Performance management system at a public development corporation: success factors and challenges
- Authors: Saki, David Siphosethu
- Date: 2021-04
- Subjects: Gqeberha (South Africa) , Eastern Cape (South Africa) , South Africa
- Language: English
- Type: Master's , text
- Identifier: http://hdl.handle.net/10948/52935 , vital:44733
- Description: Public sector organisations often lack effectiveness in the implementation of an organisational strategy and seek out means of utilising a performance management system to ensure the productive implementation of its strategy (Auditor General South Africa, 2017). Therefore, it is important for organisations to utilise tools and techniques to ensure that the performance management system is efficiently implemented. Performance management is defined as a strategic and integrated approach aimed at delivering sustained success by using tools and techniques to improve the performance of people by developing the capabilities of teams and individual contributors (Armstrong, 2006). The main purpose of the study was to identify success factors that contributed to the effective implementation of a performance management system and then determine the extent to which these factors have been successfully incorporated in the performance management system at the CDC. The literature review was conducted, highlighting the process of performance management, tools and techniques, success factors and challenges in order to effectively implement a performance management system. In this study, a positive correlation between the PM purpose, success factors and tools revealed that the various success factors in relation to systems, resources, staff and measurement linked with the PM purpose. In addition, it was also revealed that the human resources component was considered as very important in driving an effective performance management system. , Thesis (MA) -- Faculty of Business and Economic Sciences, Human Resources Management, 2021
- Full Text:
- Date Issued: 2021-04
- Authors: Saki, David Siphosethu
- Date: 2021-04
- Subjects: Gqeberha (South Africa) , Eastern Cape (South Africa) , South Africa
- Language: English
- Type: Master's , text
- Identifier: http://hdl.handle.net/10948/52935 , vital:44733
- Description: Public sector organisations often lack effectiveness in the implementation of an organisational strategy and seek out means of utilising a performance management system to ensure the productive implementation of its strategy (Auditor General South Africa, 2017). Therefore, it is important for organisations to utilise tools and techniques to ensure that the performance management system is efficiently implemented. Performance management is defined as a strategic and integrated approach aimed at delivering sustained success by using tools and techniques to improve the performance of people by developing the capabilities of teams and individual contributors (Armstrong, 2006). The main purpose of the study was to identify success factors that contributed to the effective implementation of a performance management system and then determine the extent to which these factors have been successfully incorporated in the performance management system at the CDC. The literature review was conducted, highlighting the process of performance management, tools and techniques, success factors and challenges in order to effectively implement a performance management system. In this study, a positive correlation between the PM purpose, success factors and tools revealed that the various success factors in relation to systems, resources, staff and measurement linked with the PM purpose. In addition, it was also revealed that the human resources component was considered as very important in driving an effective performance management system. , Thesis (MA) -- Faculty of Business and Economic Sciences, Human Resources Management, 2021
- Full Text:
- Date Issued: 2021-04
Photodynamic antimicrobial chemotherapy against Staphylococcus aureus and Escherichia coli sensitized using indium (III) cationic porphyrins linked to core-shell magnetic nanoparticles
- Authors: Makola, Lekgowa Collen
- Date: 2021-04
- Subjects: Photochemotherapy , Photosensitizing compounds , Staphylococcus aureus , Escherichia coli , Indium , Porphyrins , Magnetic nanoparticles , Quaternize
- Language: English
- Type: thesis , text , Masters , MSc
- Identifier: http://hdl.handle.net/10962/177225 , vital:42801
- Description: Photodynamic antimicrobial chemotherapy (PACT) is a well-known antimicrobial therapy technique used against multi-drug resistant pathogens. In this study, the syntheses, characterization, photophysicochemical properties, and the applications of symmetrically and asymmetrically substituted cationic indium (III) porphyrins linked to silver/copper ferrite core-shell (Ag/CuFe2O4) magnetic nanoparticles (MNPs) as potential photosensitizers for PACT are reported. The synthesized complexes include axially modified porphyrins quaternized through an axial ligand. All the asymmetrically substituted porphyrins were linked to the NPs via an ester bond and the symmetrically substituted porphyrins were linked (peripherally and /or axially) via self-assembly (Ag-S and/or Ag-N). The impact of axial modification, peripheral substituents, conjugation to the NPs, the number of positive charges, and the chain length of the alkyl halides quaternizing agents on PACT efficacy and photophysicochemical properties of porphyrins were studied. High singlet oxygen quantum yields and antimicrobial log reductions were observed. Lipophilicity and hydrophilicity of the porphyrins were also studies, where the complexes quaternized with methyl iodide showed relatively high hydrophilicity character. Upon in vitro PACT studies, the quaternized complexes were observed to have 0% viable colony, signifying their effectiveness. Moreover, the highest log reductions of 9.27 were observed against S. aureus and 9.58 were observed against E. coli. The findings from this work delineate that singlet oxygen generation alone is not a distinct factor on the PACT efficacy of the porphyrin complexes, since some of the complexes have practically the same singlet oxygen quantum but different PACT activity. However, other contributing factors including water solubility play a significant role. , Thesis (MSc) -- Faculty of Science, Department of Chemistry, 2021
- Full Text:
- Date Issued: 2021-04
- Authors: Makola, Lekgowa Collen
- Date: 2021-04
- Subjects: Photochemotherapy , Photosensitizing compounds , Staphylococcus aureus , Escherichia coli , Indium , Porphyrins , Magnetic nanoparticles , Quaternize
- Language: English
- Type: thesis , text , Masters , MSc
- Identifier: http://hdl.handle.net/10962/177225 , vital:42801
- Description: Photodynamic antimicrobial chemotherapy (PACT) is a well-known antimicrobial therapy technique used against multi-drug resistant pathogens. In this study, the syntheses, characterization, photophysicochemical properties, and the applications of symmetrically and asymmetrically substituted cationic indium (III) porphyrins linked to silver/copper ferrite core-shell (Ag/CuFe2O4) magnetic nanoparticles (MNPs) as potential photosensitizers for PACT are reported. The synthesized complexes include axially modified porphyrins quaternized through an axial ligand. All the asymmetrically substituted porphyrins were linked to the NPs via an ester bond and the symmetrically substituted porphyrins were linked (peripherally and /or axially) via self-assembly (Ag-S and/or Ag-N). The impact of axial modification, peripheral substituents, conjugation to the NPs, the number of positive charges, and the chain length of the alkyl halides quaternizing agents on PACT efficacy and photophysicochemical properties of porphyrins were studied. High singlet oxygen quantum yields and antimicrobial log reductions were observed. Lipophilicity and hydrophilicity of the porphyrins were also studies, where the complexes quaternized with methyl iodide showed relatively high hydrophilicity character. Upon in vitro PACT studies, the quaternized complexes were observed to have 0% viable colony, signifying their effectiveness. Moreover, the highest log reductions of 9.27 were observed against S. aureus and 9.58 were observed against E. coli. The findings from this work delineate that singlet oxygen generation alone is not a distinct factor on the PACT efficacy of the porphyrin complexes, since some of the complexes have practically the same singlet oxygen quantum but different PACT activity. However, other contributing factors including water solubility play a significant role. , Thesis (MSc) -- Faculty of Science, Department of Chemistry, 2021
- Full Text:
- Date Issued: 2021-04
Physical activity, physical fitness, sedentary behaviour and screen time profiles of primary school children in a school within the Makana Municipality, Eastern Cape, South Africa
- Authors: Kade, Andréa Gaby
- Date: 2021-04
- Subjects: Sedentary behavior in children -- South Africa -- Makana Municipality , Physical fitness for children -- South Africa -- Makana Municipality , Exercise -- Physiological aspects , Exercise -- Health aspects , Diabetes -- Risk factors , Heart -- Diseases -- Risk factors
- Language: English
- Type: thesis , text , Masters , MSc
- Identifier: http://hdl.handle.net/10962/177282 , vital:42806
- Description: There is a lack of data on the physical activity, physical fitness and sedentary behaviour of children in South Africa. Furthermore chronic diseases such as type II diabetes and coronary heart disease have been linked to childhood inactivity, and improving cardiorespiratory fitness and increasing levels of physical activity has been shown to be beneficial in reducing the risk of such diseases. In South Africa more broadly there is a lack of information on levels of physical activity and sedentary behaviour as well as physical fitness measures particularly in children. Objective: The purpose of this study was to enhance the existing body of knowledge on this, by measuring the prevalence of physical inactivity, sedentary behaviour and screen time of primary school children in a private school from the Makana Municipal region in the Eastern Cape Province of South Africa, where the evidence is most sparse. A secondary aim was to assess levels of physical fitness in this cohort, as well as to compare across grades and sexes. Method: After ethical approval was granted, stature and body mass measurements were taken and body mass index was computed for primary school children (Grade one to seven) from a private school in the Makana Municipality. Sitting stature was measured in order to determine each child’s peak height velocity and maturity offset. Five different physical fitness tests were conducted on the children and blood pressure and heart rate values were measured at rest. Physical activity and screen time questionnaires were completed by the children’s parents for a seven day period. Results: Females were found to mature faster than males. In addition females were more physically active (Females= 916 min/week; Males= 669 min/week) while also accumulating more sedentary time (Females= 1241 min/week; Males= 970 min/week) as compared to males, although no significant differences were found between males and females for these variables. The sample participated in more than 60 minutes of moderate-to-vigorous physical activity and less than two hours of screen time daily, which is in accordance with guidelines. No differences were found between grades and sexes for accumulated screen time. Strength increased significantly with grade and age, and there were also statistical differences between the sexes for all three strength measures with males being stronger than females. Females were more flexible than males and no statistical differences were found between sexes for the shuttle run test. Blood pressure correlated positively with mass, as did all the strength measures as well as maturity offset. No correlations were found between screen time and all other variables. A negative relationship was recorded between screen time and physical activity, although not significant. For females a strong positive correlation was found between sedentary behaviour and physical activity. Conclusion: The study was successful in adding to the body of knowledge regarding the prevalence of physical inactivity, sedentary behaviour and screen time within school children from the Makana Municipality in the Eastern Cape Province of South Africa. The sample was considered physically active as they accumulated on average more than 60 minutes of moderate-to-vigorous physical activity daily (Males= 96 min/day; Females 130 min/day), which is in accordance with guidelines recommended by the World Health Organization (World Health Organization, 2018). The sample accumulated more sedentary behaviour than physical activity, although not significant. Screen time was below regulations of two hours daily, indicating this population participated in more non screen related sedentary behaviour. More research is needed into the risks presented with different forms of sedentary behaviour. Physical fitness increased with increasing grade and age and males were considerably more fit. The current study did not present any concern with regards to the effects of increased physical activity and fitness levels within school aged children. More research into the current levels of physical activity, physical fitness and sedentary behaviour of school aged children in South Africa in general, and in the Eastern Cape Province, is needed. , Thesis (MSc) -- Faculty of Science, Human Kinetics and Ergonomics, 2021
- Full Text:
- Date Issued: 2021-04
- Authors: Kade, Andréa Gaby
- Date: 2021-04
