Design and Characterization of a 5 kw Xe-Lamp Solar Simulator
- Authors: Nwodo, Julian Chizoba
- Date: 2019
- Subjects: Solar energy
- Language: English
- Type: Thesis , Masters , MSc
- Identifier: http://hdl.handle.net/10353/14671 , vital:40042
- Description: The design and characterisation of a 5kW Xenon lamp solar simulator is presented. This was accomplished through considering the design features of an ellipsoidal reflector, Xe lamp characteristics and casing, and power supply; assembly of an ellipsoidal, Xe-lamp simulator; design and building of an automated control system capable of remotely controlling the operating mode of the simulator; establishing the 3 scenarios that must be met to conform to a AAA class simulator; characterization of the simulator in terms of temporal stability, irradiance uniformity and spectral match; and application of the simulator and comparing it with STC rated values. The considerations for the type of material used for housing the components of the solar simulator were made. A 5kW DC power supply and igniter for the Xe-lamp was carefully selected since they provide necessary power for running the simulator. The simulator has the ability to be used in either horizontal or vertical position by adjusting the reflector. An automated control system capable of remotely controlling the operating mode of the simulator was built for this study, this system enables the simulator to be operated in either auto or manual modes. It also incorporates an irradiance, temperature, current and voltage feedback. The characterisation of the solar simulator was over a 2.1 m X 1.6 m test plane. The area under which the characterisation was carried out within the test plane is 110 cm x 129.5 cm. At the end of the steady state large area solar simulator characterisation, a class A spectral match, class A spatial uniformity, and a class B temporal instability was obtained
- Full Text:
- Date Issued: 2019
- Authors: Nwodo, Julian Chizoba
- Date: 2019
- Subjects: Solar energy
- Language: English
- Type: Thesis , Masters , MSc
- Identifier: http://hdl.handle.net/10353/14671 , vital:40042
- Description: The design and characterisation of a 5kW Xenon lamp solar simulator is presented. This was accomplished through considering the design features of an ellipsoidal reflector, Xe lamp characteristics and casing, and power supply; assembly of an ellipsoidal, Xe-lamp simulator; design and building of an automated control system capable of remotely controlling the operating mode of the simulator; establishing the 3 scenarios that must be met to conform to a AAA class simulator; characterization of the simulator in terms of temporal stability, irradiance uniformity and spectral match; and application of the simulator and comparing it with STC rated values. The considerations for the type of material used for housing the components of the solar simulator were made. A 5kW DC power supply and igniter for the Xe-lamp was carefully selected since they provide necessary power for running the simulator. The simulator has the ability to be used in either horizontal or vertical position by adjusting the reflector. An automated control system capable of remotely controlling the operating mode of the simulator was built for this study, this system enables the simulator to be operated in either auto or manual modes. It also incorporates an irradiance, temperature, current and voltage feedback. The characterisation of the solar simulator was over a 2.1 m X 1.6 m test plane. The area under which the characterisation was carried out within the test plane is 110 cm x 129.5 cm. At the end of the steady state large area solar simulator characterisation, a class A spectral match, class A spatial uniformity, and a class B temporal instability was obtained
- Full Text:
- Date Issued: 2019
Perceptions of climate change and adaptation strategies: the case of smallholder farmers of Raymond Mhlaba, Port Saint Johns’ and Ingquza Hill local municipality in the Eastern Cape.
- Authors: Maya, Okuhle
- Date: 2019
- Subjects: Climatic changes Farms, Small
- Language: English
- Type: Thesis , Masters , MSc
- Identifier: http://hdl.handle.net/10353/17271 , vital:40871
- Description: Climate change has become indisputable judging from the observed global variations in precipitation, increases in average temperatures, rising average sea levels and melting of ice. The climate phenomenon has since evolved globally and it has been largely documented by scholars. Because of the increases in global temperatures, weather patterns have also changed. This change has resulted in debates on climate change as well as how to respond to it. Various scholars across the world have expressed their opinions about climate change; its causes, impacts and adaptation. In addition, there has been a growing body of literature and studies focusing on smallholder farmers’ perceptions of climate change. Without a doubt, climate change will and has left a group of people, communities and countries vulnerable. In particular, developing countries and poor communities in sub-Saharan Africa are expected to be affected the most by the impacts of climate change. This is mainly because of the region’s dependence on natural resources and their limited capacity to adapt. Literature further adds that vulnerability is on condition of the community’s socioeconomic characteristics and physical surroundings. Climate change variations pose a threat to the agricultural sector and food security of households relying on subsistence farming for survival. Climate variations such as decrease in rainfall and increased hot seasons have been reported to have led to a decline in food production, death of livestock and outbreaks human and animal diseases. The study’s main aim was to determine the smallholder farmers’ perceptions of climate change and adaptation strategies in Raymond Mhlaba, Port Saint Johns’ and Ingquza Hill local municipalities. Particularly, the study looked at the factors influencing these perceptions and the factors affecting the smallholder farmers’ choice of adaptation strategies used in response to climate change. Investigating perception provides insights into the fundamental drivers of behavioural changes in the face of climate change. On their part, adaptation options are greatly shaped by the nature of an individual’s behaviour. The study was carried out in 3 local municipalities (Raymond Mhlaba, Port St Johns’ and Ingquza Hill) in the Eastern Cape, South Africa. The research design applied in this study was cross sectional design where data are collected at a single point in time. Multistage sampling technique was used in selecting respondents from the local municipalities. Stratification was then done to group farmers according to their vi wards and locations. Lastly, purposive sampling was used to select households and smallholder farmers practising crop and livestock production. A total of 211 smallholder farmers constituted the sample size for the study. A close-ended questionnaire was used to conduct structured interviews of household heads. The study utilized both qualitative and quantitative approach. Data collected were coded and entered in Microsoft Excel and transferred to Statistical Package for Social Scientists (SPSS, version 25) for analyses. Descriptive statistics was used to determine the climate change perceptions of smallholder farmers and also to explore the adaptation strategies used by farmers to cope with the impacts of climate change. The findings were explained using frequencies, means and variances. Multinomial Logistic Regression (MNL) was used to determine the factors affecting the choice of adaptation strategies used by smallholder farmers and the probability that a farmer would choose a particular strategy. The results from the study revealed most of the respondents as being able to identify the perceived changes in climate with the environmental changes that they observed. The respondents perceived climate change as an increase in drought period, increase in average temperatures, decrease and variations in rainfall, shortened growing season, crop failure, pests and diseases. However, most of the smallholder farmers disagreed with the frequency of flood incidences as they have not experienced these in their areas. In terms of responses to these changes in climate, the smallholder farmers have used a number of adaptation strategies to cope. Most of the farmers used crop diversification, organic manure, soil and water conservation practices, while others simply did not adapt and some used all the available adaptation strategies identified in this study. The results from the MNL revealed that occupation, household size and years spent in school (education) generally had a positive influence on the choice of adaptation strategy used by smallholder farmers. On the other hand, age; farming systems and membership of a farmers’ association were negatively affecting the smallholder farmers’ choice of adaptation strategy to use in response to climate change. Much support is needed in terms of disseminating information and knowledge among smallholder farmers about climate change and its adaptation strategies. This can be possible through improving extension services, and providing credit to smallholder farmers
- Full Text:
- Date Issued: 2019
- Authors: Maya, Okuhle
- Date: 2019
- Subjects: Climatic changes Farms, Small
- Language: English
- Type: Thesis , Masters , MSc
- Identifier: http://hdl.handle.net/10353/17271 , vital:40871
- Description: Climate change has become indisputable judging from the observed global variations in precipitation, increases in average temperatures, rising average sea levels and melting of ice. The climate phenomenon has since evolved globally and it has been largely documented by scholars. Because of the increases in global temperatures, weather patterns have also changed. This change has resulted in debates on climate change as well as how to respond to it. Various scholars across the world have expressed their opinions about climate change; its causes, impacts and adaptation. In addition, there has been a growing body of literature and studies focusing on smallholder farmers’ perceptions of climate change. Without a doubt, climate change will and has left a group of people, communities and countries vulnerable. In particular, developing countries and poor communities in sub-Saharan Africa are expected to be affected the most by the impacts of climate change. This is mainly because of the region’s dependence on natural resources and their limited capacity to adapt. Literature further adds that vulnerability is on condition of the community’s socioeconomic characteristics and physical surroundings. Climate change variations pose a threat to the agricultural sector and food security of households relying on subsistence farming for survival. Climate variations such as decrease in rainfall and increased hot seasons have been reported to have led to a decline in food production, death of livestock and outbreaks human and animal diseases. The study’s main aim was to determine the smallholder farmers’ perceptions of climate change and adaptation strategies in Raymond Mhlaba, Port Saint Johns’ and Ingquza Hill local municipalities. Particularly, the study looked at the factors influencing these perceptions and the factors affecting the smallholder farmers’ choice of adaptation strategies used in response to climate change. Investigating perception provides insights into the fundamental drivers of behavioural changes in the face of climate change. On their part, adaptation options are greatly shaped by the nature of an individual’s behaviour. The study was carried out in 3 local municipalities (Raymond Mhlaba, Port St Johns’ and Ingquza Hill) in the Eastern Cape, South Africa. The research design applied in this study was cross sectional design where data are collected at a single point in time. Multistage sampling technique was used in selecting respondents from the local municipalities. Stratification was then done to group farmers according to their vi wards and locations. Lastly, purposive sampling was used to select households and smallholder farmers practising crop and livestock production. A total of 211 smallholder farmers constituted the sample size for the study. A close-ended questionnaire was used to conduct structured interviews of household heads. The study utilized both qualitative and quantitative approach. Data collected were coded and entered in Microsoft Excel and transferred to Statistical Package for Social Scientists (SPSS, version 25) for analyses. Descriptive statistics was used to determine the climate change perceptions of smallholder farmers and also to explore the adaptation strategies used by farmers to cope with the impacts of climate change. The findings were explained using frequencies, means and variances. Multinomial Logistic Regression (MNL) was used to determine the factors affecting the choice of adaptation strategies used by smallholder farmers and the probability that a farmer would choose a particular strategy. The results from the study revealed most of the respondents as being able to identify the perceived changes in climate with the environmental changes that they observed. The respondents perceived climate change as an increase in drought period, increase in average temperatures, decrease and variations in rainfall, shortened growing season, crop failure, pests and diseases. However, most of the smallholder farmers disagreed with the frequency of flood incidences as they have not experienced these in their areas. In terms of responses to these changes in climate, the smallholder farmers have used a number of adaptation strategies to cope. Most of the farmers used crop diversification, organic manure, soil and water conservation practices, while others simply did not adapt and some used all the available adaptation strategies identified in this study. The results from the MNL revealed that occupation, household size and years spent in school (education) generally had a positive influence on the choice of adaptation strategy used by smallholder farmers. On the other hand, age; farming systems and membership of a farmers’ association were negatively affecting the smallholder farmers’ choice of adaptation strategy to use in response to climate change. Much support is needed in terms of disseminating information and knowledge among smallholder farmers about climate change and its adaptation strategies. This can be possible through improving extension services, and providing credit to smallholder farmers
- Full Text:
- Date Issued: 2019
Archie Mafeje and the question of philosophy as a liberatory discourse
- Authors: Dladla, Thabang
- Date: 2018
- Subjects: Philosophy, African Eurocentrism Liberty
- Language: English
- Type: Thesis , Masters , MA
- Identifier: http://hdl.handle.net/10353/12160 , vital:39192
- Description: This dissertation seeks to articulate a liberatory conception of philosophy which interprets reality on its own terms. It is an attempt to intervene in the practice of philosophy in South Africa, which has continued along colonial lines expressed through the marginality of African philosophy up to the present, to the general neglect of the unjust and divisive social reality that defines South Africa. It is our argument that such a continuity is indicative of outstanding liberation on the part of the indigenous people conquered in the unjust wars of colonisation. Our main task then is to struggle for this liberation at the epistemic level with Archie Mafeje, through an examination of his intellectual works and life as a revolutionary intellectual, as an inspiration and an instance of a liberatory practice of philosophy. We draw on the work of Archie Mafeje to elaborate and defend his account of African Philosophy, as a historically specific expression of the liberatory struggle of Africans against unjust Euro-centric colonial domination. This shall be achieved in three instances. In the first instance, Chapter 1, we trace the history of institutionalised philosophy in South Africa outlining Eurocentrism and mimesis as its defining features. In the second instance, Chapter 2, a history of contemporary African philosophy is outlined as emanative from the question concerning the existence of African philosophy, of which mainstream South African philosophy has largely been ignorant. In the final instance, Chapter 3 and 4, a liberatory practice of philosophy is presented, as a necessary response to this context, with Mafeje’s account of African philosophy defended as such an instance. The birth of the Azanian Philosophical Society is also presented as such an instance and as a challenge to the unchallenged hegemony of white philosophy in South Africa.
