Educators’ experiences of psychosocial support workshops during COVID-19 in Eastern Cape, South Africa
- Authors: Mabasa, Rendani Mirriam
- Date: 2024-04-04
- Subjects: Uncatalogued
- Language: English
- Type: Academic theses , Master's theses , text
- Identifier: http://hdl.handle.net/10962/435457 , vital:73159
- Description: There is growing awareness of the value and central role of immediate and long-term mental health and psychosocial support (MHPSS) interventions, especially during times of crisis such as Covid-19. The World Health Organization has identified the education sector as a crucial intervention site for public mental health promotion. In collaboration with members of the Makhanda education community, the Rhodes University Community Engagement office identified psychosocial support for educators and educational practitioners as a key societal and educational challenge. Focusing specifically on the experiences of educators, this study sought to solicit their experiences of MHPSS workshops in a rural city of the Eastern Cape province of South Africa. Focus groups with educators and educational practitioners in non-government organisations, care centres and other educational settings who participated in the psychosocial support workshops were conducted. Data was analysed using community psychology’s social action framework. Four broad themes emerged from the data: the responsibilisation of educators during and post-Covid-19, educators’ resilience and support for each other, educators’ mental health promotion through psychosocial support workshops, and top-down intervention strategies that fall short in addressing educators’ and learners’ needs. This study demonstrates the value of university-community partnerships in education settings which are key sites for public mental health promotion. In this study, I advocate psychosocial support as a standard practice available for educational practitioners and show how professional training programmes in higher education can be responsive to societal challenges via collaborative approaches. , Thesis (MA) -- Faculty of Humanities, Psychology, 2024
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- Date Issued: 2024-04-04
Lemons or Lemonade? Examining the economic and social outcomes of engaging in the export-driven citrus value chain of South Africa for selected commercial citrus farmers and farm workers in the Raymond Mhlaba Municipal District, Eastern Cape
- Authors: Sizani, Simbulele
- Date: 2024-04-04
- Subjects: Uncatalogued
- Language: English
- Type: Academic theses , Master's theses , text
- Identifier: http://hdl.handle.net/10962/435553 , vital:73168
- Description: This study examines the economic and social outcomes of participating in a global citrus value chain for selected commercial farmers and farm workers in Raymond Mhlaba Municipal District in the Eastern Cape, South Africa. A global chain refers to international production sharing through cross-border trade. Multilateral organizations (and some prominent global chain scholars) that support neoliberal economic globalization perceive global chains as ideal channels of economic and social upgrading for participants, particularly those from the global South. From the abovementioned perspective, global chains enhance efficiency through inter-firm relations that promote the distribution of technology and access to capital, thus leading to economic and social upgrading in developing countries. Economic upgrading, on the one hand, can briefly be described as the movement of supplier firms from lower to higher-value activities in global chains. Social upgrading, on the other hand, is the improvement of employment conditions and outcomes of workers employed by supplier firms at the production node of global chains. This study adopts the dual theoretical framework (Global Chain Framework and Labour Process Theory) proposed by Newsome, Taylor, Bair and Rainnie (2015) in their seminal book ‘Putting Labour in its Place: Labour Process Analysis and Global Value Chains’. This dual framework is ideal because it conceptualizes the spheres of trade exchange and production, which are the primary research sites of this study. Qualitative research methods were adopted and utilized to collect and analyse data in this study. These methods were ideal for this study, as they captured the subjective accounts of the selected commercial citrus farmers and farm workers in the Raymond Mhlaba Municipal District in the Eastern Cape, South Africa. The findings in this study showed that the outcomes of these selected commercial citrus farmers and farm workers in this region are variegated, meaning that, there is evidence of economic upgrading, social upgrading and social downgrading as well. Amongst farm workers in the region, only a small group of (mostly older male) farm workers enjoyed social upgrading, whilst the majority of seasonal (mostly female) farm workers experiences social downgrading. The findings in this study showed that the variegated economic and social outcomes of the selected commercial farmers and farm workers were primarily determined by their economic class and position within the citrus value chain of South Africa. These findings highlight the importance of positionality in determining the fate of participants in global chains. , Thesis (MA) -- Faculty of Humanities, Sociology, 2024
