In vitro susceptibility of Staphylococcus aureus to porphyrin-silver mediated photodynamic antimicrobial chemotherapy
- Authors: Shabangu, Samuel Malewa
- Date: 2020
- Subjects: Porphyrins , Nanoparticles , Photochemotherapy , Drug resistance in microorganisms , Staphylococcus aureus
- Language: English
- Type: text , Thesis , Masters , MSc
- Identifier: http://hdl.handle.net/10962/167476 , vital:41484
- Description: This work reports on the syntheses and characterization of symmetrical and unsymmetrical porphyrin complexes namely, 5,10,15,20-tetra(4-pyridyl)-porphyrinato zinc(II) (1), 5,10,15,20-tetrathienyl porphyrinato zinc(II) (2), 5-(4-hydroxyphenyl)-10, 15, 20-tris(2-thienyl) porphyrinato zinc(II) (3), 5-(4-carboxyphenyl)-10,15,20-tris(pentafluorophenyl)- porphyrinato zinc(II) (4), 5-(4-carboxyphenyl)-10,15,20-triphenyl-porphyrinato zinc(II) (5) and 5-(4-carboxyphenyl)-10, 15, 20-tris(2-thienyl)-porphyrinato zinc(II) (6). The synthesis of silver nanoparticles (AgNPs) was also undertaken in this research work. Complexes 1, 2, 3 and 6 were linked to oleic acid/oleylamine functionalized nanoparticles via self-assembly and 4-6 were linked via covalent interaction through an amide bond to glutathione capped AgNPs. The effect of nature of bond along with symmetry were investigated, of interest were the five membered thienyl substituents. The photophysical and photochemical behaviour of the complexes and their conjugates with AgNPs were investigated in dimethylformamide. The porphyrin and AgNPs conjugates afforded an increase in singlet oxygen quantum yield. Complexes 1-6 and their conjugates were used for photodynamic antimicrobial chemotherapy of Staphylococcus aureus. The antimicrobial studies were done in two different concentrations of 0.36 and 2.0 μg/mL. The thienyl substituted porphyrin complexes and their conjugates gave better photodynamic activity as compared to phenyl analogues
- Full Text:
- Date Issued: 2020
- Authors: Shabangu, Samuel Malewa
- Date: 2020
- Subjects: Porphyrins , Nanoparticles , Photochemotherapy , Drug resistance in microorganisms , Staphylococcus aureus
- Language: English
- Type: text , Thesis , Masters , MSc
- Identifier: http://hdl.handle.net/10962/167476 , vital:41484
- Description: This work reports on the syntheses and characterization of symmetrical and unsymmetrical porphyrin complexes namely, 5,10,15,20-tetra(4-pyridyl)-porphyrinato zinc(II) (1), 5,10,15,20-tetrathienyl porphyrinato zinc(II) (2), 5-(4-hydroxyphenyl)-10, 15, 20-tris(2-thienyl) porphyrinato zinc(II) (3), 5-(4-carboxyphenyl)-10,15,20-tris(pentafluorophenyl)- porphyrinato zinc(II) (4), 5-(4-carboxyphenyl)-10,15,20-triphenyl-porphyrinato zinc(II) (5) and 5-(4-carboxyphenyl)-10, 15, 20-tris(2-thienyl)-porphyrinato zinc(II) (6). The synthesis of silver nanoparticles (AgNPs) was also undertaken in this research work. Complexes 1, 2, 3 and 6 were linked to oleic acid/oleylamine functionalized nanoparticles via self-assembly and 4-6 were linked via covalent interaction through an amide bond to glutathione capped AgNPs. The effect of nature of bond along with symmetry were investigated, of interest were the five membered thienyl substituents. The photophysical and photochemical behaviour of the complexes and their conjugates with AgNPs were investigated in dimethylformamide. The porphyrin and AgNPs conjugates afforded an increase in singlet oxygen quantum yield. Complexes 1-6 and their conjugates were used for photodynamic antimicrobial chemotherapy of Staphylococcus aureus. The antimicrobial studies were done in two different concentrations of 0.36 and 2.0 μg/mL. The thienyl substituted porphyrin complexes and their conjugates gave better photodynamic activity as compared to phenyl analogues
- Full Text:
- Date Issued: 2020
Machine learning methods for calibrating radio interferometric data
- Authors: Zitha, Simphiwe Nhlanhla
- Date: 2019
- Subjects: Calibration , Radio astronomy -- Data processing , Radio astronomy -- South Africa , Karoo Array Telescope (South Africa) , Radio telescopes -- South Africa , Common Astronomy Software Application (Computer software)
- Language: English
- Type: text , Thesis , Masters , MSc
- Identifier: http://hdl.handle.net/10962/97096 , vital:31398
- Description: The applications of machine learning have created an opportunity to deal with complex problems currently encountered in radio astronomy data processing. Calibration is one of the most important data processing steps required to produce high dynamic range images. This process involves the determination of calibration parameters, both instrumental and astronomical, to correct the collected data. Typically, astronomers use a package such as Common Astronomy Software Applications (CASA) to compute the gain solutions based on regular observations of a known calibrator source. In this work we present applications of machine learning to first generation calibration (1GC), using the KAT-7 telescope environmental and pointing sensor data recorded during observations. Applying machine learning to 1GC, as opposed to calculating the gain solutions in CASA, has shown evidence of reducing computation, as well as accurately predict the 1GC gain solutions representing the behaviour of the antenna during an observation. These methods are computationally less expensive, however they have not fully learned to generalise in predicting accurate 1GC solutions by looking at environmental and pointing sensors. We call this multi-output regression model ZCal, which is based on random forest, decision trees, extremely randomized trees and K-nearest neighbor algorithms. The prediction error obtained during the testing of our model on testing data is ≈ 0.01 < rmse < 0.09 for gain amplitude per antenna, and 0.2 rad < rmse <0.5 rad for gain phase. This shows that the instrumental parameters used to train our model more strongly correlate with gain amplitude effects than phase.
