An investigation of teachers', learners' and parents' understanding and perceptions of a whole school approach to environmental learning in selected schools in the Oshana Region, Namibia
- Authors: Nashilongo, Onesmus
- Date: 2012
- Subjects: Environmental education -- Namibia -- Oshana Environmental education -- Curricula -- Namibia -- Oshana Environmental education -- Parent participation -- Namibia -- Oshana Environmental education -- Study and teaching -- Namibia -- Oshana Supporting Environmental Education in Namibia (SEEN) Sustainable development -- Study and teaching -- Namibia -- Oshana
- Language: English
- Type: Thesis , Masters , MEd
- Identifier: vital:1646 , http://hdl.handle.net/10962/d1003528
- Description: This study sought to investigate teacher, learner and parental perceptions and understanding of a whole school approach in environmental education (EE). There were five schools piloting environmental education through a whole school development approach in the Oshana Region of Namibia. The study was conducted in two rural schools in the Oshana Region. The schools were selected because they participated and piloted the infusion of environmental education themes in the curriculum through the whole school approach during the Supporting Environmental Education in Namibia (SEEN) project piloting phase from 2001 to 2005. This study was shaped and informed by international theories, practices and perspectives of a whole school approach as cited in chapter two of this study. In other words a whole school approach has provided theoretical background information and a practical framework on which this study was built. A whole school approach provides a theoretical understanding of how the school community, the biophysical environment, as well as the curriculum can benefit from EE projects through a whole school development approach. The whole school approach, discussed in this study, provides an opportunity to see the link between the whole school approach and ESD in order to understand the role a whole school approach plays in the implementation of ESD in Namibia. The research took the form of an interpretive case study focusing on a study of two teachers, two learners, and two members of the community. Data were collected through semi-structured interviews, document analysis and site observations. This study was undertaken two years later after the Supporting Environmental Education Namibia (SEEN) pilot project phased out. The findings indicate that despite the training and support received by the schools during the operation of the Supporting Environmental Education Namibia (SEEN) pilot project, schools are still experiencing problems with the application of a whole school approach. The findings revealed that the curriculum should provide guidelines and examples to support teachers on how to integrate environmental education in the teaching and learning process. The results of the study indicate that teachers, learners and members of the community have a limited understanding about how a whole school development approach in environmental education is linked to Education Sustainable Development (ESD) and the four dimensions of the environment.
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- Date Issued: 2012
An investigation of the learning processes that take place during practical work activities when using electrical circuit boards in grade: a case study
- Authors: Accom, Gerald Charles
- Date: 2012
- Subjects: Competency-based education -- South Africa -- Eastern Cape -- Case studies Educational tests and measurements -- South Africa -- Eastern Cape -- Case studies Education -- Evaluation -- South Africa -- Eastern Cape -- Case studies
- Language: English
- Type: Thesis , Masters , MEd
- Identifier: vital:1961 , http://hdl.handle.net/10962/d1009687
- Description: Since the introduction of Outcomes Based Education (OBE) as a preferred method of teaching and learning with Curriculum 2005 in 1997, its existence has come under continuous threat for the past thirteen years. Its teething experiences included a revision in 2004 which saw the introduction of the Revised National Curriculum Statements (RNCS) and most recently, we are now standing on the threshold of the implementation of the Curriculum Assessment Policy Statements (CAPS) in 2012. Throughout the turbulent educational milieu, social constructivism has always been upheld as the preferred teaching and learning methodology and millions of rands have been invested in this regard. This study is thus premised on the concern that now after all the years of actively promoting social constructivist methodologies, the implementation of the CAPS could seriously negate reasonable strides made in this regard. Triggered by these curricular issues, a qualitative case study was conducted at a school in Grahamstown in the Eastern Cape, South Africa, investigating the learning processes occurring in group work sessions during lessons involving practical work in electricity using circuit boards in grade 8. Underpinned by an interpretivist paradigm, the study took place in two phases. The data was mainly generated through audio and video recording of two focus groups. An open coding system was employed to derive analytical categories and frequency tables were used to establish trends. In order to validate the data, two observer teachers were involved throughout the research process and this was followed up with semistructured interviews after the second phase. The two case studies, involving learners fitting a similar profile in respect of mother-tongue and age group, were engaged in a similar activity for almost a year apart. This study anticipated the revelation of the extent to which group practical activities in electricity promoted learning, how knowledge is constructed in group-settings and whether practical activities involving electrical circuit boards in grade 8 enhance learning? The main findings of my study revealed that these practical activities can promote learning and therefore should remain a preferred method of teaching.
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- Date Issued: 2012
An investigation of the role of physical manipulatives in the teaching and learning of measurement in Grade 8 : a case study using surface area and volume
- Authors: Chiphambo, Shakespear M E K
- Date: 2012
- Subjects: Measurement -- Study and teaching -- Research Mathematics -- Education (Secondary) -- Study and teaching Teaching -- Aids and devices -- Research
- Language: English
- Type: Thesis , Masters , MEd
- Identifier: vital:1657 , http://hdl.handle.net/10962/d1003540
- Description: The purpose of this study is to investigate the role of physical manipulatives in the teaching and learning of measurement in Grade 8. The study focuses on how the use of physical manipulatives promotes learners' mathematical proficiency in relation to the five strands of Kilpatrick, Swafford and Findell (2001). The basis of the research is a case study in the interpretive paradigm involving 18 out of a cohort of 270 Grade 8 learners in the school where I teach. The data was collected using a range of methods including: (i) baseline assessment tasks, first piloted using 7 Grade 8 learners and then given to the target group; (ii) an intervention programme with intervention tasks; (iii) a post-intervention task; (iv) observations during the intervention; and (v) individual interviews. The results of the baseline assessment and the post-intervention tasks were analysed both quantitatively and qualitatively. My research findings indicate an overall improvement of the performance after learners engaged in using physical manipulatives. The average mark of the learners in the baseline assessment task was 23% and after the intervention programme the average mark was 31 %. The responses from the learners interviewed showed that they were motivated and that the use of physical manipulatives assisted them in understanding the concepts of measurement, in particular surface area and volume. The results of my study thus reveal that the use of physical manipulatives in teaching and learning mathematics has a positive role to play in learners' understanding of surface area and volume at the Grade 8 level. The fmdings of this case study support other research regarding the importance of using physical manipulatives in teaching and learning mathematics. They align with other findings that assert that manipulatives are essential mediating tools in the development of the conceptual and procedural understanding of mathematical concepts, clarifying and helping learners to visualize abstract mathematical concepts.