- Subjects: Sedentary behavior in children -- South Africa -- Makana Municipality , Physical fitness for children -- South Africa -- Makana Municipality , Exercise -- Physiological aspects , Exercise -- Health aspects , Diabetes -- Risk factors , Heart -- Diseases -- Risk factors
- Language: English
- Type: thesis , text , Masters , MSc
- Identifier: http://hdl.handle.net/10962/177282 , vital:42806
- Description: There is a lack of data on the physical activity, physical fitness and sedentary behaviour of children in South Africa. Furthermore chronic diseases such as type II diabetes and coronary heart disease have been linked to childhood inactivity, and improving cardiorespiratory fitness and increasing levels of physical activity has been shown to be beneficial in reducing the risk of such diseases. In South Africa more broadly there is a lack of information on levels of physical activity and sedentary behaviour as well as physical fitness measures particularly in children. Objective: The purpose of this study was to enhance the existing body of knowledge on this, by measuring the prevalence of physical inactivity, sedentary behaviour and screen time of primary school children in a private school from the Makana Municipal region in the Eastern Cape Province of South Africa, where the evidence is most sparse. A secondary aim was to assess levels of physical fitness in this cohort, as well as to compare across grades and sexes. Method: After ethical approval was granted, stature and body mass measurements were taken and body mass index was computed for primary school children (Grade one to seven) from a private school in the Makana Municipality. Sitting stature was measured in order to determine each child’s peak height velocity and maturity offset. Five different physical fitness tests were conducted on the children and blood pressure and heart rate values were measured at rest. Physical activity and screen time questionnaires were completed by the children’s parents for a seven day period. Results: Females were found to mature faster than males. In addition females were more physically active (Females= 916 min/week; Males= 669 min/week) while also accumulating more sedentary time (Females= 1241 min/week; Males= 970 min/week) as compared to males, although no significant differences were found between males and females for these variables. The sample participated in more than 60 minutes of moderate-to-vigorous physical activity and less than two hours of screen time daily, which is in accordance with guidelines. No differences were found between grades and sexes for accumulated screen time. Strength increased significantly with grade and age, and there were also statistical differences between the sexes for all three strength measures with males being stronger than females. Females were more flexible than males and no statistical differences were found between sexes for the shuttle run test. Blood pressure correlated positively with mass, as did all the strength measures as well as maturity offset. No correlations were found between screen time and all other variables. A negative relationship was recorded between screen time and physical activity, although not significant. For females a strong positive correlation was found between sedentary behaviour and physical activity. Conclusion: The study was successful in adding to the body of knowledge regarding the prevalence of physical inactivity, sedentary behaviour and screen time within school children from the Makana Municipality in the Eastern Cape Province of South Africa. The sample was considered physically active as they accumulated on average more than 60 minutes of moderate-to-vigorous physical activity daily (Males= 96 min/day; Females 130 min/day), which is in accordance with guidelines recommended by the World Health Organization (World Health Organization, 2018). The sample accumulated more sedentary behaviour than physical activity, although not significant. Screen time was below regulations of two hours daily, indicating this population participated in more non screen related sedentary behaviour. More research is needed into the risks presented with different forms of sedentary behaviour. Physical fitness increased with increasing grade and age and males were considerably more fit. The current study did not present any concern with regards to the effects of increased physical activity and fitness levels within school aged children. More research into the current levels of physical activity, physical fitness and sedentary behaviour of school aged children in South Africa in general, and in the Eastern Cape Province, is needed. , Thesis (MSc) -- Faculty of Science, Human Kinetics and Ergonomics, 2021
- Full Text:
- Date Issued: 2021-04
Poppehysie
- Authors: Arendse, Ashwin Albert
- Date: 2021-04
- Subjects: Kaaps , Creative writing (Higher education) -- South Africa , Diaries -- Authorship , Afrikaans poetry -- 21st century , African literature -- History and criticism
- Language: Afrikaans
- Type: thesis , text , Masters , MA
- Identifier: http://hdl.handle.net/10962/178259 , vital:42925
- Description: My thesis, is geskryf in Swartlandse Kaaps, ’n streeksvariant van Kaaps. Die poems is free verses wat afspeel tien ie backdrop van Malmesbury en Stellenbosch se “Coloured areas” mette analysis van dialect en ideolect wat eie is annie mense wat ampe altyd feature innie stories wat ek vertel. Die thesis explore die liefde asse konsep. Dit kyk na hoe die desperate need vi absent liefde ’n toxic relationship feed tussen ’n jong couple ennie destructive impact van liefde oppe pesoon wie nooit geleer was hoe om lief te wies vi annes ie. Dan kyk ek oek na hoe die previous generations, dit van my ma en pa liefde reject et asse unaffordable excess inne community wat brutal en harsh is. Antonio Gramsci se konsep vannie organic intellectual, dien asse philosophical underpinning virrie thesis d.w.s die hoofkarakter dien asse orator virrie intellectual en cultural insights wattie everyman in sy community nie self kan express ie. Die organic intellectual express díe thoughts innie cultural taal van sy social class. Die thesis explore stories soes it vetel wôd dee mense soes my oupa en mense wattie altyd aware is dat hulle stories in hulle in hettie. In dai way val it tot some degree binne die terrain van oral traditions. Die thesis wil dip into die collective conscious vanne social group wat die worst aspects van liewe in Syd-Afrika experience et. Ek voel free verse is ie ideal form van expression vi my in regards tot die skryf van die thesis, omdat ek daamee die line successfully kan blur tussen ie ‘language of the people’ en my eie individual leaning toward poetic language en forms. In terms van style draw ek op vorige digbundels in Kaaps, most notably op Nathan Trantraal se baie controlled, free verse digbundel, ‘Alles het niet kom wôd,’en Ronelda S. Kamfer se technique van ‘oorvertel’, in haa digbundel ‘grond/Santekraam’. , Thesis (MA) -- Faculty of Humanities, School of Languages and Literatures, 2021
- Full Text:
- Date Issued: 2021-04
- Authors: Arendse, Ashwin Albert
- Date: 2021-04
- Subjects: Kaaps , Creative writing (Higher education) -- South Africa , Diaries -- Authorship , Afrikaans poetry -- 21st century , African literature -- History and criticism
- Language: Afrikaans
- Type: thesis , text , Masters , MA
- Identifier: http://hdl.handle.net/10962/178259 , vital:42925
- Description: My thesis, is geskryf in Swartlandse Kaaps, ’n streeksvariant van Kaaps. Die poems is free verses wat afspeel tien ie backdrop van Malmesbury en Stellenbosch se “Coloured areas” mette analysis van dialect en ideolect wat eie is annie mense wat ampe altyd feature innie stories wat ek vertel. Die thesis explore die liefde asse konsep. Dit kyk na hoe die desperate need vi absent liefde ’n toxic relationship feed tussen ’n jong couple ennie destructive impact van liefde oppe pesoon wie nooit geleer was hoe om lief te wies vi annes ie. Dan kyk ek oek na hoe die previous generations, dit van my ma en pa liefde reject et asse unaffordable excess inne community wat brutal en harsh is. Antonio Gramsci se konsep vannie organic intellectual, dien asse philosophical underpinning virrie thesis d.w.s die hoofkarakter dien asse orator virrie intellectual en cultural insights wattie everyman in sy community nie self kan express ie. Die organic intellectual express díe thoughts innie cultural taal van sy social class. Die thesis explore stories soes it vetel wôd dee mense soes my oupa en mense wattie altyd aware is dat hulle stories in hulle in hettie. In dai way val it tot some degree binne die terrain van oral traditions. Die thesis wil dip into die collective conscious vanne social group wat die worst aspects van liewe in Syd-Afrika experience et. Ek voel free verse is ie ideal form van expression vi my in regards tot die skryf van die thesis, omdat ek daamee die line successfully kan blur tussen ie ‘language of the people’ en my eie individual leaning toward poetic language en forms. In terms van style draw ek op vorige digbundels in Kaaps, most notably op Nathan Trantraal se baie controlled, free verse digbundel, ‘Alles het niet kom wôd,’en Ronelda S. Kamfer se technique van ‘oorvertel’, in haa digbundel ‘grond/Santekraam’. , Thesis (MA) -- Faculty of Humanities, School of Languages and Literatures, 2021
- Full Text:
- Date Issued: 2021-04
Presidential accountability for cabinet appointments in South Africa
- Authors: Phorego, Molefhi Solomon
- Date: 2021-04
- Subjects: Gqeberha (South Africa) , Eastern Cape (South Africa) , Executive power--South Africa
- Language: English
- Type: Doctoral theses , text
- Identifier: http://hdl.handle.net/10948/51212 , vital:43228
- Description: The President’s power to appoint cabinet members in South Africa constitutes an essential part of the country’s constitutional framework. It is a discretionary power exercised by the President in his capacity as Head of State bestowed on him by the Constitution, which underpins cabinet appointments.The underlying debates in relation to the President’s power to make cabinet appointments lie between justiciability and non-justiciability. In this respect, there are two schools of thought regarding the question whether the exercise of such a power may be the subject of a judicial inquiry, and if so, to what extent. This thesis provides insight into the nature and origin of the President’s power to appoint cabinet members. It also delves deeply into issues raised by the doctrine of separation of powers surrounding the exercise of this power. The core focus of the thesis is on the extent to which the President can be held accountable for making cabinet appointments. The main argument advanced is that because South Africa is a country founded on the principles of constitutional supremacy and the rule of law, every exercise of public power should be subject to the Constitution, including the President’s power to appoint cabinet members. The determination of whether public power is in line with the dictates of the Constitution calls for an independent judiciary, with the power to rule on any aspect of societal disputes. In pursuit of the above, the thesis analyses the constitutional provisions and case law relevant to the President’s powers as Head of State. The research highlights, amongst others, the President’s duty to give reasons for cabinet appointments. On this point it is submitted that the President does have the constitutional obligation to give reasons for cabinet appointments. Comparisons with other jurisdictions on cabinet appointment processes and oversight mechanisms regarding the exercise of that power form the backdrop against which recommendations are made in the thesis. Proposals are advanced for increased legislative oversight in cabinet appointments. Such oversight should focus on inter alia, the President’s duty to furnish reasons for cabinet appointments. The thesis also proposes a constitutional framework in terms of which Parliament plays a role in the selection of appointees to cabinet. The rationale behind this recommendation is the minimising of instances in which the judiciary is accused of overreaching on the powers of the political organs of government. The courts should, however, still retain the power to pronounce whether both the President and Parliament have fulfilled their relevant constitutional obligations in relation to the process of cabinet appointments. , Thesis (PhD) -- Faculty of Law, Public Law, 2021
- Full Text:
- Date Issued: 2021-04
- Authors: Phorego, Molefhi Solomon
- Date: 2021-04
- Subjects: Gqeberha (South Africa) , Eastern Cape (South Africa) , Executive power--South Africa
- Language: English
- Type: Doctoral theses , text
- Identifier: http://hdl.handle.net/10948/51212 , vital:43228
