The precarious ‘good mother’ position: a psychosocial reading of maternal subjectivity of working mothers in scarcely-resourced South African communities
- Authors: Kinahan-Sweeney, Siobhan
- Date: 2020
- Subjects: Motherhood -- Psychological aspects -- South Africa , Working mothers -- South Africa -- Attitudes , Working mothers -- South Africa -- Psychology
- Language: English
- Type: text , Thesis , Doctoral , PhD
- Identifier: http://hdl.handle.net/10962/142464 , vital:38082
- Description: This psychosocial study investigates the maternal subjectivities of mothers returning to work after maternity leave, who are living in scarcely-resourced Cape Town communities in South Africa. Engaging with interview texts and listening to mothers’ talk, I explore how and why maternal subjectivity is constructed discursively and defensively in our talk. This thesis claims that these particular mothers predominately employ instrumental mothering discourse. The traditional subject position of the intensive mother – which is typically assumed to be the ‘good mother’ – is not a position available to these mothers due to their social circumstances and working role. Subsequently, material provision, the baby’s thriving and surviving body, finding substitute carers and maternal preoccupation are constructed as qualities of ‘good mothering’ in their talk. This ‘good mother’ position, however, is a precarious position that both these mothers and I invest in to defend against feelings towards their babies and themselves as well as to deny (maternal) ambivalence in a problematic social system. In a combined analysis drawing on discursive theory and psychoanalysis, more specifically contemporary attachment theory and intersubjectivity theory, I illustrate how both these mothers and I – as emotional, social and political subjects – co-construct maternal subjectivity. Based on the findings, recommendations for parent-infant interventions are discussed. Arguing that a purely psychoanalytic reading of investment perpetuates notions of individual blame and pathology, I advocate for a psychosocial reading that does not neglect failing social systems but rather pursues an open and reflective, yet critical, mindfulness when listening to talk.
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- Date Issued: 2020
The predictive ability of the yield spread in timing the stock exchange: a South African case
- Authors: Cook, Jenna
- Date: 2020
- Subjects: Stocks -- Mathematical models , Probits , Johannesburg Stock Exchange
- Language: English
- Type: Thesis , Masters , MCom
- Identifier: http://hdl.handle.net/10962/147025 , vital:38586
- Description: The use of the yield curve in forecasting economic recessions is well established in the literature. A new avenue of use for the yield curve has emerged in the form of using it to forecast bull and bear stock markets. This has the potential to change how investors manage portfolios. A dynamic market-timing strategy would allow investors to shift out of or in to stock markets based on the probability of bear stock market in the future. The relationship between the yield curve and the stock market is tested using an adapted probit model. This has proven positive with encouraging results for the US, India and Spain. This is tested for South Africa using the adapted probit model and the SA yield spread. Bear stock markets are identified on the JSE and forms part of the probit modelling process. Bear markets are identified using a six- and four-month criteria. As South Africa is a small, open and developing economy, the probit is also modelled using the US yield spread. The three probit models do not appear to track bear markets well. This is substantiated through the Henriksson-Merton parametric model test which tests for market timing ability. The results for the SA yield spread using both bear market criteria do not show market timing ability, however, the SA and US yield spread model does show potential market timing ability.
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- Date Issued: 2020
The primacy of illicit financial flows (IFFs) in developing countries: a comparative study analysis of South Africa and China
- Authors: Mahlaba, Asande Cikizwa
- Date: 2020
- Subjects: Money -- Developing countries , Transfer pricing -- South Africa , Developing countries -- Economic conditions , Tax evasion -- China , Tax evasion -- South Africa
- Language: English
- Type: text , Thesis , Masters , MCom
- Identifier: http://hdl.handle.net/10962/147435 , vital:38636
- Description: The main objective of this study was to question and investigate the primacy of illicit financial flows (IFFs) in developing countries, specifically focused on two countries namely China and South Africa. Africa is estimated to have lost approximately $1 trillion to IFFs over the last 50 years, which exceeds the financial assistance that these nations needed over the same period. For years. Africa has been the feeding ground for exploitation and resource plunder, and the narrative has always been Africa is underdeveloped because of this crime. Although this statement holds true in most African countries, what this paper seeks to do is to question whether capital flight, IFFs and more specifically tax evasion and tax haven activity are the reason for the deterioration of African economies or are IFFs perpetuated by economies with unsustainable growth paths. IFFs are an important factor when it comes to obstacles of economic growth. But are they the cause or effect? A very strong case can be made that they are the latter however, it is beyond the scope of this article to resolve this question. Its purpose is merely to assert that the question is a valid one and that presuming the answer could divert attention from the real question of economic development. This study contextualized the way in which IFFs are currently viewed in the world economic system according to the two approaches to development finance, and discussed modern monetary theory as an extension off these theories. Due to the nature of the study, the methodology employed is a case study approach between China and South Africa by means of extensive numerical and document analysis. Upon conducting this analysis on the primacy of illicit financial flows in developing countries there was difficulty in measuring IFFs. The reason for this is because IFFs have a range of estimates so it was very difficult to produce precise and accurate results. The key findings of this paper were that there seems to be some kind of parallel between developing countries with large volumes of illicit financial outflows, and a dependency these countries have on external debt. This means it seems that weak economies, that are highly dependent on external debt and have large amounts of this debt, seem to have the largest volumes of illicit financial outflows. Weak regulation, high levels of debt and liberalised trade markets seem to be contributing factors to the degree to which companies evade taxes and partake in tax haven activity in these regions. Another key finding was that in 2012, despite China being ranked number one in the the countries which have the largest amounts of outflows on average, it still managed to achieve large amounts growth in the last 20 years. Indicating that there is some form of indication that IFFs could be viewed as symptomatic of weak financial systems and weak economies, instead of IFFs being the core of the problem.
