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Post-apartheid racial integration in Grahamstown : a time-geographical perspective

  • Authors: Irvine, Philippa Margaret
  • Date: 2012
  • Subjects: Race discrimination -- South Africa -- Eastern Cape Grahamstown (South Africa) -- Race relations Grahamstown (South Africa) -- Social conditions
  • Language: English
  • Type: Thesis , Masters , MA
  • Identifier: vital:4845 , http://hdl.handle.net/10962/d1005521
  • Description: This research is situated within the context of the post-apartheid era in South Africa, which includes the dominant ideologies and policies that have shaped the urban landscape of the past and present. It investigates the extent and patterns of integration that exist twenty years after the country’s political transition and it uses Grahamstown, a small education and cultural centre in the Eastern Cape Province, as its case study. The investigation incorporates the traditional geographical focus of residential and educational integration, using conventional means of investigation such as segregation indices, dissimilarity indices, percentages and maps. However, in identifying the broader nature of ‘segregation’ and ‘integration’, the study moves beyond these foci and approaches. It adopts the timegeographical framework to reveal the dynamic use of urban space that reflects the lived space of selected individuals from the community of Grahamstown: the extent and patterns of their behavioural integration or spatial linkages. Together, these approaches reveal that Grahamstown is still a city divided by race and, now, class. Schools and residential areas remain tied to the apartheid divisions of race and the white community exists almost entirely within the bounds of apartheid’s blueprint of urban space. Rhodes University, which is located within Grahamstown, has experienced admirable levels of integration within the student body and within the staff as a whole, but not within the staff’s different levels. In essence, where integration has occurred it has been unidirectional with the black community moving into the spaces and institutions formerly reserved for whites. The limited behavioural integration or spatial linkages are shown to be tied to city structure and, within the white group, to perceptions of ‘otherness’ held by the individuals interviewed. While the study shows limited differences in the time-spatial movements between members of different races who are resident in the former white group area, it highlights the differences between those more permanently resident in the city and the temporary educational migrants or students. The study argues that the slow pace of change is related to the nature of South Africa’s democratic transition and its attending political and economic policies.
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  • Date Issued: 2012

An evaluation of the feasibility of obtaining payment for ecosystem services for the Baviaanskloof Nature Reserve

The prevalence and consequences of workplace bullying in South Africa

  • Authors: Momberg, Markus Albertus
  • Date: 2011
  • Subjects: Bullying in the workplace -- South Africa -- Prevention , Harrasment -- South Africa , Organizational behavior -- South Africa , Interpersonal relations -- South Africa , Labour laws and legislation -- South Africa
  • Language: English
  • Type: Thesis , Masters , LLM
  • Identifier: vital:10211 , http://hdl.handle.net/10948/1572 , Bullying in the workplace -- South Africa -- Prevention , Harrasment -- South Africa , Organizational behavior -- South Africa , Interpersonal relations -- South Africa , Labour laws and legislation -- South Africa
  • Description: A study is made of the ever-growing worldwide social pandemic of workplace bullying. We define workplace bullying in terms of its characteristics and distinguish it from unfair discrimination in the form of harassment. A survey is presented of its occurrence worldwide and how it manifests as an organisational conflict, both as hierarchical and horizontal abuse. This is analysed in terms of a social science perspective. We consider grievance reporting as an indication of trends in workplace bullying and discuss the limitations of such reporting. We review the consequent effects of such limitations on the health of workers and workplace efficiency and note the shortcomings of existing labour law in dealing with this inadequacy. Our findings are summarised, with recommendations for resolving this conflict situation.
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  • Date Issued: 2011

The application of a landscape diversity index using remote sensing and geographical information systems to identify degradation patterns in the Great Fish River Valley, Eastern Cape Province, South Africa

