The development of biological tools to aid in the genetic investigation of the black (Diceros bicornis) and white (Ceratotherium simum) rhinoceros mitochondrial genomes
- Authors: Parsons, Michelle
- Date: 2015
- Language: English
- Type: text , Thesis , Masters , MSc
- Identifier: http://hdl.handle.net/10962/56059 , vital:26769
- Description: The black (Diceros bicornis) and white (Ceratotherium simum) rhinoceros are found in South Africa. A decline in the populations of these species has resulted due to human activities such as habitat fragmentation and poaching. This has contributed to the loss of genetic diversity amongst the black and white rhinoceros. Conservation and anti-poaching efforts are needed to help maintain genetic diversity. These efforts could be improved through the development of non-invasive techniques to examine DNA from threatened animals. The aim of this research was to develop a molecular technique which would allow for the identification of the black and white rhinoceros and to develop a molecular technique which would allow for intraspecies genetic variation to be examined. DNA extractions were performed on matched faecal and tissue samples that were collected from two regions in South Africa. Polymerase chain reaction (PCR) primer sets were designed to investigate several regions of the rhinoceros mitochondrial genome. PCR optimisation was completed for the target regions. Sequencing was conducted on all final PCR products. The cytochrome c oxidase subunit 1 (COIi) gene allowed for the rhinoceros family to be identified. This region was digested with the HindIII restriction enzyme, which allowed for the specific identification of either the black or white rhinoceros. A subsequent region of the cytochrome c oxidase subunit 1 (COIii) as well as the D-loop, hypervariable regions (HV1 and HV2), cytochrome b (cytb) and 16s rRNA regions were investigated. These regions displayed potential for establishing geographic origin for black rhinoceros samples, whereas the D-loop and HV2 show potential for the white rhinoceros. The white rhinoceros displayed sequence variation in the HV2 and cytb region, while variation was observed in the COIi and HV1 for the black rhinoceros. All investigated target regions allowed for the rhinoceros family to be identified. The COI (COIi and COIii), HV2 and cytb regions allowed for the subspecies of rhinoceros to be identified, however the D-loop was not able to identify the white rhinoceros species. The 16s rRNA and HV1 regions allowed for the correct subspecies of rhinoceros to be identified, however as the primers were only compatible for the black rhinoceros therefore a subsequent investigation is required for the white rhinoceros. The establishment of this novel PCR based technique to identify white and black rhinoceros will allow for efficient species identification in wildlife forensic cases. A biological method was established to study intraspecies variation for the white and black rhinoceros; however the investigated target regions did not yield sufficient genetic variation. The core techniques developed in this study will be valuable for future studies that wish to investigate genetic variation in mammal species.
- Full Text:
- Authors: Parsons, Michelle
- Date: 2015
- Language: English
- Type: text , Thesis , Masters , MSc
- Identifier: http://hdl.handle.net/10962/56059 , vital:26769
- Description: The black (Diceros bicornis) and white (Ceratotherium simum) rhinoceros are found in South Africa. A decline in the populations of these species has resulted due to human activities such as habitat fragmentation and poaching. This has contributed to the loss of genetic diversity amongst the black and white rhinoceros. Conservation and anti-poaching efforts are needed to help maintain genetic diversity. These efforts could be improved through the development of non-invasive techniques to examine DNA from threatened animals. The aim of this research was to develop a molecular technique which would allow for the identification of the black and white rhinoceros and to develop a molecular technique which would allow for intraspecies genetic variation to be examined. DNA extractions were performed on matched faecal and tissue samples that were collected from two regions in South Africa. Polymerase chain reaction (PCR) primer sets were designed to investigate several regions of the rhinoceros mitochondrial genome. PCR optimisation was completed for the target regions. Sequencing was conducted on all final PCR products. The cytochrome c oxidase subunit 1 (COIi) gene allowed for the rhinoceros family to be identified. This region was digested with the HindIII restriction enzyme, which allowed for the specific identification of either the black or white rhinoceros. A subsequent region of the cytochrome c oxidase subunit 1 (COIii) as well as the D-loop, hypervariable regions (HV1 and HV2), cytochrome b (cytb) and 16s rRNA regions were investigated. These regions displayed potential for establishing geographic origin for black rhinoceros samples, whereas the D-loop and HV2 show potential for the white rhinoceros. The white rhinoceros displayed sequence variation in the HV2 and cytb region, while variation was observed in the COIi and HV1 for the black rhinoceros. All investigated target regions allowed for the rhinoceros family to be identified. The COI (COIi and COIii), HV2 and cytb regions allowed for the subspecies of rhinoceros to be identified, however the D-loop was not able to identify the white rhinoceros species. The 16s rRNA and HV1 regions allowed for the correct subspecies of rhinoceros to be identified, however as the primers were only compatible for the black rhinoceros therefore a subsequent investigation is required for the white rhinoceros. The establishment of this novel PCR based technique to identify white and black rhinoceros will allow for efficient species identification in wildlife forensic cases. A biological method was established to study intraspecies variation for the white and black rhinoceros; however the investigated target regions did not yield sufficient genetic variation. The core techniques developed in this study will be valuable for future studies that wish to investigate genetic variation in mammal species.
- Full Text:
The developmental impact of non-contributory social grants in South Africa : a study of Ezibeleni, Queenstown
- Authors: Xaba, Mzingaye Brilliant
- Date: 2015
- Subjects: Economic assistance, Domestic -- South Africa , Poor -- South Africa -- Queenstown , Poverty -- South Africa -- Queenstown , South Africa -- Economic conditions -- 1991- , South Africa -- Social conditions -- 1994-
- Language: English
- Type: Thesis , Masters , MSocSc
- Identifier: vital:3402 , http://hdl.handle.net/10962/d1018919
- Description: Amartya Sen argued that poverty was the “deprivation” of the capability to lead a “good life”, therefore ending poverty meant meeting basic physical and social needs, and enabling meaningful economic and political choices. The principal objective of this research was to investigate whether (and if so, in what ways) post-apartheid state-provided non-contributory cash social grants in South Africa reduced “poverty” in Sen’s sense. This thesis used Ezibeleni, a historically black working class township at Queenstown, in the Eastern Cape, as a reference area. Using in-depth interviews, it found that social grants did help reduce poverty, both in terms of helping meet basic needs and enabling grant recipients to make more choices, including facilitating job searches and small businesses. However, it was also found that grants fall short of ending poverty, as the grants were too small to adequately cover basic needs in the context of large family sizes, a serious and long-term lack of resources, persistent unemployment, and high indebtedness, and could also enable only a limited expansion of choices. The grants played a positive role, but were inadequate to remove the “unfreedoms” facing the poor.
