Measuring changes in residential segregation in Port Elizabeth, South Africa, from 1996-2011
- Authors: Odayar, Luveshni
- Date: 2016
- Language: English
- Type: Thesis , Masters , MSc
- Identifier: http://hdl.handle.net/10962/3641 , vital:20532
- Description: Racial segregation and inequality were the prime objectives of the colonial and apartheid spatial planning policies that governed the spatial development of the South African urban landscape. Since South Africa’s democratic transition after 1994, efforts have been made by government to facilitate racial integration and transform the apartheid urban fabric. Research into post-apartheid segregation is crucial to assess the success of governmental actions enacted thus far, while informing future spatial planning strategies. Most studies of these processes have relied solely on dichotomous indices to measure the extent of segregation between two groups. Few have utilized multi-group indices, which are more suited to investigating changes in multi-ethnic cases. Furthermore, the segregation indices used are typically aspatial. This study investigates the extent to which the segregationist legacy prevails in Port Elizabeth, a place widely considered to be the founding city of urban racial segregation. It also aims to investigate the impact of geographical scale on segregation. Theil’s multi-group Entropy Index and Duncan and Duncan’s Dissimilarity Index were derived from racial population data from the 1996, 2001 and 2011 National Censuses, and GIS was used to map changes in racial diversity both at tract level and across a range of geographical scales. To generate a more holistic understanding of the observed trends, statistical tests were performed to relate the observed patterns to socio-economic determinants, and feedback from the relevant government department was obtained. The results from the entropy indices reveal that segregation levels in Port Elizabeth have declined but still remain high: 84.6 % (1996), 79.2 % (2001) to 71.5 % (2011). This is a similar trend to those found in Cape Town and Johannesburg. The integration that did occur was characterized by one-way patterns of movement into former-White areas; this was predominantly confined to the Indian population, and to a lesser extent, the Coloured population. The vast majority of the African population remains confined to their former designated location areas. The White population remains the most segregated group, despite most of the racial integration occurring in former-White areas. Interview results and statistical tests revealed that persisting racial discrepancies in socio-economic factors (income, employment and education) can be considered major drivers influencing the observed trends in racial integration and persisting desegregation, as well as self-segregation.
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- Date Issued: 2016
Meat and its meanings: representations of meat-eating in selected works of South African literature
- Authors: Coetzer, Theo
- Date: 2016
- Language: English
- Type: Thesis , Masters , MA
- Identifier: http://hdl.handle.net/10962/3860 , vital:20550
- Description: This thesis is situated within the burgeoning field of literary animal studies. Its aim is to analyse critically the way in which animals-as-meat are represented in South African literature. While meat pervades our lives and literature, there exists very little scholarship that considers literary depictions of meat. The thesis suggests that literary texts can offer useful reflections of the cultural environments in which they are immersed and, furthermore, can encourage what J. M. Coetzee calls the ‘sympathetic imagination’ in relation to animals. The dissertation offers close readings of three primary texts, while also drawing on a broader range of local fiction. Chapter 1 discusses Eben Venter’s Trencherman, with a specific focus on Venter’s use of the plaasroman and literary dystopia. Both genres are important to the novel’s ubiquitous depictions of meat, serving to illustrate some of the destructive, and irreversible, excesses associated with traditional Afrikaner culture in South Africa. Meat consumption is not only depicted as being among these harmful excesses, but also comes to represent them collectively. Chapter 2 offers a reading of Zakes Mda’s The Madonna of Excelsior, paying particular attention to its representation of the intersection between the objectification of women’s bodies and the transformation of animals into meat. In my approach to this text, I make use of Carol J. Adams’ notion of the ‘absent referent’. I suggest that while Mda ostensibly considers the subjugation of both women and animals, the novel does not ultimately demonstrate concern for animals in their own right. The final chapter considers the representation of suffering in Damon Galgut’s The Beautiful Screaming of Pigs. I argue that Galgut’s text is alone among the three primary texts in its attention to the animal suffering inextricably linked to meat production. The novel depicts this suffering as being comparable to human suffering, while simultaneously demonstrating humans’ indifference to their animal fellows. The dissertation concludes that while meat is infused with a range of meanings in South African literature, the most obvious and intrinsic one – the fact of animal death and animal suffering – is the one most often ignored.
