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Exploring mythical creatures and their influence on mental health amongst black South Africans residing in rural areas of the Eastern Cape Province, South Africa

  • Authors: Sibam, Zimkhitha
  • Date: 2019
  • Subjects: Supernatural beliefs
  • Language: English
  • Type: Thesis , Masters , MA
  • Identifier: http://hdl.handle.net/10948/44717 , vital:38150
  • Description: In various cultures, supernatural beliefs abound and influence individuals through mythical ideas and figures. In South Africa and other parts of the world, mythical creatures are held accountable for terrorising individuals and instilling fear or, held accountable for a host of psychosocial experiences. For example, the tokoloshe is a mythical creature whose very name raises fear and suspicion amongst many Black South Africans. Using community narratives, this study explored the potential influence of the belief in mythical creatures, specifically the tokoloshe on mental health and well - being in rural communities in South Africa (SA). This understanding is considered important given the existing gap in the literature focussing on supernatural beliefs and their influence on mental health which resonates with a current movement in SA focusing on the transformation of psychology considering the need to transform and contextualise the relevance of psychology to population groups in SA, understanding supernatural cultural beliefs becomes important. This study employed a qualitative design and the participants were purposively sampled from rural communities in the Eastern Cape (EC) Province. Four focus group discussions consisting of five to six participants in each were conducted, with the central aim of exploring the potential mental health implications of the belief in mythical creatures. The following ethical considerations were adhered to whilst conducting the study; informed consent, voluntary participation, anonymity ad confidentiality and doing no harm to participants. In this study thematic content analysis was used following Braun and Clarkes (2013) analytical steps. Participants suggested that a strong cultural belief in the existence and reality of the tokoloshe exists and described the tokoloshe as a short and hairy male who sexually assaults women mostly in their sleep and causes people to disappear, only to be found dead. Amongst other things, the tokoloshe is believed to be responsible for psychological, social and physical experiences like, misfortune, possession, numbness and fatigue. The tokoloshe is suggested by the participants as causing Running Head: EXPLORATION OF MYTHICAL CREATURES AND MENTAL HEALTH 9 fear influencing an individual’s psychosocial and emotional well - being. Traditional healers and prophets were further suggested as the most likely to be consulted if the above symptoms were experienced, rather than a psychologist. The findings of the study suggests that supernatural beliefs currently influence the understanding and treatment of a variety of experiences and that unless psychological science begins to incorporate such beliefs into its therapeutic modalities, as a discipline it may not adequately provide services to a diverse population group. Future research should consider exploring role of mythical creatures specifically the tokoloshe on mental illness, with the aim of identifying ways of incorporating such beliefs into psychological interventions. Future studies could consider exploring community narratives of mythical creatures, specifically the tokoloshe on different cultures within South Africa, to compare the differences and similarities. The study also identified several interesting themes, including the potential violence against women, from the tokoloshe. While these narratives were a reflection of personal experience and belief, the implication this poses to the psychology of gender and violence must be explored further.
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  • Date Issued: 2019

Exploring Mythical creatures and their influence on mental health amongst black South Africans residing in rural areas of the Eastern Cape Province, South Africa

  • Authors: Sibam, Zimkhitha
  • Date: 2019
  • Subjects: Mental health -- South Africa -- Eastern Cape , Mythology Cultural psychiatry Psychiatry, Transcultural
  • Language: English
  • Type: Thesis , Masters , MA
  • Identifier: http://hdl.handle.net/10948/45075 , vital:38231
  • Description: In various cultures, supernatural beliefs abound and influence individuals through mythical ideas and figures. In South Africa and other parts of the world, mythical creatures are held accountable for terrorising individuals and instilling fear or, held accountable for a host of psychosocial experiences. For example, the tokoloshe is a mythical creature whose very name raises fear and suspicion amongst many Black South Africans. Using community narratives, this study explored the potential influence of the belief in mythical creatures, specifically the tokoloshe on mental health and well-being in rural communities in South Africa (SA). This understanding is considered important given the existing gap in the literature focussing on supernatural beliefs and their influence on mental health which resonates with a current movement in SA focusing on the transformation of psychology. Considering the need to transform and contextualise the relevance of psychology to population groups in SA, understanding supernatural cultural beliefs becomes important. This study employed a qualitative design and the participants were purposively sampled from rural communities in the Eastern Cape (EC) Province. Four focus group discussions consisting of five to six participants in each were conducted, with the central aim of exploring the potential mental health implications of the belief in mythical creatures. The following ethical considerations were adhered to whilst conducting the study; informed consent, voluntary participation, anonymity ad confidentiality and doing no harm to participants. In this study thematic content analysis was used following Braun and Clarkes (2013) analytical steps. Participants suggested that a strong cultural belief in the existence and reality of the tokoloshe exists and described the tokoloshe as a short and hairy male who sexually assaults women mostly in their sleep and causes people to disappear, only to be found dead. Amongst other things, the tokoloshe is believed to be responsible for psychological, social and physical experiences like, misfortune, possession, numbness and fatigue. The tokoloshe is suggested by the participants as causing fear influencing an individual’s psychosocial and emotional well-being. Traditional healers and prophets were further suggested as the most likely to be consulted if the above symptoms were experienced, rather than a psychologist. The findings of the study suggests that supernatural beliefs currently influence the understanding and treatment of a variety of experiences and that unless psychological science begins to incorporate such beliefs into its therapeutic modalities, as a discipline it may not adequately provide services to a diverse population group. Future research should consider exploring role of mythical creatures specifically the tokoloshe on mental illness, with the aim of identifying ways of incorporating such beliefs into psychological interventions. Future studies could consider exploring community narratives of mythical creatures, specifically the tokoloshe on different cultures within South Africa, to compare the differences and similarities. The study also identified several interesting themes, including the potential violence against women, from the tokoloshe. While these narratives were a reflection of personal experience and belief, the implication this poses to the psychology of gender and violence must be explored further.
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  • Date Issued: 2019