- Description: The President’s power to appoint cabinet members in South Africa constitutes an essential part of the country’s constitutional framework. It is a discretionary power exercised by the President in his capacity as Head of State bestowed on him by the Constitution, which underpins cabinet appointments.The underlying debates in relation to the President’s power to make cabinet appointments lie between justiciability and non-justiciability. In this respect, there are two schools of thought regarding the question whether the exercise of such a power may be the subject of a judicial inquiry, and if so, to what extent. This thesis provides insight into the nature and origin of the President’s power to appoint cabinet members. It also delves deeply into issues raised by the doctrine of separation of powers surrounding the exercise of this power. The core focus of the thesis is on the extent to which the President can be held accountable for making cabinet appointments. The main argument advanced is that because South Africa is a country founded on the principles of constitutional supremacy and the rule of law, every exercise of public power should be subject to the Constitution, including the President’s power to appoint cabinet members. The determination of whether public power is in line with the dictates of the Constitution calls for an independent judiciary, with the power to rule on any aspect of societal disputes. In pursuit of the above, the thesis analyses the constitutional provisions and case law relevant to the President’s powers as Head of State. The research highlights, amongst others, the President’s duty to give reasons for cabinet appointments. On this point it is submitted that the President does have the constitutional obligation to give reasons for cabinet appointments. Comparisons with other jurisdictions on cabinet appointment processes and oversight mechanisms regarding the exercise of that power form the backdrop against which recommendations are made in the thesis. Proposals are advanced for increased legislative oversight in cabinet appointments. Such oversight should focus on inter alia, the President’s duty to furnish reasons for cabinet appointments. The thesis also proposes a constitutional framework in terms of which Parliament plays a role in the selection of appointees to cabinet. The rationale behind this recommendation is the minimising of instances in which the judiciary is accused of overreaching on the powers of the political organs of government. The courts should, however, still retain the power to pronounce whether both the President and Parliament have fulfilled their relevant constitutional obligations in relation to the process of cabinet appointments. , Thesis (PhD) -- Faculty of Law, Public Law, 2021
- Full Text:
- Date Issued: 2021-04
Rheology behaviour of slurries as a function of particle size and ion concentration
- Authors: Kondlo, Princess Kholiwe
- Date: 2021-04
- Subjects: Port Elizabeth (South Africa) , Eastern Cape (South Africa) , South Africa
- Language: English
- Type: Master's theses , text
- Identifier: http://hdl.handle.net/10948/53333 , vital:45141
- Description: In this work, the rheological properties of alumina slurries milled to different particle sizes were investigated. Viscosity increases as the particle size decreases. When increasing amounts of calcium hydroxide, strontium hydroxide or barium hydroxide are added, the viscosity first goes down and then goes up. This can be explained in terms of changes in pH and changes in ionic strength impacting on the surface potential of the particles in suspension. Adding the same concentration of different cations results in different viscosities, with the order being (from high to low viscosity) Ba>Sr>Ca. Effects of partial dissolution of and structural changes to the alumina particles at high pH cannot be excluded. In order to better understanding the different effects, it was attempted to measure the zeta potential of the slurries at different pH values. This resulted in highly positive zeta potential values over the complete pH range, without the observationof an iso-electric point. This does not fit to the observed changes in rheology and contrasts withliterature data. One explanation would be that the measurement system used is unsuitable to yield correct zeta potential values for the materials under investigation. , Thesis (MSc) -- Faculty of Science, Department of Chemistry, 2021
- Full Text:
- Date Issued: 2021-04
- Authors: Kondlo, Princess Kholiwe
- Date: 2021-04
- Subjects: Port Elizabeth (South Africa) , Eastern Cape (South Africa) , South Africa
- Language: English
- Type: Master's theses , text
- Identifier: http://hdl.handle.net/10948/53333 , vital:45141
- Description: In this work, the rheological properties of alumina slurries milled to different particle sizes were investigated. Viscosity increases as the particle size decreases. When increasing amounts of calcium hydroxide, strontium hydroxide or barium hydroxide are added, the viscosity first goes down and then goes up. This can be explained in terms of changes in pH and changes in ionic strength impacting on the surface potential of the particles in suspension. Adding the same concentration of different cations results in different viscosities, with the order being (from high to low viscosity) Ba>Sr>Ca. Effects of partial dissolution of and structural changes to the alumina particles at high pH cannot be excluded. In order to better understanding the different effects, it was attempted to measure the zeta potential of the slurries at different pH values. This resulted in highly positive zeta potential values over the complete pH range, without the observationof an iso-electric point. This does not fit to the observed changes in rheology and contrasts withliterature data. One explanation would be that the measurement system used is unsuitable to yield correct zeta potential values for the materials under investigation. , Thesis (MSc) -- Faculty of Science, Department of Chemistry, 2021
- Full Text:
- Date Issued: 2021-04
Salt in my footsteps
- Authors: Radebe, Mxolisi Vusumuzi
- Date: 2021-04
- Subjects: Creative writing (Higher education) -- South Africa , South African poetry (English) -- 21st century , South African fiction (English) -- 21st century
- Language: English
- Type: thesis , text , Masters , MA
- Identifier: http://hdl.handle.net/10962/178201 , vital:42920
- Description: My thesis is a collection of poems which focus on human experiences related to my background. I grew up in a countryside village, freely experiencing nature in unrestricted walks to the rivers and mountains; communal living instilled in me the humanitarian values which I uphold to the present. I use short and long lyrical prose poems to bring life and humanise the untold or unexpressed stories of my community. My use of simple everyday language and clear, concrete but surprising images that resonate with deeper meanings and emotions is influenced by Seitlhamo Motsapi’s poems, especially his collection of poems titled earthstepper/the ocean is very shallow and Mxolisi Nyezwa’s poetry book, Song Trials. Spanish poems in English translations by the 20th century Spanish poets: Blas de Otero, Juan Roman Jimenez and Federico Garcia Lorca, published in the book titled Roots and Wings have had a huge impact on my construction of images. I also draw from the free-form and narrative prose poetry experiments of poets: Mangaliso Buzani, vangile gantsho and Ivy Alvarez. , Thesis (MA) -- Faculty of Humanities, School of Languages and Literatures, 2021
- Full Text:
- Date Issued: 2021-04
- Authors: Radebe, Mxolisi Vusumuzi
- Date: 2021-04
- Subjects: Creative writing (Higher education) -- South Africa , South African poetry (English) -- 21st century , South African fiction (English) -- 21st century
- Language: English
- Type: thesis , text , Masters , MA
- Identifier: http://hdl.handle.net/10962/178201 , vital:42920
- Description: My thesis is a collection of poems which focus on human experiences related to my background. I grew up in a countryside village, freely experiencing nature in unrestricted walks to the rivers and mountains; communal living instilled in me the humanitarian values which I uphold to the present. I use short and long lyrical prose poems to bring life and humanise the untold or unexpressed stories of my community. My use of simple everyday language and clear, concrete but surprising images that resonate with deeper meanings and emotions is influenced by Seitlhamo Motsapi’s poems, especially his collection of poems titled earthstepper/the ocean is very shallow and Mxolisi Nyezwa’s poetry book, Song Trials. Spanish poems in English translations by the 20th century Spanish poets: Blas de Otero, Juan Roman Jimenez and Federico Garcia Lorca, published in the book titled Roots and Wings have had a huge impact on my construction of images. I also draw from the free-form and narrative prose poetry experiments of poets: Mangaliso Buzani, vangile gantsho and Ivy Alvarez. , Thesis (MA) -- Faculty of Humanities, School of Languages and Literatures, 2021
- Full Text:
- Date Issued: 2021-04
Selection for improved virulence of Cryptophlebia peltastica nucleopolyhedrovirus (CrpeNPV) to False Codling Moth, Thaumatotibia leucotreta, by serial passage through a heterologous host
- Authors: Iita, Petrus Paulus
- Date: 2021-04
- Subjects: Cryptophlebia leucotreta -- Biological control , Biological pest control agents , Citrus -- Diseases and pests , Baculoviruses , Cryptophlebia peltastica nucleopolyhedrovirus (CrpeNPV)
- Language: English
- Type: thesis , text , Masters , MSc
- Identifier: http://hdl.handle.net/10962/178180 , vital:42918
- Description: The false codling moth (FCM), Thaumatotibia leucotreta (Meyrick) (Lepidoptera: Tortricidae) is endemic to southern Africa, and strongly associated with citrus. As South African citrus production is mainly for export to foreign markets, the market access risk due to the phytosanitary status of this pest is considerable and its control is therefore imperative. Various control measures as part of a rigorous integrated pest management (IPM) programme targeted against T. leucotreta have been effective at suppressing the pest in citrus, but there is still a growing need for continued improvement of the programme and augmentation of the available control options. Of these control options, biological control, particularly the use of Cryptophlebia leucotreta granulovirus (CrleGV-SA), is a key component of IPM in citrus orchards and it has been very successful at reducing T. leucotreta populations in the field for almost two decades. There is however, a growing need for more baculovirus variants with an improved virulence against T. leucotreta for a more efficient pest management system. The newly identified insect virus, Cryptophlebia peltastica nucleopolyhedrovirus (CrpeNPV) offers a unique opportunity for an additional biopesticide in IPM for control of T. leucotreta in the field. This study aimed to conduct serial passaging of CrpeNPV through a heterologous host, T. leucotreta, in order to determine the potential for improved virulence or speed of kill against it. In order to select for a variant of CrpeNPV with improved virulence against T. leucotreta, a high dose (LC90) of the virus OBs was used to perform 12 serial passages through T. leucotreta larvae in surface-dose bioassays. Whole genome sequencing and analysis of the passaged virus, along with restriction endonuclease profiling in silico was performed to determine if the genetic identity of the virus had changed during serial passage, in relation to the original virus. These analyses indicated that the dominant genotype of CrpeNPV was maintained following 12 serial passages through the heterologous host. The biological activity of the passaged virus, along with the original virus was evaluated against neonate T. leucotreta in surface-dose bioassays and compared. Results from dose-response bioassays showed that the virulence of CrpeNPV did not improve after 12 serial passages. The LC50 values of the passaged virus and the original virus were estimated at 1.96 × 104 and 1.58 × 104 OBs/ml, respectively, whereas the LC90 values were estimated at 3.46 × 104 OBs/ml for the passaged virus and 3.68 × 104 for the original virus. Similarly, the results from time-response bioassays showed that the speed of kill of CrpeNPV did not improve after 12 serial passages. The LT50 values of the passaged virus and the original virus were 88.44 hours (3 days and 16 hours) and 83.74 hours (3 days and 12 hours), respectively, whereas the LT90 values were 115 hours (4 days 19 hours) for the passaged virus and 102 hours (4 days 6 hours) for the original virus. The virulence and speed of kill of the passaged virus decreased significantly, in relation to the original virus. When the full genome of the passaged virus was sequenced and analysed, only a few SNPs were detected in the viral genome, in comparison to the original virus. No detectable difference in REN digestion patterns were observed following REN analysis of gDNA of the passaged virus with several restriction enzymes in silico. The results for this study suggest that CrpeNPV may already be optimally suited to the heterologous host as it persists under these conditions without significant changes to the genome. These results have positive implications for the genetic integrity of CrpeNPV as a potential biocontrol agent in the field. This study is the first to report the virulence selection of CrpeNPV by serial passage through a heterologous host, and also the first to record bioassay data in terms of dose response (or lethal concentration) against T. leucotreta second instars. The data obtained have added to the knowledge about interactions between CrpeNPV and its heterologous host, and may be fundamental to continued investigation into the effect of serial passage on pathogenicity and genetic diversity of CrpeNPV. , Thesis (MSc) -- Faculty of Science, Biochemistry and Microbiology, 2021
- Full Text:
- Date Issued: 2021-04
- Authors: Iita, Petrus Paulus
- Date: 2021-04
- Subjects: Cryptophlebia leucotreta -- Biological control , Biological pest control agents , Citrus -- Diseases and pests , Baculoviruses , Cryptophlebia peltastica nucleopolyhedrovirus (CrpeNPV)
- Language: English
- Type: thesis , text , Masters , MSc
- Identifier: http://hdl.handle.net/10962/178180 , vital:42918