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- Date Issued: 2016
Media and communication influences on farmers' views of water conservation in the Garden Route, South Africa
- Authors: Buckle, Dorothea Maria
- Date: 2016
- Subjects: Water-supply, Agricultural -- South Africa , Sustainable agriculture , Mass media in agricultural extension work
- Language: English
- Type: Thesis , Masters , MA
- Identifier: http://hdl.handle.net/10948/9109 , vital:26465
- Description: The Garden Route is situated between a mountain range and the ocean, both within close proximity. These geographic considerations make the farmers in the area vulnerable to extreme weather events, especially droughts and floods, which have been experienced in recent years. Agriculture in the area is predominantly focused on dairy and vegetables, which require intensive irrigation practices. It is this water demand that inspired adaptations to counteract the risks of extreme weather and dwindling water sources. These adaptations and behaviours were investigated to determine the underlying perceptions and influences. The research aimed to understand the way environmental knowledge would disseminate through the use of the Diffusion of Innovation theory, whilst determining the ecological worldviews of the participants through the use of the New Ecological Paradigm (NEP) scale. Both of these theories proved effective in researching the ecological perceptions of and various influences on the participants, with a few minor drawbacks. The data analysis investigated the research questions with a three-pronged approach. Interpersonal interviews and media content analysis of the local and agricultural media in the area was followed by analysing the two sets of findings, in order to find overlaps and relationships between the factors explored. The interviews were designed as semi-structured to allow for themes to emerge and were conducted mainly within the diary and beef industries, consisting of 24 participants. The media content analysis incorporated a niche agricultural magazine (32 articles) as well as the local newspaper (74 articles). The articles were coded for themes to allow for comparison between the two, and to provide an overall understanding of the media coverage. The use of the interviews and media content analysis concurrently, made it possible to determine the farmers’ perceptions of water conservation and the possible influences on these. By exploring this, the research endeavours to understand the dynamics between the farmers’ use of media and interpersonal networks and their water conservation practices. The farmers’ perceptions appeared to be predominantly shaped by agricultural media and interpersonal communities. The NEP scale responses exposed the clash between economic and environmental considerations. The farmers were acutely aware of their ecological impact and were employing various measures to counteract it. However, these were heavily dependent on their financial situation. This is in contrast to the NEP scale’s measuring of NEP statements contrasted with Dominant Social Paradigm (DSP) statements to determine ecological attitudes. These findings confirm previous research and demonstrate that modern farmers are more likely to adopt conservation practices than their traditional counterparts, if it helps achieve their economic, social and environmental goals. The importance of the historical context of South Africa’s water issues emerged, with the past and future proposed changes to water regulation and legislation affecting farmers’ perceptions. The move from agriculturally privileged water legislation to equitable distribution is affecting the farmers negatively, causing distrust towards the government. The research was successful in achieving an understanding of the effect of the mass media and interpersonal communication influences on the farmers’ perceptions of water conservation.
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- Date Issued: 2016
Mental stress among civil engineering construction site agents and foremen in the Nelson Mandela Bay Metropole
- Authors: Haydam, Erich
- Date: 2016
- Subjects: Project management -- South Africa -- Nelson Mandela Bay Municipality , Civil engineers -- Job stress -- South Africa -- Nelson Mandela Bay Municipality , Construction industry -- South Africa -- Nelson Mandela Bay Municipality
- Language: English
- Type: Thesis , Masters , MSc
- Identifier: http://hdl.handle.net/10948/5545 , vital:20901
- Description: The civil engineering sector of the construction industry as a whole has been suffering from mental stress due to a lack of stress management interventions, rendering employees vulnerable to burnout, poor mental health, and subject to injury on site. The rationale of this study is to explore the prevalence of mental stress in the civil engineering sector of the construction industry, and the potential causes of stress, vis-à-vis the effects it has on an individual. An empirical study based on a descriptive and analytical survey method was conducted among medium to large civil engineering contractors in the Nelson Mandela Bay Metropole (NMBM). The study adopted the use of questionnaires, and a review of the related literature to effectively summarise and describe the collected field data. The sample stratum included civil engineering site agents and foremen. The salient findings include: high job demands, low job control, and low job social support are contributors to stress; site agents and foremen long for more time spent with family and friends; site agents and foremen are exposed to various physical, organisational and socio-economic stressors; site agents and foremen are displaying coping strategies unsupportive of a healthy lifestyle; there is a lack of awareness of stress management in the civil engineering sector of the construction industry; the level of stress experienced by site agents and foremen is rated as a lesser extent; the prevalence of depression among site agents and foremen is rated as a lesser extent; site agents and foremen are at risk of injury due to feeling stressed, and site agents and foremen are exposed to a range of musculoskeletal disorders (MSDs) due to poor ergonomics, and possibly stress too. It can be concluded that stress negatively affects the civil engineering sector of the construction industry by, inter alia, increased employee absence, injuries and accidents, higher staff turnover, depression, and lower levels of production. Furthermore, stress may lead to eventual burnout, rendering an individual at a significantly higher risk of developing physical health complications. Recommendations include: organisations to address the problem of work-family imbalance, by providing more time off to spend with family and loved ones. v Organisations need to promote and implement internal coping strategies, to assist those who are facing strain to effectively deal with their stress. More support from line managers to employees should be provided, as this will increase their resources in terms of job support, job demand, and job control in their working environment. Also, organisations need to promote teambuilding activities and exercise among their employees. Lastly, organisational policy and government legislation need to be revised in the long term, to provide for individual mental wellbeing, and reduced occupational stress.