Productivity and profitability of different maize varieties and cropping systems used in the smallholder sector of the Eastern Cape Province of South Africa : implication on food security

  • Authors: Kambanje, Ardinesh
  • Date: 2018
  • Subjects: Crop yields Crops and climate Cropping systems
  • Language: English
  • Type: Thesis , Masters , MSc
  • Identifier: http://hdl.handle.net/10353/6237 , vital:29528
  • Description: Low maize yields in the midst of abundant arable land, favourable climatic conditions, input and financial support programs, plagues smallholder maize farming in Eastern Cape Province. These scenarios have led the province to be a net importer of maize. In essence, low production may signify a mis-match between maize varieties being promoted amongst smallholder farmers and their farming system. Thus, the main objective of the study was to investigate the productivity and profitability of different maize varieties and cropping system under smallholder agriculture in selected villages of the Eastern Cape Province of South Africa as well as, the implications posed on the household food security. The study sought to assess: (i) the productivity of different maize varieties and cropping systems, (ii) the effect of GM maize adoption on food security among smallholder farmers, (iii) the profitability of GM, conventional hybrids and OPV maize varieties produced by farmers under different agro-ecological conditions and (iv) the impact of different maize varieties and cropping systems on food security in the smallholder agriculture. A cross sectional quantitative-based survey study was carried out to obtain information from a total of 650 small holder farmers. The study was conducted in three local municipalities in Oliver Reginald (OR) Tambo District Municipality of the Eastern Cape Province of South Africa. Descriptive statistics, partial factor productivity, gross margin analysis, household food insecurity access score (HFIAS), ordinal logistic and linear regression were the analytical techniques used in establishing correlations among variables. Results obtained from the survey indicated that under mono-cropping system, Genetically Modified (GM) maize variety was highly productive with an average yield of 1.9 t/ha whilst, improved OPV maize variety was productive (with an average yield of 1.6 t/ha) under mixed cropping system. Furthermore, GM maize (GM = -R418.10), and landrace (GM = -R1 140.29) maize varieties had negative gross margins whilst, conventional hybrids (GM = R5 181.21) and improved OPV (GM = R1 457.41) were profitable. There was a significant and negative correlation between use of GM maize variety and reduction of household food insecurity. GM maize varieties, improved OPV, white maize, white as well as yellow GM maize varieties had a significant impact in reducing household food insecurity; whilst using more than one variety of maize (landraces and GMO) positively influenced household food insecurity. In light of these research findings, it is recommended that, there is need to address household food security by growing improved OPVs under a mixed cropping system and GM maize under monocropping system.
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  • Date Issued: 2018

The awareness of Black men involved in domestic violence after rehabilitation programme : an interpretive phenomenological analysis

  • Authors: Tladi, Martha Makgamatwane
  • Date: 2018
  • Subjects: Family violence Blacks Rehabilitation
  • Language: English
  • Type: Thesis , Masters , MSoc
  • Identifier: http://hdl.handle.net/10353/14011 , vital:39761
  • Description: The aim of this research study is to explore the subjective views and experiences of black men who were perpetrators of domestic violence and have gone through a rehabilitation programme as a result. This paper also explores the connection between masculinity and domestic violence, and how perpetrators make sense of the concept of domestic violence and abuse. The reason underlying the study is to contribute to the fight against domestic violence, perpetrated by males, by understanding the root cause of the problem. This topic emerged due to the lack of sufficient academic papers on men as perpetrators of domestic violence, therefore the intention is to progressively close the gap and contribute to the already existing knowledge on the issue of domestic violence. The study comprised of four research participants gathered from different NGOs and thus different backgrounds. The sample comprised of two Black males and two Coloured males. It is worth noting that for the purpose of this study, black men refers to all men of colour. Thus, both African males and Coloured males fall under the same umbrella of Black men. An Interpretive Phenomenological Analysis from the Qualitative paradigm was used to analyse the data received from semi-structured interviews. The themes that arouse from the study were 1) Learning gender roles through observation; 2) Masculinity learned through teachings; 3) Misinterpreting African values; 4) Intoxication makes it easier to hit a woman; 5) Difficulty dealing with deep emotions; 6) Control and ownership in the relationship; 7) Gender roles forced by society; 8) Lack of consequences; and 9) Masculinity matures. The findings of the study is that masculinity is connected to men perpetrating domestic violence through misinterpreting African values that are taught by elders. Even though masculinity is taught to boys at a tender age, it was discovered that for some of the participants, masculinity is not stagnant but rather constantly changing as the individual grows in personality and life experiences, and thus their values change. As a result of this discovery, masculinity is also individualistic. These findings could assist in future research. Perhaps a much larger research focusing on evaluating, and later, developing rehabilitation programmes that speak to the individual experiences and beliefs of different South African males in order to accommodate the diverse cultures, and thus the beliefs that South Africa shares amongst its people.
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  • Date Issued: 2018

The visual communication of environmental awareness issues in Jeff Orlowski's,Chasing Ice (2012) and Yann Arthurs -Bertrand's home (2009)