- Full Text:
- Authors: Xaba, Mzingaye Brilliant
- Date: 2015
- Subjects: Economic assistance, Domestic -- South Africa , Poor -- South Africa -- Queenstown , Poverty -- South Africa -- Queenstown , South Africa -- Economic conditions -- 1991- , South Africa -- Social conditions -- 1994-
- Language: English
- Type: Thesis , Masters , MSocSc
- Identifier: vital:3402 , http://hdl.handle.net/10962/d1018919
- Description: Amartya Sen argued that poverty was the “deprivation” of the capability to lead a “good life”, therefore ending poverty meant meeting basic physical and social needs, and enabling meaningful economic and political choices. The principal objective of this research was to investigate whether (and if so, in what ways) post-apartheid state-provided non-contributory cash social grants in South Africa reduced “poverty” in Sen’s sense. This thesis used Ezibeleni, a historically black working class township at Queenstown, in the Eastern Cape, as a reference area. Using in-depth interviews, it found that social grants did help reduce poverty, both in terms of helping meet basic needs and enabling grant recipients to make more choices, including facilitating job searches and small businesses. However, it was also found that grants fall short of ending poverty, as the grants were too small to adequately cover basic needs in the context of large family sizes, a serious and long-term lack of resources, persistent unemployment, and high indebtedness, and could also enable only a limited expansion of choices. The grants played a positive role, but were inadequate to remove the “unfreedoms” facing the poor.
- Full Text:
The diets of co-occuring anurans in a small South African river: assessments using stomach contents, stable isotope ratios and fatty acid profiles
- Authors: Sikutshwa, Likho
- Date: 2015
- Language: English
- Type: text , Thesis , Masters , MSc
- Identifier: http://hdl.handle.net/10962/54405 , vital:26562
- Description: During their life cycle amphibians change their habitat and feeding, and are important consumers in both terrestrial and aquatic habitats. The trophic ecology of anurans has been studied intensively using gut content analysis, but very little work has been done using biochemical techniques such as stable isotope and fatty acid analyses. These biochemical techniques produce data that allow for additional inferences about the trophic ecology of anurans, as they reveal what the organisms assimilated over time rather than what was recently ingested. The investigation of the feeding ecology and trophic interactions of anurans using gut content analyses together with stable isotope and fatty acid analyses will help us to better understand their ecological roles. The objective of this thesis was to assess the feeding ecology of four anurans (Amietia angolensis, Amietophyrnus rangeri, Strongylopus grayii and Xenopus laevis) in a temperate river using a combination of gut content, stable isotope and fatty acid analyses. Frogs, tadpoles and potential food sources were sampled in two sites (upstream and downstream) in the Kowie River, Eastern Cape Province, South Africa. Gut content analyses identified 147 prey items belonging to 12 prey orders in the stomachs of the sampled specimens. In both A. angolensis and S. grayii the most important prey category was Coleoptera, followed by Hemiptera, Diptera and Hymenoptera at both sites. Aquatic prey items (aquatic hemipterans, chirinomids and blackflies) were the most important food sources for X. laevis (Alimentary Index (IAi) = 6.4; 5.2; 4.2). In Am. rangeri, Hymenoptera was the most important prey category (IAi = 8.3). The trophic niche overlap between A. angolensis and S. grayii was biologically significant (> 0.6), and in the remaining species there was no significant trophic niche overlap. Amietia angolensis showed a larger trophic niche (Levin’s measure; B = 7.7 and Bst = 0.84 downstream, and upstream B = 7.6 (Bst = 0.82) compared to the other species. The gut content analyses showed that frogs feed on a variety of prey items that constitutes food sources from both aquatic and terrestrial habitats. Stable isotopes indicated that aquatic derived sources contributed significantly more towards the diets of X. laevis, A. angolensis tadpoles and S. grayii tadpoles compared with the other anurans, whereas aquatic and terrestrial derived food sources contributed equally to the diets of A. angolensis and S. grayii. Increased trophic positions in A. angolensis and S. grayii occurred throughout their development. The four different species had similar fatty acid profiles in the upstream region, and fairly similar δ13C values, suggesting that they probably consumed similar food. Fatty acid profiles of anurans in the downstream region showed distinct separations among the species. Tadpoles had high levels of diatom-associated fatty acids (20:5ω3; A. angolensis tadpole – 8.4 %, S. grayii tadpole – 9.4 % upstream and downstream; 9.1 and 6.1 % total fatty acids (TFA), respectively). All four species had substantial contributions from bacterial fatty acids, and large proportions of saturated fatty acids (30.6 - 50.0 %) including those with 14 and 18 carbons, indicating that bacterial and detritus food sources played an important role in their diets. The fatty acid profiles revealed high proportions of polyunsaturated fatty acids (PUFAs) and essential fatty acids (EFAs) in all species, indicating a good quality of food and that the quality of food consumed was similar among species. The results demonstrated the usefulness of a combination of traditional techniques (gut content techniques) and biochemical techniques (stable isotopes and fatty acid analysis) for assessing consumption and assimilation. The amphibian assemblages examined derived much of their energy from terrestrial and aquatic sources. This information will allow more precise and comprehensive assessments of trophic interactions in freshwater habitats, along with aiding in future amphibian conservation and management efforts.