- Full Text:
- Date Issued: 2019
- Authors: Zitha, Simphiwe Nhlanhla
- Date: 2019
- Subjects: Calibration , Radio astronomy -- Data processing , Radio astronomy -- South Africa , Karoo Array Telescope (South Africa) , Radio telescopes -- South Africa , Common Astronomy Software Application (Computer software)
- Language: English
- Type: text , Thesis , Masters , MSc
- Identifier: http://hdl.handle.net/10962/97096 , vital:31398
- Description: The applications of machine learning have created an opportunity to deal with complex problems currently encountered in radio astronomy data processing. Calibration is one of the most important data processing steps required to produce high dynamic range images. This process involves the determination of calibration parameters, both instrumental and astronomical, to correct the collected data. Typically, astronomers use a package such as Common Astronomy Software Applications (CASA) to compute the gain solutions based on regular observations of a known calibrator source. In this work we present applications of machine learning to first generation calibration (1GC), using the KAT-7 telescope environmental and pointing sensor data recorded during observations. Applying machine learning to 1GC, as opposed to calculating the gain solutions in CASA, has shown evidence of reducing computation, as well as accurately predict the 1GC gain solutions representing the behaviour of the antenna during an observation. These methods are computationally less expensive, however they have not fully learned to generalise in predicting accurate 1GC solutions by looking at environmental and pointing sensors. We call this multi-output regression model ZCal, which is based on random forest, decision trees, extremely randomized trees and K-nearest neighbor algorithms. The prediction error obtained during the testing of our model on testing data is ≈ 0.01 < rmse < 0.09 for gain amplitude per antenna, and 0.2 rad < rmse <0.5 rad for gain phase. This shows that the instrumental parameters used to train our model more strongly correlate with gain amplitude effects than phase.
- Full Text:
- Date Issued: 2019
‘That mountain cannot be beautiful for nothing’: Zakes Mda’s aesthetics of liberation
- Dilinga, Siyamthanda Iribagiza
- Authors: Dilinga, Siyamthanda Iribagiza
- Date: 2019
- Subjects: Mda, Zakes -- Criticism and interpretation , South African fiction (English) -- History and criticism , South Africa -- In literature
- Language: English
- Type: text , Thesis , Masters , MA
- Identifier: http://hdl.handle.net/10962/70452 , vital:29662
- Description: Zakes Mda is a prominent post-apartheid black South African novelist whose style has been described as experimental. He also wrote plays intended to ‘rally people to action’ during the apartheid years. The changes in the political and social situation in South Africa since 1994 have had significant implications for those writers and artists who produced protest literature and art. The changes in Mda’s own practice and approach to art are themselves quite telling. His experimental novels place him among those African artists pioneering a new chapter for black South African art and the self-reflexive nature of his novels suggest that he is aware of the fact and is consciously forming and reforming his ideas about what it means to be an artist in post-apartheid South Africa. This study will unpack the role of the artist and the function of art in the becoming new South Africa as represented in Zakes Mda’s novels, thereby hypothesizing Mda’s aesthetic philosophy, as may be deduced from his practice, for what an African artist and art should be. This will be done first by locating Mda in the debates around art and literature within the sociopolitical context of a South Africa in transition. Despite the fact that when it comes to public action in the post-apartheid situation, Mda distinguishes between his own role in society as an artist who is a social activist and the role intended for his work, his own novels reveal a desire for the artefact (or artwork) to have a developmental, educational or conscientizing function. This is evident in representations of the effects of art in what this study proposes to be his extended South African black Kunstlerroman, which spans three novels. It is also demonstrated in his ekphrastic novel, The Madonna of Excelsior, in which visual art is interpreted in the process of description, thereby educating the reader. Not only that, but the reader is made into an ‘almost viewer’ and taught how to ‘see’ art. What emerges in the process of this study is Mda’s aesthetic philosophy or what may be termed his ‘aesthetics of liberation’ concerning the role of the artist in post-apartheid South Africa, a suitable African audience and how art works theoretically, as expressed through his fiction.
- Full Text:
- Date Issued: 2019
- Authors: Dilinga, Siyamthanda Iribagiza
- Date: 2019
- Subjects: Mda, Zakes -- Criticism and interpretation , South African fiction (English) -- History and criticism , South Africa -- In literature
- Language: English
- Type: text , Thesis , Masters , MA
- Identifier: http://hdl.handle.net/10962/70452 , vital:29662
- Description: Zakes Mda is a prominent post-apartheid black South African novelist whose style has been described as experimental. He also wrote plays intended to ‘rally people to action’ during the apartheid years. The changes in the political and social situation in South Africa since 1994 have had significant implications for those writers and artists who produced protest literature and art. The changes in Mda’s own practice and approach to art are themselves quite telling. His experimental novels place him among those African artists pioneering a new chapter for black South African art and the self-reflexive nature of his novels suggest that he is aware of the fact and is consciously forming and reforming his ideas about what it means to be an artist in post-apartheid South Africa. This study will unpack the role of the artist and the function of art in the becoming new South Africa as represented in Zakes Mda’s novels, thereby hypothesizing Mda’s aesthetic philosophy, as may be deduced from his practice, for what an African artist and art should be. This will be done first by locating Mda in the debates around art and literature within the sociopolitical context of a South Africa in transition. Despite the fact that when it comes to public action in the post-apartheid situation, Mda distinguishes between his own role in society as an artist who is a social activist and the role intended for his work, his own novels reveal a desire for the artefact (or artwork) to have a developmental, educational or conscientizing function. This is evident in representations of the effects of art in what this study proposes to be his extended South African black Kunstlerroman, which spans three novels. It is also demonstrated in his ekphrastic novel, The Madonna of Excelsior, in which visual art is interpreted in the process of description, thereby educating the reader. Not only that, but the reader is made into an ‘almost viewer’ and taught how to ‘see’ art. What emerges in the process of this study is Mda’s aesthetic philosophy or what may be termed his ‘aesthetics of liberation’ concerning the role of the artist in post-apartheid South Africa, a suitable African audience and how art works theoretically, as expressed through his fiction.
