A test for Allee effects in the self-incompatible wasp-pollinated milkweed Gomphocarpus physocarpus
- Coombs, Gareth, Peter, Craig I, Johnson, Steven D
- Authors: Coombs, Gareth , Peter, Craig I , Johnson, Steven D
- Date: 2009
- Language: English
- Type: Article
- Identifier: vital:6511 , http://hdl.handle.net/10962/d1005938 , http://dx.doi.org/10.1111/j.1442-9993.2009.01976.x
- Description: It has been suggested that plants which are good colonizers will generally have either an ability to self-fertilize or a generalist pollination system. This prediction is based on the idea that these reproductive traits should confer resistance to Allee effects in founder populations and was tested using Gomphocarpus physocarpus (Asclepiadoideae; Apocynaceae), a species native to South Africa that is invasive in other parts of the world. We found no significant relationships between the size of G. physocarpus populations and various measures of pollination success (pollen deposition, pollen removal, and pollen transfer efficiency) and fruit set. A breeding system experiment showed that plants in a South African population are genetically self-incompatible and thus obligate outcrossers. Out-crossing is further enhanced by mechanical reconfiguration of removed pollinaria before the pollinia can be deposited. Selfpollination is reduced when such reconfiguration exceeds the average duration of pollinator visits to a plant. Observations suggest that a wide variety of wasp species in the genera Belonogaster and Polistes (Vespidae) are the primary pollinators. We conclude that efficient pollination of plants in small founding populations, resulting from their generalist wasp-pollination system, contributes in part to the colonizing success of G. physocarpus. The presence of similar wasps in other parts of the world has evidently facilitated the expansion of the range of this milkweed.
- Full Text:
- Authors: Coombs, Gareth , Peter, Craig I , Johnson, Steven D
- Date: 2009
- Language: English
- Type: Article
- Identifier: vital:6511 , http://hdl.handle.net/10962/d1005938 , http://dx.doi.org/10.1111/j.1442-9993.2009.01976.x
- Description: It has been suggested that plants which are good colonizers will generally have either an ability to self-fertilize or a generalist pollination system. This prediction is based on the idea that these reproductive traits should confer resistance to Allee effects in founder populations and was tested using Gomphocarpus physocarpus (Asclepiadoideae; Apocynaceae), a species native to South Africa that is invasive in other parts of the world. We found no significant relationships between the size of G. physocarpus populations and various measures of pollination success (pollen deposition, pollen removal, and pollen transfer efficiency) and fruit set. A breeding system experiment showed that plants in a South African population are genetically self-incompatible and thus obligate outcrossers. Out-crossing is further enhanced by mechanical reconfiguration of removed pollinaria before the pollinia can be deposited. Selfpollination is reduced when such reconfiguration exceeds the average duration of pollinator visits to a plant. Observations suggest that a wide variety of wasp species in the genera Belonogaster and Polistes (Vespidae) are the primary pollinators. We conclude that efficient pollination of plants in small founding populations, resulting from their generalist wasp-pollination system, contributes in part to the colonizing success of G. physocarpus. The presence of similar wasps in other parts of the world has evidently facilitated the expansion of the range of this milkweed.
- Full Text:
A tetrapod fauna from within the Devonian Antarctic Circle
- Gess, Robert W, Ahlberg, Per Erik Ahlberg
- Authors: Gess, Robert W , Ahlberg, Per Erik Ahlberg
- Date: 2009
- Language: English
- Type: text , article
- Identifier: http://hdl.handle.net/10962/72690 , vital:30100 , https://doi.org/10.1126/science.aaq1645 , https://www.sciencemag.org/content/360/6393/1120/suppl/DC1
- Description: Until now, all known fossils of tetrapods (limbed vertebrates with digits) and near-tetrapods (such as Elpistostege, Tiktaalik, and Panderichthys) from the Devonian period have come from localities in tropical to subtropical paleolatitudes. Most are from Laurussia, a continent incorporating Europe, Greenland, and North America, with only one body fossil and one footprint locality from Australia representing the southern supercontinent Gondwana. Here we describe two previously unknown tetrapods from the Late Devonian (late Famennian) Gondwana locality of Waterloo Farm in South Africa, then located within the Antarctic Circle, which demonstrate that Devonian tetrapods were not restricted to warm environments and suggest that they may have been global in distribution.
- Full Text:
- Authors: Gess, Robert W , Ahlberg, Per Erik Ahlberg
- Date: 2009
- Language: English
- Type: text , article
- Identifier: http://hdl.handle.net/10962/72690 , vital:30100 , https://doi.org/10.1126/science.aaq1645 , https://www.sciencemag.org/content/360/6393/1120/suppl/DC1
- Description: Until now, all known fossils of tetrapods (limbed vertebrates with digits) and near-tetrapods (such as Elpistostege, Tiktaalik, and Panderichthys) from the Devonian period have come from localities in tropical to subtropical paleolatitudes. Most are from Laurussia, a continent incorporating Europe, Greenland, and North America, with only one body fossil and one footprint locality from Australia representing the southern supercontinent Gondwana. Here we describe two previously unknown tetrapods from the Late Devonian (late Famennian) Gondwana locality of Waterloo Farm in South Africa, then located within the Antarctic Circle, which demonstrate that Devonian tetrapods were not restricted to warm environments and suggest that they may have been global in distribution.
- Full Text:
A tropical/subtropical biogeographic disjunction in southeastern Africa separates two evolutionarily significant units of an estuarine prawn
- Teske, Peter R, Winker, A Henning, McQuaid, Christopher D, Barker, Nigel P
- Authors: Teske, Peter R , Winker, A Henning , McQuaid, Christopher D , Barker, Nigel P
- Date: 2009
- Subjects: To be catalogued
- Language: English
- Type: text , article
- Identifier: http://hdl.handle.net/10962/445407 , vital:74383 , https://doi.org/10.1007/s00227-009-1168-3
- Description: Recent phylogeographic research has indicated that biodiversity in the sea may be considerably greater than previously thought. However, the majority of phylogeographic studies on marine invertebrates have exclusively used a single locus (mitochondrial DNA), and it is questionable whether the phylogroups identified can be considered distinct species. We tested whether the mtDNA phylogroups of the southern African sandprawn Callianassa kraussi Stebbing (Decapoda: Thalassinidea) are also recovered using nuclear sequence data. Four mtDNA phylogroups were recovered that were each associated with one of South Africa’s four major biogeographic provinces. Three of these were poorly differentiated, but the fourth (tropical) group was highly distinct. The nuclear phylogeny recovered two major clades, one present in the tropical region and the other in the remainder of South Africa. Congruence between mitochondrial and nuclear DNA indicates that the species comprises two Evolutionarily Significant Units sensu Moritz (1994). In conjunction with physiological data from C. kraussi and morphological, ecological and physiological data from other species, this result supports the notion that at least some of the mtDNA phylogroups of coastal invertebrates whose distributions are limited.
- Full Text:
- Authors: Teske, Peter R , Winker, A Henning , McQuaid, Christopher D , Barker, Nigel P
- Date: 2009
- Subjects: To be catalogued
- Language: English
- Type: text , article
- Identifier: http://hdl.handle.net/10962/445407 , vital:74383 , https://doi.org/10.1007/s00227-009-1168-3
- Description: Recent phylogeographic research has indicated that biodiversity in the sea may be considerably greater than previously thought. However, the majority of phylogeographic studies on marine invertebrates have exclusively used a single locus (mitochondrial DNA), and it is questionable whether the phylogroups identified can be considered distinct species. We tested whether the mtDNA phylogroups of the southern African sandprawn Callianassa kraussi Stebbing (Decapoda: Thalassinidea) are also recovered using nuclear sequence data. Four mtDNA phylogroups were recovered that were each associated with one of South Africa’s four major biogeographic provinces. Three of these were poorly differentiated, but the fourth (tropical) group was highly distinct. The nuclear phylogeny recovered two major clades, one present in the tropical region and the other in the remainder of South Africa. Congruence between mitochondrial and nuclear DNA indicates that the species comprises two Evolutionarily Significant Units sensu Moritz (1994). In conjunction with physiological data from C. kraussi and morphological, ecological and physiological data from other species, this result supports the notion that at least some of the mtDNA phylogroups of coastal invertebrates whose distributions are limited.