  • Authors: Van der Walt, Nadia Elize
  • Date: 2018
  • Subjects: Visual communication , Environmentalism in motion pictures Documentary films -- History and critism
  • Language: English
  • Type: Thesis , Masters , MTech
  • Identifier: http://hdl.handle.net/10948/45547 , vital:38665
  • Description: This study presents an investigation into the visual communication complexities within the genre of documentary film, specifically aimed at the development of a set of criteria of cinematic techniques for the visual communication of environmental awareness issues. This process utilises a theoretical approach to understanding the development and communicative possibilities of documentary film, as well as an analytical interpretation structured on semiotic film theory. The theoretical investigation reveals Bill Nichols’ (2010) documentary modes as an established analytical model. This study engages with four of Nichols’ six modes – namely, the poetic, the expository, the observational and the participatory modes, as the criteria for the extraction of scenes and/or images from Chasing Ice (2012) by Jeff Orlowski and Home (2009) by Yann Arthurs-Bertrand. Once Nichols’ modes have been identified, a semiotic reading is conducted. Gillian Rose’s (2016) visual analysis framework underpinned by Pieter J. Fourie’s (1988) sociological approach to film analysis, is utilised to read the selected film texts. A comparative analysis of Chasing Ice (2012) and Home (2009) reveals that the inclusion of different and multiple modes constructs the visualisation of environmental awareness issues in the documentary film genre. The cinematic techniques specific to the documentary modes represented in Chasing Ice (2012) and Home (2009) are appropriated in the construction of three film shorts within the researcher’s documentary film study, Karoo (2017). This combination of theory and practice yields the researcher a considered and informed approach to constructing documentary imagery aimed at visualising the current environment of the Karoo Basin prior to the possibility of shale gas exploration and/or exploitation.
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  • Date Issued: 2018

Errors and misconceptions of grade 6 learners in common fractions: a case study of two primary schools in the Queenstown education district

  • Authors: Libazi, Babini Precious
  • Date: 2017
  • Subjects: Arithmetic -- Study and teaching (Elementary) , Mathematics -- Problems, exercises, etc , School children
  • Language: English
  • Type: Thesis , Masters , Education
  • Identifier: http://hdl.handle.net/10353/11652 , vital:39093
  • Description: The objective of this study was to investigate and explore the errors and misconceptions associated with the concept of fractions which are displayed by Grade 6 learners in two primary schools in the Queenstown Education District of the Eastern Cape Province. The research was done specifically to identify errors and misconceptions made by these learners in the addition and subtraction of common and mixed fractions. The study further tried to establish the causes of these errors and misconceptions. The research explored whether Cognitively Guided Instruction (CGI) can assist in the improvement or reduction of these errors and misconceptions. The study was conducted at Mlungisi and Xhalanga primary schools (pseudo – names) of the Queenstown Education District in the Eastern Cape Province. This was a mixed method research design, where 100 learners from two purposively identified primary schools were selected and subjected to a pre-test. From the 100 learners, 10 purposively selected learners were identified for interviews. The learners were also subjected to direct observations and documents (such as the Caps document, ANA examination papers, learners’ home and classwork books, November/December Grades 5 and 6 mark sheets and schedules, etc.) which were analysed and a post-test was administered. Two mathematics teachers teaching at the two primary schools were interviewed. Triangulation was used for data analysis. A Cognitively Guided Instruction was used to investigate whether the errors and misconceptions can be reduced or improved. The findings of the study were that learners do make errors when learning common fractions and that the types of errors were careless mistakes, conceptual errors, procedural errors and application errors which were identified and discussed in the study. The study further established that the Cognitively Guided Instruction approach recommended by the Curriculum and Assessment Policy Statement (CAPS) can be used to develop the learners’ conceptual understanding of common fractions. The CGI approach advocates the use of concrete materials for conceptual learning to take place. The findings of the study confirmed well documented research on the learners’ difficulties when dealing with fractions.
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  • Date Issued: 2017

The impact of road construction on the livelihoods of rural communities : a case of Nyandeni Municipality in Eastern Cape, South Africa

  • Authors: Ndesi, Zabambo Nale
  • Date: 2017
  • Subjects: Roads -- Economic aspects -- South Africa -- Eastern Cape
  • Language: English
  • Type: Thesis , Masters , MCom
  • Identifier: http://hdl.handle.net/10353/8769 , vital:33542
  • Description: All over the world many rural households are engaged in different economic activities to sustain their livelihoods. To a large extent, a household’s ability to do this depends on access to basic assets such as infrastructure, social, human, finance or physical. Access to these assets can be affected by large projects such as road construction which can either enhance or hinder access to key assets. The main objective of the study is to investigate the impact of the construction of the N2 Wild Coast Highway in the Eastern Cape Province on the livelihoods of rural households in the Nyandeni local municipality. The study also seeks to investigate the dominant household economic activities within the municipality, factors affecting the choice of these activities and the probable impact of the construction of the N2 highway on these economic activities and livelihood strategies. The road construction is translated as a ‘shock’ in the livelihood context, hence the study further seeks to document how households respond to road construction ‘shock’ to their livelihoods, based on the findings of the study. The study applied a mixed methods approach, applying both qualitative and quantitative data. Two sources of data are used; a survey of 40 households in the Nyandeni local municipality which provided the qualitative data and survey data from the PSPPD-II quantitative data from project conducted by the Economics department at the University of Fort Hare, which provided the quantitative data. The multinomial logistic regression was used to determine the livelihood strategies used as well as the related determinants. The results showed that financial, social and physical capitals are key assets that support livelihoods in Nyandeni municipality, which were highly determined by the deprivation score, social grants and community networks. To get a clearer understanding of the underlying effects of the road construction, focus prompts interviews were also conducted. These were analysed using thematic analysis. The results showed that the road construction had both the negative and positive effects. The positive effects included better links to social facilities such as hospitals and schools as well as neighbouring municipalities. The construction also created employment for construction workers. In addition, the construction company helped households whose houses were destroyed near the road to build better houses. Although the households complained of danger from high speed vehicles because of better roads, they also indicated that the speed bumps in some areas led to an improvement in well-being especially for school children. The negative effects included destruction of burial grounds as well as the weakening of housing structures due to blasting. Further, some vegetation which was used by households as a source of livelihood was destroyed during road construction. In some cases, social capital assets were also disturbed as a result of the displacement that occurred in the process. Responses by households have been mixed, with some households taking advantage of increased access to markets as well as finances to find alternative sources of livelihoods. Households that responded negatively constantly seek out reimbursement from the government and construction company without much success.
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  • Date Issued: 2017