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- Date Issued: 2024-04-04
Knowledge, attitudes and practices of municipal workers regarding occupational health and safety in the garden route district municipality, Western Cape
- Authors: Shoto, Khanyisa
- Date: 2023-12
- Subjects: Occupational health and safety , Personal protective equipment
- Language: English
- Type: Master's theses , text
- Identifier: http://hdl.handle.net/10948/62991 , vital:73080
- Description: Background: Workers accidents at work have been demonstrated to be increasingly common and expensive, particularly in developing nations like South Africa. The failure of employers and employees to support and comply to (OHS) regulations measures frequently leads to injuries and accidents that are extremely expensive for both the employer and employees. Regardless of South African legislations that aim to prevent accidents and injuries, scourging statistics of industrial accidents are still a characteristic of OHS. Objectives: This study investigates knowledge gaps, attitude, and the practice of municipal workers regarding OHS at Garden Route District Municipality (GRDM) in the Western Cape Province of South Africa. Methodology: Quantitative approach was taken, and questionnaires were administered to 188 workers employed by the GRDM. A probability sampling method of stratified sampling method was utilised. Results: This study concluded that the workers of the GRDM are knowledgeable about OHS in their workplaces and that municipal workers positively perceive OHS issues in their workplaces. The main reason for this positive perception is because of the management support that the workers receive from the GRDM with regards to OHS matters. Furthermore most workers positively perceived OHS protocols and measures undertaken at the GRDM. Statistical tests proved that the municipal workers who positively perceived OHS protocols and measures were significantly higher (p< 0.05) than those that negatively perceived OHS protocols. Conclusion: The study revealed that GRDM workers were knowledgeable on OHS protocols. This was because of the support that they get from their employer as well as personal health and safety concerns. They positively perceived the OSH measures that are put in place to prevent accidents and injuries. It is only an insignificant percentage of individuals that disagreed with some of the OHS measures and protocols. This study contributes immeasurably to academic research in the field of OHS and extends knowledge that relates workers’ perceptions, safety awareness, as well as workers’ adherence to safety and behaviour. , Thesis (Ma) -- Faculty of Health Science, 2023
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- Date Issued: 2023-12
The CODESRIA debate on academic and intellectual freedom in Africa: the role and responsibility of African intellectuals
- Authors: Cabe, Loyiso
- Date: 2023-10-13
- Subjects: Uncatalogued
- Language: English
- Type: Academic theses , Master's theses , text
- Identifier: http://hdl.handle.net/10962/431463 , vital:72774
- Description: According to Fagunwa (2011), intellectuals serve as the glue that binds societies together and serve as the foundation upon which new civilizations are created and dismantled. The Council for the Development of Social Science Research in Africa (CODESRIA) of 1990 entrusted intellectuals with crucial transformative tasks (roles) and responsibilities in Africa. This study explores the transformational roles and responsibilities of African intellectuals in neo-liberal and neo-colonial Africa as well as how academic freedom must be understood by African academics in accordance with the present debate on academic freedom in South Africa, which was fueled by Nattrass (2020) paper. The primary premise of this study is that academic freedom in Africa today is viewed differently than it was during the CODESRIA meeting on academic freedom in 1990, and that this is because of African intellectuals not carrying out their roles and responsibilities in Africa. In CODESRIA 1990, academic freedom referred to an academic’s unrestricted, yet responsible, right to pursue their academic interests (CODESRIA 1990; Kampala Declaration 1990). African academics now understand academic freedom to be merely their own freedom, unrelated to their responsibility to use it ethically and professionally. Hence, for them, academic freedom entails the freedom to express oneself without restrictions or fear of criticism (Chachage, 2008; Nattrass, 2020b; Esso, and Long, 2020). Looking at this current misinterpretation of academic freedom, the 1990 CODESRIA meeting is a good reference point to the debate on academic freedom in Africa and role and responsibility of African intellectuals. This is because, it was where academic freedom and the role and responsibility of African intellectuals in Africa was professionally conceptualized. Thus, this study reviews the 1990 CODESRIA debate to understand the role and responsibility of African intellectuals. This study utilizes two theories, Social Constructivism Theory and the Social Responsibility Theory, to explain the position it has taken on the subject at hand. Thus, these theories provide an umbrella and a point of departure for understanding the context and dynamics of the ongoing conflict between academic freedom and social responsibility in South Africa's higher education institutions. , Thesis (MSocSci) -- Faculty of Humanities, Political and International Studies, 2023