- Full Text:
Abahlali baseMjondolo and struggle for the city in Durban, South Africa
- Authors: Pithouse, Richard, 1970-
- Date: 2009
- Language: English
- Type: Article
- Identifier: vital:6208 , http://hdl.handle.net/10962/d1008578
- Description: The racialised regulation of space under apartheid was increasingly undone by insurgent popular action from the late 1970s. After apartheid a technocratic agenda that reduced the urban crisis to a housing crisis successfully depoliticised the urban question. At the same time the state made often violent attempts to reinscribe certain aspects of apartheid spatial logic by forcibly removing shack dwellers living in well located suburbs to tiny houses, and then later ‘transit camps’, in peripheral ghettoes. However from 2004 there was a remarkable sequence of popular protest against local governments across the country. An autonomous shack dweller’s movement, Abahlali baseMjondolo, emerged from this grassroots ferment and has since issued a compelling demand for organisational autonomy, grassroots urban planning and the right to the city.
- Full Text:
- Authors: Pithouse, Richard, 1970-
- Date: 2009
- Language: English
- Type: Article
- Identifier: vital:6208 , http://hdl.handle.net/10962/d1008578
- Description: The racialised regulation of space under apartheid was increasingly undone by insurgent popular action from the late 1970s. After apartheid a technocratic agenda that reduced the urban crisis to a housing crisis successfully depoliticised the urban question. At the same time the state made often violent attempts to reinscribe certain aspects of apartheid spatial logic by forcibly removing shack dwellers living in well located suburbs to tiny houses, and then later ‘transit camps’, in peripheral ghettoes. However from 2004 there was a remarkable sequence of popular protest against local governments across the country. An autonomous shack dweller’s movement, Abahlali baseMjondolo, emerged from this grassroots ferment and has since issued a compelling demand for organisational autonomy, grassroots urban planning and the right to the city.
- Full Text:
Abstract: redressing the apartheid legacy of social exclusion : social equity, redress and admission to higher education in democratic South Africa
- Authors: Badat, Saleem
- Date: 2009
- Language: English
- Type: Text
- Identifier: vital:7734 , http://hdl.handle.net/10962/d1015881
- Full Text:
- Authors: Badat, Saleem
- Date: 2009
- Language: English
- Type: Text
- Identifier: vital:7734 , http://hdl.handle.net/10962/d1015881
- Full Text:
Aes white paper: Best practices in network audio
- Bouillot, Nicolas, Cohen, Elizabeth, Cooperstock, Jeremy R, Floros, Andreas, Fonseca, Nuno, Foss, Richard, Goodman, Michael, Grant, John, Gross, Kevin, Harris, Steven, Harshbarger, Brent, Heyraud, Joffrey, Jonsson, Lars, Narus, John, Page, Michael, Snook, Tom, Tanaka, Atau, Trieger, Justin, Zanghieri, Umberto
- Authors: Bouillot, Nicolas , Cohen, Elizabeth , Cooperstock, Jeremy R , Floros, Andreas , Fonseca, Nuno , Foss, Richard , Goodman, Michael , Grant, John , Gross, Kevin , Harris, Steven , Harshbarger, Brent , Heyraud, Joffrey , Jonsson, Lars , Narus, John , Page, Michael , Snook, Tom , Tanaka, Atau , Trieger, Justin , Zanghieri, Umberto
- Date: 2009
- Language: English
- Type: text , article
- Identifier: http://hdl.handle.net/10962/427181 , vital:72420 , https://www.aes.org/e-lib/browse.cfm?elib=14839
- Description: Analog audio needs a separate physical circuit for each channel. Each microphone in a studio or on a stage, for example, must have its own circuit back to the mixer. Routing of the signals is inflexible. Digital audio is frequently wired in a similar way to analog. Although several channels can share a single physical circuit ( e. g., up to 64 with AES10 ), thus reducing the number of cores needed in a cable. Routing of signals is still inflexible and any change to the equipment in a location is liable to require new cabling. Networks allow much more flexibility. Any piece of equipment plugged into the network is able to communicate with any other. However, installers of audio networks need to be aware of a number of issues that affect audio signals but are not important for data networks and are not addressed by current IT networking technologies such as IP. This white paper examines these issues and provides guidance to installers and users that can help them build successful networked systems.
- Full Text:
- Authors: Bouillot, Nicolas , Cohen, Elizabeth , Cooperstock, Jeremy R , Floros, Andreas , Fonseca, Nuno , Foss, Richard , Goodman, Michael , Grant, John , Gross, Kevin , Harris, Steven , Harshbarger, Brent , Heyraud, Joffrey , Jonsson, Lars , Narus, John , Page, Michael , Snook, Tom , Tanaka, Atau , Trieger, Justin , Zanghieri, Umberto
- Date: 2009
- Language: English
- Type: text , article
- Identifier: http://hdl.handle.net/10962/427181 , vital:72420 , https://www.aes.org/e-lib/browse.cfm?elib=14839
- Description: Analog audio needs a separate physical circuit for each channel. Each microphone in a studio or on a stage, for example, must have its own circuit back to the mixer. Routing of the signals is inflexible. Digital audio is frequently wired in a similar way to analog. Although several channels can share a single physical circuit ( e. g., up to 64 with AES10 ), thus reducing the number of cores needed in a cable. Routing of signals is still inflexible and any change to the equipment in a location is liable to require new cabling. Networks allow much more flexibility. Any piece of equipment plugged into the network is able to communicate with any other. However, installers of audio networks need to be aware of a number of issues that affect audio signals but are not important for data networks and are not addressed by current IT networking technologies such as IP. This white paper examines these issues and provides guidance to installers and users that can help them build successful networked systems.
