The extent of the use of ICT in schools in the Nelson Mandela Bay area
- Authors: Sonkwala, Mzikayise Richard
- Date: 2011
- Subjects: Educational technology -- South Africa -- Port Elizabeth , Computer-assisted instruction -- South Africa -- Port Elizabeth , Information technology
- Language: English
- Type: Thesis , Masters , MA
- Identifier: vital:9102 , http://hdl.handle.net/10948/d1012284 , Educational technology -- South Africa -- Port Elizabeth , Computer-assisted instruction -- South Africa -- Port Elizabeth , Information technology
- Description: It is the 21st Century and the world is a global village. The development of technology like Information and Communication Technology (ICT) has thus become the dominant means of communication. Education has not been left out of this wave of change. In many countries Information and Communication Technology (ICT) has a clear impact in the development of educational curriculum. This cannot be said about South Africa where huge disparities in terms of ICT related resources still exist. There is a range of uses of ICT in South African schools and it varies according to the economic and social conditions where that school is located. For example, the former Model C schools are well-resourced in terms of computers and access to internet whilst township schools lack these resources. In township schools very few students are exposed to computers due to the limited number of computers and lack of properly qualified educators in the field of ICT. In the Nelson Mandela Bay area township schools only offer CAT (Computer Applications Technology) as an ICT related subject whilst the former Model C schools offer CAT and IT (Information Technology).This treatise attempts to show the digital divide that still exists between a former Model C school and a township school, and the impact it has in quality of education in these schools.
- Full Text:
- Date Issued: 2011
- Authors: Sonkwala, Mzikayise Richard
- Date: 2011
- Subjects: Educational technology -- South Africa -- Port Elizabeth , Computer-assisted instruction -- South Africa -- Port Elizabeth , Information technology
- Language: English
- Type: Thesis , Masters , MA
- Identifier: vital:9102 , http://hdl.handle.net/10948/d1012284 , Educational technology -- South Africa -- Port Elizabeth , Computer-assisted instruction -- South Africa -- Port Elizabeth , Information technology
- Description: It is the 21st Century and the world is a global village. The development of technology like Information and Communication Technology (ICT) has thus become the dominant means of communication. Education has not been left out of this wave of change. In many countries Information and Communication Technology (ICT) has a clear impact in the development of educational curriculum. This cannot be said about South Africa where huge disparities in terms of ICT related resources still exist. There is a range of uses of ICT in South African schools and it varies according to the economic and social conditions where that school is located. For example, the former Model C schools are well-resourced in terms of computers and access to internet whilst township schools lack these resources. In township schools very few students are exposed to computers due to the limited number of computers and lack of properly qualified educators in the field of ICT. In the Nelson Mandela Bay area township schools only offer CAT (Computer Applications Technology) as an ICT related subject whilst the former Model C schools offer CAT and IT (Information Technology).This treatise attempts to show the digital divide that still exists between a former Model C school and a township school, and the impact it has in quality of education in these schools.
- Full Text:
- Date Issued: 2011
The future of e-Service provision in Marginalised Areas: Online Negotiation.
- Jere, Norbert R, Thinyane, Mamello, Terzoli, Alfredo
- Authors: Jere, Norbert R , Thinyane, Mamello , Terzoli, Alfredo
- Date: 2011
- Subjects: To be catalogued
- Language: English
- Type: text , article
- Identifier: http://hdl.handle.net/10962/431332 , vital:72765 , https://citeseerx.ist.psu.edu/document?repid=rep1type=pdfdoi=5d49a8014f769a529d821556ad204f1b25a97dcb#page=245
- Description: As the amount of commercial transactions carried out on t he Internet in-creases, the interest to partially or totally automate the negotiation of the terms of these transactions has rapidly become an interesting research topic. Several e-marketing strategies through various online websites have been developed. In rural communities e-services applications such as e-commerce, ehealth, e-judiciary and e-government have been devel-oped. However, most of these applications are failing to fully benefit the people in the societies because they are no modifications which are done to the applications as technology changes. This paper discusses the de-velopment of an intelligent negotiation module to enhance an e-commerce platform. The paper explains a negotiation application that has been developed and plugged to any existing e-Commerce shopping por-tal for the Dwesa Community in the Eastern cape province of South Africa and proposes an architecture for all other e-Services. This project ex-plained is undertaken within the Siyakhula Living Lab.
- Full Text:
- Date Issued: 2011
- Authors: Jere, Norbert R , Thinyane, Mamello , Terzoli, Alfredo
- Date: 2011
- Subjects: To be catalogued
- Language: English
- Type: text , article
- Identifier: http://hdl.handle.net/10962/431332 , vital:72765 , https://citeseerx.ist.psu.edu/document?repid=rep1type=pdfdoi=5d49a8014f769a529d821556ad204f1b25a97dcb#page=245
- Description: As the amount of commercial transactions carried out on t he Internet in-creases, the interest to partially or totally automate the negotiation of the terms of these transactions has rapidly become an interesting research topic. Several e-marketing strategies through various online websites have been developed. In rural communities e-services applications such as e-commerce, ehealth, e-judiciary and e-government have been devel-oped. However, most of these applications are failing to fully benefit the people in the societies because they are no modifications which are done to the applications as technology changes. This paper discusses the de-velopment of an intelligent negotiation module to enhance an e-commerce platform. The paper explains a negotiation application that has been developed and plugged to any existing e-Commerce shopping por-tal for the Dwesa Community in the Eastern cape province of South Africa and proposes an architecture for all other e-Services. This project ex-plained is undertaken within the Siyakhula Living Lab.
- Full Text:
- Date Issued: 2011
The genealogy of Jobe Tribe
- Authors: Bani, Zanemali
- Date: 2011
- Subjects: Bani, Zanemali Jobe (African people) -- South Africa -- Peddie -- History Xhosa (African people) -- South Africa -- Peddie
- Language: English
- Type: text
- Identifier: http://hdl.handle.net/10962/41343 , vital:25081 , This manuscript is held at the Cory Library for Humanities Research at Rhodes University. For further information contact cory@ru.ac.za. The digitisation of this image was made possible through a generous grant received from the Andrew W. Mellon Foundation 2014-2017. , PR 10 353
- Description: A genealogy of the Jobe Tribe drafted by Chief Zanemali Bani. , Bani, Zanemali, Chief (donor)
- Full Text:
- Date Issued: 2011
- Authors: Bani, Zanemali
- Date: 2011
- Subjects: Bani, Zanemali Jobe (African people) -- South Africa -- Peddie -- History Xhosa (African people) -- South Africa -- Peddie
- Language: English
- Type: text
- Identifier: http://hdl.handle.net/10962/41343 , vital:25081 , This manuscript is held at the Cory Library for Humanities Research at Rhodes University. For further information contact cory@ru.ac.za. The digitisation of this image was made possible through a generous grant received from the Andrew W. Mellon Foundation 2014-2017. , PR 10 353
- Description: A genealogy of the Jobe Tribe drafted by Chief Zanemali Bani. , Bani, Zanemali, Chief (donor)
- Full Text:
- Date Issued: 2011
The general and emotional development of a sample of South African children in residential care
- Authors: Wills, Nicolene
- Date: 2011
- Subjects: Children -- Institutional care -- South Africa , Child psychopathology -- Residential treatment -- South Africa , Children -- Services for -- South Africa , Child welfare -- South Africa , Child care services -- South Africa
- Language: English
- Type: Thesis , Masters , MA
- Identifier: vital:9856 , http://hdl.handle.net/10948/1578 , Children -- Institutional care -- South Africa , Child psychopathology -- Residential treatment -- South Africa , Children -- Services for -- South Africa , Child welfare -- South Africa , Child care services -- South Africa
- Description: The main aim of this study was to explore and describe the general and emotional development of a sample of South African children between the age of five and eight years in residential care. More specifically, the study aimed to explore and describe the general level of development of a sample of children in residential care; to explore and describe the development of a sample of children in residential care in six areas of development; and to describe the emotional wellbeing of children in residential care. A non-probability, purposive sampling method was applied as the participants were comprised of children between the ages of 5 and 8 years housed at the residential care facility. The sample consisted of 11 children. The multiple case study method was used to achieve the aim of the study, using both qualitative and quantitative data. The quantitative data consisted of scores obtained from the administration of the Griffiths Mental Development Scales - Extended Revised (GMDS-ER). The qualitative data was obtained from the Human Figure Drawing (HFD), participants’ scholastic progress reports, case reports from the residential care facility and clinical observations during the assessment period. The data was analysed according to thematic analysis. The results highlighted the pervasiveness of delays in all domains of child development of children housed in residential care, specifically that of language, social and emotional development. An important finding of the study was that decrements in these domains of development underpinned delays in the other domains of development since they form the foundation of learning and relating to the world. The study served to emphasize the importance of consistent developmental assessment in order to ascertain whether these children present with developmental delays and, if so, to xv identify which areas of development are most affected. Information from the developmental assessments could assist in the early identification of developmental delays and allow for individually tailored interventions to overcome such delays.
- Full Text:
- Date Issued: 2011
- Authors: Wills, Nicolene
- Date: 2011
- Subjects: Children -- Institutional care -- South Africa , Child psychopathology -- Residential treatment -- South Africa , Children -- Services for -- South Africa , Child welfare -- South Africa , Child care services -- South Africa
- Language: English
- Type: Thesis , Masters , MA
- Identifier: vital:9856 , http://hdl.handle.net/10948/1578 , Children -- Institutional care -- South Africa , Child psychopathology -- Residential treatment -- South Africa , Children -- Services for -- South Africa , Child welfare -- South Africa , Child care services -- South Africa
- Description: The main aim of this study was to explore and describe the general and emotional development of a sample of South African children between the age of five and eight years in residential care. More specifically, the study aimed to explore and describe the general level of development of a sample of children in residential care; to explore and describe the development of a sample of children in residential care in six areas of development; and to describe the emotional wellbeing of children in residential care. A non-probability, purposive sampling method was applied as the participants were comprised of children between the ages of 5 and 8 years housed at the residential care facility. The sample consisted of 11 children. The multiple case study method was used to achieve the aim of the study, using both qualitative and quantitative data. The quantitative data consisted of scores obtained from the administration of the Griffiths Mental Development Scales - Extended Revised (GMDS-ER). The qualitative data was obtained from the Human Figure Drawing (HFD), participants’ scholastic progress reports, case reports from the residential care facility and clinical observations during the assessment period. The data was analysed according to thematic analysis. The results highlighted the pervasiveness of delays in all domains of child development of children housed in residential care, specifically that of language, social and emotional development. An important finding of the study was that decrements in these domains of development underpinned delays in the other domains of development since they form the foundation of learning and relating to the world. The study served to emphasize the importance of consistent developmental assessment in order to ascertain whether these children present with developmental delays and, if so, to xv identify which areas of development are most affected. Information from the developmental assessments could assist in the early identification of developmental delays and allow for individually tailored interventions to overcome such delays.