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- Date Issued: 2020
The relevance of industrial/organisational psychology research in “post” colonial/apartheid South Africa : exploring the views of academics
- Authors: Christison, Michael Alan
- Date: 2020
- Subjects: Psychology, Industrial -- Research -- South Africa
- Language: English
- Type: text , Thesis , Masters , MA
- Identifier: http://hdl.handle.net/10962/140331 , vital:37880
- Description: This dissertation explored the views of academics who teach and research in the area of Industrial/Organisational Psychology in South Africa about the utility of the field in engaging with the post-1994 South African workplace, thereby remaining relevant. When it emerged as a field of study and practice, Industrial/Organisational Psychology research’s aim was to inform workplace practice and contribute to the betterment of society. It appears as if today this research is deemed irrelevant to the workplace and society, with many practitioners relying on their own knowledge and irrelevant repetitive one size-fit-all Euro-American developed theoretical framework and research evidence to solve the challenges of the post-1994 South African workplace, and to serve its society. The latter propelled the researcher to ask broadly the question of relevancy of the discipline in meeting the demands of the post-1994 South African workplace. Face-to-face, semi-structured interviews were employed to collect data on 8 senior and younger generations of academics in 3 different universities. The collected data was analysed using Braun and Clarke’s 6 steps of thematic analysis. The data and study as a whole was approached with a ‘post’-colonial lens and a Contexualist paradigm in order to contextualise in the present time the past nuances that arose in our country during the colonial and apartheid eras. Themes discussed seemed to indicate a lack of research focus by academics and their students due to limited time and stringent bureaucratic publication structures present both within their universities and outside. When it came to the discipline as seen through the lens of the data and what this suggested in terms of speaking to post-1994 workplace organisational psychological problems, the study found that the findings arising out of the research in I/O psychology appear to be of little relevance to whom they are currently aimed, leading to the idea of these studies acting as a change agent in the workplace and society to fall to the wayside.
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- Date Issued: 2020
The role of expansive learning in the potential development of rural youth as value creators: a case study of youth farming activity in the Amahlathi Local Municipality in the Eastern Cape
- Authors: Matiwane, Lwazi Mandilive
- Date: 2020
- Subjects: Environmental education -- South Africa -- Lenye , Rural development -- South Africa -- Lenye , Unemployed youth -- South Africa -- Lenye , Social learning -- South Africa -- Lenye , Educational change -- South Africa -- Lenye , Youth in development -- South Africa -- Lenye , Sustainable development -- South Africa -- Lenye , Agriculture -- Study and teaching -- Activity programs , Active learning -- South Africa -- Lenye , Cultural Historical Activity Theory
- Language: English
- Type: Thesis , Masters , MEd
- Identifier: http://hdl.handle.net/10962/146034 , vital:38489
- Description: Environmental sustainability and agriculture are key development and transformational concerns in South Africa while rural development and youth unemployment are key national issues pertinent in the Eastern Cape which ranks in the top three provinces for both concerns. As a formative interventionist researcher, working in a singular case study with youth in Lenye village located in the Eastern Cape Province of South Africa, I sought to investigate the following: Can, and if so, how can expansive learning facilitated by a change laboratory intervention contribute to the development of youth as potential value creators for rural development? This was investigated through the following sub questions: 1) What value is created at each point of the expansive learning process of the change laboratory process and for who? 2) What value can still be created at each point of the expansive learning process of the change laboratory? 3) How is that value created via an expansive learning process? I collected data as I participated as a youth member through: extended contextual profiling via a focus group interview, individual interviews, note taking and document analysis. Furthermore, I attended village meetings, youth meetings and emergent youth development/youth in agriculture/agriculture opportunities. Additionally, change laboratory workshops were conducted and I used audio recordings and notes to capture data. The data collected was then analysed through second generation Cultural Historical Activity Theory using the concepts of immediate, potential, applied, realised and reframing value. In conclusion, the expansive learning process may contribute to the development of rural youth as value creators for sustainable development through youth development, agriculture and community development. All forms of value were created along the expansive learning process for the formative interventionist researcher, the Lenye youth and the greater Lenye youth community. All forms of value may still be created for the Lenye youth, the formative interventionist researcher and the greater Lenye youth community.
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- Date Issued: 2020
The role of flexible working in achieving a work-life balance: a case study of information technology consultants of Kestrel Business Solutions – London, United Kingdom
- Authors: Nyamujara, Tinashe
- Date: 2020
- Subjects: Kestrel Business Solutions , Flexible work arrangement -- Case studies , Work-life balance , Flexitime , Telecommunting , Telecommunting -- Case studies
- Language: English
- Type: text , Thesis , Masters , MBA
- Identifier: http://hdl.handle.net/10962/167245 , vital:41459
- Description: This research was a Case Study on the role of Flexible Working in achieving a Work – Life Balance, based on the Information Technology Consultants of Kestrel Business Solutions – a company based in London, the United Kingdom. The study set out to determine what aspects of flexible working can reduce work - related stress; home - related stress; improve personal wellbeing; identify the pitfalls of flexible working, and to recommend mitigating actions. The literature review identified five different, but complimentary theories that included: The Spill over Theory; Balanced Theory; Resource Based Theory; Compensation Theory and the Wellness Theory to unpack and explore the concept of Work - Life Balance. The study followed a predominantly qualitative methodology approach and used thematic analysis to identify key ideas from the data. Interviews and questionnaires were used to obtain data from the respondents, in addition to being a data triangulation exercise. From a population of 10 subjects - purposeful sampling was used to select a sample of 10 respondents - made up of 3 males and 7 females. All respondents were employees of Kestrel Business Solutions. 6 respondents were interviewed and given questionnaires to fill out. 6 face to face interviews were conducted, and 6 questionnaires completed until saturation was achieved - indicating a survey response rate of 100%. The results from the data collection generally showed how aspects of flexible working like telecommuting, flexitime and homeworking ultimately helped the employees to achieve a Work-Life Balance - by primarily influencing how they balanced their work, home, and personal commitments. Importantly, the study also identified pitfalls of flexible working; like employees feeling isolated and the pressure to perform. Potential mitigating efforts identified in the study included, providing more company support and education for flexible working initiatives. The study concluded by acknowledging the limitations of the study, which included time constraints and the small population, and sample size of the study. In its conclusion, the study identified recommendations for future studies like: increasing the population and sample size, and devoting more time to the study, for more generalized and conclusive findings.