- Full Text:
- Authors: Sikutshwa, Likho
- Date: 2015
- Language: English
- Type: text , Thesis , Masters , MSc
- Identifier: http://hdl.handle.net/10962/54405 , vital:26562
- Description: During their life cycle amphibians change their habitat and feeding, and are important consumers in both terrestrial and aquatic habitats. The trophic ecology of anurans has been studied intensively using gut content analysis, but very little work has been done using biochemical techniques such as stable isotope and fatty acid analyses. These biochemical techniques produce data that allow for additional inferences about the trophic ecology of anurans, as they reveal what the organisms assimilated over time rather than what was recently ingested. The investigation of the feeding ecology and trophic interactions of anurans using gut content analyses together with stable isotope and fatty acid analyses will help us to better understand their ecological roles. The objective of this thesis was to assess the feeding ecology of four anurans (Amietia angolensis, Amietophyrnus rangeri, Strongylopus grayii and Xenopus laevis) in a temperate river using a combination of gut content, stable isotope and fatty acid analyses. Frogs, tadpoles and potential food sources were sampled in two sites (upstream and downstream) in the Kowie River, Eastern Cape Province, South Africa. Gut content analyses identified 147 prey items belonging to 12 prey orders in the stomachs of the sampled specimens. In both A. angolensis and S. grayii the most important prey category was Coleoptera, followed by Hemiptera, Diptera and Hymenoptera at both sites. Aquatic prey items (aquatic hemipterans, chirinomids and blackflies) were the most important food sources for X. laevis (Alimentary Index (IAi) = 6.4; 5.2; 4.2). In Am. rangeri, Hymenoptera was the most important prey category (IAi = 8.3). The trophic niche overlap between A. angolensis and S. grayii was biologically significant (> 0.6), and in the remaining species there was no significant trophic niche overlap. Amietia angolensis showed a larger trophic niche (Levin’s measure; B = 7.7 and Bst = 0.84 downstream, and upstream B = 7.6 (Bst = 0.82) compared to the other species. The gut content analyses showed that frogs feed on a variety of prey items that constitutes food sources from both aquatic and terrestrial habitats. Stable isotopes indicated that aquatic derived sources contributed significantly more towards the diets of X. laevis, A. angolensis tadpoles and S. grayii tadpoles compared with the other anurans, whereas aquatic and terrestrial derived food sources contributed equally to the diets of A. angolensis and S. grayii. Increased trophic positions in A. angolensis and S. grayii occurred throughout their development. The four different species had similar fatty acid profiles in the upstream region, and fairly similar δ13C values, suggesting that they probably consumed similar food. Fatty acid profiles of anurans in the downstream region showed distinct separations among the species. Tadpoles had high levels of diatom-associated fatty acids (20:5ω3; A. angolensis tadpole – 8.4 %, S. grayii tadpole – 9.4 % upstream and downstream; 9.1 and 6.1 % total fatty acids (TFA), respectively). All four species had substantial contributions from bacterial fatty acids, and large proportions of saturated fatty acids (30.6 - 50.0 %) including those with 14 and 18 carbons, indicating that bacterial and detritus food sources played an important role in their diets. The fatty acid profiles revealed high proportions of polyunsaturated fatty acids (PUFAs) and essential fatty acids (EFAs) in all species, indicating a good quality of food and that the quality of food consumed was similar among species. The results demonstrated the usefulness of a combination of traditional techniques (gut content techniques) and biochemical techniques (stable isotopes and fatty acid analysis) for assessing consumption and assimilation. The amphibian assemblages examined derived much of their energy from terrestrial and aquatic sources. This information will allow more precise and comprehensive assessments of trophic interactions in freshwater habitats, along with aiding in future amphibian conservation and management efforts.
- Full Text:
The Ecca type section (Permian, South Africa) : an outcrop analogue study of conventional and unconventional hydrocarbon reservoirs
- Authors: Campbell, Stuart Alexander
- Date: 2015
- Subjects: Hydrocarbon reservoirs -- Ecca Group , Geology, Stratigraphic -- Permian , Paleogeography -- Ecca Group , Shale gas -- Ecca Group , Shale gas reservoirs -- Ecca Group , Ecca Group , Ripon Formation (South Africa) , Collingham Formation (South Africa)
- Language: English
- Type: Thesis , Masters , MSc
- Identifier: vital:5083 , http://hdl.handle.net/10962/d1018199
- Description: The Karoo Basin of South Africa holds an estimated 906 billion to 11 trillion cubic meters of unconventional shale gas within the shales of the Whitehill and Collingham formations of the Ecca Group. Evaluation of this potential resource has been limited due to the lack of exploration and a scarcity of existing drill core data. In order to circumnavigate this problem this study was undertaken to evaluate the potential target horizons exposed in outcrops along the southern portion of the Karoo Basin, north of Grahamstown in the Eastern Cape Province. Detailed field logging was done on the exposed Whitehill and Collingham formations as well as a possible conventional sandstone (turbidite) reservoir, the Ripon Formation, along road cuttings of the Ecca Pass. Palaeocurrent data, jointing directions and fossil material were also documented. Samples were analysed for mineralogy, porosity, permeability, and total organic carbon content (TOC). The extensively weathered black shales of the Whitehill Formation contain a maximum TOC value of 0.9% and the Collingham Formation shales contain a maximum TOC value of 0.6%. The organic lithic arkose sandstones of the Ripon Formation are classified as ‘tight rock’ with an average porosity of 1% and an average permeability of 0.05 mD. The Whitehill Formation in the southern portion of the Karoo Basin has experienced organic matter loss due to low grade metamorphism as well as burial to extreme depths, thus reducing shale gas potential. The Ripon Formation is an unsuitable conventional reservoir along the southern basin boundary due to extensive cementation and filling of pore spaces.
- Full Text:
- Authors: Campbell, Stuart Alexander
- Date: 2015
- Subjects: Hydrocarbon reservoirs -- Ecca Group , Geology, Stratigraphic -- Permian , Paleogeography -- Ecca Group , Shale gas -- Ecca Group , Shale gas reservoirs -- Ecca Group , Ecca Group , Ripon Formation (South Africa) , Collingham Formation (South Africa)
- Language: English
- Type: Thesis , Masters , MSc
- Identifier: vital:5083 , http://hdl.handle.net/10962/d1018199
- Description: The Karoo Basin of South Africa holds an estimated 906 billion to 11 trillion cubic meters of unconventional shale gas within the shales of the Whitehill and Collingham formations of the Ecca Group. Evaluation of this potential resource has been limited due to the lack of exploration and a scarcity of existing drill core data. In order to circumnavigate this problem this study was undertaken to evaluate the potential target horizons exposed in outcrops along the southern portion of the Karoo Basin, north of Grahamstown in the Eastern Cape Province. Detailed field logging was done on the exposed Whitehill and Collingham formations as well as a possible conventional sandstone (turbidite) reservoir, the Ripon Formation, along road cuttings of the Ecca Pass. Palaeocurrent data, jointing directions and fossil material were also documented. Samples were analysed for mineralogy, porosity, permeability, and total organic carbon content (TOC). The extensively weathered black shales of the Whitehill Formation contain a maximum TOC value of 0.9% and the Collingham Formation shales contain a maximum TOC value of 0.6%. The organic lithic arkose sandstones of the Ripon Formation are classified as ‘tight rock’ with an average porosity of 1% and an average permeability of 0.05 mD. The Whitehill Formation in the southern portion of the Karoo Basin has experienced organic matter loss due to low grade metamorphism as well as burial to extreme depths, thus reducing shale gas potential. The Ripon Formation is an unsuitable conventional reservoir along the southern basin boundary due to extensive cementation and filling of pore spaces.