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- Date Issued: 2012
Anthropogenic threats to resident and dispersing African wild dogs west and south of the Kruger National Park, South Africa
- Authors: Watermeyer, Jessica Patricia
- Date: 2012
- Subjects: African wild dog -- South Africa -- Kruger National Park , African wild dog -- Effect of human beings on -- South Africa -- Kruger National Park , African wild dog -- Behavior -- South Africa -- Kruger National Park , Endangered species -- South Africa -- Kruger National Park , African wild dog -- Dispersal -- South Africa -- Kruger National Park , African wild dog -- Conservation -- South Africa -- Kruger National Park , Animal populations -- Estimates -- South Africa -- Kruger National Park
- Language: English
- Type: Thesis , Masters , MSc
- Identifier: vital:5636 , http://hdl.handle.net/10962/d1005318 , African wild dog -- South Africa -- Kruger National Park , African wild dog -- Effect of human beings on -- South Africa -- Kruger National Park , African wild dog -- Behavior -- South Africa -- Kruger National Park , Endangered species -- South Africa -- Kruger National Park , African wild dog -- Dispersal -- South Africa -- Kruger National Park , African wild dog -- Conservation -- South Africa -- Kruger National Park , Animal populations -- Estimates -- South Africa -- Kruger National Park
- Description: African wild dog Lycaon pictus populations are declining and the species is listed as Endangered by the IUCN. The Kruger National Park (KNP) is home to the only viable population of wild dogs in South Africa, but census results reveal consistently low numbers since the late 1990s. Wild dogs display wide-ranging behaviour and it is possible that the species might frequently use unprotected lands adjacent to the KNP. However, very little is known about wild dog movements beyond the boundaries of the KNP, and whether or not adjacent land owners are tolerant of the species. Significantly, threats along the boundaries may have negative consequences for the KNP population. This research investigated the dispersal habits of wild dogs beyond the western and southern boundaries of the KNP, and gathered information on human tolerance, and anthropogenic threats in an area of mixed land use. The land west of the KNP presented the best prospect for wild dog range expansion. The wild dog packs operating outside the KNP had smaller home ranges and less home range overlap than the packs operating within the KNP. In addition, my data suggested that the development of conservancies and the formation of ecotourism-based land use practices would be beneficial for wild dog conservation. Failed wild dog dispersals due to snaring and human persecution could threaten the genetic stability and persistence of the KNP population. Therefore, raising awareness and an understanding of the plight of wild dogs is important for improving land owner perception and tolerance outside of protected areas. The rapidly increasing human population continues to infringe on protected lands and fragment landscapes, thus cooperation from individual land owners is vital for the conservation of free-ranging large carnivores.
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- Date Issued: 2012
Assessing linkages between local ecological knowledge, HIV/AIDS and the commercialisation of natural resources across Southern Africa
- Authors: Weyer, Dylan James
- Date: 2012
- Subjects: AIDS (Disease) -- Africa, Southern , HIV infections -- Africa, Southern , Natural resources -- Management -- Africa, Southern , Traditional ecological knowledge -- Africa, Southern , Households -- Economic aspects -- Africa, Southern , Poverty -- Environmental aspects -- Africa, Southern , Ecology -- Economic aspects -- Africa, Southern
- Language: English
- Type: Thesis , Masters , MSc
- Identifier: vital:4769 , http://hdl.handle.net/10962/d1007180 , AIDS (Disease) -- Africa, Southern , HIV infections -- Africa, Southern , Natural resources -- Management -- Africa, Southern , Traditional ecological knowledge -- Africa, Southern , Households -- Economic aspects -- Africa, Southern , Poverty -- Environmental aspects -- Africa, Southern , Ecology -- Economic aspects -- Africa, Southern
- Description: That natural resources (NRs) are important to those experiencing adversity, and, especially, vulnerability associated with HIV/AIDS, is well documented, particularly with respect to food and energy security. What is unclear is where HIV/AIDS ranks in terms of its significance in comparison to other household shocks, the role local ecological knowledge may (LEK) play in households' response to shock, a propos the types of coping strategies that are employed. Consequently, this research aims to bridge the knowledge gap between HIV/AIDS and the degree to which it is contributing to the expansion of NR commercialisation and to explore the unknowns surrounding the influence of LEK on people's choice of coping strategy. A two phase study was designed to provide quantitative rigour with qualitative depth. Phase one was an extensive, rapid survey of NR traders within urban and rural settings in five southern Africa countries. The principle objective was to profile the trade, the livelihoods of those involved and their reasons for entering the trade, to ultimately establish to what degree HIV/AIDS may have been a catalyst for this. Almost one third of the sample entered the trade in response to illness and/or death in their households, with 80% of deaths being of breadwinners. The findings illustrated considerable dependence on the sale of NRs; for almost 60% of the sample it was their household's only source of income. There was evidently increased blurring of the lines between rural and urban NR use with a greater diversity of products being traded in urban areas. Phase two involved in-depth interviews and work with a smaller sample at two sites selected based on the findings from the first phase. It incorporated three groups of households; non-trading, inexperienced trading and experienced trading households. Key areas of focus were household shocks, coping strategies employed in response to these and the role LEK may be playing in the choice of coping strategies. Within a two year period, 95% of households registered at least one shock, of which 80% recorded AIDS-related proxy shocks. Non-trading households were significantly worse-off in this regard, while in the case of non-AIDS proxy shocks, there was no such difference between groups. The most frequently employed coping strategy was the consumption and sale of NRs and was of particular importance when households were faced with AIDS proxy shocks. Trading households emerged as having superior levels of LEK in comparison to non-trading households, even for non-traded NRs, suggesting that prior LEK of NRs opened up opportunities to trade in NR as a coping strategy. Further inspection of the latter group however revealed that the portion of non-trading households who traded on a very ad hoc basis actually had comparable levels of LEK to the trading households. Despite the ad hoc trading households' vulnerable state and their disproportionately high level of AIDS proxy measures, they had at their disposal, sufficient LEK to unlock certain key coping strategies, namely the NR trade. In this sense there are apparent linkages between LEK, HIV/AIDS and the expansion of the commercialisation of NRs.