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- Date Issued: 2020
The role of microhabitats within mangroves: an invertebrate and fish larval perspective
- Authors: Vorsatz, Lyle Dennis
- Date: 2020
- Subjects: Mangrove ecology -- South Africa , Mangrove forests -- South Africa , Niche (Ecology) , Rhizophora mucronata , Acanthaceae , Rhizophoraceae , Fishes -- Larvae -- South Africa , Aquatic ecology -- South Africa
- Language: English
- Type: text , Thesis , Doctoral , PhD
- Identifier: http://hdl.handle.net/10962/167644 , vital:41499
- Description: Microhabitats provided through structural complexity are central for the diversity, productivity, connectivity and niche differentiation within and among ecosystems. Mangrove forests afford juvenile fish and invertebrates with nursery and recruitment habitats, facilitated by the fine scale configuration of their specialised root systems. Although the importance of mangroves for resident and transient juveniles is well recognised, the roles that mangrove microhabitats play for larvae is not yet comprehensively understood. This study aimed to determine how microhabitats with varying degrees of complexity influence the composition, abundance and distribution of larval communities that inhabit mangrove forests and the physiological responses of larvae to acute temperature variations in relation to ontogenetic stage and microenvironment exposure. Two relatively pristine study sites were selected to represent a warm temperate and subtropical mangrove system in the Eastern Cape and KwaZulu-Natal on the east coast of South Africa, respectively. The differences in complexity among the root systems of Rhizophora mucronata, Avicennia marina and Bruguiera gymnorhiza were assessed using 3D scanning and the computed 3D models were then analysed using four complexity metrics. Results indicated that A. marina is the most complex in terms of surface-volume ratio, R. mucronata has the most interstitial space among its roots and B. gymnorhiza and R. mucronata differ in their fractal dimensions. Larvae collected in each microhabitat at each site using light traps showed that, despite temperature and salinity homogeneity across microenvironments, spatio-temporal differences occurred in both fish and invertebrate assemblages. This trend suggests that microhabitat structural complexity exerts an influence on larval community composition by acting as a microscape of available habitat, which ensures ecological linkages within and among the mangrove forest and adjacent ecosystems. In addition, the oxygen consumption rates of mangrove-associated brachyuran larvae varied according to mangrove microhabitat, whereby larvae collected at less complex environments had the highest metabolic rates at increased temperatures. Moreover, ontogenetic shifts in physiology were prevalent as older brachyuran larvae were more eurythermal than earlier stages, suggesting that thermally stressful events will have a greater impact on recently spawned larvae. Overall, the interstitial spaces within individual root systems are the most important complexity measure, as utilisation of these mangrove microhabitats is scale-dependent, and larvae will most likely occupy spaces inaccessible to large predators. Likewise, microscale variation in the environmental conditions and ontogenetic stage of brachyuran larvae within the mangrove microscape, can amplify the physiological responses to rapid temperature variations. Results suggest that early stage larvae are the most vulnerable to mass-mortality, and if thermally stressful events increase in frequency, duration and magnitude, the larval supply for the successful recruitment into adult populations could be under threat. Through linking how mangrove microhabitat complexity influences larvae in terms of community metrics and physiology, this study paves the way for further advancement of our understanding of how microscale processes emerge into meso- and macroscale patterns and influence the stability and functioning of highly productive ecosystems.
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- Date Issued: 2020
The role of northwest striking structures in controlling highgrade ore shoots at the Syama Gold Mine, Mali, West Africa
- Authors: Soro, Ali
- Date: 2020
- Subjects: Syama Gold Mine , Gold ores -- Geology -- Mali , Veins (Geology) -- Mali
- Language: English
- Type: Thesis , Masters , MSc
- Identifier: http://hdl.handle.net/10962/145209 , vital:38418
- Description: This study intended to investigate the relationship between the NW striking structures and the high-grade ore shoots at the Syama gold mine in Mali, West Africa. All structural data collected since 1987 from drill core have been integrated to allow the interpretation and modelling of these NW-SE structures. The structures collected were grouped into three main groups; foliations/shears/faults, veins and joints/contacts/fractures. Micromine software was used to plot the structures, printed out on A3 paper and interpreted manually using tracing paper. Analysis and interpretation of stereographic plots has shown that the majority of the high-grade zones are generally located at the intersection of the NNE structures and the NW structures. The observed cross-cutting relationship between the NNE and the NW structures suggests two different generation of faults. It is suggested that the NW structures were active during the D4 deformation event (Standing, 2007) and have played a role in reactivating earlier (D3) NNE structures, allowing greater fluid flow and enhancing the gold grade. These zones are mainly defined by brecciation and stockwork veining. The E-W structures are believed to be the latest and are attributed to the D5 event. Although gold mineralisation is grossly controlled by the NNE structures, the NW structures need to be considered as major gold enrichment upgrading factors at Syama. It is therefore strongly recommended that ongoing exploration at Syama specifically target the intersection of the NW and NNE structures as favourable zones for high-grade mineralisation.
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- Date Issued: 2020
The South African income tax implications of a Stokvel
- Authors: Matshego, Katlego
- Date: 2020
- Subjects: Rotating credit associations -- South Africa. , Taxation -- South Africa , Tax deductions -- South Africa
- Language: English
- Type: text , Thesis , Masters , MCom
- Identifier: http://hdl.handle.net/10962/143094 , vital:38201
- Description: The term “Stokvel” originates from the rotating cattle auctions of English settlers in the Eastern Cape during the nineteen century. A Stokvel is defined as a credit union where a group of people agree to contribute a fixed amount of money to a common pool and is referred to as a rotating savings and credit association, where the contributions to a fund are given in whole or in part to each member. The goal of the thesis was to determine the “gross income” implications of the fund and its members, as well the deductibility of their expenses. An interpretative research approach was used in the research as it sought to understand and describe. No interviews were conducted for this research and the data used for the research are publicly available. The tax implications of five different types of a Stokvel were considered in relation to the research goals through the application of legislation and case law principles. The study established that a collection burial society, where funds are contributed after death, does not beneficially receive funds and it is not entitled to any deductions. The same applies to the member of that society. A contributing burial society, where funds are contributed over time, beneficially receives funds, which are included in “gross income”, and qualifies for deductions. The receipt by the member is exempt and deductions are prohibited by section 23(f). An entertainment Stokvel does not receive the contributions on its own behalf and benefit. No deductions are available to it. However, the member beneficially receives the contributions from the Stokvel, which are included in “gross income”, and qualifies for deductions. A purchasing power group, where items are purchased on behalf of members, does not receive the funds beneficially and no deductions are available to it. The members simply receive the goods they have paid for. Lastly an investment Stokvel, which invests contributions for the members, beneficially receives contributions and qualifies for various deductions. The member receives the share of income from the Stokvel for his/her own benefit. However, no deductions are available in respect of contributions.