- Full Text:
The economics of institutions, institutional governance and efficiency: the case of water distribution in Lower Sundays River Valley
- Authors: Madigele, Patricia Kefilwe
- Date: 2015
- Language: English
- Type: text , Thesis , Masters , MCom
- Identifier: http://hdl.handle.net/10962/54777 , vital:26611
- Description: The institutional dynamics, policies and legislation that were prevalent during the apartheid era have left imprints that are difficult to ignore as they still dictate the interaction between different elements in the water sector to date. During the apartheid era, the formulation of policies was informed by racial segregation, resulting in a socio-economic pattern that dictated the distribution and access of resources for the people of different races in the country. Post-apartheid, the National Water Act has established the basis for management of water resources on a catchment basis (for equity, efficiency and sustainability), and the Water Services Act aims to ensure everybody has access to basic water supply and sanitation services. Regardless of the improvements in water supply to the rural sector made by the South African government, many of the current patterns of water use are still characterised by inequality, inefficiency, and inadequacy. The poor remain marginalised, and emerging farmers and poor rural communities have limited access to water resources while water continues to be used inefficiently by some farmers in the agricultural sector with few incentives to improve its water use efficiency. Despite the existence of the thriving citrus industry in the area, around 60% of people in the Sundays River Valley Municipality (SRVM) live below the poverty datum line. The inequality between the municipal populace and the commercial citrus industry is noticeable and the inequitable water redistribution is prevalent in the Lower Sundays River Valley (LSRV). The problem of disrupted water supply is prevalent in the catchment. However, there is also currently no physical shortage of water in the catchment. Therefore, the currently experienced problems with water supply in the LSRV are consequence of a lack of effective institutions and infrastructure, not of physical water scarcity. It is argued in this paper that there is a notable lack of understanding about the design of institutions for water management in developing countries. The vast majority of research on water management and access is premised on neoclassical economics ideas related to water markets and pricing among others. The neoclassical economics approach, however, does not adequately define the role of institutions in shaping the direction of water access and supply. This study uses new institutional economics (NIE) arguments to define the institutional arrangements and dynamics defining the water sector in South Africa, using the Lower Sunday River Water Users Association (LSR-WUA) as the case study. It aims at analysing the institutional governance and performance of the using equity, efficiency and effectiveness as key indicators. The various research methods employed in this study include; interpretive and post-positivist paradigms, quantitative and qualitative research, the case study research method and in-depth key informant interviews. It is concluded that that the current and future decisions made by the LSR-WUA are not entirely independent of those made in the past under Sundays River Irrigation Board (SRIB). The thesis argues that such factors as old effective networks, vested interests of commercial farmers, sunk costs towards the building of canals, among other factors, may have influenced the dependence of the LSR-WUA on the SRIB’s set path. It is further concluded that the absence of contractual agreement between the LRS-WUA which acts as the bulk water supplier, and the SRVM which acts as both the water services authority (WSA) and the water service provider (WSP) creates an institutional arrangement deficiency. Such an institutional arrangement vacuum can lead to a failure of the water institutions in the catchment to provide water resources effectively. The study further argues that because the post-apartheid National Water Policy of South Africa is largely influenced by neoclassical economics foundations, the desired results in the water sector, such as equitable distribution of water resources, have not yet been fulfilled completely.
- Full Text:
- Authors: Madigele, Patricia Kefilwe
- Date: 2015
- Language: English
- Type: text , Thesis , Masters , MCom
- Identifier: http://hdl.handle.net/10962/54777 , vital:26611
- Description: The institutional dynamics, policies and legislation that were prevalent during the apartheid era have left imprints that are difficult to ignore as they still dictate the interaction between different elements in the water sector to date. During the apartheid era, the formulation of policies was informed by racial segregation, resulting in a socio-economic pattern that dictated the distribution and access of resources for the people of different races in the country. Post-apartheid, the National Water Act has established the basis for management of water resources on a catchment basis (for equity, efficiency and sustainability), and the Water Services Act aims to ensure everybody has access to basic water supply and sanitation services. Regardless of the improvements in water supply to the rural sector made by the South African government, many of the current patterns of water use are still characterised by inequality, inefficiency, and inadequacy. The poor remain marginalised, and emerging farmers and poor rural communities have limited access to water resources while water continues to be used inefficiently by some farmers in the agricultural sector with few incentives to improve its water use efficiency. Despite the existence of the thriving citrus industry in the area, around 60% of people in the Sundays River Valley Municipality (SRVM) live below the poverty datum line. The inequality between the municipal populace and the commercial citrus industry is noticeable and the inequitable water redistribution is prevalent in the Lower Sundays River Valley (LSRV). The problem of disrupted water supply is prevalent in the catchment. However, there is also currently no physical shortage of water in the catchment. Therefore, the currently experienced problems with water supply in the LSRV are consequence of a lack of effective institutions and infrastructure, not of physical water scarcity. It is argued in this paper that there is a notable lack of understanding about the design of institutions for water management in developing countries. The vast majority of research on water management and access is premised on neoclassical economics ideas related to water markets and pricing among others. The neoclassical economics approach, however, does not adequately define the role of institutions in shaping the direction of water access and supply. This study uses new institutional economics (NIE) arguments to define the institutional arrangements and dynamics defining the water sector in South Africa, using the Lower Sunday River Water Users Association (LSR-WUA) as the case study. It aims at analysing the institutional governance and performance of the using equity, efficiency and effectiveness as key indicators. The various research methods employed in this study include; interpretive and post-positivist paradigms, quantitative and qualitative research, the case study research method and in-depth key informant interviews. It is concluded that that the current and future decisions made by the LSR-WUA are not entirely independent of those made in the past under Sundays River Irrigation Board (SRIB). The thesis argues that such factors as old effective networks, vested interests of commercial farmers, sunk costs towards the building of canals, among other factors, may have influenced the dependence of the LSR-WUA on the SRIB’s set path. It is further concluded that the absence of contractual agreement between the LRS-WUA which acts as the bulk water supplier, and the SRVM which acts as both the water services authority (WSA) and the water service provider (WSP) creates an institutional arrangement deficiency. Such an institutional arrangement vacuum can lead to a failure of the water institutions in the catchment to provide water resources effectively. The study further argues that because the post-apartheid National Water Policy of South Africa is largely influenced by neoclassical economics foundations, the desired results in the water sector, such as equitable distribution of water resources, have not yet been fulfilled completely.