- Full Text:
- Date Issued: 2018
- Authors: Dladla, Thabang
- Date: 2018
- Subjects: Philosophy, African Eurocentrism Liberty
- Language: English
- Type: Thesis , Masters , MA
- Identifier: http://hdl.handle.net/10353/12160 , vital:39192
- Description: This dissertation seeks to articulate a liberatory conception of philosophy which interprets reality on its own terms. It is an attempt to intervene in the practice of philosophy in South Africa, which has continued along colonial lines expressed through the marginality of African philosophy up to the present, to the general neglect of the unjust and divisive social reality that defines South Africa. It is our argument that such a continuity is indicative of outstanding liberation on the part of the indigenous people conquered in the unjust wars of colonisation. Our main task then is to struggle for this liberation at the epistemic level with Archie Mafeje, through an examination of his intellectual works and life as a revolutionary intellectual, as an inspiration and an instance of a liberatory practice of philosophy. We draw on the work of Archie Mafeje to elaborate and defend his account of African Philosophy, as a historically specific expression of the liberatory struggle of Africans against unjust Euro-centric colonial domination. This shall be achieved in three instances. In the first instance, Chapter 1, we trace the history of institutionalised philosophy in South Africa outlining Eurocentrism and mimesis as its defining features. In the second instance, Chapter 2, a history of contemporary African philosophy is outlined as emanative from the question concerning the existence of African philosophy, of which mainstream South African philosophy has largely been ignorant. In the final instance, Chapter 3 and 4, a liberatory practice of philosophy is presented, as a necessary response to this context, with Mafeje’s account of African philosophy defended as such an instance. The birth of the Azanian Philosophical Society is also presented as such an instance and as a challenge to the unchallenged hegemony of white philosophy in South Africa.
- Full Text:
- Date Issued: 2018
Exploring the effectiveness of the Ucoceko laundry project through the assessment of the positive development contributions in Molteno, Eastern Cape
- Authors: Qitsi, Asanda
- Date: 2018
- Subjects: Youth development Laundry industry Rural development
- Language: English
- Type: Thesis , Masters , MSoc
- Identifier: http://hdl.handle.net/10353/15661 , vital:40499
- Description: The research explored the effectiveness of Ucoceko Laundry Project assessing the positive development contributions in the Molteno area in the Eastern Cape Province of South Africa. The researcher cross examined the contribution of Ucoceko Laundry project on economic benefits, the challenges faced by the beneficiaries of the Ucoceko Laundry Project and the support services that social service practitioners and other stakeholders are offering in Ucoceko Laundry project. The study used a qualitative with in- depth interviews as a research instrument to collect data. The research instrument had closed ended and open-ended questions making it easy and better for the participants to express their views. The study utilized empowerment theory. Empowerment theory is the multi-dimensional social process that helps people gain control over their own lives. The researcher interviewed 15 Xhosa speaking participants to gather the required data from mixed gender categories of males and females respectively and the use of 5 focus group members which comprised of government officials and funders who have contributed to the development and success of the project. The researcher has utilized a non-probability sampling method which is a specifically purposive technique. Researcher analyzed data using a qualitative approach in a comprehensive thematic way.
- Full Text:
- Date Issued: 2018
- Authors: Qitsi, Asanda
- Date: 2018
- Subjects: Youth development Laundry industry Rural development
- Language: English
- Type: Thesis , Masters , MSoc
- Identifier: http://hdl.handle.net/10353/15661 , vital:40499
- Description: The research explored the effectiveness of Ucoceko Laundry Project assessing the positive development contributions in the Molteno area in the Eastern Cape Province of South Africa. The researcher cross examined the contribution of Ucoceko Laundry project on economic benefits, the challenges faced by the beneficiaries of the Ucoceko Laundry Project and the support services that social service practitioners and other stakeholders are offering in Ucoceko Laundry project. The study used a qualitative with in- depth interviews as a research instrument to collect data. The research instrument had closed ended and open-ended questions making it easy and better for the participants to express their views. The study utilized empowerment theory. Empowerment theory is the multi-dimensional social process that helps people gain control over their own lives. The researcher interviewed 15 Xhosa speaking participants to gather the required data from mixed gender categories of males and females respectively and the use of 5 focus group members which comprised of government officials and funders who have contributed to the development and success of the project. The researcher has utilized a non-probability sampling method which is a specifically purposive technique. Researcher analyzed data using a qualitative approach in a comprehensive thematic way.
- Full Text:
- Date Issued: 2018
Characterisation of antibacterial compounds produced by Pseudomonas spp. isolated from Hogsback wetlands, Eastern Cape, South Africa
- Authors: Obi, Akudo Odochi
- Date: 2017
- Subjects: Bacteriology -- South Africa -- Eastern Cape
- Language: English
- Type: Thesis , Masters , MSc
- Identifier: http://hdl.handle.net/10353/15688 , vital:40507
- Description: With microbial pathogens developing resistance against currently existing antimicrobials, there is an earnest need to discover and develop new therapeutic compounds with unique and/or precise modes of action. Natural products have provided the inspiration for most of the active ingredients in medicines and thus are regarded as a potential screening resource lead for discovery of new drugs. Pseudomonads are ubiquitous, Gram-negative, motile bacteria that flourish and inhabit a diversity of environments. Literature has vastly revealed that some members of the genus Pseudomonas are capable of producing a plethora of biologically active metabolites and thus are regarded as “attractive” bacteria for testing as potential sources for new therapeutic compounds. In this regard, this study was undertaken with an aim to isolate and characterize antibacterial compounds produced by Pseudomonas species isolated from aquatic milieu of the Hogsback wetlands, Eastern Cape, South Africa. A total of 12 water samples were aseptically collected from Hogsback wetlands. To ascertain antimicrobial potential of the isolates, 9 test bacterial (sensitive) strains, namely Escherichia coli ATCC 3695, Vibrio fluvialis, Salmonella typhimurium, Salmonella enteritidis, Pseudomonas aeruginosa ATCC 27853, Escherichia coli (2), Listeria ivanovii, Listeria monocytogenes and Enterococcus faecalis ATCC 19433 were used for antimicrobial screening. A total of 500 presumptive Pseudomonas spp. were isolated and screened for the production of antibacterial compound through the Agar-well diffusion method. About 8percent of the presumptive Pseudomonas spp. produced compound with activity against the test bacteria and based on the levels of activity shown, three isolates coded as A53, Y55 and Y138 were selected and identified by 16S rDNA sequence analysis and The Basic Local Alignment Search Tool analysis revealed that the three isolates (A53, Y55 and Y138) belonged to the Pseudomonas genus. Using MEGA6 software, a molecular phylogenetic tree was constructed by Maximum Likelihood Method. The phylogenetic analysis by this method showed that all three isolate codes (A53, Y55 and Y138) formed the same clade with Pseudomonas viridiflava strain P3 (Accession number: AY972186) and Pseudomonas plecoglossicida strain P9 (Accession number: AY972231) at a high bootstrap value of 100percent. Isolate code A53 and Y55 also grouped together at a bootstrap value of 96percent. Factors affecting antibacterial compound production by the three isolates were elucidated. The effect of pH on the three isolates revealed that isolate code A53 and Y55 could produce antibacterial compounds over all pH ranges (pH 4-9), however, antibacterial production was produced optimally at acidic conditions (pH 4) and a less acidic-neutral condition (pH 6) respectively. Isolate Y138 showed optimal production at pH 5. The effect of temperature on all three isolates was studied at different temperatures ranging between 25°C-40°C. Study on effect of temperature variations on antibacterial production revealed that all three isolates are capable of growing and producing antibacterial compounds over all the different temperature ranges, however, maximum/optimum production was observed at temperature of 30°C. In order to establish the role of plasmids in antibacterial production, two curing agents; Sodium dodecyl sulfate (SDS) and Ethidium bromide under different sub-lethal concentrations (1 mg/ml -11mg/ml and 2.5 μg/ml- 125 μg/ml respectively) were used to cure the selected isolates. Plasmid DNA samples of A53, Y55 and Y138, were separated by electrophoresis on a 0.7percent (w/v) agarose. Agarose gel electrophoresis revealed that not all the concentrations used were effective in curing the plasmid. A Quick Load 1 kb Extend DNA ladder marker was used for determining the size of the plasmids. Isolate code A53 and Y138 had a plasmid size of 48.5 kb while isolate Y55 had a plasmid size of approximately 20 kb. Antibacterial activity by agar-well diffusion method after the curing process revealed that antibacterial production was not lost or prevented, but rather increased. Thus, it is suggested that the genes responsible for antibiotic production in this study were chromosomal-encoded and not plasmid-encoded. This study revealed that Hogsback wetlands may represent a previously unexplored environment/source of discovering novel and potent antibacterial compounds.
- Full Text:
- Date Issued: 2017
- Authors: Obi, Akudo Odochi
- Date: 2017
- Subjects: Bacteriology -- South Africa -- Eastern Cape
- Language: English
- Type: Thesis , Masters , MSc
- Identifier: http://hdl.handle.net/10353/15688 , vital:40507
- Description: With microbial pathogens developing resistance against currently existing antimicrobials, there is an earnest need to discover and develop new therapeutic compounds with unique and/or precise modes of action. Natural products have provided the inspiration for most of the active ingredients in medicines and thus are regarded as a potential screening resource lead for discovery of new drugs. Pseudomonads are ubiquitous, Gram-negative, motile bacteria that flourish and inhabit a diversity of environments. Literature has vastly revealed that some members of the genus Pseudomonas are capable of producing a plethora of biologically active metabolites and thus are regarded as “attractive” bacteria for testing as potential sources for new therapeutic compounds. In this regard, this study was undertaken with an aim to isolate and characterize antibacterial compounds produced by Pseudomonas species isolated from aquatic milieu of the Hogsback wetlands, Eastern Cape, South Africa. A total of 12 water samples were aseptically collected from Hogsback wetlands. To ascertain antimicrobial potential of the isolates, 9 test bacterial (sensitive) strains, namely Escherichia coli ATCC 3695, Vibrio fluvialis, Salmonella typhimurium, Salmonella enteritidis, Pseudomonas aeruginosa ATCC 27853, Escherichia coli (2), Listeria ivanovii, Listeria monocytogenes and Enterococcus faecalis ATCC 19433 were used for antimicrobial screening. A total of 500 presumptive Pseudomonas spp. were isolated and screened for the production of antibacterial compound through the Agar-well diffusion method. About 8percent of the presumptive Pseudomonas spp. produced compound with activity against the test bacteria and based on the levels of activity shown, three isolates coded as A53, Y55 and Y138 were selected and identified by 16S rDNA sequence analysis and The Basic Local Alignment Search Tool analysis revealed that the three isolates (A53, Y55 and Y138) belonged to the Pseudomonas genus. Using MEGA6 software, a molecular phylogenetic tree was constructed by Maximum Likelihood Method. The phylogenetic analysis by this method showed that all three isolate codes (A53, Y55 and Y138) formed the same clade with Pseudomonas viridiflava strain P3 (Accession number: AY972186) and Pseudomonas plecoglossicida strain P9 (Accession number: AY972231) at a high bootstrap value of 100percent. Isolate code A53 and Y55 also grouped together at a bootstrap value of 96percent. Factors affecting antibacterial compound production by the three isolates were elucidated. The effect of pH on the three isolates revealed that isolate code A53 and Y55 could produce antibacterial compounds over all pH ranges (pH 4-9), however, antibacterial production was produced optimally at acidic conditions (pH 4) and a less acidic-neutral condition (pH 6) respectively. Isolate Y138 showed optimal production at pH 5. The effect of temperature on all three isolates was studied at different temperatures ranging between 25°C-40°C. Study on effect of temperature variations on antibacterial production revealed that all three isolates are capable of growing and producing antibacterial compounds over all the different temperature ranges, however, maximum/optimum production was observed at temperature of 30°C. In order to establish the role of plasmids in antibacterial production, two curing agents; Sodium dodecyl sulfate (SDS) and Ethidium bromide under different sub-lethal concentrations (1 mg/ml -11mg/ml and 2.5 μg/ml- 125 μg/ml respectively) were used to cure the selected isolates. Plasmid DNA samples of A53, Y55 and Y138, were separated by electrophoresis on a 0.7percent (w/v) agarose. Agarose gel electrophoresis revealed that not all the concentrations used were effective in curing the plasmid. A Quick Load 1 kb Extend DNA ladder marker was used for determining the size of the plasmids. Isolate code A53 and Y138 had a plasmid size of 48.5 kb while isolate Y55 had a plasmid size of approximately 20 kb. Antibacterial activity by agar-well diffusion method after the curing process revealed that antibacterial production was not lost or prevented, but rather increased. Thus, it is suggested that the genes responsible for antibiotic production in this study were chromosomal-encoded and not plasmid-encoded. This study revealed that Hogsback wetlands may represent a previously unexplored environment/source of discovering novel and potent antibacterial compounds.