Development of a high-throughput bioassay to determine the rate of antimalarial drug action using fluorescent vitality probes

  • Authors: Laming, Dustin
  • Date: 2016
  • Subjects: Malaria -- Africa , Plasmodium falciparum , Drug development , Fluorescence
  • Language: English
  • Type: text , Thesis , Masters , MSc
  • Identifier: http://hdl.handle.net/10962/64434 , vital:28542
  • Description: Malaria is one of the most prevalent diseases in Africa and the Plasmodium falciparum species is widely accepted as the most virulent, with a fatality rate of 15 – 20 % of reported cases of infection. While various treatments have been accepted into early stage clinical trials there has been little progress towards a proven vaccine. Pending a long term solution, endemic countries rely heavily on the development of innovative drugs with acute efficacy coupled with rapids mode of action. Until recently the rate of drug action has been measured by light microscopic examination of parasite morphology using blood slides of drug treated parasite cultures at regular time intervals. This technique is tedious and, most importantly, subject to interpretation with regards to distinguishing between viable and comprised parasite cells, thus making it impossible to objectively quantitate the rate of drug action. This study aimed to develop a series of bioassays using the calcein-acetoxymethyl and propidium iodide vitality probes which would allow the rate of drug action on Plasmodium falciparum malaria parasites to be assessed and ranked in relation to each other. A novel bioassay using these fluorescent vitality probes coupled with fluorescence microscopy was developed and optimized and allowed the rate of drug action on malaria parasites to be assessed i) rapidly (in relation to current assay techniques) and ii) in a semi-quantitative manner. Extrapolation to flow cytometry for improved quantification provided favourable rankings of drug killing rates in the pilot study, however, requires further development to increase throughput and approach the ultimate goal of producing a medium-throughput assay for rapidly assessing the rate of action of antimalarial drugs. Attempts to adapt the assay for use in a multiwell plate reader, as well as using ATP measurements as an indication of parasite vitality after drug treatment, was met with erratic results. The viability probes assay as it stands represents an improvement on other assay formats in terms of rapidity and quantification of live/compromised parasites in cultures.
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  • Date Issued: 2016

Electrical power output estimation model for a conical diffuser augmented wind turbine

  • Authors: Masukume, Peace-Maker
  • Date: 2016
  • Subjects: Wind power , Wind turbines , Renewable energy sources
  • Language: English
  • Type: Thesis , Doctoral , DPhil
  • Identifier: http://hdl.handle.net/10353/1517 , vital:27404
  • Description: Energy is integral to the quality of life of any society. However, meeting the demand for energy sustainably is the main challenge facing humanity. In general, non-renewable energy resources are used to supply the ever increasing energy demand. However, the extraction and processing of these resources is accompanied by the production of wastes which are a health hazard and impact negatively on climate change. Considering the finite nature of non-renewable sources, the environmental concerns which are associated with their usage and ensuring energy security, renewable energy sources have been brought in the energy supply chain. Wind energy is one of the renewable energy sources which has been supplying electrical energy to the ever increasing energy demand of humanity. Wind energy technology is a mature technology which over and above the bare (conventional) wind turbine technology has seen the development of duct augmented wind turbines. Ducts are used to encase wind turbine rotors to augment the power output of wind turbines especially in low wind speed areas. Though the technology has been under study for decades now, research indicates that there is no known model to estimate the power output of a diffuser augmented wind turbine. This thesis presents the development of the conical Diffuser Augmented Wind Turbine (DAWT) power output estimation model and its validation.
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  • Date Issued: 2016

Individualism, collectivism and gender as correlates of the work ethic among the employees in a government department in the Eastern Cape

  • Authors: Gwelo, Blessing
  • Date: 2016
  • Subjects: Individualism Collectivism Work ethic
  • Language: English
  • Type: Thesis , Masters , Industrial Psychology
  • Identifier: http://hdl.handle.net/10353/11608 , vital:39089
  • Description: This study investigated the relationship between individualism, collectivism and gender among the employees at the Department of Justice and Constitutional Development situated in East London, South Africa. Individualism, collectivism and gender were used as independent variables in the study while the work ethic was used as the dependent variable. Data was gathered from a random sample of 260 employees in the Department. A questionnaire consisting of three parts was used for data collection. To gather biographical and occupational data, a self-designed 5-item questionnaire was used. The 65 item Multidimensional Work Ethic Profile (MWEP) scale Miller et al. (2002) was used to measure the work ethic. A 16-item individualism/collectivism scale (also known as the Culture Orientation Scale) formulated by Triandis & Gelfand (1998) was used in the research to measure individualism/collectivism. Data analysis was done by means of various statistical techniques, including the Pearson Product Moment Correlation Technique and Multiple Regression Analysis. The results indicated that there is a significant positive correlation between individualism and the work ethic, noting that a positive correlation for individualism implies a negative correlation for collectivism. The results of this study also found males showing to have higher work ethic than females. The results indicated that individualism/collectivism and gender together do not account for a higher proportion of variance in work ethic than any of the two separately. The study, therefore, recommends that managers must do all in their power to promote the growth and development of work ethic in their organisations through encouraging individualism, and through striving to increase the work ethic in females.
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  • Date Issued: 2016