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- Date Issued: 2012
Automated grid fault detection and repair
- Authors: Luyt, Leslie
- Date: 2012 , 2012-05-24
- Subjects: Computational grids (Computer systems) -- Maintenance and repair , Cloud computing -- Maintenance and repair , Computer architecture
- Language: English
- Type: Thesis , Masters , MSc
- Identifier: vital:4670 , http://hdl.handle.net/10962/d1006693 , Computational grids (Computer systems) -- Maintenance and repair , Cloud computing -- Maintenance and repair , Computer architecture
- Description: With the rise in interest in the field of grid and cloud computing, it is becoming increasingly necessary for the grid to be easily maintainable. This maintenance of the grid and grid services can be made easier by using an automated system to monitor and repair the grid as necessary. We propose a novel system to perform automated monitoring and repair of grid systems. To the best of our knowledge, no such systems exist. The results show that certain faults can be easily detected and repaired. , TeX , Adobe Acrobat 9.51 Paper Capture Plug-in
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- Date Issued: 2012
Butterfly bones
- Authors: Gowans, Elisabeth
- Date: 2012
- Language: English
- Type: Thesis , Masters , MA
- Identifier: vital:5986 , http://hdl.handle.net/10962/d1015723
- Description: Butterfly Bones is a lyrical sequence of poetry and prose poems organised to trace a rhythmical, emotional pattern of experience. In its subject matter, the sequence presents an implied personal narrative recording the author's grief in the ten months following her mother's death in January 2011. It presents brief, vivid scenes from the poet's daily life in a rural village outside Grahamstown, and observations of creatures and her natural surroundings, which serve as a counterpoint to her grief. It can also be read as a meditation on writing, solitude and the possibilities of poetry.
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- Date Issued: 2012
Can sport impact rational investor behaviour? : an evaluation of the impact of national sporting performance on stock market returns in South Africa
- Authors: De Beer, Carl Francois
- Date: 2012
- Subjects: Investments -- Psychological aspects -- Research -- South Africa Finance -- Psychological aspects -- Research -- South Africa Sports -- Economic aspects -- Research -- South Africa Sports -- Psychological aspects -- Research -- South Africa
- Language: English
- Type: Thesis , Masters , MEcon
- Identifier: vital:1013 , http://hdl.handle.net/10962/d1002748
- Description: The finance industry is an extremely fast and complex world dominated by the Efficient Markets Hypothesis (EMH). This theory contains many assumptions which include that investors are rational utility maximisers and that market prices reflect all relevant economic information available to the public. However, over the years, a new form of financial literature known as behavioural finance has been gaining momentum. Behavioural finance seeks to bridge the gap between psychology and economics in an attempt to gain a better understanding of how markets react to different situations. Behavioural finance has also gained much attention in recent years due to the EMH’s inability to explain many economic anomalies. This study first considers the differences between behavioural finance theory and EMH theory before explaining how an individual’s mood has the ability to influence one’s risk taking preferences. Mood changes were also found to be linked to changes in the way an individual reacts to different situations, the way they thinks and processes thoughts. Negative events were also found to have a greater influence on an individual’s mood than positive events did, resulting in an asymmetric relationship between positive and negative results. This study then examines numerous studies indicating how non-economic events can have a statistical and significant influence on stock market returns before analysing previous literature where sport was found to influence market prices. The aim of this study is to determine if South African national sporting performance can influence investors in such a way that it has the ability to impact on market returns. Using standard event study methodology, this study determines the constant mean return using the daily All-Share price index on the JSE for the period of 1 January 1990 to 31 December 2010. This study focuses on three of South Africa’s most popular sports, namely soccer, cricket and rugby and examine if these three sports have the ability to influence market returns. Although there is some evidence of a relationship between stock returns and sporting performance in the descriptive analysis, the regression results indicate that sporting performance in South Africa does not significantly explain abnormal market returns on the JSE. The study provides a number of possible reasons for this finding and concludes by suggesting areas for future research.
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- Date Issued: 2012
Cash transfers and poverty reduction in South Africa: a case study of old age pensions
- Authors: Kasere, Gayle Farai
- Date: 2012
- Subjects: Poverty -- Economic aspects -- South Africa -- Eastern Cape Poverty -- Grahamstown -- Eastern Cape Social security -- South Africa Pensions -- South Africa
- Language: English
- Type: Thesis , Masters , MSocSc
- Identifier: vital:3321 , http://hdl.handle.net/10962/d1003109
- Description: Social assistance in the form of cash grants is a large and fiscally costly component of anti-poverty policy in South Africa. A critical question arises: Are the grants effective tools for reducing poverty in South Africa and, moreover, how significant is their impact on poverty? As a measure of reducing poverty, the government has expanded the social grants system since the advent of the new democracy in 1994. The country's social grant system is quite comprehensive and it is intended to cover vulnerable individuals over their life course from childhood to adulthood and into old age. Policy discourse surrounding the grants centres on the sustainability of the system and its implications for socio-economic development and poverty alleviation. It is therefore important that the significance of grants is identified and assessed particularly in relation to very poor households. This dissertation focuses specifically on one particular grant, namely, the old age pension. It does so in the context of the sustainable livelihoods conceptual framework and the history of the social grant system in South Africa. Statistical data collected by the South African government as well as more localised evidence gathered in the Eastern Cape town of Grahamstown is used to ascertain the significance of old age pensions for poverty reduction. While there is some evidence to suggest that pensions contribute to poverty reduction, this does not translate into poverty alleviation. In fact, there is some unevenness in the impact of pensions on poverty. In this regard, the decision-making structures in poor households regularly influence the way pension money is allocated and used within households. Grant money is normally shared in extended households, such that the pension does not simply benefit the recipient but the recipient's household as a whole. Although there is cause for concern regarding the propensity of social grants to affect people's behaviour negatively, there is a case to be made for retaining grants as an important, though not the only, form of anti-poverty strategy. This highlights the need for continued research on the social grant system and pensions more specifically.