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- Date Issued: 2016
Mesopredator release and the effectiveness of camera traps for estimating mammal abundances in the Eastern Cape, South Africa
- Authors: Taylor, Jonathan Michael
- Date: 2016
- Language: English
- Type: Thesis , Masters , MSc
- Identifier: http://hdl.handle.net/10962/3587 , vital:20527
- Description: Remotely operated cameras (camera traps) have become an indispensable tool for many ecologists, particularly those studying rare and elusive animals. A plethora of camera trap makes and models are now commercially available, yet the effects of their varying design features on the quality and quantity of data recorded remains principally unknown. Better understanding of differing camera trap designs is needed before adequate management policies can be implemented, especially when the aim is to protect vulnerable and endangered species such as many carnivores. Habitat loss and human conflict has prompted worldwide declines of apex predator populations. Following this, many smaller predators have undergone population ‘explosions’ due to the lack of top-down forcing, a phenomenon known as mesopredator release. Land use changes in the Eastern Cape of South Africa have caused extensive degradation and fragmentation of the Subtropical Thicket Biome. In addition, coupled with anthropogenic persecution, apex predators including lions (Panthera leo), leopards (P. pardus), and brown hyaenas (Hyaena brunnea) have been extirpated from large areas of their historic range. Removal of these apex predators may provide opportunity for mesopredators, such as black-backed jackals (Canis mesomelas) and caracals (Caracal caracal), to be released from top-down forcing and possibly initiate trophic cascade effects. Therefore, using randomly distributed camera traps, my study aimed to explore the quality and quantity of data collected by different camera trap designs, and to investigate the mesopredator release hypothesis in the Eastern Cape of South Africa. A total of 2,989 trap nights was used to compare camera trap designs. Camera traps with narrow detection zones and fast trigger speeds (≤ 0.25 seconds) recorded a higher diversity of carnivores, but there was no significant difference in the relative abundances of carnivore species recorded by different camera trap models. A total of 19,659 trap nights was used to assess mesopredator relative abundance, occupancy, distribution and daily activity patterns at one site with, and one site without, apex predators. Consistent with the mesopredator release hypothesis, black-backed jackal relative abundance was significantly higher in the absence of apex predators, and this was supported by occupancy analyses. Further, black-backed jackal distribution was significantly concentrated in areas where apex predator activity was low, possibly indicating spatial avoidance. There was no significant difference in caracal relative abundance, occupancy, distribution, or daily activity between sites. These results provide the first indication of mesopredator release of blackbacked jackals in the Eastern Cape. The implications of black-backed jackal release including prey population structure, local extinctions, altered seed dispersal and disease dynamics are discussed.
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- Date Issued: 2016
Mesoscale mechanisms of larval transport and settlement in relation to physical factors off the south coast of South Africa: a topographic approach
- Authors: Mian, Shana Iva
- Date: 2016
- Language: English
- Type: Thesis , Masters , MSc
- Identifier: vital:5947 , http://hdl.handle.net/10962/d1020844
- Description: The majority of benthic marine invertebrate life cycles include a meroplanktonic phase. Most marine biologists recognise that this stage could play an important role in dispersal, especially for sedentary or sessile organisms. Recent studies on larval dispersal have found that dispersal does not occur to the extent that was previously believed. Some larvae instead remain close to their natal populations through larval nearshore retention mechanisms, both active and passive. This study attempted to a) describe nearshore distribution patterns of several intertidal larvae in relation to nearshore hydrodynamics, b) infer whether larvae are active or passive in the water column and whether this differs among taxa and c) compare pelagic mussel larval abundance with settlement rates, at 2 bay and 2 open coast sites on the south coast of South Africa to note any topographical effects. At each of the four sites, pelagic samples were collected along 2 transects. Larvae and current speed data were collected at various depths (surface, mid-depth and bottom) at distances of 200, 400, 900 and 2400m offshore of the coast. Settlement samples were collected at sites that were onshore of the pelagic transects using plastic souring pads following previous studies. Pelagic larval distribution showed no effect of topography. Instead larval abundance was highly variable among sample periods and among different taxa. Slow swimming D-stage mussel larvae were found to be positively correlated with both upwelling and turbulence indices suggesting that they behave as passive particles in the water column. The abundances of larval taxa with faster swimming speeds than the D-larvae were negatively correlated with upwelling and did not correlate with turbulence. This suggests that these larvae are more active within the water column than the D-larvae which would theoretically allow them to maintain their position in the water column. Further analysis revealed that mean larval depth correlated with mean depth of shoreward moving water masses regardless of the state of upwelling. These results suggest that larvae were actively selecting the depth at which they were found presumably in order to associate themselves with shoreward moving currents. This interpretation was supported by ontogenetic patterns in the behaviour of barnacle larvae, the nauplii of which were found further offshore as they aged, and closer onshore again once they reach the faster swimming cyprid stage. Although there was no detectable effect of topography on the abundances of planktonic larvae, the settlement section of this study revealed an effect of topography, with higher settlement and recruitment rates at bay sites than at the open coast sites. Settlement rates were seen to be negatively correlated with turbulence at bay sites but not open coast sites. Recruitment rates for each sample event were positively correlated with upwelling at each site. This study found pelagic larvae to be generally active within the water column which allowed them to remain close to the shore regardless of topography and upwelling/turbulence regimes. Although meaningful correlation analyses between pelagic larval supply and settlement rates could not be conducted due to loss of settlement collectors, settlement rates were affected by local topography with higher settlement and recruitment in bay sites.