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- Date Issued: 2023-10-13
Psychologists’ perceptions of the growth and change promoting factors in psychotherapy within a culturally diverse South Africa
- Authors: Heyneke, Wilmie
- Date: 2022-12
- Subjects: Psychotherapy -- South Africa , therapeutic alliance
- Language: English
- Type: Master's theses , text
- Identifier: http://hdl.handle.net/10948/60155 , vital:63207
- Description: The therapeutic relationship established between a psychologist and a client is considered one of the main factors determining successful psychotherapy outcomes. While this may be the case, there remain inconsistencies in the literature and debate regarding its influence, especially when contextual factors such as diverse beliefs, may influence the therapeutic relationship. Furthermore, there is a scarcity of information focusing on psychologists’ experiences working within the culturally diverse South African context. This study aimed to better understand, from a psychologist’s perspective, the growth and change promoting factors they feel are influencing successful therapeutic outcomes within the South African context. This was pursued recognising that the diverse belief systems in South Africa, which do not always adhere to biomedical conceptualisations of health and illness, may influence the therapeutic interaction. This study explored the following research question: What are the key factors that promote growth and change in individual psychotherapy within the diverse South African context? Drawing on a qualitative approach, an explorative descriptive research design was chosen as it enabled the researcher to explore the perceptions of the participants on the given topic. The sampling technique that was employed was non-probability purposive sampling and psychologists registered with the Health Professionals Council of South Africa formed part of the sample. In-depth online interviewing was employed as the data collection tool, using online platforms like Microsoft Teams and Zoom. Data were analysed using Braun and Clarke’s thematic analysis guidelines and themes that were identified was reported. , Thesis (MA) -- Faculty of Health Sciences, 2022
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- Date Issued: 2022-12
The importance of public officials’ knowledge and understanding of the constitutional principles of public administration
- Authors: Zameko, Zamuxolo
- Date: 2021-12
- Subjects: Port Elizabeth (South Africa) , Eastern Cape (South Africa) , South Africa
- Language: English
- Type: Master's theses , text
- Identifier: http://hdl.handle.net/10948/54596 , vital:46732
- Description: Public officials in South Africa have been accused of lacking accountability, transparency, corruption, inefficiencies, unethical practices and a general unmotivated approach to service delivery. Section 195 of the 1996 constitution emphasises the need for public officials to be efficient, effective and not to be partial in their execution of duty. On that basis the research sought to investigate whether the public officials can improve on their performance if they are exposed to and are knowledgeable of the constitution. The study utilized a qualitative research method and a document analysis in which documents which served as sources of information were selected based on their relevance to the subject area of Public Administration. The documents selected were legal instruments used to enforce the operations of public officials including the Constitution of South Africa (1996), Batho Pele, White Paper on the Transformation of the Public Service, 1995; Promotion of Access to Information (Act no 2 of 2000 and Promotion of Equality & Prevention of Unfair Discrimination (Ac no 4 of 2000) Findings of the research indicate that key skills of the public officials like effective communication, change management, conflict resolution, decision-making, negotiation and accountability can be enhanced if they are knowledgeable of their constitutional mandate. The Public Service board should among others emphasize on constitutional principles training of all its employees upon recruitment such that they are aware of the public expectations. Continuous on the job training should also be offered to public officials so that their operations are always adjusted to the prevailing environmental and technological conditions. , Thesis (MA) -- Faculty of Humanities, School of Governmental and Social Sciences, 2021
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- Date Issued: 2021-12
Experiences of Xhosa elderly persons in using public transport and how it effects their quality of life: a case study of Mdantsane township.