- Full Text:
- Date Issued: 2019
An exploratory study of barriers and enablers of strategy execution in the Eastern Cape Department of Education in South Africa
- Authors: Vena, Nomava Vinolia
- Date: 2018
- Subjects: Strategic planning South Africa Eastern Cape , Business planning South Africa Eastern Cape , Public administration South Africa Eastern Cape , Corporate governance South Africa Eastern Cape , Government accountability South Africa Eastern Cape , South Africa. Department of Education
- Language: English
- Type: text , Thesis , Masters , MBA
- Identifier: http://hdl.handle.net/10962/63649 , vital:28465
- Description: Effective strategy execution is very important for the achievement of an organisation’s goals. Because it is a difficult task to translate a strategy into action, itis imperative for leadership to prioritize its strategic plan to ensure its success. The purpose of this study is to identify barriers and enablers of strategy execution in Basic Education in the Eastern Cape; its focus is on strategic goal number six: “Efficient administration ensured through good corporate governance and management”. The effectiveness of the Eastern Cape Department of Education (ECDoE) is measured by its service delivery, how strategy is executed in providing quality education. These are guided by the norms and standards like the National Education Policy Act: Norms and Standards for educators, as set by the National Department of Basic Education and the Treasury Acts. The motivation for the study was the Department’s poor performance as reported by the Auditor General (AG) in his 2015 audit report, that there has been a lack of good governance and accountability in the ECDoE. The study is qualitative: a sample of twenty-five (25) ECDoE senior managers were interviewed as the custodians of the execution of the strategic plan. Purposive sampling method selected the twenty-five from a total of forty-five (45) senior managers, some of whom were in Head Office and some in the twenty-three (23) districts. Data was collected through questionnaires and interviews and responses were captured on Excel Spreadsheet, and analysed with the Thematic Analysis. Major findings relating to barriers were on Human Resource Management, Poor Leadership, Resourcing (Tools of Trade), Improper Budgeting Systems, Poor Communication, and Organisational Structure. Some variables were interchangeably identified both as barriers and enablers, such as budgeting and resourcing. There were many recommendations, but for this study one, the Finance Section, will suffice: and that is that the Finance Section should analyse each directorate’s spending for each year before the new budget is allocated.
- Full Text:
- Date Issued: 2018
- Authors: Vena, Nomava Vinolia
- Date: 2018
- Subjects: Strategic planning South Africa Eastern Cape , Business planning South Africa Eastern Cape , Public administration South Africa Eastern Cape , Corporate governance South Africa Eastern Cape , Government accountability South Africa Eastern Cape , South Africa. Department of Education
- Language: English
- Type: text , Thesis , Masters , MBA
- Identifier: http://hdl.handle.net/10962/63649 , vital:28465
- Description: Effective strategy execution is very important for the achievement of an organisation’s goals. Because it is a difficult task to translate a strategy into action, itis imperative for leadership to prioritize its strategic plan to ensure its success. The purpose of this study is to identify barriers and enablers of strategy execution in Basic Education in the Eastern Cape; its focus is on strategic goal number six: “Efficient administration ensured through good corporate governance and management”. The effectiveness of the Eastern Cape Department of Education (ECDoE) is measured by its service delivery, how strategy is executed in providing quality education. These are guided by the norms and standards like the National Education Policy Act: Norms and Standards for educators, as set by the National Department of Basic Education and the Treasury Acts. The motivation for the study was the Department’s poor performance as reported by the Auditor General (AG) in his 2015 audit report, that there has been a lack of good governance and accountability in the ECDoE. The study is qualitative: a sample of twenty-five (25) ECDoE senior managers were interviewed as the custodians of the execution of the strategic plan. Purposive sampling method selected the twenty-five from a total of forty-five (45) senior managers, some of whom were in Head Office and some in the twenty-three (23) districts. Data was collected through questionnaires and interviews and responses were captured on Excel Spreadsheet, and analysed with the Thematic Analysis. Major findings relating to barriers were on Human Resource Management, Poor Leadership, Resourcing (Tools of Trade), Improper Budgeting Systems, Poor Communication, and Organisational Structure. Some variables were interchangeably identified both as barriers and enablers, such as budgeting and resourcing. There were many recommendations, but for this study one, the Finance Section, will suffice: and that is that the Finance Section should analyse each directorate’s spending for each year before the new budget is allocated.
- Full Text:
- Date Issued: 2018
Taxation of non-resident digital companies providing services in South Africa
- Authors: Shumba, Marilyn Tatenda
- Date: 2018
- Subjects: Electronic commerce Taxation Law and legislation South Africa , Value-added tax South Africa , Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development , Taxation Law and legislation South Africa , Business enterprises, Foreign Taxation Law and legislation South Africa
- Language: English
- Type: text , Thesis , Masters , MCom
- Identifier: http://hdl.handle.net/10962/61680 , vital:28048
- Description: The role played by electronic commerce has increased in recent years and continues to increase. Due to this increase in the buying and selling of digital goods and services, revenue authorities have had to recognise that the existing taxation laws do not adequately tax the digital economy. The goal of this research was to establish how South Africa could amend its fiscal legislation in order to adequately tax the digital economy. The Organisation for Economic Co-Operation and Development (OECD) has been the leader in addressing the challenges posed by the digital economy. The thesis therefore focused on the recommendations by the OECD on how to tax the digital economy and relevant recommendations for South were adopted in this thesis, based on the work of the OECD. The main focus of these recommendations was on implementing the International VAT/GST Guidelines that were drafted by the OECD. The thesis also focused on the progress made by New Zealand with regard to taxing of the digital economy. New Zealand has a similar taxation system to South Africa so that the progress made there was relevant in the South African context. Recommendations were also made, based on the proposals by the New Zealand revenue authority that South Africa could adopt in taxing the digital economy. The main focus of these recommendations was lowering the Value-Added Tax (VAT) registration threshold for non-resident suppliers of electronic services and enacting legislation to provide for registration of an electronic marketplace for VAT purposes, instead of an individual supplier.