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- Date Issued: 2016
Metaheuristic design: the parametric blueprint of a processing plant
- Authors: Ley, Braddin
- Date: 2016
- Subjects: Architectural design -- Data processing
- Language: English
- Type: Thesis , Masters , MA
- Identifier: http://hdl.handle.net/10948/38819 , vital:34985
- Description: Architectural design “folds” deeply into associative logic, which is used to create a system of grammar responsive to a dialect. Within traditional design practices, these associations create themselves through additive logic, thereby making them laborious in their response to any change in the language. The implementation of computers in architectural design was initially considered a mode to overcome this - to automate the design process. Until now, it has primarily only afforded the designer the opportunity to perform repetitive tasks faster than traditional drawing methods, without enhancing any depth to associative parameters. The current state of the architectural discourse has opened itself up to advanced computation and is beginning to use this capacity fully. Using algorithmic logic to instantaneously process and compare multiple conditions, the designer now holds the power to determine which grammars he desires to engage with, which solutions he is required to review and which outcomes he wishes to find. He no longer labours over repetitive and additive tasks; rather, he focuses on reviewing iterative changes in dialect in order to produce a highly responsive and technically comprehensive architectural solution. It is important to note that these changes in dialect can refer to any field of qualitative or quantitative data, such as quantified climatic or census data, or qualities of light and volume, so long as the designer transposes quality into a scaled matrix of values. The author is captivated by both digital technologies and sensory experiences in architecture, guiding this treatise to understand natural phenomena and their complexities - expressly, environmental responses to field conditions. The design response to this research is formulated from an algorithm that devises a fl oor plan layout; the methodology used is from a close-packed perimeter cell network, most notably found in floor plans of industrial architectures, henceforth the design articulates as industrial architecture in a context reactive to this typology. The agrarian town of Patensie lies in a rich valley of agriculture, climate and field conditions, and provides the opportunity for this treatise to develop.
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- Date Issued: 2016
Midwives' perceptions in KwaZulu-Natal public hospitals regarding their level of competence related to cardiotocography
- Authors: Maduna, Ntsepiseng Elizabeth
- Date: 2016
- Subjects: Midwifery -- South Africa -- KwaZulu-Natal , Fetal heart rate monitoring -- South Africa -- KwaZulu-Natal , Public hospitals -- South Africa -- KwaZulu-Natal
- Language: English
- Type: Thesis , Masters , MCur
- Identifier: http://hdl.handle.net/10948/5698 , vital:20968
- Description: The primary purpose of CTG is to detect early signs of intrapartum hypoxia and improve foetal outcomes. Intrapartum hypoxia remains the major cause of perinatal deaths mainly in monitored labours. This is attributed to the midwives’ lack of skills in the foetal implementation and interpretation of CTG. Midwives interpret foetal heart rate patterns erroneously hence they fail to detect early signs of severe foetal compromise. Accurate interpretation of CTG is the cornerstone for clinical decision during intra-partum foetal surveillance. Therefore, it is mandatory that midwives are competent in CTG. The purpose of the study was to explore and describe the perceptions of midwives in KwaZulu-Natal public hospitals regarding their level of competence related to the CTG. The purpose of the study was to explore and describe the perceptions of midwives in KwaZulu-Natal public hospitals regarding their level of competence related to the CTG. The objectives of this study were: -to explore and describe the perceptions of the midwives regarding their level of competence relating to cardiotocography. -to establish the levels of competence of midwives in relation to CTG. -to develop clinical guidelines that could be utilised by midwives in the implementation and interpretation of the cardiotocograph. The study utilised a quantitative non-experimental comparative descriptive research design. A self-developed and self-administered questionnaire was developed under the supervision of a statistician and was to collect data from a purposively selected sample of midwives who work in labour wards in Kwa-Zulu Natal public hospitals. A sample of 226 practicing midwives working in labour wards of the nine KZN public hospitals was selected using a non-probability convenience sampling method; only 125 responded. Data were collected on an excel spread sheet and analysed under the supervision of the statistician and research supervisor. The researcher assured of validity and reliability of the data collection method and data as well as of the data collection instrument. The findings revealed that the midwives in KZN public hospitals perceived themselves as being competent regarding CTG tasks; however they lack knowledge and skills in the implementation and interpretation of CTG. It was also evident that the midwives’ years of midwifery clinical experience, labour ward experience, possession of additional post basic midwifery qualification and the perceived level of competence related to CTG tasks number of years of the midwives did not influence their level of competence in the implementation and interpretation of CTG. Literature control supported these findings and there was consistency with that literature. Recommendations were made and clinical guidelines were developed to assist midwives with the assessment of foetal heart rate and the interpretation of the cardiotocograph results.