- Full Text:
- Date Issued: 2011
The general development and cognitive ability of a sample of children in specialized education
- Authors: Andrews, Samantha Lee
- Date: 2011
- Subjects: Special education -- South Africa -- Eastern Cape , Children with disabilities -- Education -- South Africa -- Eastern Cape , Child development -- Study and teaching -- South Africa , Griffiths Development Scales
- Language: English
- Type: Thesis , Masters , MA
- Identifier: vital:9951 , http://hdl.handle.net/10948/d1015714
- Description: The main aim of this study was to explore and describe the development and cognitive ability of a sample of children aged six to eight enrolled in specialised education, in the category of specific learning disability (SLD). This was achieved through the utilization of the Griffiths-Mental Development Scales – Extended Revised, the Wechsler Intelligence Scales for Children – Fourth Edition and input from the trans-disciplinary team. A non-probability, purposive sampling method was employed and the sample consisted of eight participants. The multiple case study method was used in order to achieve the aim of the study. Both qualitative and quantitative data were incorporated to provide a holistic description of the participants. Quantitative data was obtained from the Griffiths-Mental Development Scales – Extended Revised, the Wechsler Intelligence Scales for Children – Fourth Edition while qualitative data was obtained from the Biographical Questionnaire, input from members of the trans-disciplinary team, data from the participants‟ archives as well as clinical observations made during the assessment process. The data was analysed according to the domains of childhood development.The results obtained revealed that the general development of the sample as measured by the Griffiths-Mental Development Scales – Extended Revised was average. The Eye and Hand Co-ordination Subscale was the most problematic for the participants. The majority of the sample obtained below average scores on the Wechsler Intelligence Scales for Children – Fourth Edition‟s full scale IQ (FSIQ). The Verbal Reasoning Index and the Working Memory Index yielded the lowest scores amongst the sample. The results indicated that the majority of the participants are stronger with non-verbal as opposed to verbal reasoning. The study revealed that the two measures, the Griffiths-Mental Development Scales – Extended Revised, the Wechsler Intelligence Scales for Children – Fourth Edition complement one another. The developmental and intellectual nature of the measures allow for gaps left by the one measure to be filled by the other. The study highlighted the importance of gaining information from the trans-disciplinary team and not relying purely on psychometric measures. It was made clear through the study that deficits often exist that are not picked up by assessment measures alone. In order to gain a comprehensive, holistic picture of a child, one needs to consult a variety of sources. Questions regarding the classification system of high needs learners as well as the current system of specialised education were raised.
- Full Text:
- Date Issued: 2011
- Authors: Andrews, Samantha Lee
- Date: 2011
- Subjects: Special education -- South Africa -- Eastern Cape , Children with disabilities -- Education -- South Africa -- Eastern Cape , Child development -- Study and teaching -- South Africa , Griffiths Development Scales
- Language: English
- Type: Thesis , Masters , MA
- Identifier: vital:9951 , http://hdl.handle.net/10948/d1015714
- Description: The main aim of this study was to explore and describe the development and cognitive ability of a sample of children aged six to eight enrolled in specialised education, in the category of specific learning disability (SLD). This was achieved through the utilization of the Griffiths-Mental Development Scales – Extended Revised, the Wechsler Intelligence Scales for Children – Fourth Edition and input from the trans-disciplinary team. A non-probability, purposive sampling method was employed and the sample consisted of eight participants. The multiple case study method was used in order to achieve the aim of the study. Both qualitative and quantitative data were incorporated to provide a holistic description of the participants. Quantitative data was obtained from the Griffiths-Mental Development Scales – Extended Revised, the Wechsler Intelligence Scales for Children – Fourth Edition while qualitative data was obtained from the Biographical Questionnaire, input from members of the trans-disciplinary team, data from the participants‟ archives as well as clinical observations made during the assessment process. The data was analysed according to the domains of childhood development.The results obtained revealed that the general development of the sample as measured by the Griffiths-Mental Development Scales – Extended Revised was average. The Eye and Hand Co-ordination Subscale was the most problematic for the participants. The majority of the sample obtained below average scores on the Wechsler Intelligence Scales for Children – Fourth Edition‟s full scale IQ (FSIQ). The Verbal Reasoning Index and the Working Memory Index yielded the lowest scores amongst the sample. The results indicated that the majority of the participants are stronger with non-verbal as opposed to verbal reasoning. The study revealed that the two measures, the Griffiths-Mental Development Scales – Extended Revised, the Wechsler Intelligence Scales for Children – Fourth Edition complement one another. The developmental and intellectual nature of the measures allow for gaps left by the one measure to be filled by the other. The study highlighted the importance of gaining information from the trans-disciplinary team and not relying purely on psychometric measures. It was made clear through the study that deficits often exist that are not picked up by assessment measures alone. In order to gain a comprehensive, holistic picture of a child, one needs to consult a variety of sources. Questions regarding the classification system of high needs learners as well as the current system of specialised education were raised.
- Full Text:
- Date Issued: 2011
The genetic diversity and conservation biology of the rare terrestrial snail genus Prestonella
- Authors: Fearon, Janine Lee
- Date: 2011
- Subjects: Snails -- South Africa , Snails -- Conservation -- South Africa , Snails -- Variation -- South Africa , Biodiversity -- South Africa , Snails -- Genetics -- South Africa , Snails -- Habitat -- South Africa
- Language: English
- Type: Thesis , Masters , MSc
- Identifier: vital:4191 , http://hdl.handle.net/10962/d1003760 , Snails -- South Africa , Snails -- Conservation -- South Africa , Snails -- Variation -- South Africa , Biodiversity -- South Africa , Snails -- Genetics -- South Africa , Snails -- Habitat -- South Africa
- Description: Prestonella bowkeri and Prestonella nuptialis are montane specialists endemic to the southern Great Escarpment of South Africa. Phylogeographic analyses of these species based on mitochondrial markers CO1 and 16S reveal extremely high levels of divergence between populations indicating a lack of gene flow between populations. This is not surprising, because P. nuptialis and P. bowkeri have limited dispersal capacity, low vagility, a highly fragmented distribution and are habitat specialists that are restricted to isolated mesic refugia associated with waterfalls and montane seepages. A relaxed Bayesian clock estimate suggests that populations diverged from one another during the mid-late Miocene (12.5-7 MYA) which coincides with the modern trends of seasonal aridity which began during the Miocene. This result should be viewed with caution because the rates used are at best imprecise estimates of mutation rates in snails. There is no clear dichotomy between the two species and P. bowkeri is paraphyletic with respect to P. nuptialis, as a consequence the taxonomy is unclear. Due to the high levels of sequence divergence between populations they may be considered as evolutionary significant units (ESU’s). An assessment of haplotype diversity (h) and nucleotide diversity (π) reveals that populations in the western part of the Great Escarpment are more genetically depauperate than populations in the east. Correlations between genetic diversity and climatic variables show that genetically depauperate populations are found in areas that have lower annual rainfall, less reliable rainfall and higher potential evaporation, all factors associated with a drier, less mesic environment that increases the chances of a population bottleneck. This indicates that a shift towards a more arid environment may be a driver of genetic erosion. Historical climate change may thus have affected the amount and distribution of genetic diversity across the Great Escarpment since the Miocene. This has serious future implications for the survival of Prestonella. With predicted increase in global temperatures, climate change in South Africa is likely to result in range contraction and an eastward range shift for many species in the drier central and western areas (Erasmus et al. 2002) and regions along the Great Escarpment are likely to become more arid. Prestonella populations found living on inselbergs along the Great Escarpment are already restricted to site specific watercourses and seepages. An increase in the periods between stream flow, and increasing rainfall variability and mean annual potential evaporation are likely to have an adverse affect on species living in these habitats, resulting in further bottlenecks and possibly local extinction. An IUCN assessment of P. nuptialis and P. bowkeri suggests that these two species are probably endangered. The issue surrounding the conservation of Prestonella species is that they are threatened by global climate change, which cannot be simply restricted or prevented, which makes dealing with the threat of climate change difficult. Assisted migration (MA) may be considered as a method to prevent possible future extinctions of Prestonella populations, but will only be considered as a last resort. The thermal tolerance (Arrhenius breaking temperature and flat-line temperature) of individual snails from three Prestonella populations (one forest population and two thicket populations) were assessed using infrared sensors that detected changes in heart rate with increasing temperature. The forest population had a significantly lower Arrhenius breaking temperature (ABT) and flat-line temperature (FLT) than the two thicket population (p<0.05). Our results do not show a correlation between upper thermal limits and maximum habitat temperatures or other climatic variables in Prestonella populations. Although no correlation is found between ABT and maximum habitat temperature, it is likely that the differences seen between these populations are due to local micro-climate adaptation. The climatic variables used in this experiment are coarse estimates from GIS data and do not reflect actual microhabitat conditions. Forest environments are less heat stressed than thicket environments due to the forest canopy which may explain the lower ABT and FLT of the forest population.
- Full Text:
- Date Issued: 2011
- Authors: Fearon, Janine Lee
- Date: 2011
- Subjects: Snails -- South Africa , Snails -- Conservation -- South Africa , Snails -- Variation -- South Africa , Biodiversity -- South Africa , Snails -- Genetics -- South Africa , Snails -- Habitat -- South Africa
- Language: English
- Type: Thesis , Masters , MSc
- Identifier: vital:4191 , http://hdl.handle.net/10962/d1003760 , Snails -- South Africa , Snails -- Conservation -- South Africa , Snails -- Variation -- South Africa , Biodiversity -- South Africa , Snails -- Genetics -- South Africa , Snails -- Habitat -- South Africa
- Description: Prestonella bowkeri and Prestonella nuptialis are montane specialists endemic to the southern Great Escarpment of South Africa. Phylogeographic analyses of these species based on mitochondrial markers CO1 and 16S reveal extremely high levels of divergence between populations indicating a lack of gene flow between populations. This is not surprising, because P. nuptialis and P. bowkeri have limited dispersal capacity, low vagility, a highly fragmented distribution and are habitat specialists that are restricted to isolated mesic refugia associated with waterfalls and montane seepages. A relaxed Bayesian clock estimate suggests that populations diverged from one another during the mid-late Miocene (12.5-7 MYA) which coincides with the modern trends of seasonal aridity which began during the Miocene. This result should be viewed with caution because the rates used are at best imprecise estimates of mutation rates in snails. There is no clear dichotomy between the two species and P. bowkeri is paraphyletic with respect to P. nuptialis, as a consequence the taxonomy is unclear. Due to the high levels of sequence divergence between populations they may be considered as evolutionary significant units (ESU’s). An assessment of haplotype diversity (h) and nucleotide diversity (π) reveals that populations in the western part of the Great Escarpment are more genetically depauperate than populations in the east. Correlations between genetic diversity and climatic variables show that genetically depauperate populations are found in areas that have lower annual rainfall, less reliable rainfall and higher potential evaporation, all factors associated with a drier, less mesic environment that increases the chances of a population bottleneck. This indicates that a shift towards a more arid environment may be a driver of genetic erosion. Historical climate change may thus have affected the amount and distribution of genetic diversity across the Great Escarpment since the Miocene. This has serious future implications for the survival of Prestonella. With predicted increase in global temperatures, climate change in South Africa is likely to result in range contraction and an eastward range shift for many species in the drier central and western areas (Erasmus et al. 2002) and regions along the Great Escarpment are likely to become more arid. Prestonella populations found living on inselbergs along the Great Escarpment are already restricted to site specific watercourses and seepages. An increase in the periods between stream flow, and increasing rainfall variability and mean annual potential evaporation are likely to have an adverse affect on species living in these habitats, resulting in further bottlenecks and possibly local extinction. An IUCN assessment of P. nuptialis and P. bowkeri suggests that these two species are probably endangered. The issue surrounding the conservation of Prestonella species is that they are threatened by global climate change, which cannot be simply restricted or prevented, which makes dealing with the threat of climate change difficult. Assisted migration (MA) may be considered as a method to prevent possible future extinctions of Prestonella populations, but will only be considered as a last resort. The thermal tolerance (Arrhenius breaking temperature and flat-line temperature) of individual snails from three Prestonella populations (one forest population and two thicket populations) were assessed using infrared sensors that detected changes in heart rate with increasing temperature. The forest population had a significantly lower Arrhenius breaking temperature (ABT) and flat-line temperature (FLT) than the two thicket population (p<0.05). Our results do not show a correlation between upper thermal limits and maximum habitat temperatures or other climatic variables in Prestonella populations. Although no correlation is found between ABT and maximum habitat temperature, it is likely that the differences seen between these populations are due to local micro-climate adaptation. The climatic variables used in this experiment are coarse estimates from GIS data and do not reflect actual microhabitat conditions. Forest environments are less heat stressed than thicket environments due to the forest canopy which may explain the lower ABT and FLT of the forest population.