- Description: The false codling moth (FCM), Thaumatotibia leucotreta (Meyrick) (Lepidoptera: Tortricidae) is endemic to southern Africa, and strongly associated with citrus. As South African citrus production is mainly for export to foreign markets, the market access risk due to the phytosanitary status of this pest is considerable and its control is therefore imperative. Various control measures as part of a rigorous integrated pest management (IPM) programme targeted against T. leucotreta have been effective at suppressing the pest in citrus, but there is still a growing need for continued improvement of the programme and augmentation of the available control options. Of these control options, biological control, particularly the use of Cryptophlebia leucotreta granulovirus (CrleGV-SA), is a key component of IPM in citrus orchards and it has been very successful at reducing T. leucotreta populations in the field for almost two decades. There is however, a growing need for more baculovirus variants with an improved virulence against T. leucotreta for a more efficient pest management system. The newly identified insect virus, Cryptophlebia peltastica nucleopolyhedrovirus (CrpeNPV) offers a unique opportunity for an additional biopesticide in IPM for control of T. leucotreta in the field. This study aimed to conduct serial passaging of CrpeNPV through a heterologous host, T. leucotreta, in order to determine the potential for improved virulence or speed of kill against it. In order to select for a variant of CrpeNPV with improved virulence against T. leucotreta, a high dose (LC90) of the virus OBs was used to perform 12 serial passages through T. leucotreta larvae in surface-dose bioassays. Whole genome sequencing and analysis of the passaged virus, along with restriction endonuclease profiling in silico was performed to determine if the genetic identity of the virus had changed during serial passage, in relation to the original virus. These analyses indicated that the dominant genotype of CrpeNPV was maintained following 12 serial passages through the heterologous host. The biological activity of the passaged virus, along with the original virus was evaluated against neonate T. leucotreta in surface-dose bioassays and compared. Results from dose-response bioassays showed that the virulence of CrpeNPV did not improve after 12 serial passages. The LC50 values of the passaged virus and the original virus were estimated at 1.96 × 104 and 1.58 × 104 OBs/ml, respectively, whereas the LC90 values were estimated at 3.46 × 104 OBs/ml for the passaged virus and 3.68 × 104 for the original virus. Similarly, the results from time-response bioassays showed that the speed of kill of CrpeNPV did not improve after 12 serial passages. The LT50 values of the passaged virus and the original virus were 88.44 hours (3 days and 16 hours) and 83.74 hours (3 days and 12 hours), respectively, whereas the LT90 values were 115 hours (4 days 19 hours) for the passaged virus and 102 hours (4 days 6 hours) for the original virus. The virulence and speed of kill of the passaged virus decreased significantly, in relation to the original virus. When the full genome of the passaged virus was sequenced and analysed, only a few SNPs were detected in the viral genome, in comparison to the original virus. No detectable difference in REN digestion patterns were observed following REN analysis of gDNA of the passaged virus with several restriction enzymes in silico. The results for this study suggest that CrpeNPV may already be optimally suited to the heterologous host as it persists under these conditions without significant changes to the genome. These results have positive implications for the genetic integrity of CrpeNPV as a potential biocontrol agent in the field. This study is the first to report the virulence selection of CrpeNPV by serial passage through a heterologous host, and also the first to record bioassay data in terms of dose response (or lethal concentration) against T. leucotreta second instars. The data obtained have added to the knowledge about interactions between CrpeNPV and its heterologous host, and may be fundamental to continued investigation into the effect of serial passage on pathogenicity and genetic diversity of CrpeNPV. , Thesis (MSc) -- Faculty of Science, Biochemistry and Microbiology, 2021
- Full Text:
- Date Issued: 2021-04
Smallholder farmers’ perception in the adoption of in-field rainwater harvesting techniques in Raymond Mhlaba Local Municipality, Eastern Cape, South Africa
- Mtyelwa, Chuma https://orcid.org/0000-0002-0696-4340
- Authors: Mtyelwa, Chuma https://orcid.org/0000-0002-0696-4340
- Date: 2021-04
- Subjects: Farms, Small , Water harvesting
- Language: English
- Type: Master's theses , text
- Identifier: http://hdl.handle.net/10353/21367 , vital:48499
- Description: Dissemination, adoption and continued use of adopted technologies are key requirements for improved smallholder farmers’ productivity. In an attempt to improve smallholder agricultural production and creating a resilient smallholder agricultural sector, many technologies such as the in-field rainwater harvesting technique (IRWHT) have been put in place. IRWHT has a tremendous potential for improving livelihoods of rural smallholder farmers, thus decreasing their vulnerability to vagaries of climate change. However, though IRWHT was promoted for agricultural crop production improvement, smallholder farmers discontinued its adoption. This study critically assessed the perception of smallholder farmers in Raymond Mhlaba Local Municipality (RMLM) on the use of the in-field rainwater harvesting technique to assess the underlying factors that led to IRWHT dis-adoption. This study adopted a descriptive study design; purposive sampling was used to select a sample of 120 smallholder farmers that initially adopted IRWHT. Data was gathered through a face-to-face interview and with a pre-tested semi-structured questionnaire. Descriptive statistical analysis frequency count, percentages, means and standard deviation were used for quantitative data analysis. The findings revealed that 96percent of smallholder farmers dis-adopted IRWHT after initial adoption. Moreover, IRWHT was dis-adopted 5-8 years post adoption. Critical reasons behind discontinuity include small land size (23percent), lack of reliable water source (18percent), complexity of IRWHT, continual extension support (17percent) and IRWHT taking up much space (13percent), amongst others. This study also revealed that farmers’ perception towards the innovation attributes of IRWHT, in relative advantage over economic returns such as profitability, had an impact on dis-adoption of IRWHT, with a negative farmers’ perception (𝑥̅ = 2.95). Complexity of IRWHT was associated with discontinuity of IRWHT by smallholder farmers in RMLM, with the majority (60percent) of smallholder farmers indicating that IRWHT was labour intensive. Some (39.9percent) stated that implementation of IRWHT was time consuming. Innovation attributes that led to a high rate of initial adoption were relative advantage with better yield (𝑥̅ = 4. 38) and compatibility. Smallholder farmers indicated that IRWHT can be implemented with cheaper and available working tools (𝑥̅ = 3.54). On trialability, smallholder farmers indicated that IRWHT was triable in different seasons and on observability smallholder farmers had a positive perception (𝑥̅ = 3.81) towards observable improved crop yield. Smallholder farmers had a positive perception (𝑥̅ = 4.14) of extension service support during the scaling-up of IRWHT although they indicated that the extension service support had ceased. , Thesis (MSc) -- Faculty of Science and Agriculture, 2021
- Full Text:
- Date Issued: 2021-04
- Authors: Mtyelwa, Chuma https://orcid.org/0000-0002-0696-4340
- Date: 2021-04
- Subjects: Farms, Small , Water harvesting
- Language: English
- Type: Master's theses , text
- Identifier: http://hdl.handle.net/10353/21367 , vital:48499
- Description: Dissemination, adoption and continued use of adopted technologies are key requirements for improved smallholder farmers’ productivity. In an attempt to improve smallholder agricultural production and creating a resilient smallholder agricultural sector, many technologies such as the in-field rainwater harvesting technique (IRWHT) have been put in place. IRWHT has a tremendous potential for improving livelihoods of rural smallholder farmers, thus decreasing their vulnerability to vagaries of climate change. However, though IRWHT was promoted for agricultural crop production improvement, smallholder farmers discontinued its adoption. This study critically assessed the perception of smallholder farmers in Raymond Mhlaba Local Municipality (RMLM) on the use of the in-field rainwater harvesting technique to assess the underlying factors that led to IRWHT dis-adoption. This study adopted a descriptive study design; purposive sampling was used to select a sample of 120 smallholder farmers that initially adopted IRWHT. Data was gathered through a face-to-face interview and with a pre-tested semi-structured questionnaire. Descriptive statistical analysis frequency count, percentages, means and standard deviation were used for quantitative data analysis. The findings revealed that 96percent of smallholder farmers dis-adopted IRWHT after initial adoption. Moreover, IRWHT was dis-adopted 5-8 years post adoption. Critical reasons behind discontinuity include small land size (23percent), lack of reliable water source (18percent), complexity of IRWHT, continual extension support (17percent) and IRWHT taking up much space (13percent), amongst others. This study also revealed that farmers’ perception towards the innovation attributes of IRWHT, in relative advantage over economic returns such as profitability, had an impact on dis-adoption of IRWHT, with a negative farmers’ perception (𝑥̅ = 2.95). Complexity of IRWHT was associated with discontinuity of IRWHT by smallholder farmers in RMLM, with the majority (60percent) of smallholder farmers indicating that IRWHT was labour intensive. Some (39.9percent) stated that implementation of IRWHT was time consuming. Innovation attributes that led to a high rate of initial adoption were relative advantage with better yield (𝑥̅ = 4. 38) and compatibility. Smallholder farmers indicated that IRWHT can be implemented with cheaper and available working tools (𝑥̅ = 3.54). On trialability, smallholder farmers indicated that IRWHT was triable in different seasons and on observability smallholder farmers had a positive perception (𝑥̅ = 3.81) towards observable improved crop yield. Smallholder farmers had a positive perception (𝑥̅ = 4.14) of extension service support during the scaling-up of IRWHT although they indicated that the extension service support had ceased. , Thesis (MSc) -- Faculty of Science and Agriculture, 2021
- Full Text:
- Date Issued: 2021-04
Student protests in South African universities with specific reference to Rhodes University (1970-1994)
- Authors: Gillam, Katherine Elaine
- Date: 2021-04
- Subjects: To be added
- Language: English
- Type: thesis , text , Masters , MA
- Identifier: http://hdl.handle.net/10962/178457 , vital:42941
- Description: Access restricted until April 2023. , Thesis (MA) -- Faculty of Humanities, History, 2021
- Full Text:
- Date Issued: 2021-04
- Authors: Gillam, Katherine Elaine
- Date: 2021-04
- Subjects: To be added
- Language: English
- Type: thesis , text , Masters , MA
- Identifier: http://hdl.handle.net/10962/178457 , vital:42941
- Description: Access restricted until April 2023. , Thesis (MA) -- Faculty of Humanities, History, 2021
- Full Text:
- Date Issued: 2021-04
The application of Classification Trees in the Banking Sector
- Authors: Mtwa, Sithayanda
- Date: 2021-04
- Subjects: To be added
- Language: English
- Type: thesis , text , Masters , MSc
- Identifier: http://hdl.handle.net/10962/178514 , vital:42946
- Description: Access restricted until April 2026. , Thesis (MSc) -- Faculty of Science, Statistics, 2021
- Full Text:
- Date Issued: 2021-04
- Authors: Mtwa, Sithayanda
- Date: 2021-04
- Subjects: To be added
- Language: English
- Type: thesis , text , Masters , MSc
- Identifier: http://hdl.handle.net/10962/178514 , vital:42946
- Description: Access restricted until April 2026. , Thesis (MSc) -- Faculty of Science, Statistics, 2021
- Full Text:
- Date Issued: 2021-04
The design of a resource centre for Pellsrus, Jeffreys Bay
- Authors: Bosch, Rickus
- Date: 2021-04
- Subjects: Community centers --South Africa --Jeffrey's Bay -- Designs and plans , Jeffrey's Bay (South Africa) --History
- Language: English
- Type: Master's theses , text
- Identifier: http://hdl.handle.net/10948/57454 , vital:57872
- Description: The South African city faces an ongoing struggle with adequate social and spatial justice. Citizens have become separated and cultures have been divided owing to the historical formation of the city and the post legislative laws. Because of the growth of cities, certain resources are difficult to access and people need to trav el vast distances and cross dangerous barriers in order to access these resources. This thesis involves the research of social and spatial justice within the South Afri can city, which has resulted in a poor quality of life and a lack of resources. More specifically this thesis aimed at creating an environment that will aid in a better quality of life through spatial and social equity by creating an active and positive space to access certain resources. The particular focus area is the rural community of Pellsrus in Jeffreys Bay. The context has been analysed to enable a sound understanding of the formation of the town, the behaviour of the town and its people, the urban conditions and the spatial structures. Research lead to a site being selected that would form an transition space connecting separated communities and resources. The design is aimed at creating a space for people to gather, gain access to the needed resourc es and act as a linkage or transition zone between certain areas of the town. The objective was to enrich the current movement systems and enhance the existing resources, ultimately resulting in the design of a trade-resource centre in Pellsrus. The architectural design is formulated as a mean of locality and community. A qualitative methodology has been implemented which incorporates various research methods such as surveys, literature reviews, primary and secondary data collection, site sketches, topographic mapping and drone footage. , Thesis (MSc) -- Faculty of Engineering, the Built Environment and Technology, School of Architecture, 2022