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- Date Issued: 2016
Mitigation of the effect of father imprisonment on the family: a study of social work intervention strategies in Raymond Mhlaba local municipality
- Authors: Tshaka, Akhona
- Date: 2016
- Subjects: Social work with single parents Single mothers -- South Africa -- Eastern Cape Single parents -- South Africa -- Eastern Cape Single-parent families -- South Africa -- Eastern Cape
- Language: English
- Type: Thesis , Masters , Degree
- Identifier: http://hdl.handle.net/10353/4435 , vital:28334
- Description: The South African population is highly populated by single mothered families. Fatherlessness has emerged as one of the greatest social problems, especially as children who grow up in families with absent-fathers suffer lasting damage. The aim of this study was to examine the effect of fathers’ imprisonment on the functioning of the family and social work interventions to mitigate the effect. The study used mixed method research design. Data was collected through the use of questionnaires and in-depth interviews. This study employed three sampling strategies; namely multi-stage sampling and purposive sampling as well as snow-ball sampling. The sample was made up of 65 members of families whose father is in prison or had been to prision and 15 social work officials. Qalitative data was analyised using themes and parrtens that emerged during interviews with participants, quantitative data was analysed using SPSS computer softerwere. Findings revealed that father’s imprisonment has negative impact that causes dysfunctional families. The negative effect is due to the loss of a father figure and a provider of the family. Inequality and stigmatisation among family members were also found to cause dysfunctional families after the father’s imprisonment. Findings from social work officials revealed social service interventions to mollify the family dysfunctions. However, majority of families are provided services through offender re-integration, others lack unawareness regarding social work interventions for families with fathers in prison. Findings further reveal that resources are limited to enhance the provision of adequate and better psychosocial support for affected families in order to alleviate the undesirable impact of father’s imprisonment. There is therefore a compelling need for implementing policies that will enable dysfunctional families with fathers imprison to access adequate psychosocial support services. The study also recommended that, social welfare system should be strengthened by embarking on enlightenment programmes that create awareness about family based interventions for dysfunction families with fathers in prison.
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- Date Issued: 2016
Modular electric automatic guided vehicle suspension-drive unit
- Authors: Macfarlane, Alexander Blair Stuart , Van Niekerk, Theo
- Date: 2016
- Subjects: Autonomous vehicles , Sustainable design
- Language: English
- Type: Thesis , Masters , MEng
- Identifier: http://hdl.handle.net/10948/8220 , vital:25968
- Description: This report discusses the design, development, elevation and creation of a modular omni-directional suspension-drive train unit for use on 1000 kg automatic guided vehicle. The system included a semi-active suspension oleo strut system that can vary its dampening and ride height. The drive train system is capable of omni-directional motion through the use of separately driven mechanum wheels power by a 48 volt DC system.
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- Date Issued: 2016
Monitoring changes in vegetation distribution to ascertain the extent of degradation in the savannas of Nkonkobe Local Municipality, Eastern Cape, South Africa
- Authors: Masiza, Wonga
- Date: 2016
- Subjects: Savanna ecology -- South Africa -- Eastern Cape Land degradation -- South Africa -- Eastern Cape Vegetation management -- South Africa -- Eastern Cape
- Language: English
- Type: Thesis , Masters , MSc
- Identifier: http://hdl.handle.net/10353/2027 , vital:27598
- Description: Savanna degradation is an environmental problem occurring in most countries around the world and it poses threats to biodiversity conservation, the food industry, and other economic sectors. According to FAO, South Africa’s rangelands exhibit the highest rate of fragmentation in comparison to range ecosystems in neighbouring countries including Lesotho and Swaziland, and consensus among researchers is that communal rangelands are more degraded than commercial rangelands. Although researchers and communities have identified the occurrence of land degradation in communal savannas at a local scale, land degradation has been poorly estimated because little has been done to quantify the extent and dynamics of perceived and observed changes associated with land degradation. The main goal of this study is to provide empirical insights on the direction of changes in the communal savannas of Nkonkobe Local Municipality in order to inform policy formulation and implementation. Additional to the communal sites is a private farm included for comparative analysis of trends in communal and commercial savannas. Landsat imagery was used to map, assess, and quantify the extent of land degradation in Nkonkobe Local Municipality, over a period of 30 years between 1984 and 2014. Field investigations were undertaken in June 2015 to acquire reference data to guide supervised classification of Landsat images. Three algorithms (Mahalanobis-distance, Minimum-distance, and Maximum likelihood classification) were compared to identify a classifier that produced the best results. The maximum likelihood classifier produced the best results with classification accuracy levels of 95.24 percent, 89.66 percent, and 95.65 percent for Honeydale Farm, Thyume, and Sheshegu respectively. Regression analysis revealed that both communal and private lands have experienced statistically significant increases in bush encroachment and decreases in surface water. Communal savannas have been confronted more by expansion of built-up area, decrease in open grassland, abandonment of arable land, soil erosion, and a steady invasion by Acacia Karroo compared to the privately owned commercial farm. The land cover changes measured through this investigation suggest an environmental shift that threatens biodiversity and agricultural activity. The study provides empirically informed insights about the direction to which these savannas are changing with the hope that the findings will prompt formulation and implementation of effective policies.