- Full Text:
- Date Issued: 2011
The genetic integrity of Labeo capensis and L. umbratus (Cyprinidae) in South Africa in relation to inter-basin water transfer schemes
- Authors: Ramoejane, Mpho
- Date: 2011
- Subjects: Cyprinidae -- South Africa -- Darlington Dam , Cyprinidae -- Namibia -- Hardap Dam , Labeo -- South Africa -- Darlington Dam , Labeo -- Namibia -- Hardap Dam , Fishes -- Hybridisation -- South Africa -- Darlington Dam , Fishes -- Hybridisation -- Namibia -- Hardap Dam , Fishes -- Anatomy -- South Africa -- Darlington Dam , Fishes -- Anatomy -- Namibia -- Hardap Dam , Water transfer -- South Africa-- Darlington Dam , Water transfer -- Namibia -- Hardap Dam
- Language: English
- Type: Thesis , Masters , MSc
- Identifier: vital:5367 , http://hdl.handle.net/10962/d1013049
- Description: The Orange-Fish and Cookhouse tunnels that are part of a major inter-basin water transfer scheme (IBT) act as a pathway for several fish species from the Orange River system to enter the Great Fish and Sundays River systems in South Africa. These include Labeo capensis and L. umbratus. Labeo capensis was restricted to the Orange River system before the inter-basin water transfer scheme. Labeo umbratus occurred naturally in the Orange River and in southern flowing river systems. Previous studies showed that the two species hybridise in Hardap Dam, located in a tributary of the Orange River system in Namibia. There are also unconfirmed reports of hybrids from Darlington Dam on the Sundays River system. The aim of the thesis was to confirm hybridisation in Hardap Dam, assess whether hybridisation between L. capensis and L. umbratus has occurred in Darlington Dam and to gain a better understanding of the diversity of these two species. Morphology (morphometrics and meristics), a nuclear S7 intron and the mitochondrial cytochrome ♭ gene were used to assess for hybridisation. A total of 275 specimens were analysed from across the geographical range of the two species. The two species could be distinguished using morphometrics (dorsal fin base, interorbital width and operculum to eye distance) and meristics (lateral line, origin of the dorsal fin to lateral line, origin of the pelvic fin to lateral line and caudal peduncle scale counts) characters. Hybrids from Hardap and Darlington dams were placed between the two species clusters. Labeo umbratus from the Orange River and southern flowing rivers formed a single cluster. The two species could also be distinguished from each other with six nuclear DNA mutations and hybrids were heterozygous at such sites in both dams. Labeo umbratus populations from the Orange River and southern flowing rivers (Gouritz, Gamtoos, Sundays, Bushmans, Great Fish and Nahoon) formed a single lineage. Analysis of mitochondrial DNA, however, revealed that L. umbratus populations from the Orange River and southern flowing rivers were two lineages that differ from each other by 5 mutations. Labeo capensis could be differentiated from both these lineages. Being maternally inherited, mitochondrial DNA did not reveal hybridisation, but ten specimens with L. capensis haplotypes were found in the Darlington Dam. In Hardap Dam, however, it appears that only L. capensis mitochondrial DNA haplotypes persist, despite morphological and nuclear DNA analysis suggesting that both morphs and hybrids of the two species occur. The genetic integrity of these Labeo species has therefore been compromised in at least Hardap and Darlington dams. The Great Fish and Sundays populations are considered to be under threat of complete introgression. The Kat River and Slagboom Dam populations that were isolated before the IBTs have to remain isolated to protect the genetic integrity of the southern lineage of L. umbratus in these two systems.
- Full Text:
- Date Issued: 2011
- Authors: Ramoejane, Mpho
- Date: 2011
- Subjects: Cyprinidae -- South Africa -- Darlington Dam , Cyprinidae -- Namibia -- Hardap Dam , Labeo -- South Africa -- Darlington Dam , Labeo -- Namibia -- Hardap Dam , Fishes -- Hybridisation -- South Africa -- Darlington Dam , Fishes -- Hybridisation -- Namibia -- Hardap Dam , Fishes -- Anatomy -- South Africa -- Darlington Dam , Fishes -- Anatomy -- Namibia -- Hardap Dam , Water transfer -- South Africa-- Darlington Dam , Water transfer -- Namibia -- Hardap Dam
- Language: English
- Type: Thesis , Masters , MSc
- Identifier: vital:5367 , http://hdl.handle.net/10962/d1013049
- Description: The Orange-Fish and Cookhouse tunnels that are part of a major inter-basin water transfer scheme (IBT) act as a pathway for several fish species from the Orange River system to enter the Great Fish and Sundays River systems in South Africa. These include Labeo capensis and L. umbratus. Labeo capensis was restricted to the Orange River system before the inter-basin water transfer scheme. Labeo umbratus occurred naturally in the Orange River and in southern flowing river systems. Previous studies showed that the two species hybridise in Hardap Dam, located in a tributary of the Orange River system in Namibia. There are also unconfirmed reports of hybrids from Darlington Dam on the Sundays River system. The aim of the thesis was to confirm hybridisation in Hardap Dam, assess whether hybridisation between L. capensis and L. umbratus has occurred in Darlington Dam and to gain a better understanding of the diversity of these two species. Morphology (morphometrics and meristics), a nuclear S7 intron and the mitochondrial cytochrome ♭ gene were used to assess for hybridisation. A total of 275 specimens were analysed from across the geographical range of the two species. The two species could be distinguished using morphometrics (dorsal fin base, interorbital width and operculum to eye distance) and meristics (lateral line, origin of the dorsal fin to lateral line, origin of the pelvic fin to lateral line and caudal peduncle scale counts) characters. Hybrids from Hardap and Darlington dams were placed between the two species clusters. Labeo umbratus from the Orange River and southern flowing rivers formed a single cluster. The two species could also be distinguished from each other with six nuclear DNA mutations and hybrids were heterozygous at such sites in both dams. Labeo umbratus populations from the Orange River and southern flowing rivers (Gouritz, Gamtoos, Sundays, Bushmans, Great Fish and Nahoon) formed a single lineage. Analysis of mitochondrial DNA, however, revealed that L. umbratus populations from the Orange River and southern flowing rivers were two lineages that differ from each other by 5 mutations. Labeo capensis could be differentiated from both these lineages. Being maternally inherited, mitochondrial DNA did not reveal hybridisation, but ten specimens with L. capensis haplotypes were found in the Darlington Dam. In Hardap Dam, however, it appears that only L. capensis mitochondrial DNA haplotypes persist, despite morphological and nuclear DNA analysis suggesting that both morphs and hybrids of the two species occur. The genetic integrity of these Labeo species has therefore been compromised in at least Hardap and Darlington dams. The Great Fish and Sundays populations are considered to be under threat of complete introgression. The Kat River and Slagboom Dam populations that were isolated before the IBTs have to remain isolated to protect the genetic integrity of the southern lineage of L. umbratus in these two systems.
- Full Text:
- Date Issued: 2011
The identity of Albuca caudata Jacq. (Hyacinthaceae) and a description of a new related species : A. bakeri
- Martinez-Azorin, Mario, Cresbo, Manuel B, Dold, Anthony P, Barker, Nigel P
- Authors: Martinez-Azorin, Mario , Cresbo, Manuel B , Dold, Anthony P , Barker, Nigel P
- Date: 2011
- Language: English
- Type: Article
- Identifier: vital:6528 , http://hdl.handle.net/10962/d1005969
- Description: The name Albuca caudata Jacq. has been widely misunderstood or even ignored since its description in 1791. After studying herbarium specimens and living populations in South Africa, plants fitting Jacquin´s concept of that species are found to be widely distributed in the Eastern Cape, mainly in the Albany centre of Endemism. Furthermore, some divergent specimens matching Baker´s concept of Albuca caudata are described as a new related species: Albuca bakeri. Data on typification, morphology, ecology, and distribution are reported for both taxa. Affinities and divergences with other close allies are also discussed.
- Full Text:
- Date Issued: 2011
- Authors: Martinez-Azorin, Mario , Cresbo, Manuel B , Dold, Anthony P , Barker, Nigel P
- Date: 2011
- Language: English
- Type: Article
- Identifier: vital:6528 , http://hdl.handle.net/10962/d1005969
- Description: The name Albuca caudata Jacq. has been widely misunderstood or even ignored since its description in 1791. After studying herbarium specimens and living populations in South Africa, plants fitting Jacquin´s concept of that species are found to be widely distributed in the Eastern Cape, mainly in the Albany centre of Endemism. Furthermore, some divergent specimens matching Baker´s concept of Albuca caudata are described as a new related species: Albuca bakeri. Data on typification, morphology, ecology, and distribution are reported for both taxa. Affinities and divergences with other close allies are also discussed.
- Full Text:
- Date Issued: 2011
The Iindaba Ziyafika project: a new community of practice?
- Authors: Nyathi, Sihle
- Date: 2011
- Subjects: Citizen journalism -- South Africa -- Grahamstown Journalism -- South Africa -- Grahamstown Iindaba Ziyafika project Grocott's Mail (Grahamstown, South Africa) Radio journalism -- South Africa -- Grahamstown Online journalism -- South Africa -- Grahamstown Mass media -- Social aspects -- South Africa -- Grahamstown Mass media -- Political aspects -- South Africa -- Grahamstown Journalism -- Objectivity -- South Africa -- Grahamstown
- Language: English
- Type: Thesis , Masters , MA
- Identifier: vital:3477 , http://hdl.handle.net/10962/d1002932
- Description: This study sought to investigate the practices of citizen journalists in the Iindaba Ziyafika project. The objectives of the research were to explore the evolving practices of citizen journalism in Grahamstown and to extrapolate how citizen journalists are securing a discursive space in relationship to conventional journalism. The study investigated whether the citizen journalists based at Grocotts Mail and Radio Grahamstown are developing practices and patterns that can be distinguished from the practices of conventional journalism. It also evaluated whether the content that is produced by citizen journalists differs from the content that is produced by professional journalists, so that it can be understood as "alternative" and as promoting engaged citizenship. A sub goal was also to explore whether citizen journalism does enable the practice of citizenship through expanding the public sphere. The findings of the research are that in the Iindaba Ziyafika project, citizen journalists see news as a process and not as a series of news events. This is clear departure from event-based news conceptualisation associated with mainstream journalism. They view news as unfolding social processes, allowing citizen journalists to question the factors which would have precipitated the event and investigate the causal factors of particular phenomena. The research also reveals that citizen journalists in the project are engaging in pro-am journalism. Part of the practice of citizen journalists involves a very significant amount of collaboration between professional journalists and citizen journalists. The collaboration is in the production of content and in the presentation of radio broadcasts. Part of the findings of the study are that journalists in the Iindaba Ziyafika project work in different mediums and this calls for them to acquire the competencies of the different mediums. The same citizen journalists produce content for print, radio and for online media. The diction used in the stories published by citizen journalists is couched in struggle and revolutionary language which seems to pit the community against the authorities. The citizen journalists also make use of every daily language in their radio broadcasts and borrow from their cultural expression. This they do through populist methods. The citizen journalists have also integrated communication brokering as part and parcel of their practice. This is because the citizen journalists have also made it their mandate to enable the flow of information between the residents and the local authority. In terms of sourcing there is a deliberate stance to include those who are not ordinarily given a voice in the mainstream media. Women and the poor appear frequently in stories as sources and this is a different scenario from that prevalent in mainstream journalism which frequently covers the rich and the powerful. The citizen journalists in the Iindaba Ziyafika project have also borrowed practices from professional journalism and this has been integrated into their daily practice. This includes following strategic rituals of journalism objectivity and balance.