- Full Text:
- Date Issued: 2021-04
- Authors: Bosch, Rickus
- Date: 2021-04
- Subjects: Community centers --South Africa --Jeffrey's Bay -- Designs and plans , Jeffrey's Bay (South Africa) --History
- Language: English
- Type: Master's theses , text
- Identifier: http://hdl.handle.net/10948/57454 , vital:57872
- Description: The South African city faces an ongoing struggle with adequate social and spatial justice. Citizens have become separated and cultures have been divided owing to the historical formation of the city and the post legislative laws. Because of the growth of cities, certain resources are difficult to access and people need to trav el vast distances and cross dangerous barriers in order to access these resources. This thesis involves the research of social and spatial justice within the South Afri can city, which has resulted in a poor quality of life and a lack of resources. More specifically this thesis aimed at creating an environment that will aid in a better quality of life through spatial and social equity by creating an active and positive space to access certain resources. The particular focus area is the rural community of Pellsrus in Jeffreys Bay. The context has been analysed to enable a sound understanding of the formation of the town, the behaviour of the town and its people, the urban conditions and the spatial structures. Research lead to a site being selected that would form an transition space connecting separated communities and resources. The design is aimed at creating a space for people to gather, gain access to the needed resourc es and act as a linkage or transition zone between certain areas of the town. The objective was to enrich the current movement systems and enhance the existing resources, ultimately resulting in the design of a trade-resource centre in Pellsrus. The architectural design is formulated as a mean of locality and community. A qualitative methodology has been implemented which incorporates various research methods such as surveys, literature reviews, primary and secondary data collection, site sketches, topographic mapping and drone footage. , Thesis (MSc) -- Faculty of Engineering, the Built Environment and Technology, School of Architecture, 2022
- Full Text:
- Date Issued: 2021-04
The design of a youth activity Centre for Parkside, East London
- Authors: De Lange, Natasha
- Date: 2021-04
- Subjects: Youth centers -- South Africa -- East London -- Designs and plans , Community centers -- South Africa -- East London
- Language: English
- Type: Master's theses , text
- Identifier: http://hdl.handle.net/10948/57479 , vital:57880
- Description: The identity of youth is an important developmental pro - cess in young people’s lives. Youth Centres in South Africa mainly focus on reproductive health services and as a result thereof, are experiencing low visitor num - bers and failing to captivate the youth whom they aim to serve. The very nature in which this takes place today, opens the door for an architectural intervention that has the potential to facilitate and improve this process. This thesis aims to address the issues that today’s youth faces by looking at the metaphorical representa - tion of the ‘street’ as the current place where the youth of today spend their time testing and developing their identity. It aims to rethink the youth centre as a place that combines youth culture and architecture to create a space which provides adequate recreational opportu - nities, and through which youths can reconnect to their surroundings - giving them a much-needed sense of place and identity within the ever-changing city. The idea is ultimately to design a Youth Activity Centre for the Parkside neighbourhood in East London - a de - sign which can express how youth identity can impact architecture in a way that can benefit the development of youth’s identity, and which can re-animate the nature of the ‘street’ through architecture. , Thesis (MArch) -- Faculty of Engineering, the Built Environment and Information Technology, School of Architecture, 2021
- Full Text:
- Date Issued: 2021-04
- Authors: De Lange, Natasha
- Date: 2021-04
- Subjects: Youth centers -- South Africa -- East London -- Designs and plans , Community centers -- South Africa -- East London
- Language: English
- Type: Master's theses , text
- Identifier: http://hdl.handle.net/10948/57479 , vital:57880
- Description: The identity of youth is an important developmental pro - cess in young people’s lives. Youth Centres in South Africa mainly focus on reproductive health services and as a result thereof, are experiencing low visitor num - bers and failing to captivate the youth whom they aim to serve. The very nature in which this takes place today, opens the door for an architectural intervention that has the potential to facilitate and improve this process. This thesis aims to address the issues that today’s youth faces by looking at the metaphorical representa - tion of the ‘street’ as the current place where the youth of today spend their time testing and developing their identity. It aims to rethink the youth centre as a place that combines youth culture and architecture to create a space which provides adequate recreational opportu - nities, and through which youths can reconnect to their surroundings - giving them a much-needed sense of place and identity within the ever-changing city. The idea is ultimately to design a Youth Activity Centre for the Parkside neighbourhood in East London - a de - sign which can express how youth identity can impact architecture in a way that can benefit the development of youth’s identity, and which can re-animate the nature of the ‘street’ through architecture. , Thesis (MArch) -- Faculty of Engineering, the Built Environment and Information Technology, School of Architecture, 2021
- Full Text:
- Date Issued: 2021-04
The development of an ionospheric storm-time index for the South African region
- Authors: Tshisaphungo, Mpho
- Date: 2021-04
- Subjects: Ionospheric storms -- South Africa , Global Positioning System , Neural networks (Computer science) , Regression analysis , Ionosondes , Auroral electrojet , Geomagnetic indexes , Magnetic storms -- South Africa
- Language: English
- Type: thesis , text , Doctoral , PhD
- Identifier: http://hdl.handle.net/10962/178409 , vital:42937 , 10.21504/10962/178409
- Description: This thesis presents the development of a regional ionospheric storm-time model which forms the foundation of an index to provide a quick view of the ionospheric storm effects over South African mid-latitude region. The model is based on the foF2 measurements from four South African ionosonde stations. The data coverage for the model development over Grahamstown (33.3◦S, 26.5◦E), Hermanus (34.42◦S, 19.22◦E), Louisvale (28.50◦S, 21.20◦E), and Madimbo (22.39◦S, 30.88◦E) is 1996-2016, 2009-2016, 2000-2016, and 2000-2016 respectively. Data from the Global Positioning System (GPS) and radio occultation (RO) technique were used during validation. As the measure of either positive or negative storm effect, the variation of the critical frequency of the F2 layer (foF2) from the monthly median values (denoted as _foF2) is modeled. The modeling of _foF2 is based on only storm time data with the criteria of Dst 6 -50 nT and Kp > 4. The modeling methods used in the study were artificial neural network (ANN), linear regression (LR) and polynomial functions. The approach taken was to first test the modeling techniques on a single station before expanding the study to cover the regional aspect. The single station modeling was developed based on ionosonde data over Grahamstown. The inputs for the model which related to seasonal variation, diurnal variation, geomagnetic activity and solar activity were considered. For the geomagnetic activity, three indices namely; the symmetric disturbance in the horizontal component of the Earth’s magnetic field (SYM − H), the Auroral Electrojet (AE) index and local geomagnetic index A, were included as inputs. The performance of a single station model revealed that, of the three geomagnetic indices, SYM − H index has the largest contribution of 41% and 54% based on ANN and LR techniques respectively. The average correlation coefficients (R) for both ANN and LR models was 0.8, when validated during the selected storms falling within the period of model development. When validated using storms that fall outside the period of model development, the model gave R values of 0.6 and 0.5 for ANN and LR respectively. In addition, the GPS total electron content (TEC) derived measurements were used to estimate foF2 data. This is because there are more GPS receivers than ionosonde locations and the utilisation of this data increases the spatial coverage of the regional model. The estimation of foF2 from GPS TEC was done at GPS-ionosonde co-locations using polynomial functions. The average R values of 0.69 and 0.65 were obtained between actual and derived _foF2 over the co-locations and other GPS stations respectively. Validation of GPS TEC derived foF2 with RO data over regions out of ionospheric pierce points coverage with respect to ionosonde locations gave R greater than 0.9 for the selected storm period of 4-8 August 2011. The regional storm-time model was then developed based on the ANN technique using the four South African ionosonde stations. The maximum and minimum R values of 0.6 and 0.5 were obtained over ionosonde and GPS locations respectively. This model forms the basis towards the regional ionospheric storm-time index. , Thesis (PhD) -- Faculty of Science, Physics and Electronics, 2021
- Full Text:
- Date Issued: 2021-04
- Authors: Tshisaphungo, Mpho
- Date: 2021-04
- Subjects: Ionospheric storms -- South Africa , Global Positioning System , Neural networks (Computer science) , Regression analysis , Ionosondes , Auroral electrojet , Geomagnetic indexes , Magnetic storms -- South Africa
- Language: English
- Type: thesis , text , Doctoral , PhD
- Identifier: http://hdl.handle.net/10962/178409 , vital:42937 , 10.21504/10962/178409
- Description: This thesis presents the development of a regional ionospheric storm-time model which forms the foundation of an index to provide a quick view of the ionospheric storm effects over South African mid-latitude region. The model is based on the foF2 measurements from four South African ionosonde stations. The data coverage for the model development over Grahamstown (33.3◦S, 26.5◦E), Hermanus (34.42◦S, 19.22◦E), Louisvale (28.50◦S, 21.20◦E), and Madimbo (22.39◦S, 30.88◦E) is 1996-2016, 2009-2016, 2000-2016, and 2000-2016 respectively. Data from the Global Positioning System (GPS) and radio occultation (RO) technique were used during validation. As the measure of either positive or negative storm effect, the variation of the critical frequency of the F2 layer (foF2) from the monthly median values (denoted as _foF2) is modeled. The modeling of _foF2 is based on only storm time data with the criteria of Dst 6 -50 nT and Kp > 4. The modeling methods used in the study were artificial neural network (ANN), linear regression (LR) and polynomial functions. The approach taken was to first test the modeling techniques on a single station before expanding the study to cover the regional aspect. The single station modeling was developed based on ionosonde data over Grahamstown. The inputs for the model which related to seasonal variation, diurnal variation, geomagnetic activity and solar activity were considered. For the geomagnetic activity, three indices namely; the symmetric disturbance in the horizontal component of the Earth’s magnetic field (SYM − H), the Auroral Electrojet (AE) index and local geomagnetic index A, were included as inputs. The performance of a single station model revealed that, of the three geomagnetic indices, SYM − H index has the largest contribution of 41% and 54% based on ANN and LR techniques respectively. The average correlation coefficients (R) for both ANN and LR models was 0.8, when validated during the selected storms falling within the period of model development. When validated using storms that fall outside the period of model development, the model gave R values of 0.6 and 0.5 for ANN and LR respectively. In addition, the GPS total electron content (TEC) derived measurements were used to estimate foF2 data. This is because there are more GPS receivers than ionosonde locations and the utilisation of this data increases the spatial coverage of the regional model. The estimation of foF2 from GPS TEC was done at GPS-ionosonde co-locations using polynomial functions. The average R values of 0.69 and 0.65 were obtained between actual and derived _foF2 over the co-locations and other GPS stations respectively. Validation of GPS TEC derived foF2 with RO data over regions out of ionospheric pierce points coverage with respect to ionosonde locations gave R greater than 0.9 for the selected storm period of 4-8 August 2011. The regional storm-time model was then developed based on the ANN technique using the four South African ionosonde stations. The maximum and minimum R values of 0.6 and 0.5 were obtained over ionosonde and GPS locations respectively. This model forms the basis towards the regional ionospheric storm-time index. , Thesis (PhD) -- Faculty of Science, Physics and Electronics, 2021