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- Date Issued: 2012
Chief executive officer compensation and the effect on company performance in a South African context
- Authors: Bradley, Samuel
- Date: 2012
- Subjects: Chief executive officers -- Salaries, etc. -- South Africa , Compensation management -- South Africa , Wage surveys -- South Africa , Organizational effectiveness -- Evaluation
- Language: English
- Type: Thesis , Masters , MCom
- Identifier: vital:883 , http://hdl.handle.net/10962/d1001637 , Chief executive officers -- Salaries, etc. -- South Africa , Compensation management -- South Africa , Wage surveys -- South Africa , Organizational effectiveness -- Evaluation
- Description: The goal of this research was to determine, in a South African context, whether there is any correlation between chief executive officer compensation and the performance of the company. For the purposes of the research , the compensation of chief executive officers was broken down into three components: salary, bonus and "other" remuneration, while company performance was measured on return on equity, return on assets and earnings per share figures. Studies on this topic have been carried out in other countries, most notably in the United States of America and the United Kingdom. It appears that no research of a similar nature has been carried out in South Africa. Data in respect of the forty largest listed companies in South Africa were collected over a period of five years. The econometric models used for the research were based on models identified in the literature study. The data were then analysed for evidence of a correlation between chief executive officer compensation and the performance of the company. The results of this study indicate that there is no linear relationship between chief executive officer compensation and company performance variables. The econometric models did, however, show correlations between certain variables, taking into account the other predictor variables in the model. Evidence of correlations between age and experience and compensation was also found , which may present potential avenues of research to scholars in the future.
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- Date Issued: 2012
COIN : a customisable, incentive driven video on demand framework for low-cost IPTV services
- Authors: Musvibe, Ray
- Date: 2012 , 2012-03-02
- Subjects: Internet television , Digital television , Television broadcasting -- Technological innovations , Multicasting (Computer networks) , Video dial tone , Open source software , Telecommunication , Capital investments
- Language: English
- Type: Thesis , Masters , MSc
- Identifier: vital:4654 , http://hdl.handle.net/10962/d1006650 , Internet television , Digital television , Television broadcasting -- Technological innovations , Multicasting (Computer networks) , Video dial tone , Open source software , Telecommunication , Capital investments
- Description: There has been a significant rise in the provision of television and video services over IP (IPTV) in recent years. Increasing network capacity and falling bandwidth costs have made it both technically and economically feasible for service providers to deliver IPTV services. Several telecommunications (telco) operators worldwide are rolling out IPTV solutions and view IPTV as a major service differentiator and alternative revenue source. The main challenge that IPTV providers currently face, however, is the increasingly congested television service provider market, which also includes Internet Television. IPTV solutions therefore need strong service differentiators to succeed. IPTV solutions can doubtlessly sell much faster if they are more affordable or low-cost. Advertising has already been used in many service sectors to help lower service costs, including traditional broadcast television. This thesis therefore explores the role that advertising can play in helping to lower the cost of IPTV services and to incentivise IPTV billing. Another approach that IPTV providers can use to help sell their product is by addressing the growing need for control by today's multimedia users. This thesis will therefore explore the varied approaches that can be used to achieve viewer focused IPTV implementations. To further lower the cost of IPTV services, telcos can also turn to low-cost, open source platforms for service delivery. The adoption of low-cost infrastructure by telcos can lead to reduced Capital Expenditure (CAPEX), which in turn can lead to lower service fees, and ultimately to higher subscriptions and revenue. Therefore, in this thesis, the author proposes a CustOmisable, INcentive (COIN) driven Video on Demand (VoD) framework to be developed and deployed using the Mobicents Communication Platform, an open source service creation and execution platform. The COIN framework aims to provide a viewer focused, economically competitive service that combines the potential cost savings of using free and open source software (FOSS), with an innovative, incentive-driven billing approach. This project will also aim to evaluate whether the Mobicents Platform is a suitable service creation and execution platform for the proposed framework. Additionally, the proposed implementation aims to be interoperable with other IPTV implementations, hence shall follow current IPTV standardisation architectures and trends. The service testbed and its implementation are described in detail and only free and open source software is used; this is to enable its easy duplication and extension for future research. , TeX output 2012.03.02:1241 , Adobe Acrobat 9.2 Paper Capture Plug-in
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- Date Issued: 2012
Communication at the health care coalface: lessons from selected clinics in Port Elizabeth
- Authors: Mbengo, Nomatshawe
- Date: 2012
- Subjects: Communication in medicine -- Research -- South Africa Community health services -- South Africa -- Eastern Cape Social medicine -- Research -- South Africa Medical care -- Research -- South Africa
- Language: English
- Type: Thesis , Masters , MA
- Identifier: vital:3591 , http://hdl.handle.net/10962/d1002166
- Description: This thesis analyses the state of health care in South Africa with particular reference to a clinic and the Provincial Hospital in Port Elizabeth, Eastern Cape. The complexities of health care provision in a diverse sociolinguistic environment where certain languages are emphasized over others, forms the cornerstone of the research. The research focuses on health care in a complex multi-cultural environment. The goal of the research is to present a coherent and robust translation framework for the development of suitable materials to enhance communication across language and cultural barriers in the health care sector. A model (based on research completed in the USA) is presented as a possible alternative in the final chapter of the thesis.
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- Date Issued: 2012
Competence development in marine protected area professionals: a case study of the South African Marine Protected Area Management Training Course (SAMPATC)
- Authors: Lewis, Sebastian Giulio
- Date: 2012
- Subjects: Core competencies Employees -- Training of Marine ecosystem management
- Language: English
- Type: Thesis , Masters , MEd
- Identifier: vital:1456 , http://hdl.handle.net/10962/d1003337
- Description: This study reviews a training programme on Marine Protected Area (MPA) management. It notes that although MPAs are well promulgated under legislation, reports have found that there are still key challenges facing the management of these areas. The research examines how the course was developed following the Lemm and Attwood (2003) report and designed to develop competences for effective MPA management. The aim is to identify how a MPA management training course produced competences apposite to the workplace settings of the participants. An interpretive case study method was used, in two phases. The first phase explored salient issues in MPA management in South Africa through analysis of the two key ‘state of MPA management’ reports and interviews with MPA professionals. The second was an analysis of the South African Marine Protected Area Management Training Course. This involved interviews with course designers, a review of the course materials, interviews with past course participants, and an analysis of course evaluations. Evidence emerged that supported the following findings: Challenges and problems facing MPA management still exist. Competence in key areas of MPA management was addressed in an effective work-integrated approach. Social learning was a key process in the development of these competences. The competences articulate well with the workplace of participants. Gaps exist between some of the management issues and the competences developed by the course, and some aspects of the course design are ineffective. From these findings it is concluded that: The course took up the majority of issues in MPA management through the development of key competences. The course design facilitated the development of these competences. The competences developed through the course are relevant to the workplace of MPA professionals. The research found that the course adequately addresses issues in MPA management through the development of competences. Some recommendations for improvements are made.
