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An assessment of community participation in disaster management: A Case Study of Nelson Mandela Bay Municipality

  • Authors: Stemele, Lwandiso Phololo
  • Date: 2024-04
  • Subjects: Disaster relief -- South Africa -- Port Elizabeth , Crisis management -- South Africa -- Port Elizabeth , Political participation -- South Africa -- Eastern Cape -- Nelson Mandela Bay Municipality
  • Language: English
  • Type: Master's theses , text
  • Identifier: http://hdl.handle.net/10948/63540 , vital:73489
  • Description: This study sought to assess the level of community participation in disaster management by the communities that are most affected by floods and fires in informal settlements. The study aimed to assess the level of awareness of disaster risks at a community level and thereby provide recommendations to increase the level of participation, involvement and awareness in disaster management by the communities. This research adopted both qualitative and quantitative research approaches to form a mixed-method research approach. Data was collected using both approaches and converged to form the results and analysis of the empirical survey. From these results and analysis, recommendations are presented, which also draw insight from the literature review, to assist the Nelson Mandela Bay Municipality to better involve communities in disaster management. , Thesis (MA) -- Faculty of Humanities, School of Governmental and Social Sciences, 2024
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  • Date Issued: 2024-04

An assessment of the presidential youth employment programme on job creation in the department of Education, Eastern Cape

  • Authors: Mnqwazi, Zweledinga
  • Date: 2024-04
  • Subjects: Job creation -- South Africa -- Eastern Cape , Youth development -- South Africa -- Eastern Cape , Youth -- Services for
  • Language: English
  • Type: Master's theses , text
  • Identifier: http://hdl.handle.net/10948/63357 , vital:73260
  • Description: The presidential youth employment stimulus programme is a prominent imitative by the South African government aimed at addressing poverty and youth unemployment in the country. the programme has created many job opportunities for the youth in various government departments. in this study, the primary focus was on examining the impact of the programme on job creation within the Eastern Cape Department of Education, a province characterized by unique socio-economic challenges. The focused approach aimed to provide contextually relevant findings that may possibly contribute to the broader understanding of youth employment interventions on job creation. A qualitative study based on secondary data collection techniques was used to find answers to the research questions. Government reports, textbooks, and reports from the Eastern Cape Department of Education were the sources of data collection . In analyzing the gathered data, thematic analysis was employed following the guidelines by Braun and Clarke (2006). The study findings provide insights into the strengths of the presidential youth employment initiative, which includes employment opportunities, skills development and training. , Thesis (MPA) -- Faculty of Humanities, School of Governmental and Social Sciences, 2024
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  • Date Issued: 2024-04

An assessment of the youth employment creation strategy in Buffalo City Metropolitan Municipality: a case of Isiqalo Youth Fund

  • Authors: Tantsi, Yanga Ntombizodidi
  • Date: 2024-04
  • Subjects: Youth -- Employment -- South Africa -- Eastern Cape -- Buffalo City Metropolitan Municipality , Youth -- Employment -- Government policy , Youth development -- South Africa Eastern Cape -- Finance
  • Language: English
  • Type: Master's theses , text
  • Identifier: http://hdl.handle.net/10948/63551 , vital:73492
  • Description: Youth unemployment is a persistent and pressing challenge faced by communities and governments worldwide. In Buffalo City Metropolitan Municipality, a region characterised by its diverse socioeconomic landscape and unique set of opportunities and constraints, the issue of youth unemployment is of particular concern. The Isiqalo Youth Fund was established as a strategic initiative to address this challenge and promote economic empowerment and employability among the youth. This fund was designed to provide financial support and resources to young individuals in the municipality, offering them the opportunity to gain the skills, training, and experience required to enter the workforce and make meaningful contributions to the local economy. The study aimed to assess the implementation of the Isiqalo Youth Fund, which aims to facilitate youth employment in Buffalo City Metropolitan Municipality. The study utilised the qualitative research methodology, and the sample was selected using a purposive sampling technique. The sample for this study comprised ten youth beneficiaries of the Isiqalo Youth Fund, five officials from the Office of the Premier, and five officials from the Department of Economic Development, Environmental Affairs and Tourism (DEDEAT) responsible for the administration and oversight of the fund. Semi-structured interviews were conducted to capture the experiences and perceptions of the youth beneficiaries and the insights of the officials involved in the implementation of the Isiqalo Youth Fund. The study’s findings from the beneficiaries’ perspective indicate that accessing the Isiqalo Youth Fund is associated with several challenges, such as high levels of bureaucracy, poor fund management, a lack of information, lack of proper monitoring and evaluation mechanisms, and complex application procedures. The findings from the administrators’ perspectives indicated that a lack of ethics, fair dealing, and accountability adversely influenced the effective administration of the Isiqalo Youth Fund. The study recommends that local authorities and stakeholders collaborate to simplify the application process, improve fund management, increase awareness, offer support and mentorship, and enhance project monitoring and evaluation. , Thesis (MA) -- Faculty of Humanities, School of Public Management and Leadership, 2024
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  • Date Issued: 2024-04

An evaluation of the monitoring and evaluation process of the scholar transport programme: a case of Amthole West Education District

  • Authors: Tengile, Sindisiwe
  • Date: 2024-04
  • Subjects: Monitoring , Evaluation , Transportation -- South Africa -- Eastern Cape
  • Language: English
  • Type: Master's theses , text
  • Identifier: http://hdl.handle.net/10948/63562 , vital:73503
  • Description: Access to education is a constitutional right, calling for the state to institute reasonable measures to ensure every learner has access to education. The scholar transport programme was introduced to ensure access to education for learners who live far from school, particularly those living in rural areas. The study aimed to evaluate the processes that the scholar transport programme utilizes in the Amatole West Education District. Change theory served as the theoretical framework underpinning this qualitative study. Secondary data was collected and analyzed using thematic analysis. The study revealed that the Amatole West Education District employs several strategies, including stakeholder participation, route scrutiny, and safety checks. The research identified a lack of resources and capacity constraints as challenges to the Amatole West Education District encounter. The study recommends that the district enhance the competence of employees and other stakeholders with the necessary skills and knowledge to enable them to perform monitoring and evaluation(M&E) completely. , Thesis (MPA) -- Faculty of Humanities, School of Governmental and Social Sciences, 2024
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  • Date Issued: 2024-04