The design of a tannery near Bulawayo, Republic of Zimbabwe

  • Authors: Sibanda, Sinqumo
  • Date: 2016
  • Subjects: Factories -- Zimbabwe -- Designs and plans Architecture, Industrial -- Zimbabwe -- Designs and plans , Tanneries -- Zimbabwe -- Designs and plans Architecture, Modern -- 21st century
  • Language: English
  • Type: Thesis , Masters , MA
  • Identifier: http://hdl.handle.net/10948/18707 , vital:28709
  • Description: The purpose of this research is to develop a design for a tannery using alternative tanning methods where natural chemicals would be used in the place of metal based acid. There are unprecedented levels of contamination in the natural water systems due to partially processed chemicals coming out of industries with tanneries producing a significant amount of untreated effluent. The aim of the research is to investigate the process of reclamation, rehabilitation and reuse of the animal hides as well as the reproduction of the inherent context, where a mutually beneficial interaction between the program and the context will be realized. This will involve a process of reclamation of the existing waste land, the remodeling of the existing dilapidated sewerage treatment infrastructure such that the existing structures and the waste treatment processes are adapted for the benefaction of the tannery. The design will explore the symbiotic nature and the contrasts that are inherent in factories as a type, with high volumes of waste and the envisaged mitigation mechanism this facility will have to the natural environment. Spatial concepts dealing with these programmatic contrasts, that is, containment and openness, heavy and light, interiority and exteriority, threshold and termination will be interrogated.
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  • Date Issued: 2016

"Soap operas as a platform for disseminating health information regarding ART and the use of 'reel' versus 'real' role models"

  • Authors: Deiner, Catherine Anne
  • Date: 2015
  • Subjects: Isidingo (Television program) , Television soap operas -- South Africa , Health in mass media , Mass media in health education -- South Africa , Antiretroviral agents -- South Africa , Public health -- Moral and ethical aspects , HIV-positive women -- South Africa -- Grahamstown
  • Language: English
  • Type: Thesis , Masters , MA
  • Identifier: vital:3542 , http://hdl.handle.net/10962/d1017783
  • Description: The media, through development communication and edutainment, plays a critical role in the transformation of societies. In line with this, this thesis discusses the extent to which commercially driven prosocial soap operas can provide a platform for public health messaging, in the context of the HIV/AIDS epidemic in South Africa, for antiretroviral treatment (ART) and for encouraging ART adherence to foster national development. Furthermore, this thesis examined the potential of celebrities as HIV/AIDS ambassadors and the potential of both fictional characters and ‘real-life’ celebrities to disseminate these health messages. Although the HIV/AIDS epidemic in South Africa is stabilising, this is not the time to relax the communication around the disease, particularly regarding adherence to ARVs, considering that South Africa has the largest ARV rollout in the world. The qualitative methodological approach taken for this thesis is a three-step approach examining the intended message, the text and the appropriated message by viewers. Firstly, a thematic content analysis of an episode of Isidingo, that illustrated Nandipha as HIV-positive and the side-effects that came with her ART adherence, and the 3Talk interview with Lesego Motsepe, where she announced that she was weaning herself off ART, was done in order to understand the intended health messaging in the soap opera and the health message disseminated by an HIV-positive actress with regards to ART. Thereafter interview responses by the production team as well as by HIV-positive viewers, using ARVs, were thematised. In addition media texts which provided commentary on the use of a celebrity as a HIV-positive role model were examined. In doing this, this thesis has offered up the meanings of how HIV-positive women taking ARVs and living in Makana experience and understand the media, particularly health messaging relating to ARVs. The findings of this study suggest that commercial soap operas are the perfect platform to address HIV/AIDS and that prosocial health messaging regarding ARV adherence is still necessary in this country. Soap operas have the potential to have an educational angle. Although, HIV-positive individuals serve as better role models as they are authentic; given human nature, fictional characters, such as Nandipha Matabane in Isidingo, may be more sustainable role models as their message can be scientifically-based and well-researched. Realistic characters serve as role models whose behaviour is to be emulated. Soap operas appeal to a wide audience and so storylines can be tailor-made according to the times and the needs in terms of health issues and messaging. Thus, soap operas are not a single platform but rather one which can be exploited to maximum advantage for public health messaging.
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  • Date Issued: 2015

Electrospun fiber based colorimetric probes for aspartate aminotransferase and I7ß-estradiol

  • Authors: Pule, Bellah Oreeditse
  • Date: 2014
  • Language: English
  • Type: text , Thesis , Doctoral , PhD
  • Identifier: http://hdl.handle.net/10962/54869 , vital:26623
  • Description: Fabrication, characterization and application of electrospun polymer composite based colorimetric probes are presented in this thesis. The first part of the thesis involved the development of a protocol for in situ reduction of gold trication (Au³+) into metallic gold atoms with sodium borohydride. The prepared PS-Au NPs showed an SPR band at 542 nm. Furthermore the absorbance of the colloidal Au NPs in polystyrene exhibited a good linear correlation (r2 = 0.9934) to E2 concentration in the range 5 to 50 ppb. The lowest naked eye detection limit was found to be 0.5 ppb and could further be easily monitored by UV-vis spectrophotometer. Upon interaction with E2 Au NPs aggregated to give nanoparticle clusters, confirmed through TEM analysis. Different concentrations of Au NPs were found to have a significant effect on the conductivity of the PS-Au NPs solution. At low concentrations of Au NPs (0.002, 0.015 and 0.025% w/v) PS-Au NPs solution could be electrospun without clogging. The FE-SEM images showed a non-beaded morphology of PS-Au NPs composite fibers. Upon interaction of the colorimetric probe strips with various E2 concentrations it was observed that with increasing E2 concentrations (50 ng/ml to 1000 µg/ml) the colour of the probe changed gradually from white to shades of pink and eventually to shades of blue at higher E2 concentrations. The visible cut-off concentration was 100 ng/ml. The second component of the thesis focussed on the development of diazonium dye-nylon 6 colorimetric probe for aspartate aminotransferase. At optimal pH 7.4 the enzyme was stable, highly active and catalyzed a reaction that was susceptible to detailed kinetic analysis by continuous optical methods. The KM values for L-aspartate, a- ketoglutarate and oxaloacetate were 2.60, 0.59 and 0.066 mM, respectively. On the basis of these KM values the solid-state colorimetric probe was developed. A colour change occurred when an electrospun dye-N 6 probes were exposed to visibly detectable concentrations of oxaloacetate, an AST-catalyzed reaction product. While monitoring AST activity at 530 run, a linear relation was obtained between oxaloacetate concentrations ranging from 0.4 - 7.4 µg/ml. Naked eye detection limit of 2.4 µg/ml oxalaoacetate equivalence of 10 times the normal AST activity was attained. The colorimetric probe was in addition, tested against co-substrates aspartate, ketoglutarate and a variety of other compounds such as alanine, pryruvate, as well as glutamic, malaic and succinic acids known to interfere with AST activity. Each compound elicited a distinct and unambiguous colour change upon interaction with the colorimetric probe. Further X-ray powder diffraction (XRD), duNouy ring tensiometer, Brunauer- Emmett- Teller (BET) and energy dispersive X-ray spectroscopy (EDS/EDX) characterization confirmed composition and stability of the colorimetric probes. Colorimetric probes developed in this thesis are relatively cost effective, simple and "rugged" for measurement of analytes with visual detection without sample pretreatment in matrices, such as plasma and dairy effluents. The probes warrant further investigation as they have shown potential and offer a promising solid-state platform for both clinical diagnostics and environmental monitoring.
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  • Date Issued: 2014