- Full Text:
- Date Issued: 2018
- Authors: Shumba, Marilyn Tatenda
- Date: 2018
- Subjects: Electronic commerce Taxation Law and legislation South Africa , Value-added tax South Africa , Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development , Taxation Law and legislation South Africa , Business enterprises, Foreign Taxation Law and legislation South Africa
- Language: English
- Type: text , Thesis , Masters , MCom
- Identifier: http://hdl.handle.net/10962/61680 , vital:28048
- Description: The role played by electronic commerce has increased in recent years and continues to increase. Due to this increase in the buying and selling of digital goods and services, revenue authorities have had to recognise that the existing taxation laws do not adequately tax the digital economy. The goal of this research was to establish how South Africa could amend its fiscal legislation in order to adequately tax the digital economy. The Organisation for Economic Co-Operation and Development (OECD) has been the leader in addressing the challenges posed by the digital economy. The thesis therefore focused on the recommendations by the OECD on how to tax the digital economy and relevant recommendations for South were adopted in this thesis, based on the work of the OECD. The main focus of these recommendations was on implementing the International VAT/GST Guidelines that were drafted by the OECD. The thesis also focused on the progress made by New Zealand with regard to taxing of the digital economy. New Zealand has a similar taxation system to South Africa so that the progress made there was relevant in the South African context. Recommendations were also made, based on the proposals by the New Zealand revenue authority that South Africa could adopt in taxing the digital economy. The main focus of these recommendations was lowering the Value-Added Tax (VAT) registration threshold for non-resident suppliers of electronic services and enacting legislation to provide for registration of an electronic marketplace for VAT purposes, instead of an individual supplier.
- Full Text:
- Date Issued: 2018
The relationship between authentic leadership and employee performance
- Authors: Petzer, Liane
- Date: 2018
- Subjects: Authentic leadership , Positive psychology , Employee motivation -- South Africa , Employees -- Attitudes , Job satisfaction -- South Africa , Employees -- Rating of -- South Africa , Financial services industry -- South Africa
- Language: English
- Type: text , Thesis , Masters , MBA
- Identifier: http://hdl.handle.net/10962/59467 , vital:27613
- Description: The impact of a leader on his or her followers has been a topic of much research and therefore organizations, including the financial services sector in South Africa, are placing more and more emphasis on what this leadership construct looks like. Research suggests that Authentic Leadership might be a new kind of leadership approach that the world is looking for. This study aims to establish the possible relationship between an authentic leader and the impact the leader’s behaviour has on the performance of his or her employee. The study further attempts to establish if satisfaction can play a mediating role in the relationship between authentic leadership and the performance of an employee. The research used two established research instruments, namely the Authentic Leadership Questionnaire (ALQ), as well as a section of Freese and Schalk’s (2008) psychological contract questionnaire relating to satisfaction specifically. Respondents were also requested to indicate their most recent performance rating. The study was conducted within the financial sector based in the Eastern and Southern Cape with a total population of 1077 employees across all business units, job grades, race, age, education and gender. The study established a significant positive relationship between authentic leadership and employee performance. A further significant positive relationship was established between authentic leadership and satisfaction. However, no relationship could be established between satisfaction and performance, thereby indicating that satisfaction was not a mediator of the relationship between authentic leadership and employee performance. In conclusion, recommendations for management practice and for further research are made.
- Full Text:
- Date Issued: 2018
- Authors: Petzer, Liane
- Date: 2018
- Subjects: Authentic leadership , Positive psychology , Employee motivation -- South Africa , Employees -- Attitudes , Job satisfaction -- South Africa , Employees -- Rating of -- South Africa , Financial services industry -- South Africa
- Language: English
- Type: text , Thesis , Masters , MBA
- Identifier: http://hdl.handle.net/10962/59467 , vital:27613
- Description: The impact of a leader on his or her followers has been a topic of much research and therefore organizations, including the financial services sector in South Africa, are placing more and more emphasis on what this leadership construct looks like. Research suggests that Authentic Leadership might be a new kind of leadership approach that the world is looking for. This study aims to establish the possible relationship between an authentic leader and the impact the leader’s behaviour has on the performance of his or her employee. The study further attempts to establish if satisfaction can play a mediating role in the relationship between authentic leadership and the performance of an employee. The research used two established research instruments, namely the Authentic Leadership Questionnaire (ALQ), as well as a section of Freese and Schalk’s (2008) psychological contract questionnaire relating to satisfaction specifically. Respondents were also requested to indicate their most recent performance rating. The study was conducted within the financial sector based in the Eastern and Southern Cape with a total population of 1077 employees across all business units, job grades, race, age, education and gender. The study established a significant positive relationship between authentic leadership and employee performance. A further significant positive relationship was established between authentic leadership and satisfaction. However, no relationship could be established between satisfaction and performance, thereby indicating that satisfaction was not a mediator of the relationship between authentic leadership and employee performance. In conclusion, recommendations for management practice and for further research are made.