- Authors: Sinkintana, Xolisile
- Date: 2021-09
- Subjects: Transportation--Social aspects , Older people--Transportation
- Language: English
- Type: Master's theses , text
- Identifier: http://hdl.handle.net/10353/21256 , vital:47437
- Description: This research study was motivated by the fact that little is known about the topic and that older persons living in Mdantsane Township are heavily reliant on public transport such as taxis, trains, mini-taxis and buses which are, arguably, not suitable for transporting older persons. Through this research project, the researcher hoped to provide information which may contribute to better understanding of this phenomena, identify barriers in the transport system and get a better understanding thereof. This study utilized a qualitative research approach with an exploratory research design. Semi-structured interviews were used to collect data from 30 elderly persons living in Mdantsane Township, and thematic analysis was used to analyse data. Three themes and sub-themes were generated and later linked to the research questions namely: What are the experiences faced by older persons in using public transport? How do these experiences and challenges affect the quality of life of older persons using public transport? What do older persons view as potential barriers in using public transport? The findings highlighted that elderly people living in Mdantsane Township rely on public transport for participation in social and economic activities of the community as well as access to essential services. Consequently, lack of sufficient income among older persons affect their quality of life in relation to using public transport in that they cannot access all the services they need. They also indicated that there are several barriers for older persons against using public transport which include, concerns about personal safety, safety of items, public transport running late, behaviour of younger passengers and taxi conductors and lack of cleanliness among some drivers, to name a few. , Thesis (MSoc Sci) (Social Work) -- University of Fort Hare, 2021
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- Date Issued: 2021-09
The role of lean management principles in achieving successful water management: the case of Harry Gwala District Municipality
- Authors: Dlamini, Adelaide Nomnandi
- Date: 2021-04
- Subjects: Lean manufacturing -- South Africa -- Eastern Cape , Water-supply -- Management , Water-supply -- Economic aspects
- Language: English
- Type: Master's theses , text
- Identifier: http://hdl.handle.net/10948/51153 , vital:43213
- Description: Water is life and a basic human need. It is a scarce resource which must be managed in a sustainable way. Empirical evidence suggests that globally the current supply systems will not satisfy the demand. Some of the challenges include depleted water resources due to uneven and inadequate rainfall, effects of climate change, poor asset management, water losses and poor water quality. Since there is a universal need for water, without water life would cease to exist; moreover, water is limited in quantities and hence sustainable management of this resource remains a global imperative. This research sought to investigate and understand the role of lean management in ensuring successful water management at Harry Gwala District Municipality, located in KwaZulu-Natal. To achieve the above goal, the research sought to investigate the efficiency of the production processes, strategies to conserve water and manage the demand, human resources and organisational development, as well as financial planning and management. The research adopted a qualitative research design and interpretivism research paradigm. The research findings acknowledged the strides made by the Municipality in relation to extending the infrastructure footprint to the communities that previously did not have water. The research further revealed that Harry Gwala District Municipality is challenged in relation to providing an uninterrupted and efficient water supply to consumers. This is due to poor project planning, project management and monitoring, poor maintenance of infrastructure, ageing and dilapidated infrastructure, illegal connections and high water losses. The workforce is inadequate with concerns about ill-discipline and lack of productivity by some employees. The organisational culture does not allow for innovation and has a bearing on ill-discipline and productivity. The research noted that the Municipality is unable to provide successful water management, owing to infrastructural challenges, wastage, lack of continuous improvement and the organisational culture. It was further noted that these challenges can be addressed using lean management principles with particular focus on waste elimination, continuous improvement, employee involvement, promoting efficiency in the production processes and the use of catalytic technology. , Thesis (MBA) -- Faculty of Business and Economic Sciences, Business Administration, 2021
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- Date Issued: 2021-04
An Updated Catalogue and Review of Afrotherian (Afroplacentalia) Mammals in the Amathole Museum Collection, Eastern Cape Province, South Africa
- Authors: Mahala, Buyiswa
- Date: 2021-03
- Subjects: Mammals
- Language: English
- Type: Master's theses , text
- Identifier: http://hdl.handle.net/10353/20741 , vital:46513