An in vitro assessment of pharmacodynamic interactions between selected herbal extracts and anticancer chemotherapeutic agents

  • Authors: Hwehwe, Nyashadzashe , Swanepoel, Bresler
  • Date: 2024-04
  • Subjects: Chemotherapy , Herbs -- Therapeutic use , Antineoplastic agents
  • Language: English
  • Type: Master's theses , text
  • Identifier: http://hdl.handle.net/10948/63506 , vital:73383
  • Description: Cancer is a disease caused by uncontrolled growth and spreading of abnormal cells to distant body parts. Approximately 19.3 million and 10 million new cancer cases and cancer deaths, respectively were recorded in 2020. Despite advancements in prevention and therapeutic strategies, cancer remains a global health problem. Cancer patients are increasingly seeking complementary and alternative medicines, of which herbal medicines are the most common form of CAM used by patients. Numerous in vitro and in vivo studies of herbal medicines in cancer have shown that they have antioxidant and anticancer (antitumor and anti-proliferative) properties. While concurrent use with conventional cancer treatments may improve treatment efficacy, alleviate chemotherapy-related side effects, boost the immune system, or impede drug resistance, it can also prompt drug-herbal interactions, and this may affect the pharmacodynamics and pharmacokinetics of the chemotherapeutic drug. This study aimed to determine relevant pharmacodynamic interactions with chemotherapeutic drugs and investigate such interactions' mechanisms. The objectives of the study were to screen the cytotoxicity effects of drug compounds, herbal extracts, and drug-herb combinations, to determine the ability of treatments to induce apoptosis, and to determine the most beneficial treatment. The cytotoxic effects of cisplatin in HeLa cells, tamoxifen in MCF7 cells, 5-fluorouracil in Caco-2 cells, and grapeseed, green tea, fermented rooibos, and green rooibos in all the listed cell lines were evaluated individually and in combination using the bis-Benzamide H 33342 trihydrochloride/propidium iodide (Hoechst 33342/PI) dual staining method. CompuSyn 1.0 Software was used to quantify synergism and antagonism. The mechanism of apoptosis induction of the different synergetic combinations, drug compounds, and herbal extracts was illustrated by quantitative fluorescence image analysis, specifically cell cycle analysis, phosphatidylserine translocation, mitochondrial membrane potential analysis, caspase 3 activation, and reactive oxygen species production using the relevant contrast dyes. Grapeseed displayed cytotoxicity towards MCF7 and HeLa cells (IC50 57.98 and 83.28 μg/mL, respectively). Green tea was only cytotoxic against HeLa cells at an IC50 of 91,92 μg/mL. None of the extracts displayed cytotoxicity against Caco-2 cells (IC50 values > 200μg/mL). If the herbal extracts had inconclusive IC50 values in the three cell lines subsequent experiments were conducted using 100 μg/mL. The results showed that most of the combinations were antagonistic but, some combinations had synergistic or enhancement effects(1:3 for cisplatin with grape seed or green tea and tamoxifen with grapeseed or green tea, and 3:1 for cisplatin with green tea as well as for tamoxifen with fermented rooibos or green rooibos, and all the 1:1 combinations of 5- fluorouracil with all herbal extracts) with a combination index (CI) < 1. Grape seed and green tea were found to induce apoptosis in the three cell lines. Assays that were conducted to detect apoptosis induction showed positive staining for phosphatidylserine (PS), activated caspase 3, and reactive oxygen species (ROS), mitochondrial membrane depolarization. Analysis of the cell cycle showed two things; 1) that grape seed and green tea were apoptotic in HeLa and MCF7 cells only, and 2) the extracts of green tea and green rooibos, and the combinations of grape seed with all drug compounds arrested the cell in more than one phase of the cell cycle. The combinations of grapeseed and green tea potentially induced apoptosis in various manners but those with both rooibos extracts were unclear in all the cell lines. The results for combinations with grapeseed and green tea are promising and provide a basis for further research as combinations of chemotherapeutic drugs and herbal extracts may be effective therapeutic strategies. , Thesis (MPharm) -- Faculty of Health Sciences, School of Clinical Care & Medicinal Sciences, 2024
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  • Date Issued: 2024-04

An in vitro evaluation of the anti-breast cancer activity of Nigella sativa extracts and its bioactive compound in combination with curcumin