- Full Text:
African traditional medicines-antiretroviral drug interactions: the effect of African potato (Hypoxis hemerocallidea) on the pharmacokinetics of efavirenz in humans
- Authors: Mogatle, Seloi
- Date: 2009
- Subjects: Potatoes -- Africa Potatoes -- Therapeutic use Medicinal plants Traditional medicine AIDS (Disease) -- Treatment HIV infections -- Drug therapy Drug interactions Antiretroviral agents Pharmacokinetics Hypoxidaceae -- Therapeutic use High performance liquid chromatography
- Language: English
- Type: Thesis , Masters , MSc
- Identifier: vital:3773 , http://hdl.handle.net/10962/d1003251
- Description: African Potato (Hypoxis hemerocallidea), (AP) is an African traditional medicine (TM) that is commonly used for various nutritional/medicinal purposes and also by people infected with the human immuno deficiency virus HIV and AIDS patients as an immune booster. The use of AP has also been recommended by the former Minister of Health of South Africa for use by HIV positive people. The main phytochemical component of AP is a norlignan glucoside, hypoxoside, and other relatively minor components have also been reported. A recent in vitro study reported the effects of AP extracts, hypoxoside and rooperol (the metabolite of hypoxoside) on human metabolic enzymes such as the cytochrome P450 (CYP450) group of enzymes and also on the transporter protein, p-glycoprotein (P-gp). This research focussed on investigating the clinical significance of those in vitro effects on the pharmacokinetics of efavirenz (EFV) in humans. EFV was chosen as the substrate drug because it is in first-line regimen of treatment of HIV/AIDS in South Africa, and also has been reported to be a substrate for the specific CYP isozymes, 3A4 and 2B6, in common with APs metabolic involvement with 3A4. A high performance liquid chromatography method with ultra-violet detection (HPLC-UV) for the quantitative determination of EFV in plasma was developed and successfully validated according to international standards with good reproducibility, accuracy, recovery, linear response and requisite sensitivity. The preparation of the plasma samples for analysis was effected by using a simple and rapid precipitation method, and the mobile phase consisted of readily available solvents. EFV in plasma samples was found to be stable under the relevant storage conditions studied. The oral dose of AP, administered as a freshly prepared traditional decoction, was standardised based on the hypoxoside content, and the quality of all the AP decoctions was analysed immediately prior to administration, using a validated HPLC-UV method. A single dose, two-phase sequential study was conducted over a period of 31 days in 10 healthy volunteers. The clinical study was approved by the Rhodes University Ethical Standards Committee, and all the participants agreed to the conditions of the study by giving their informed consent. On day 1 of the study, human subjects were administered a 600 mg EFV tablet and blood samples were collected before dosing and at various intervals over a period of 48 hr post dosing. From day 16, a traditionally prepared AP decoction was administered daily at a standardized dose of 15 mg/kg/day per subject until day 30. On day 29, volunteers were administered a single 600 mg dose of EFV as was done on day 1. Plasma samples were harvested immediately after blood sample collection and frozen at -80 ºC until assayed. Geometric mean ratios of relevant pharmacokinetic parameters, Cmax (maximum plasma concentration achieved following dosing) and AUC0-48 (area under the curve of a plot of drug plasma concentrations versus time representing the extent of absorption) of EFV before and after co-administration of 14 successive daily doses of AP were compared and evaluated to determine whether an interaction had occurred. All subjects completed the study and the geometric mean ratios of Cmax and AUC0-48 were 97.30 and 102.82 with corresponding 90% confidence intervals (CIs) of 78.81-120.14% and 89.04-118.80%, respectively. Whereas the acceptance criteria for the ratios of the AUCs fell within the preset 90% CIs indicating no interaction, the Cmax ratios fell outside the limits. Although the protocol was developed in accordance with the United States of America Food & Drug Administration’s Guidance for Drug Interactions, a priori stating that both criteria need to fall within the acceptance limits to indicate no interaction, an argument is presented to waive the Cmax requirement for the declaration of an interaction. As a result, the pharmacokinetic data generated during this study indicated that the effect of AP on the pharmacokinetics of EFV is not clinically significant. Hence, co-administration of AP is unlikely to affect the clinical use of EFV. In summary the objectives of this project were: 1. To develop and validate a suitable HPLC-UV method for the quantitative determination of EFV in plasma. 2. To perform a mini-validation of the determination of hypoxoside for use as a marker in the quality control and standardisation of AP decoctions. 3. To conduct a clinical interaction study in order to determine whether AP affects the pharmacokinetics of EFV following concurrent administration. 4. To apply the validated HPLC-UV method to determine plasma concentrations of EFV in plasma of human subjects. 5. To use appropriate statistical methods and treatments such as a non-compartmental pharmacokinetic analysis to determine the occurrence of an interaction.
- Full Text:
- Authors: Mogatle, Seloi
- Date: 2009
- Subjects: Potatoes -- Africa Potatoes -- Therapeutic use Medicinal plants Traditional medicine AIDS (Disease) -- Treatment HIV infections -- Drug therapy Drug interactions Antiretroviral agents Pharmacokinetics Hypoxidaceae -- Therapeutic use High performance liquid chromatography
- Language: English
- Type: Thesis , Masters , MSc
- Identifier: vital:3773 , http://hdl.handle.net/10962/d1003251
- Description: African Potato (Hypoxis hemerocallidea), (AP) is an African traditional medicine (TM) that is commonly used for various nutritional/medicinal purposes and also by people infected with the human immuno deficiency virus HIV and AIDS patients as an immune booster. The use of AP has also been recommended by the former Minister of Health of South Africa for use by HIV positive people. The main phytochemical component of AP is a norlignan glucoside, hypoxoside, and other relatively minor components have also been reported. A recent in vitro study reported the effects of AP extracts, hypoxoside and rooperol (the metabolite of hypoxoside) on human metabolic enzymes such as the cytochrome P450 (CYP450) group of enzymes and also on the transporter protein, p-glycoprotein (P-gp). This research focussed on investigating the clinical significance of those in vitro effects on the pharmacokinetics of efavirenz (EFV) in humans. EFV was chosen as the substrate drug because it is in first-line regimen of treatment of HIV/AIDS in South Africa, and also has been reported to be a substrate for the specific CYP isozymes, 3A4 and 2B6, in common with APs metabolic involvement with 3A4. A high performance liquid chromatography method with ultra-violet detection (HPLC-UV) for the quantitative determination of EFV in plasma was developed and successfully validated according to international standards with good reproducibility, accuracy, recovery, linear response and requisite sensitivity. The preparation of the plasma samples for analysis was effected by using a simple and rapid precipitation method, and the mobile phase consisted of readily available solvents. EFV in plasma samples was found to be stable under the relevant storage conditions studied. The oral dose of AP, administered as a freshly prepared traditional decoction, was standardised based on the hypoxoside content, and the quality of all the AP decoctions was analysed immediately prior to administration, using a validated HPLC-UV method. A single dose, two-phase sequential study was conducted over a period of 31 days in 10 healthy volunteers. The clinical study was approved by the Rhodes University Ethical Standards Committee, and all the participants agreed to the conditions of the study by giving their informed consent. On day 1 of the study, human subjects were administered a 600 mg EFV tablet and blood samples were collected before dosing and at various intervals over a period of 48 hr post dosing. From day 16, a traditionally prepared AP decoction was administered daily at a standardized dose of 15 mg/kg/day per subject until day 30. On day 29, volunteers were administered a single 600 mg dose of EFV as was done on day 1. Plasma samples were harvested immediately after blood sample collection and frozen at -80 ºC until assayed. Geometric mean ratios of relevant pharmacokinetic parameters, Cmax (maximum plasma concentration achieved following dosing) and AUC0-48 (area under the curve of a plot of drug plasma concentrations versus time representing the extent of absorption) of EFV before and after co-administration of 14 successive daily doses of AP were compared and evaluated to determine whether an interaction had occurred. All subjects completed the study and the geometric mean ratios of Cmax and AUC0-48 were 97.30 and 102.82 with corresponding 90% confidence intervals (CIs) of 78.81-120.14% and 89.04-118.80%, respectively. Whereas the acceptance criteria for the ratios of the AUCs fell within the preset 90% CIs indicating no interaction, the Cmax ratios fell outside the limits. Although the protocol was developed in accordance with the United States of America Food & Drug Administration’s Guidance for Drug Interactions, a priori stating that both criteria need to fall within the acceptance limits to indicate no interaction, an argument is presented to waive the Cmax requirement for the declaration of an interaction. As a result, the pharmacokinetic data generated during this study indicated that the effect of AP on the pharmacokinetics of EFV is not clinically significant. Hence, co-administration of AP is unlikely to affect the clinical use of EFV. In summary the objectives of this project were: 1. To develop and validate a suitable HPLC-UV method for the quantitative determination of EFV in plasma. 2. To perform a mini-validation of the determination of hypoxoside for use as a marker in the quality control and standardisation of AP decoctions. 3. To conduct a clinical interaction study in order to determine whether AP affects the pharmacokinetics of EFV following concurrent administration. 4. To apply the validated HPLC-UV method to determine plasma concentrations of EFV in plasma of human subjects. 5. To use appropriate statistical methods and treatments such as a non-compartmental pharmacokinetic analysis to determine the occurrence of an interaction.
- Full Text:
Alan Peacock and Ilde Rizzo: the heritage game
- Authors: Snowball, Jeanette D
- Date: 2009
- Language: English
- Type: text , article
- Identifier: http://hdl.handle.net/10962/71470 , vital:29856 , https://doi.org/10.1007/s10824-009-9106-2
- Description: The Heritage Game has an ambitious aim: to persuade those engaged in heritage management that economists have a valuable contribution to make and that they should be allowed to join the table where decisions are made—not as occasional “hired guns” consulting on specific matters, but as routine and continuous contributors to the discussion. As such, the book explains and illuminates some of the fundamental ideas in economics (consumer sovereignty, moral hazard, incentives, opportunity cost) as applied to the “heritage biz”. It is written in a light-hearted style that fulfils the authors’ intention of “making economics palatable and even enjoyable … offering both instruction and entertainment” (p. 10). Even economists familiar with the field will thus find it a pleasurable read, filled as it is with humorous anecdotes and examples drawn from the authors’ personal experiences as contributors to heritage management and policy.