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- Date Issued: 2020
The taxonomy of the topminnows (Teleostei: Cyprinodontiformes) (Procatopodidae: Procatopodinae) of southern Africa
- Authors: Van Zeeventer, Ryan Matthew
- Date: 2020
- Subjects: Cyprinodontiformes -- Africa, Southern , Killifishes -- Africa, Southern
- Language: English
- Type: text , Thesis , Masters , MSc
- Identifier: http://hdl.handle.net/10962/145559 , vital:38449
- Description: Taxonomy is a tool that plays a crucial role in the implementation of effective management assessments, the ability to identify different fish species and their life stages, and create effective conservation strategies. Recent years have seen an increase in the discovery of cryptic species which could have an effect on how we implement conservation strategies, increasing the importance of accurate taxonomic assessments. The southern African topminnows of the genera Micropanchax and Lacustricola (Family Procatopodidae) include several species of egg-laying fishes that live in the marginal areas of rivers and lakes throughout the river systems of southern Africa in separated and connected populations. It was recently discovered that these populations showed subtle differences in their morphology and colouration, which led to the belief that new and cryptic species may be present. Previous studies of the Procatopodidae relied heavily on phylogenetic analyses that drew on morphological traits without reliance on molecular methods of analysis. A few of the taxonomic issues were resolved through these limited studies but ultimately the taxonomic status of the Procatopodidae remained poorly understood. Furthermore, these studies had not been updated in recent years and hence the benefits of new technology had not been brought to bear on the issues. A multi-gene analysis using standard phylogenetic methods and five molecular markers (mitochondrial cytochrome C oxidase (COI), mitochondrial cytochrome b (cytb), mitochondrial 16S ribosomal RNA (16S rRNA), nuclear 28S ribosomal RNA (28S rRNA) and mitochondrial Tyrosine Kinase (X-src) (TyrK)) allowed phylogenetic trees to be made which demonstrated clear relationships within Micropanchax and Lacustricola of southern Africa and the out-groups used in the analysis. The inference trees showed that Micropanchax johnstoni was represented by three clades and was shown to be polyphyletic while Micropanchax hutereaui, which was represented by two clades, and Micropanchax katangae, which was represented by one clade, were monophyletic. The two species of Lacustricola, L. myaposae and L. macrurus showed very close relationships to Micropanchax and it is suggested that these two species be transferred to Micropanchax, leaving Lacustricola to only be found in central Africa.
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- Date Issued: 2020
The use of ritual as physical and spiritual medium and its documentation in Buhlebezwe Siwani’s contemporary visual arts performance
- Authors: Lila, Philiswa
- Date: 2020
- Subjects: Arts and religion , Ritual -- South Africa , Performance art -- Religious aspects -- South Africa , Women performance artists -- South Africa , Siwani, Buhlebezwe, 1987-
- Language: English
- Type: text , Thesis , Masters , MFA
- Identifier: http://hdl.handle.net/10962/166160 , vital:41334
- Description: This thesis is motivated by my experience of Inzilo: Ngoba ngihlala kwabafileyo, a live performance by South African visual artist Buhlebezwe Siwani. The performance took place at Michaelis Galleries, University of Cape Town (UCT), as part of a group exhibition Between Subject and Object: human remains at the interface of art and science (2014), which accompanied the Medical Humanities in Africa Conference (from 28 – 29 August 2014). As an entry into my discussion, I describe how Siwani’s performance makes use of death and burial ritual in what seems to be an intention to make art that is (re)presenting an activity of reality to invade and control the sphere of feelings, emotions and a sense of ceremony that is dependent on both ritual and rites of the performance. I grapple with the fact that I experienced a ritual performance in a gallery space. Furthermore, I question how walking out of the performance I thought of the lines between art and/or life. The role of ritual in my thesis explores the symbolic meanings, powers and intentions of ritual rites in Africa. This reflection maps out historical locations that are relevant to the major debates, definitions, themes and the experiences of ritual as part of academic research. From Siwani’s practice as an artist and isangoma to other expressions in the fields of history, sociology, religion, feminism, to mention a few, my thesis is an enquiry that engages ritual and performance art theory and scholarship. Through a qualitative analysis, my methodology rejects a chronological, thematic and discipline centered research. Rather, I use a multidisciplinary approach based on critical visual analysis as knowledge creation in the visual arts, for example archives, documentation, performance, text, video, installation, painting, sculpture, etc. The findings suggests that the role of ritual in performance art is not a singular exploration, nor is it based on separating ritual and performance art. The results further reveal that ritual in performance art is not a reenactment of patterns and human behaviours, nor is the notion of reenactment used to denote the myriad meanings and functions of re-performing historical ritual events into performance art. Throughout, my thesis provides a focus that demonstrates the significance of how ritual in performance art has a profound subjective (personal or individual) and collective holistic way of serving human and spiritual needs, and that of creating an environment that is open to the content and context of art as it relates with traditional African religious practices, beliefs and knowledges. Focus is given to three major themes that make up the three chapters of my research: firstly, I reflect on death as personified by Siwani’s performance Inzilo: Ngoba ii ngihlala kwabafileyo and her role as isangoma. Here death is used to draw specific attention to the body in process of embodied presence and absence of physical and spiritual worlds. Secondly, drawing on Siwani’s concept of secrecy and boundaries of concealing and revealing rituals meanings and powers as isangoma, I question the role of secrets, which highlights the significance of bodies (human and natural sites of ritual) in ritual performance. Finally, the idea of a trace is explored. The intersecting use of a trace as the thinking-making-doing of ritual in performance articulates a connected thread that sets in motion the trace of ritual (installation, image and marked space pf ritual) as an afterlife that offers a continued space of processual ceremony for multiple effective encounters and movements..
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- Date Issued: 2020
The value of economic capital as an indicator to protect prospective and existing ordinary shareholders
- Authors: Chonzi, Tendai Day
- Date: 2020
- Subjects: Banks and banking -- Risk management -- South Africa , Financial services industry -- Risk management -- South Africa , ABSA Bank , FirstRand Limited , Nedbank , Standard Bank Limited , Capitec Bank (South Africa)
- Language: English
- Type: text , Thesis , Masters , MCom
- Identifier: http://hdl.handle.net/10962/145807 , vital:38468
- Description: South Africans banking sector is one of the most dominating banking sectors in Africa. The banking sector is privately owned and involves a lot of different stakeholders, who risk losing their investments. One of the stakeholders who are the bottom of the repayment chain are existing ordinary shareholders because they risk losing all their investment in the result of bankruptcy, liquidity crises or the inability of the bank to repay their shareholders. Regulators in the banking sector only protect the depositor and the stability of the banking sector but not ordinary shareholders. An internal supervisory measure called economic capital has recently received more attention because of its aim to protect ordinary shareholders and thus, existing and prospective shareholders can use its value as a protective indicator. Economic theory assumes that the higher the value of economic capital (the lower the economic capital shortfall), the lower the return on investment for existing ordinary shareholders. The aforementioned shows a trade-off between protection (economic capital) and returns. Literature by Larsson (2009) further suggests that banks are always reluctant with implementing internal measures to protect themselves because of the good regulatory regime in the sector, some banks think that they are “too big to fail” and the fact that the reserve banks are always on the standby as a bailout. The purpose of this research is to examine which of the top five commercial banks in South African actively protect their existing ordinary shareholders using the value of economic capital and possibly attract prospective ordinary shareholders, locally and internationally. The banks under study are Absa, Capitec, FirstRand, Nedbank and Standard Bank over ten years, starting from June 2009 to May 2019 and in monthly frequency. The observations totalled 120 and two models that are under the Return Series Method were in used, namely; Historical Simulation Model and Variance Covariance Model. Both models, although they were small deviations in the value of economic capital, concluded that Standard Bank protects its existing ordinary shareholders the most, followed by FirstRand, then Absa and last is Nedbank. Capitec was the only bank, after one financial shock that could not protect its existing ordinary shareholders. Moreover, evidence in the study shows a trade-off between economic capital and return on investment in the case of Capitec and Standard Bank. Standard Bank had the highest value of economic capital and second-lowest return on investment, while Capitec had the highest return on investment and lowest value of economic capital. The significant policy implication of the research is that financial institution needs to strike a balance between protection and profits; thus, a way of protecting various stakeholders. Financial shocks have proven that regulatory measures are weak and they are is need for internal measures (economic capital) which indicate how financial institution can sustain in such cases.