- Full Text:
- Date Issued: 2017
The impact of oil prices on the trade balance of South Africa
- Authors: Mili, Akhona
- Date: 2017
- Subjects: Petroleum products -- Prices Balance of trade -- South Africa Petroleum industry and trade -- Economic aspects
- Language: English
- Type: Thesis , Masters , MCom
- Identifier: http://hdl.handle.net/10353/8630 , vital:33228
- Description: The Autoregressive Distributed Lag model was used to estimate and analyse the relationship between crude oil prices and the trade balance of South Africa. This study estimated the trade balance model and analysed the relationship between crude oil prices and the trade balance of South Africa from the period 1990 to 2015. The bounds cointegration test confirmed the existence of a long-run relationship between the trade balance and real oil prices, real effective exchange rate, domestic income, real interest rate and the inflation rate. The results confirm that changes in oil prices have a negative impact on the trade balance whereas, currency devaluation, real interest, inflation rate and domestic income had a positive effect on the trade balance. The negative sign and significance of the Error Correction Term and diagnostic tests confirmed the reliability of the results.
- Full Text:
- Date Issued: 2017
- Authors: Mili, Akhona
- Date: 2017
- Subjects: Petroleum products -- Prices Balance of trade -- South Africa Petroleum industry and trade -- Economic aspects
- Language: English
- Type: Thesis , Masters , MCom
- Identifier: http://hdl.handle.net/10353/8630 , vital:33228
- Description: The Autoregressive Distributed Lag model was used to estimate and analyse the relationship between crude oil prices and the trade balance of South Africa. This study estimated the trade balance model and analysed the relationship between crude oil prices and the trade balance of South Africa from the period 1990 to 2015. The bounds cointegration test confirmed the existence of a long-run relationship between the trade balance and real oil prices, real effective exchange rate, domestic income, real interest rate and the inflation rate. The results confirm that changes in oil prices have a negative impact on the trade balance whereas, currency devaluation, real interest, inflation rate and domestic income had a positive effect on the trade balance. The negative sign and significance of the Error Correction Term and diagnostic tests confirmed the reliability of the results.
- Full Text:
- Date Issued: 2017
The use of behaviour, saliva cortisol and faecal glucocorticoid levels as stress indicators in beef cows
- Authors: Dzviti, Melody
- Date: 2017
- Subjects: Veterinary physiology Beef cattle -- Behavior Glucocorticoids
- Language: English
- Type: Thesis , Masters , MSc
- Identifier: http://hdl.handle.net/10353/8165 , vital:31634
- Description: The study evaluated the use of saliva as a minimally invasive technique for cortisol level determination. This was done by assessing the relationship between serum and saliva cortisol based on short sampling intervals. In addition, the study also determined the effect of successive handling on faecal glucocorticoid metabolites (FGM), rectal temperature (RT), avoidance distance (AD), chute and crush scores as well as urination, defaecation and vocalization in multiparous cows. For trial one six non-pregnant, clinically healthy Nguni cows were used. They were administered with standardised doses of adrenocorticotropic hormone on treatment days and saline was used as a placebo on alternative days. Simultaneously, blood and saliva samples were collected to quantify cortisol levels. No relationship (r = 0.0131, P>0.05) was observed between serum and saliva cortisol. However, results showed that there was adrenal stimulation in saliva coupled by significant (P<0.05) effects of sampling intervals. For the second study 21 non-pregnant and clinically healthy Nguni cows of one herd were used for the trial. They were divided into parity groups and their weights were used as a covariate in data analysis. For five consecutive weeks, fresh faecal samples were extracted and rectal temperatures measured. In addition, fear of approaching humans was assessed by AD scores and behaviour scores in the crush chute, as well as vocalisation, urination and defaecation were observed. The effect of successive handling significantly (P<0.05) affected the physiological parameters, namely FGM and RT. Contrariwise, Chi-square tests revealed that parities had a significant (χ2 < 0.05) influence on AD and crush scores as well as on the occurrence of excretory behaviour. It was concluded that saliva cortisol can be used as a stress indicator in beef cows. However, plasma cortisol can be significantly volatile thereby becoming less sensitive to changes across time. This can cause a lack of relationship between plasma and saliva cortisol. On the other hand, repetitive handling of beef cows has an influence on faecal stress levels. In addition, beef cows of differing parities behave differently to handling stress.
- Full Text:
- Date Issued: 2017
- Authors: Dzviti, Melody
- Date: 2017
- Subjects: Veterinary physiology Beef cattle -- Behavior Glucocorticoids
- Language: English
- Type: Thesis , Masters , MSc
- Identifier: http://hdl.handle.net/10353/8165 , vital:31634
- Description: The study evaluated the use of saliva as a minimally invasive technique for cortisol level determination. This was done by assessing the relationship between serum and saliva cortisol based on short sampling intervals. In addition, the study also determined the effect of successive handling on faecal glucocorticoid metabolites (FGM), rectal temperature (RT), avoidance distance (AD), chute and crush scores as well as urination, defaecation and vocalization in multiparous cows. For trial one six non-pregnant, clinically healthy Nguni cows were used. They were administered with standardised doses of adrenocorticotropic hormone on treatment days and saline was used as a placebo on alternative days. Simultaneously, blood and saliva samples were collected to quantify cortisol levels. No relationship (r = 0.0131, P>0.05) was observed between serum and saliva cortisol. However, results showed that there was adrenal stimulation in saliva coupled by significant (P<0.05) effects of sampling intervals. For the second study 21 non-pregnant and clinically healthy Nguni cows of one herd were used for the trial. They were divided into parity groups and their weights were used as a covariate in data analysis. For five consecutive weeks, fresh faecal samples were extracted and rectal temperatures measured. In addition, fear of approaching humans was assessed by AD scores and behaviour scores in the crush chute, as well as vocalisation, urination and defaecation were observed. The effect of successive handling significantly (P<0.05) affected the physiological parameters, namely FGM and RT. Contrariwise, Chi-square tests revealed that parities had a significant (χ2 < 0.05) influence on AD and crush scores as well as on the occurrence of excretory behaviour. It was concluded that saliva cortisol can be used as a stress indicator in beef cows. However, plasma cortisol can be significantly volatile thereby becoming less sensitive to changes across time. This can cause a lack of relationship between plasma and saliva cortisol. On the other hand, repetitive handling of beef cows has an influence on faecal stress levels. In addition, beef cows of differing parities behave differently to handling stress.
- Full Text:
- Date Issued: 2017
A case study of democratic debate on People's Choice (PC) FM "Thahameso" and Harvest FM "Tsa Mabatooa" in Lesotho
- Falatsa, Mamolise Martha, Thipa, Henry
- Authors: Falatsa, Mamolise Martha , Thipa, Henry
- Date: 2016
- Subjects: Radio addresses, debates, etc. -- Lesotho , Radio broadcasting -- Lesotho , Mass media -- Political aspects -- Lesotho , Civil rights -- Lesotho
- Language: English
- Type: Thesis , Masters , MA
- Identifier: http://hdl.handle.net/10948/7281 , vital:21314
- Description: The study investigates the role of media in promoting free debate in Lesotho: A case study of democratic debate on People’s Choice (PC) FM “Thahameso” and Harvest FM “Tsa Mabatooa in Lesotho. Firstly, the study looked at the democratic communication in the volatile democracy of Lesotho, by providing historical factors of pre-independence and authoritarian governments, democrocatic governments prevailing and the dependence on South Africa. Secondly, the study provided literature on the role of broadcast media in different forms of government globally. Thirdly, it provides the analysis and transcription of one month’s recordings of the two political talk shows in Sesotho and identifies the communicative strategies used in this live on-air political discussion by talk show hosts, guests and callers. In these talk shows the researcher identifies the caller, host and guest behaviour and attitudes in discussions that relate the current political situation to the historical development of democracy in Lesotho alongside the economic and political influences from South Africa. The researcher also identifies that the talk show, guests and callers in the challenging political climate use traditional figurative expressions and biblical quotations to express their views. This leads the researcher to conclude that the political talk shows indeed facilitate participatory communication.
- Full Text:
- Date Issued: 2016
- Authors: Falatsa, Mamolise Martha , Thipa, Henry
- Date: 2016
- Subjects: Radio addresses, debates, etc. -- Lesotho , Radio broadcasting -- Lesotho , Mass media -- Political aspects -- Lesotho , Civil rights -- Lesotho
- Language: English
- Type: Thesis , Masters , MA
- Identifier: http://hdl.handle.net/10948/7281 , vital:21314
- Description: The study investigates the role of media in promoting free debate in Lesotho: A case study of democratic debate on People’s Choice (PC) FM “Thahameso” and Harvest FM “Tsa Mabatooa in Lesotho. Firstly, the study looked at the democratic communication in the volatile democracy of Lesotho, by providing historical factors of pre-independence and authoritarian governments, democrocatic governments prevailing and the dependence on South Africa. Secondly, the study provided literature on the role of broadcast media in different forms of government globally. Thirdly, it provides the analysis and transcription of one month’s recordings of the two political talk shows in Sesotho and identifies the communicative strategies used in this live on-air political discussion by talk show hosts, guests and callers. In these talk shows the researcher identifies the caller, host and guest behaviour and attitudes in discussions that relate the current political situation to the historical development of democracy in Lesotho alongside the economic and political influences from South Africa. The researcher also identifies that the talk show, guests and callers in the challenging political climate use traditional figurative expressions and biblical quotations to express their views. This leads the researcher to conclude that the political talk shows indeed facilitate participatory communication.