  • Authors: Botha, Susanna Gertruida
  • Date: 2024-04
  • Subjects: Herbs -- Therapeutic use , Radiation-protective agents , Breast -- Cancer -- Treatment
  • Language: English
  • Type: Master's theses , text
  • Identifier: http://hdl.handle.net/10948/63639 , vital:73571
  • Description: Breast cancer constitutes 23% of all cancers in South African females. Curcumin and Nigella sativa have anti-cancer, anti-metastatic and antioxidant-properties and may be effective against breast cancer. This study focused on the effect of N. sativa extracts or thymoquinone and curcumin, individually and in combination, on breast cancer cells. An MTT assay showed that curcumin reduced cell viability by 50% (IC50) at 18 ± 2.63 μg/mL and thymoquinone (TQ) at 5 ± 0.95 μg/mL against the MDA-MB-231 cells. The IC50 values for curcumin and TQ were 35 ± 6.98 μg/mL and 4 ± 0.96 μg/mL against the MCF-7 cells, respectively. The IC50 value for the NSBE was determined to be 350 ± 55 μg/mL. The IC50 value of NSAE did not fall within the selected concentration range. Synergism was noted for combinations of NSBE with curcumin, and combinations of TQ with curcumin, against both MCF-7 and MDA-MB-231 cells. Two synergistic combinations per treatment per cell line, as determined by the combination index analysis, were chosen for further investigation. The combinations and individual treatments tested against the MCF-10A cells, were not significant, except for NSBE80:CURC20 combination. Curcumin had the most significant anti-oxidant activity; however, no link was noted between the anti-oxidant activity and the cytotoxicity of the combinations. The combination treatments induced apoptosis more effectively than the individual treatments. Caspase-3 dependent apoptosis was noted for NSBE10:CURC90 and TQ80:CURC20 combinations against the MDA-MB-231 cells, and the TQ60:CURC40 combination against the MCF-7 cells. The individual and combined treatments effectively reduced MDA-MB-231 cell adhesion to fibronectin, but not all reduced the cell adhesion to laminin. Based on these results, the combinations of curcumin with TQ or NSBE, have promising anticancer benefits against breast cancer. , Thesis (MSc) -- Faculty of Science, School of Biomolecular & Chemical Sciences, 2024
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  • Date Issued: 2024-04

An Investigation into the challenges of translating mathematical terminologies into Xitsonga

  • Authors: Sambo, Tintswalo Teressa
  • Date: 2024-04
  • Subjects: Mathematical linguistics , Mathematics , Translating and interpreting
  • Language: English
  • Type: Master's theses , text
  • Identifier: http://hdl.handle.net/10948/63495 , vital:73382
  • Description: Mathematics in South Africa is one of the subjects that is considered ‘difficult’ by many learners. The proof of this statement is reflected by the low mathematical pass rate in many South African schools. One of the challenges that has been highlighted by learners and teachers is that the language of mathematics is challenging. This implies that learners find it difficult to understand some of the mathematical terminologies and content that is being taught. The main reason for the challenge of grasping mathematical terminologies that has been cited by learners and educators is the language of learning and teaching (LOLT). Mathematics is taught in English in most South African schools even though many learners speak one of the indigenous South African official languages (if one excludes English and Afrikaans) at home and get to use and be exposed to English as the medium of learning and teaching only at school. While mathematics remains a challenge in South Africa, research shows that when home languages are used in a mathematics classroom, it enhances the learners understanding. However, it is not always simple to transfer mathematics from English to an African language. There are complexities associated with translation that include the lack of vocabulary in the target language which in this case is Xitsonga. The lack of terminologies in Xitsonga is one of the challenges that occur during the process of translation. This purpose of this research is to examine the challenges of translating mathematical terminologies from English into Xitsonga and to find the strategies that can be used to assist learners to improve their understanding of mathematics. As such, a qualitative research method will be used to select the mathematical terminologies extracted froma mathematics bilingual dictionary with the aim of examining the quality of the translation and identifying the challenges that have been experience by translators. , Thesis (MA) -- Faculty of Humanities, School of Language, Media and Communication, 2024
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  • Date Issued: 2024-04

Assessing rural senior primary school natural science teachers’ TPACK: a case study

  • Authors: Silvanus, Secilia Tulikefo
  • Date: 2024-04
  • Subjects: Uncatalogued
  • Language: English
  • Type: Academic theses , Master's theses , text
  • Identifier: http://hdl.handle.net/10962/423902 , vital:72103
  • Description: In today's world, technology has changed how people live and behave. The influence of technology contemplates a similar change in the education processes of teaching and learning. Many governments worldwide invest hugely in providing technological tools and facilities and training teachers to improve teaching and learning. The availability and access to technologies in schools seem to offer teachers opportunities to develop technological knowledge and integrate technology into teaching. Literature indicates that teachers must possess technological pedagogical content knowledge (TPACK) to integrate technology into teaching and learning processes effectively. However, other scholars have also suggested that teachers' TPACK develops and is shaped by many contexts. This study, therefore, sought to assess the rural senior primary Natural science teachers' TPACK. This qualitative case study was conducted with senior primary Natural science teachers in the educational circuit of Endola. An interpretive paradigm underpinned the study. The study employed semi-structured questionnaires, semi-structured interviews, focus group interviews, and observation to collect the data. The study used the TPACK as a theoretical and analytical framework. The study results showed that participants had a firmer grasp of subject content (CK) and traditional teaching methods (Pedagogical Knowledge - PK and Pedagogical Content Knowledge - PCK) compared to technological knowledge (TK) and technology-based pedagogies (Technological Pedagogical Knowledge - TPK, Technological Content Knowledge - TCK, and Technological Pedagogical Content Knowledge (TPCK). Findings support that the participants draw upon sources of Technological Pedagogical Content Knowledge (TPACK) closely aligned with Content Knowledge (CK), Technological Content Knowledge (TCK), and Technological Pedagogical Knowledge (TPK) to integrate technology. The study included inadequate professional development, teachers' attitudes, insufficient hardware and internet connectivity, limited technological knowledge, time constraints, and restricted access to technology tools and resources as obstacles for teachers attempting to incorporate technology into their classrooms effectively. Furthermore, the data highlights ICT training and teachers' interest as enablers that motivated participants to integrate technology into their teaching practices. Therefore, the study recommends professional development programs focusing on providing science teachers with practical skills to utilise different technologies and address common technical issues. , Thesis (MEd) -- Faculty of Education, Secondary and Post-School Education, 2024
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  • Date Issued: 2024-04

Assessing the management of water services in Fairview, Harry Gwala district municipality