- Full Text:
- Authors: Snowball, Jeanette D
- Date: 2009
- Language: English
- Type: text , article
- Identifier: http://hdl.handle.net/10962/71470 , vital:29856 , https://doi.org/10.1007/s10824-009-9106-2
- Description: The Heritage Game has an ambitious aim: to persuade those engaged in heritage management that economists have a valuable contribution to make and that they should be allowed to join the table where decisions are made—not as occasional “hired guns” consulting on specific matters, but as routine and continuous contributors to the discussion. As such, the book explains and illuminates some of the fundamental ideas in economics (consumer sovereignty, moral hazard, incentives, opportunity cost) as applied to the “heritage biz”. It is written in a light-hearted style that fulfils the authors’ intention of “making economics palatable and even enjoyable … offering both instruction and entertainment” (p. 10). Even economists familiar with the field will thus find it a pleasurable read, filled as it is with humorous anecdotes and examples drawn from the authors’ personal experiences as contributors to heritage management and policy.
- Full Text:
Ameliorating poverty in South Africa through natural resource commercialisation : how can NGO's make a difference?
- Authors: Shackleton, Sheona E
- Date: 2009
- Language: English
- Type: Article
- Identifier: vital:6615 , http://hdl.handle.net/10962/d1016222
- Description: [From Introduction] Some of the poorest rural people in South Africa are turning to the natural resource base for income generation. Using traditional skills they are converting a variety of wild resources into commodities that are sold in the market place. Wood and woven craft, medicines, fresh and processed wild foods, alcoholic beverages, building materials, fuelwood, dried mopane worms, cultural artefacts and brooms are just some examples of the array of natural resource products increasingly seen for sale in local and external markets. Many of the participants in this trade have minimal education, few assets to draw on, and little access to alternative sources of income or jobs. A significant proportion are women, with more than half heading their own households. Many come from households devastated by HIV/AIDS. The cash earned from selling natural resource products, however modest, is of critical importance to the households involved, preventing them from slipping deeper into poverty. “Since I have been making brooms my children no longer go to bed crying of hunger” observed one broom producer. NGOs, particularly those involved in rural development, can play an important role in assisting producers overcome some of the obstacles they face and in enhancing the opportunities to grow this informal sector. , This policy brief is based on the original brief made available for a workshop in August 2006. It draws on, amongst other sources, the results of several case studies of natural resource commercialisation undertaken across South Africa. The project was funded by the South Africa-Netherlands Programme on Alternatives in Development (SANPAD), BP South Africa and the National Research Foundation (NRF). The Center for International Forestry Research, with support from SIDA, provided the funding to share these findings with key stakeholders including government policy and decision makers.
- Full Text:
- Authors: Shackleton, Sheona E
- Date: 2009
- Language: English
- Type: Article
- Identifier: vital:6615 , http://hdl.handle.net/10962/d1016222
- Description: [From Introduction] Some of the poorest rural people in South Africa are turning to the natural resource base for income generation. Using traditional skills they are converting a variety of wild resources into commodities that are sold in the market place. Wood and woven craft, medicines, fresh and processed wild foods, alcoholic beverages, building materials, fuelwood, dried mopane worms, cultural artefacts and brooms are just some examples of the array of natural resource products increasingly seen for sale in local and external markets. Many of the participants in this trade have minimal education, few assets to draw on, and little access to alternative sources of income or jobs. A significant proportion are women, with more than half heading their own households. Many come from households devastated by HIV/AIDS. The cash earned from selling natural resource products, however modest, is of critical importance to the households involved, preventing them from slipping deeper into poverty. “Since I have been making brooms my children no longer go to bed crying of hunger” observed one broom producer. NGOs, particularly those involved in rural development, can play an important role in assisting producers overcome some of the obstacles they face and in enhancing the opportunities to grow this informal sector. , This policy brief is based on the original brief made available for a workshop in August 2006. It draws on, amongst other sources, the results of several case studies of natural resource commercialisation undertaken across South Africa. The project was funded by the South Africa-Netherlands Programme on Alternatives in Development (SANPAD), BP South Africa and the National Research Foundation (NRF). The Center for International Forestry Research, with support from SIDA, provided the funding to share these findings with key stakeholders including government policy and decision makers.
- Full Text:
An account of the life of Captain Samuel Jervois
- Authors: Jervois, W
- Date: 2009
- Language: English
- Type: Article
- Identifier: vital:7005 , http://hdl.handle.net/10962/d1008380
- Description: [From the introduction]: In this paper, an attempt is made to link the known details of the life of Samuel Jervois with a chain of hypotheses that are based on a study of the people, places and events that made up the environment in which he lived.
- Full Text: false
- Authors: Jervois, W
- Date: 2009
- Language: English
- Type: Article
- Identifier: vital:7005 , http://hdl.handle.net/10962/d1008380
- Description: [From the introduction]: In this paper, an attempt is made to link the known details of the life of Samuel Jervois with a chain of hypotheses that are based on a study of the people, places and events that made up the environment in which he lived.
- Full Text: false
An analysis of collective bargaining arrangements in the construction industry
- BWI
- Authors: BWI
- Date: 2009
- Subjects: BWI
- Language: English
- Type: text
- Identifier: http://hdl.handle.net/10962/135556 , vital:37275
- Description: The BWI is the global union federation grouping of free and democratic unions, with members in the building, building materials, wood, forestry and allied sectors. The BWI groups together around 318 trade unions representing around 12 million members in 130 countries. The headquarters is in Geneva, Switzerland. Regional and Project offices are located in Panama and Malaysia, South Africa, India, Australia, Burkina Faso, Bulgaria, Lebanon, Kenya, South Korea, Russia, Argentina, Peru and Brazil. Our mission is to promote the development of trade unions in our sectors throughout the world, and to promote and enforce workers' rights in the context of sustainable development. The President of the International is Klaus Wiesehiigel from the Building and Forest Workers Union in Germany. The Deputy President is Stefaan Vantourenhout from the Building and Wood Workers union in Belgium and the General Secretary is Anita Normark from Sweden.
- Full Text:
- Authors: BWI
- Date: 2009
- Subjects: BWI
- Language: English
- Type: text
- Identifier: http://hdl.handle.net/10962/135556 , vital:37275
- Description: The BWI is the global union federation grouping of free and democratic unions, with members in the building, building materials, wood, forestry and allied sectors. The BWI groups together around 318 trade unions representing around 12 million members in 130 countries. The headquarters is in Geneva, Switzerland. Regional and Project offices are located in Panama and Malaysia, South Africa, India, Australia, Burkina Faso, Bulgaria, Lebanon, Kenya, South Korea, Russia, Argentina, Peru and Brazil. Our mission is to promote the development of trade unions in our sectors throughout the world, and to promote and enforce workers' rights in the context of sustainable development. The President of the International is Klaus Wiesehiigel from the Building and Forest Workers Union in Germany. The Deputy President is Stefaan Vantourenhout from the Building and Wood Workers union in Belgium and the General Secretary is Anita Normark from Sweden.
- Full Text:
An analysis of institutional and technical factors influencing agricultural marketing amongst smallholder farmers in the Kat River Valley, Eastern Cape Province, South Africa
- Jari, Bridget, Fraser, Gavin C G
- Authors: Jari, Bridget , Fraser, Gavin C G
- Date: 2009
- Subjects: To be catalogued
- Language: English
- Type: text , article
- Identifier: http://hdl.handle.net/10962/470978 , vital:77405 , https://academicjournals.org/journal/AJAR
- Description: Smallholder farmers in the Kat River Valley do not use output markets effectively due to a number of factors. The technical and institutional factors that demoralise them from marketing are identified in this paper. It is asserted that an explicit analysis in the relationship between technology, institutions and markets may be useful in developing livelihood improving programs. Therefore, by identifying such factors, the paper seeks to find out ways of improving market participation among the smallholders, hence, livelihood development. The multinomial regression model was used to investigate the factors that influence marketing choices among smallholder and emerging farmers in the area under study. Empirical results show that market information, expertise on grades and standards, contractual agreements, social capital, market infrastructure, group participation and tradition significantly influence household marketing behaviour.