  • Authors: Tanser, Frank Courteney
  • Date: 1997
  • Subjects: Geographic information systems , Earth sciences -- Remote sensing , Environmental degradation -- South Africa -- Eastern Cape -- Great Fish River Valley , Forest degradation -- South Africa -- Eastern Cape -- Great Rish River Valley
  • Language: English
  • Type: Thesis , Masters , MSc
  • Identifier: vital:4814 , http://hdl.handle.net/10962/d1005488 , Geographic information systems , Earth sciences -- Remote sensing , Environmental degradation -- South Africa -- Eastern Cape -- Great Fish River Valley , Forest degradation -- South Africa -- Eastern Cape -- Great Rish River Valley
  • Description: Using a range of satellite-derived indices I describe. monitor and predict vegetation conditions that exist in the Great Fish River Valley, Eastern Cape. The heterogeneous nature of the area necessitates that the mapping of vegetation classes be accomplished using a combination of a supervised approach, an unsupervised approach and the use of a Moving Standard Deviation Index (MSDI). Nine vegetation classes are identified and mapped at an accuracy of 84%. The vegetation classes are strongly related to land-use and the communal areas demonstrate a reduction in palatable species and a shift towards dominance by a single species. Nature reserves and commercial rangeland are by contrast dominated by good condition vegetation types. The Modified Soil Adjusted Vegetation Index (MSA VI) is used to map the vegetation production in the study area. The influence of soil reflectance is reduced using this index. The MSA VI proves to be a good predictor of vegetation condition in the higher rainfall areas but not in the more semi-arid regions. The MSA VI has a significant relationship to rainfall but no absolute relationship to biomass. However, a stratification approach (on the basis of vegetation type) reveals that the MSA VI exhibits relationships to biomass in vegetation types occurring in the higher rainfall areas and consisting of a large cover of shrubs. A technique based on an index which describes landscape spatial variability is presented to assist in the interpretation of landscape condition. The research outlines a method for degradation assessment which overcomes many of the problems associated with cost and repeatability. Indices that attempt to provide a correlation with net primary productivity, e.g. NDVI, do not consider changes in the quality of net primary productivity. Landscape variability represents a measure of ecosystem change in the landscape that underlies the degradation process. The hypothesis is that healthy/undisturbed/stable landscapes tend to be less variable and homogenous than their degraded heterogenous counterparts. The Moving Standard Deviation Index (MSDI) is calculated by performing a 3 x 3 moving standard deviation window across Landsat Thematic Mapper (TM) band 3. The result is a sensitive indicator of landscape condition which is not affected by moisture availability and vegetation type. The MSDI shows a significant negative relationship to NDVI confirming its relationship to condition. The cross-classification of MSDI with NDVI allows the identification of invasive woody weeds which exhibit strong photosynthetic signals and would therefore be categorised as good condition using NDVI. Other ecosystems are investigated to determine the relationship between NDVI and MSDI. Where increase in NDVI is disturbance-induced (such as the Kalahari Desert) the relationship is positive. Where high NDVI values are indicative of good condition rangeland (such as the Fish River Valley) the relationship is negative. The MSDI therefore always exhibits a significant positive relationship to degradation irrespective of the relationship of NDVI to condition in the ecosystem.
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  • Date Issued: 1997

A combination of a stationary and non-stationary model to predict corporate failure in South Africa

  • Authors: Court, Philip Wathen
  • Date: 1994
  • Subjects: Bankruptcy -- South Africa Business planning -- South Africa Business failures -- South Africa
  • Language: English
  • Type: Thesis , Doctoral , PhD
  • Identifier: vital:1183 , http://hdl.handle.net/10962/d1002800
  • Description: Business failure should be of concern in most industralised countries and the importance of accurately evaluating the phenomenon from a management and investment point of view is enormous. Were it possible to predict failure with a certain degree of confidence, steps could be taken to rectify the situation and the benefit would accrue to all of the stakeholders in the macroenvironment. In essence, the profitability of a business is influenced by two sets of variables. In the first instance, it is influenced by a variety of internal (microeconomic) variables which are firm- specific and which management is generally able to control. A further distinction in this regard may be made between the financial and non-financial variables. In the second instance, it is generally accepted that profitability will be influenced by a number of external (macroeconomic) variables which are generally beyond the control of management. In the main, however, the profitability of the firm is generally determined by a combination of both sets of factors. To date, a great deal of research has been undertaken in an attempt to establish a reliable model which may be used to predict failure. This has mainly been confined to the microeconomic variables which can be used to predict failure and attempts have been made to isolate either a single financial ratio or a number of financial and non-financial variables which can be used to model corporate failure. The research has met with a certain degree of success although this appears to be confined to the economic environment to which the models have been applied. The models are less successful when applied to other macroenvironments. Limited research has been undertaken into the macroeconomic variables which contribute to business failure or to a combination of the two types of variables. It is appropriate therefore that further consideration be given to the establishment of a model incorporating ALL the variables which could contribute to corporate failure. The purpose of this research is to undertake an investigation of micro- and macroeconomic variables that are freely available to reserachers and which may be used in a failure prediction model. The intention is to obtain a comprehensive, yet simple model which can be used as an overall predictor of PENDING failure.
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  • Date Issued: 1994