- Full Text:
- Date Issued: 2011
- Authors: Nyathi, Sihle
- Date: 2011
- Subjects: Citizen journalism -- South Africa -- Grahamstown Journalism -- South Africa -- Grahamstown Iindaba Ziyafika project Grocott's Mail (Grahamstown, South Africa) Radio journalism -- South Africa -- Grahamstown Online journalism -- South Africa -- Grahamstown Mass media -- Social aspects -- South Africa -- Grahamstown Mass media -- Political aspects -- South Africa -- Grahamstown Journalism -- Objectivity -- South Africa -- Grahamstown
- Language: English
- Type: Thesis , Masters , MA
- Identifier: vital:3477 , http://hdl.handle.net/10962/d1002932
- Description: This study sought to investigate the practices of citizen journalists in the Iindaba Ziyafika project. The objectives of the research were to explore the evolving practices of citizen journalism in Grahamstown and to extrapolate how citizen journalists are securing a discursive space in relationship to conventional journalism. The study investigated whether the citizen journalists based at Grocotts Mail and Radio Grahamstown are developing practices and patterns that can be distinguished from the practices of conventional journalism. It also evaluated whether the content that is produced by citizen journalists differs from the content that is produced by professional journalists, so that it can be understood as "alternative" and as promoting engaged citizenship. A sub goal was also to explore whether citizen journalism does enable the practice of citizenship through expanding the public sphere. The findings of the research are that in the Iindaba Ziyafika project, citizen journalists see news as a process and not as a series of news events. This is clear departure from event-based news conceptualisation associated with mainstream journalism. They view news as unfolding social processes, allowing citizen journalists to question the factors which would have precipitated the event and investigate the causal factors of particular phenomena. The research also reveals that citizen journalists in the project are engaging in pro-am journalism. Part of the practice of citizen journalists involves a very significant amount of collaboration between professional journalists and citizen journalists. The collaboration is in the production of content and in the presentation of radio broadcasts. Part of the findings of the study are that journalists in the Iindaba Ziyafika project work in different mediums and this calls for them to acquire the competencies of the different mediums. The same citizen journalists produce content for print, radio and for online media. The diction used in the stories published by citizen journalists is couched in struggle and revolutionary language which seems to pit the community against the authorities. The citizen journalists also make use of every daily language in their radio broadcasts and borrow from their cultural expression. This they do through populist methods. The citizen journalists have also integrated communication brokering as part and parcel of their practice. This is because the citizen journalists have also made it their mandate to enable the flow of information between the residents and the local authority. In terms of sourcing there is a deliberate stance to include those who are not ordinarily given a voice in the mainstream media. Women and the poor appear frequently in stories as sources and this is a different scenario from that prevalent in mainstream journalism which frequently covers the rich and the powerful. The citizen journalists in the Iindaba Ziyafika project have also borrowed practices from professional journalism and this has been integrated into their daily practice. This includes following strategic rituals of journalism objectivity and balance.
- Full Text:
- Date Issued: 2011
The impact of delivery performance for a selected part of General Motors South Africa (GMSA)
- Authors: Blouw, Andrew Christopher
- Date: 2011
- Subjects: General Motors Corporation , Automobiles -- Parts -- South Africa -- Eastern Cape , Management -- South Africa -- Eastern Cape , Motor industry -- South Africa -- Eastern Cape
- Language: English
- Type: Thesis , Masters , MA
- Identifier: vital:8793 , http://hdl.handle.net/10948/d1015957
- Description: Today‘s customers expect zero defects with just-in-time (JIT) delivery from their suppliers, for the specified quantities, as a matter of standard practice. More importantly, customers expect companies to help them know what they need in terms of quantities and quality now, and for the future. No other change process adds long-term value as quickly as zero defects. Companies failing to embrace this quality culture face difficult challenges. To achieve this level of performance requires tremendous focus in an organisation and throughout its supply base. Business models around the world are changing dramatically from the "Source Local" to the "Source Anywhere and Build Anywhere" model (Cummins, 2008: 19). Companies have shifted away from a hierarchical, one-dimensional, supply chain entity to a fragmented network in favor of strategic partnerships with external entities. Many businesses facing such models are experiencing challenges and, if not managed correctly, can find themselves struggling to compete in this new landscape. Thus, when price concessions are so stringent, quality has to suffer. To reduce costs, suppliers are forced to seek less expensive ways to produce parts and components. Does this mean the use of different, less expensive materials? Does this mean less skilled labor? Does this mean production shortcuts? Or does this mean that suppliers just bite the bullet and pay the price? Once all the costs have been extracted from the supply chain, the only thing left to suffer is quality. The underlying objective of this research is to investigate the impact of delivery performance for a selected part at General Motors South Africa. In order to develop a research strategy to deal with, and solve, the main problem, the following research questions have been identified: a) What can be learned from literature about the impact of quality costs? b) Why is this specific part a suitable candidate for a cost investigation? c) What are the processes involved if a defect occurs? d) How can the cost be estimated? e) What effect does poor supplier quality have on productivity? This dissertation aims to investigate the problems and challenges General Motors South Africa are facing pertaining to the delivery performance of a selected part. The dissertation will also strive to highlight the impact of poor supplier quality on productivity and the related cost implications. Conclusions and recommendations will furthermore be outlined.
- Full Text:
- Date Issued: 2011
- Authors: Blouw, Andrew Christopher
- Date: 2011
- Subjects: General Motors Corporation , Automobiles -- Parts -- South Africa -- Eastern Cape , Management -- South Africa -- Eastern Cape , Motor industry -- South Africa -- Eastern Cape
- Language: English
- Type: Thesis , Masters , MA
- Identifier: vital:8793 , http://hdl.handle.net/10948/d1015957
- Description: Today‘s customers expect zero defects with just-in-time (JIT) delivery from their suppliers, for the specified quantities, as a matter of standard practice. More importantly, customers expect companies to help them know what they need in terms of quantities and quality now, and for the future. No other change process adds long-term value as quickly as zero defects. Companies failing to embrace this quality culture face difficult challenges. To achieve this level of performance requires tremendous focus in an organisation and throughout its supply base. Business models around the world are changing dramatically from the "Source Local" to the "Source Anywhere and Build Anywhere" model (Cummins, 2008: 19). Companies have shifted away from a hierarchical, one-dimensional, supply chain entity to a fragmented network in favor of strategic partnerships with external entities. Many businesses facing such models are experiencing challenges and, if not managed correctly, can find themselves struggling to compete in this new landscape. Thus, when price concessions are so stringent, quality has to suffer. To reduce costs, suppliers are forced to seek less expensive ways to produce parts and components. Does this mean the use of different, less expensive materials? Does this mean less skilled labor? Does this mean production shortcuts? Or does this mean that suppliers just bite the bullet and pay the price? Once all the costs have been extracted from the supply chain, the only thing left to suffer is quality. The underlying objective of this research is to investigate the impact of delivery performance for a selected part at General Motors South Africa. In order to develop a research strategy to deal with, and solve, the main problem, the following research questions have been identified: a) What can be learned from literature about the impact of quality costs? b) Why is this specific part a suitable candidate for a cost investigation? c) What are the processes involved if a defect occurs? d) How can the cost be estimated? e) What effect does poor supplier quality have on productivity? This dissertation aims to investigate the problems and challenges General Motors South Africa are facing pertaining to the delivery performance of a selected part. The dissertation will also strive to highlight the impact of poor supplier quality on productivity and the related cost implications. Conclusions and recommendations will furthermore be outlined.
- Full Text:
- Date Issued: 2011
The impact of forest degradation on carbon stocks of forests in the Matiwane area of the Transkei, South Africa
- Authors: Mangwale, Kagiso
- Date: 2011
- Subjects: Forest degradation -- Control -- South Africa -- Transkei , Forest ecology -- South Africa -- Transkei , Carbon sequestration -- South Africa -- Transkei , Forest conservation -- South Africa -- Transkei
- Language: English
- Type: Thesis , Masters , MSc
- Identifier: vital:4781 , http://hdl.handle.net/10962/d1012799 , Forest degradation -- Control -- South Africa -- Transkei , Forest ecology -- South Africa -- Transkei , Carbon sequestration -- South Africa -- Transkei , Forest conservation -- South Africa -- Transkei
- Description: This study focused on assessing the condition and creating a carbon inventory of forests in the Matiwane area of the Transkei. This entailed the use of aerial photography in tracing forest cover change from 1942 to 2007 coupled with ground-truthing to assess whether the forests have in any way endured degradation over the years with a potential reduction in carbon stocks as a result. This study revealed both the loss and gain of biomass in the area with a general trend of forests being continuously converted to agricultural fields resulting in reduced forest area, stem density, tree density and carbon loss in different pools of the forests, reflecting that these forests are degraded. The conversion has resulted in the reduction in the number of species from a mean of 11±0.57 species/200m² in intact forests to 1±0.23species/200m² plot in degraded forests. It was also revealed that approximately 5.2 % (791 hectares) of 15 352 hectares of forest area was lost as a result of the conversion of forest land to agricultural fields from 1942 to 2007 with 99 % of the clearing occurring in the last 33 years (1974-2007) and of which 60 % ( 4 77 hectares) occurred from 1995 to 2007, indicating that forest degradation in these forests is on the increase. The assessment also revealed some areas that were nonforest in 1942 that have accumulated woody biomass (BAA), composed mainly of Acacia sp accounting for 51.18 MgC.ha⁻¹ (Megagrams of carbon per hectare) and total carbon stocks of 0.02 TgC (Teragrams of carbon). The degradation of these forests induced a reduction in carbon stocks from 311.68±23.69 MgC.ha⁻¹ (to a soil depth 0-50 cm) in intact forest to 73.46±12.34 MgC.ha⁻¹ in degraded forests. The total carbon stocks in the degraded forests were approximated at 0.06 TgC and the BAA areas 0.02 TgC with 4.7 TgC in intact forests. The degradation of these forests has resulted in the net carbon loss of 0.19 TgC between 1942 and 2007 but 4.76 TgC is still locked in these forests. The large difference in carbon stocks between intact and degraded forests indicated the need to reduce the degradation of these forests to prevent further carbon loss and reduction of the carbon sequestration potential of these forests.