- Full Text:
- Authors: Jari, Bridget , Fraser, Gavin C G
- Date: 2009
- Subjects: To be catalogued
- Language: English
- Type: text , article
- Identifier: http://hdl.handle.net/10962/470978 , vital:77405 , https://academicjournals.org/journal/AJAR
- Description: Smallholder farmers in the Kat River Valley do not use output markets effectively due to a number of factors. The technical and institutional factors that demoralise them from marketing are identified in this paper. It is asserted that an explicit analysis in the relationship between technology, institutions and markets may be useful in developing livelihood improving programs. Therefore, by identifying such factors, the paper seeks to find out ways of improving market participation among the smallholders, hence, livelihood development. The multinomial regression model was used to investigate the factors that influence marketing choices among smallholder and emerging farmers in the area under study. Empirical results show that market information, expertise on grades and standards, contractual agreements, social capital, market infrastructure, group participation and tradition significantly influence household marketing behaviour.
- Full Text:
An analysis of logical network distance on observed packet counts for network telescope data
- Irwin, Barry V W, Barnett, Richard J
- Authors: Irwin, Barry V W , Barnett, Richard J
- Date: 2009
- Language: English
- Type: text , article
- Identifier: http://hdl.handle.net/10962/428090 , vital:72485 , https://www.researchgate.net/profile/Barry-Ir-win/publication/228765119_An_Analysis_of_Logical_Network_Distance_on_Observed_Packet_Counts_for_Network_Telescope_Data/links/53e9c5e80cf28f342f414988/An-Analysis-of-Logical-Network-Distance-on-Observed-Packet-Counts-for-Network-Telescope-Data.pdf
- Description: This paper investigates the relationship between the logical distance between two IP addresses on the Internet, and the number of packets captured by a network telescope listening on a network containing one of the addresses. The need for the computation of a manageable measure of quantification of this distance is presented, as an alterna-tive to the raw difference that can be computed between two addresses using their Integer representations. A number of graphical analysis tools and techniques are presented to aid in this analysis. Findings are pre-sented based on a long baseline data set collected at Rhodes Universi-ty over the last three years, using a dedicated Class C (256 IP address) sensor network, and comprising 19 million packets. Of this total, 27% by packet volume originate within the same natural class A network as the telescope, and as such can be seen to be logically close to the collector network.
- Full Text:
- Authors: Irwin, Barry V W , Barnett, Richard J
- Date: 2009
- Language: English
- Type: text , article
- Identifier: http://hdl.handle.net/10962/428090 , vital:72485 , https://www.researchgate.net/profile/Barry-Ir-win/publication/228765119_An_Analysis_of_Logical_Network_Distance_on_Observed_Packet_Counts_for_Network_Telescope_Data/links/53e9c5e80cf28f342f414988/An-Analysis-of-Logical-Network-Distance-on-Observed-Packet-Counts-for-Network-Telescope-Data.pdf
- Description: This paper investigates the relationship between the logical distance between two IP addresses on the Internet, and the number of packets captured by a network telescope listening on a network containing one of the addresses. The need for the computation of a manageable measure of quantification of this distance is presented, as an alterna-tive to the raw difference that can be computed between two addresses using their Integer representations. A number of graphical analysis tools and techniques are presented to aid in this analysis. Findings are pre-sented based on a long baseline data set collected at Rhodes Universi-ty over the last three years, using a dedicated Class C (256 IP address) sensor network, and comprising 19 million packets. Of this total, 27% by packet volume originate within the same natural class A network as the telescope, and as such can be seen to be logically close to the collector network.
- Full Text:
An analysis of the money market linkages between South Africa and selected major world economies
- Authors: Barnor, Joel A
- Date: 2009
- Subjects: South African Reserve Bank , Banks and banking, Central -- South Africa , Money market -- South Africa , Monetary policy -- South Africa , Foreign exchange rates -- South Africa , International economic relations , Interest rates -- South Africa , Financial institutions -- South Africa
- Language: English
- Type: Thesis , Masters , MCom
- Identifier: vital:956 , http://hdl.handle.net/10962/d1002690 , South African Reserve Bank , Banks and banking, Central -- South Africa , Money market -- South Africa , Monetary policy -- South Africa , Foreign exchange rates -- South Africa , International economic relations , Interest rates -- South Africa , Financial institutions -- South Africa
- Description: Globalisation and financial liberalisation has increased the linkages across countries in recent times. The existence of money market links has important implications for both domestic monetary policy and for investment decisions. This study examines the linkages between South Africa’s money market and selected major international money markets. The objectives of the study are firstly to examine the links between the repo rate of South Africa and the central bank rates of the EU, Japan, UK and US. Secondly, is to compare the influence of domestic and foreign monetary policy decisions on South Africa’s money market. The third objective is to examine the long run relationship between the South African money market and the money markets of its major trading partners. Three estimation techniques are used to examine the different links. Principal components analysis, four tests of cointegration, and stationarity tests of the spreads/risk premium between South Africa’s interest rates and the interest rates of the other countries. All three techniques show that there is no long-run link between South Africa’s central bank rates and the central bank rates of the other countries. This shows that the repo rate does not depend on movements in other central bank rates. Domestic money market interest rates respond strongly to changes in the repo rate whilst showing no dependence on central bank rates of the other countries. This confirms the autonomy of the South African Reserve Bank in carrying out policy objectives. When the risk premium is accounted for under the third technique, evidence of integration is found. This indicates that the risk premium plays a crucial part in the level of integration between South Africa and the countries included in the study.
- Full Text:
- Authors: Barnor, Joel A
- Date: 2009
- Subjects: South African Reserve Bank , Banks and banking, Central -- South Africa , Money market -- South Africa , Monetary policy -- South Africa , Foreign exchange rates -- South Africa , International economic relations , Interest rates -- South Africa , Financial institutions -- South Africa
- Language: English
- Type: Thesis , Masters , MCom
- Identifier: vital:956 , http://hdl.handle.net/10962/d1002690 , South African Reserve Bank , Banks and banking, Central -- South Africa , Money market -- South Africa , Monetary policy -- South Africa , Foreign exchange rates -- South Africa , International economic relations , Interest rates -- South Africa , Financial institutions -- South Africa
- Description: Globalisation and financial liberalisation has increased the linkages across countries in recent times. The existence of money market links has important implications for both domestic monetary policy and for investment decisions. This study examines the linkages between South Africa’s money market and selected major international money markets. The objectives of the study are firstly to examine the links between the repo rate of South Africa and the central bank rates of the EU, Japan, UK and US. Secondly, is to compare the influence of domestic and foreign monetary policy decisions on South Africa’s money market. The third objective is to examine the long run relationship between the South African money market and the money markets of its major trading partners. Three estimation techniques are used to examine the different links. Principal components analysis, four tests of cointegration, and stationarity tests of the spreads/risk premium between South Africa’s interest rates and the interest rates of the other countries. All three techniques show that there is no long-run link between South Africa’s central bank rates and the central bank rates of the other countries. This shows that the repo rate does not depend on movements in other central bank rates. Domestic money market interest rates respond strongly to changes in the repo rate whilst showing no dependence on central bank rates of the other countries. This confirms the autonomy of the South African Reserve Bank in carrying out policy objectives. When the risk premium is accounted for under the third technique, evidence of integration is found. This indicates that the risk premium plays a crucial part in the level of integration between South Africa and the countries included in the study.