- Full Text:
- Date Issued: 2018
Witches & villains: the nasty tales
- Authors: Dalldorf, Tamaryn
- Date: 2018
- Subjects: South African fiction (English) -- 21st century , Short stories, South African (English) -- 21st century , Fairy tales -- 21st century
- Language: English
- Type: text , Thesis , Masters , MA
- Identifier: http://hdl.handle.net/10962/63087 , vital:28362
- Description: My thesis compromises a variety of short stories which are modern re-writes of dark fairy tales. Fairy Tales often explore the dark side of human nature and in these stories I focus on the voices of female villains and the strange psychology which drives them. I find Fairy Tales absorbing because they reveal the vulnerabilities, dreams and fears of the human consciousness. My stories contain some satirical expositions of human nature and society. My influences are the anthology of short stories, “My mother She Killed Me and My Father He Ate Me”, The Grimm Fairy Tales (original) and The Fairy Tales of Charles Perrault as well as the writing of Horacio Moya, Angela Carter and Alissa Nutting for their dark satire and mockery of social eccentricities. Kate Bernheimer’s “Form is Fairy Tale and Fairy Tale is Form” is very influential in terms of the style it recommends in writing such as: “every day magic”, “flatness” (a form of narration), abstraction and intuitive logic.
- Full Text:
- Date Issued: 2018
- Authors: Dalldorf, Tamaryn
- Date: 2018
- Subjects: South African fiction (English) -- 21st century , Short stories, South African (English) -- 21st century , Fairy tales -- 21st century
- Language: English
- Type: text , Thesis , Masters , MA
- Identifier: http://hdl.handle.net/10962/63087 , vital:28362
- Description: My thesis compromises a variety of short stories which are modern re-writes of dark fairy tales. Fairy Tales often explore the dark side of human nature and in these stories I focus on the voices of female villains and the strange psychology which drives them. I find Fairy Tales absorbing because they reveal the vulnerabilities, dreams and fears of the human consciousness. My stories contain some satirical expositions of human nature and society. My influences are the anthology of short stories, “My mother She Killed Me and My Father He Ate Me”, The Grimm Fairy Tales (original) and The Fairy Tales of Charles Perrault as well as the writing of Horacio Moya, Angela Carter and Alissa Nutting for their dark satire and mockery of social eccentricities. Kate Bernheimer’s “Form is Fairy Tale and Fairy Tale is Form” is very influential in terms of the style it recommends in writing such as: “every day magic”, “flatness” (a form of narration), abstraction and intuitive logic.
- Full Text:
- Date Issued: 2018
COSATU Discussion document : Commissions
- COSATU
- Authors: COSATU
- Date: Mar 2012
- Subjects: COSATU
- Language: English
- Type: text
- Identifier: http://hdl.handle.net/10962/135190 , vital:37246
- Description: COSATU, along with other alliance partners, was very instrumental in the creation of national gender machinery that was put in place by the democratic state after 1994. COSATU was part of a very important meeting held in 1995 to discuss national gender machinery which was held at the World Trade Centre. This meeting concluded on a Commission for Gender Equality, the Office of the Status of Women and the mainstreaming of gender in society. The South African women’s conference held in Amsterdam from 13-18 January 1990 and tagged, “Malibongwe Women’s Conference” was a pivotal point in South African women’s history. This conference was able to discuss the preferred role of women in South African politics and society. The conference analysed the challenges faced by women and proposed a number of resolutions to address with women’s emancipation as well as gender equality. These focused on working women; education, health, culture, family, women’s unity, natal violence and repression. “The subsequent programme of action gave the notion of a struggle for ‘non-sexism’ greater prominence, and recognised that national liberation did ‘not automatically guarantee the emancipation of women.’” This was a pioneered the discussions on the establishment of national gender machinery in line with global democratic practice and the mainstreaming of gender across society and its institutions in order to avoid the “ghettoisation” or marginalization of women and women’s issues in South African society. These discussions were initiated by the Women’s National Coalition (WNC). As the negotiations for South Africa’s transition to democracy started two to three years before democracy, women found themselves marginalized once again. They quickly formed the Women National Coalition which was able to push for women’s inclusion in the negotiations processes as well s to fight for women’sissues to find their way onto the negotiations’ agenda. The Women National Coalition was able to do this very effectively as it had established a “Negotiations Monitoring Team which provided reports and information to Women National Coalition member organisations”. Through this coalition, a “Women’s Charter for Effective Equality” was developed built on the back of the “Women’s Charter” that was developed in 1954 by the Federation of South African Women (FEDSAW). The coalition continued to exist and to provide leadership and to draw on the resolutions of the Amsterdam Women’s Conference. This ensured that an even broader consultation took place amongst women back home in South Africa to strengthen the Amsterdam resolutions and to put a plan in place for the implementation of new WNC resolutions, hence the constitution was able to include women’s concerns including the inclusion of a Commission for Gender Equality amongst the institutions referred to in Chapter 9 of the South African constitution. The Presidency was also given the mandate of being in charge of the gender programme and in this office the Office of the Status of Women was located.
- Full Text:
- Date Issued: Mar 2012
- Authors: COSATU
- Date: Mar 2012
- Subjects: COSATU
- Language: English
- Type: text
- Identifier: http://hdl.handle.net/10962/135190 , vital:37246
- Description: COSATU, along with other alliance partners, was very instrumental in the creation of national gender machinery that was put in place by the democratic state after 1994. COSATU was part of a very important meeting held in 1995 to discuss national gender machinery which was held at the World Trade Centre. This meeting concluded on a Commission for Gender Equality, the Office of the Status of Women and the mainstreaming of gender in society. The South African women’s conference held in Amsterdam from 13-18 January 1990 and tagged, “Malibongwe Women’s Conference” was a pivotal point in South African women’s history. This conference was able to discuss the preferred role of women in South African politics and society. The conference analysed the challenges faced by women and proposed a number of resolutions to address with women’s emancipation as well as gender equality. These focused on working women; education, health, culture, family, women’s unity, natal violence and repression. “The subsequent programme of action gave the notion of a struggle for ‘non-sexism’ greater prominence, and recognised that national liberation did ‘not automatically guarantee the emancipation of women.’” This was a pioneered the discussions on the establishment of national gender machinery in line with global democratic practice and the mainstreaming of gender across society and its institutions in order to avoid the “ghettoisation” or marginalization of women and women’s issues in South African society. These discussions were initiated by the Women’s National Coalition (WNC). As the negotiations for South Africa’s transition to democracy started two to three years before democracy, women found themselves marginalized once again. They quickly formed the Women National Coalition which was able to push for women’s inclusion in the negotiations processes as well s to fight for women’sissues to find their way onto the negotiations’ agenda. The Women National Coalition was able to do this very effectively as it had established a “Negotiations Monitoring Team which provided reports and information to Women National Coalition member organisations”. Through this coalition, a “Women’s Charter for Effective Equality” was developed built on the back of the “Women’s Charter” that was developed in 1954 by the Federation of South African Women (FEDSAW). The coalition continued to exist and to provide leadership and to draw on the resolutions of the Amsterdam Women’s Conference. This ensured that an even broader consultation took place amongst women back home in South Africa to strengthen the Amsterdam resolutions and to put a plan in place for the implementation of new WNC resolutions, hence the constitution was able to include women’s concerns including the inclusion of a Commission for Gender Equality amongst the institutions referred to in Chapter 9 of the South African constitution. The Presidency was also given the mandate of being in charge of the gender programme and in this office the Office of the Status of Women was located.