- Full Text:
- Date Issued: 2011
- Authors: Mangwale, Kagiso
- Date: 2011
- Subjects: Forest degradation -- Control -- South Africa -- Transkei , Forest ecology -- South Africa -- Transkei , Carbon sequestration -- South Africa -- Transkei , Forest conservation -- South Africa -- Transkei
- Language: English
- Type: Thesis , Masters , MSc
- Identifier: vital:4781 , http://hdl.handle.net/10962/d1012799 , Forest degradation -- Control -- South Africa -- Transkei , Forest ecology -- South Africa -- Transkei , Carbon sequestration -- South Africa -- Transkei , Forest conservation -- South Africa -- Transkei
- Description: This study focused on assessing the condition and creating a carbon inventory of forests in the Matiwane area of the Transkei. This entailed the use of aerial photography in tracing forest cover change from 1942 to 2007 coupled with ground-truthing to assess whether the forests have in any way endured degradation over the years with a potential reduction in carbon stocks as a result. This study revealed both the loss and gain of biomass in the area with a general trend of forests being continuously converted to agricultural fields resulting in reduced forest area, stem density, tree density and carbon loss in different pools of the forests, reflecting that these forests are degraded. The conversion has resulted in the reduction in the number of species from a mean of 11±0.57 species/200m² in intact forests to 1±0.23species/200m² plot in degraded forests. It was also revealed that approximately 5.2 % (791 hectares) of 15 352 hectares of forest area was lost as a result of the conversion of forest land to agricultural fields from 1942 to 2007 with 99 % of the clearing occurring in the last 33 years (1974-2007) and of which 60 % ( 4 77 hectares) occurred from 1995 to 2007, indicating that forest degradation in these forests is on the increase. The assessment also revealed some areas that were nonforest in 1942 that have accumulated woody biomass (BAA), composed mainly of Acacia sp accounting for 51.18 MgC.ha⁻¹ (Megagrams of carbon per hectare) and total carbon stocks of 0.02 TgC (Teragrams of carbon). The degradation of these forests induced a reduction in carbon stocks from 311.68±23.69 MgC.ha⁻¹ (to a soil depth 0-50 cm) in intact forest to 73.46±12.34 MgC.ha⁻¹ in degraded forests. The total carbon stocks in the degraded forests were approximated at 0.06 TgC and the BAA areas 0.02 TgC with 4.7 TgC in intact forests. The degradation of these forests has resulted in the net carbon loss of 0.19 TgC between 1942 and 2007 but 4.76 TgC is still locked in these forests. The large difference in carbon stocks between intact and degraded forests indicated the need to reduce the degradation of these forests to prevent further carbon loss and reduction of the carbon sequestration potential of these forests.
- Full Text:
- Date Issued: 2011
The impact of HIV/AIDS on the delivery of maternal health care services of selected primary health care clinics of Peddie in the Eastern Cape Province
- Mangi, Nozuko Glenrose https://orcid.org/0000-0001-9158-8820
- Authors: Mangi, Nozuko Glenrose https://orcid.org/0000-0001-9158-8820
- Date: 2011
- Subjects: Maternal health services , Primary health care , HIV infections -- Africa
- Language: English
- Type: Master's theses , text
- Identifier: http://hdl.handle.net/10353/24576 , vital:63209
- Description: The aim of this descriptive study was to explore the impact of HIV/AIDS on the maternal health programme at selected Primary Health Care (PHC) clinics in the Peddie sub-district, in the Eastern Cape, South Africa. This study showed that the HIV/AIDS epidemic has had major influences on the rendering of maternal health services in this sub-district. An understanding of the impact of HIV/AIDS on the delivery of the maternal health programme in the Peddie Primary Health Clinics will potentially help the District Health Service office, as well as the clinic managers and professional nurses to formulate strategies to strengthen the maternal health programme. This data will also be helpful when developing plans to cope with the heavy work-load of the clinics offering maternal health services, and to address the attitudes and concerns of the professional nurses working in the PHC clinics in this area. Thirty professional nurses working at 10 clinics responded to the questionnaires which elicited questions pertaining to the impact of HIV/AIDS on the rendering of their services. As part of the data gathering procedures, standardised notice boards at the PHC clinics were used to document the services rendered. The numbers of ANC clients attended to each of the clinics per week were collected in routine attendance tick registers used in the clinics for recording and monitoring statistics in the maternal health programme. The data was analysed to examine the possible impact of HIV/AIDS on maternal health services rendered by registered nurses/midwives working in the PHC clinics. The registered nurses who responded to the questionnaires (Annexure H) made several suggestions. These included the following: (i) encouraged more training (11 nurses), (ii) addition of more staff members, (iii) to have specialized staff for management of maternal HIV. Because of the study limitations such as the sample size of 10 clinics with a total of 30 nurses who were studied, the study may not be generalised to the whole of the Eastern Cape Province. The study however did provide baseline information on the impact of HIV/AIDS on the maternal health programme. The study findings were that HIV/AIDS has had an impact on the delivery of the maternal health programme due to the extra services brought about by the response to the HIV/AIDS pandemic. This study will contribute to a better understanding of the impact of HIV/AIDS on the maternal health programme at the PHC level in Peddie. The research provided insight into issues that are crucial to the delivery of maternal health programmes in rural areas. , Thesis (MCur) -- Faculty of Science and Agriculture, 2011
- Full Text:
- Date Issued: 2011
- Authors: Mangi, Nozuko Glenrose https://orcid.org/0000-0001-9158-8820
- Date: 2011
- Subjects: Maternal health services , Primary health care , HIV infections -- Africa
- Language: English
- Type: Master's theses , text
- Identifier: http://hdl.handle.net/10353/24576 , vital:63209
- Description: The aim of this descriptive study was to explore the impact of HIV/AIDS on the maternal health programme at selected Primary Health Care (PHC) clinics in the Peddie sub-district, in the Eastern Cape, South Africa. This study showed that the HIV/AIDS epidemic has had major influences on the rendering of maternal health services in this sub-district. An understanding of the impact of HIV/AIDS on the delivery of the maternal health programme in the Peddie Primary Health Clinics will potentially help the District Health Service office, as well as the clinic managers and professional nurses to formulate strategies to strengthen the maternal health programme. This data will also be helpful when developing plans to cope with the heavy work-load of the clinics offering maternal health services, and to address the attitudes and concerns of the professional nurses working in the PHC clinics in this area. Thirty professional nurses working at 10 clinics responded to the questionnaires which elicited questions pertaining to the impact of HIV/AIDS on the rendering of their services. As part of the data gathering procedures, standardised notice boards at the PHC clinics were used to document the services rendered. The numbers of ANC clients attended to each of the clinics per week were collected in routine attendance tick registers used in the clinics for recording and monitoring statistics in the maternal health programme. The data was analysed to examine the possible impact of HIV/AIDS on maternal health services rendered by registered nurses/midwives working in the PHC clinics. The registered nurses who responded to the questionnaires (Annexure H) made several suggestions. These included the following: (i) encouraged more training (11 nurses), (ii) addition of more staff members, (iii) to have specialized staff for management of maternal HIV. Because of the study limitations such as the sample size of 10 clinics with a total of 30 nurses who were studied, the study may not be generalised to the whole of the Eastern Cape Province. The study however did provide baseline information on the impact of HIV/AIDS on the maternal health programme. The study findings were that HIV/AIDS has had an impact on the delivery of the maternal health programme due to the extra services brought about by the response to the HIV/AIDS pandemic. This study will contribute to a better understanding of the impact of HIV/AIDS on the maternal health programme at the PHC level in Peddie. The research provided insight into issues that are crucial to the delivery of maternal health programmes in rural areas. , Thesis (MCur) -- Faculty of Science and Agriculture, 2011
- Full Text:
- Date Issued: 2011
The impact of human resource management practices on the psychological contract during a psychological recession
- Theron, Anthonie Van Straaten
- Authors: Theron, Anthonie Van Straaten
- Date: 2011
- Subjects: Psychology, Industrial , Contracts -- Psychological aspects , Organisational behaviour
- Language: English
- Type: Thesis , Masters , MTech
- Identifier: vital:8772 , http://hdl.handle.net/10948/d1012611 , Psychology, Industrial , Contracts -- Psychological aspects , Organisational behaviour
- Description: The aim of this study was to investigate the impact of Human Resource Management (HRM) practices on the psychological contracts of employees who have been negatively impacted by the widespread psychological recession. The psychological contract that exists between employees and organisations is brittle due to the psychological recession, which is defined as an emotional state in which employees feel extremely vulnerable to economic hardship. This contributes to a negative and cynical view of the present and an even bleaker view of the future. Breach of the psychological contract has severe negative consequences for employees and organisations. These include reduced employee well-being, trust levels, various organisational citizenship behaviours, increased cynical attitudes toward the organisation, and stronger intention to quit. The target population for the present study consisted of all permanent support staff working at an organisation that has recently went through a large-scale retrenchment exercise (n=52). A self-administered questionnaire was distributed amongst employees. The findings suggest that when the harsh effects of the psychological recession increase, employees are more likely to engage in various destructive behaviours at work due to breach and violation of their psychological contracts. Furthermore, the results indicated that an increase in the number of progressive HRM practices correlated with a decrease in breach and violation of the psychological contract. It was further revealed that the widespread psychological recession may make the employment relationship brittle and prone to breach and violation. The findings suggest that through the effective development and application of many explicit HRM practices, employees’ psychological contracts may become less fragile to breach and violation during a psychological recession.
- Full Text:
- Date Issued: 2011
- Authors: Theron, Anthonie Van Straaten
- Date: 2011
- Subjects: Psychology, Industrial , Contracts -- Psychological aspects , Organisational behaviour
- Language: English
- Type: Thesis , Masters , MTech
- Identifier: vital:8772 , http://hdl.handle.net/10948/d1012611 , Psychology, Industrial , Contracts -- Psychological aspects , Organisational behaviour
- Description: The aim of this study was to investigate the impact of Human Resource Management (HRM) practices on the psychological contracts of employees who have been negatively impacted by the widespread psychological recession. The psychological contract that exists between employees and organisations is brittle due to the psychological recession, which is defined as an emotional state in which employees feel extremely vulnerable to economic hardship. This contributes to a negative and cynical view of the present and an even bleaker view of the future. Breach of the psychological contract has severe negative consequences for employees and organisations. These include reduced employee well-being, trust levels, various organisational citizenship behaviours, increased cynical attitudes toward the organisation, and stronger intention to quit. The target population for the present study consisted of all permanent support staff working at an organisation that has recently went through a large-scale retrenchment exercise (n=52). A self-administered questionnaire was distributed amongst employees. The findings suggest that when the harsh effects of the psychological recession increase, employees are more likely to engage in various destructive behaviours at work due to breach and violation of their psychological contracts. Furthermore, the results indicated that an increase in the number of progressive HRM practices correlated with a decrease in breach and violation of the psychological contract. It was further revealed that the widespread psychological recession may make the employment relationship brittle and prone to breach and violation. The findings suggest that through the effective development and application of many explicit HRM practices, employees’ psychological contracts may become less fragile to breach and violation during a psychological recession.