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- Date Issued: 2012
Constraints to the implementation of a market development approach to the delivery of business Development Services within the Makana municipal area
- Authors: Van Heerden, Garth William
- Date: 2012
- Subjects: Makana Municipality Local government -- South Africa -- Eastern Cape Small business -- South Africa -- Eastern Cape Small business -- South Africa -- Eastern Cape -- Growth Small business -- South Africa -- Eastern Cape -- Public opinion Small business marketing -- South Africa -- Eastern Cape Economic development -- South Africa -- Eastern Cape Unemployment -- South Africa -- Eastern Cape
- Language: English
- Type: Thesis , Masters , MBA
- Identifier: vital:814 , http://hdl.handle.net/10962/d1007746
- Description: South Africa's biggest challenge remains the high rate of unemployment especially among the country's youth. Small, medium and micro enterprises (SMMEs) have been shown to be instrumental in many third world economies as a sustainable means not only to address unemployment but also to contribute significantly to economic growth. Despite government's good intentions and support, the South African SMME sector is not growing as expected and this is impacting negatively on unemployment creation in the country. Good business development services (BDS) is necessary to support SMMEs and specifically the Market Development Approach to the provision of BDS, where subsidies are replaced by private payment for services. Makana municipal area provided scope for analysing the constraints to the implementation of such business development services. Analysing the scope and magnitude of the constraints in this setting would contribute to understanding the constraints also in other parts of the country and help officials in local economic development make better informed decisions regarding support to SMMEs. Authors like Rogerson (2011), UNDP (2004), Miehlbradt and McVay, (2003), the Committee of Donor Agencies for SME Development (Blue book) (2001) and Bear et al., (2001) Gibson (2001), propose that the key to sustainable BDS is the implementation of the Market Development approach which focusses on for-profit activities in the provision of BDS to SMMEs. The aim of this study was to examine perceptions of key stakeholders towards SMME support and development, to identify the constraints to the implementation of a Market Development approach to the provision of business development services to SMMEs in the Makana area and to make recommendations to the Makana LED office of possible intervention strategies to address identified constraints. Purposive sampling was used to identify key stakeholders in SMME support in the Makana area in the categories of, big institutional buyers, public and private BDS providers as well the municipal LED office. Semi-structured interviews were conducted with each stakeholder using questions shown in appendixes A to D. Perceptions of all key stakeholders were very positive with good intentions to support SMMEs. However, this was not consistent with procurement practice at the big institutional buyers. Constraints are summarized in the following five themes: Theme 1. Inconsistent practice in dealing with SMMEs across the organisation. Theme 2. Absence of a cooperative body or Chamber of Commerce. Theme 3. Fragmented Business Development Services. Theme 4. A lack of a culture of cost recovery. Theme 5. Limited awareness of BDS in the Makana area. A number of recommendations were suggested. Big institutional buyers like Rhodes University and Makana municipality need to take a longer term view and move the focus from employment creation to enterprise support which is a more sustainable and empowering source of employment (ILO, 2009). The Grahamstown Chamber of Commerce should become more representative and big institutional buyers also need to be convinced of the value of private BDS. Stakeholders should work together to combine resources to offer a comprehensive one-stop BDS for the Makana area (Chetty, 2009) and this comprehensive BDS should be provided according to the Market Development approach focusing on those services that lend themselves better to this approach whilst using subsidies only for those services with a low potential for cost recovery (UNDP, 2004).
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- Date Issued: 2012
Contribution towards the development of a management plan for the baitboat and sport fishery for tuna in South Africa
- Authors: Newcombe, Hylton Cecil
- Date: 2012
- Subjects: Tuna -- South Africa , Tuna fishing -- South Africa , Fishery management -- South Africa , Fishery management -- Economic aspects -- South Africa , Tuna fisheries -- Catch effort -- South Africa , Tuna fisheries -- Economic aspects -- South Africa
- Language: English
- Type: Thesis , Masters , MSc
- Identifier: vital:5249 , http://hdl.handle.net/10962/d1005092 , Tuna -- South Africa , Tuna fishing -- South Africa , Fishery management -- South Africa , Fishery management -- Economic aspects -- South Africa , Tuna fisheries -- Catch effort -- South Africa , Tuna fisheries -- Economic aspects -- South Africa
- Description: Tuna are of significant global economic importance and a prime food source. Increased levels of fishing have resulted in many stocks being under threat and a number of species are considered to be overfished. The South African tuna industry has had limited management attention from the South African fisheries management agency. A recent development has been an increase in the number of tuna caught by small vessels that target the fresh tuna market in South Africa and overseas. This has highlighted the importance of developing a holistic management plan for the sector and creating an awareness, among vessel owners, of the importance of compliance with initiatives such as the Marine Stewardship Council (MSC). The South African tuna fishery comprises three sectors: baitboat, sport and longline, all of which are currently in need of acquiring more biological and fisheries data. This project was initiated to collate existing information and to collect additional information where possible. This encompassed a qualitative and quantitative assessment of the size and shape of the tuna fishing industry, which included estimates of total catch, effort, catch-per-unit-of-effort (CPUE) and stock structure (obtained through comparative estimates of age and growth), as well as socio-economic and economic information. A technique involving an examination of specific vertebrae was used to obtain age-growth information for T. albacares. These data were used to estimate von Bertalanffy (VBGF) growth parameters: F 2 1. , k 0.1 , and t₀ -0. 