- Full Text:
- Date Issued: 2016
Accountability mechanisms of locally owned versus non -locally owned NGOs in South Africa
- Authors: Van Zyl, Winston Hyman
- Date: 2016
- Subjects: Non-governmental organizations -- South Africa Economic development -- Social aspects -- South Africa
- Language: English
- Type: Thesis , Masters , MA
- Identifier: http://hdl.handle.net/10948/45602 , vital:38917
- Description: This paper reports the results of an exploratory semi-mixed methods study entailing triangulation of qualitative and quantitative data to explore differences in the implementation of accountability mechanisms between locally and non-locally owned non-governmental organisations (NGOs). The study involved NGOs in the Eastern Cape and Kwa-Zulu Natal provinces of South Africa. Comparisons were made between individual as well as grouped (upward, downward and horizontal) accountability mechanisms implemented. Other NGO characteristics such as age, size and donor type were also compared with NGO accountability mechanisms as well as with NGO ownership type (local/non-local). It was found that locally owned NGOs more often claimed to implement downward and horizontal accountability mechanisms and also to implement such mechanisms better than non-local NGOs. As established by means of chi-square tests, the above-mentioned differences were statistically significant. Thereupon, non-local NGOs more often claimed to implement upward accountability mechanisms and to implement such mechanisms better than local NGOs. Nonlocal NGOs were found to be significantly older, bigger and better resourced than local NGOs.Previous research found a correlation between local ownership, downward accountability and aid effectiveness and has also shown that the large majority of NGOs struggle to implement downward accountability mechanisms and focus mostly on upward accountability. Very little research was done on local NGOs. The findings of this paper show that the strategies employed by local NGOs to account downwards could inform the strategies of most non-local NGOs, and thereby improve aid effectiveness. This research suggests that an ideal balance between local and non-local ownership of an NGO exists and if such a balance could be achieved, an NGO would excel in both the facilitation of local ownership and acquisition of resources and thereby optimise aid effectiveness.
- Full Text:
- Date Issued: 2016
- Authors: Van Zyl, Winston Hyman
- Date: 2016
- Subjects: Non-governmental organizations -- South Africa Economic development -- Social aspects -- South Africa
- Language: English
- Type: Thesis , Masters , MA
- Identifier: http://hdl.handle.net/10948/45602 , vital:38917
- Description: This paper reports the results of an exploratory semi-mixed methods study entailing triangulation of qualitative and quantitative data to explore differences in the implementation of accountability mechanisms between locally and non-locally owned non-governmental organisations (NGOs). The study involved NGOs in the Eastern Cape and Kwa-Zulu Natal provinces of South Africa. Comparisons were made between individual as well as grouped (upward, downward and horizontal) accountability mechanisms implemented. Other NGO characteristics such as age, size and donor type were also compared with NGO accountability mechanisms as well as with NGO ownership type (local/non-local). It was found that locally owned NGOs more often claimed to implement downward and horizontal accountability mechanisms and also to implement such mechanisms better than non-local NGOs. As established by means of chi-square tests, the above-mentioned differences were statistically significant. Thereupon, non-local NGOs more often claimed to implement upward accountability mechanisms and to implement such mechanisms better than local NGOs. Nonlocal NGOs were found to be significantly older, bigger and better resourced than local NGOs.Previous research found a correlation between local ownership, downward accountability and aid effectiveness and has also shown that the large majority of NGOs struggle to implement downward accountability mechanisms and focus mostly on upward accountability. Very little research was done on local NGOs. The findings of this paper show that the strategies employed by local NGOs to account downwards could inform the strategies of most non-local NGOs, and thereby improve aid effectiveness. This research suggests that an ideal balance between local and non-local ownership of an NGO exists and if such a balance could be achieved, an NGO would excel in both the facilitation of local ownership and acquisition of resources and thereby optimise aid effectiveness.
- Full Text:
- Date Issued: 2016
An investigation of the practices employed by an environmental community-based organization to successfully sustain its school based and community based projects (A case study)
- Authors: Hlophe, Nomalanga Nokuthula
- Date: 2016
- Language: English
- Type: Thesis , Masters , MEd
- Identifier: vital:2073 , http://hdl.handle.net/10962/d1021252
- Description: Community-based organizations (CBOs) play a crucial role in sustainable development and hence it is important that they are promoted, guided and supported by state agencies and the private sector. The South African government encourages communities to establish co-operatives as a tool or strategy to address local social issues and risks and act accordingly. The purpose of this case study was to determine what aspects of the establishment and operation of a successful community-based environmental organization are producing sustained school and community projects. The study set out to investigate and audit the activities of a successful environmental CBO so as to determine how it has successfully sustained its school and community environmental projects. The reason for this investigation was to inform other CBOs and the state environmental agencies that support them on how to sustain their environmental activities in community and school contexts. The investigation was designed as an interpretive case study, which used document analysis, semi-structured interviews and observations to gather data. The gathered data was analyzed through inductive analysis to interpret and audit reported activities. Analytical memos were used to represent key themes in relation to the successful operations of the organization. Through auditing and reporting the activities in the analytical memos, analytical statements were developed. Those statements guided the discussion and informed the study‟s findings and recommendations. After investigating this CBO, it was concluded that, their success is a result of the establishment of a networking forum with different stakeholders and parties, community involvement in different projects, partnerships with local schools to develop and expand their curriculum practice, CBO networking locally and internationally and finally, their participation in annual and continuous environmental competitions/projects/programs. The insights gained and lessons learned will be used to advice and support community based co-operatives in environmental learning activities in school and community contexts as part of my ongoing work.
- Full Text:
- Date Issued: 2016
- Authors: Hlophe, Nomalanga Nokuthula
- Date: 2016
- Language: English
- Type: Thesis , Masters , MEd
- Identifier: vital:2073 , http://hdl.handle.net/10962/d1021252
- Description: Community-based organizations (CBOs) play a crucial role in sustainable development and hence it is important that they are promoted, guided and supported by state agencies and the private sector. The South African government encourages communities to establish co-operatives as a tool or strategy to address local social issues and risks and act accordingly. The purpose of this case study was to determine what aspects of the establishment and operation of a successful community-based environmental organization are producing sustained school and community projects. The study set out to investigate and audit the activities of a successful environmental CBO so as to determine how it has successfully sustained its school and community environmental projects. The reason for this investigation was to inform other CBOs and the state environmental agencies that support them on how to sustain their environmental activities in community and school contexts. The investigation was designed as an interpretive case study, which used document analysis, semi-structured interviews and observations to gather data. The gathered data was analyzed through inductive analysis to interpret and audit reported activities. Analytical memos were used to represent key themes in relation to the successful operations of the organization. Through auditing and reporting the activities in the analytical memos, analytical statements were developed. Those statements guided the discussion and informed the study‟s findings and recommendations. After investigating this CBO, it was concluded that, their success is a result of the establishment of a networking forum with different stakeholders and parties, community involvement in different projects, partnerships with local schools to develop and expand their curriculum practice, CBO networking locally and internationally and finally, their participation in annual and continuous environmental competitions/projects/programs. The insights gained and lessons learned will be used to advice and support community based co-operatives in environmental learning activities in school and community contexts as part of my ongoing work.
- Full Text:
- Date Issued: 2016
Ecological engineering on rocky shores: grazing, predation, nutrient availability and their influence on epifaunal communities
- Authors: Ndhlovu, Aldwin
- Date: 2016
- Language: English
- Type: Thesis , Masters , MSc
- Identifier: http://hdl.handle.net/10962/3453 , vital:20500
- Description: “Ecosystem engineers modify, create/destroy habitat and directly/indirectly modulate availability of resources to other species by causing physical state changes to biotic and abiotic materials” (Jones et al, 1994, page 1). Previous studies have analysed top-down and bottom-up relationships to determine which form of regulation is key in controlling community composition. This study assessed the direct and indirect effects of top down and bottom up factors on the epifaunal communities of macro-algae. Epifauna are subject to the direct top-down effects of predation and bottom up effects of habitat availability. Habitat availability in turn experiences the direct top down effects of grazing and bottom up effects of nutrient availability due to upwelling. Grazing and upwelling may therefore have indirect effects on macro-algal epifauna. Four treatments (Procedural controls, Controls, Predator or Grazer exclusion) set out in a block design (n = 5) were monitored monthly for algal cover of the substratum for 12 months with the surface area of algal plants and epifaunal species composition and abundances assessed at the end of the experiment. The red alga Gelidium pristoides was selected as the ecosystem engineer as it is common, supports a diverse community of epiphytic animals and acts as a nursery for small epifaunal organisms. The experiment was run at two upwelling sites interspersed with two non-upwelling sites. Sites were separated on scales of 100km along approximately 500km of coastline. Dipping whole algae in dish washing liquid provided a strong relationship between their surface area and the weight of the film of dish washing liquid covering them. Surface area was strongly correlated to dry weight but neither surface area nor dry weight was correlated to algal cover of the substratum. Algal cover was influenced by the interactions of treatment with site (nested in upwelling) and upwelling. At all sites, treatments that allowed access to grazers, Grazer + and Control treatments, showed no significant differences and these two treatments had lower algal cover than Predator + and Closed treatments which did not differ from one another 3 [Grazer + = Control < Predator + = Closed]. A total of 44 epifaunal species were identified, with the predominant orders being Amphipoda and Isopoda. Primer results showed that only site had a significant effect on species composition, with sites that were further apart being more different. Site (nested in upwelling) had an effect on total epifaunal abundances when data were non-normalised. When total epifaunal abundances were normalised for algal cover of the substratum or algal surface area to provide density data, predation had no significant effect. Grazing did have a significant effect, but only when data were normalised to algal surface area, not cover, leading to the conclusion that indirect top-down factors through grazing of the sea weed are important in structuring epifaunal communities depending on how habitat availability is measured.
- Full Text:
- Date Issued: 2016
- Authors: Ndhlovu, Aldwin
- Date: 2016
- Language: English
- Type: Thesis , Masters , MSc
- Identifier: http://hdl.handle.net/10962/3453 , vital:20500
- Description: “Ecosystem engineers modify, create/destroy habitat and directly/indirectly modulate availability of resources to other species by causing physical state changes to biotic and abiotic materials” (Jones et al, 1994, page 1). Previous studies have analysed top-down and bottom-up relationships to determine which form of regulation is key in controlling community composition. This study assessed the direct and indirect effects of top down and bottom up factors on the epifaunal communities of macro-algae. Epifauna are subject to the direct top-down effects of predation and bottom up effects of habitat availability. Habitat availability in turn experiences the direct top down effects of grazing and bottom up effects of nutrient availability due to upwelling. Grazing and upwelling may therefore have indirect effects on macro-algal epifauna. Four treatments (Procedural controls, Controls, Predator or Grazer exclusion) set out in a block design (n = 5) were monitored monthly for algal cover of the substratum for 12 months with the surface area of algal plants and epifaunal species composition and abundances assessed at the end of the experiment. The red alga Gelidium pristoides was selected as the ecosystem engineer as it is common, supports a diverse community of epiphytic animals and acts as a nursery for small epifaunal organisms. The experiment was run at two upwelling sites interspersed with two non-upwelling sites. Sites were separated on scales of 100km along approximately 500km of coastline. Dipping whole algae in dish washing liquid provided a strong relationship between their surface area and the weight of the film of dish washing liquid covering them. Surface area was strongly correlated to dry weight but neither surface area nor dry weight was correlated to algal cover of the substratum. Algal cover was influenced by the interactions of treatment with site (nested in upwelling) and upwelling. At all sites, treatments that allowed access to grazers, Grazer + and Control treatments, showed no significant differences and these two treatments had lower algal cover than Predator + and Closed treatments which did not differ from one another 3 [Grazer + = Control < Predator + = Closed]. A total of 44 epifaunal species were identified, with the predominant orders being Amphipoda and Isopoda. Primer results showed that only site had a significant effect on species composition, with sites that were further apart being more different. Site (nested in upwelling) had an effect on total epifaunal abundances when data were non-normalised. When total epifaunal abundances were normalised for algal cover of the substratum or algal surface area to provide density data, predation had no significant effect. Grazing did have a significant effect, but only when data were normalised to algal surface area, not cover, leading to the conclusion that indirect top-down factors through grazing of the sea weed are important in structuring epifaunal communities depending on how habitat availability is measured.