- Full Text:
- Date Issued: 2011
The impact of leadership on organisational politics
- Authors: Robb, Charles A
- Date: 2011
- Subjects: Leadership -- South Africa , Personnel management -- South Africa , Business and politics -- South Africa
- Language: English
- Type: Thesis , Masters , MBA
- Identifier: vital:8602 , http://hdl.handle.net/10948/1634 , Leadership -- South Africa , Personnel management -- South Africa , Business and politics -- South Africa
- Description: Today‘s workforce consists of employees with diverse personalities, cultural backgrounds, nationalities, needs and wants, thus creating new challenges for today‘s leaders. One of the primary functions of leadership is the management of employee perceptions that influence organisational outcomes. Among these perceptions the perception of politics is an influential type of organisational phenomenon. There is no denying the fact that leadership greatly affects the performance of organisations. According to DuBrin (2010:8), an overview of research on managerial succession conducted over a 20 year period provides support that leadership has an impact on organisational performance. The analysis of the research found that leaders might be responsible for somewhere between 15 per cent and 45 per cent of a firm‘s performance. From the above mentioned research, it can be seen that the importance of leadership cannot be underestimated when regulating the effect of politics in the working environment and to achieve the company goals and objectives. Part of the challenge today‘s leaders face is to help employees to see the different perspectives of political actions as a positive force, rather than seeing these as negative processes that cause internal competition for resources, recognition and promotions. Company politics does not have to be about back stabbing, internal rivalry, manipulation for power and lack of trust. With the development of proper skills and personal and organisational goals, positive organisational politics provides the real foundation for competitive advantage to benefit the employee as well as the organisation. The main purpose of this research paper is to identify the influence of leadership on organisational politics. The first step was to complete a literature study on the iii selected factors which contribute to organisational politics. The factors selected were those of job ambiguity, scarcity of resources, personality, uncertainty and fairness. The literature study also includes the outcomes of organisational politics. These outcomes include job satisfaction, job performance, turnover intention and job stress. An empirical study was then used to analyse the views of staff in various departments. These questions were based on the selected factors mentioned in the previous paragraph. This involved the staff completing questionnaires. Based on the findings of the literature study and the empirical study, the last step is to make recommendations to the selected company on managing the perceptions of organisational politics. Recommendations are also made as to what leadership styles would best fit different situations
- Full Text:
- Date Issued: 2011
- Authors: Robb, Charles A
- Date: 2011
- Subjects: Leadership -- South Africa , Personnel management -- South Africa , Business and politics -- South Africa
- Language: English
- Type: Thesis , Masters , MBA
- Identifier: vital:8602 , http://hdl.handle.net/10948/1634 , Leadership -- South Africa , Personnel management -- South Africa , Business and politics -- South Africa
- Description: Today‘s workforce consists of employees with diverse personalities, cultural backgrounds, nationalities, needs and wants, thus creating new challenges for today‘s leaders. One of the primary functions of leadership is the management of employee perceptions that influence organisational outcomes. Among these perceptions the perception of politics is an influential type of organisational phenomenon. There is no denying the fact that leadership greatly affects the performance of organisations. According to DuBrin (2010:8), an overview of research on managerial succession conducted over a 20 year period provides support that leadership has an impact on organisational performance. The analysis of the research found that leaders might be responsible for somewhere between 15 per cent and 45 per cent of a firm‘s performance. From the above mentioned research, it can be seen that the importance of leadership cannot be underestimated when regulating the effect of politics in the working environment and to achieve the company goals and objectives. Part of the challenge today‘s leaders face is to help employees to see the different perspectives of political actions as a positive force, rather than seeing these as negative processes that cause internal competition for resources, recognition and promotions. Company politics does not have to be about back stabbing, internal rivalry, manipulation for power and lack of trust. With the development of proper skills and personal and organisational goals, positive organisational politics provides the real foundation for competitive advantage to benefit the employee as well as the organisation. The main purpose of this research paper is to identify the influence of leadership on organisational politics. The first step was to complete a literature study on the iii selected factors which contribute to organisational politics. The factors selected were those of job ambiguity, scarcity of resources, personality, uncertainty and fairness. The literature study also includes the outcomes of organisational politics. These outcomes include job satisfaction, job performance, turnover intention and job stress. An empirical study was then used to analyse the views of staff in various departments. These questions were based on the selected factors mentioned in the previous paragraph. This involved the staff completing questionnaires. Based on the findings of the literature study and the empirical study, the last step is to make recommendations to the selected company on managing the perceptions of organisational politics. Recommendations are also made as to what leadership styles would best fit different situations
- Full Text:
- Date Issued: 2011
The impact of mergers on managers and educators in public FET Colleges at Buffalo City College, East London
- Authors: Magadana, Zukile
- Date: 2011
- Subjects: Managers and Educators -- Education
- Language: English
- Type: Thesis , Masters , M Ed
- Identifier: vital:18427 , http://hdl.handle.net/11260/d1006967
- Description: The merger of higher institutions in South Africa after 1994 was an important change seen by the ANC-led government to break the shackles of the apartheid era. Notwithstanding the many positives that resulted from these mergers a lot of problems were experienced. This research study sets out to investigate the impact of mergers on managers and educators in the Buffalo City Public FET College (BCC) in East London in the Eastern Cape Province. The purpose of the study was to establish whether the working conditions of managers and educators at BCC had improved and whether managers and educators of the Public FET Colleges were able to interpret the FET Act, No. 16 of 2006 properly in order to improve the operational functions of the BCC. It tried to establish what measures were taken to assist managers and educators to improve the participatory decision-making within the structure of management of the college and whether the merger had any influence on the existing human relationship between staff members from different colleges. To this end an exhaustive literature review was conducted looking at an international perspective as well as a national perspective. The empirical design was a case study which made use of structured interviews to collect data from the three satellite campuses of BCC, using managers and educators. Emerging from the case study was that the merger policies within the FET sector have not properly addressed what might be the issues which would be expected to be achieved. The FET Act, Act No. 16 of 2006 affects the operational functions of the college in such a manner that some educators decided not to transfer their services to the College Council. There was a contradiction in terms of accountability, in the sense that when the employees had grievances the Provincial Department of Education referred the matter to the College Council and the College Council referred back to the Provincial Department of Education. It seemed that nobody would like to deal with the challenges of the college. Most of the participants expressed their dissatisfaction that principals and senior managers were remained employees of the Department of Education, while they, the educators, were classified as employees of the College Council. As far as the conditions of service were concerned, the participants mentioned that the qualified educators were not interested to join the FET College sector because of the salary structure; instead they opted to join the industrial sector where they received better salaries and conditions of service than at the college. Based on the findings emerging from the literature and case study it was recommended that the college must formulate credible policies for effective and efficient operations. A committee should be established to deal with fund-raising. The college must be given a chance to govern their affairs (autonomous status) as the FET Act, Act No. 16 of 2006 stipulates very clearly. Transparency in operational issues was seen as an important prerequisite. Transparency in Public FET Colleges means handling matters in such a manner that such as done openly either in the presence of all affected parties or allowing such parties to demand explanations or documentation or both.
- Full Text:
- Date Issued: 2011
- Authors: Magadana, Zukile
- Date: 2011
- Subjects: Managers and Educators -- Education
- Language: English
- Type: Thesis , Masters , M Ed
- Identifier: vital:18427 , http://hdl.handle.net/11260/d1006967
- Description: The merger of higher institutions in South Africa after 1994 was an important change seen by the ANC-led government to break the shackles of the apartheid era. Notwithstanding the many positives that resulted from these mergers a lot of problems were experienced. This research study sets out to investigate the impact of mergers on managers and educators in the Buffalo City Public FET College (BCC) in East London in the Eastern Cape Province. The purpose of the study was to establish whether the working conditions of managers and educators at BCC had improved and whether managers and educators of the Public FET Colleges were able to interpret the FET Act, No. 16 of 2006 properly in order to improve the operational functions of the BCC. It tried to establish what measures were taken to assist managers and educators to improve the participatory decision-making within the structure of management of the college and whether the merger had any influence on the existing human relationship between staff members from different colleges. To this end an exhaustive literature review was conducted looking at an international perspective as well as a national perspective. The empirical design was a case study which made use of structured interviews to collect data from the three satellite campuses of BCC, using managers and educators. Emerging from the case study was that the merger policies within the FET sector have not properly addressed what might be the issues which would be expected to be achieved. The FET Act, Act No. 16 of 2006 affects the operational functions of the college in such a manner that some educators decided not to transfer their services to the College Council. There was a contradiction in terms of accountability, in the sense that when the employees had grievances the Provincial Department of Education referred the matter to the College Council and the College Council referred back to the Provincial Department of Education. It seemed that nobody would like to deal with the challenges of the college. Most of the participants expressed their dissatisfaction that principals and senior managers were remained employees of the Department of Education, while they, the educators, were classified as employees of the College Council. As far as the conditions of service were concerned, the participants mentioned that the qualified educators were not interested to join the FET College sector because of the salary structure; instead they opted to join the industrial sector where they received better salaries and conditions of service than at the college. Based on the findings emerging from the literature and case study it was recommended that the college must formulate credible policies for effective and efficient operations. A committee should be established to deal with fund-raising. The college must be given a chance to govern their affairs (autonomous status) as the FET Act, Act No. 16 of 2006 stipulates very clearly. Transparency in operational issues was seen as an important prerequisite. Transparency in Public FET Colleges means handling matters in such a manner that such as done openly either in the presence of all affected parties or allowing such parties to demand explanations or documentation or both.
- Full Text:
- Date Issued: 2011
The impact of regulatory compliance on small, medium and micro-enterprises in the Buffalo City Metropolitan Municipality
- Authors: Mahlanza, Zanele
- Date: 2011
- Subjects: Small business -- Government policy -- South Africa , Small business -- Law and legislation -- South Africa
- Language: English
- Type: Thesis , Masters , MBA
- Identifier: vital:9006 , http://hdl.handle.net/10948/d1011840 , Small business -- Government policy -- South Africa , Small business -- Law and legislation -- South Africa
- Description: The small, medium and micro-enterprise sector is recognised as being favourable to socioeconomic growth since SMMEs have capacity to generate jobs. SMMEs are particularly beneficial for previously disadvantaged communities, and it is particularly clear that SMMEs play a critical role in economic development. It is therefore important to encourage growth of this sector by introducing a favourable and a conducive environment for the sustainability of the SMMEs. The purpose of this study was to investigate the impact of regulatory compliance on SMMEs in the Buffalo City municipal area in South Africa’s Eastern Cape Province. In other words, this study seeks to find out how SMMEs in the Buffalo City experience regulatory compliance. Exploratory quantitative and qualitative research methodologies were used in this study. In this instance structured questionnaires were used to collect data. In order to provide a precise presentation of information, face-to-face interviews with the SMME owners were conducted. The results of this study indicate that the regulatory environment within which the SMMEs operate is not a constraining one. Although the manual registering process is reported to take long, the electronic or online business registration is much quicker. Notwithstanding, the business registration agencies were reported not be too easily and readily available and accessible. In terms of labour regulations SMME owners and managers indicated that compliance with labour legislation in terms of health and safety was benefiting to their businesses as they learnt how to develop polices and plans. Although the regulatory environment of the SMMEs is not a constraining one, there are costs involved. For example the respondents indicated that the labour laws increased their operating costs. In accordance with labour legislation, employees are entitled to all kinds of paid leave such as annual leave, maternity leave and sometimes study leave; needless to say a right to strike. The labour law regulations were seen to be time consuming and presented an administrative burden for managers. With regards to tax regulations compliance, there was an indication that due to the extra efforts taken by SARS, it was easy to comply. The SMMEs were exposed to what is required in order to comply fully with tax laws. Some respondents mentioned that they lacked the facilities to deal with VAT issues. The study recommends that government should ensure that the registration costs of small businesses remain low and that the turnaround time for registration is shortened. The support structures which are to assist small businesses need to be mentioned in all the media for everyone to be aware of them including the rural areas. The government needs to educate SMME owners and managers on how labour laws can benefit small businesses. Also the business registration process should be streamlined and linked with the South African Revenue Services in order for a ‘one shop stop’, so to shorten the time during formalisation and registration processes. It is also recommended that the South African Revenue Services together with the government simplify the tax issues applying to SMMEs further more especially Value Added Tax which seems not to be easily understood. This will in turn assist SMME owners as they will know more about tax issues, they will also know more how to handle them which should in turn lower the costs of doing business.