- Full Text:
- Date Issued: 2021-04
The development of grade one teachers’ mathematics and pedagogical content knowledge through participation in a collaborative intervention
- Authors: Mutlane, Kedisaletse Stella
- Date: 2021-04
- Subjects: Mathematics -- Study and teaching (Elementary) -- South Africa -- Northern Cape , Pedagogical content knowledge , Mathematics teachers -- Training of -- South Africa -- Northern Cape , Lesson planning -- South Africa -- Northern Cape , Teaching teams -- South Africa -- Northern Cape , Cultural Historical Activity Theory (CHAT)
- Language: English
- Type: thesis , text , Masters , MEd
- Identifier: http://hdl.handle.net/10962/177370 , vital:42815
- Description: The “South African education system is grossly inefficient, severely underperforming and egregiously unfair” (Spaull, 2013, p.3). In particular, grave concerns with learner performance in mathematics in South Africa are well documented (e.g., Taylor, 2008; Spaull, 2013; Venkat & Spaull, 2015). There are various explanations for the poor state of learner performance in mathematics in South Africa. Two of the explanations that relate closely to my research interest are teachers’ insufficient mathematics content and pedagogical knowledge, and inappropriate professional development. This study aims to ascertain how a collaborative intervention can develop teachers’ mathematics and pedagogical content knowledge as they focus on developing learners’ foundational number sense. Cultural Historical Activity Theory, together with Mathematics Knowledge for Teaching (Ball et al., 2008) and the Knowledge Quartet (Rowlands & Turner, 2007) frameworks, provide the explanatory and analytic tools for the research. The research is a qualitative case study underpinned by an interpretivist orientation. The study was conducted at a township public primary school in the Northern Cape. Three Grade One teachers participated in the research. Data was collected through interviews, classroom observations, and videos of collaborative lesson planning and reflection sessions. A key finding emerging from this research is that the teachers had the necessary mathematics content knowledge to teach Grade One mathematics. Despite this and in contrast to it, they lacked adequate pedagogical content knowledge required to develop learners’ number sense. To develop their pedagogical content knowledge, they required the intervention of a ‘more knowledgable other’ (Vygotsky, 2008). Several contradictions and tensions emerged from the research. For example, the teachers expressed that the opportunity to work collaboratively was beneficial, but it was evident that they were familiar with and accomplished in planning and working together. The contradictions emerging from this research provide an opportunity and basis for expansive learning for future collaborative teacher endeavours. , Thesis (MEd) -- Faculty of Education, Education, 2021
- Full Text:
- Date Issued: 2021-04
- Authors: Mutlane, Kedisaletse Stella
- Date: 2021-04
- Subjects: Mathematics -- Study and teaching (Elementary) -- South Africa -- Northern Cape , Pedagogical content knowledge , Mathematics teachers -- Training of -- South Africa -- Northern Cape , Lesson planning -- South Africa -- Northern Cape , Teaching teams -- South Africa -- Northern Cape , Cultural Historical Activity Theory (CHAT)
- Language: English
- Type: thesis , text , Masters , MEd
- Identifier: http://hdl.handle.net/10962/177370 , vital:42815
- Description: The “South African education system is grossly inefficient, severely underperforming and egregiously unfair” (Spaull, 2013, p.3). In particular, grave concerns with learner performance in mathematics in South Africa are well documented (e.g., Taylor, 2008; Spaull, 2013; Venkat & Spaull, 2015). There are various explanations for the poor state of learner performance in mathematics in South Africa. Two of the explanations that relate closely to my research interest are teachers’ insufficient mathematics content and pedagogical knowledge, and inappropriate professional development. This study aims to ascertain how a collaborative intervention can develop teachers’ mathematics and pedagogical content knowledge as they focus on developing learners’ foundational number sense. Cultural Historical Activity Theory, together with Mathematics Knowledge for Teaching (Ball et al., 2008) and the Knowledge Quartet (Rowlands & Turner, 2007) frameworks, provide the explanatory and analytic tools for the research. The research is a qualitative case study underpinned by an interpretivist orientation. The study was conducted at a township public primary school in the Northern Cape. Three Grade One teachers participated in the research. Data was collected through interviews, classroom observations, and videos of collaborative lesson planning and reflection sessions. A key finding emerging from this research is that the teachers had the necessary mathematics content knowledge to teach Grade One mathematics. Despite this and in contrast to it, they lacked adequate pedagogical content knowledge required to develop learners’ number sense. To develop their pedagogical content knowledge, they required the intervention of a ‘more knowledgable other’ (Vygotsky, 2008). Several contradictions and tensions emerged from the research. For example, the teachers expressed that the opportunity to work collaboratively was beneficial, but it was evident that they were familiar with and accomplished in planning and working together. The contradictions emerging from this research provide an opportunity and basis for expansive learning for future collaborative teacher endeavours. , Thesis (MEd) -- Faculty of Education, Education, 2021
- Full Text:
- Date Issued: 2021-04
The Dragon in the News : how Malawian journalists perceive the political influence of China on news reporting in Malawi
- Authors: Nyirongo, Mwaona
- Date: 2021-04
- Subjects: Journalists -- Malawi , Journalism -- Malawi , Journalism -- Political aspects -- Malawi , Journalism -- Objectivity -- Malawi , China -- Foreign economic relations -- Malawi , Malawi -- Economic conditions , Malawi -- Politics and government
- Language: English
- Type: thesis , text , Masters , MA
- Identifier: http://hdl.handle.net/10962/177907 , vital:42889
- Description: The arrival of China in Malawi has been characterised by a growing sense of uncertainty where academics and social commentators at large have expressed concern over the intentions of the super power in the country. There are fears that China would like to extend its influence to Malawi as part of a broader push, to have greater influence in global politics and economics. That push is in part exercised through the media. The thesis examined the perception of Malawian journalists on how news media reports on Chinese activities in Malawi. It used content analysis to understand how the mediascape had changed from 2001 – 2007 when China had not established diplomatic relations with Malawi, and January 2008 – 2020 when China had established diplomatic relations. The thesis examined these shifts in journalistic representations of China in Malawi and developed prompts and probes from which journalist interviews were conducted. From the content analysis, it appears there is a remarkable change in the way China has been covered from 2001 – 2020. From 2001 – 2007, Malawian media, especially The Daily Times, was very harsh on China, uncritically reproducing Western representations of China as an aggressive country with no respect for human rights and dignity. This changed after January 2008 when the media leaned towards tolerance and acknowledgement of Chinese activities. Through interviews, journalists have indicated that the Chinese government offers opportunities, such as scholarships, fellowships, and exchange visits to journalists, making it difficult for them to bite the finger that is feeding them. This ‘soft power’ is backed up by the repressive power of the Malawi government, which uses intimidation to force journalists to report in their favour, thereby helping create a positive picture for China in Malawi. Journalists report that the significant shifts in journalistic representations of China have been mirrored by changes in the conceptualisation of journalistic roles in Malawi’s mediascape. , Thesis (MA) -- Faculty of Humanities, Journalsim and Media Studies, 2021
- Full Text:
- Date Issued: 2021-04
- Authors: Nyirongo, Mwaona
- Date: 2021-04
- Subjects: Journalists -- Malawi , Journalism -- Malawi , Journalism -- Political aspects -- Malawi , Journalism -- Objectivity -- Malawi , China -- Foreign economic relations -- Malawi , Malawi -- Economic conditions , Malawi -- Politics and government
- Language: English
- Type: thesis , text , Masters , MA
- Identifier: http://hdl.handle.net/10962/177907 , vital:42889
- Description: The arrival of China in Malawi has been characterised by a growing sense of uncertainty where academics and social commentators at large have expressed concern over the intentions of the super power in the country. There are fears that China would like to extend its influence to Malawi as part of a broader push, to have greater influence in global politics and economics. That push is in part exercised through the media. The thesis examined the perception of Malawian journalists on how news media reports on Chinese activities in Malawi. It used content analysis to understand how the mediascape had changed from 2001 – 2007 when China had not established diplomatic relations with Malawi, and January 2008 – 2020 when China had established diplomatic relations. The thesis examined these shifts in journalistic representations of China in Malawi and developed prompts and probes from which journalist interviews were conducted. From the content analysis, it appears there is a remarkable change in the way China has been covered from 2001 – 2020. From 2001 – 2007, Malawian media, especially The Daily Times, was very harsh on China, uncritically reproducing Western representations of China as an aggressive country with no respect for human rights and dignity. This changed after January 2008 when the media leaned towards tolerance and acknowledgement of Chinese activities. Through interviews, journalists have indicated that the Chinese government offers opportunities, such as scholarships, fellowships, and exchange visits to journalists, making it difficult for them to bite the finger that is feeding them. This ‘soft power’ is backed up by the repressive power of the Malawi government, which uses intimidation to force journalists to report in their favour, thereby helping create a positive picture for China in Malawi. Journalists report that the significant shifts in journalistic representations of China have been mirrored by changes in the conceptualisation of journalistic roles in Malawi’s mediascape. , Thesis (MA) -- Faculty of Humanities, Journalsim and Media Studies, 2021
- Full Text:
- Date Issued: 2021-04
The effect of plant-derived dietary protein sources on cultured abalone Haliotis midae (L. 1758) digestive physiology
- Authors: Wright, Jason Geoffrey
- Date: 2021-04
- Subjects: Haliotis midae -- South Africa , Haliotis midae -- Nutrition -- South Africa , Haliotis midae -- Physiology -- South Africa , Haliotis midae -- South Africa -- Growth , Haliotis midae -- Digestive organs , Abalone culture -- South Africa , Plant proteins as feed
- Language: English
- Type: thesis , text , Masters , MSc
- Identifier: http://hdl.handle.net/10962/176803 , vital:42760
- Description: The growth and feed conversion ratio of farmed abalone Haliotis midae (L. 1758) fed a formulated diet varies in feeds with different protein sources. To better understand this, the effect that various combinations of dietary soybean meal (SBM), sunflower meal (SFM) and fishmeal (FM) had on the digestive efficiency of farmed H. midae when included in a formulated feed, were assessed. The aim of this study was to investigate the effect that plant-based proteins had on abalone digestion and gut-bacterial profile of cultured adult abalone when combined with fishmeal. This was done by analysing the chymotrypsin (protease) and cellulase (carbohydrase) digestive enzyme activities from whole-gut sections of farmed abalone that were fed one of four diets for 12 months: FM-only, SBM-only, fishmeal and soybean meal (FM-SBM), and fishmeal and sunflower meal (FM-SFM). There were significant interactions between the diets, sampling date, and sex of the abalone, which had an influence on the cellulase activities in the digestive tracts of the animals. Those fed the SBM diet had the highest cellulase activity by the end of the sampling period (ANOVA; df = 9; F = 2.9; P = 0.005). The significant interactions between diet and sampling date influenced the chymotrypsin activities of abalone. Animals fed the FM diet had the highest activity of chymotrypsin for most of the sampling period (ANOVA; df = 9; F = 2.5; P = 0.01). Therefore, diet did have an impact on the cellulase and chymotrypsin activities of abalone fed either combination diets (FM-SBM; FM-SFM) or single protein diets (FM; SBM). The presence of plant material such as cellulose fibres in the diets containing plant proteins may have influenced the cellulase activity levels of each treatment as it would have stimulated endogenous and exogenous cellulase production. However, treatments with the highest crude fibre content, SBM and FM-SFM, resulted in differing activities. The activity levels of chymotrypsin may have been impacted by the protein type, presence of protein inhibitors and temporal changes in utilisation. Abalone