  • Authors: Mazibuko, Nosipho Faith
  • Date: 2024-04
  • Subjects: Water-supply -- Research -- Management , Water-supply -- Developing countries -- Management , Infrastructure (Economics) -- Developing countries
  • Language: English
  • Type: Master's theses , text
  • Identifier: http://hdl.handle.net/10948/63276 , vital:73243
  • Description: This study sought to assess the management of water services in the Fairview community within the Ixopo town under the Harry Gwala District Municipality (HGDM). The study was further motivated by the need to ascertain stakeholders’ perceptions on the response to water shortage challenges in the Fairview community, assess Fairview community members’ knowledge, and identify opportunities brought about by water shortages in this community. The study was anchored on the service quality model (SERVQUAL) as the theoretical framework. The research design of the study was exploratory and used both qualitative and quantitative methods. The target population of the study consisted of ordinary members of the Fairview community and managerial staff at the HGDM. The qualitative part of the study involved eight (n = 8) managerial employees at the municipality. In total, 120 questionnaires were despatched, and 110 were returned, which gave a 92% response rate for the quantitative part of the study. The questionnaire respondents were chosen by random sampling, while the interview respondents were chosen by purposive sampling. The quantitative data were analysed using descriptive and inferential statistics, while the qualitative data were analysed using applied thematic analysis. The study revealed that there is generally a negative perception of the municipal responses to addressing water supply challenges and that the municipality does not always act promptly to water supply challenges. Perceptions of poor-quality service provision regarding responsiveness, reliability, assurance, and empathy were found. The findings also revealed that the Fairview community members are generally knowledgeable about water conservation. The study unveiled opportunities for addressing water supply challenges, such as mobilising funds from stakeholders to build additional water reticulation, harvesting capacity, and modernisation of water management, and recommends that the municipality immediately conduct public participation meetings and citizen satisfaction surveys to ascertain community service delivery expectations, followed by developing service quality standards and performance agreements with municipal staff to improve residents’ perceptions of the municipality’s ability to respond to water supply challenges. , Thesis (MPA) -- Faculty of Humanities, School of Governmental and Social Sciences, 2024
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  • Date Issued: 2024-04

Augmenting the Moore-Penrose generalised Inverse to train neural networks

  • Authors: Fang, Bobby
  • Date: 2024-04
  • Subjects: Neural networks (Computer science) , Machine learning , Mathematical optimization -- Computer programs
  • Language: English
  • Type: Master's theses , text
  • Identifier: http://hdl.handle.net/10948/63755 , vital:73595
  • Description: An Extreme Learning Machine (ELM) is a non-iterative and fast feedforward neural network training algorithm which uses the Moore-Penrose generalised inverse of a matrix to compute the weights of the output layer of the neural network, using a random initialisation for the hidden layer. While ELM has been used to train feedforward neural networks, the effectiveness of the MP generalised to train recurrent neural networks is yet to be investigated. The primary aim of this research was to investigate how biases in the output layer and the MP generalised inverse can be used to train recurrent neural networks. To accomplish this, the Bias Augmented ELM (BA-ELM), which concatenated the hidden layer output matrix with a ones-column vector to simulate the biases in the output layer, was proposed. A variety of datasets generated from optimisation test functions, as well as using real-world regression and classification datasets, were used to validate BA-ELM. The results showed in specific circumstances that BA-ELM was able to perform better than ELM. Following this, Recurrent ELM (R-ELM) was proposed which uses a recurrent hidden layer instead of a feedforward hidden layer. Recurrent neural networks also rely on having functional feedback connections in the recurrent layer. A hybrid training algorithm, Recurrent Hybrid ELM (R-HELM), was proposed, which uses a gradient-based algorithm to optimise the recurrent layer and the MP generalised inverse to compute the output weights. The evaluation of R-ELM and R-HELM algorithms were carried out using three different recurrent architectures on two recurrent tasks derived from the Susceptible- Exposed-Infected-Removed (SEIR) epidemiology model. Various training hyperparameters were evaluated through hyperparameter investigations to investigate their effectiveness on the hybrid training algorithm. With optimal hyperparameters, the hybrid training algorithm was able to achieve better performance than the conventional gradient-based algorithm. , Thesis (MSc) -- Faculty of Science, School of Computer Science, Mathematics, Physics and Statistics, 2024
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  • Date Issued: 2024-04

Community perceptions on teenage pregnancy: the case of Kamvelihle Township in Nelson Mandela Bay Municipality

  • Authors: Mtakati, Faith
  • Date: 2024-04
  • Subjects: Teenage pregnancy -- South Africa -- Port Elizabeth , Teenage mothers -- South Africa -- Port Elizabeth , Teenagers -- Sexual behavior
  • Language: English
  • Type: Master's theses , text
  • Identifier: http://hdl.handle.net/10948/63368 , vital:73263
  • Description: Increasingly, teenagers in South Africa get pregnant while studying and this disrupt their schooling program. The above problem in many instances ended up affecting their performance at school and they drop-out of the school. This study investigates the community perceptions on teenage pregnancy in Kamvelihle Township. The study objectives are as follows: to investigate the community perception on teenage pregnancy in Kamvelihle Township, to contribute within the South African Sociological field with specific reference to Kamvelihle Township in the Eastern Cape and to come up with the recommendations with the view to addressing some of the problem in Kamvelihle Township. The research methodology employed in this study is qualitative in approach and it included amongst others, individual interviews using an interview guide containing relevant questions posed to participants. Research ethics protocol has been adhered to from the initial up to the last stages of the study. To supplement the above, relevant secondary sources were consulted ranging from scholarly journal articles as well as scholarly books including other available reading material. In this study, sex education has been used as a conceptual framework to understand the problem of teenage pregnancy in Kamvelihle Township. , Thesis (MA) -- Faculty of Humanities, School of Governmental and Social Sciences, 2024
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  • Date Issued: 2024-04