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- Date Issued: 2016
Mothers' experiences with regards to caring for their neotates following a caesarean section delivery
- Authors: Jikijela, Thobeka Pretty
- Date: 2016
- Subjects: Cesarean section , Maternal health services , Newborn infants -- Care
- Language: English
- Type: Thesis , Masters , MCur
- Identifier: http://hdl.handle.net/10948/7493 , vital:21788
- Description: The rate of caesarean section deliveries is increasing globally despite the World Health Organisation (WHO) recommendations not to exceed 15% of deliveries per year in each country. Furthermore, the commitment to baby-friendly hospital initiative puts a strain on mothers who must still take care of their neonates following a caesarean section delivery despite the pain experienced after surgery. It has been observed that pain management becomes a critical factor in the assistance of caesarean-section-delivered mothers in caring of their neonates otherwise mothers stay away from nursery or struggle with the neonate who is with her. The study aimed at exploring and describing the experiences of mothers with regard to caring for their neonates following a caesarean section delivery and developing objectives to: To explore experiences of mothers with regard to caring for their neonates following a caesarean section delivery and: To make recommendations to midwifery operational managers to assist mothers to cope better with caring of their neonates following a caesarean section delivery. The study used a qualitative, explorative, descriptive and contextual research design. Data was collected from eleven purposively selected mothers who had had a caesarean section delivery who were caring for their neonates in the post-natal wards in a public hospital in the Nelson Mandela Bay Municipal area. One-on-one, semi-structured interviews were conducted using a tape- recorder to capture them and writing of field notes to justify some of the themes or sub-themes identified. Data was analysed using data analysis method suggested by Creswell (2009:186). Trustworthiness was maintained through the standards of truth value, applicability, consistency and neutrality while ethical considerations were autonomy, beneficence and justice. From the findings it emerged that mothers had diverse experiences of pain following a caesarean section delivery. The mothers had also experienced physical limitations that hindered their ability to care for their neonates and themselves. Furthermore uncaring attitudes, shortage of staff and non-supportive services were experienced as contributing to mothers’ inability to breastfeed and taking care of themselves. Recommendations were for clinical nursing practice, nursing education and further research. Caesarean section delivery is painful and limiting to the mothers following surgery and demands extensive pain management and breastfeeding support. Managers need to address the contributing factors and develop strategies to assist the mothers cope better with pain.
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- Date Issued: 2016
Movement patterns of Cape stumpnose, Rhabdosargus holubi (Sparidae), in the Kowie Estuary, South Africa
- Authors: Grant, Gareth Neil
- Date: 2016
- Language: English
- Type: Thesis , Masters , MSc
- Identifier: http://hdl.handle.net/10962/982 , vital:20010
- Description: Rhabdosargus holubi is an ubiquitous estuary-dependent fishery species endemic to southern Africa. Although aspects of its recruitment dynamics from sea to estuary have received considerable research attention, little is known about its movement behaviour within estuarine systems. Fishery surveys have also revealed that R. holubi is a dominant species in catches within several temperate estuaries in South Africa. Therefore, investigating movement behaviour is fundamental to understanding the ecology of this species and providing a means for implementing effective fisheries management strategies. This study made use of passive acoustic telemetry to quantify the movement patterns of juvenile R. holubi in the Kowie Estuary, in the Eastern Cape Province of South Africa. Previous studies have revealed that surgically implanted transmitters may have adverse effects on the physiology and behaviour of tagged fish. Therefore, due to the small size of juvenile R. holubi, an a priori transmitter-effect experiment was undertaken. This experiment revealed that juvenile R. holubi (146-217 mm fork length) were not adversely affected by the surgical implantation of acoustic transmitters (7 mm Ø, 1.6 g out of water) and hence acoustic telemetry was well suited to monitoring the movements of this species. A 4-month telemetry study evaluated the movement patterns of 21 juveniles (140-190 mm fork length) tagged in three equal batches along the length of the estuary. Specific aspects of their movement included space use patterns, habitat connectivity, and the influences of geophysical cycles and environmental variables. Tagged fish exhibited high residency, which varied between each release site area. The mean length of estuary used was greater for the upper batch (15.65 ± 6.49 km) than the middle and lower batches (7.36 ± 3.68 and 2.67 ± 2 km, respectively). In terms of habitat connectivity, once the tagged fish left the estuary, they generally did not return. Tagged R. holubi spent the majority (83%) of their monitoring periods within the estuarine environment, with the sea (16%) and riverine (1%) environments being utilised to a lesser extent. Diel and tidal cycles influenced the movement patterns of juvenile R. holubi. However, the high levels of residency meant that fine-scale movements were difficult to detect due to the acoustic receiver deployment configuration (i.e. receivers moored one kilometer apart). The influence of environmental variables on the movement of individuals, modelled with general linear mixed models (GLMMs), revealed that the effects of river inflow and water temperature were greatest. Increased river inflow caused individuals to use larger portions of the estuary. Increased water temperature, particularly river temperature, caused individuals to shift their distributions downstream (towards the mouth of the estuary). This study highlighted the importance of estuarine nursery habitats to R. holubi, suggesting that a loss or reduction of healthy estuarine habitats may lead to significant declines in the abundance of this species. Furthermore, extreme resident behaviour suggests that no-take area closures (estuarine protected areas) would be an effective management strategy for this important fishery species.