- Full Text:
The effect of extracellular Hsp90β and TGF-β1 on colon cancer biology
- Authors: Perks, Tamarin
- Date: 2015
- Language: English
- Type: text , Thesis , Masters , MSc
- Identifier: http://hdl.handle.net/10962/55896 , vital:26753
- Description: The TGF-β signaling pathway is known to be one of the most commonly mutated pathways in human cancers, while Hsp90 is a bone fide drug target that is involved in regulating the conformation and activity of many oncoproteins. The role of intracellular Hsp90 in cancer has thus far been established and there is a growing link between extracellular Hsp90 and cancer metastasis, as well as the role of TGF-β in metastasis. This study aimed to analyse the interaction between Hsp90 (both intracellular and extracellular) and the TGF-β machinery in cancer cells, as well as to determine the effect of these proteins on cellular responses on the biology of cancer cells. This was achieved by studying the expression of Hsp90; TGF-βRII and TGF-β1 in cancer cell lines of various origins using flow cytometry, ELISA, and western blot analysis. The genetically paired SW480 and SW620 colon cancer cell lines, derived from a primary tumour and lymph node metastasis, respectively, were selected for further study due to differences in expression levels and activation of the TGF-β1 pathway. SW480 cells expressed double the level of TGF-βRII compared to SW620 cells, while SW620 expressed two times more extracellular TGF-β1 than SW480 cells. A direct interaction between TGF-β1 and Hsp90β was determined in vitro, and confirmed in vivo in SW620 cells. Growth, adhesion and migration were analysed in SW480 and SW620 cells. SW480 cells adhered significantly faster than SW620 cells, while SW620 cells had a greater rate of migration. Inhibiting the TGF-β pathway, specifically TGF-βRI, using SB 431542, as well as inhibiting Hsp90 with novobiocin, caused an increase in migration in SW480 cells. Only the addition of TGF-β1 in combination with Hsp90 as well as SB 431542 caused an increase in migration in SW620 cells. The canonical TGF-β1/TGF-βRI/TGF-βRII pathway may be constitutively active in SW620 cells and the inhibition of TGF-βRI may suggest an alternate pathway or receptor in both SW480 and SW620 cells.
- Full Text:
- Authors: Perks, Tamarin
- Date: 2015
- Language: English
- Type: text , Thesis , Masters , MSc
- Identifier: http://hdl.handle.net/10962/55896 , vital:26753
- Description: The TGF-β signaling pathway is known to be one of the most commonly mutated pathways in human cancers, while Hsp90 is a bone fide drug target that is involved in regulating the conformation and activity of many oncoproteins. The role of intracellular Hsp90 in cancer has thus far been established and there is a growing link between extracellular Hsp90 and cancer metastasis, as well as the role of TGF-β in metastasis. This study aimed to analyse the interaction between Hsp90 (both intracellular and extracellular) and the TGF-β machinery in cancer cells, as well as to determine the effect of these proteins on cellular responses on the biology of cancer cells. This was achieved by studying the expression of Hsp90; TGF-βRII and TGF-β1 in cancer cell lines of various origins using flow cytometry, ELISA, and western blot analysis. The genetically paired SW480 and SW620 colon cancer cell lines, derived from a primary tumour and lymph node metastasis, respectively, were selected for further study due to differences in expression levels and activation of the TGF-β1 pathway. SW480 cells expressed double the level of TGF-βRII compared to SW620 cells, while SW620 expressed two times more extracellular TGF-β1 than SW480 cells. A direct interaction between TGF-β1 and Hsp90β was determined in vitro, and confirmed in vivo in SW620 cells. Growth, adhesion and migration were analysed in SW480 and SW620 cells. SW480 cells adhered significantly faster than SW620 cells, while SW620 cells had a greater rate of migration. Inhibiting the TGF-β pathway, specifically TGF-βRI, using SB 431542, as well as inhibiting Hsp90 with novobiocin, caused an increase in migration in SW480 cells. Only the addition of TGF-β1 in combination with Hsp90 as well as SB 431542 caused an increase in migration in SW620 cells. The canonical TGF-β1/TGF-βRI/TGF-βRII pathway may be constitutively active in SW620 cells and the inhibition of TGF-βRI may suggest an alternate pathway or receptor in both SW480 and SW620 cells.