- Description: The Mammalogy Collection of the Amathole Museum is one of the most comprehensive mammal collections in Africa, with a specialisation in southern African fauna. It was accumulated over almost 100 years, in some instances from areas that no longer support sustainable populations of wildlife. The collection, therefore, is irreplaceable. A museum collection is only as good as its accessibility to students and researchers for it to perform its functions as a biodiversity archive. Accessibility, in turn, depends on up-to-date taxonomy and classification; good curation practices; public awareness of the collection; and electronic access to the details of the collection’s composition. The higher-level taxonomy of the Class Mammalia has undergone extensive changes since the adoption of molecular systematic techniques. Phylogenetic reconstructions based on large DNA sequence databases consistently group placental mammals into four superorders: Laurasiatheria (carnivores, bats, ungulates, whales); Euarchontoglires, a super-clade that includes primates (apes, monkeys and allies), rodents (mouse, rat and guinea pig), lagomorphs, (rabbit and hares), dermopterans (flying lemurs or colugos) and scandentians (tree shrew); Xenarthra (armadillos, anteaters, sloths), and Afrotheria (elephants, sea cows, tenrecs, aardvarks, sengis, golden moles, hyraxes). New relationships have been recognised that have required the erection of new taxonomic groups. Most of the Amathole Museum mammal collection was assembled and accessioned long before this new system was devised, and I undertook this project to begin the re-organisation of the collection according to the new information. I conducted and audit and inventory of all specimens of Afrotheria, or the mammals of African origin, housed in the Amathole Museum collection. I photographed the specimens and corrected and updated their taxonomic details. As we now live in an age of digital information, natural history collections need to be available online to extend public access. Specimen details were entered into Excel files, and their localities were mapped. This kind of information has the possibility of transforming biological curricula to include more authentic and inquiry-driven educational experiences. My future goals are to acquire Malagasy tenrecs for the Amathole Afrotheria collection, and to investigate the taxonomic validity of the Amathole hyrax collection, as many specimens were found with confusing and out-of-date classifications. , Thesis (MSc) (Zoology) -- University of Fort Hare, 2021
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- Date Issued: 2021-03
A study on white leather tannage
- Authors: Williams-Wynn, D A
- Date: 1950
- Subjects: Uncatalogued
- Language: English
- Type: Diploma theses , text
- Identifier: http://hdl.handle.net/10962/193713 , vital:45389
- Description: As has been noted in the previous section little or no complex formation occurs with either formate or acetate except possibly above pH 9*0 or so. These anions do not stabilise the aluminium solutions to precipitation - they may* however, be of value in controlling pH, as solutions of these salts buffer strongly in the region pH 4 to 5. The other salts, lactate, tartrate and citrate all show tendencies to complex formation though the degree to which this occurs varies with the anion. The complexes formed by lactate at high pH must be very unstable because on the addition of acid the pH corresponds to the calculated blank. Below pH 9.0 however, the curves deviate quite considerably showing that more acid must be added to reach a certain pH value than is required by the blank. This means complex formation has occurred with loss of -COGH groups. In this system too, buffering is apparent. The same is true of tartrate but this salt is not as efficient a buffering agent. This is probably due to the fact that the excess tartrate is not available as a buffer as it is precipitated as the acid salt which is only sparingly soluble. Citrate on the other hand must form very stable complexes, the effect of which is apparent at even very high pH values. In other words, addition of strong acid liberates free -GOGH groups which are immediately incorporated in the complex. This evidently does not occur with lactate or tartrate until lower pH values are reached. The ratio of lactate and citrate to aluminium appears to have some influence on the degree of masking as greater complex formation is found to occur at the higher ratio levels. Tartrate on the other hand apparently has a fixed complex forming capacity between 1 and 4 mols/mol aluminium, since the same deviation from the blank was observed irrespective of which ratio of the masking agent to aluminium, was employed. However, at ratios of less than 1 mol tartrate/mol aluminium, deviations from the blank were reduced and less stabilisation occurs as evidenced by the formation of precipitates containing aluminium under these conditions. In view of these facts it may be suggested that 1 mol tartrate combines with 1 mol aluminium to form a complex containing equimolar proportions of aluminium and tartrate. The effect of boiling apart from one or two exceptions always has the same effect, i.e. a shift to the acid side of the curve. Free acid must have been liberated which is an indication that olation might have occurred. In the lactate and citrate series dilution appears to reduce the complex forming capacity of these ions but tartrate is unaffected. Thus it would appear that the tartrate complex is more stable than those formed by lactate. Citrate stabilises aluminium solutions with fewer equivalents than tartrate, but the complex does not contain a constant ratio of masking agent to aluminium further quantities of tartrate cannot enter the complex even in the presence of large excess of the anion probably due to the effect of steric hindrance. , Thesis (Dip) -- Leather Industries Research Institute, 1950
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- Date Issued: 1950
Two dermestid pests of hide and skins in South Africa
- Authors: Walker, J D
- Date: 1941
- Subjects: Uncatalogued
- Language: English
- Type: Master's theses , text
- Identifier: http://hdl.handle.net/10962/193702 , vital:45387
- Description: In a paper entitled "Bacteria of the Soil", Dr. Russell of Rothamsted is quoted as saying, ”The top six lashes might almost be called a separate world? 80 great is the number and variety of its inhabitants”• It is with a few forms belonging to this enormous biological complex that the author intends to deal, viz*, representatives of the Orders Pauropoda, Symphyla, Protura, Coleoptera and Hemiptera. Time does not permit the inclusion of a study of the multitude of Arthropod, species that occur in the soil, but a more complete work on these soil groups is intended in the future. McCullogh and Hayes (1922,p.288) state that the soil is an integral factor In the study of biological problems. Hence an understanding of the organic life of the soil, which is of great importance in relation to the other aspects of pedology, is a necessary adjunct to the study of the soil ae a whole. , Thesis (MSc) -- Faculty of Science, 1941
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- Date Issued: 1941