Defining and regulating de facto and shadow directors: lessons from New Zealand

  • Authors: Botha, Bernardus Hermanus
  • Date: 2024-04
  • Subjects: Business law , Companies Act 71 of 2008. , Company Management
  • Language: English
  • Type: Master's theses , text
  • Identifier: http://hdl.handle.net/10948/63059 , vital:73182
  • Description: The term ‘director’ is commonly limited to those persons who have been validly appointed as directors. These directors are referred to as de jure directors. However, this is not the only type of director found in practical corporate settings. There are also those who have not been validly appointed as a director, who nonetheless act as directors and who are held out by companies as such. These persons are known as de facto directors. An individual who has not been validly appointed as a director, who is not held out by a company as such, but who still exercises some measure of control over the affairs of a company, is known as a shadow director. The existence of de facto and shadow directors is not peculiar to South Africa. New Zealand has seen fit to regulate de facto and shadow directors and has done so for over 70 years. Owing to the ambiguous wording of the definition of ‘director’ contained in the Companies Act, there is uncertainty whether the current definition in the Companies Act 71 of 2008 extends to de facto and shadow directors. This uncertainty resulted in the non-regulation of these forms of directorship. The Act only applies to those individuals who fall within the definition of ‘director’. The practical effect of this is the absence of clear avenues of accountability to those who occupy a position of power within a company without being appointed as a de jure director. Considering this, the core objectives of this research are to illustrate the far-reaching consequences of the non-regulation of de facto and shadow directors and how this problem may be remedied. , Thesis (LLM) -- Faculty of Law
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  • Date Issued: 2024-04

Diaspora in Dialogue: An Ontology of Diasporic Subjectivity in the Work of Three Artists Living In-Between South Africa and Zimbabwe

  • Authors: Nyoni, Vulindlela Philani Elliott
  • Date: 2024-04
  • Subjects: Foreign workers -- South Africa , South Africa -- Social conditions , South Africa -- Emigration and immigration
  • Language: English
  • Type: Doctorate , text
  • Identifier: http://hdl.handle.net/10948/62366 , vital:72615
  • Description: As a Zimbabwean artist and educator, living and working in South Africa, my daily experience is that of an “in-between” diasporic subjectivity, which is compounded by the discourses around the uneasy reintegration of post-apartheid South Africa into Africa. This context gives rise to the core philosophical aim of this thesis, which is to explore the notion of “diasporic subjectivities” as a philosophical approach to understanding what it means to be in a complex contemporary reality. The notion of diasporic subjectivities works in the same way as that of “queer subjectivities”, which has been used to understand not just gay people but all people. “Diaspora” names people who have moved, migrated, or been scattered away from an established or ancestral homeland, but retain some sense of belonging to this homeland. From an African perspective, I problematise the concept of an established homeland and the settled subjectivities that belong to it, in contrast to which only the diaspora remains in an uncomfortable state of in-betweenness. Instead, I explore a contention among both European and African existentialist philosophers that the condition of not being at home is the fundamental human condition out of which a home must be created. This would mean that the groundlessness, liminality or in-betweenness of being is experienced not just by the diaspora but by all humans. However, importantly, I find that sociocultural differences due to the history of colonialism gives rise to different experiences of homelessness and the groundlessness of being. This makes a distinction necessary, but to avoid the pitfalls of tying this distinction to geographical locations such as Western versus Non-Western or Global North and Global South, I will refer instead to spaces, practices and even individuals, in which there are “mindsets of entitlement” versus “mindsets of disentitlement”. The former refers to the mindset of ownership characteristic of the settled and developed. The latter refers to the mindset of many who feel a sense of unbelonging, due to disenfranchisement and forced disembodiment and dislocation. I have aimed to support the thesis that the groundlessness, liminality or in-betweenness of being is experienced not just by the diaspora but by all humans, in two ways. Firstly, I consider in detail through various means (narratives, personal reflection, investigation of philosophical texts, dialogues), the philosophical concepts of “belonging”, “home” and “nostalgia” as component aspects of an ontology of diasporic subjectivity. In the second part of this study, I engage in an interpretative process, as outlined by Hans-Georg Gadamer, whereby I use this ontology to help me dialogue with artworks produced by three Zimbabwean artists, Ronald Muchatuta, Gerald Machona, and myself (Vulindlela Nyoni), who share the diasporic condition of being Zimbabweans living in-between Zimbabwe and South Africa. The ontology of diasporic subjectivity developed in the first part offers a language with which to dialogue with the artworks or question the way in which the complexities of belonging, home and nostalgia are expressed in the works, while the works in turn help deepen an understanding of diasporic subjectivity. Both philosophies and artworks may function as transformative, practical tools for seeking wisdom, cultivating self-awareness, developing moral character, and living a reflective and examined life. The combination of personal narratives and self-reflexive, philosophical dialogues regarding artworks and art making and its exigencies holds the potential to produce deeper philosophical insights into the fundamentally diasporic human condition. This kind of hybrid research at the interface between philosophy and artistic praxis is accessible to a broad-based audience. It is therefore better able to undo malicious stereotypical associations between émigrés and malignant tropes of societal decay on the African continent and to validate the contributions made by African diaspora to the decolonial project, than neatly distanced academic reflections, which reduce the philosophical impact of transnational migration to measurable motivations and statistics. , Thesis (D.Phil) -- Faculty of Humanities, School of Social Scinces, 2024
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  • Date Issued: 2024-04

Discipline and dismissal of employees For testing positive for cannabis

  • Authors: Syce, Donato Burchelle
  • Date: 2024-04
  • Subjects: Occupational health , Cannabis , Substance use
  • Language: English
  • Type: Master's theses , text
  • Identifier: http://hdl.handle.net/10948/63071 , vital:73184
  • Description: Employers are legally obligated to provide a safe working environment for all employees. They are permitted to enforce rules that regulate the use of cannabis, including a total prohibition thereof in the workplace. Most employers adopt a policy with a zero-tolerance approach to substance abuse in the workplace, especially considering the negative effects of substances. Cannabis is regarded as a drug and the effects of cannabis may negatively affect the health of employees. In most instances, users develop cognitive impairment which may result in decreased working memory function. Therefore, employers must test employees when they suspect that an employee have contravened a workplace policy. There are various tests that can be used to detect THC, the preferred method for testing employees is a urine test. Upon testing an employee, the test may show a positive result for the previous use of cannabis, but it does not determine the level of impairment. However, employers are still required to take the necessary disciplinary action against employees. In the following chapter, I shall discuss the judicial approach towards employees who have tested positive for cannabis. , Thesis (LLM) -- Faculty of Law,(2024)
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  • Date Issued: 2024-04

