.handle.net/10948/21790 , vital:29779
- Description: Fashion visually communicates identity. The clothing one wears influences how others perceive and interact with one. The relationship between fashion and identity is important, since fashion communicates aspects of identity without verbal communication. Identity formation and influences would therefore also affect fashion choices. These fashion choices are referred to as fashion identities. Various aspects influence the development of identity. Social interaction and media are two of the main influencers. In contemporary society these two influencers have been combined through social media platforms. This leads to the research questions: “What influence does social media have on identity development?”, “What influence would social media have on fashion identities?” and “Could online fashion content be utilised as a guide in the fashion design process?” These research questions are addressed through both theoretical research and online questionnaire responses from participants. The study consists of two components, namely the theoretical component and a practical component. The two components support, inform and validate one another’s findings. The study found that multiple identity types (personal, social and role) collectively form a person’s identity. The multiplicity of identities makes the representation process unique. Fashion identity can represent each of the identity types, separately or collectively. Furthermore, social media’s fashion content influences online users’ fashion identity and could lead to follow-through purchasing. In order to test the theoretical findings, eight of the questionnaire participants were selected for the practical component. The researcher interpreted their questionnaire responses and fashion content from social media platforms they had submitted with the questionnaire. The analysis and interpretation were used to design eight sketch-ranges. From these eight, two ranges were selected for physical production. The eight participants were asked for feedback pertaining to whether the designs captured their fashion identity and communicated aspects of this identity. The responses affirmed that designs had the necessary appeal suggesting that online fashion content can be used as a guide to the design process, in order to encapsulate identity representation.
- Full Text:
- Date Issued: 2018