1 year. No significant differences in growth parameters were found in yellowfin tuna (Thunnus albacares) from different localities around the South African coast, i.e. from the south eastern Atlantic and the south western Indian Ocean. In addition, growth did not differ between South Africa and other regions (Draganic and Pelzcarski 1984, Fonteneau 1980, Gascuel et al. 1992, LeGuen and Sakagawa 1973, Lehodey and Leroy 1999, Lessa and Duarte-Neto 2004, Shuford et al. 2007, Stequert et al. 1996, Wild 1986, Yang et al. 1969). Further substantiation of the above-mentioned observations was found by recording differences in the sizes of fish caught in the inshore (baitboat and sport fishery vessels) and offshore (large pelagic longline vessels) sectors of South African tuna fisheries. A significant difference between the regions — in terms of the size of fish caught inshore — was noted, with mostly-juvenile fish being caught in KwaZulu-Natal (5.4 ± 3.5kg), sub-adult fish in the Eastern Cape (26.2 ± 13.4kg), and adult fish in the Western Cape (42.3 ± 14.4kg). Since mostly-adult fish were caught offshore by longliners, with no significant differences between regions, it is however possible th at adult fish predominantly inhabit the offshore region. Yellowfin tuna caught by the large pelagic longline fishery in the three managerial zones (A, B and C) were predominantly adult fish of similar size, namely Zone A: 38.9 ± 6.9kg; Zone B: 28.7 ± 4.6kg, and Zone C: 36.0 ± 5.1kg. The recreational ski boat sport fishery has remained stable, in terms of participation, consisting mostly of white middle aged males in the top 25% of household income distribution, having either permanent occupational status or being retired. Fishers within this sector are willing to incur great expense to partake in the fishery and they provide an important economic contribution to coastal towns, particularly in the Eastern Cape. The total catch (of 83t) of yellowfin tuna by the competitive sport fishery within the Western and Eastern Cape regions was considerably lower than that of commercial tuna baitboat catches, which amounted to 186t, and the large pelagic longline sector that caught t in 200. It is however likely that the competitive sport fishery's total yellowfin tuna catch (of 83t in 2009) of the Eastern and Western Cape competitive sport fishery was considerably less than the total yellowfin tuna catches of the whole South African deep-sea sport fishery. Longfin tuna are the primary target species of South Africa‘s baitboat fisheries, comprising an average of 86% of the total catch and generating ZAR49 million in employment income in 2002. South Africa was responsible for 20% of the total longfin tuna annual yield in 2004 in the southern Atlantic Ocean, behind Taiwan with 59%. However, yellowfin tuna only contributes a small percentage towards total catches (8.4 ± 8.2% between 1995 and 2009), generating ZAR1.3 million in employment income in 2002. Of the four vessel categories comprising the tuna baitboat fishery, ski boats had the highest yellowfin tuna CPUE in 2009 (117 ± 62 kg.vessel⁻¹.day⁻¹) and the lowest effort. The ski boats sector is the most opportunistic fishery as they are only active when either longfin or yellowfin tuna are in high abundance. At such times catches are guaranteed, so can be expected to offset expenses. In 2009 the CPUE for yellowfin tuna for 15–19m vessels and freezer deckboats was 12 ± 20kg.vessel⁻¹.day⁻¹ and 3 ± 6kg.vessel⁻¹.day⁻¹, respectively. These vessels specifically target longfin tuna when they are in abundance. Since the start of the tuna baitboat fishery in 1995, there has been a substantial increase in the number of new entrants. In 2002 this sector had a fleet size of 82 vessels with a capital value of ZAR163 million and a total employment income of ZAR58 million, employing 2 173 fishers, of which 87% were black African. The commercial tuna baitboat fleet has subsequently grown to 200 vessels and 3600 crew, with 110 active vessels fishing for a combined fleet average of 46 days per year. There are a high number of owner-operated vessels. Since 2007 the fishery's profit to cost ratio has been low due to the low abundance of tuna stocks off the coast of South Africa, which has resulted in poor catch returns, placing economic pressure on the fishery. The baitboat industry is a low-profit-margin fishery with a total net catch value worth ZAR90 million in 2009 (Feike 2010). The abundance of yellowfin tuna influences profit margins, with very high profits being made when abundance and catches are high. The large pelagic longline fishery has a total allowable effort of 43 vessels of which only 30 vessels fished during 2009, when a reported 766t of yellowfin tuna were caught, representing a total tonnage far in excess of that obtained by the combined effort of the baitboat and sport fishery. It is, however, assumed that considerable underreporting of catches takes place within this fishery, which means that the estimated total net catch value of ZAR100 million could, in fact, be much higher. Such underreporting of catches is of great concern for this fishery, as is the high bycatch of Chondricthians spp. that significantly outweighs imposed regulatory limits (DEAT 2007). The present study demonstrates the current lack of comprehensive catch and effort data for the sport, baitboat and longline fisheries as well as the serious limitations and flaws associated with current databases. Results from the present study have drawn attention to a number of high-priority research needs, as outlined below. (1) A major lack of comprehensive catch and effort data for the sport fishery, which can be rectified by focussing on obtaining more competition data, as well as high-quality catch and effort and socio-economic information, as opposed to relying on information from non-club anglers (Gartside et al. 1999, Williams 2003, Cass-Calay 2008). Acquisition of such data is relatively inexpensive: the location of organized clubs and their frequent competition meetings provide widespread coverage along the Southern African coastline. Such data acquisition efforts have the potential to provide reliable information on spatial catch trends. (2) Validation of vessel catch return data is required for commercial fisheries and on some recent data that has emerged from studies of catch rates and trends for target species, particularly in the longline fishery. In this context it should be noted that the most recent peer-reviewed publications on this exploratory fishery were published more than a decade ago (Kroese 1999, Penny and Griffiths 1999). Additional studies need to be undertaken and journal articles published on the current stock status of South African catches of yellowfin and bigeye tuna and swordfish.