- Full Text:
An argument for VP coordination: scene-setting coordination and weak islands
- Authors: De Vos, Mark A
- Date: 2009
- Subjects: To be catalogued
- Language: English
- Type: text , article
- Identifier: http://hdl.handle.net/10962/469371 , vital:77236 , https://doi.org/10.2989/SALALS.2009.27.1.1.749
- Description: This article provides a minimalist analysis of a novel type of weak island that has not been discussed in the literature until now. The island is a subtype of extraction from asymmetric coordination islands in violation of the across-the-board constraint. The islands in question are characterised by being weak islands for certain types of adjunct extraction, and by being discontinuous – XP coordination. This article demonstrates the properties of this curious construction type and proposes the first analysis to date. It is argued that this is an instance of VP coordination and that this configuration allows the possibility of high merger of direct objects in a constrained fashion.
- Full Text:
- Authors: De Vos, Mark A
- Date: 2009
- Subjects: To be catalogued
- Language: English
- Type: text , article
- Identifier: http://hdl.handle.net/10962/469371 , vital:77236 , https://doi.org/10.2989/SALALS.2009.27.1.1.749
- Description: This article provides a minimalist analysis of a novel type of weak island that has not been discussed in the literature until now. The island is a subtype of extraction from asymmetric coordination islands in violation of the across-the-board constraint. The islands in question are characterised by being weak islands for certain types of adjunct extraction, and by being discontinuous – XP coordination. This article demonstrates the properties of this curious construction type and proposes the first analysis to date. It is argued that this is an instance of VP coordination and that this configuration allows the possibility of high merger of direct objects in a constrained fashion.
- Full Text:
An assessment of the environmental compliance monitoring capacity of the Department of Minerals and Energy, Eastern Cape
- Authors: Watkins, Deidre Ann
- Date: 2009
- Subjects: South Africa. Dept. of Mineral and Energy Affairs Mines and mineral resources -- South Africa -- Eastern Cape Mineral industries -- South Africa -- Eastern Cape Mineral industries -- Social aspects -- South Africa -- Eastern Cape Mineral industries -- Environmental aspects -- South Africa -- Eastern Cape Mines and mineral resources -- Social aspects -- South Africa -- Eastern Cape Mines and mineral resources -- Environmental aspects -- South Africa -- Eastern Cape Environmental auditing -- South Africa -- Eastern Cape
- Language: English
- Type: Thesis , Masters , MBA
- Identifier: vital:728 , http://hdl.handle.net/10962/d1003848
- Description: One of the greatest challenges facing the world today is integrating industrial activities such as mining with environmental integrity and social concerns. Monitoring is fundamental to environmental management, both to assess the adherence to standards and to allow environmental managers to learn from practical experiences. However, a problem arises when the regulatory authorities cannot keep up with their mandate of enforcement and compliance monitoring. This research examined how the Department of Minerals and Energy (DME) implements the concept of sustainable development in the mining sector of the Eastern Cape (EC) and, more specifically, the extent to which the Mine Environmental Management (MEM) section is able to effectively monitor compliance of mining operations with environmental legislation. This was the first systematic compilation of statistical data for the DME, and presents the first study in the EC regional office in terms of environmental sustainability. Results indicate that there has been a sustained increase in mining activity over the past three years, possibly as a result of the boom in the construction industry and the accelerated road maintenance and improvement programmes in the Eastern Cape. Mining applications received by the DME have increased by 47% from 2006 to 2007 (January-May) and by a further 100% from 2007 to 2008. In addition to the increasing number of mining concerns being established, 98 mining concerns will need to apply for the conversion of their old order rights to new order rights by the 1st May 2009. Mining in the province is predominantly small scale with mining permits (mined areas less than 1.5Ha) making up 52.3% of all applications, with larger mining concerns contributing 29.3% and prospecting contributing the remaining 18.4%. In terms of compliance inspections, the EC regional office is required to conduct 120 environmental compliance inspections annually in terms of contributing to sustainable development. The MEM section exceeded this target since 2003. However, when the number of operational mines is considered, 120 inspections per year equates to one mine being visited, on average once every four years (based on 2008 data). Based on projected figures (number of compliance audits and number of operational mines) for 2009, the DME’s target of 150 inspections for 2009/10 combined with the limited staff D. Watkins – MBA Dissertation 2008 capacity will, at best, mean that mines would be inspected once in seven years. However, the target of 150 inspections will not actually even cover the expected number of EMP evaluation inspections. This has serious implications in terms of regulating the compliance of the mining concerns with their EMPR’s. The low level of compliance monitoring can be directly related to staff capacity and logistics problems at the regional office as well as provincial targets being based on staff capacity rather than the number of operational mines. Thus, considering potential environmental damage associated with mining operations and the capacity constraints of the MEM to conduct frequent compliance audits, it is likely that mining operations will have negative implications for sustainable development in the region. Currently there are many challenges facing the DME in terms of contributing positively to sustainability in the mining sector and there is a need to base future actions on the idea of continuous improvement and ultimately progress.
- Full Text:
- Authors: Watkins, Deidre Ann
- Date: 2009
- Subjects: South Africa. Dept. of Mineral and Energy Affairs Mines and mineral resources -- South Africa -- Eastern Cape Mineral industries -- South Africa -- Eastern Cape Mineral industries -- Social aspects -- South Africa -- Eastern Cape Mineral industries -- Environmental aspects -- South Africa -- Eastern Cape Mines and mineral resources -- Social aspects -- South Africa -- Eastern Cape Mines and mineral resources -- Environmental aspects -- South Africa -- Eastern Cape Environmental auditing -- South Africa -- Eastern Cape
- Language: English
- Type: Thesis , Masters , MBA
- Identifier: vital:728 , http://hdl.handle.net/10962/d1003848
- Description: One of the greatest challenges facing the world today is integrating industrial activities such as mining with environmental integrity and social concerns. Monitoring is fundamental to environmental management, both to assess the adherence to standards and to allow environmental managers to learn from practical experiences. However, a problem arises when the regulatory authorities cannot keep up with their mandate of enforcement and compliance monitoring. This research examined how the Department of Minerals and Energy (DME) implements the concept of sustainable development in the mining sector of the Eastern Cape (EC) and, more specifically, the extent to which the Mine Environmental Management (MEM) section is able to effectively monitor compliance of mining operations with environmental legislation. This was the first systematic compilation of statistical data for the DME, and presents the first study in the EC regional office in terms of environmental sustainability. Results indicate that there has been a sustained increase in mining activity over the past three years, possibly as a result of the boom in the construction industry and the accelerated road maintenance and improvement programmes in the Eastern Cape. Mining applications received by the DME have increased by 47% from 2006 to 2007 (January-May) and by a further 100% from 2007 to 2008. In addition to the increasing number of mining concerns being established, 98 mining concerns will need to apply for the conversion of their old order rights to new order rights by the 1st May 2009. Mining in the province is predominantly small scale with mining permits (mined areas less than 1.5Ha) making up 52.3% of all applications, with larger mining concerns contributing 29.3% and prospecting contributing the remaining 18.4%. In terms of compliance inspections, the EC regional office is required to conduct 120 environmental compliance inspections annually in terms of contributing to sustainable development. The MEM section exceeded this target since 2003. However, when the number of operational mines is considered, 120 inspections per year equates to one mine being visited, on average once every four years (based on 2008 data). Based on projected figures (number of compliance audits and number of operational mines) for 2009, the DME’s target of 150 inspections for 2009/10 combined with the limited staff D. Watkins – MBA Dissertation 2008 capacity will, at best, mean that mines would be inspected once in seven years. However, the target of 150 inspections will not actually even cover the expected number of EMP evaluation inspections. This has serious implications in terms of regulating the compliance of the mining concerns with their EMPR’s. The low level of compliance monitoring can be directly related to staff capacity and logistics problems at the regional office as well as provincial targets being based on staff capacity rather than the number of operational mines. Thus, considering potential environmental damage associated with mining operations and the capacity constraints of the MEM to conduct frequent compliance audits, it is likely that mining operations will have negative implications for sustainable development in the region. Currently there are many challenges facing the DME in terms of contributing positively to sustainability in the mining sector and there is a need to base future actions on the idea of continuous improvement and ultimately progress.