- Full Text:
- Date Issued: Mar 2012
A case study investigation into the utility of baseline data versus normative data using a computer-based concussion management programme
- Authors: Mitchell, Julia
- Date: 2005
- Subjects: Brain -- Concussion , Neuropsychological tests , Sports injuries -- Psychological aspects , Head -- Wounds and injuries -- Complications
- Language: English
- Type: Thesis , Masters , MA
- Identifier: vital:3021 , http://hdl.handle.net/10962/d1002530 , Brain -- Concussion , Neuropsychological tests , Sports injuries -- Psychological aspects , Head -- Wounds and injuries -- Complications
- Description: Neuropsychological testing is recognised as one of the cornerstones of concussion evaluation, contributing significantly to both an understanding of the injury as well as management of the recovery process. Despite the high incidence of concussion at school level, traditional paper-and-pencil neuropsychological testing has generally been absent from school concussion management programmes, largely due to time and cost constraints. Now, the recent development of computerised neuropsychological testing is providing the opportunity for including neurocognitive assessment in this process. The Immediate Post-Concussion Assessment and Cognitive Testing (ImPACT) is a valid and reliable instrument of this type and normed on 13 - 18 year old North American high school athletes, as well as adult groups. The current recommendation is that athletes are baselined preseason in order to provide an individualised comparative level against which to monitor recovery and provide return-to-play recommendations. This in itself is quite a cumbersome process, thus the present study set out to ascertain whether baseline testing of all athletes is necessary, or whether the use of US or SA normative data alone would provide an appropriate standard against which to interpret the postinjury scores. From a leading South African rugby playing school, the 1st and 2nd rugby teams, (16 - 18 years) were baselined using ImPACT. Three athletes, who were subsequently referred with concussion during the rugby season, were followed up with serial testing on ImPACT. An analysis of the follow up scores was conducted to chart the athletes' recovery process, in relation to the athletes own baseline scores (using US and SA reliable change indices) and age appropriate US and SA normative ranges. The relative utility of individual baselines scores versus these normative ranges was then critically evaluated. It was concluded that a combination of both baseline and normative data provided optimal management of the athlete, with the methods complementing each other in the interpretation of post-injury results. Overall, the SA normative ranges seemed to provide slightly better management guidelines than the US normative ranges when used with this sample of South African high school athletes.
- Full Text:
- Date Issued: 2005
- Authors: Mitchell, Julia
- Date: 2005
- Subjects: Brain -- Concussion , Neuropsychological tests , Sports injuries -- Psychological aspects , Head -- Wounds and injuries -- Complications
- Language: English
- Type: Thesis , Masters , MA
- Identifier: vital:3021 , http://hdl.handle.net/10962/d1002530 , Brain -- Concussion , Neuropsychological tests , Sports injuries -- Psychological aspects , Head -- Wounds and injuries -- Complications
- Description: Neuropsychological testing is recognised as one of the cornerstones of concussion evaluation, contributing significantly to both an understanding of the injury as well as management of the recovery process. Despite the high incidence of concussion at school level, traditional paper-and-pencil neuropsychological testing has generally been absent from school concussion management programmes, largely due to time and cost constraints. Now, the recent development of computerised neuropsychological testing is providing the opportunity for including neurocognitive assessment in this process. The Immediate Post-Concussion Assessment and Cognitive Testing (ImPACT) is a valid and reliable instrument of this type and normed on 13 - 18 year old North American high school athletes, as well as adult groups. The current recommendation is that athletes are baselined preseason in order to provide an individualised comparative level against which to monitor recovery and provide return-to-play recommendations. This in itself is quite a cumbersome process, thus the present study set out to ascertain whether baseline testing of all athletes is necessary, or whether the use of US or SA normative data alone would provide an appropriate standard against which to interpret the postinjury scores. From a leading South African rugby playing school, the 1st and 2nd rugby teams, (16 - 18 years) were baselined using ImPACT. Three athletes, who were subsequently referred with concussion during the rugby season, were followed up with serial testing on ImPACT. An analysis of the follow up scores was conducted to chart the athletes' recovery process, in relation to the athletes own baseline scores (using US and SA reliable change indices) and age appropriate US and SA normative ranges. The relative utility of individual baselines scores versus these normative ranges was then critically evaluated. It was concluded that a combination of both baseline and normative data provided optimal management of the athlete, with the methods complementing each other in the interpretation of post-injury results. Overall, the SA normative ranges seemed to provide slightly better management guidelines than the US normative ranges when used with this sample of South African high school athletes.