The development and implementation of a mental toughness training programme for cricketers

  • Authors: McInerney, Michael
  • Date: 2014
  • Subjects: Sports -- Psychological aspects , Athletes -- Conduct of life , Mental discipline , Achievement motivation
  • Language: English
  • Type: Thesis , Masters , MA
  • Identifier: vital:3234 , http://hdl.handle.net/10962/d1013155
  • Description: The professional turn in sports has prompted the search for explanations beyond the physical when discussing quality of performance. Mental Toughness has been recognised as one of the most important psychological attributes in achieving performance excellence across multiple sport settings. Yet, despite this, little research has been conducted into mental toughness development. This research seeks to answer the question: What insights can the development and implementation of a mental toughness programme for a semi-professional South African cricket team provide regarding Mental Toughness development? Based on a theoretical framework of mental toughness in cricket, a programme was developed in collaboration with the Border Cricket Team and Coaches. Incorporating elements that focussed on education, environment, awareness and mental skills, the programme was implemented in both individual and group settings during the off- and pre-seasons. An analysis of the participants’ experiences identified the need for a theoretical understanding of mental toughness within teams, facilitating the design of interventions that integrate the team and the individual. Future programmes should include measures of mastery, and individually customised approaches to mental toughness enhancement that acknowledge the potential contextual and individual variation in mental toughness.
  • Full Text:
  • Date Issued: 2014

Towards the development of a larval feeding strategy for the white-margined sole (Dagetichthys marginatus)

  • Authors: Thompson, Ernst Frederick
  • Date: 2014
  • Subjects: Flatfishes -- South Africa , Soleidae -- South Africa , Soleidae -- Larvae , Soleidae -- Larvae -- Feeding and feeds , Soleidae -- Larvae -- Physiology , Artemia
  • Language: English
  • Type: Thesis , Doctoral , PhD
  • Identifier: vital:5364 , http://hdl.handle.net/10962/d1012982
  • Description: The major bottleneck during the domestication of the white-margined sole Dagetichthys marginatus in South Africa has been low larval survival. The cause of this is not clear but considering current literature on flatfish culture and more specifically soleid culture, nutritional deficiencies are hypothesized to be the main possible cause. Following the importance of nutrition, the first aim of the research was to use an ontogenetic developmental approach to develop a species specific larval feeding strategy. Ontogenetic development of D. marginatus showed that weaning will take place at much later ages than other soleids currently being farmed. This makes the partial replacement of Artemia with a suitable inert diet in co-feeding strategies very important to cut the cost associated of live food production. This leads on to the second aim, in which an 'in vitro' approach was used to model the digestibility of Artemia, which could ultimately contribute towards designing inert feeds with similar digestibility characteristics to Artemia in the future. Obtaining nutrients from food is closely linked to the functional status of the digestive tract, the support organs and the external morphological characteristics required for the ingestion of live or inert feeds. Considering both morphological and physiological ontogenetic development, it is clear that D. marginatus follow a similar pattern to other soleids. Larvae can successfully feed on Artemia as early as 3 days after hatching but exhibit a slow metamorphosis into the juvenile stage when compared to other soleids. The absence of any detectable acidic protease activity during the first 45 days of development and the importance of exogenous enzymes from Artemia all points to limited capacity to digest artificial diets. Prior to modelling the 'in vitro' digestion of Artemia, digestive enzyme activity at different pH's were modelled using functional forms from the normal distributive category of functions. , As there is no substantiated information for the general effects of pH on enzyme activity in the literature for finfish larvae, three species occurring in the same bio-geographical region of Dagetichthys marginatus, namely Sarpa salpa, Diplodus sargus capensis and Argyrosomus japonicus were used to investigate this effect. The fitted parameters, namely the optimal pH and sigma (the slope around the optimal pH) showed two interesting results. When using a negative log likelihood ratio test to test for differences between species for a particular enzyme, the optimal pH for alkaline proteases (7.67), lipase (8.03), amylase (7.69) and phosphatase (9.84) activity was the same for all three species. Furthermore, the study illustrated the potential to detect dietary shifts during ontogenetic development based on changes in enzyme activity around the optimal pH using the sigma parameter. Sarpa salpa showed increased amylase activity and a decrease in protease activity around the optimal pH with increased size, corresponding to a change in diet from zooplankton to algae. The 'in vitro' modelling approach taken in this study was based on known enzyme interactions and dynamics which makes the results very interpretable. from Artemia is achieved based on gut evacuation time and enzyme levels. This 'in vitro' study furthermore clearly indicates the importance of exogenous enzymes from Artemia, contributing as much as 54 percent to protein digestion and 64 – 72 percent to carbohydrate digestion. This was however, only an initial investigation, and further expansion of the model is required to achieve a complete understanding of Artemia digestion and ultimately partial replacement with artificial diets. A feeding strategy for D. marginatus should therefore follow those of other farmed soleids, although there will be a general delay in implementation due to slower development. Problems can thus be solved and improvements made by transferring technology from other soleids to D. marginatus.
  • Full Text:
  • Date Issued: 2014