- Full Text:
- Date Issued: 2011
- Authors: Mahlanza, Zanele
- Date: 2011
- Subjects: Small business -- Government policy -- South Africa , Small business -- Law and legislation -- South Africa
- Language: English
- Type: Thesis , Masters , MBA
- Identifier: vital:9006 , http://hdl.handle.net/10948/d1011840 , Small business -- Government policy -- South Africa , Small business -- Law and legislation -- South Africa
- Description: The small, medium and micro-enterprise sector is recognised as being favourable to socioeconomic growth since SMMEs have capacity to generate jobs. SMMEs are particularly beneficial for previously disadvantaged communities, and it is particularly clear that SMMEs play a critical role in economic development. It is therefore important to encourage growth of this sector by introducing a favourable and a conducive environment for the sustainability of the SMMEs. The purpose of this study was to investigate the impact of regulatory compliance on SMMEs in the Buffalo City municipal area in South Africa’s Eastern Cape Province. In other words, this study seeks to find out how SMMEs in the Buffalo City experience regulatory compliance. Exploratory quantitative and qualitative research methodologies were used in this study. In this instance structured questionnaires were used to collect data. In order to provide a precise presentation of information, face-to-face interviews with the SMME owners were conducted. The results of this study indicate that the regulatory environment within which the SMMEs operate is not a constraining one. Although the manual registering process is reported to take long, the electronic or online business registration is much quicker. Notwithstanding, the business registration agencies were reported not be too easily and readily available and accessible. In terms of labour regulations SMME owners and managers indicated that compliance with labour legislation in terms of health and safety was benefiting to their businesses as they learnt how to develop polices and plans. Although the regulatory environment of the SMMEs is not a constraining one, there are costs involved. For example the respondents indicated that the labour laws increased their operating costs. In accordance with labour legislation, employees are entitled to all kinds of paid leave such as annual leave, maternity leave and sometimes study leave; needless to say a right to strike. The labour law regulations were seen to be time consuming and presented an administrative burden for managers. With regards to tax regulations compliance, there was an indication that due to the extra efforts taken by SARS, it was easy to comply. The SMMEs were exposed to what is required in order to comply fully with tax laws. Some respondents mentioned that they lacked the facilities to deal with VAT issues. The study recommends that government should ensure that the registration costs of small businesses remain low and that the turnaround time for registration is shortened. The support structures which are to assist small businesses need to be mentioned in all the media for everyone to be aware of them including the rural areas. The government needs to educate SMME owners and managers on how labour laws can benefit small businesses. Also the business registration process should be streamlined and linked with the South African Revenue Services in order for a ‘one shop stop’, so to shorten the time during formalisation and registration processes. It is also recommended that the South African Revenue Services together with the government simplify the tax issues applying to SMMEs further more especially Value Added Tax which seems not to be easily understood. This will in turn assist SMME owners as they will know more about tax issues, they will also know more how to handle them which should in turn lower the costs of doing business.
- Full Text:
- Date Issued: 2011
The impact of social media marketing on purchase decisions in the tyre industry
- Authors: Ramsunder, Monica
- Date: 2011
- Subjects: Social media -- Marketing , Social marketing , Consumer behavior -- South Africa , Consumers -- Research -- South Africa , Internet marketing -- South Africa , Social networks -- Computer network resources
- Language: English
- Type: Thesis , Masters , MBA
- Identifier: vital:8601 , http://hdl.handle.net/10948/1637 , Social media -- Marketing , Social marketing , Consumer behavior -- South Africa , Consumers -- Research -- South Africa , Internet marketing -- South Africa , Social networks -- Computer network resources
- Description: Technology and the boom of the internet have encouraged people to connect with each other, share information and build relationships (Stelzner, 2009; 2010) and the social web has presented a new form of communication through social media which allow people to interact and converse with each other (Evans, 2010). This presents marketers with the opportunity to affect consumers purchase decisions through online marketing and social media. This social engagement by consumers has significant impact on marketing activities as marketers need to be aware of the factors affecting consumer’s purchase decision (Evans, 2010). Continental Tyre South Africa (CTSA), a local tyre manufacturer, is embarking on a social media marketing strategy. No other local tyre manufacturer has a presence on social media platforms. As a result CTSA would have first mover advantage. The main objective of the research that follows is to establish if South African tyre purchasers are supportive of social media as an online research tool to learn more about tyre brands. The significance of this research study is that marketing communications has taken on a different dimension with the growth of online market places and the natural step for CTSA is to engage in social media marketing. The literature review revealed that many modern consumers sought peer advice over social networks thus social media has promoted consumer-to-consumer communication and has made it possible for consumers and brands to interact with each other (Mangold and Faulds, 2009). It was concluded that whilst social media marketing presents marketers with a more cost effective form of marketing, further research regarding South African’s online purchasing activities would be required to assess if the time, money and resources required to manage social media marketing for CTSA would be beneficial to the organisation. As a result a qualitative empirical study was conducted by means of a questionnaire. The research elements were broken down into three segments; the internet and social media, consumer-brand engagement and online iv recommendations. The research revealed that social media marketing is an appropriate strategy for CTSA. The main findings further revealed that CTSA would need to engage in an aggressive traditional marketing campaign in order to drive consumers to engage in the social media campaigns. Strategies must include dedicated social media fan pages, online banners, and online advertisements. Based on the research analysis it is recommended that that most appropriate social media platforms for CTSA to launch social media marketing activities are Facebook and Twitter.
- Full Text:
- Date Issued: 2011
- Authors: Ramsunder, Monica
- Date: 2011
- Subjects: Social media -- Marketing , Social marketing , Consumer behavior -- South Africa , Consumers -- Research -- South Africa , Internet marketing -- South Africa , Social networks -- Computer network resources
- Language: English
- Type: Thesis , Masters , MBA
- Identifier: vital:8601 , http://hdl.handle.net/10948/1637 , Social media -- Marketing , Social marketing , Consumer behavior -- South Africa , Consumers -- Research -- South Africa , Internet marketing -- South Africa , Social networks -- Computer network resources
- Description: Technology and the boom of the internet have encouraged people to connect with each other, share information and build relationships (Stelzner, 2009; 2010) and the social web has presented a new form of communication through social media which allow people to interact and converse with each other (Evans, 2010). This presents marketers with the opportunity to affect consumers purchase decisions through online marketing and social media. This social engagement by consumers has significant impact on marketing activities as marketers need to be aware of the factors affecting consumer’s purchase decision (Evans, 2010). Continental Tyre South Africa (CTSA), a local tyre manufacturer, is embarking on a social media marketing strategy. No other local tyre manufacturer has a presence on social media platforms. As a result CTSA would have first mover advantage. The main objective of the research that follows is to establish if South African tyre purchasers are supportive of social media as an online research tool to learn more about tyre brands. The significance of this research study is that marketing communications has taken on a different dimension with the growth of online market places and the natural step for CTSA is to engage in social media marketing. The literature review revealed that many modern consumers sought peer advice over social networks thus social media has promoted consumer-to-consumer communication and has made it possible for consumers and brands to interact with each other (Mangold and Faulds, 2009). It was concluded that whilst social media marketing presents marketers with a more cost effective form of marketing, further research regarding South African’s online purchasing activities would be required to assess if the time, money and resources required to manage social media marketing for CTSA would be beneficial to the organisation. As a result a qualitative empirical study was conducted by means of a questionnaire. The research elements were broken down into three segments; the internet and social media, consumer-brand engagement and online iv recommendations. The research revealed that social media marketing is an appropriate strategy for CTSA. The main findings further revealed that CTSA would need to engage in an aggressive traditional marketing campaign in order to drive consumers to engage in the social media campaigns. Strategies must include dedicated social media fan pages, online banners, and online advertisements. Based on the research analysis it is recommended that that most appropriate social media platforms for CTSA to launch social media marketing activities are Facebook and Twitter.
- Full Text:
- Date Issued: 2011
The impact of the implementation of E-HRM on the human resource management function
- Authors: Van Heerden, Jeanne-Marie
- Date: 2011
- Subjects: Personnel management -- Technological innovations , Personnel management -- Data processing
- Language: English
- Type: Thesis , Masters , MBA
- Identifier: vital:8938 , http://hdl.handle.net/10948/d1021239
- Description: The purpose of the research was to improve the use of electronic human resource management in South African businesses by investigating that there is a positive impact when implementing e-HRM on the human resource management function. The research was carried out within a South African business, whose parent business concern is based overseas and has branches operating within South Africa The research was significant as it shaped the researcher’s concern as to whether electronic human resource would be beneficial to a South African business if the business superiors decide to implement e-HRM within their business opinion and what impact it would have. The methodological components that guided the research were a structured questionnaire that was distributed by using a combination of convenience, snowball, and judgemental sampling techniques. Certain aspects highlighted in the literature review were used as the framework for the development of a questionnaire to assess how people perceive the implementation of e-HR on their working environment and if e-HR has helped the business run more efficiently and effectively. Six hypotheses were tested and all were accepted. The potential for generalisations of the findings are that given the potential that e-HRM has for the transformation of human resource, it is reasonable to expect that the sizeable changes required, both in organisation and mindset, are likely to provoke resistance from various end users. What was learned was that HR is often hindered by a multitude of manual, paper based processes and transactions, such as tax, payroll and benefits information, that are costly, prone to errors and time-consuming to manage. This makes it difficult for HR organisations to focus on higher value business in initiatives that may help to drive the profitability and efficiency of the organisations. The implication of the findings about the impact of the implementation of e-HR on the Human Resource Management function was that firms need to figure out how to make technology feasible and industrious, as managers and Human Resource professionals are responsible for redefining how work at their firms or business flow as they need to keep ahead of the information curve and therefore learn how to influence information for business results to be more efficient and effective. The theoretical and practical implications of the findings are discussed and recommendations based on these findings are provided.