Elephant impacts on plant diversity and structure in the Shamwari Private Game Reserve

  • Authors: Halvey, Andrew Lloyd
  • Date: 2024-04
  • Subjects: Elephants -- Nutrition -- South Africa -- Eastern Cape , Elephants -- Habitat -- South Africa -- Eastern Cape , Shamwari Game Reserve (South Africa)
  • Language: English
  • Type: Master's theses , text
  • Identifier: http://hdl.handle.net/10948/63777 , vital:73597
  • Description: Many African landscapes rely on processes such as fire, tree-fall and drought in addition to herbivores to initiate change across the landscape. In the Eastern Cape, elephant have a significant impact on the community structure and diversity of the vegetation they live in. This is most likely the case for the Albany Valley Thicket and azonal riparian vegetation of Shamwari Private Game Reserve, where browsing animals, particularly megaherbivores like the black rhinoceros and elephant, are the main cause of defoliation. The presence of large herbivores creates challenges when it comes to long-term sustainability and biodiversity of the vegetation in Shamwari. Vegetation monitoring provides essential information for effective management of megaherbivores not only in Shamwari but in many other similar reserves. The aim of this study was to design a monitoring plan for the Albany Valley Thicket and riparian vegetation in Shamwari using available vegetation metrics. The vegetation was measured in permanent plots (90 m line intercept analysis per plot) in the Albany Valley Thicket and riparian vegetation of Shamwari. Plot selection was based on thicket structural integrity using NDVI score as a proxy. In all plots, thicket structure was assessed using canopy heights measured every 50 cm along the line. Detrended correspondence analysis of the species abundance data suggested three distinct structural and compositional vegetation states for thicket and riparian vegetation: dense, intermediate and open. Significant relationships between NDVI and vegetation structural metrics across the condition states indicated that NDVI could be used as a proxy for vegetation condition. Vegetation compositional metrics, however, were not always correlated to NDVI and determining species diversity for the vegetation presents additional information useful for monitoring. The monitoring recommended for the reserve is to evaluate vegetation structural integrity annually in summer using NDVI. Areas of change could then be measured for diversity as well as for change in the abundance of selected plant indicator species. This information should be used to initiate management actions if unwanted change has occurred. , Thesis (MSc) -- Faculty of Science, School of Environmental Sciences, 2024
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  • Date Issued: 2024-04

Estimation of a generalist meso-carnivore (black-backed jackal) population from a fenced protected area

  • Authors: Davidson-Phillips, Samuel Ralph
  • Date: 2024-04
  • Subjects: Wildlife conservation , Carnivorous animals -- Conservation , Carnivorous animals -- Ecology
  • Language: English
  • Type: Master's theses , text
  • Identifier: http://hdl.handle.net/10948/63698 , vital:73589
  • Description: Since 2017, landowners, field guides, and management staff have reported large groups of black-backed jackals (Lupullela mesomelas) (here-forward jackal) in the Welgevonden Game Reserve, Limpopo, South Africa. This is linked with several observations of jackals predating on various ungulate species, potentially leading to unintended consequences on prey populations. These observations combined with an apparent poor survival rate of impala (Aepyceros melampus) and continuous declines in their number led to the perception that jackals could be partly responsible. Several studies have attempted to describe the ecological role of jackals within multiple environments, most of which have proven to be variable and context dependent. Human-modified landscapes along with the fencing of protected areas, may have manipulated the role of jackal within these scenarios. Jackals are wide-ranging and generally not confined by fencing, therefore their population trends possibly fluctuate within these anthropogenic landscapes. Re-introduced apex predators have been shown to facilitate food (provision of carrion) and simultaneously suppress jackal (active killing), this, however, remains difficult to predict. Jackals are classified as facultative cooperative hunters, and the term describes how they hunt in groups opportunistically when suitable resources of prey are available. The indication by several studies that jackals do actively predate rather than only scavenge, illustrates that the species has the potential to cause declines in an ungulate population. It therefore appears erroneous to exclude the species in terms of predator-prey relationships, particularly for land managers of fenced protected areas. The first step to any ecological management is the understanding of population size and trends over time. Unfortunately, little to no reliable methods exist to assess or monitor jackal populations. A popular tool for cryptic and wide-ranging terrestrial carnivores is Spatial Capture Recapture (SCR) models, typically through a camera trap array. These often rely on individual identities and an imperfect detection process to derive a statistical estimate of a given area. Jackals have been assumed to be individually unidentifiable and therefore these methods have largely been excluded. To address this a pilot-targeted camera-trap survey was conducted to improve capture and image quality. Following the role of this procedure, semi-automated software was applied to test the feasibility of individual identifications of captured images. This resulted in a subset of 58 right and left identifiable flank images, compiled from the highest graded images (n = 220) using the open-source Interactive Individual IdentificationSystem Beta Contour 3.0 (I3S Contour). I3S Contour assists users by distinguishing between unique contours on independent flanks without omitting observer effort and ranking. The effectiveness of the identification procedure was evaluated using three software tool trials, namely Computer-aided Annotation, Manual Contour Annotation, and Manual Contour Annotation (MA-2), where MA-2 included additional user-defined meta-data to images. Results showed that jackals could be individually identified from camera trap images and thus opened up the use of previously excluded SCR methodologies. Utilising the jackal database derived from the identification procedures described a total of 28 complete identifications (both flanks matched), 32 left-sided and 36 right-sided captures were used. These were derived from two independent survey periods split between seasonality (Winter & Spring). Two SCR methods were compared, namely, the Spatially Explicit Camera Recapture (SECR) and the newly developed Spatial Presence-Absence (SPA) modelling approach. SECR relies on full individual identification linked to spatial locations to derive spatial parameters to estimate population densities. The SECR methodology has been considered the most precise and was thus used as the benchmark. SPA relies on detections only (i.e., without individual identities), along with informative or uninformative priors. This must be across a spatial array that has detectors close enough to allow for simultaneous detections during each occasion (< 24 hours). Comparisons between these model outputs indicated a high degree of confidence interval overlap; however, SPA had a consistently higher posterior mode density estimate (63-64% higher), where the coefficient of variation between outputs also indicated the SPA having a closer relative precision. The targeted survey results for both model outputs for 2021 did not appear unusually high when compared to other studies. To assess the WGR population size over the long term, opportunistic by-catch data from a nine-year leopard (Panthera pardus) camera survey (Panthera organisation) was utilised. Model outputs from each of the years indicated that population estimates remained relatively stable. This was an unexpected result as the SPA densities did not follow the detection observations. This could be attributed to M not being set high enough (200) and the model reaching the limit, resulting in similar outputs between years. An alternative explanation is where the station spacing is larger than the diameter of the home range, which may reduce spatial correlation. , Thesis (MSc) -- Faculty of Science, School of Natural Resource Science & Management, 2024
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  • Date Issued: 2024-04