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- Date Issued: 2020
The weight of a tooth
- Authors: Perros, Robyn Helen
- Date: 2020
- Subjects: South African fiction (English) -- 21st century
- Language: English
- Type: text , Thesis , Masters , MA
- Identifier: http://hdl.handle.net/10962/144192 , vital:38319
- Description: My thesis is a fragmented, non-linear novella, comprised predominantly of experimental prose- poetry and fiction short-stories. I have chosen this approach in form to further explore my interest in ancestry and trauma, death and image-making, “reality” and fantasy, and the tension these invisible barriers create between the inner and outer worlds in which we simultaneously navigate, remember and forget. This thesis has been influenced both in form and content by the works of Eduardo Galeano, Osama Alomar, Lidia Yuknavitch, Susan Steinberg, Claudia Rankine, Lance Olsen, and Yasunari Kawabata, among others.
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- Date Issued: 2020
The workload of flight attendants during short-haul flight operations: a system analysis
- Authors: Bennett, Chloe Kayla
- Date: 2020
- Subjects: Flight attendants -- Health and hygiene , Employees -- South Africa -- Workload
- Language: English
- Type: text , Thesis , Masters , MSc
- Identifier: http://hdl.handle.net/10962/123431 , vital:35437
- Description: Background and aim: Flight attendants forms a significant part in 24-hour aviation industry. Flight attendant fatigue is a significant problem in the aviation industry as it continues to jeopardize the ability to fulfil important safety and security roles which is critical in performance duty of a flight attendant. However, little attention has been accomplished to the workload, working conditions and fatigue of flight attendants crew in transport aircraft. In addition, there is currently less research that have also embraced the problematic of smaller regional/commercial operation (short-haul flight operations) inducing fatigue among short-haul flight attendants as the nature of this operation are often characterised with high productivity expectations in a demanding environment with high time pressures resulting in high workloads and fatigue. Thus, flight attendant fatigue and workload is a worldwide challenge in this operational environment and less attention has been given to the determining factors. Therefore, the aim of the study was to determine the workload factors contributing to flight attendant fatigue during short-haul flight operations. Methods (System analysis): To achieve the research aim, the work system analysis, based on the Smith and Carayon-Sainfort model was chosen as the main research approach which was conducted in two ways; based on existing literature and secondly based on expert interviews. This method provided a systemic aspect to understand the whole work system of flight attendants work during short-haul operations in order to identify all the contributing factors to flight attendant fatigue and workload. Results: The literature analysis and the data from the expert interviews highlighted significant findings to flight attendant fatigue and workload. The reasons for flight attendant fatigue operating short-haul flights can be found at organizational, task, individual, environmental levels and tools and technologies and due to the interaction of the factors. The main factors of flight attendants’ fatigue are thought primarily as a function of scheduling due to irregular, mixed schedules with early starts and late finishes, extended duty days (long working hours), as well as high workload, due to the short turnaround flights, the number of sectors flown in a single duty period and duty length and high jobs demands. In addition, flight duty and rest regulations, confined work space in the cabin, vibrations, noise and lighting, sleeping in an unfamiliar environment, family responsibilities all add to additional stress placed on the body which can influence workload and sleep and consequently influencing fatigue. Conclusion: Overall the study determined that flight attendant fatigue is a significant problem in modern industry of short-haul operations. Using this systematic approach (work system analysis based on the framework of the work system model developed by Smith and Carayon-Sainfort (1989) allowed for an accurate representation of the complexity of flight attendant work environment in short-haul aviation industries, thus contributed to an increased understanding of fatigue and risk factors that span the entire work system and aid in identifying the patterns in combination of work system variables that are associated with increased risk to flight attendant fatigue. Overall flight attendant fatigue is a product of interactions with the short-haul environment. It can have a negative impact on safety, performance and well-being. Therefore, it needs to be managed and dealt with in the near future.