- Full Text:
The effect of GH family affiliations of mannanolytic enzymes on their synergistic associations during the hydrolysis of mannan-containing substrates
- Authors: Malgas, Samkelo
- Date: 2015
- Subjects: Lignocellulose , Biomass energy , Ethanol as fuel , Polysaccharides , Sugar -- Inversion , Glycosidases , Galactoglucomannans , Oligosaccharides
- Language: English
- Type: Thesis , Masters , MSc
- Identifier: vital:4148 , http://hdl.handle.net/10962/d1017909
- Full Text:
- Authors: Malgas, Samkelo
- Date: 2015
- Subjects: Lignocellulose , Biomass energy , Ethanol as fuel , Polysaccharides , Sugar -- Inversion , Glycosidases , Galactoglucomannans , Oligosaccharides
- Language: English
- Type: Thesis , Masters , MSc
- Identifier: vital:4148 , http://hdl.handle.net/10962/d1017909
- Full Text:
The effect of strike action on the value and volatility of the South African Rand
- Authors: Gordon, Ross Patrick
- Date: 2015
- Subjects: Foreign exchange rates -- South Africa , Strikes and lockouts -- South Africa -- Economic aspects , South Africa -- Foreign economic relations , South Africa -- Economic conditions -- 1991- , Rand, South African , Dollar, American
- Language: English
- Type: Thesis , Masters , MCom
- Identifier: vital:1124 , http://hdl.handle.net/10962/d1020018
- Description: This study analyses whether the advent of strike action has an effect on the value and volatility of the South African Rand compared with the US Dollar. The literature suggests that strike action can have a significant effect on the exchange rate in terms of either value or volatility, and consequences can result that cause inefficiencies in the economy; inhibiting employment and economic growth. Strike action has become common place in South Africa, with 2012 alone recording 99 strikes, 45 of which were “wildcat” or unprotected strikes. This study uses GARCH and Intervention Analyses to determine what the resulting effects of the strikes might be on the exchange rate. The analysis used ZAR/USD exchange rate data for the period January 2000 to October 2013, and covered 72 of the most significant strikes in terms of lost man-days. The results are mixed, suggesting that the effects of strikes do not always conform to expectations (increased volatility and a depreciation in the Rand), and that outside factors affecting the global economy may have a more significant effect on the exchange rate than strikes on their own.
- Full Text:
- Authors: Gordon, Ross Patrick
- Date: 2015
- Subjects: Foreign exchange rates -- South Africa , Strikes and lockouts -- South Africa -- Economic aspects , South Africa -- Foreign economic relations , South Africa -- Economic conditions -- 1991- , Rand, South African , Dollar, American
- Language: English
- Type: Thesis , Masters , MCom
- Identifier: vital:1124 , http://hdl.handle.net/10962/d1020018
- Description: This study analyses whether the advent of strike action has an effect on the value and volatility of the South African Rand compared with the US Dollar. The literature suggests that strike action can have a significant effect on the exchange rate in terms of either value or volatility, and consequences can result that cause inefficiencies in the economy; inhibiting employment and economic growth. Strike action has become common place in South Africa, with 2012 alone recording 99 strikes, 45 of which were “wildcat” or unprotected strikes. This study uses GARCH and Intervention Analyses to determine what the resulting effects of the strikes might be on the exchange rate. The analysis used ZAR/USD exchange rate data for the period January 2000 to October 2013, and covered 72 of the most significant strikes in terms of lost man-days. The results are mixed, suggesting that the effects of strikes do not always conform to expectations (increased volatility and a depreciation in the Rand), and that outside factors affecting the global economy may have a more significant effect on the exchange rate than strikes on their own.
- Full Text:
The effects of dietary soya and crystalline phytoestrogens on the growth, gonad development and histology of farmed abalone, Haliotis midae
- Wu, Yu
- Authors: Wu, Yu
- Date: 2015
- Subjects: Haliotis midae , Haliotis midae -- Feeding and feeds , Haliotis midae -- Growth , Haliotis midae -- Histology , Haliotis midae -- Effect of chemicals on , Soybean as feed , Phytoestrogens
- Language: English
- Type: Thesis , Masters , MSc
- Identifier: vital:5380 , http://hdl.handle.net/10962/d1017225
- Description: The inclusion of soya as a dietary protein source in the formulated feed, Abfeed® S34 (Marifeed Pty (Ltd), Hermanus) for farmed abalone, Haliotis midae has resulted in larger gonads during reproductive seasons compared to the gonads of abalone fed kelp or diets that included fishmeal as the only main protein source. The aim of this study was to determine if the isoflavones present in the soya were responsible for this increase in gonad size and the subsequent effects on farmed abalone growth. Animals weighing between 40-50 g were fed one of seven isonitrogenous and isoenergetic diets containing either 0, 25, 50 or 100 percent of the soya component of the commercial feed (Abfeed® S34, Marifeed Pty (Ltd), Hermanus) from September 2013 to March 2014. An additional three diets were formulated to include crystalline isoflavone (ISO). These diets were identical to the 0 percent soya diet (i.e. the fishmeal only diet - FM), only ISO was included at the same rate that ISO occurred in the three soya diets. Data were analysed using a multiple forward stepwise regression analysis (MSR) to test the effects of ISO concentration, soya concentration, time, sex, time by concentration interaction and sex by concentration interaction on growth and gonad development and to identify those variables that most contributed to the model. The inclusion of crystalline ISO failed to promote larger gonads and had no effect on abalone growth, while growth and gonad development was dose dependent on soya inclusion rates with sex and time contributing to the models. Mean monthly weight gain in males correlated with increasing soya concentrations (c) (MSR, y = 3.24 + 0.002c, r2 = 0.23, p = 0.03), ranging from 3.11 ± 0.55 g abalone-1 month-1 to 4.43 ± 0.46 g abalone-1 month-1, while both male and female monthly length gain was not influenced by soya concentration with an overall mean of 1.62 ± 0.05 mm abalone-1 month-1 (MSR, p = 0.05 and p = 0.81, respectively). By December, the whole body mass, meat mass and visceral mass in both males and females decreased with increasing soya levels. However, by February, female whole body mass, meat mass and visceral mass positively correlated with soya levels. At the end of the study, male abalone fed FM with soya equivalent to the commercial feed had the highest whole body mass (69.00 ± 2.48 g abalone-1), meat mass (41.80 ± 1.12 g abalone-1), visceral mass (9.00 ± 2.47 g abalone-1) and gonad bulk index (42.70 ± 9.82 g abalone-1), while females were not influenced by soya concentrations with an overall whole body mass of 63.46 ± 0.79 g abalone-1. Weight loss was observed in all treatments between February and March, probably due to a spawning event. The moisture content in the meat was not influenced by treatment, however, visceral water loss was effected by both ISO and soya concentration with time and sex contributing to the model. The visceral water loss of females fed graded levels of soya decreased as a function of soya from December to March, and from December to February for males, whereas females fed ISO-enriched diets decreased as a function of ISO concentration (c) at the end of the study from 74.98 ± 0.88 to 73.10 ± 0.75 percent (MSR, y = 74.97 – 0.0025c, r2 = 0.20, p = 0.048). The inclusion of crystalline ISO had no significant effect on oogenesis in female farmed Haliotis midae, while the distribution of the predominant oocyte stage, stage 7 (second last stage prior to spawning) was dose-dependent in abalone fed increasing soya concentration (c) (MSR, y = 33.38 + 0.03c, r2 = 0.32, F(1, 18) = 8.52, p = 0.01). The increase in stage 7 oocytes in abalone fed FM with soya did not reduce the number of oocytes (44.96 ± 3.01 oocytes mm-2) present within the lumen, while the number of oocytes (o) in abalone fed the FM-only based diets decreased with increasing abundance of stage 7 oocytes (MSR, y = 58.28 – 0.48c, r2 = 0.38, F(1, 18) = 12.51, p = 0.002), possibly due to the increase in size of the oocytes with thicker jelly coats. This study provided evidence that crystalline isoflavone had no influence on abalone gonad development over five months, while soya had a dose-dependent effect on growth, gonad mass and oogenesis in farmed Haliotis midae. Formulated abalone feed could be manipulated at certain times of the year to obtain maximum growth. These implications and further studies were discussed.