Author, ideology and publisher a symbiotic relationship : Lovedale Missionary Press and early Black writing in South Africa: with specific reference to the critical writings of H.I.E. Dlomo

  • Authors: Midgley, Henry Peter
  • Date: 1994
  • Subjects: Shepherd, Robert H W (Robert Henry Wishart), 1888-1971 Dhlomo, H I E (Herbert I E), 1903-1956 Rhodes University Dissertations African literature Lovedale Institution South African literature -- Black authors -- History and criticism South African literature (English) -- History and criticism Politics and literature -- South Africa -- History -- 20th century Press and politics -- South Africa -- History
  • Language: English
  • Type: Thesis , Masters , MA
  • Identifier: vital:2241 , http://hdl.handle.net/10962/d1002284
  • Description: The specific instances of R.H.W. Shepherd and H.I.E. Dhlomo are used in this thesis to investigate some of the many factors that influence the formation of a colonial literature, such as politics, social structures and personal ideals. By isolating the Lovedale Mission Press ~s a "contact zone" - a·place where the cultures of the colonizer and the colonized come into direct contact with each other - it is possible to trace how the interaction between these cultures shaped the writing of a particular African writer, H.I.E. Dhlomo. This is done through an analysis of historical factors that shaped the policy of the Lovedale Mission Press in the twentieth century: the development of liberalism in South Africa, the·role of the missionary in African education, the function ofa liberal magazine such as The South African Outlook and the appointment of an ambitious missionary, R.I.W. Shepherd, to the position of Director of Publications. This necessarily included a study of Shepherd's vision of African literature. On the other hand, this study takes cognisance of the factors that shaped Herbert Dhlomo's vision of literature: the development of African nationalism, the entrenchment of segregation as a politial doctrine, and most importantly, his struggle to have his creative writing published by the Lovedale Press. It is shown how Shepherd's vision of what African literature should entail contrasted with Dhlomo's, and how, as a result, Dhlomo deliberately structured his critical writing as a response to Shepherd's Eurocentric approach to African literature.
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  • Date Issued: 1994

Educational computing in secondary schools of the Cape Education Department: a research survey to assess computing facility acquisition and its utilization

  • Authors: Bean, Pat
  • Date: 1992
  • Subjects: Education, Secondary -- South Africa -- Data processing Education, Secondary -- South Africa -- Computer network resources Computer-assisted instruction -- South Africa
  • Language: English
  • Type: Thesis , Masters , MEd
  • Identifier: vital:1505 , http://hdl.handle.net/10962/d1003387
  • Description: Secondary schools under the jurisdiction of the Cape Education Department (CED) have, over the past 10 years, been acquiring computer equipment without a national policy on educational computing in South Africa, and within only broad parameters provided by their department. The aim of this study was to determine the present status of educational computing in these schools. A literature survey on educational computing was undertaken and a number of international and local 'computers-in-schools' initiatives were elucidated. A field survey, involving all CED secondary schools (239), was initiated by sending questionnaires to principals of these schools - a return rate of 89% was achieved. The results of the research revealed that most CED secondary schools have already acquired computer facilities. The role of pressure groups such as teachers, parents, business sector etc together with other factors that might have influenced schools in acquiring their computer facilities was also investigated. The investigation also revealed where and how these facilities are being utilised: most schools use their computers for administrative functions, with the computer-as-a-tool for teachers and pupils also fast gaining ground. Computer-assisted learning activities, where the computer is integrated with subject curricula, are however still limited. The extent of both teachers' formal training in educational computing and their familiarity with different software applications were also determined. Schools were also required to indicate the areas where they experience problems in getting teachers and pupils more involved in 'computers-in-education' activities. The present educational computing position in secondary schools of the CED will have to serve as a foundation for the department's CISR Project embarked upon in 1991.
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  • Date Issued: 1992