An analysis of the determinants and recent decline of private savings in South Africa

  • Authors: Linde, Kathryn Leigh
  • Date: 2012
  • Subjects: Saving and investment -- Research -- South Africa Finance, Personal -- Research -- South Africa Corporations -- Finance -- Research -- South Africa Economic development -- Research -- South Africa
  • Language: English
  • Type: Thesis , Masters , MCom
  • Identifier: vital:1007 , http://hdl.handle.net/10962/d1002742
  • Description: Low domestic saving rates make South Africa highly dependent on foreign capital inflows to fund higher investment levels. These inflows are highly volatile and may prove to be unsustainable in the long-run. This study analyses the determinants of private saving in South Africa, with specific reference to the decline in private saving rates that occurred at a time of higher economic growth prior to the 2008 global financial crisis. The Johansen cointegration method is used to estimate separate vector error correction models (VECM) in order to assess the effect of specific variables on both corporate and household saving. The results obtained that are common to both corporate and household savmg show that the govemment budget balance negatively impacts private saving rates though the offset is less than one. The real prime overdraft rate positively impacts private saving, although the result is small . The impact of real Gross Domestic Product (GDP) is positive. In recent years, however, private saving rates fell alongside higher economic growth, which may reflect a structural change in corporate saving behaviour. The results distinct to the corporate saving model show that commodity prices have a negative impact on corporate saving. This does not conform to a priori expectations, but is supported by the behaviour of these two variables in recent years. Foreign savings were found to impact negatively on corporate saving. This result is important, since the dependence of the South African economy on foreign capital inflows to fund higher investment levels is reflected by high current account deficits during recent periods of economic growth. Evidence of financial liberalization negatively impacting on private saving in South Africa due to the removal of borrowing constraints was found. A negative relationship was found between corporate saving and investment demonstrating that corporations have reduced levels of retained eamings for funding investment expenditures. The results distinct to the household saving model provide evidence of a negative wealth effect in South Africa, with rising housing wealth found to increase consumption. Evidence of households "piercing the corporate veil" in South Africa was found. Therefore, households view corporate saving behaviour as essentially being conducted on their behalf. This finding and the finding that the offset between the budget deficit and private saving is less than one suggest that counter-cyclical fiscal policy will be an important policy response for achieving higher domestic saving rates in South Africa.
  • Full Text:
  • Date Issued: 2012

The war againts organised crime: a critical assessment of South African asset forfeiture law and its impact on redress for victims of crime

Synthesis, photochemical and photophysical properties of gallium and indium phthalocyanine derivatives

  • Authors: Chauke, Vongani Portia
  • Date: 2008
  • Subjects: Phthalocyanines , Photochemotherapy , Electrochemistry , Gallium , Indium
  • Language: English
  • Type: Thesis , Masters , MSc
  • Identifier: vital:4375 , http://hdl.handle.net/10962/d1005040 , Phthalocyanines , Photochemotherapy , Electrochemistry , Gallium , Indium
  • Description: The syntheses of octasubstituted and unsusbstitituted Gallium(III) chloride and indium(III) chloride phthalocyanines (GaPc and InPc), their photophysical, photochemical and nonlinear optical parameters are hereby presented. The photocatalytic oxidation of 1-hexene using the synthesized GaPc and InPc complexes as well as electrochemical characterization is also presented in this thesis. Fluorescence quantum yields do not vary much among the four Ga complexes, except for complex 21c; therefore it was concluded that the effect of substituents is not significant among them. Solvents however, had an effect on the results. Lower Φ[subscript F] values were obtained in low viscosity solvents like toluene, relative to highly viscous solvents, such as DMSO. The triplet quantum yields were found to be lower in DMSO than in DMF and toluene. The rate constants for fluorescence, intersystem crossing and internal conversion as well as fluorescence and triplet lifetimes are reported. Photodegradation and singlet oxygen quantum yields have also been reported. There was no clear correlation between the latter parameters. It was however established that the four gallium MPcs were stable, within the allowed stability range for phthalocyanines. High quantum yields of triplet state (Φ[subscript T] ranging from 0.70 to 0.91 in dimethysulfoxide, DMSO) and singlet oxygen generation (Φ[subscript greek capital letter delta], ranging from 0.61 to 0.79 in DMSO) were obtained. Short triplet lifetimes 50 to 60 μs were obtained in DMSO). Calculated non-linear parameters of these complexes are compared with those of the corresponding GaPc derivatives and tetrasubstituted GaPc and InPc complexes. The optical limiting threshold intensity (I[subscript lim]) values for the InPc and GaPc derivatives were calculated and compared with those of corresponding tetrasubstituted InPc and GaPc complexes. The octasubstituted were found to be better optical limiters. Photocatalytic oxidation of 1-hexene by GaPc (21a-c) and InPc (22a-c) derivatives is also presented. The photocatalytic oxidation products for 1-hexene were 1,2- epoxyhexane and 1-hexen-3-ol. The % conversion values of 1-hexene and % selectivity of 1,2-epoxyhexane were generally higher for InPc derivatives. Even though InPc derivatives showed better photocatalytic results than GaPc derivatives, the former were less stable relative to the latter. Both type I and type II mechanism were implicated in the photocatalysis mechanism.
  • Full Text:
  • Date Issued: 2008