- Full Text:
- Date Issued: 2016
Effects of Pteronia incana (Blue bush) invasion on grass biomass production, soil chemical characteristics and peoples' livelihoods in Ngqushwa communal rangelands, Eastern Cape
- Authors: Ntutha, T
- Date: 2016
- Subjects: Invasive plants -- South Africa -- Eastern Cape Shrublands -- South Africa -- Eastern Cape Rangelands -- South Africa -- Eastern Cape
- Language: English
- Type: Thesis , Masters , MSc
- Identifier: http://hdl.handle.net/10353/4682 , vital:28493
- Description: The objective of the study was to assess the farmers’ knowledge and perceptions of P. incana invasion and impacts on rangeland, livestock production and livelihood in four communal grazing areas. Twenty households per village that own livestock were randomly selected to conduct an interview using an open and closed ended questionnaire. In each household, an old and knowledgeable respondent about P. incana invasion was used as a selection criterion. For scientific assessment of range condition, the experiment was conducted in a 270 m x 100 m trial plots that were established in 2014. The area was divided into 3 open and 3 fenced subplots each having an area of 45 m x 100 m established laid down a slope gradient. Each plot was divided into four equal subplots to apply the control treatments. Therefore, the trial layout was a stratified block experiment of four treatments replicated three times. The four control treatments applied to P. incana invasion were chopping and resting (CR), resting without chopping (RWOC), grazing and chopping (GC), grazing without chopping (GWOC). A step point method was applied in each transect to monitor species composition and P. incana cover. On the fenced plots two exclosures of 1mx1m size were randomly distributed to make sure that resting is maintained. Within exclosures 0.25 m2quadrates in each were put randomly to measure biomass. Density of P. incana was determined from 5 m x 5 m quadrates that were placed randomly within each sub-plot. The density and height of individual shrub plant was measured. All rooted live woody plants were recorded and counted in each quadrate. The results revealed that species composition was not affected (P>0.05) by the treatments applied. The herbage height and basal cover had greater values (P<0.05) under rested plus chopping (CR) treatment followed by grazed plus chopping (GC). Grass biomass production and essential nutrients showed a greater concentration (P<0.05) under CR treatment than any treatments applied. The results on perceptions revealed that goats had the highest mean household holding number than any other livestock species across the selected villages in all the villages. Respondents indicated that both goats and cattle had equal or more importance than sheep. Three out of four villages raised cattle primarily for income generation and secondarily for cultural purposes like slaughtering during weddings ceremonies, amazila and also during woman circumcisions (Ntonjane). Similarly, goats and sheep were primarily raised for cash income generation. The results revealed that livestock population decreased over ten to twenty years (one-two decades) and poor rangeland condition is assumed to be the cause of the situation as feed is the key factor for production. The area was dominated by the grasses rather than by browse woody species so the above results are possible as the P. incana is more competitive than grasses. It was concluded that P. incana is detrimental to both rangeland and animal production. Forage and animal performance as well as farmers’ economic status (livelihoods) were negatively affected by P. incana invasion and the scientific assessment reported it to be detrimental to agriculture. Thus chopping and resting (CR) treatment resulted in a greater improvement of the basal cover, biomass production, soil nutrients as well as grass height than the other treatments applied. Therefore it can be concluded that chopping and resting the veld invaded with P. incana can improve the range and consequently animal production.
- Full Text:
- Date Issued: 2016
- Authors: Ntutha, T
- Date: 2016
- Subjects: Invasive plants -- South Africa -- Eastern Cape Shrublands -- South Africa -- Eastern Cape Rangelands -- South Africa -- Eastern Cape
- Language: English
- Type: Thesis , Masters , MSc
- Identifier: http://hdl.handle.net/10353/4682 , vital:28493
- Description: The objective of the study was to assess the farmers’ knowledge and perceptions of P. incana invasion and impacts on rangeland, livestock production and livelihood in four communal grazing areas. Twenty households per village that own livestock were randomly selected to conduct an interview using an open and closed ended questionnaire. In each household, an old and knowledgeable respondent about P. incana invasion was used as a selection criterion. For scientific assessment of range condition, the experiment was conducted in a 270 m x 100 m trial plots that were established in 2014. The area was divided into 3 open and 3 fenced subplots each having an area of 45 m x 100 m established laid down a slope gradient. Each plot was divided into four equal subplots to apply the control treatments. Therefore, the trial layout was a stratified block experiment of four treatments replicated three times. The four control treatments applied to P. incana invasion were chopping and resting (CR), resting without chopping (RWOC), grazing and chopping (GC), grazing without chopping (GWOC). A step point method was applied in each transect to monitor species composition and P. incana cover. On the fenced plots two exclosures of 1mx1m size were randomly distributed to make sure that resting is maintained. Within exclosures 0.25 m2quadrates in each were put randomly to measure biomass. Density of P. incana was determined from 5 m x 5 m quadrates that were placed randomly within each sub-plot. The density and height of individual shrub plant was measured. All rooted live woody plants were recorded and counted in each quadrate. The results revealed that species composition was not affected (P>0.05) by the treatments applied. The herbage height and basal cover had greater values (P<0.05) under rested plus chopping (CR) treatment followed by grazed plus chopping (GC). Grass biomass production and essential nutrients showed a greater concentration (P<0.05) under CR treatment than any treatments applied. The results on perceptions revealed that goats had the highest mean household holding number than any other livestock species across the selected villages in all the villages. Respondents indicated that both goats and cattle had equal or more importance than sheep. Three out of four villages raised cattle primarily for income generation and secondarily for cultural purposes like slaughtering during weddings ceremonies, amazila and also during woman circumcisions (Ntonjane). Similarly, goats and sheep were primarily raised for cash income generation. The results revealed that livestock population decreased over ten to twenty years (one-two decades) and poor rangeland condition is assumed to be the cause of the situation as feed is the key factor for production. The area was dominated by the grasses rather than by browse woody species so the above results are possible as the P. incana is more competitive than grasses. It was concluded that P. incana is detrimental to both rangeland and animal production. Forage and animal performance as well as farmers’ economic status (livelihoods) were negatively affected by P. incana invasion and the scientific assessment reported it to be detrimental to agriculture. Thus chopping and resting (CR) treatment resulted in a greater improvement of the basal cover, biomass production, soil nutrients as well as grass height than the other treatments applied. Therefore it can be concluded that chopping and resting the veld invaded with P. incana can improve the range and consequently animal production.
- Full Text:
- Date Issued: 2016
Being for others : critical reflections on the stranger, the estranged and the self in participatory art
- Authors: Munro, Samantha Fawn
- Date: 2015
- Subjects: Self , Identity (Philosophical concept) in art , Alienation (Philosophy) , Interactive art , Art appreciation , Art exhibition audiences , Interactive art -- Themes, motives , Social interaction
- Language: English
- Type: Thesis , Masters , MFA
- Identifier: vital:2507 , http://hdl.handle.net/10962/d1017771
- Description: By referring to established concepts and theories which contemplate our experiences in relation to others and space, this thesis examines the interactions and responses of an audience during various participatory artworks. I draw upon Jean-Paul Sartre’s Being and Nothingness and Elizabeth Grosz’ Architecture From The Outside: Essays on Virtual and Real Space in order to understand our interactions with other people, our interactions inside an environment, and the objects and ceremonies we use during these interactions. I align these experiences with the methods which are employed to anticipate and create the interactions between an audience and a participatory artwork. Our daily interactions can be considered a frame that an artist shapes for their represented situation to allow, provide and guide an audience towards their possibilities for movements and actions within a participatory artwork. The interactions that occur in participatory art are done in relation to others and include groups of people interacting with each other rather than an individual disembodied experience. I refer to Claire Bishop in her book, Artificial Hells, and Nicolas Bourriaud in Relational Aesthetics in order to define participatory art. In defining participatory art I focus on the idea that participation is a social activity without which the artwork does not function or exist. I unravel Brett Bailey’s Exhibit A, Anthea Moys Anthea Moys vs The City of Grahamstown and Christian Boltanski’s Personnes in terms of the frame they use to construct participation and interaction. I refer to my own exhibition Ineffaceable as an exploration of these frames which encourage participation. The inside and the outside are a constant theme throughout this thesis and my exhibition. This thematic re-emerges in relation to a number of opposing and fluctuating dynamics: the self and the other; the object and the subject; familiarity and strangeness; the participator and the spectator; the immersive and the disembodied; and the artwork and the audience. Participatory art has not been sufficiently explored particularly in South Africa with South African case studies and particularly from a practical standpoint that includes methodologies for creating participation. This thesis hopes to enrich and contribute to the contemplations on participatory art by focusing on our interactions with others.
- Full Text:
- Date Issued: 2015
- Authors: Munro, Samantha Fawn
- Date: 2015
- Subjects: Self , Identity (Philosophical concept) in art , Alienation (Philosophy) , Interactive art , Art appreciation , Art exhibition audiences , Interactive art -- Themes, motives , Social interaction
- Language: English
- Type: Thesis , Masters , MFA
- Identifier: vital:2507 , http://hdl.handle.net/10962/d1017771
- Description: By referring to established concepts and theories which contemplate our experiences in relation to others and space, this thesis examines the interactions and responses of an audience during various participatory artworks. I draw upon Jean-Paul Sartre’s Being and Nothingness and Elizabeth Grosz’ Architecture From The Outside: Essays on Virtual and Real Space in order to understand our interactions with other people, our interactions inside an environment, and the objects and ceremonies we use during these interactions. I align these experiences with the methods which are employed to anticipate and create the interactions between an audience and a participatory artwork. Our daily interactions can be considered a frame that an artist shapes for their represented situation to allow, provide and guide an audience towards their possibilities for movements and actions within a participatory artwork. The interactions that occur in participatory art are done in relation to others and include groups of people interacting with each other rather than an individual disembodied experience. I refer to Claire Bishop in her book, Artificial Hells, and Nicolas Bourriaud in Relational Aesthetics in order to define participatory art. In defining participatory art I focus on the idea that participation is a social activity without which the artwork does not function or exist. I unravel Brett Bailey’s Exhibit A, Anthea Moys Anthea Moys vs The City of Grahamstown and Christian Boltanski’s Personnes in terms of the frame they use to construct participation and interaction. I refer to my own exhibition Ineffaceable as an exploration of these frames which encourage participation. The inside and the outside are a constant theme throughout this thesis and my exhibition. This thematic re-emerges in relation to a number of opposing and fluctuating dynamics: the self and the other; the object and the subject; familiarity and strangeness; the participator and the spectator; the immersive and the disembodied; and the artwork and the audience. Participatory art has not been sufficiently explored particularly in South Africa with South African case studies and particularly from a practical standpoint that includes methodologies for creating participation. This thesis hopes to enrich and contribute to the contemplations on participatory art by focusing on our interactions with others.
- Full Text:
- Date Issued: 2015
Glycolytic potential and meat quality from dorper and merino sheep slaughtered at a commercial abattoir
- Authors: Stempa, Thuthuzelwa
- Date: 2015
- Subjects: Slaughtering and slaughter-houses Meat -- Quality
- Language: English
- Type: Thesis , Masters , MSc
- Identifier: http://hdl.handle.net/10353/15310 , vital:40361
- Description: The objective of the study was to determine glycolytic potential and meat quality from Dorper and Merino sheep of both sexes slaughtered at a commercial abattoir. Dorper (n=52) and Merino (n= 48) breeds aged eight years, consisting of 50 intact rams and 50 non-pregnant ewes were used in the study. The sheep used in the study were reared, transported and lairised under identical conditions. Blood samples were collected at exsanguination for the measurement of glucose, lactate and cortisol levels. Samples were also collected from the Muscularis longmissius thoracis et lumborum (LTL) for the measurement glycogen, lactate levels, pH decline and colour. Correlations amongst blood stress indicators, muscle metabolites and meat quality attributes were also determined. Sex and breed had no effect on muscle glycolytic potential, glycogen and lactate levels from Dorper and Merino sheep of both sexes at the abattoir. Although sex and breed had an effect on pre-slaughter stress indicators (lactate and cortisol) collected at exsanguination. Ewes had higher levels of blood lactate (7.4 3 ± 0.49 mmol/L) and cortisol (293.92 ± 14.32 nmol/L) than the rams which had (5.19 ± 0.49 mmol/L) and (179.50 ± 14.32 nmol/L) lactate and cortisol levels, respectively. Furthermore, higher levels of lactate were observed in Dorper (7.54 ± 0.42 mmol/L) compared to the Merino sheep (4.97 ± 0.49 mmol/L). Meat pH decline and colour were also significantly affected by sex and breed. Ewes had higher levels of at pH45 minutes post slaughter (7.05 ± 0.04), pH3 hours (6.45 ± 0.04) , pH24 hours (6.00 ± 0.03), a* (14.31 ± 0.33) , b* (8.84 ± 0.29), H* (31.47 ± 0.73) and C* (16.75 ± 0.24) compared to the rams which had pH45 minutes (6.44 ± 0.04), pH3 hours (6.12 ± 0.04), pH24 hours (5.88 ± 0.03), a* (12.25 ± 0.33), b* (7.00 ± 0.29), H* (29.36 ± 0.73) and C* (14.15 ± 0.42) values. Moreover, Merino sheep had higher levels of L* (38.17 ± 0.48) and H* (31.59 ± 0.74) compared to the Dorper which had (36.39 ± 0.46) and (29.33 ± 0.71) L* and H* values, respectively. Blood cortisol was also positively correlated (P < 0.05) to glucose (r = 0.27), lactate (r = 0.37) but was negatively correlated (P < 0.001) to meat lightness (r = -0.44). Furthermore, blood cortisol was positively correlated (P < 0.001) to pH45 (r = 0.34), pH24 (r =0.22), meat yellowness (r = 0.24) and chroma (r = 0.37), but was negatively correlated to meat lightness (r = -0.47). Glycolytic potential was positively correlated (P < 0.001) to muscle glycogen levels (r = 0.66) and muscle lactate (r = 0.71).