- Full Text:
- Authors: Wu, Yu
- Date: 2015
- Subjects: Haliotis midae , Haliotis midae -- Feeding and feeds , Haliotis midae -- Growth , Haliotis midae -- Histology , Haliotis midae -- Effect of chemicals on , Soybean as feed , Phytoestrogens
- Language: English
- Type: Thesis , Masters , MSc
- Identifier: vital:5380 , http://hdl.handle.net/10962/d1017225
- Description: The inclusion of soya as a dietary protein source in the formulated feed, Abfeed® S34 (Marifeed Pty (Ltd), Hermanus) for farmed abalone, Haliotis midae has resulted in larger gonads during reproductive seasons compared to the gonads of abalone fed kelp or diets that included fishmeal as the only main protein source. The aim of this study was to determine if the isoflavones present in the soya were responsible for this increase in gonad size and the subsequent effects on farmed abalone growth. Animals weighing between 40-50 g were fed one of seven isonitrogenous and isoenergetic diets containing either 0, 25, 50 or 100 percent of the soya component of the commercial feed (Abfeed® S34, Marifeed Pty (Ltd), Hermanus) from September 2013 to March 2014. An additional three diets were formulated to include crystalline isoflavone (ISO). These diets were identical to the 0 percent soya diet (i.e. the fishmeal only diet - FM), only ISO was included at the same rate that ISO occurred in the three soya diets. Data were analysed using a multiple forward stepwise regression analysis (MSR) to test the effects of ISO concentration, soya concentration, time, sex, time by concentration interaction and sex by concentration interaction on growth and gonad development and to identify those variables that most contributed to the model. The inclusion of crystalline ISO failed to promote larger gonads and had no effect on abalone growth, while growth and gonad development was dose dependent on soya inclusion rates with sex and time contributing to the models. Mean monthly weight gain in males correlated with increasing soya concentrations (c) (MSR, y = 3.24 + 0.002c, r2 = 0.23, p = 0.03), ranging from 3.11 ± 0.55 g abalone-1 month-1 to 4.43 ± 0.46 g abalone-1 month-1, while both male and female monthly length gain was not influenced by soya concentration with an overall mean of 1.62 ± 0.05 mm abalone-1 month-1 (MSR, p = 0.05 and p = 0.81, respectively). By December, the whole body mass, meat mass and visceral mass in both males and females decreased with increasing soya levels. However, by February, female whole body mass, meat mass and visceral mass positively correlated with soya levels. At the end of the study, male abalone fed FM with soya equivalent to the commercial feed had the highest whole body mass (69.00 ± 2.48 g abalone-1), meat mass (41.80 ± 1.12 g abalone-1), visceral mass (9.00 ± 2.47 g abalone-1) and gonad bulk index (42.70 ± 9.82 g abalone-1), while females were not influenced by soya concentrations with an overall whole body mass of 63.46 ± 0.79 g abalone-1. Weight loss was observed in all treatments between February and March, probably due to a spawning event. The moisture content in the meat was not influenced by treatment, however, visceral water loss was effected by both ISO and soya concentration with time and sex contributing to the model. The visceral water loss of females fed graded levels of soya decreased as a function of soya from December to March, and from December to February for males, whereas females fed ISO-enriched diets decreased as a function of ISO concentration (c) at the end of the study from 74.98 ± 0.88 to 73.10 ± 0.75 percent (MSR, y = 74.97 – 0.0025c, r2 = 0.20, p = 0.048). The inclusion of crystalline ISO had no significant effect on oogenesis in female farmed Haliotis midae, while the distribution of the predominant oocyte stage, stage 7 (second last stage prior to spawning) was dose-dependent in abalone fed increasing soya concentration (c) (MSR, y = 33.38 + 0.03c, r2 = 0.32, F(1, 18) = 8.52, p = 0.01). The increase in stage 7 oocytes in abalone fed FM with soya did not reduce the number of oocytes (44.96 ± 3.01 oocytes mm-2) present within the lumen, while the number of oocytes (o) in abalone fed the FM-only based diets decreased with increasing abundance of stage 7 oocytes (MSR, y = 58.28 – 0.48c, r2 = 0.38, F(1, 18) = 12.51, p = 0.002), possibly due to the increase in size of the oocytes with thicker jelly coats. This study provided evidence that crystalline isoflavone had no influence on abalone gonad development over five months, while soya had a dose-dependent effect on growth, gonad mass and oogenesis in farmed Haliotis midae. Formulated abalone feed could be manipulated at certain times of the year to obtain maximum growth. These implications and further studies were discussed.