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An assessment of the experience of small town local economic development in the Eastern Cape Midlands
- Authors: Pio, Elizabeth
- Date: 2009
- Subjects: Small cities -- South Africa -- Eastern Cape , Economic development -- South Africa -- Eastern Cape , Community development -- South Africa -- Eastern Cape , City planning -- Economic aspects -- South Africa -- Eastern Cape
- Language: English
- Type: Thesis , Masters , MSocSc
- Identifier: vital:4888 , http://hdl.handle.net/10962/d1015464
- Description: This thesis is an assessment of the experience of small town local economic development in four towns namely Graaff-Reinet, Somerset East, Aberdeen and Pearston situated in the Eastern Cape Midlands, South Africa. It aims firstly to provide a critical overview of these selected small town economies before evaluating their local responses to the changing economic climate. The study is contextualized within the framework of locality development and emphasizes the heterogeneity of small towns with regards to physical, socio-economic, demographic and historical elements. From this, the original economic reasons for existence of these small towns are ascertained and then the major changes that occurred are identified. Amongst other aspects, the changes in the agricultural sector, the demographic changes particularly with regard to the significant increase in the urban population and the fluctuations in the quantity and types of businesses have all played a part in transforming the small towns' economies. As a result of these changes and many external driving forces such as changes in the regional and national economy, there are many severe challenges facing these small towns especially regarding the high unemployment rate, the associated poverty, HIV/AIDS and the low volume or absence of private investment into these localities. The responses of these small towns to the daunting challenges that they face have been considered in terms of Local Economic Development (LED) strategies that have been implemented. The LED initiatives in each town are examined in the context of their general characteristics, objectives, achievements and challenges. Emphasis is placed on Somerset East as it is the only town in the study area that has a development agency actively promoting various forms of LED. What has ultimately been established is: in all four towns, LED is not making a significant or meaningful difference and that natural market and economic forces play an important role in shaping and dictating the local economy. Somerset East is the only town where the economy could potentially be restructured with the proposed mega market-led approach to tourism and planning in the form of the Boschberg Development node. Four sectors perceived to be required for locality development are considered in this study, namely the export sector, the human resources, the local service sector and the government agencies. It is ascertained that although these sectors need to be part of a symbiotic relationship to promote and enhance economic development, they are not present in all the towns and as a result development, at both a household and a macro town level, is further hindered. Ultimately, these small towns in the Eastern Cape Midlands defy the notion that they are dying. 'Growth' and 'decline' have been two central features throughout this thesis and one of the biggest contradictions and challenges that these small towns face is the population growth with a declining or stagnant economy that cannot accommodate the increased number of people.
- Full Text:
- Authors: Pio, Elizabeth
- Date: 2009
- Subjects: Small cities -- South Africa -- Eastern Cape , Economic development -- South Africa -- Eastern Cape , Community development -- South Africa -- Eastern Cape , City planning -- Economic aspects -- South Africa -- Eastern Cape
- Language: English
- Type: Thesis , Masters , MSocSc
- Identifier: vital:4888 , http://hdl.handle.net/10962/d1015464
- Description: This thesis is an assessment of the experience of small town local economic development in four towns namely Graaff-Reinet, Somerset East, Aberdeen and Pearston situated in the Eastern Cape Midlands, South Africa. It aims firstly to provide a critical overview of these selected small town economies before evaluating their local responses to the changing economic climate. The study is contextualized within the framework of locality development and emphasizes the heterogeneity of small towns with regards to physical, socio-economic, demographic and historical elements. From this, the original economic reasons for existence of these small towns are ascertained and then the major changes that occurred are identified. Amongst other aspects, the changes in the agricultural sector, the demographic changes particularly with regard to the significant increase in the urban population and the fluctuations in the quantity and types of businesses have all played a part in transforming the small towns' economies. As a result of these changes and many external driving forces such as changes in the regional and national economy, there are many severe challenges facing these small towns especially regarding the high unemployment rate, the associated poverty, HIV/AIDS and the low volume or absence of private investment into these localities. The responses of these small towns to the daunting challenges that they face have been considered in terms of Local Economic Development (LED) strategies that have been implemented. The LED initiatives in each town are examined in the context of their general characteristics, objectives, achievements and challenges. Emphasis is placed on Somerset East as it is the only town in the study area that has a development agency actively promoting various forms of LED. What has ultimately been established is: in all four towns, LED is not making a significant or meaningful difference and that natural market and economic forces play an important role in shaping and dictating the local economy. Somerset East is the only town where the economy could potentially be restructured with the proposed mega market-led approach to tourism and planning in the form of the Boschberg Development node. Four sectors perceived to be required for locality development are considered in this study, namely the export sector, the human resources, the local service sector and the government agencies. It is ascertained that although these sectors need to be part of a symbiotic relationship to promote and enhance economic development, they are not present in all the towns and as a result development, at both a household and a macro town level, is further hindered. Ultimately, these small towns in the Eastern Cape Midlands defy the notion that they are dying. 'Growth' and 'decline' have been two central features throughout this thesis and one of the biggest contradictions and challenges that these small towns face is the population growth with a declining or stagnant economy that cannot accommodate the increased number of people.
- Full Text:
An assessment of the relationship between organisational climate and organisational commitment within the IT department of a telecommunications company
- Authors: Saunders, John
- Date: 2009
- Subjects: Corporate culture Organizational behavior Management -- Employee participation Employees -- Attitudes
- Language: English
- Type: Thesis , Masters , MBA
- Identifier: vital:729 , http://hdl.handle.net/10962/d1003849
- Description: The main objective of this study was to assess the relationship between organisational climate and organisational commitment within the Information Technology department of a South African Telecommunications company. Firstly, the research considered the organisational climate from a qualitative perspective. Research interviews that were based on organisational climate literature were performed with 4 members of the relevant department. Qualitative data analysis revealed several themes. The themes highlighted include: perceived ineffective structure and decision-making; lack of mistake tolerance; risk aversion by employees; recognition and reward systems perceived to be inadequate; performance management is perceived to be ineffective and inadequate; Employee Share Options Program (ESOP) perceived to have a negative influence on employee behaviours; the nature of the social environment perceived to be unfriendly; low level of knowledge and skills sharing; inadequate human resource management practices; These findings highlight the importance of certain aspects within the environment that influence employee perceptions. Organisational climate literature suggests that organisational climate has various behavioral influences and its consideration is essential in the effective functioning of the organisation. Secondly, the research considered the relationship between organisational climate and organisational commitment within the relevant department. The Patterson et al. (2005) Organisational Climate Measure (OCM®) and Meyer and Allen (1991) Organisational Commitment Questionnaire (OCQ) were used to assess the relationship between organisational climate and organisational commitment, respectively. Significant correlations were found between integration, pressure to produce, innovation, supervisory support, reflexivity, clarity, involvement, autonomy, welfare and tradition, and both affective and normative commitment, Training was only significantly correlated to affective commitment. No significant correlations were found with continuance commitment.
- Full Text:
- Authors: Saunders, John
- Date: 2009
- Subjects: Corporate culture Organizational behavior Management -- Employee participation Employees -- Attitudes
- Language: English
- Type: Thesis , Masters , MBA
- Identifier: vital:729 , http://hdl.handle.net/10962/d1003849
- Description: The main objective of this study was to assess the relationship between organisational climate and organisational commitment within the Information Technology department of a South African Telecommunications company. Firstly, the research considered the organisational climate from a qualitative perspective. Research interviews that were based on organisational climate literature were performed with 4 members of the relevant department. Qualitative data analysis revealed several themes. The themes highlighted include: perceived ineffective structure and decision-making; lack of mistake tolerance; risk aversion by employees; recognition and reward systems perceived to be inadequate; performance management is perceived to be ineffective and inadequate; Employee Share Options Program (ESOP) perceived to have a negative influence on employee behaviours; the nature of the social environment perceived to be unfriendly; low level of knowledge and skills sharing; inadequate human resource management practices; These findings highlight the importance of certain aspects within the environment that influence employee perceptions. Organisational climate literature suggests that organisational climate has various behavioral influences and its consideration is essential in the effective functioning of the organisation. Secondly, the research considered the relationship between organisational climate and organisational commitment within the relevant department. The Patterson et al. (2005) Organisational Climate Measure (OCM®) and Meyer and Allen (1991) Organisational Commitment Questionnaire (OCQ) were used to assess the relationship between organisational climate and organisational commitment, respectively. Significant correlations were found between integration, pressure to produce, innovation, supervisory support, reflexivity, clarity, involvement, autonomy, welfare and tradition, and both affective and normative commitment, Training was only significantly correlated to affective commitment. No significant correlations were found with continuance commitment.