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- Date Issued: 2020
Thermal tolerance and the potential effects of climate change on coastal intertidal and estuarine organisms in the Kariega Estuary and adjacent intertitdal coastline, Eastern Cape, South Africa
- Authors: Van der Walt, Kerry-Ann
- Date: 2020
- Subjects: Ectotherms -- Climatic factors , Ectotherms -- Effect of temperature on , Fishes -- Climatic factors , Fishes -- Effect of temperature on , Climatic changes -- South Africa -- Eastern Cape
- Language: English
- Type: text , Thesis , Doctoral , PhD
- Identifier: http://hdl.handle.net/10962/148459 , vital:38741
- Description: Temperature changes due to the effects of climate change are evident on all continents and oceans. As a result, there is a growing concern over how marine ectotherms will respond to extreme or fluctuating environmental temperatures. Temperature changes have strong direct and indirect effects on individual, population, and ecosystem functioning traits. A multi-scale approach determining the thermal tolerance and performance of several marine ectotherms belonging to different coastal habitats is rarely considered in thermal physiology studies but is effective for an integrated ecosystem assessment. As such, for this thesis, I aimed to quantify and compare the thermal tolerance and performance of a range of coastal marine ectotherms (fish and macro-invertebrates) with different biogeographical distributions from estuarine, subtidal and rocky intertidal habitats to available and projected in situ temperature data. This was also undertaken to gauge the local vulnerability of each species across summer and winter in a warm-temperate region of South Africa. This was done using a multi-method physiological approach, which included the dynamic method (CTmax and CTmin), static respirometry and maximum heart rate fHmax). Results of the dynamic method on several fish and macro-invertebrate species indicated that there are differences in thermal tolerance according to taxonomy, biogeography and habitat for both summer and winter. Macro-invertebrate species generally had higher CTmax endpoints, lower CTmin endpoints, higher upper and lower breadths in tolerance, higher upper and lower thermal safety margins and higher thermal scopes than the fish species. This could be a result of the macro-invertebrate species studied being less mobile compared with fish species (which are able to move to more favourable conditions) as well as having broader geographical distributions. In addition, macro-invertebrates from the intertidal rock pool habitat (Palaemon peringueyi; Pernaperna) were more tolerant of high and low temperatures compared with the macro-invertebrates from the estuarine habitat (Clibanarius virescens; Parasesarma catenatum; Upogebia africana). Overall, macro-invertebrates, with the exception of Parechinus angulosus, investigated in this study indicated that current temperatures and projected climate change scenarios across seasons would not have a significant impact on them and that they are highly adaptable to changing temperature regimes. This sign of high tolerance was further supported by the heart rates of P. perna and P. catenatum under an acute increase in temperature (1.0 °C.h-1) which showed individuals of each species physiologically depressing their metabolism until a final Arrhenius breakpoint temperature was reached (TAB). Among the fish species investigated in this study, tropical species (Chaetodon marleyi; Kuhlia mugil) had the highest CTmax and CTmin endpoints when compared with the temperate (Diplodus capensis; Sarpa salpa), warm-water endemic (Chelon dumerili; Rhabdosargus holubi) and cool-water endemic (Chelon richardsonii) fishes. This suggests that due to their lower breadths in tolerance and thermal safety margins being small, tropical species may be less tolerant of cold temperatures and thermal variability, especially in the form of summer upwelling events which are expected to increase in intensity and frequency in this region as a result of anthropogenic climate change effects. On the other hand, however, if a temperature increase of 2.0 - 4.0 °C takes place at the end of the century as predicted by the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC), it is likely that tropical species such as C. marleyi will become more common. Temperate species such as D. capensis and S. salpa were able to tolerate a wide range of temperatures (wide thermal scope) compared with the other fish species. These findings may suggest that D. capensis and S. salpa are thermally resilient and may be the least vulnerable to climate change effects and temperature variability. When evaluating the different life stages of D. capensis, however, using the dynamic method (juveniles and adults), static respirometry (juveniles) and maximum heart rate (adults), results suggested that juveniles of this temperate species will be more resilient to increases in ocean temperatures compared with the adults because they have a higher thermal tolerance (CTmax/TCRIT) and a greater metabolic scope (TOPT) at higher temperatures. For both juveniles and adults, temperatures beyond 28.0 °C (upper Tpej; Tarr) will have a significant impact on their physiology. Using a multi-scale and multi-method approach thus helped to identify which species or community may be vulnerable to the effects of climate change within shallow coastal environments in this warm-temperate climate change hotspot. Adopting this type of approach will assist policy makers in developing comprehensive climate change management frameworks for coastal ecosystems globally and around South Africa.
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- Date Issued: 2020
Thermoluminescence and phototransferred phermoluminescence of synthetic quartz
- Authors: Dawam, Robert Rangmou
- Date: 2020
- Subjects: Thermoluminescence , Quartz
- Language: English
- Type: text , Thesis , Doctoral , PhD
- Identifier: http://hdl.handle.net/10962/145849 , vital:38472
- Description: The main aim of this investigation is on thermoluminescence and phototransferred thermoluminescence of synthetic quartz. Thermoluminescence was one of the tools used in characterising the electron traps parameters. The samples of quartz annealed at various temperatures up to 900̊C and the unannealed were used. The thermoluminescence glow curve was measured at 1̊C s~ 1 following beta irradiation to 40 Gy from the samples annealed at 500̊C and the unannealed consist of main peak at 70̊C and secondary peaks at 110, 180 and 310̊C. In comparison, the thermoluminescence glow curve for the sample annealed at 900̊C have main peak at 86̊C and the secondary ones at 170 and 310̊C. The kinetic analysis was carried out only on the main peak in each case. The activation energy was found to be decreasing with increase in annealing temperatures. The samples annealed at 500̊C and the unannealed were found to be affected by thermal quenching while sample annealed at 900̊C shows an inverse quenching for irradiation dose of 40 Gy. However, when the dose was reduce to 3 Gy the effects of thermal quenching was manifested. The activation energy of thermal quenching was also found to decrease with increase in annealing temperature. Thermally assisted optically stimulated luminescence measurement was carried out using continuous wave optical stimulated luminescence (CW-OSL). The samples studied were those annealed at 500̊C for 10 minutes, 900̊C for 10, 30, 60 minutes and 1000̊C for 10 minutes prior to use. The CW-OSL is stimulated using 470 nm blue LEDs at sample temperatures between 30 and 200̊C. It is measured after preheating to either 300 and 500̊C. When the integrated OSL intensity is plotted as a function of measurement temperature, the intensity goes through a peak. The increase in OSL intensity as a function of temperature is associated to thermal assistance and the decrease to thermal quenching. The kinetic parameters were evaluated by fitting the experimental data. The values of activation energies of thermal quenching are the same within experimental uncertainties for all the experimental conditions. This shows that annealing temperature, duration of annealing and irradiation dose have a negligible influence on the recombination site of luminescence using OSL. Phototransferred thermoluminescence (PTTL) induced from annealed samples using 470 nm blue light was also investigated. The quartz were annealed at 500 _C for 10 minutes, 900̊C for 10, 30, 60 minutes and 1000̊C for 10 minutes prior to use. The glow curves of conventional TL measured at 1 _C s1 following irradiation to 200 Gy shows six peaks in each case labelled I-VI for ease of reference whereas peaks observed under PTTL are referred to as A1 onwards. Only the first three peaks were reproduced under phototransfer for the sample annealed at 900̊C for 60 minutes and 1000̊C C for 10 minutes. Interestingly, for the intermediate duration of annealing of 30 minutes, the only peak that appears under phototransfer is the A1. For quartz annealed at 900̊C for 10 minutes, the PTTL appears as long as the preheating temperature does not exceed 560̊C. All other annealing temperatures, PTTL only appears for preheating to 450 and below. This shows that the occupancy of deep electron traps at temperatures beyond 450̊C or 560̊C is low. The activation energy for peaks A1, A2 and A3 were calculated. The PTTL peaks were studied for thermal quenching and peaks A1 and A3 were found to be affected. The activation energies for thermal quenching were determined as 0.62 ± 0.04 eV and 0.65 ± 0.02 eV for peaks A1 and A3 respectively. The experimental dependence of PTTL intensity on illumination time is modelled using sets of coupled linear differential equations based on systems of donors and acceptors whose number is determined by preheating temperature.