- Full Text:
- Date Issued: 2015
- Authors: Stempa, Thuthuzelwa
- Date: 2015
- Subjects: Slaughtering and slaughter-houses Meat -- Quality
- Language: English
- Type: Thesis , Masters , MSc
- Identifier: http://hdl.handle.net/10353/15310 , vital:40361
- Description: The objective of the study was to determine glycolytic potential and meat quality from Dorper and Merino sheep of both sexes slaughtered at a commercial abattoir. Dorper (n=52) and Merino (n= 48) breeds aged eight years, consisting of 50 intact rams and 50 non-pregnant ewes were used in the study. The sheep used in the study were reared, transported and lairised under identical conditions. Blood samples were collected at exsanguination for the measurement of glucose, lactate and cortisol levels. Samples were also collected from the Muscularis longmissius thoracis et lumborum (LTL) for the measurement glycogen, lactate levels, pH decline and colour. Correlations amongst blood stress indicators, muscle metabolites and meat quality attributes were also determined. Sex and breed had no effect on muscle glycolytic potential, glycogen and lactate levels from Dorper and Merino sheep of both sexes at the abattoir. Although sex and breed had an effect on pre-slaughter stress indicators (lactate and cortisol) collected at exsanguination. Ewes had higher levels of blood lactate (7.4 3 ± 0.49 mmol/L) and cortisol (293.92 ± 14.32 nmol/L) than the rams which had (5.19 ± 0.49 mmol/L) and (179.50 ± 14.32 nmol/L) lactate and cortisol levels, respectively. Furthermore, higher levels of lactate were observed in Dorper (7.54 ± 0.42 mmol/L) compared to the Merino sheep (4.97 ± 0.49 mmol/L). Meat pH decline and colour were also significantly affected by sex and breed. Ewes had higher levels of at pH45 minutes post slaughter (7.05 ± 0.04), pH3 hours (6.45 ± 0.04) , pH24 hours (6.00 ± 0.03), a* (14.31 ± 0.33) , b* (8.84 ± 0.29), H* (31.47 ± 0.73) and C* (16.75 ± 0.24) compared to the rams which had pH45 minutes (6.44 ± 0.04), pH3 hours (6.12 ± 0.04), pH24 hours (5.88 ± 0.03), a* (12.25 ± 0.33), b* (7.00 ± 0.29), H* (29.36 ± 0.73) and C* (14.15 ± 0.42) values. Moreover, Merino sheep had higher levels of L* (38.17 ± 0.48) and H* (31.59 ± 0.74) compared to the Dorper which had (36.39 ± 0.46) and (29.33 ± 0.71) L* and H* values, respectively. Blood cortisol was also positively correlated (P < 0.05) to glucose (r = 0.27), lactate (r = 0.37) but was negatively correlated (P < 0.001) to meat lightness (r = -0.44). Furthermore, blood cortisol was positively correlated (P < 0.001) to pH45 (r = 0.34), pH24 (r =0.22), meat yellowness (r = 0.24) and chroma (r = 0.37), but was negatively correlated to meat lightness (r = -0.47). Glycolytic potential was positively correlated (P < 0.001) to muscle glycogen levels (r = 0.66) and muscle lactate (r = 0.71).
- Full Text:
- Date Issued: 2015
Investigating the reasons for the high failure rate in the subject mathematics as part of the national certificate (NCV) at Port Elizabeth College
- Authors: Dolley, Ziyaad
- Date: 2015
- Subjects: School failure -- South Africa -- Eastern Cape , Mathematics -- Study and teaching -- South Africa -- Eastern Cape , Teachers -- Training of -- South Africa -- Eastern Cape
- Language: English
- Type: Thesis , Masters , MEd
- Identifier: http://hdl.handle.net/10948/9011 , vital:26456
- Description: Over the past years the FET Colleges sector has been plagued by high failure rates in mathematics and science as part of the National Curriculum (Vocational) course. This study sought to investigate the possible reasons for the high failure rates in NCV mathematics at Iqhayiya Campus of PE College. The purpose of the research was to elicit these possible reasons from students who currently are doing the NCV mathematics course at the Iqhayiya Campus. This study follows a mixed method design using both quantitative and qualitative results. Quantitative data were gathered by means of questionnaires submitted to students doing NCV mathematics at the Iqhayiya Campus. A Likert scale was used to evaluate the questionnaires. The qualitative data for this study was collected through researcher questions in focus group interviews. The study concludes with recommendations to the management of PE College, the Department of Higher Education and all relevant role players.
- Full Text:
- Date Issued: 2015
- Authors: Dolley, Ziyaad
- Date: 2015
- Subjects: School failure -- South Africa -- Eastern Cape , Mathematics -- Study and teaching -- South Africa -- Eastern Cape , Teachers -- Training of -- South Africa -- Eastern Cape
- Language: English
- Type: Thesis , Masters , MEd
- Identifier: http://hdl.handle.net/10948/9011 , vital:26456
- Description: Over the past years the FET Colleges sector has been plagued by high failure rates in mathematics and science as part of the National Curriculum (Vocational) course. This study sought to investigate the possible reasons for the high failure rates in NCV mathematics at Iqhayiya Campus of PE College. The purpose of the research was to elicit these possible reasons from students who currently are doing the NCV mathematics course at the Iqhayiya Campus. This study follows a mixed method design using both quantitative and qualitative results. Quantitative data were gathered by means of questionnaires submitted to students doing NCV mathematics at the Iqhayiya Campus. A Likert scale was used to evaluate the questionnaires. The qualitative data for this study was collected through researcher questions in focus group interviews. The study concludes with recommendations to the management of PE College, the Department of Higher Education and all relevant role players.
- Full Text:
- Date Issued: 2015
Microbiological analyses of beef slaughtering process and meat safety knowledge of handlers at selected high and low thoughput abattoirs
- Authors: Nyamakwere, Faith
- Date: 2015
- Subjects: Slaughtering and slaughter-houses -- South Africa -- Eastern Cape Meat industry and trade -- Quality control Beef -- Quality -- South Africa -- Eastern Cape
- Language: English
- Type: Thesis , Masters , MSc
- Identifier: http://hdl.handle.net/10353/2238 , vital:27712
- Description: The objective of the study was to evaluate meat hygiene practices among meat handlers and microbiological analysis of beef carcasses, slaughtermen hands, equipment and water from low throughput (LTA) and high throughput (HTA) abattoirs in the Eastern Cape Province of South Africa. In stage one of the study, the level of knowledge, practices and attitudes towards meat safety and personal hygiene of slaughtermen were assessed. Forty workers directly involve in beef cattle slaughtering process were surveyed. Data were collected using a structured questionnaire, it contained questions on some of the most important meat safety cues such as knowledge, attitudes, personal hygiene and handling practices. Cross tabulation and Chi-square Test of Association were performed to examine the relationships between the demographic information and the knowledge regarding meat safety using the Statistical Package for Social Sciences (SPSS) version 22. Overall, a significant adherence to basic hygiene practices and a satisfactory level of knowledge were observed. Workers from a HTA yielded comparatively better statistically significant scores. Moreover, knowledge and practices of respondents were significantly associated (P<0.05) due to educational level and professional training. The second stage of the study involved evaluating the level to which cattle carcass, equipment, slaughtermen hands and water were contaminated with Enterobacteriaceae, Salmonella, Escherichia coli and aerobic colony counts (ACC) at different stages during the slaughter process (skinning, evisceration, carcass slitting, inspection, washing and packing). Cattle carcasses were sampled at four sites (rump, neck, flank and brisket) from a LTA (n= 240) and HTA (n= 384) abattoirs. Using conventional biochemical tests, HTA yielded significantly (P<0.05) higher ACC (5.2 log CFU/cm2), E. coli (2.6 log CFU/cm2) and Enterobacteriaceae (2.9 log CFU/cm2) carcass mean scores than LTA after skinning and evisceration. Specific abattoir hygiene differences were noted from washed and chilled carcasses. Salmonella was not detected across all sampled slaughter process stages. In addition, the equipment had bacterial load ranging from 10 to 4 CFU/cm2 for LTA, whereas in HTA this was found to be 7 to 3 CFU/cm2. The bacterial counts for slaughtermen hands were estimated to be 15 to 8 CFU/cm2 in HTA and 10 to 5 CFU/cm2 in LTA. Overall, slaughtermen hands and equipment in the dirty area (skinning and evisceration) yielded more bacterial counts compared to those in the clean area (slitting, inspection, washing and packing) from both abattoirs. For all the sampled carcasses, equipment and slaughtermen hands, HTA yielded comparatively higher (P<0.05) bacterial counts than the LTA. Although the results showed a significant adherence to basic hygiene practices, some aspects such as routine medical examination, health certificates and professional training of slaughtermen still need to be improved. Therefore, these findings show that slaughtermen, equipment and water can be sources of contamination during the slaughter process.
- Full Text:
- Date Issued: 2015
- Authors: Nyamakwere, Faith
- Date: 2015
- Subjects: Slaughtering and slaughter-houses -- South Africa -- Eastern Cape Meat industry and trade -- Quality control Beef -- Quality -- South Africa -- Eastern Cape
- Language: English
- Type: Thesis , Masters , MSc
- Identifier: http://hdl.handle.net/10353/2238 , vital:27712
- Description: The objective of the study was to evaluate meat hygiene practices among meat handlers and microbiological analysis of beef carcasses, slaughtermen hands, equipment and water from low throughput (LTA) and high throughput (HTA) abattoirs in the Eastern Cape Province of South Africa. In stage one of the study, the level of knowledge, practices and attitudes towards meat safety and personal hygiene of slaughtermen were assessed. Forty workers directly involve in beef cattle slaughtering process were surveyed. Data were collected using a structured questionnaire, it contained questions on some of the most important meat safety cues such as knowledge, attitudes, personal hygiene and handling practices. Cross tabulation and Chi-square Test of Association were performed to examine the relationships between the demographic information and the knowledge regarding meat safety using the Statistical Package for Social Sciences (SPSS) version 22. Overall, a significant adherence to basic hygiene practices and a satisfactory level of knowledge were observed. Workers from a HTA yielded comparatively better statistically significant scores. Moreover, knowledge and practices of respondents were significantly associated (P<0.05) due to educational level and professional training. The second stage of the study involved evaluating the level to which cattle carcass, equipment, slaughtermen hands and water were contaminated with Enterobacteriaceae, Salmonella, Escherichia coli and aerobic colony counts (ACC) at different stages during the slaughter process (skinning, evisceration, carcass slitting, inspection, washing and packing). Cattle carcasses were sampled at four sites (rump, neck, flank and brisket) from a LTA (n= 240) and HTA (n= 384) abattoirs. Using conventional biochemical tests, HTA yielded significantly (P<0.05) higher ACC (5.2 log CFU/cm2), E. coli (2.6 log CFU/cm2) and Enterobacteriaceae (2.9 log CFU/cm2) carcass mean scores than LTA after skinning and evisceration. Specific abattoir hygiene differences were noted from washed and chilled carcasses. Salmonella was not detected across all sampled slaughter process stages. In addition, the equipment had bacterial load ranging from 10 to 4 CFU/cm2 for LTA, whereas in HTA this was found to be 7 to 3 CFU/cm2. The bacterial counts for slaughtermen hands were estimated to be 15 to 8 CFU/cm2 in HTA and 10 to 5 CFU/cm2 in LTA. Overall, slaughtermen hands and equipment in the dirty area (skinning and evisceration) yielded more bacterial counts compared to those in the clean area (slitting, inspection, washing and packing) from both abattoirs. For all the sampled carcasses, equipment and slaughtermen hands, HTA yielded comparatively higher (P<0.05) bacterial counts than the LTA. Although the results showed a significant adherence to basic hygiene practices, some aspects such as routine medical examination, health certificates and professional training of slaughtermen still need to be improved. Therefore, these findings show that slaughtermen, equipment and water can be sources of contamination during the slaughter process.