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- Date Issued: 2012
Copyright law in the digital environment: DRM systems, anti-circumvention, legislation and user rights
- Authors: Latter, Gareth Paul
- Date: 2012
- Subjects: Digital rights management , Copyright and electronic data processing , Internet -- Law and legislation , Public domain (Copyright law) , Fair use (Copyright) , Intellectual property , Copyright
- Language: English
- Type: Thesis , Masters , LLM
- Identifier: vital:3681 , http://hdl.handle.net/10962/d1003196 , Digital rights management , Copyright and electronic data processing , Internet -- Law and legislation , Public domain (Copyright law) , Fair use (Copyright) , Intellectual property , Copyright
- Description: This thesis deals with the way in which copyright law is changing in the digital environment and the mechanisms which are facilitating this change. It deals with these issues by analysing the mechanisms of this change, specifically Digital Rights Management (DRM)Systems and anti-circumvention legislation, and the impact which this change is having on the rights of copyright users. The purpose of copyright is to provide an incentive to authors to continue creating while simultaneously providing a public good in allowing the public to use those creations in certain ways. Copyright achieves this purpose by granting both the author and user certain rights. The author is given a limited monopoly over their work in exchange for allowing this work to enter the public sphere and ensuring that users of that work can utilise that work in certain limited ways. The success of copyright thus rests on maintaining the balance between the rights of these parties. The rise of digital technology has created a situation in which copyright content can be easily copied by any party with a Personal Computer and disseminated around the globe instantly via the Internet. In response to these dangers, copyright owners are making use of DRM systems to protect content. DRM systems include various measures of control within its scope. Theses systems allow for copyright owners to control both access and use of content by copyright users. DRM Systems are not foolproof measures of protection however. Technologically sophisticated users are able to circumvent these protection measures. Thus, in order to protect DRM Systems from circumvention, anti-circumvention legislation has been proposed through international treaties and adopted in many countries. The combined effect of these protection measures are open to abuse by copyright owners and serve to curtail the limited rights of copyright users. The end result of this is that the balance which copyright law was created to maintain is disrupted and copyright law no longer fulfils its purpose. This thesis undertakes an analysis of these issues with reference to how these issues affect copyright users in developing countries. This is done with particular reference to possible approaches to this issue in South Africa as South Africa is a signatory to these anti-circumvention treaties.
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- Date Issued: 2012
Culturally-relevant augmented user interfaces for illiterate and semi-literate users
- Authors: Gavaza, Takayedzwa
- Date: 2012 , 2012-06-14
- Subjects: User interfaces (Computer systems) -- Research , Computer software -- Research , Graphical user interfaces (Computer systems) -- Research , Human-computer interaction , Computers and literacy
- Language: English
- Type: Thesis , Masters , MSc
- Identifier: vital:4665 , http://hdl.handle.net/10962/d1006679 , User interfaces (Computer systems) -- Research , Computer software -- Research , Graphical user interfaces (Computer systems) -- Research , Human-computer interaction , Computers and literacy
- Description: This thesis discusses guidelines for developers of Augmented User Interfaces that can be used by illiterate and semi-literate users. To discover how illiterate and semi-literate users intuitively understand interaction with a computer, a series of Wizard of Oz experiments were conducted. In the first Wizard of Oz study, users were presented with a standard desktop computer, fitted with a number of input devices to determine how they assume interaction should occur. This study found that the users preferred the use of speech and gestures which mirrored findings from other researchers. The study also found that users struggled to understand the tab metaphor which is used frequently in applications. From these findings, a localised culturally-relevant tab interface was developed to determine the feasibility of localised Graphical User Interface components. A second study was undertaken to compare the localised tab interface with the traditional tabbed interface. This study collected both quantitative and qualitative data from the participants. It found that users could interact with a localised tabbed interface faster and more accurately than with the traditional counterparts. More importantly, users stated that they intuitively understood the localised interface component, whereas they did not understand the traditional tab metaphor. These user studies have shown that the use of self-explanatory animations, video feedback, localised tabbed interface metaphors and voice output have a positive impact on enabling illiterate and semi-literate users to access information. , TeX , Adobe Acrobat 9.51 Paper Capture Plug-in
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- Date Issued: 2012
Dasein online! a study of the experience of flow in the virtual playground
- Authors: Godley, Donnae-Maree
- Date: 2012
- Subjects: Internet games -- Social aspects -- Research , Virtual reality -- Social aspects -- Research , Fantasy games -- Social aspects -- Research , Human-computer interaction -- Research , Online identities
- Language: English
- Type: Thesis , Masters , MSocSc
- Identifier: vital:2983 , http://hdl.handle.net/10962/d1002492 , Internet games -- Social aspects -- Research , Virtual reality -- Social aspects -- Research , Fantasy games -- Social aspects -- Research , Human-computer interaction -- Research , Online identities
- Description: The purpose of this study was twofold. First, it aimed to present and understand the experiences of online gamers from the paradigm of positive psychology. To achieve this, the phenomenon of flow was investigated to see whether or not, it is experienced whilst gaming online and if present, how it is revealed in this context. The second purpose was to contribute to theory building and to respond to extant research recommendations. Aligned with a qualitative orientation, the method selected to achieve the objectives of the study was interpretative phenomenological analysis. A sample of four participants who met the criteria for inclusion in the research were selected and interviewed using semi-structured interviews. Data was analysed and interpreted inductively and categorised into superordinate themes. These were presented as two sections: Section A explored the experience and meaning of online gaming through the following three superordinate themes; intention, pre-gaming rituals and gaming process. Section B discussed the social experience and meaning of gaming online through the superordinate theme, a gamers way. This study both challenged and supported theory and research in the field and introduced novel areas, such as pregaming rituals and the subthemes; marijuana and gaming space. This is a notable and promising "side effect" of a research design that is exploratory. Findings called for future multi-disciplinary research into flow, gaming and online relationships considering Csikszentimaihalyi‟s concept of autotelic relationships and Heideggers‟ philosophical framework.