- Full Text:
- Date Issued: 2011
- Authors: Van Heerden, Jeanne-Marie
- Date: 2011
- Subjects: Personnel management -- Technological innovations , Personnel management -- Data processing
- Language: English
- Type: Thesis , Masters , MBA
- Identifier: vital:8938 , http://hdl.handle.net/10948/d1021239
- Description: The purpose of the research was to improve the use of electronic human resource management in South African businesses by investigating that there is a positive impact when implementing e-HRM on the human resource management function. The research was carried out within a South African business, whose parent business concern is based overseas and has branches operating within South Africa The research was significant as it shaped the researcher’s concern as to whether electronic human resource would be beneficial to a South African business if the business superiors decide to implement e-HRM within their business opinion and what impact it would have. The methodological components that guided the research were a structured questionnaire that was distributed by using a combination of convenience, snowball, and judgemental sampling techniques. Certain aspects highlighted in the literature review were used as the framework for the development of a questionnaire to assess how people perceive the implementation of e-HR on their working environment and if e-HR has helped the business run more efficiently and effectively. Six hypotheses were tested and all were accepted. The potential for generalisations of the findings are that given the potential that e-HRM has for the transformation of human resource, it is reasonable to expect that the sizeable changes required, both in organisation and mindset, are likely to provoke resistance from various end users. What was learned was that HR is often hindered by a multitude of manual, paper based processes and transactions, such as tax, payroll and benefits information, that are costly, prone to errors and time-consuming to manage. This makes it difficult for HR organisations to focus on higher value business in initiatives that may help to drive the profitability and efficiency of the organisations. The implication of the findings about the impact of the implementation of e-HR on the Human Resource Management function was that firms need to figure out how to make technology feasible and industrious, as managers and Human Resource professionals are responsible for redefining how work at their firms or business flow as they need to keep ahead of the information curve and therefore learn how to influence information for business results to be more efficient and effective. The theoretical and practical implications of the findings are discussed and recommendations based on these findings are provided.
- Full Text:
- Date Issued: 2011
The impact of the new dividend withholding tax on regulated investment intermediaries
- Authors: Schafer, Carolyn
- Date: 2011
- Language: English
- Type: Thesis , Masters , MCom
- Identifier: vital:880 , http://hdl.handle.net/10962/d1001634
- Description: The introduction of the proposed new Dividends Tax will have a significant impact on financial institutions such as Collective Investment Schemes, Linked Investment Service Providers and Long-term Insurers. The reason for this is that South African listed companies declaring local dividends will not necessarily have all the details of and know the identity of their shareholders. These financial institutions may be regarded as regulated intermediaries in terms of the new Dividends Tax legislation and therefore may have the responsibility of withholding the Dividends Tax from dividends received on behalf of their clients, who may in most cases be the beneficial owners of the underlying equity shares. The motivating factor for the research is the fact that there does not appear to be any guidance on the impact of the new Dividends Tax on financial institutions, since the Dividends Tax is new legislation. The research problem addressed in this thesis is how the systems and processes of a financial institution will be affected by the implementation of the new Dividends Tax. The research took the form of a case study designed to investigate the impact of the Dividends Tax on the financial institution at which the researcher is employed. The data required for the research was collected by means of a study of the relevant legislation enacted in connection with the topic, journal articles in financial/tax journals, as well as articles published in the media. The systems and processes presently in place, as well as the changes to these systems that will be needed to accommodate the new dividend tax were ascertained by means of in-depth interviews with relevant staff at the financial institution. In addition, the researcher also applied her personal knowledge of the business of the financial institution at which she works to the problem. As a result of the research it was determined that a Collective Investment Scheme, Linked Investment Service Provider and Long-Term Insurer will all be regarded as regulated intermediaries for the purposes of the new dividend withholding tax. This means that these financial institutions will be required to withhold Dividends Tax from dividends paid to their clients and pay this Dividends Tax so withheld to SARS. Furthermore, the findings of the research confirmed that the new Dividends Tax will have a significant impact on the client services department in areas such as notifying clients, training of client service staff, handling of declaration of exemption forms received from clients, amending client statements and tax certificates (to cater for the new Dividends Tax). In addition to this, it was ascertained that significant systems development will be required by these financial institutions in order to comply with the new Dividends Tax legislation. This would include the development of data input fields to enable users to capture the relevant information required and development of the system to enable it to flag local dividends received to which the Dividends Tax applies. The system would also need to cater for Secondary Tax on Companies credits as well as foreign tax rebates. The system should also be able to calculate the amount of Dividends Tax to withhold per dividend received by a client, as well as be able to handle the payment of the Dividends Tax to SARS and the refund to clients of Dividends Tax over deducted. It is essential that systems are able to flag the correct date of payment of the dividend so that the Dividends Tax can be paid over timeously to SARS in order to avoid interest and penalties being levied. To summarise, the new Dividends Tax has a significant impact on these financial institutions in areas such as client services, administration and system development.
- Full Text:
- Date Issued: 2011
- Authors: Schafer, Carolyn
- Date: 2011
- Language: English
- Type: Thesis , Masters , MCom
- Identifier: vital:880 , http://hdl.handle.net/10962/d1001634
- Description: The introduction of the proposed new Dividends Tax will have a significant impact on financial institutions such as Collective Investment Schemes, Linked Investment Service Providers and Long-term Insurers. The reason for this is that South African listed companies declaring local dividends will not necessarily have all the details of and know the identity of their shareholders. These financial institutions may be regarded as regulated intermediaries in terms of the new Dividends Tax legislation and therefore may have the responsibility of withholding the Dividends Tax from dividends received on behalf of their clients, who may in most cases be the beneficial owners of the underlying equity shares. The motivating factor for the research is the fact that there does not appear to be any guidance on the impact of the new Dividends Tax on financial institutions, since the Dividends Tax is new legislation. The research problem addressed in this thesis is how the systems and processes of a financial institution will be affected by the implementation of the new Dividends Tax. The research took the form of a case study designed to investigate the impact of the Dividends Tax on the financial institution at which the researcher is employed. The data required for the research was collected by means of a study of the relevant legislation enacted in connection with the topic, journal articles in financial/tax journals, as well as articles published in the media. The systems and processes presently in place, as well as the changes to these systems that will be needed to accommodate the new dividend tax were ascertained by means of in-depth interviews with relevant staff at the financial institution. In addition, the researcher also applied her personal knowledge of the business of the financial institution at which she works to the problem. As a result of the research it was determined that a Collective Investment Scheme, Linked Investment Service Provider and Long-Term Insurer will all be regarded as regulated intermediaries for the purposes of the new dividend withholding tax. This means that these financial institutions will be required to withhold Dividends Tax from dividends paid to their clients and pay this Dividends Tax so withheld to SARS. Furthermore, the findings of the research confirmed that the new Dividends Tax will have a significant impact on the client services department in areas such as notifying clients, training of client service staff, handling of declaration of exemption forms received from clients, amending client statements and tax certificates (to cater for the new Dividends Tax). In addition to this, it was ascertained that significant systems development will be required by these financial institutions in order to comply with the new Dividends Tax legislation. This would include the development of data input fields to enable users to capture the relevant information required and development of the system to enable it to flag local dividends received to which the Dividends Tax applies. The system would also need to cater for Secondary Tax on Companies credits as well as foreign tax rebates. The system should also be able to calculate the amount of Dividends Tax to withhold per dividend received by a client, as well as be able to handle the payment of the Dividends Tax to SARS and the refund to clients of Dividends Tax over deducted. It is essential that systems are able to flag the correct date of payment of the dividend so that the Dividends Tax can be paid over timeously to SARS in order to avoid interest and penalties being levied. To summarise, the new Dividends Tax has a significant impact on these financial institutions in areas such as client services, administration and system development.
- Full Text:
- Date Issued: 2011
The impact of toys as educative curriculum material on pre-service primary school Natural Sciences teachers' understanding of energy
- Authors: Meiring, Leslie Frank
- Date: 2011
- Subjects: Educational toys , Science -- Study and teaching (Primary) -- South Africa
- Language: English
- Type: Thesis , Doctoral , PhD
- Identifier: vital:9477 , http://hdl.handle.net/10948/1332 , Educational toys , Science -- Study and teaching (Primary) -- South Africa
- Description: In this study toys were used as educative curriculum material in an intervention on the topic of energy aimed at Intermediate Phase pre-service science teachers (n= 87) registered for a BEd degree at the Nelson Mandela Metropolitan University, South Africa. The intervention consisted of, amongst other elements, lectures, assignments and toy workshops, with the latter being a key driver in the process. The choice of toys as the educative curriculum material was informed by the fact that there is a huge variety of simple, reasonably priced and easily procured toys that are suitable to demonstrate the concept of energy from both theoretical and practical perspectives. The conclusions that can be drawn from the study are that the use of toys in the preparation of pre-service primary school teachers has the potential to substantially improve their subject content knowledge (SCK), pedagogical content knowledge (PCK), and their confidence related to these two constructs with respect to their understandings of energy. The data generated also suggest that when appropriate educative curriculum materials are integrated into a topic in science-teacher education, there may be a substantial positive impact on pre-service teachers‘ confidence in both their understanding of the science content and their perceptions of their ability to teach this content. An additional finding of the study was that, despite its popularity, status and usefulness over many years, the Science Teacher Efficacy Belief Instrument (STEBI-B) shows low sensitivity to measuring changes in efficacy as a consequence of the so-called ‗ceiling effect‘. The ceiling effect is a result of initial high scores which provide little opportunity to show iii substantial positive change as a result of an appropriate intervention that is designed to improve efficacy. While this study did not directly address this lacuna in STEBI-B, it made use of an innovative descriptive statistic, ‗percentage gain of potential‘, in an attempt to describe and interpret even small changes in efficacy as measured by STEBI-B.
- Full Text:
- Date Issued: 2011
- Authors: Meiring, Leslie Frank
- Date: 2011
- Subjects: Educational toys , Science -- Study and teaching (Primary) -- South Africa
- Language: English
- Type: Thesis , Doctoral , PhD
- Identifier: vital:9477 , http://hdl.handle.net/10948/1332 , Educational toys , Science -- Study and teaching (Primary) -- South Africa
- Description: In this study toys were used as educative curriculum material in an intervention on the topic of energy aimed at Intermediate Phase pre-service science teachers (n= 87) registered for a BEd degree at the Nelson Mandela Metropolitan University, South Africa. The intervention consisted of, amongst other elements, lectures, assignments and toy workshops, with the latter being a key driver in the process. The choice of toys as the educative curriculum material was informed by the fact that there is a huge variety of simple, reasonably priced and easily procured toys that are suitable to demonstrate the concept of energy from both theoretical and practical perspectives. The conclusions that can be drawn from the study are that the use of toys in the preparation of pre-service primary school teachers has the potential to substantially improve their subject content knowledge (SCK), pedagogical content knowledge (PCK), and their confidence related to these two constructs with respect to their understandings of energy. The data generated also suggest that when appropriate educative curriculum materials are integrated into a topic in science-teacher education, there may be a substantial positive impact on pre-service teachers‘ confidence in both their understanding of the science content and their perceptions of their ability to teach this content. An additional finding of the study was that, despite its popularity, status and usefulness over many years, the Science Teacher Efficacy Belief Instrument (STEBI-B) shows low sensitivity to measuring changes in efficacy as a consequence of the so-called ‗ceiling effect‘. The ceiling effect is a result of initial high scores which provide little opportunity to show iii substantial positive change as a result of an appropriate intervention that is designed to improve efficacy. While this study did not directly address this lacuna in STEBI-B, it made use of an innovative descriptive statistic, ‗percentage gain of potential‘, in an attempt to describe and interpret even small changes in efficacy as measured by STEBI-B.
- Full Text:
- Date Issued: 2011