- Full Text:
- Date Issued: 2005
Study South Africa
- International Education Association of South Africa (IEASA), Kishun, Roshen
- Authors: International Education Association of South Africa (IEASA) , Kishun, Roshen
- Date: 2005
- Subjects: Education, Higher -- South Africa , Education and globalization -- South Africa Student mobility -- Africa International education -- South Africa Education, Higher -- International cooperation , Universities and colleges -- South Africa , Technical Institutes -- South Africa , Vocational guidance -- South Africa
- Language: English
- Type: text , book
- Identifier: http://hdl.handle.net/10962/65344 , vital:28751 , ISBN 0123218931
- Description: [Message from the President of IEASA, Dr Roshen Kishun]: We salute the thousands of South Africans From diverse racial backgrounds who 50 years ago put forward their vision, encapsulated in the Freedom Charter, to keep doors of education open. As we celebrate the 50th anniversary of this historic event we are aware of the Foundations laid then to allow us to reconnect to the world. In choosing “lessons in diversity' as the theme For the Sth edition of Study South Africa we support the need For South African higher education to keep its doors open in meeting the development challenges of Africa. The year 2005 has been described as critical For Africa because of a number of Factors that have come together. These include the New Partnership For Africa’s Development which spells out action plans to tackle some of the more intractable problems that Africa Faces, the Formation of the African Union with clear guidelines For governance and peace, and the Pan-African Parliament which promotes the concept of working together to solve the continent's problems. The launch of the Southern African Regional Universities Association in early 2005 by 45 of the region’s vice-chancellors recognised that the excellence and sustainability of university education, research and development will be a leading contributor to Future growth and poverty alleviation. Despite the tides of limited resources, external demands and internal policy challenges, the vice-chancellors were unequivocally committed to advancing the development agenda of higher education on the African continent. Critically, in recent years there has been acknowledgement of the ability of higher education to bring about economic and democratic reforms, as evidenced by the commitment and concerted efforts made by Foundations and funding agencies to support the improvement of higher education institutions in Africa. Most important from our perspective is the support for the ’’renewal’’ of higher education institutions as they are considered to be key vehicles For development on the continent. The Commission For Africa report, published in March 2005, endorses the Association of African Universities, Association of Commonwealth Universities and Higher Education South Africa’s joint 10-year partnership programme, Renewing the African University, The partnership programme calls, among other things, For constructive engagement between states and higher education institutions, increasing North-South and South-South collaboration, internationalisation of the curriculum and partnerships between universities and the corporate sector. The Commission makes clear its conviction that higher education's contribution to building professional skills and knowledge is key to achieving Fundamental development changes. The need for centres of excellence in science, technology and engineering is highlighted as key to Future development and growth. Higher education institutions need to be the “breeding ground For the skilled individuals whom the continent needs". The report stresses the need For urgent attention to be given to the management of natural resources, of Forests and water, improving sanitation and strengthening health systems to deal with pandemics such as malaria, tuberculosis and HIV-Aids. Other important developments needed are building the human and institutional capacity for good governance and strengthening leadership in public life, civil society and business. In Focusing on the theme “lessons in diversity’ the Guide captures the richness of the various “diversities ' in the South African higher education landscape. It describes the radical transformation of higher education in South Africa over more than a decade. It identifies South Africa's research system as being “by Far the biggest in Africa” and demonstrates the important role South African higher education can play in meeting the challenges of Africa. I hope that the information provided will allow those interested in South African education to make informed choices. , 5th Edition
- Full Text:
- Date Issued: 2005
- Authors: International Education Association of South Africa (IEASA) , Kishun, Roshen
- Date: 2005
- Subjects: Education, Higher -- South Africa , Education and globalization -- South Africa Student mobility -- Africa International education -- South Africa Education, Higher -- International cooperation , Universities and colleges -- South Africa , Technical Institutes -- South Africa , Vocational guidance -- South Africa
- Language: English
- Type: text , book
- Identifier: http://hdl.handle.net/10962/65344 , vital:28751 , ISBN 0123218931
- Description: [Message from the President of IEASA, Dr Roshen Kishun]: We salute the thousands of South Africans From diverse racial backgrounds who 50 years ago put forward their vision, encapsulated in the Freedom Charter, to keep doors of education open. As we celebrate the 50th anniversary of this historic event we are aware of the Foundations laid then to allow us to reconnect to the world. In choosing “lessons in diversity' as the theme For the Sth edition of Study South Africa we support the need For South African higher education to keep its doors open in meeting the development challenges of Africa. The year 2005 has been described as critical For Africa because of a number of Factors that have come together. These include the New Partnership For Africa’s Development which spells out action plans to tackle some of the more intractable problems that Africa Faces, the Formation of the African Union with clear guidelines For governance and peace, and the Pan-African Parliament which promotes the concept of working together to solve the continent's problems. The launch of the Southern African Regional Universities Association in early 2005 by 45 of the region’s vice-chancellors recognised that the excellence and sustainability of university education, research and development will be a leading contributor to Future growth and poverty alleviation. Despite the tides of limited resources, external demands and internal policy challenges, the vice-chancellors were unequivocally committed to advancing the development agenda of higher education on the African continent. Critically, in recent years there has been acknowledgement of the ability of higher education to bring about economic and democratic reforms, as evidenced by the commitment and concerted efforts made by Foundations and funding agencies to support the improvement of higher education institutions in Africa. Most important from our perspective is the support for the ’’renewal’’ of higher education institutions as they are considered to be key vehicles For development on the continent. The Commission For Africa report, published in March 2005, endorses the Association of African Universities, Association of Commonwealth Universities and Higher Education South Africa’s joint 10-year partnership programme, Renewing the African University, The partnership programme calls, among other things, For constructive engagement between states and higher education