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- Date Issued: 2012
Design and evaluation of illustrated information leaflets as an educational tool for low-literate asthma patients
- Authors: Wrench, Wendy Merle
- Date: 2012 , 2012-10-08
- Subjects: Asthma -- South Africa -- Study and teaching , Asthmatics -- South Africa -- Education
- Language: English
- Type: Thesis , Masters , MSc
- Identifier: vital:3867 , http://hdl.handle.net/10962/d1016236
- Description: Asthma is a chronic non-communicable disease associated with an increase in morbidity, mortality and economic burden. Globally 300 million people have asthma and it is estimated that one in every 250 deaths worldwide are due to asthma. South Africa has the highest asthma prevalence (8.1%) in Africa and the disease is 18th in the top 20 causes of death. Inadequate home management, poor availability of health care, and poor transport and emergency services are recognised as important contributing factors. Patients with a low level of education and limited literacy skills may be unable to understand instructions on frequency and use of asthma medicines, which could result in unintentional non-adherence leading to serious complications and increased health care costs. The aim of this study was to investigate the impact of a tailored educational intervention on low-literate patients with asthma. Objectives to achieve this aim included designing patient information leaflets (PILs) containing information on asthma, management of asthma and asthma therapy, and using the PILs to educate low-literate asthma patients. A before-andafter intervention type design evaluated self-reported selected health-related quality of life measures, self-reported self-efficacy, knowledge of asthma and asthma management, knowledge of the use of metered dose inhalers (MDIs) and MDI technique. The acceptability and understanding of the tailored PILs was also investigated. Two simple, readable PILs containing pictograms were developed in English and then translated into isiXhosa, the home language of the majority of the target population. Various guidelines on the design of health-related information for people with low-literacy were consulted and input on the design was received from health care providers, patients and graphic artists. A pilot study was conducted at a local primary health care (PHC) clinic to evaluate the PILs and final modifications to the PILs were made based on feedback received. For the main study, patients were recruited from the KwaNonqubela PHC clinic in Alexandria in the Eastern Cape, South Africa. Patients were 18 years or older, dependent on public sector health care facilities, diagnosed with asthma, prescribed a MDI (beclomethasone and/or salbutamol) for at least one month and English or isiXhosa-speaking. The exclusion criterion for patients in this study was involvement in any other asthma educational intervention during the period of study. Interviewer-led structured questionnaires were administered to 55 patients at the baseline and follow-up. Data collected include demographics, brief medical history and current asthma medications. Self-efficacy and iii health-related quality of life were assessed. Knowledge of asthma and asthma management was evaluated, and the use of beclomethasone and/or salbutamol metered dose inhalers was assessed. The PIL ‘Understanding asthma and trigger factors of asthma’ formed part of the educational intervention to explain asthma and aspects related to its management. Inhaler technique was evaluated and corrected using the PIL ‘How to use your pump’ together with a demonstration of correct technique by the investigator. Follow-up interviews were conducted approximately four weeks after baseline. PIL acceptability, readability and understanding of each pictogram were investigated at follow-up only. The educational intervention resulted in a significant increase in mean knowledge of asthma from 52.7% at baseline to 75.5% at follow-up. Gender was not associated with knowledge, but there was a significant age effect at baseline only, with the younger patients achieving better knowledge results. In both phases, patients with higher education had improved scores. A significant increase (2.4% to 38.6%) in the number of patients taking the minimum recommended adult dose of beclomethasone was noted but it is a matter of concern that the majority of patients were taking less than this. Patient self-reports suggested a significant increase in adherence, with the number of patients taking beclomethasone daily increasing from 33.3% to 61.3%. Self-reported management and control of asthma improved and this was reflected by the enhanced HRQOL results. MDI technique also improved significantly with an increase in the mean number of correct steps from 4.6 ± 2.2 to 7.9 ± 2.7. Education had a significant effect on MDI technique with more errors associated with lower educational status. There were no significant age or gender effects on the total number of correct steps in either phase. The illustrated PILs were received favourably with the majority of literate patients reporting that they were easy to read. Patients commented positively on the inclusion of pictograms and stated that the pictograms had served as aids in the understanding of asthma, trigger factors of asthma and correct MDI technique. The results of this study show that specially designed illustrated PILs can be an effective tool in educating low-literate patients with asthma. , Adobe Acrobat Pro 11.0.0 Paper Capture Plug-in
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- Date Issued: 2012
Developing a form-process framework to describe the functioning of semi-arid alluvial fans in the Baviaanskloof Valley, South Africa
- Authors: Bobbins, Kerry Leigh
- Date: 2012
- Subjects: Alluvial fans -- Research -- South Africa Sedimentation and deposition -- Research -- South Africa Geomorphology -- Research -- South Africa
- Language: English
- Type: Thesis , Masters , MSc
- Identifier: vital:4825 , http://hdl.handle.net/10962/d1005500
- Description: The Baviaanskloof catchment is a semi-arid catchment located in the Cape Fold Mountains of South Africa. Little is known about the functioning of the complicated Baviaanskloof fluvial system and the role alluvial fans in the fluvial landscape. This thesis will contribute to field of geomorphology and, more specifically, to the field of fan morphometry by producing a standalone fan framework outlining methods to investigate the influence of external and internal control variables on alluvial fans. In this thesis, outcomes of the applied framework and case study are used to develop fan restoration guidelines for the Baviaanskloof Valley. The framework incorporates external and internal fan control variables at a valley-wide and local fan scale. External control variables include accommodation space, base-level change, and drainage basin inputs. Internal control variables include fan style, morphometry and fan channels. In order to apply the framework, fan morphometry data was required. This data was collected by creating a spatial plan of fans and basins in the valley. Outcomes of the applied framework include; an understanding of baselevel change on fans, relationships between fan basin characteristics and the fan surface and insight into fan channel processes. Results of the applied framework are investigated further using bivariate (correlation matrix) and multivariate (principle component analysis and regression analysis) analysis techniques. Significant relationships identified are: drainage basin area versus fan area, fan area and fan slope and drainage basin ruggedness and basin size. The primary outcomes of this thesis include an alluvial fan form-process framework, key considerations to be included in alluvial fan restoration projects and fan restoration guidelines. Contributions of this thesis to broader alluvial fan morphology science includes new insights into general fan literature by compiling a form-process alluvial fan classification framework to identify external and internal fan control variables and identify fan form. Additions have been made to Clarke’s (2010) evolutionary stages to describe stages 4 and 5 of fan evolution that has been adapted to describe fan evolution and differentiate between stages of mature fan evolution. This thesis has also contributed to the study of alluvial fans in South Africa, particularly in the Baviaanskloof Valley. The layout of the procedural guidelines and key considerations for an alluvial fan project provides a guide for rapid fan assessment for maximum cost and time benefits for stakeholders.
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- Date Issued: 2012