- Full Text:
An Asterisk-based framework for E-learning using open protocols and open source software
- Tsietsi, Mosiuoa, Shibeshi, Zelalem S, Terzoli, Alfredo, Wells, George C
- Authors: Tsietsi, Mosiuoa , Shibeshi, Zelalem S , Terzoli, Alfredo , Wells, George C
- Date: 2009
- Language: English
- Type: text , article
- Identifier: http://hdl.handle.net/10962/429091 , vital:72559 , https://ieeexplore.ieee.org/abstract/document/5338904
- Description: This paper describes the conceptual design of an e-learning system that is based on open protocols and open source software. This is an initial step towards providing a framework within which remote lectures at our university can be conducted with other institutions in the Southern African region. The motivation for this effort is born out of a desire to avoid expensive and inflexible commercial tools that have been used in the past, often with undesirable side effects. Our design promises to deliver most of the features that can be expected of a modern e-learning system such as a Web interface, space for lecture material, real-time audio and video support, instant messaging and the ability to convey presence. We identified two modes of operation, one as a Web-based video archive and the other as a live virtual classroom. It is hoped that this dual-mode setup will support different modes of learning for students and suit different bandwidth resources among institutions.
- Full Text:
- Authors: Tsietsi, Mosiuoa , Shibeshi, Zelalem S , Terzoli, Alfredo , Wells, George C
- Date: 2009
- Language: English
- Type: text , article
- Identifier: http://hdl.handle.net/10962/429091 , vital:72559 , https://ieeexplore.ieee.org/abstract/document/5338904
- Description: This paper describes the conceptual design of an e-learning system that is based on open protocols and open source software. This is an initial step towards providing a framework within which remote lectures at our university can be conducted with other institutions in the Southern African region. The motivation for this effort is born out of a desire to avoid expensive and inflexible commercial tools that have been used in the past, often with undesirable side effects. Our design promises to deliver most of the features that can be expected of a modern e-learning system such as a Web interface, space for lecture material, real-time audio and video support, instant messaging and the ability to convey presence. We identified two modes of operation, one as a Web-based video archive and the other as a live virtual classroom. It is hoped that this dual-mode setup will support different modes of learning for students and suit different bandwidth resources among institutions.
- Full Text:
An evaluation of the brand campus concept implemented at Mercedes-Benz South Africa: a case study
- Authors: Samkange, Tichaona
- Date: 2009
- Subjects: Mercedes-Benz of South Africa DaimlerChrysler -- South Africa Consumer satisfaction Case studies -- South Africa Product management Case studies -- South Africa Brand name products -- Management Case studies Brand name products -- Valuation Case studies Marketing Case studies -- South Africa Brand choices Case studies -- South Africa Customer preferences Case studies -- South Africa
- Language: English
- Type: Thesis , Masters , MBA
- Identifier: vital:741 , http://hdl.handle.net/10962/d1003861
- Description: Primarily, this research study was concerned with the evaluation of the brand campus concept implemented at then DaimlerChrysler South Africa in 2002, as a case study. Pretoria-based Mercedes-Benz South Africa (Pty) Ltd. (MBSA) is a subsidiary of global vehicle manufacturer Germany’s Daimler-Benz AG (DBAG). They are responsible for assembling, distributing and retailing, certain Mercedes-Benz and Mitsubishi vehicle brands, and spare parts. The landmark 1998 DaimlerChrysler global ‘merger of equals’ was preceded by the 1995 joint venture between Mercedes-Benz and Mitsubishi Motor Corporation. Consequently, three brands (Mercedes-Benz, Chrysler and Mitsubishi) were retailed and marketed under DaimlerChrysler South Africa (Pty) Ltd. (DCSA), positioned next to each other in the same showroom. This report identifies key challenges stemming from this approach, namely: brand strength dilution, more than 80 multi-franchised dealers and multi-branded showrooms, service capacity problems, old working environment and infrastructure, and perceived intra-brand competition. The research evidence suggests that these problems prompted then DCSA to launch the 2000 Dealer Network Strategy (DNS). In the grand scheme of things, the DNS intervention entailed partitioning the dealer network into five brand centres in five metro regions, and eighteen market centres in the rural areas. The brand campus concept was borne out of DNS and proved to be a masterstroke since, the primary focus was on streamlining the retail facilities for DCSA vehicle sales, service and spare parts for both the passenger and commercial vehicles. This study highlights key pillars of the brand campus concept, namely: profitability, brand focus, customer orientation and diversity. The challenge was to address seven major drivers of the brand campus concept, namely: after-sales vehicle support, vehicle service capacity, lead-times, spare parts availability, sales information propagation, behavior of sales personnel and the overall vehicle dealership appearance. Semi-structured interviews constituted part of the evaluation based on the perspectives of five customers, three dealer principals and two MBSA marketing executives. The research evidence, which also came from MBSA documentation and direct observation, shows that this innovative concept has been remarkably successful.
- Full Text:
- Authors: Samkange, Tichaona
- Date: 2009
- Subjects: Mercedes-Benz of South Africa DaimlerChrysler -- South Africa Consumer satisfaction Case studies -- South Africa Product management Case studies -- South Africa Brand name products -- Management Case studies Brand name products -- Valuation Case studies Marketing Case studies -- South Africa Brand choices Case studies -- South Africa Customer preferences Case studies -- South Africa
- Language: English
- Type: Thesis , Masters , MBA
- Identifier: vital:741 , http://hdl.handle.net/10962/d1003861
- Description: Primarily, this research study was concerned with the evaluation of the brand campus concept implemented at then DaimlerChrysler South Africa in 2002, as a case study. Pretoria-based Mercedes-Benz South Africa (Pty) Ltd. (MBSA) is a subsidiary of global vehicle manufacturer Germany’s Daimler-Benz AG (DBAG). They are responsible for assembling, distributing and retailing, certain Mercedes-Benz and Mitsubishi vehicle brands, and spare parts. The landmark 1998 DaimlerChrysler global ‘merger of equals’ was preceded by the 1995 joint venture between Mercedes-Benz and Mitsubishi Motor Corporation. Consequently, three brands (Mercedes-Benz, Chrysler and Mitsubishi) were retailed and marketed under DaimlerChrysler South Africa (Pty) Ltd. (DCSA), positioned next to each other in the same showroom. This report identifies key challenges stemming from this approach, namely: brand strength dilution, more than 80 multi-franchised dealers and multi-branded showrooms, service capacity problems, old working environment and infrastructure, and perceived intra-brand competition. The research evidence suggests that these problems prompted then DCSA to launch the 2000 Dealer Network Strategy (DNS). In the grand scheme of things, the DNS intervention entailed partitioning the dealer network into five brand centres in five metro regions, and eighteen market centres in the rural areas. The brand campus concept was borne out of DNS and proved to be a masterstroke since, the primary focus was on streamlining the retail facilities for DCSA vehicle sales, service and spare parts for both the passenger and commercial vehicles. This study highlights key pillars of the brand campus concept, namely: profitability, brand focus, customer orientation and diversity. The challenge was to address seven major drivers of the brand campus concept, namely: after-sales vehicle support, vehicle service capacity, lead-times, spare parts availability, sales information propagation, behavior of sales personnel and the overall vehicle dealership appearance. Semi-structured interviews constituted part of the evaluation based on the perspectives of five customers, three dealer principals and two MBSA marketing executives. The research evidence, which also came from MBSA documentation and direct observation, shows that this innovative concept has been remarkably successful.
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