Evaluating elephant, Loxodonta africana, space-use and elephant-linked vegetation change in Liwonde National Park, Malawi

  • Authors: Evers, Emma Else Maria
  • Date: 2024-04
  • Subjects: Elephants -- Nutrition -- Malawi , Ecological heterogeneity , Vegetation and climate
  • Language: English
  • Type: Master's theses , text
  • Identifier: http://hdl.handle.net/10948/63744 , vital:73594
  • Description: Heterogeneity, the spatio-temporal variation of abiotic and biotic factors, is a key concept that underpins many ecological phenomena and promotes biodiversity. Ecosystem engineers, such as African savanna elephants (hereafter elephant), Loxodonta africana, are organisms capable of affecting heterogeneity through the creation or modification of habitats. Thus, their impacts can have important consequences for ecosystem biodiversity, both positive and negative. Caughley’s “elephant problem” cautions that confined or compressed, growing elephant populations will inevitably lead to a loss of biodiversity. However, a shift in our understanding of elephants suggests that not all elephant impacts lead to negative biodiversity consequences, as long as there is a heterogeneous spread of elephant impacts that allows for spatio-temporal refuges promoting the persistence of both impact-tolerant and impact-intolerant species. To date, little empirical evidence is available in support of managing elephants under this paradigm and few studies are available that infer the consequences of the distribution of elephant impacts on biodiversity. In addition, most studies use parametric statistics that do not account for scale, spatial autocorrelation, or non-stationarity, leading to a misrepresentation of the underlying processes and patterns of drivers of elephant space-use and the consequences of their impacts on biodiversity. Here, I evaluate spatio-temporal patterns and drivers of elephant space-use, and how the distribution of their impacts affects biodiversity through vegetation changes, using a multi-scaled spatial approach, in Liwonde National Park, Malawi. My study demonstrates that elephant space-use in Liwonde is heterogeneous, leading to spatio-temporal variation in the distribution of their impacts, even in a small, fenced reserve. The importance of the drivers of this heterogeneous space-use varied based on the scale of analysis, water was generally important at larger scales while vegetation quality (indexed by NDVI) was more important at smaller scales. When examined using local models, my results suggest that relationships exhibit non-stationarity, what is important in one area of the park is not necessarily important in other areas. The spatio-temporal variation of the inferred impacts of elephants in Liwonde still allowed for spatio-temporal refuges to be created, no clear linear relationship was found between elephant return intervals and woody species structural and functional diversity (indexed by changes in tree cover and changes in annual regrowth using Normalized Difference Vegetation Index as a measure, respectively) throughout the park. My study provides support for adopting the heterogeneity paradigm for managing elephants and demonstrates that not all elephant impacts result in negative vegetation change. I also demonstrate the crucial implications of accounting for scale, non-stationarity, and spatial autocorrelation to evaluate how animals both respond to, and contribute to, environmental heterogeneity. , Thesis (MSc) -- Faculty of Science, School of Environmental Sciences, 2024
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  • Date Issued: 2024-04

Exploring 3d printing of brass instruments: a comparative study of French horn mouthpieces

  • Authors: Barker, Dylan Bruce
  • Date: 2024-04
  • Subjects: Horn (Musical instrument) , Three-dimensional printing , Instrumentation and orchestration (Band)
  • Language: English
  • Type: Master's theses , text
  • Identifier: http://hdl.handle.net/10948/62755 , vital:72939
  • Description: The French horn is an orchestral instrument with a rich history that spans centuries, undergoing notable transformations in its design and functionality. A short overview of this history is provided in Appendix A. Originating as a simple coil, the French horn has evolved to encompass a complex valve system, multiple harmonic series, and a diverse range of modifications tailored to players' preferences and requirements. These modifications include mutes, grips, extra keys, and even the exploration of different materials for mouthpieces. The use of plastic rims on mouthpieces, for reasons such as allergies, thermal conductivity, and tactile sensation, has already gained traction among horn players (Tuckwell, 2002). In the realm of manufacturing and technology, the concept of additive manufacturing has emerged as a promising avenue. Referred to as the next "industrial revolution” (Berman, 2012), additive manufacturing has become increasingly accessible through desktop-scale 3D printers. This technology offers a viable method for producing cost-effective musical instruments and enhancers without compromising quality (Kantaros, 2018). As evidenced by a 2018 Roundtable report from the South African Parliament, additive manufacturing aligns with the trajectory of the fourth industrial revolution, prompting governments to develop policies and strategies to harness its potential. Given the significance of additive manufacturing, a comprehensive investigation into applying these new technologies for the horn is warranted. Specifically, material choice, quality of sound, and the experience of performing on a printed mouthpiece is investigated and compared to a traditional metal mouthpiece. While the horn is comprised of many individual components, this study relates specifically to the mouthpiece. A brief appraisal of the significance of the mouthpiece will follow in the next section. , Thesis (MMus) -- Faculty of Humanities, School of Visual and Performing Arts, 2024
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  • Date Issued: 2024-04