- Full Text:
- Date Issued: 2015
An evaluation of the quality of customer service provided to large power users by Eskom in the Eastern Cape
- Authors: Caza, Akhona Nobusi
- Date: 2014
- Subjects: Eskom (Firm) -- Evaluation , Customer services -- South Africa -- Eastern Cape -- Evaluation , Customer services -- South Africa -- Eastern Cape -- Quality control , SERVQUAL (Service quality framework) , Gap analysis (Planning)
- Language: English
- Type: Thesis , Masters , MBA
- Identifier: vital:862 , http://hdl.handle.net/10962/d1020610
- Description: The aim of this research is to evaluate the level of service quality provided by Eskom to its Large Power User (LPU) customer segment in the Eastern Cape. The research uses the SERVQUAL model in order to assess the customers’ expectations and perceptions of the service provided by Eskom. This evaluation report comprises three sections. Section one consists of (a) a review of service quality literature that exists and is applied to Eskom where relevant, (b) a summary of the method used to conduct the research, (c) the research findings, and (d) a discussion of the research findings and recommendations. Section two consists of a review of the key concepts identified for this study as follows: (a) defining customer service quality by looking at the concepts of the customer, service, quality and the dimensions of quality, (b) the importance of service quality, (c) the components of service quality in Eskom, (d) models of service quality, and (e) the SERVQUAL model used in this study. Section three consists of the detail of the research methodology used to conduct this study. The Gap Model of Service Quality (Parasuraman et al., 1985:44) is evaluated in order to understand the gaps between expected and perceived service. The provider gap (Zeithaml et al., 2006: 34) is also reviewed in order to identify the gaps that occur within the organisation. An extensive review of customer service quality models is undertaken before a discussion of the SERVQUAL model, which was used in this evaluation study, is provided. The researcher adopted the critical realism research paradigm and quantitative data was collected from a sample of 120 Eskom customers within the LPU customer segment in the Eastern Cape. These customers were randomly selected from the Eskom Customer Care and Billing database and comprised customers from Port Elizabeth, Aliwal North, Mthatha and East London Areas within the Eastern Cape. The data was collected online through a questionnaire which was based on SERVQUAL and modified for electricity services. The quantitative data obtained from the study is presented in the form of tables and graphs created from the data obtained from the 45 customers who responded to the questionnaire. The gaps between LPU customer perceptions and expectations were calculated for the five SERVQUAL dimensions. The research identifies the existing gaps in the service delivered by Eskom; this is based on the perceptions and expectations of the LPU customers in the Eastern Cape, who participated in the study. The results reveal that gaps exist between LPU customer perceptions and their expectations of the service provided by Eskom in the Eastern Cape. The key findings reveal that the largest gaps are within the reliability and empathy dimensions and the smallest gap is in the tangibles dimension. The recommendations were made on the basis of the gaps which were identified and these focus on the training of the front line staff responsible for servicing customers. It is recommended that this training should include an overview of the organisation’s policies and procedures to enable employees to respond adequately to customer queries. Recommendation is also made on training staff to interact with customers effectively in order to resolve customer queries satisfactorily. Finally, it is recommended that regular assessments of the existing customer service quality levels are conducted in order for the organisation to remain aware of the current customer perceptions and expectations
- Full Text:
- Date Issued: 2014
- Authors: Caza, Akhona Nobusi
- Date: 2014
- Subjects: Eskom (Firm) -- Evaluation , Customer services -- South Africa -- Eastern Cape -- Evaluation , Customer services -- South Africa -- Eastern Cape -- Quality control , SERVQUAL (Service quality framework) , Gap analysis (Planning)
- Language: English
- Type: Thesis , Masters , MBA
- Identifier: vital:862 , http://hdl.handle.net/10962/d1020610
- Description: The aim of this research is to evaluate the level of service quality provided by Eskom to its Large Power User (LPU) customer segment in the Eastern Cape. The research uses the SERVQUAL model in order to assess the customers’ expectations and perceptions of the service provided by Eskom. This evaluation report comprises three sections. Section one consists of (a) a review of service quality literature that exists and is applied to Eskom where relevant, (b) a summary of the method used to conduct the research, (c) the research findings, and (d) a discussion of the research findings and recommendations. Section two consists of a review of the key concepts identified for this study as follows: (a) defining customer service quality by looking at the concepts of the customer, service, quality and the dimensions of quality, (b) the importance of service quality, (c) the components of service quality in Eskom, (d) models of service quality, and (e) the SERVQUAL model used in this study. Section three consists of the detail of the research methodology used to conduct this study. The Gap Model of Service Quality (Parasuraman et al., 1985:44) is evaluated in order to understand the gaps between expected and perceived service. The provider gap (Zeithaml et al., 2006: 34) is also reviewed in order to identify the gaps that occur within the organisation. An extensive review of customer service quality models is undertaken before a discussion of the SERVQUAL model, which was used in this evaluation study, is provided. The researcher adopted the critical realism research paradigm and quantitative data was collected from a sample of 120 Eskom customers within the LPU customer segment in the Eastern Cape. These customers were randomly selected from the Eskom Customer Care and Billing database and comprised customers from Port Elizabeth, Aliwal North, Mthatha and East London Areas within the Eastern Cape. The data was collected online through a questionnaire which was based on SERVQUAL and modified for electricity services. The quantitative data obtained from the study is presented in the form of tables and graphs created from the data obtained from the 45 customers who responded to the questionnaire. The gaps between LPU customer perceptions and expectations were calculated for the five SERVQUAL dimensions. The research identifies the existing gaps in the service delivered by Eskom; this is based on the perceptions and expectations of the LPU customers in the Eastern Cape, who participated in the study. The results reveal that gaps exist between LPU customer perceptions and their expectations of the service provided by Eskom in the Eastern Cape. The key findings reveal that the largest gaps are within the reliability and empathy dimensions and the smallest gap is in the tangibles dimension. The recommendations were made on the basis of the gaps which were identified and these focus on the training of the front line staff responsible for servicing customers. It is recommended that this training should include an overview of the organisation’s policies and procedures to enable employees to respond adequately to customer queries. Recommendation is also made on training staff to interact with customers effectively in order to resolve customer queries satisfactorily. Finally, it is recommended that regular assessments of the existing customer service quality levels are conducted in order for the organisation to remain aware of the current customer perceptions and expectations
- Full Text:
- Date Issued: 2014
Gold mineralization in a high grade metamorphic terrane in the Handeni District, Eastern Tanzania
- Bitesigirwe, Godfrey Stephen
- Authors: Bitesigirwe, Godfrey Stephen
- Date: 2014
- Language: English
- Type: text , Thesis , Masters , MSc
- Identifier: http://hdl.handle.net/10962/54756 , vital:26609
- Description: Most orogenic type gold deposits are formed under low greenschist facies to mid amphibolite facies metamorphic conditions and deposition is either structurally or lithologically controlled. A few known gold deposits found in high grade metamorphic terranes include those in the Yilgarn craton in Australia, Renco in Zimbabwe, Hemlo in Canada and the recently discovered Handeni deposit in Tanzania. Within Tanzania, gold deposits are mainly hosted in Archaean low grade metamorphic rocks commonly known as the Lake Victoria greenstone belt. The greenstone belts of Tanzania are of Nyanzian age (> 2.5Ga) and are located to the south and east of Lake Victoria on the Tanzania craton. The Tanzania Craton is surrounded by Usagaran 1.9 Ga rocks (the east African orogenic belt (EAO) better known as the Mozambique belt) to the east and the Ubendian belt to the south and west. Published reports show that the eastern part of the Tanzania Craton is dominated by the fragments of Archaean rocks. Metamorphism along East Africa and the Tanzania Craton is due to several geological events. These geological events include the intrusion of granites in the Archaean Tanzania Craton (3 Ga), subduction of ocean plate resulted to the formation of Usagaran belt (1.9 Ga), opening and closure of Mozambique Ocean, which resulted in the formation of the Mozambique belt between 700 – 800 Ma and the Pan African orogeny at 640 – 620 Ma, which is associated with the formation of Gondwana. It is believed that fragments from the Archaean Tanzania craton were re - metamorphosed during these events. The Handeni project (the focus of this thesis) is located in the northern portion of the eastern part of the Usagaran belt (1.9 Ga) comprising the eastern part of Archaean Tanzania Craton. The area is characterized by Proterozic rocks of basaltic composition. The documented 2.7 Ga rocks at the Kilindi Handeni Superterrane at the northern part of the Usagaran belt correlate well with 2.7 Ga of Nyanzian rocks of Archaean Tanzania craton. The Handeni project area is geologically dominated by metamorphosed and deformed units of quartzofeldspathic gneisses, migmatitic gneiss, garnet silicified rock, garnetiferous amphibolite, garnetiferous granulite, graphitic schist and hornblende pyroxenite. Intensive deformation features that were developed include folds (sheath folds, micro and macro scales), faults, shears and regional thrusts. This thesis focuses on identifying the protolith of the rocks, alteration minerals, and metamorphic assemblages in the project area in order to understand the timing of gold mineralization. Geological investigation of core, ore petrology and mineralogy, mineral composition by using JEOL microprobe analysis and XRF analysis of bulk rocks were utilized. All the analytical work was done at the Geology laboratory, Rhodes University. Petrographic analysis shows that the rocks sampled in the study area are characterized by alteration minerals such as calcite, dolomite and sericite. Sulphide minerals including chalcopyrite, pyrrhotite, pyrite, pentlandite and gersdorffite were identified. Gold mineralization is associated with disseminated sulphides in association with trace amounts of base metals. Four rock types were proposed as host rocks for the mineralization, namely garnet silicified rock with superimposed quartz veins, garnetiferous amphibolite, garnetiferous granulite and hornblende pyroxenite. Fold troughs, filled fractures associated with episodes of folding, quartz veins and shear zones are suggested as gold precipitation sites. The presence of high grade metamorphic rocks containing gold, intermediate to low grade assemblages with sulphides and associated hydrothermal alteration as well as a complex deformation history suggests that the Handeni mineralization took place over an extended time period stretching from a ductile to a brittle environment.