fed the FM diet exhibited the highest chymotrypsin activities on sampling day 182, which was in summer. Animals fed the treatment diets containing fishmeal also developed their reproductive tissues, and may explain the low chymotrypsin activities in abalone fed SBM-only. Additionally, the presence of allergenic compounds would have influenced enzyme activity, as they would have negatively affected the nutrient utilisation and absorptive capacity. Fluctuations in water temperature may have had an effect on enzyme activity, as activities were highest during summer, when seawater temperatures are most variable. A change to lowered water temperatures are known to trigger the growth of digestive epithelial tissue in abalone to allow for increased enzyme secretions and nutrient absorption (Schaeffer et al. 2013). The effect that plant protein inclusion in abalone diets had on the gut-microbiota was revealed by analysing the differences in gut-bacterial community profiles, through the use of metagenomic sequencing. The relative abundance of the phylum Verrucomicrobia, class Verrcomicrobiae and the genus Rubritalea were highest in the SBM diet. These bacterial groups were also influenced by the plant material from soybean meal, as hydrolysed cellulose is broken down by cellulases, and allowed for the proliferation of Rubritalea bacteria due to them using cellobiose as an energy source. The presence of Bacteroidetes was due to the phyla having bacterial species that can breakdown proteins and species that can break down carbohydrates. The animal protein present in the composition of the FM diet had a positive influence on proteolytic Bacteroidetes growth. The high levels of cellulose from the plant fibres in the soybean meal-only diet (SBM) promoted growth of saccharolytic Bacteroidetes. Tenericutes bacteria’s prominence was due to the higher plant fibres from the soybean meal as some Mycoplasma are known to degrade polysaccharides. Therefore, exposure to formulated feeds with high levels of these plant materials would allow for high proliferation. The thesis established that plant-derived dietary proteins in formulated feeds result in an effect on digestive enzyme activity and a difference in the community structure of gut bacteria in H. midae abalone. The results from the current research highlight the importance of studying abalone gut physiology when investigating the impacts of formulated feed composition, and can be used as an additional factor when determining the efficacy of a dietary component. Further research on the gut-bacterial groups and different digestive enzymes of H. midae abalone is encouraged, in order to create a holistic view on their response to dietary plant proteins inclusion in formulated feeds, thus reducing the need for fishmeal protein. , Thesis (MSc)-- Rhodes University, Faculty of Science, Department of Ichthyology and Fisheries Science, 2021
- Full Text:
- Date Issued: 2021-04
- Authors: Wright, Jason Geoffrey
- Date: 2021-04
- Subjects: Haliotis midae -- South Africa , Haliotis midae -- Nutrition -- South Africa , Haliotis midae -- Physiology -- South Africa , Haliotis midae -- South Africa -- Growth , Haliotis midae -- Digestive organs , Abalone culture -- South Africa , Plant proteins as feed
- Language: English
- Type: thesis , text , Masters , MSc
- Identifier: http://hdl.handle.net/10962/176803 , vital:42760
- Description: The growth and feed conversion ratio of farmed abalone Haliotis midae (L. 1758) fed a formulated diet varies in feeds with different protein sources. To better understand this, the effect that various combinations of dietary soybean meal (SBM), sunflower meal (SFM) and fishmeal (FM) had on the digestive efficiency of farmed H. midae when included in a formulated feed, were assessed. The aim of this study was to investigate the effect that plant-based proteins had on abalone digestion and gut-bacterial profile of cultured adult abalone when combined with fishmeal. This was done by analysing the chymotrypsin (protease) and cellulase (carbohydrase) digestive enzyme activities from whole-gut sections of farmed abalone that were fed one of four diets for 12 months: FM-only, SBM-only, fishmeal and soybean meal (FM-SBM), and fishmeal and sunflower meal (FM-SFM). There were significant interactions between the diets, sampling date, and sex of the abalone, which had an influence on the cellulase activities in the digestive tracts of the animals. Those fed the SBM diet had the highest cellulase activity by the end of the sampling period (ANOVA; df = 9; F = 2.9; P = 0.005). The significant interactions between diet and sampling date influenced the chymotrypsin activities of abalone. Animals fed the FM diet had the highest activity of chymotrypsin for most of the sampling period (ANOVA; df = 9; F = 2.5; P = 0.01). Therefore, diet did have an impact on the cellulase and chymotrypsin activities of abalone fed either combination diets (FM-SBM; FM-SFM) or single protein diets (FM; SBM). The presence of plant material such as cellulose fibres in the diets containing plant proteins may have influenced the cellulase activity levels of each treatment as it would have stimulated endogenous and exogenous cellulase production. However, treatments with the highest crude fibre content, SBM and FM-SFM, resulted in differing activities. The activity levels of chymotrypsin may have been impacted by the protein type, presence of protein inhibitors and temporal changes in utilisation. Abalone fed the FM diet exhibited the highest chymotrypsin activities on sampling day 182, which was in summer. Animals fed the treatment diets containing fishmeal also developed their reproductive tissues, and may explain the low chymotrypsin activities in abalone fed SBM-only. Additionally, the presence of allergenic compounds would have influenced enzyme activity, as they would have negatively affected the nutrient utilisation and absorptive capacity. Fluctuations in water temperature may have had an effect on enzyme activity, as activities were highest during summer, when seawater temperatures are most variable. A change to lowered water temperatures are known to trigger the growth of digestive epithelial tissue in abalone to allow for increased enzyme secretions and nutrient absorption (Schaeffer et al. 2013). The effect that plant protein inclusion in abalone diets had on the gut-microbiota was revealed by analysing the differences in gut-bacterial community profiles, through the use of metagenomic sequencing. The relative abundance of the phylum Verrucomicrobia, class Verrcomicrobiae and the genus Rubritalea were highest in the SBM diet. These bacterial groups were also influenced by the plant material from soybean meal, as hydrolysed cellulose is broken down by cellulases, and allowed for the proliferation of Rubritalea bacteria due to them using cellobiose as an energy source. The presence of Bacteroidetes was due to the phyla having bacterial species that can breakdown proteins and species that can break down carbohydrates. The animal protein present in the composition of the FM diet had a positive influence on proteolytic Bacteroidetes growth. The high levels of cellulose from the plant fibres in the soybean meal-only diet (SBM) promoted growth of saccharolytic Bacteroidetes. Tenericutes bacteria’s prominence was due to the higher plant fibres from the soybean meal as some Mycoplasma are known to degrade polysaccharides. Therefore, exposure to formulated feeds with high levels of these plant materials would allow for high proliferation. The thesis established that plant-derived dietary proteins in formulated feeds result in an effect on digestive enzyme activity and a difference in the community structure of gut bacteria in H. midae abalone. The results from the current research highlight the importance of studying abalone gut physiology when investigating the impacts of formulated feed composition, and can be used as an additional factor when determining the efficacy of a dietary component. Further research on the gut-bacterial groups and different digestive enzymes of H. midae abalone is encouraged, in order to create a holistic view on their response to dietary plant proteins inclusion in formulated feeds, thus reducing the need for fishmeal protein. , Thesis (MSc)-- Rhodes University, Faculty of Science, Department of Ichthyology and Fisheries Science, 2021
- Full Text:
- Date Issued: 2021-04
The effect of sectoral foreign direct investment on sectoral growth and sectoral employment in South Africa
- Authors: Paul, Bernice Nicole
- Date: 2021-04
- Subjects: Investments, Foreign -- South Africa , South Africa -- Economic conditions -- 1991- , South Africa -- Economic policy , Gross domestic product -- South Africa , UNCTAD-ICTSD Project on IPRs and Sustainable Development , Unemployment -- South Africa
- Language: English
- Type: thesis , text , Master , MCom
- Identifier: http://hdl.handle.net/10962/177964 , vital:42894
- Description: Over several decades past, developing countries have received increased amounts of Foreign Direct Investment (FDI). This form of investment has been welcomed because of the perceived benefits attached to it. FDI is seen as an important driver of economic development for many nations. For South Africa specifically, GDP growth rates have remained less than required, unemployment rates have reached staggering levels, poverty and inequality levels are increasing and the list goes on. Considering the perceived benefits of FDI, one may argue that FDI can play a crucial role in reducing the mentioned challenges facing the nation, however, only if directed to initiatives contributing to growth and employment. The 2015 Investment Policy Framework for Sustainable Development includes an action menu promoting investment in sectors relating to the achievement of the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). Therefore, this study is aimed at investigating the relationship between sector FDI and sector growth in addition to investigating the effect of sector FDI on sector employment over the period 2000Q1 to 2016Q4 for six of South Africa’s economic sectors. The reason for such a study is based on the premise that developing nations such as South Africa lack sound trade and industrial policies favorable to foreign investors. This then leads to the nation failing to attract higher volumes of FDI which could be used to address structural challenges facing the country. It is therefore important to identify sectors in which FDI has resulted in growth and employment so that when policies are considered, the right FDI is targeted. A comprehensive review of existing theoretical and empirical literature showed that FDI does result in economic growth for developed and developing countries, although FDI crowds out domestic investment in the short run. Literature on the effect of FDI on employment showed diverse effects. Some studies found FDI to increase employment overall, other studies found FDI to increase employment only during periods of restructuring and some studies found FDI to result in job losses. For South African sectors, the present study finds that the financial services sector receives the highest volume of South African FDI, followed by the mining and quarrying sector and the manufacturing, however, FDI in all six sectors under study is associated with increased growth and employment. This finding suggests that the financial services sector has received increased volumes of FDI as a result of financialization of the South African economy. It is this increased FDI in the financial services sector that is directed to income redistribution from the real sector to the finance sector. This study employed econometric techniques and methods of analysis to investigate the relationship between sector FDI and sector growth, and the effect of sector FDI on sector employment. Panel cointegration tests were conducted for all six sectors included in the study to establish if long run equilibrium relationships exist among integrated variables. The Johansen-Fisher panel cointegration test revealed that there is evidence of cointegration in four of the six sectors. Since cointegration was established, the study proceeded to perform the Dumitrescu-Hurlin panel causality analysis and estimate a Panel Vector Error Correction Model (VECM). Results from the causality analysis found a unidirectional causality relationship between FDI and GDP growth, while the panel VECM found FDI to have a significant effect on growth in all sectors. The Seemingly Unrelated Regression (SUR) model employed to investigate the effect of FDI on employment found FDI to have an insignificant effect on employment in all sectors included, although the signs of the coefficients suggest that FDI is associated with increased employment and rising wages is associated with increased productivity growth. Since this study finds that FDI is associated with increased GDP growth in all six sectors under study, policy makers should devise strategies to attract FDI in sectors such as the transportation, storage and communication sector and the electricity, gas and water sector as FDI in these sectors are associated with increased growth however, they receive very low levels of FDI. There are a number of reasons for this, therefore, government institutions and policy makers should investigate the reasons for these low levels of FDI inflows into these sectors so that they can devise further strategies to address these reasons and perhaps attract higher levels of FDI into these sectors. Spillover benefits play a major role in host nations participating in FDI therefore, prior to entering into bilateral treaty agreements, policy makers should ensure that foreign investors are compelled to create jobs, offer training and qualifications etc. through their investments so that some of the SDGs can be achieved. Additionally, this study finds a positive, statistically insignificant relationship between FDI and employment. FDI may not have a significant relationship on employment due to jobless growth and capital-intensive growth rather than labor-intensive growth. Such a situation calls for government intervention. Skills shortage is a rising problem in South Africa; therefore, investors choose to employ advanced technologies rather than people. Under such circumstances, governments are encouraged to invest resources into skills development so that human capital are not completely replaced by technology. , Thesis (MCom) -- Faculty of Commerce, Economics and Economic History, 2021