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- Date Issued: 2016
Ndiyoyika
- Authors: Nyezwa, Mxolisi
- Date: 2016
- Language: English , Xhosa
- Type: Thesis , Masters , MA
- Identifier: vital:6021 , http://hdl.handle.net/10962/d1021245
- Description: This thesis collection is a book of isiXhosa poems in three sections: - Poems derived and influenced by the rhythmic structure and the lyrics of Maskandi music - More introspective and personal poems derived from other influences: International poetry, South African poetry, and certain jazz and soul music - A major poem titled, “Nozala, umqolo wakho uphandle” which delves into the state of South Africa and explores the relationships that entrench poverty and powerlessness in post-apartheid South Africa. , Le thisisi yingqokelela yemibongo yesiXhosa eyohlulwe yazizigaba ezintathu: - Imibongo ephenjelelwe ziingoma nezingqi zomculo kaMaskandi - Imibongo ephenjelelwe zizimvo neemvakalelo zam njengombhali, ngakumbi iintshukumo zomzimba nezomphefumlo ezithundezwe ziimbongi zamazwe omhlaba, ezoMzantsi Afrika, kunye nemiculo efana ne-jazz, ne-soul - Umbongo ombaxa osihloko sithi, “Nozala, umqolo wakho uphandle” othetha ngelizwe lethu iMzantsi Afrika, uqwalasela indlela ekuphethwe ngayo ilizwe ziziphathamandla, nendlela abasemagunyeni abaphembelela ngayo intswela-ngqesho nentlupheko eluntwini, kwanokufiphala kobutsha-ntliziyo nobuthanda-zwe kubemi beli lizwe.
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- Date Issued: 2016
NMMU students' perceptions of their creativity
- Authors: Rogers, Angela Louise
- Date: 2016
- Subjects: Creative ability in business , Creative thinking , Educational innovations
- Language: English
- Type: Thesis , Masters , MBA
- Identifier: http://hdl.handle.net/10948/8037 , vital:24478
- Description: Creativity is seen as the driving force behind innovation. It can even be said to be the same process. It is critical to implement the creativity in order for innovation to actually take place. This combination of creativity and innovation is required for economic growth, sustainability, continuous improvement and competitive edge for organisations. Creativity is more than just artistic ability but includes scientific and problem solving steps and basic everyday creativity. This combination would be key in government departments, organisations and universities today. People’s perception on creativity could hamper their growth and development in this key area, not only for themselves but of others that they come into contact with. People’s perception on creativity is that it is either a genius form in either artistic or musical terms or it is not at all creative. They do not necessarily view the everyday tasks as creative. The research approach for this study is positivistic and deductive. The students’ perception of creativity is gathered using a quantitative questionnaire, where they rank their perceptions. The questionnaire was from an international study and it was made available to all students at the Nelson Mandela Metropolitan University. The data analysis will be both descriptive and inferential in nature. The research seeks to examine students’ perception of their own creativity and how they rate various creative products or services. Students are on their way to the pinnacle in their fields and the creativity should therefore be at its peak to be able to take full advantage and to get maximum benefit from it. The research will gain insight into their perception via a questionnaire where they need to rate themselves. The literature review will investigate creativity, innovation and the links between them. It will analyse the importance of innovation to business and the unlocking of creativity. There are many differing ways to unlock and stimulate creativity and some of these are addressed.
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- Date Issued: 2016
Normative indicators for grade 3 and grade 7 isiXhosa-speaking children on the Bender Visual-Motor Gestalt Test (Second Edition)
- Authors: Palmer, Hanli
- Date: 2016
- Subjects: Bender-Gestalt Test Psychological tests for children
- Language: English
- Type: Thesis , Masters , MSoc
- Identifier: http://hdl.handle.net/10353/6346 , vital:29583
- Description: Selecting appropriate normative data for the purpose of evaluating psychometric test scores forms an integral part of the interpretative psychological assessment process. This highlights the well-known problem of utilising measures developed in the United Kingdom (UK), or the United States (US) and accepting their norms unreservedly for the practice on local populations, which questions the tests’ validity and reliability. The current study, which aimed to collect normative indicators on the Bender Gestalt Test (Second Edition), forms part of the continuing effort to develop norms for psychological tests in South Africa, and to focus on the valid and reliable use of measures within the context of South Africa’s multicultural and multilingual population groups. The participants of the research were Black isiXhosa-speaking Grade 3 and Grade 7 learners aged 8 to 9 years (N = 38 ), and 12 to 13 years (N = 23), obtaining their school education in the disadvantaged educational setting of the former Department of Education and Training (ex-DET) schools. The tests were scored according to the Bender Gestalt Test (Second Edition) manual, using the Global Scoring System. Thereafter, the raw scores were converted to Standard Scores, T-scores and Percentile Ranks using the US normative tables, according to chronological age categories. When the two groups were compared to the US norms, the results equated favourably for the present study sample. There were no significant findings in relation to the classroom size or any difference in performance between the schools who participated. The only significant difference revealed between male and female participants was with the Grade 7 sample group, where the males scored significantly lower than females on the Recall phase. These results support the prospect of the continuous revision of norms, and it is suggesting that the cognitive processes measured by this test are likely to derive from robust neurological substrates that are relatively stable across cultural groups.
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- Date Issued: 2016
Notebook of unremembered poems
- Authors: McKeown, Jean Wallace
- Date: 2016
- Language: English
- Type: Thesis , Masters , MA
- Identifier: vital:6013 , http://hdl.handle.net/10962/d1021233
- Description: My poems contain narrative elements and explore themes of identity, motherhood, sexuality, and fear of relinquishing control. Sharon Olds, in her book Stag’s Leap, sums up my intention: “and I saw again how blessed my life has been, / first, to have been able to love, / then, to have the parting now behind me.” My collection chronicles a path towards acceptance of self from childhood onwards, and, more than that, a pleasure and pride in self, and I have tried to find the forms which will reflect this path in the reader’s own experience. Most of the poems are written in a conversational voice and a free-form style which gives me creative licence to explore transition and transformation.