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- Date Issued: 2020
Thintitha, Celiwe
- Authors: Masombuka, Thobekile Hlobisile
- Date: 2020
- Subjects: South African fiction (English) -- 21st century
- Language: English
- Type: text , Thesis , Masters , MA
- Identifier: http://hdl.handle.net/10962/147470 , vital:38639
- Description: This document consists of two (2) parts: Part A: Thesis (Creative Work) Part B: Portfolio
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- Date Issued: 2020
Towards a capability maturity model for a cyber range
- Authors: Aschmann, Michael Joseph
- Date: 2020
- Subjects: Computer software -- Development , Computer security
- Language: English
- Type: text , Thesis , Masters , MSc
- Identifier: http://hdl.handle.net/10962/163142 , vital:41013
- Description: This work describes research undertaken towards the development of a Capability Maturity Model (CMM) for Cyber Ranges (CRs) focused on cyber security. Global cyber security needs are on the rise, and the need for attribution within the cyber domain is of particular concern. This has prompted major efforts to enhance cyber capabilities within organisations to increase their total cyber resilience posture. These efforts include, but are not limited to, the testing of computational devices, networks, and applications, and cyber skills training focused on prevention, detection and cyber attack response. A cyber range allows for the testing of the computational environment. By developing cyber events within a confined virtual or sand-boxed cyber environment, a cyber range can prepare the next generation of cyber security specialists to handle a variety of potential cyber attacks. Cyber ranges have different purposes, each designed to fulfil a different computational testing and cyber training goal; consequently, cyber ranges can vary greatly in the level of variety, capability, maturity and complexity. As cyber ranges proliferate and become more and more valued as tools for cyber security, a method to classify or rate them becomes essential. Yet while a universal criteria for measuring cyber ranges in terms of their capability maturity levels becomes more critical, there are currently very limited resources for researchers aiming to perform this kind of work. For this reason, this work proposes and describes a CMM, designed to give organisations the ability to benchmark the capability maturity of a given cyber range. This research adopted a synthesised approach to the development of a CMM, grounded in prior research and focused on the production of a conceptual model that provides a useful level of abstraction. In order to achieve this goal, the core capability elements of a cyber range are defined with their relative importance, allowing for the development of a proposed classification cyber range levels. An analysis of data gathered during the course of an expert review, together with other research, further supported the development of the conceptual model. In the context of cyber range capability, classification will include the ability of the cyber range to perform its functions optimally with different core capability elements, focusing on the Measurement of Capability (MoC) with its elements, namely effect, performance and threat ability. Cyber range maturity can evolve over time and can be defined through the Measurement of Maturity (MoM) with its elements, namely people, processes, technology. The combination of these measurements utilising the CMM for a CR determines the capability maturity level of a CR. The primary outcome of this research is the proposed level-based CMM framework for a cyber range, developed using adopted and synthesised CMMs, the analysis of an expert review, and the mapping of the results.
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- Date Issued: 2020
Towards development of a malaria diagnostic: Generation, screening and validation of novel aptamers recognising Plasmodium falciparum lactate dehydrogenase
- Authors: Frith, Kelly-Anne
- Date: 2020
- Subjects: Plasmodium falciparum , Malaria -- Chemotherapy , Oligonucleotides , Lactate dehydrogenase , Biochemical markers , Systematic evolution of ligands through exponential enrichment (SELEX)
- Language: English
- Type: Thesis , Doctoral , PhD
- Identifier: http://hdl.handle.net/10962/142247 , vital:38062
- Description: Malaria, caused by infection with the Plasmodium parasite, is one of the leading causes of death in under-developed countries. Early detection is crucial for the effective treatment of malaria, particularly in cases where infection is due to Plasmodium falciparum. There is, therefore, an enduring need for portable, sensitive, reliable, accurate, durable, self-validating and cost-effective techniques for the rapid detection of malaria. Moreover, there is a demand to distinguish between various infectious species causing malaria. Research in the area of malarial biomarkers has identified a unique, species-specific, epitope of P. falciparum lactate dehydrogenase (PfLDH), enhancing prospects for the development of diagnostics capable of identifying the species causing malarial infection. In recent years, improvements have been made towards the development of rapid diagnostic tests for detecting malarial biomarkers. Owing to their low cost, ease of labeling, and high thermal stability (relative to antibodies), the development and synthesis of aptamers that target the malarial lactate dehydrogenase represents one of the key innovations in the field of rapid diagnostics for malaria. This study explored the generation of aptamers that specifically target P. falciparum. Two sets of aptamers with diagnostically-supportive functions were generated independently, through parallel SELEX of recombinantly-expressed, full-length Plasmodium falciparum lactate dehydrogenase (rPfLDH), and an oligopeptide comprising the P. falciparum-specific epitope on lactate dehydrogenase (LDHp). The latter offers a promising solution for generating aptamers capable of binding with high specificity to P. falciparum. In this work, an rLDH class of aptamers was generated when SELEX was performed using the full-length rPfLDH protein as the target and the LDHp class of aptamers was generated when SELEX was performed using the oligopeptide LDHp as a target. Aptamers were successfully generated through the process of SELEX (systematic evolution of ligands through exponential enrichment) following the study and application of several optimisation steps, particularly during the amplification stage of SELEX. Optimisation steps included the study of improvements in PCR conditions; role of surfactants (Triton-X), modifying the PCR clean-up protocol; and agarose gel excision. Structurally-relevant moieties with particular consensus sequences (GGTAG and GGCG) were found in aptamers both reported here and previously published, confirming their importance in recognition of the target. Novel moieties particular to this work (ATTAT and poly-A stretches) were identified. Clades of consensus sequences were identified in both the rLDH and LDHp groups of aptamers, where sequences in the rLDH clade did not show preferential binding to rPfLDH while those in the LDHp clade (particularly LDHp 3 and 18) were able to recognise and bind only LDHp. Of the 19 sequences returned from the parallel SELEX procedures for rPfLDH (11 sequences) and LDHp (8 sequences), six rPfLDH and all eight LDHp sequences underwent preliminary screening and those with low responses eliminated. Of the eight LDHp-targeting aptamer sequences, five were preliminarily shown to bind to LDHp, whereas only two rPfLDH-targeting sequences were shown to bind to the target (rLDH 4 and 7). To this small selection of rPfLDH oligonucleotide sequences, two more (rLDH 1 and 15) were chosen for further study based on their sequences, secondary and predicted tertiary conformations. Sequences chosen for further study were therefore: rLDH 1, 4, 7 and 15 in the rLDH class, and LDHp 1, 3, 11, 14 and 18 in the LDHp class. Binding properties of the