- Full Text:
- Date Issued: 2021-04
- Authors: Paul, Bernice Nicole
- Date: 2021-04
- Subjects: Investments, Foreign -- South Africa , South Africa -- Economic conditions -- 1991- , South Africa -- Economic policy , Gross domestic product -- South Africa , UNCTAD-ICTSD Project on IPRs and Sustainable Development , Unemployment -- South Africa
- Language: English
- Type: thesis , text , Master , MCom
- Identifier: http://hdl.handle.net/10962/177964 , vital:42894
- Description: Over several decades past, developing countries have received increased amounts of Foreign Direct Investment (FDI). This form of investment has been welcomed because of the perceived benefits attached to it. FDI is seen as an important driver of economic development for many nations. For South Africa specifically, GDP growth rates have remained less than required, unemployment rates have reached staggering levels, poverty and inequality levels are increasing and the list goes on. Considering the perceived benefits of FDI, one may argue that FDI can play a crucial role in reducing the mentioned challenges facing the nation, however, only if directed to initiatives contributing to growth and employment. The 2015 Investment Policy Framework for Sustainable Development includes an action menu promoting investment in sectors relating to the achievement of the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). Therefore, this study is aimed at investigating the relationship between sector FDI and sector growth in addition to investigating the effect of sector FDI on sector employment over the period 2000Q1 to 2016Q4 for six of South Africa’s economic sectors. The reason for such a study is based on the premise that developing nations such as South Africa lack sound trade and industrial policies favorable to foreign investors. This then leads to the nation failing to attract higher volumes of FDI which could be used to address structural challenges facing the country. It is therefore important to identify sectors in which FDI has resulted in growth and employment so that when policies are considered, the right FDI is targeted. A comprehensive review of existing theoretical and empirical literature showed that FDI does result in economic growth for developed and developing countries, although FDI crowds out domestic investment in the short run. Literature on the effect of FDI on employment showed diverse effects. Some studies found FDI to increase employment overall, other studies found FDI to increase employment only during periods of restructuring and some studies found FDI to result in job losses. For South African sectors, the present study finds that the financial services sector receives the highest volume of South African FDI, followed by the mining and quarrying sector and the manufacturing, however, FDI in all six sectors under study is associated with increased growth and employment. This finding suggests that the financial services sector has received increased volumes of FDI as a result of financialization of the South African economy. It is this increased FDI in the financial services sector that is directed to income redistribution from the real sector to the finance sector. This study employed econometric techniques and methods of analysis to investigate the relationship between sector FDI and sector growth, and the effect of sector FDI on sector employment. Panel cointegration tests were conducted for all six sectors included in the study to establish if long run equilibrium relationships exist among integrated variables. The Johansen-Fisher panel cointegration test revealed that there is evidence of cointegration in four of the six sectors. Since cointegration was established, the study proceeded to perform the Dumitrescu-Hurlin panel causality analysis and estimate a Panel Vector Error Correction Model (VECM). Results from the causality analysis found a unidirectional causality relationship between FDI and GDP growth, while the panel VECM found FDI to have a significant effect on growth in all sectors. The Seemingly Unrelated Regression (SUR) model employed to investigate the effect of FDI on employment found FDI to have an insignificant effect on employment in all sectors included, although the signs of the coefficients suggest that FDI is associated with increased employment and rising wages is associated with increased productivity growth. Since this study finds that FDI is associated with increased GDP growth in all six sectors under study, policy makers should devise strategies to attract FDI in sectors such as the transportation, storage and communication sector and the electricity, gas and water sector as FDI in these sectors are associated with increased growth however, they receive very low levels of FDI. There are a number of reasons for this, therefore, government institutions and policy makers should investigate the reasons for these low levels of FDI inflows into these sectors so that they can devise further strategies to address these reasons and perhaps attract higher levels of FDI into these sectors. Spillover benefits play a major role in host nations participating in FDI therefore, prior to entering into bilateral treaty agreements, policy makers should ensure that foreign investors are compelled to create jobs, offer training and qualifications etc. through their investments so that some of the SDGs can be achieved. Additionally, this study finds a positive, statistically insignificant relationship between FDI and employment. FDI may not have a significant relationship on employment due to jobless growth and capital-intensive growth rather than labor-intensive growth. Such a situation calls for government intervention. Skills shortage is a rising problem in South Africa; therefore, investors choose to employ advanced technologies rather than people. Under such circumstances, governments are encouraged to invest resources into skills development so that human capital are not completely replaced by technology. , Thesis (MCom) -- Faculty of Commerce, Economics and Economic History, 2021
- Full Text:
- Date Issued: 2021-04
The Effect of Using English as A Language of Learning and Teaching on Learner Academic Performance in Senior Phase of Mthatha, Eastern Cape Province
- Authors: Seabela, Marcia Motlatso
- Date: 2021-04
- Subjects: teaching strategies
- Language: English
- Type: Doctoral theses , text
- Identifier: http://hdl.handle.net/11260/6782 , vital:49059
- Description: The study sought to investigate the effect of using English as a language of learning and teaching on learner academic performance in the senior phase of Mthatha District, Eastern Cape Province. This study employed a mixed-method approach. The researcher used both qualitative and quantitative methods to collect data. The study was conducted in 3 semi-rural senior secondary schools that were conveniently selected. The quantitative part employed Likert-type scale questionnaires that were administered to 10 Mathematics (Math), 10 Natural Sciences (NS) and 10 Social Sciences (SS) teachers making a total of 30 teachers and a total of 30 learners from grades 8 and 9. For the qualitative part, nine (9) teachers and eighteen (18) learners from the selected schools were interviewed. The 18 teachers in three schools were observed as they taught Grade 8 and 9 learners in their respective classes. Qualitative data were, thus, gathered through interviews and observations. Quantitative data was collected using Likert-type scale questionnaires and was analysed using descriptive statistics and Microsoft Excel. The voice recorded qualitative data from the participant’s responses were transcribed and analysed manually through coding, forming categories and themes that were used for data presentation. These are some of the findings: The majority of learners do not understand English, therefore, it was difficult for them to understand the teaching and learning of the selected subjects in Senior Phase (SP) using English as the language of learning and teaching (LoLT); Although the majority of learners reported that they usually use English as a LoLT and their home language when learning the selected subjects, they still struggled to ask and answer questions in English in a classroom and during examinations; Learners who experience difficulties in learning the selected subjects through the use of English as a LoLT in SP, were taught in their home language (isiXhosa) by their teachers; English and isiXhosa, in the form of code-switching, were used when teaching the selected subjects; Inadequate teacher training and preparation made it more difficult for the learners to perform well in the selected subjects. The study recommends that: The Department of Education should conduct enough workshops to help HOD’s and teachers who teach the selected subjects to keep abreast of new developments in these subjects. These should be integrated with appropriate teaching strategies and learning and teaching support materials. Keywords: English as the language of learning and teaching, teaching strategies, learning, teaching support materials. , Thesis (D.Ed) -- Faculty of Education Sciences, 2021
- Full Text:
- Date Issued: 2021-04
- Authors: Seabela, Marcia Motlatso
- Date: 2021-04
- Subjects: teaching strategies
- Language: English
- Type: Doctoral theses , text
- Identifier: http://hdl.handle.net/11260/6782 , vital:49059
- Description: The study sought to investigate the effect of using English as a language of learning and teaching on learner academic performance in the senior phase of Mthatha District, Eastern Cape Province. This study employed a mixed-method approach. The researcher used both qualitative and quantitative methods to collect data. The study was conducted in 3 semi-rural senior secondary schools that were conveniently selected. The quantitative part employed Likert-type scale questionnaires that were administered to 10 Mathematics (Math), 10 Natural Sciences (NS) and 10 Social Sciences (SS) teachers making a total of 30 teachers and a total of 30 learners from grades 8 and 9. For the qualitative part, nine (9) teachers and eighteen (18) learners from the selected schools were interviewed. The 18 teachers in three schools were observed as they taught Grade 8 and 9 learners in their respective classes. Qualitative data were, thus, gathered through interviews and observations. Quantitative data was collected using Likert-type scale questionnaires and was analysed using descriptive statistics and Microsoft Excel. The voice recorded qualitative data from the participant’s responses were transcribed and analysed manually through coding, forming categories and themes that were used for data presentation. These are some of the findings: The majority of learners do not understand English, therefore, it was difficult for them to understand the teaching and learning of the selected subjects in Senior Phase (SP) using English as the language of learning and teaching (LoLT); Although the majority of learners reported that they usually use English as a LoLT and their home language when learning the selected subjects, they still struggled to ask and answer questions in English in a classroom and during examinations; Learners who experience difficulties in learning the selected subjects through the use of English as a LoLT in SP, were taught in their home language (isiXhosa) by their teachers; English and isiXhosa, in the form of code-switching, were used when teaching the selected subjects; Inadequate teacher training and preparation made it more difficult for the learners to perform well in the selected subjects. The study recommends that: The Department of Education should conduct enough workshops to help HOD’s and teachers who teach the selected subjects to keep abreast of new developments in these subjects. These should be integrated with appropriate teaching strategies and learning and teaching support materials. Keywords: English as the language of learning and teaching, teaching strategies, learning, teaching support materials. , Thesis (D.Ed) -- Faculty of Education Sciences, 2021
- Full Text:
- Date Issued: 2021-04
The effect of various substrate pretreatment methods on the enzymatic degradability of a Eucalyptus sp. – a potential feedstock for producing fermentable sugars
- Authors: Thoresen, Mariska
- Date: 2021-04
- Subjects: To be added
- Language: English
- Type: thesis , text , Doctoral , PhD
- Identifier: http://hdl.handle.net/10962/178580 , vital:42952
- Description: Access restricted until April 2022. , Thesis (PhD) -- Faculty of Science, Biochemistry and Microbiology, 2021
- Full Text:
- Date Issued: 2021-04
- Authors: Thoresen, Mariska
- Date: 2021-04
- Subjects: To be added
- Language: English
- Type: thesis , text , Doctoral , PhD
- Identifier: http://hdl.handle.net/10962/178580 , vital:42952
- Description: Access restricted until April 2022. , Thesis (PhD) -- Faculty of Science, Biochemistry and Microbiology, 2021
- Full Text:
- Date Issued: 2021-04