Exploring senior phase teachers’ use of kahoot! Gamification as a formative assessment tool to scaffold mathematical understanding

  • Authors: Balele, Silence
  • Date: 2024-04
  • Subjects: Uncatalogued
  • Language: English
  • Type: Academic theses , Master's theses , text
  • Identifier: http://hdl.handle.net/10962/423891 , vital:72102
  • Description: In South Africa, digital technology, particularly gamification, continues to become an important teaching and learning tool. Its importance lies in scaffolding mathematical understanding, improving the quality of assessment, and developing twenty-first-century technological skills for effective mathematics assessment. To explore this importance, senior phase mathematics teachers are encouraged to adopt gamification technology such as Kahoot! in assessment. The study adopted a case study research design with a interpretivist research paradigm, as this method allows detailed exploration and understanding of a specific context through a close connection with the participants. Data was collected using semi-structured questionnaires, focus group interviews, non-participant observations, and reflective journals. The research involved ten purposively selected senior-phase mathematics teachers from two schools in the Sarah Baartman District, Eastern Cape Province, South Africa. The study drew upon Vygoysky's Sociocultural Theory for its theoretical framework, while the Technological, Pedagogical, and Content Knowledge was used for analysis. The data analysis pursued an inductive approach. Adopting a thematic analysis included coding participant responses, organizing codes into concepts and categories, and developing a theoretical framework from the resultant categories. A four-phase process was involved: coding, conceptualizing, categorizing, and theorizing, was employed. This process and using NVivo software for data organization and management helped identify patterns, themes, and significant concerns surrounding the study's core subject. The findings from the study were as follows: Firstly, it was revealed that most teachers have a positive perception and attitude towards using Kahoot! for formative assessment, believing that it enhances teaching and learning quality. However, they showed scepticism due to insufficient Information and Communication Technologies knowledge and training. Second, teachers' pedagogical and technological experiences were predominantly enjoyable. Kahoot! was accepted as beneficial for promoting collaboration, interaction, and immediate feedback. Third, the study identified enabling and constraining factors in using Kahoot! for formative assessment. The enabling factors include Kahoot!, which was convenient and accessible, promoted immediate feedback and fostered collaboration and interaction. The constraining factors include Information and Communication Technologies and network interference, which posed limitations. The research concluded that Kahoot! as a platform for formative assessment indeed scaffold mathematical understanding. The study recommends increasing teachers' access to educational technology, incorporating continuous professional development programs, providing subject-specific training, and encouraging teachers to adapt to emerging technologies. The study also provided recommendations for future research to explore learner perceptions, employ a mixed methods approach to help quantify learner performance and investigate the pedagogical and technological experiences of senior phase mathematics teachers regarding formative assessment. , Thesis (MEd) -- Faculty of Education, Secondary and Post-School Education, 2024
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  • Date Issued: 2024-04

Exploring the continued importance of technique in the co-production of art with A.I.

  • Authors: Venter, Simon Denis
  • Date: 2024-04
  • Subjects: Art and technology , Mass media and culture , Artificial Intelligence
  • Language: English
  • Type: Master's theses , text
  • Identifier: http://hdl.handle.net/10948/63573 , vital:73504
  • Description: n Plato’s Republic, artists are criticised for their perceived lack of rationality, since “art encourages and appeals to emotion,” insofar as “its ruling principle is the passions, which in a happy and well-ordered life must be controlled by reason;” indeed, on this basis, “the aesthetic experience” is even said to be “a psychological anarchy, [and] an orgy of misrule” (Collingwood, 1925: 156). However, this reification of reason in Plato’s hypothesized world,1 informed as it was by static hierarchy, has remained dissonant with the path of history toward entropy, as evinced by the chaotic flux of postmodernity. Certainly, this is exemplified in our own postmodern world, characterized as it is by ever greater degrees of disintegration into diversity, as the economic, social, and geo-political orders established in the mid-twentieth century are challenged and transformed into new paradigms through the increasing multiplicity of demands being made on them (Fowlie & Sills, 2011: 120-121). Accordingly, far from being a source of delusion and dissimilation, it could equally be argued that, collectively and individually, artists’ works reflect this kaleidoscopic trace of time more truthfully than the lens of reason, precisely because life – like art – is also largely psychological anarchy and an orgy of misrule. And within this dynamic environment, the reflections of artists, in turn, assume their value, as traces of what, for want of a better term, will henceforth be referred to as living dialogical time. That is, from this perspective, artists are not the political problem Plato suggested them to be, but rather as a whole comprise a reflection of the living dialogical time that, today, recognises itself collectively as humanity. However, while art has always involved material marks, digitality has recently changed this requirement, in ways which have raised a series of important and difficult questions for the world of art. That is, digitality has changed the wall of the cave into the digits of ones and zeros, which are eradicated at the click of an icon, only to be reconstructed at the click of an icon. Thus, the interface between art and digitality involves the former being presented with increasing opportunities for dynamism, but only at the expense of its materiality – insofar as such dynamism requires art to transition to cyber-virtual platforms. But in this regard, it must be remembered that, by definition, an icon is something which connects us to what cannot ever be represented, because it is beyond our everyday living reality, in an atemporal plane. , Thesis (MA) -- Faculty of Humanities, School of Language, Media and Communication, 2024
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  • Date Issued: 2024-04
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