- Full Text:
- Date Issued: 2014
- Authors: Bitesigirwe, Godfrey Stephen
- Date: 2014
- Language: English
- Type: text , Thesis , Masters , MSc
- Identifier: http://hdl.handle.net/10962/54756 , vital:26609
- Description: Most orogenic type gold deposits are formed under low greenschist facies to mid amphibolite facies metamorphic conditions and deposition is either structurally or lithologically controlled. A few known gold deposits found in high grade metamorphic terranes include those in the Yilgarn craton in Australia, Renco in Zimbabwe, Hemlo in Canada and the recently discovered Handeni deposit in Tanzania. Within Tanzania, gold deposits are mainly hosted in Archaean low grade metamorphic rocks commonly known as the Lake Victoria greenstone belt. The greenstone belts of Tanzania are of Nyanzian age (> 2.5Ga) and are located to the south and east of Lake Victoria on the Tanzania craton. The Tanzania Craton is surrounded by Usagaran 1.9 Ga rocks (the east African orogenic belt (EAO) better known as the Mozambique belt) to the east and the Ubendian belt to the south and west. Published reports show that the eastern part of the Tanzania Craton is dominated by the fragments of Archaean rocks. Metamorphism along East Africa and the Tanzania Craton is due to several geological events. These geological events include the intrusion of granites in the Archaean Tanzania Craton (3 Ga), subduction of ocean plate resulted to the formation of Usagaran belt (1.9 Ga), opening and closure of Mozambique Ocean, which resulted in the formation of the Mozambique belt between 700 – 800 Ma and the Pan African orogeny at 640 – 620 Ma, which is associated with the formation of Gondwana. It is believed that fragments from the Archaean Tanzania craton were re - metamorphosed during these events. The Handeni project (the focus of this thesis) is located in the northern portion of the eastern part of the Usagaran belt (1.9 Ga) comprising the eastern part of Archaean Tanzania Craton. The area is characterized by Proterozic rocks of basaltic composition. The documented 2.7 Ga rocks at the Kilindi Handeni Superterrane at the northern part of the Usagaran belt correlate well with 2.7 Ga of Nyanzian rocks of Archaean Tanzania craton. The Handeni project area is geologically dominated by metamorphosed and deformed units of quartzofeldspathic gneisses, migmatitic gneiss, garnet silicified rock, garnetiferous amphibolite, garnetiferous granulite, graphitic schist and hornblende pyroxenite. Intensive deformation features that were developed include folds (sheath folds, micro and macro scales), faults, shears and regional thrusts. This thesis focuses on identifying the protolith of the rocks, alteration minerals, and metamorphic assemblages in the project area in order to understand the timing of gold mineralization. Geological investigation of core, ore petrology and mineralogy, mineral composition by using JEOL microprobe analysis and XRF analysis of bulk rocks were utilized. All the analytical work was done at the Geology laboratory, Rhodes University. Petrographic analysis shows that the rocks sampled in the study area are characterized by alteration minerals such as calcite, dolomite and sericite. Sulphide minerals including chalcopyrite, pyrrhotite, pyrite, pentlandite and gersdorffite were identified. Gold mineralization is associated with disseminated sulphides in association with trace amounts of base metals. Four rock types were proposed as host rocks for the mineralization, namely garnet silicified rock with superimposed quartz veins, garnetiferous amphibolite, garnetiferous granulite and hornblende pyroxenite. Fold troughs, filled fractures associated with episodes of folding, quartz veins and shear zones are suggested as gold precipitation sites. The presence of high grade metamorphic rocks containing gold, intermediate to low grade assemblages with sulphides and associated hydrothermal alteration as well as a complex deformation history suggests that the Handeni mineralization took place over an extended time period stretching from a ductile to a brittle environment.
- Full Text:
- Date Issued: 2014
An investigation into the impact of the gender policy on journalistic practices at the Times of Zambia newspaper
- Authors: Mwale, Edna
- Date: 2013-07-24
- Subjects: The Times of Zambia (Zambia) Newspapers -- Zambia Journalism -- Zambia Mass media -- Social aspects -- Zambia Women and journalism -- Zambia Mass media and women Mass media -- Political aspects -- Zambia Zambia -- Politics and government
- Language: English
- Type: Thesis , Masters , MA
- Identifier: vital:3521 , http://hdl.handle.net/10962/d1008303
- Description: This study investigates the impact of the Times of Zambia gender policy on journalistic practices. The policy was formulated to address issues of representation of women both in news coverage and at an institutional level. In spite of the implementation of the editorial gender policy, no change in gendered representation is evident. As a media practitioner and a Zambian woman concerned with social justice, I set out to investigate the impact of this policy on journalistic practices. The study is informed by a Cultural Studies approach to media studies, specifically drawing on the 'circuit of culture' (du Guy et ai, 1997) and focused on two specific 'moments', namely representation and production. Data was collected using two qualitative methods, namely document analysis and semi-structured in-depth interviews. The document analysis established that this policy is informed by a liberal feminist approach to media and identified the weaknesses in its formulation. The subsequent semi-structured in-depth interviews probed the practices and perceptions of male and female journalists and editors in relation to the degree of change in gendered representation in the news. This study finds that the editorial gender policy at the Times of Zambia has not had any significant impact on the journalistic practices and it probed the reason for this lack of effectiveness. It argues that this can be partially attributed to the orientation of the policy within a liberal feminist paradigm which neglects the internal and external factors that influence the representation of women and men in news production. Further, this position ignores the societal structures and power relations which impact, albeit unintentional, on the treatment of news. Inter-organisational factors such as profit maximisation, political interference, the use of news values and news beats are identified as leading to the exclusion of representations of women in hard news. At an intra-organisational level, lack of importance attached to the policy by senior staff and their attitudes to news production in general have meant that the policy was not enacted or ensured in any meaningful way. The study also established that the patriarchal values that characterise Zambian society influence journalists ' and editors' treatment of news, thus making the implementation of the policy ineffective. , KMBT_363 , Adobe Acrobat 9.54 Paper Capture Plug-in
- Full Text:
- Authors: Mwale, Edna
- Date: 2013-07-24
- Subjects: The Times of Zambia (Zambia) Newspapers -- Zambia Journalism -- Zambia Mass media -- Social aspects -- Zambia Women and journalism -- Zambia Mass media and women Mass media -- Political aspects -- Zambia Zambia -- Politics and government
- Language: English
- Type: Thesis , Masters , MA
- Identifier: vital:3521 , http://hdl.handle.net/10962/d1008303
- Description: This study investigates the impact of the Times of Zambia gender policy on journalistic practices. The policy was formulated to address issues of representation of women both in news coverage and at an institutional level. In spite of the implementation of the editorial gender policy, no change in gendered representation is evident. As a media practitioner and a Zambian woman concerned with social justice, I set out to investigate the impact of this policy on journalistic practices. The study is informed by a Cultural Studies approach to media studies, specifically drawing on the 'circuit of culture' (du Guy et ai, 1997) and focused on two specific 'moments', namely representation and production. Data was collected using two qualitative methods, namely document analysis and semi-structured in-depth interviews. The document analysis established that this policy is informed by a liberal feminist approach to media and identified the weaknesses in its formulation. The subsequent semi-structured in-depth interviews probed the practices and perceptions of male and female journalists and editors in relation to the degree of change in gendered representation in the news. This study finds that the editorial gender policy at the Times of Zambia has not had any significant impact on the journalistic practices and it probed the reason for this lack of effectiveness. It argues that this can be partially attributed to the orientation of the policy within a liberal feminist paradigm which neglects the internal and external factors that influence the representation of women and men in news production. Further, this position ignores the societal structures and power relations which impact, albeit unintentional, on the treatment of news. Inter-organisational factors such as profit maximisation, political interference, the use of news values and news beats are identified as leading to the exclusion of representations of women in hard news. At an intra-organisational level, lack of importance attached to the policy by senior staff and their attitudes to news production in general have meant that the policy was not enacted or ensured in any meaningful way. The study also established that the patriarchal values that characterise Zambian society influence journalists ' and editors' treatment of news, thus making the implementation of the policy ineffective. , KMBT_363 , Adobe Acrobat 9.54 Paper Capture Plug-in
- Full Text:
Mechanisms of luminescence in α-Al₂O₃:C : investigations using time-resolved optical stimulation and thermoluminescence techniques
- Authors: Nyirenda, Angel Newton
- Date: 2013
- Subjects: Thermoluminescence Aluminum oxide Optically stimulated luminescence dating Radiation dosimetry
- Language: English
- Type: Thesis , Masters , MSc
- Identifier: vital:5447 , http://hdl.handle.net/10962/d1002961
- Description: Carbon-doped aluminium oxide, α-Al₂O₃:C, is a ultra-sensitive dosimeter of topical research interest. The aim of this project was to investigate the dynamics of luminesce in this material. The methods of investigation consisted of thermoluminescence and time-resolved optical stimulation. Thermoluminescence measurements provide information on trap distribution and kinetic parameters of the traps involved in luminescence whereas time-resolved optical stimulation is a handy technique in investigation of luminescence lifetimes and provides an insight into the charge transitions between traps and recombination centres. Measurements were made on samples annealed at a nominal temperature of 900⁰C for 15 minutes. The material shows the presence of five thermoluminescence peaks at 37⁰C, 160⁰C, 300⁰C 410⁰C, and 480⁰C at a heating rate of 0.03k/s when irradiated to 6.0 Gy of beta. The main peak at 160⁰C, shows a linear dose response for doses between 0.1 Gy and 10 Gy and then goes sublinear above 10 Gy, the peak at 37⁰C shows a sublinear dose response for doses between 0.1 Gy and 10 Gy and appears to saturate thereafter, whereas the dose response of the peak at 300⁰C goes from linear to supralinear then apparently quadratic behaviour in the dose range of 0.1 Gy to 16.0 Gy. The trap depth of the main peak, that is, its activation energy as determined below the conduction band, has been approximated at 1.3 eV with a kinetic order of approximately 1.2. Time-resolved optical stimulation has been used to investigate luminescence lifetimes. The mean luminescence lifetime obtained for the sample at ambient temperatures is 35.0±1.0 ms. The investigations of the dependence of luminescence lifetimes on measurement temperature show that the material suffers from thermal quenching effects at measurement temperatures above 140⁰C with the activation energy of thermal quenching estimated at 1.045±0.002 eV. Shallow traps i.e. traps lying close to the conduction band, seem to elongate the lifetimes of optically stimulated luminescence in the material at temperatures between 30⁰C - 80⁰C due to charge retrapping. The material exhibits both fading and recuperation of the optically stimulated luminescence signal with storage time.
- Full Text:
- Date Issued: 2013
- Authors: Nyirenda, Angel Newton
- Date: 2013
- Subjects: Thermoluminescence Aluminum oxide Optically stimulated luminescence dating Radiation dosimetry
- Language: English
- Type: Thesis , Masters , MSc
- Identifier: vital:5447 , http://hdl.handle.net/10962/d1002961
- Description: Carbon-doped aluminium oxide, α-Al₂O₃:C, is a ultra-sensitive dosimeter of topical research interest. The aim of this project was to investigate the dynamics of luminesce in this material. The methods of investigation consisted of thermoluminescence and time-resolved optical stimulation. Thermoluminescence measurements provide information on trap distribution and kinetic parameters of the traps involved in luminescence whereas time-resolved optical stimulation is a handy technique in investigation of luminescence lifetimes and provides an insight into the charge transitions between traps and recombination centres. Measurements were made on samples annealed at a nominal temperature of 900⁰C for 15 minutes. The material shows the presence of five thermoluminescence peaks at 37⁰C, 160⁰C, 300⁰C 410⁰C, and 480⁰C at a heating rate of 0.03k/s when irradiated to 6.0 Gy of beta. The main peak at 160⁰C, shows a linear dose response for doses between 0.1 Gy and 10 Gy and then goes sublinear above 10 Gy, the peak at 37⁰C shows a sublinear dose response for doses between 0.1 Gy and 10 Gy and appears to saturate thereafter, whereas the dose response of the peak at 300⁰C goes from linear to supralinear then apparently quadratic behaviour in the dose range of 0.1 Gy to 16.0 Gy. The trap depth of the main peak, that is, its activation energy as determined below the conduction band, has been approximated at 1.3 eV with a kinetic order of approximately 1.2. Time-resolved optical stimulation has been used to investigate luminescence lifetimes. The mean luminescence lifetime obtained for the sample at ambient temperatures is 35.0±1.0 ms. The investigations of the dependence of luminescence lifetimes on measurement temperature show that the material suffers from thermal quenching effects at measurement temperatures above 140⁰C with the activation energy of thermal quenching estimated at 1.045±0.002 eV. Shallow traps i.e. traps lying close to the conduction band, seem to elongate the lifetimes of optically stimulated luminescence in the material at temperatures between 30⁰C - 80⁰C due to charge retrapping. The material exhibits both fading and recuperation of the optically stimulated luminescence signal with storage time.
- Full Text:
- Date Issued: 2013