aptamers towards their targets were investigated using enzyme-linked oligonucleotide assays (ELONA), fluorophore-linked oligonucleotide assays (FLONA), electromobility shift assays (EMSA), surface plasmon resonance (SPR), and GelRed dissociation assays, while applications towards aptasensors were explored using electrochemical impedance spectroscopy (EIS) and fluorescent microscopy. Some inconsistencies were seen for specific aptamer to target binding interactions using specific techniques; however, generally, binding to the targets was observed across the techniques assessed. These varied responses demonstrate the need to screen and validate aptamers using a variety of techniques and platforms not necessarily specific for the proposed application. From the aptamer binding screening studies using ELONA, the most promising aptamers generated were identified as LDHp 11, rLDH 4, rLDH 7 and rLDH 15. Aptamer rLDH 4, which was generated against rPfLDH, exhibited preferential and specific binding to the lactate dehydrogenase from P. falciparum, over the recombinantly-expressed lactate dehydrogenase from Plasmodium vivax (rPvLDH), albeit with lowered responses compared to LDHp 11 in ELONA and EMSA studies. However, in kinetic ELONA studies rLDH 4 showed binding to both rPfLDH and rPvLDH. Aptamer rLDH 7 showed high affinity for rPfLDH and rPvLDH in kinetic studies using ELONA. However, screening studies with ELONA indicates that aptamer rLDH 7 may not be suitable for diagnostic tests in serum samples given its non-specific binding to human serum albumin (HSA). Aptamer rLDH 15 exhibited species specificity for rPfLDH in screening studies using ELONA but showed affinity towards rPvLDH (albeit lower relative to its affinity for rPfLDH) in kinetic studies using ELONA. LDHp 11, generated against the PfLDH peptide, showed a clear preference for rPfLDH when compared to rPvLDH and other control proteins, in both sets of ELONA studies conducted, as well as EMSA, thus possessing a strong ability to identify the presence of Plasmodium falciparum owing to its generation against the species-specific epitope. While LDHp 1 demonstrated binding to plasmodial LDH in a flow-through system (SPR), so reiterating ELONA responses, it did not perform well in the remaining methodologies. Aptamers rLDH 1 and 15 and LDHp 3, 14 and 18 exhibited a mixed set of results throughout the target protein screening analyses and were, thus, not considered for selective binding in P. falciparum parasite bodies. In studies aimed at exploring biosensor assemblies utilising the developed aptamers, both rLDH 4 and LDHp 11, along with rLDH 7, LDHp 1 and pL1, demonstrated in situ binding to the native PfLDH in fluorescent microscopy. LDHp 11 exhibited FITC-based fluorescence equivalent to the anti-rPfLDHp IgY antibody in confocal fluorescent microscopy indicating superior binding to the native PfLDH compared to the remaining aptamers. An examination of electrochemical impedance as a platform for a biosensor assembly did not, in these studies, exhibit the required sensitivity using physiologically relevant concentrations of analyte expected for pLDH following infection with Plasmodium spp. Malstat/LDH activity was explored for application in a colorimetric aptasensor. A decrease in both rPfLDH and rPvLDH activity was observed following incubation with the tested aptamers, but rLDH 1, rLDH 7 and LDHp 14 did not exhibit similar decreases in rPvLDH activity. Aptamers rLDH 1, 4 and 7 and LDHp 11 and 14 were, therefore, not selected as candidates for LDH capture in LDH activity-based diagnostic devices for P. falciparum. The decreases in pLDH activity in the presence of aptamers could hold promise as direct or antagonistic malaria therapeutic agents. Preliminary studies on the application of aptamers as malaria therapeutic agents, while of interest, should be viewed with due caution given the challenges of aptamers reaching the intracellular native plasmodial LDH hosted within the red blood cells. In conclusion, this work has shown the ability of the LDHp 11 aptamer, generated in these studies, to selectively bind rPfLDH over rPvLDH, and to bind to the native PfLDH in fluorescent microscopy, indicating that this aptamer holds promise as a biorecognition element in malaria biosensors and other diagnostic devices for the detection, and differentiation, of P. falciparum and P. vivax. The use of a species-specific epitope of P. falciparum as a target in aptamer generation paves the way for similar such studies aimed at generating aptamers with species selectivity for other Plasmodium species.
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- Date Issued: 2020
Towards realising the benefits of citizen participation in environmental monitoring: a case study in an Eastern Cape natural resource management programme
- Authors: Mtati, Nosiseko
- Date: 2020
- Subjects: Tsitsa Project , Rural development projects -- South Africa -- Eastern Cape , Environmental monitoring -- South Africa -- Tsitsa River , Environmental monitoring -- Citizen participation -- South Africa -- Tsitsa River , Water supply, Agricultural -- South Africa -- Tsitsa River , Environmental education -- South Africa
- Language: English
- Type: text , Thesis , Masters , MEd
- Identifier: http://hdl.handle.net/10962/167562 , vital:41492
- Description: The Tsitsa Project focusses on land use management and rural livelihoods in the Tsitsa River catchment in the Eastern Cape Province of South Africa. It is funded by the Department of Environmental Affairs and the environmental monitoring initiative is implemented by Rhodes University, where I am employed as the catchment coordinator. This study explores the environmental monitoring initiative within the bigger Tsitsa Project. Community members in the catchment monitor sediment transportation in the Tsitsa River and its tributaries, which originally became of interest because it is proposed that a dam (Ntabelanga Dam) be established here. This study aims to understand citizen environmental monitoring in the Tsitsa Project; what the project managers regarded as benefits; and how the monitors themselves perceived benefits of participating as monitors. A realist approach was followed, in order to understand the connections between the context and the mechanisms in the project, and how these combined to result in the outcomes observed. Realist research emphasises the importance of context in shaping outcomes such as the achieved benefits of citizen monitoring. Data was collected using a case study method, where each individual monitor and their particular context, was regarded as a case. Semistructured interviews were conducted with 17 monitors and five Tsitsa Project staff; this was supported by field notes and the reviewing of project documents including field reports. The realist analysis looked at the context of the monitors in general and the mechanisms applied by the project in recruiting, training and managing the monitors. A second layer of mechanisms was identified as those responses from the monitors to what the project was introducing to them. Outcomes were both positive and negative, including how long monitors remained in the initiative, what benefits they derived from the process, and what potential benefits they did not achieve. This included lost opportunities to provide recognition for skills and experience gained. Recommendations are made regarding the recruitment, training and management of monitors, to optimise benefits for the monitors, the host institution and the initiative’s staff. The study is significant because of its particular yet representative characteristics and it will assist both the Tsitsa Project, which aims to expand its citizen environmental monitoring initiative, as well as wider Natural Resource Management Programmes in South Africa. It is also hoped that it will contribute to the literature on environmental monitoring as a little researched form of citizen science globally.
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- Date Issued: 2020