institutions, increasing North-South and South-South collaboration, internationalisation of the curriculum and partnerships between universities and the corporate sector. The Commission makes clear its conviction that higher education's contribution to building professional skills and knowledge is key to achieving Fundamental development changes. The need for centres of excellence in science, technology and engineering is highlighted as key to Future development and growth. Higher education institutions need to be the “breeding ground For the skilled individuals whom the continent needs". The report stresses the need For urgent attention to be given to the management of natural resources, of Forests and water, improving sanitation and strengthening health systems to deal with pandemics such as malaria, tuberculosis and HIV-Aids. Other important developments needed are building the human and institutional capacity for good governance and strengthening leadership in public life, civil society and business. In Focusing on the theme “lessons in diversity’ the Guide captures the richness of the various “diversities ' in the South African higher education landscape. It describes the radical transformation of higher education in South Africa over more than a decade. It identifies South Africa's research system as being “by Far the biggest in Africa” and demonstrates the important role South African higher education can play in meeting the challenges of Africa. I hope that the information provided will allow those interested in South African education to make informed choices. , 5th Edition
- Full Text:
- Date Issued: 2005
South Africa's growth, employment and redistribution strategy in the context of structural adjustment programmes in the South
- Authors: Lehloesa, Thembinkosi L
- Date: 2000
- Subjects: Growth, Employment And Redistribution Programme (South Africa) , South Africa -- Economic policy , South Africa -- Politics and government -- 1989-1994
- Language: English
- Type: Thesis , Masters , MA
- Identifier: vital:2794 , http://hdl.handle.net/10962/d1003004 , Growth, Employment And Redistribution Programme (South Africa) , South Africa -- Economic policy , South Africa -- Politics and government -- 1989-1994
- Description: This study is a contribution to the ongoing debate concerning the future of South Africa’s macro-economic policy known as the Growth, Employment and Redistribution (GEAR) strategy. The study attempts to draw parallels between the GEAR macro-economic policy framework and structural adjustment programmes in the South. By making use of this comparison, the study argues that the outcome of the GEAR will be no different from structural adjustment programmes in that it will fail to reduce poverty and cause government to meet the basic needs of the people. These conclusions are drawn from the fact that the GEAR policy is premised on the faith that the market is capable of redistributing income and wealth, and providing people with their basic needs.
- Full Text:
- Date Issued: 2000
- Authors: Lehloesa, Thembinkosi L
- Date: 2000
- Subjects: Growth, Employment And Redistribution Programme (South Africa) , South Africa -- Economic policy , South Africa -- Politics and government -- 1989-1994
- Language: English
- Type: Thesis , Masters , MA
- Identifier: vital:2794 , http://hdl.handle.net/10962/d1003004 , Growth, Employment And Redistribution Programme (South Africa) , South Africa -- Economic policy , South Africa -- Politics and government -- 1989-1994
- Description: This study is a contribution to the ongoing debate concerning the future of South Africa’s macro-economic policy known as the Growth, Employment and Redistribution (GEAR) strategy. The study attempts to draw parallels between the GEAR macro-economic policy framework and structural adjustment programmes in the South. By making use of this comparison, the study argues that the outcome of the GEAR will be no different from structural adjustment programmes in that it will fail to reduce poverty and cause government to meet the basic needs of the people. These conclusions are drawn from the fact that the GEAR policy is premised on the faith that the market is capable of redistributing income and wealth, and providing people with their basic needs.
- Full Text:
- Date Issued: 2000
Cognition and multiple sclerosis: a neuropsychological and MRI study
- Authors: Thornton, Helena Barbara
- Date: 1996
- Subjects: Multiple sclerosis -- Magnetic resonance imaging , Cognitive neuroscience
- Language: English
- Type: Thesis , Masters , MA
- Identifier: vital:3144 , http://hdl.handle.net/10962/d1007290 , Multiple sclerosis -- Magnetic resonance imaging , Cognitive neuroscience
- Description: Ten people with multiple sclerosis (MS) who felt they had cognitive difficulties because of their MS were investigated. This study had multiple aims. Firstly, to explore the subjective experience of cognitive deficits. Secondly, to assess whether or not there was objective evidence of cognitive difficulties on neuropsychological testing, and whether this was commensurate with a pattern of subcortical dementia. Thirdly, to determine whether their magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) scans replicated the patterns of atrophy frequently reported in MS patients with cognitive difficulties. And finally, to investigate the psychological well-being of the subjects. In depth neuropsychiatric interviews, psychiatric and psychological inventories, a comprehensive neuropsychological battery, and MRI investigations were done. The mean Full Scale Intelligence Quotient (FSIQ) fell within the superior range, at the 89th percentile. On tests of general intelligence, mental state examinations, there was little or no indication of cognitive deterioration. However, on sophisticated neuropsychological testing, there was convincing evidence of cognitive problems. Magnetic resonance imaging lesions were atypical of the reported research on cognitively compromised MS patients.
- Full Text:
- Date Issued: 1996
- Authors: Thornton, Helena Barbara
- Date: 1996
- Subjects: Multiple sclerosis -- Magnetic resonance imaging , Cognitive neuroscience
- Language: English
- Type: Thesis , Masters , MA
- Identifier: vital:3144 , http://hdl.handle.net/10962/d1007290 , Multiple sclerosis -- Magnetic resonance imaging , Cognitive neuroscience
- Description: Ten people with multiple sclerosis (MS) who felt they had cognitive difficulties because of their MS were investigated. This study had multiple aims. Firstly, to explore the subjective experience of cognitive deficits. Secondly, to assess whether or not there was objective evidence of cognitive difficulties on neuropsychological testing, and whether this was commensurate with a pattern of subcortical dementia. Thirdly, to determine whether their magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) scans replicated the patterns of atrophy frequently reported in MS patients with cognitive difficulties. And finally, to investigate the psychological well-being of the subjects. In depth neuropsychiatric interviews, psychiatric and psychological inventories, a comprehensive neuropsychological battery, and MRI investigations were done. The mean Full Scale Intelligence Quotient (FSIQ) fell within the superior range, at the 89th percentile. On tests of general intelligence, mental state examinations, there was little or no indication of cognitive deterioration. However, on sophisticated neuropsychological testing, there was convincing evidence of cognitive problems. Magnetic resonance imaging lesions were atypical of the reported research on cognitively compromised MS patients.
- Full Text:
- Date Issued: 1996
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