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- Date Issued: 2016
Occupational stress and intrinsic motivation as determinants of job engagement in the South African Police Service in Greater Kokstad Municipality
- Authors: Jojo, Avela
- Date: 2016
- Subjects: Police -- Job stress -- South Africa Employee motivation -- South Africa -- Eastern Cape
- Language: English
- Type: Thesis , Masters , MCom
- Identifier: http://hdl.handle.net/10353/1995 , vital:27592
- Description: Occupational stress, intrinsic motivation and job engagement are areas of importance for today’s management. The main objective of this study was to explore the combined effect of occupational stress and intrinsic motivation in determining job engagement in the South African Police Service. Moreover, the study investigated the relationship between occupational stress, intrinsic motivation and job engagement. The study also sought to enquire into the effects rank and gender has on the study variables. A quantitative approach was adopted. A structured self – administered questionnaire comprising of four sections: biographical information, police stress questionnaire, intrinsic motivation inventory and job engagement scale was used to collect data. Statistical Package for the Social Sciences (SPSS) was used to analyse data, and both descriptive and inferential statistics were utilized. The results revealed a negative relationship between occupational stress and job engagement. A positive relationship between intrinsic motivation and job engagement was also found. There was no combined effect of occupational stress and intrinsic motivation on job engagement. Lastly, no significant differences in the way police experience stress were found among rank and gender. The researcher concluded that even when police officers are under great amounts of stress they are still engaged in their jobs. Where levels of intrinsic motivation were high for the police officers, so were the levels of job engagement. Demographic variables did not yield any significant relationships to the study variables. These findings are of significance in creating a police force which is productive and meets the goals and objectives of the South African Police Service.
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- Date Issued: 2016
Oncoming traffic
- Authors: Manaka, Maakomele R
- Date: 2016
- Language: English
- Type: Thesis , Masters , MA
- Identifier: vital:6008 , http://hdl.handle.net/10962/1021220
- Description: The poems in my collection Oncoming Traffic mainly look at the silence in my personal conflicts. Fusing different styles and tones of writing from the lyrical to the surreal, these poems grapple with issues I struggle with on a daily basis. First as a man, second as a man with a physical disability, and lastly as a black man dealing with the reality of living in a dysfunctional/disabled society. The silence in my personal conflicts means, writing what I cannot say, stripping myself bare and vulnerable. My inspiration has come from poets who articulate such silences.
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- Date Issued: 2016
Optimisation of clearcoat viscosity
- Authors: Bukula, Nwabisa Asanda
- Date: 2016
- Subjects: Coating processes , Automobiles -- Bodies -- Maintenance and repair
- Language: English
- Type: Thesis , Masters , MTech
- Identifier: http://hdl.handle.net/10948/4814 , vital:20707
- Description: Modern automobiles are painted with basecoat, technology which is either metallic, solid colour or pearlescent. This requires protection from chemicals, scratching, weathering and UV light by applying a protective top coat (clearcoat) over the basecoat. For the clearcoat to cure into a hard protective shell it undergoes an irreversible crosslinking process. This usually takes place over the first four to five hours, depending on the formulation and weather conditions. The speed of crosslinking can be enhanced by temperature. Pot life is important as it can affect the overall quality of the painted surface. If crosslinking occurs too quickly, before the clearcoat is applied onto the surface, the clearcoat cannot be used to produce a good quality finish. The “expired” mixture is thus discarded. If used, the quality of the finished product cannot be guaranteed to last, and the paintwork may have to be redone. This often means removing the underlying paint and primer as well with the clearcoat film. Besides the time lost, the discarded clearcoat mixture often lands in the landfill, polluting ground water and the environment. It is thus important from the point of view of both the environment preservation and waste management, that as much clearcoat as possible is used without being wasted. It was proven in an earlier study (BSc Hon Formulation Science Treatise, 2011) that adding eugenol to a clearcoat mixture after crosslinking had started could reduce its viscosity, which is an indicator of crosslinking progress. Crosslinking subsequently resumed at a lower rate than in traditional blends. If stored away from oxygen and high temperatures, this blend could maintain optimum viscosity indefinitely. In this follow up study an optimum formulation was developed using D - optimal experimental design. It sought to extend the pot life to avoid waste to spray painters while saving the environment from pollution. The formulation that gave the desired viscosity after five hours of pot life was adopted. It was hypothesised that the optimum formulated clearcoat mixture would have a longer pot life than its traditional counterparts, and that it would perform just as well as the traditional clearcoat mixtures. To study the rate of crosslinking (disappearance of functional groups and appearance of the urethane bond), FTIR spectrometry was performed on a mixture produced from the optimized formula in comparison to that of a traditional mixture (the control). The rate of disappearance of functional groups was found to be lower in the eugenol mixture than in the control mixture. After six hours, eugenol was added into the control mixture, and this seemed to reduce the viscosity with the re-emergence of functional groups in the mixture. After 24 hours of crosslinking, an FTIR scan was done on the solid sample and this revealed that the eugenol mixture had crosslinked fully, with no detectable functional groups in the sample.
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- Date Issued: 2016