An erosion hazard assessment technique for Ciskei

  • Authors: Weaver, Alex van Breda
  • Date: 1989
  • Subjects: Soil erosion -- South Africa -- Ciskei
  • Language: English
  • Type: Thesis , Doctoral , PhD
  • Identifier: vital:4792 , http://hdl.handle.net/10962/d1001892
  • Description: The study examines the relationship between the spatial variation in soil erosion and various natural and anthropogenic attributes of the region between the coastal plateau and the Winterberg escarpment of Ciskei. A raster-based geographical information system is derived for four separate study catchments and data on soil erosion and various soil erosion hazard indices are read into a computerised data matrix. The independent variables (soil erosion hazard indices) used in the study are selected on the basis of a review of the literature and on the availability of data in the Ciskei region. Multivariate analyses of the relationship between soil erosion and the various independent variables reveals that the primary variables affecting the spatial variation in soil erosion are land use, dominant soil type, geology, veld type and mean annual precipitation. All of these variables are readily quantifiable at the regional scale for large areas of Ciskei. An erosion hazard assessment model for use in central Ciskei is developed based on the results of the statistical analyses. The model is tested in separate study areas and is shown to provide an efficient method of identifying areas of differing susceptibility to soil erosion. The derived model is simple to operate and has input requirements which are easily met. It can be applied without the aid of computers, or where large areas are to be mapped it is well suited to computerisation
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  • Date Issued: 1989

A survey of the curricula for the pre-service education of secondary school geography teachers in South Africa, with special reference to Transkei

  • Authors: Mniki, Claribel Pumzile
  • Date: 1987
  • Subjects: Education -- Curricula , Education -- South Africa -- Transkei , Black people -- Education -- South Africa -- Transkei , Geography -- Study and teaching (Secondary) -- South Africa -- Transkei , Teachers -- Training of -- South Africa -- Transkei
  • Language: English
  • Type: Thesis , Masters , MEd
  • Identifier: vital:1340 , http://hdl.handle.net/10962/d1001406
  • Description: Programmes designed for the pre-service education of secondary school geography teachers reflect the assumptions held by programme designers regarding the nature of education, teaching in general and geography teaching in particular. The general practice is that in universities, individual method lecturers design their programmes and in colleges within a department of education the programmes are centrally planned. Each programme focuses on a specific context. This, together with the autonomy enjoyed by university method lecturers in designing their courses, has resulted in the variations found in geography teacher education programmes. The evidence of this is found in the structure and duration of courses, the course content, the strategies used to educate teachers and the way in which the course is evaluated. This thesis is an attempt to establish consensus and divergence in pre-service education programmes for secondary school geography teachers regarding their organisation, specific knowledge imparted to student teachers; skills, values and attitudes developed. The pre-service education of secondary school geography teachers in South Africa is revealed in an analysis of views held by method lecturers, practising teachers in secondary schools, and student teachers and an analysis of course outlines , teaching practice assessment forms and geography method examination papers. Conclusions are drawn and recommendations made for improving the initial education of secondary school geography teachers in Transkei
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  • Date Issued: 1987

A parser generator system to handle complete syntax

'n Evaluering van onderwysvoorsienings en onderwysfasiliteite in die Karoo-distrikte Aberdeen, Graaff-Reinet, Jansenville-Klipplaat en Murraysburg vir die hoofbevolkingsgroepe Blank, Kleurling en Bantoe

An exposition and evaluation of John Calvin's teaching on the sacraments, with particular reference to the sacrament of the Lord's supper in its liturgical context

  • Authors: Orr, Robert
  • Date: 1954
  • Subjects: Lord's Supper (Liturgy) -- History , Sacraments -- Reformed Church , Calvin, Jean, 1509-1564
  • Language: English
  • Type: Thesis , Bachelor , BDiv
  • Identifier: vital:1294 , http://hdl.handle.net/10962/d1015226
  • Description: Misinterpretations of John Calvin's theology are legion. It is hoped that this thesis does not add to their number. The basis for this lies in the fact that the task of writing on the subject has of course compelled the writer to do his utmost to comprehend what Calvin had to say concerning the Sacraments both in the Institutions and in the Scriptural Commentaries ... .The attempt has been made to refract Calvin's thought on the Sacrament, using certain key-concepts as prisms, and from the results thus obtained, to draw certain conclusions from which, it is hoped, will not be unprofitable to the life of the Holy Catholic Church. It is thus to be reagrded as an essay in historical theology rather than a whole-hearted attempt to reconstruct Calvin's exposition of the sacrament in the light of what has been revealed to us in the intervening years.
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  • Date Issued: 1954
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