The antecedents of customer satisfaction in a financial institution : a qualitative study

  • Authors: Bleske, Adrian
  • Date: 2008
  • Subjects: Standard Bank Properties , Banks and banking -- South Africa , Banks and banking -- Customer services -- South Africa , Financial services industry -- South Africa , Bank management -- South Africa , Banks and banking -- Customer services -- Effect of marketing on
  • Language: English
  • Type: Thesis , Masters , MBA
  • Identifier: vital:840 , http://hdl.handle.net/10962/d1015482
  • Description: The following is a case study report on the Cape Town business unit of Standard Bank Properties. The research project falls within the ambit of services marketing which introduces several unique management challenges for service businesses that sell services as a core offering. The principal aim of the case study is to gain an understanding of why customers bank at the business unit and to discover what aspects are critical to customer satisfaction. A further goal of the research is to examine how the business unit could improve customer satisfaction and to highlight any impediments to further improving customer satisfaction at the business unit. It is generally regarded that quality customer service is essential to building customer relationships and hence the research project emphasis on services marketing and customer satisfaction within a financial services context. The paper commences with an overview of the South African Banking Sector and its unique challenges such as the Financial Service Charter and newly introduced legislation such as Financial Intelligence Centre Act. The case study will specifically investigate the property finance industry and a detailed analysis of the business unit's operations and process flow will also be undertaken. The reason for this background information is to assist the reader to understand how the business unit operates. The research project will investigate four unique differences between goods marketing and services marketing whereafter three theoretical propositions are introduced, namely the dyadic interaction and service encounter, the Service Profit Chain and finally Relationship Marketing. Evidence in the form of a narrative will be led from insights obtained from interviews conducted with customers and staff at the business unit against these propositions with support (or otherwise) from independent surveys and documents from the business unit. The result of this analysis is the identification of several areas of concern specifically: New employees and the service encounter, Problems with FICA, Lack of a customer complaint handling system, Empowerment issues, Turnaround times, Reliance on key staff These insights together with the evidence from the literature review will be analysed and several recommendations made to improve customer service and ultimately customer satisfaction at the business unit. Several recommendations for further research are offered as well as the identification of limitations including but not limited to the specificity of the case study report.
  • Full Text:
  • Date Issued: 2008

Towards a corpus of Indian South African English (ISAE) : an investigation of lexical and syntactic features in a spoken corpus of contemporary ISAE

  • Authors: Pienaar, Cheryl Leelavathie
  • Date: 2008
  • Subjects: English language -- South Africa Computational linguistics -- Methodology Discourse analysis -- Data processing English language -- Syntax -- South Africa English language -- Usage -- South Africa East Indians -- South Africa -- Language Lexicology
  • Language: English
  • Type: Thesis , Masters , MA
  • Identifier: vital:2357 , http://hdl.handle.net/10962/d1002640
  • Description: There is consensus among scholars that there is not just one English language but a family of “World Englishes”. The umbrella-term “World Englishes” provides a conceptual framework to accommodate the different varieties of English that have evolved as a result of the linguistic cross-fertilization attendant upon colonization, migration, trade and transplantation of the original “strain” or variety. Various theoretical models have emerged in an attempt to understand and classify the extant and emerging varieties of this global language. The hierarchically based model of English, which classifies world English as “First Language”, “Second Language” and “Foreign Language”, has been challenged by more equitably-conceived models which refer to the emerging varieties as New Englishes. The situation in a country such as multi-lingual South Africa is a complex one: there are 11 official languages, one of which is English. However the English used in South Africa (or “South African English”), is not a homogeneous variety, since its speakers include those for whom it is a first language, those for whom it is an additional language and those for whom it is a replacement language. The Indian population in South Africa are amongst the latter group, as theirs is a case where English has ousted the traditional Indian languages and become a de facto first language, which has retained strong community resonances. This study was undertaken using the methodology of corpus linguistics to initiate the creation of a repository of linguistic evidence (or corpus), of Indian South African English, a sub-variety of South African English (Mesthrie 1992b, 1996, 2002). Although small (approximately 60 000 words), and representing a narrow age band of young adults, the resulting corpus of spoken data confirmed the existence of robust features identified in prior research into the sub-variety. These features include the use of ‘y’all’ as a second person plural pronoun, the use of but in a sentence-final position, and ‘lakker’ /'lVk@/ as a pronunciation variant of ‘lekker’ (meaning ‘good’, ‘nice’ or great’). An examination of lexical frequency lists revealed examples of general South African English such as the colloquially pervasive ‘ja’, ‘bladdy’ (for bloody) and jol(ling) (for partying or enjoying oneself) together with neologisms such as ‘eish’, the latter previously associated with speakers of Black South African English. The frequency lists facilitated cross-corpora comparisons with data from the British National Corpus and the Corpus of London Teenage Language and similarities and differences were noted and discussed. The study also used discourse analysis frameworks to investigate the role of high frequency lexical items such as ‘like’ in the data. In recent times ‘like’ has emerged globally as a lexicalized discourse marker, and its appearance in the corpus of Indian South African English confirms this trend. The corpus built as part of this study is intended as the first building block towards a full corpus of Indian South African English which could serve as a standard for referencing research into the sub-variety. Ultimately, it is argued that the establishment of similar corpora of other known sub-varieties of South African English could contribute towards the creation of a truly representative large corpus of South African English and a more nuanced understanding and definition of this important variety of World English.
  • Full Text:
  • Date Issued: 2008
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