- Full Text:
The effects of labour law on small firms in South Africa : perceptions of employers in the hospitality sector in Pretoria, Gauteng
- Authors: MacNeill, Jessica Dawn
- Date: 2015
- Subjects: Labor laws and legislation -- South Africa , Small business -- South Africa -- Pretoria , Small business -- South Africa -- Pretoria -- Personnel management , Hospitality industry -- South Africa -- Pretoria -- Personnel management , Manpower policy -- South Africa
- Language: English
- Type: Thesis , Masters , MSocSc
- Identifier: vital:3405 , http://hdl.handle.net/10962/d1018934
- Description: The South African government has attempted to find a balance of interests between the employer and the employee by the introduction of the Labour Relations Act in 1995 and the Basic Conditions of Employment Act in 1997. It is critical to the health of the South African economy that these labour laws do not impact small businesses to the extent that the Gross Domestic Product of the country is negatively affected. There are conflicting reports as to how these labour laws affect small businesses. It is therefore important for government to be able to understand, define and measure the impact of its labour laws on small businesses, in order for it to strategise corrective measures, which may include reconsidering the application of the legislative directive, regulated flexibility, if required. The study was limited in the sense that it was solely based on evidence collected from employers. An interpretivist approach was applied as a research methodology to data collected through in-depth interviews. The main findings of the empirical analysis demonstrate that labour legislation does not heavily impact small firms. It was thus determined that extensive measures were not needed with regard to correcting the framework of regulated flexibility.
- Full Text:
- Authors: MacNeill, Jessica Dawn
- Date: 2015
- Subjects: Labor laws and legislation -- South Africa , Small business -- South Africa -- Pretoria , Small business -- South Africa -- Pretoria -- Personnel management , Hospitality industry -- South Africa -- Pretoria -- Personnel management , Manpower policy -- South Africa
- Language: English
- Type: Thesis , Masters , MSocSc
- Identifier: vital:3405 , http://hdl.handle.net/10962/d1018934
- Description: The South African government has attempted to find a balance of interests between the employer and the employee by the introduction of the Labour Relations Act in 1995 and the Basic Conditions of Employment Act in 1997. It is critical to the health of the South African economy that these labour laws do not impact small businesses to the extent that the Gross Domestic Product of the country is negatively affected. There are conflicting reports as to how these labour laws affect small businesses. It is therefore important for government to be able to understand, define and measure the impact of its labour laws on small businesses, in order for it to strategise corrective measures, which may include reconsidering the application of the legislative directive, regulated flexibility, if required. The study was limited in the sense that it was solely based on evidence collected from employers. An interpretivist approach was applied as a research methodology to data collected through in-depth interviews. The main findings of the empirical analysis demonstrate that labour legislation does not heavily impact small firms. It was thus determined that extensive measures were not needed with regard to correcting the framework of regulated flexibility.
- Full Text:
The enactment of teacher leadership in a township high school : a restricted form
- Authors: Mancoko, Melikhaya Kenneth
- Date: 2015
- Subjects: Educational leadership -- South Africa -- King William's Town , Teacher participation in administration -- South Africa -- King William's Town , School management and organization -- South Africa -- King William's Town , Education, Secondary -- South Africa -- King William's Town
- Language: English
- Type: Thesis , Masters , MEd
- Identifier: vital:2060 , http://hdl.handle.net/10962/d1019886
- Description: Whilst the concept of teacher leadership is not new in the international literature (Grant, 2006), research on the topic of teacher leadership is emerging slowly as a new area of research interest in South Africa (Grant, 2006; Grant, 2005; Singh, 2007). Teacher leadership is basically about teachers who are leaders within and outside the classroom, who identify with and contribute to a community of teacher learners and leaders, influence others to improve their teaching practice and accept responsibility for realising the goals of their organisation (Katzenmeyer & Moller, 2001 in Grant, 2006). Therefore, teachers’ roles in operating as leaders in schools are acknowledged in literature. This study is a replication of a University of KwaZulu-Natal multi-case study on the enactment of teacher leadership conducted in various educational institutions in the province of KwaZulu-Natal. In line with the original study, this study aimed at obtaining an understanding of the enactment of teacher leadership in a township high school in the King William’s Town education district, in the Eastern Cape. I further explored what factors promoted or hindered such enactment. As an Eastern Cape Master of Education student participating in a group research programme at Rhodes University, we adopted and used the same research questions, research approach, data collection methods as well as data analysis techniques as utilised in the original study. Therefore, this research study was conducted within the interpretive paradigm, following a qualitative approach. I adopted a case study methodology, with the case being the school and three teacher leaders as units of analysis. Data were gathered through a multi-method approach which consisted of a school profile, a focus group interview, semi-structured individual interviews, questionnaires, self reflective journaling and observations. Whilst the research was guided by distributed leadership theory, Grant’s (2008) Model of teacher leadership and thematic content analysis was used to analyse data. Research findings revealed that the enactment of teacher leadership was evident in Zones 1, 2 and 4 of Grant’s (2008) Model of teacher leadership in the case study school. However, a restricted form of teacher leadership was enacted in Zone 3, whereby teachers were not regularly involved in school-wide decision-making processes. When teacher leadership was enacted, it was in a form of authorised distributed leadership. The study further identified the autocratic leadership style of the principal and of the School Management Team members, as well as the non-inclusive school culture as main barriers towards the enactment of teacher leadership in the case study school. Despite these barriers, teachers’ high levels of enthusiasm were identified as an enabling factor that promoted the enactment of teacher leadership in the case study school.
- Full Text:
- Authors: Mancoko, Melikhaya Kenneth
- Date: 2015
- Subjects: Educational leadership -- South Africa -- King William's Town , Teacher participation in administration -- South Africa -- King William's Town , School management and organization -- South Africa -- King William's Town , Education, Secondary -- South Africa -- King William's Town
- Language: English
- Type: Thesis , Masters , MEd
- Identifier: vital:2060 , http://hdl.handle.net/10962/d1019886
- Description: Whilst the concept of teacher leadership is not new in the international literature (Grant, 2006), research on the topic of teacher leadership is emerging slowly as a new area of research interest in South Africa (Grant, 2006; Grant, 2005; Singh, 2007). Teacher leadership is basically about teachers who are leaders within and outside the classroom, who identify with and contribute to a community of teacher learners and leaders, influence others to improve their teaching practice and accept responsibility for realising the goals of their organisation (Katzenmeyer & Moller, 2001 in Grant, 2006). Therefore, teachers’ roles in operating as leaders in schools are acknowledged in literature. This study is a replication of a University of KwaZulu-Natal multi-case study on the enactment of teacher leadership conducted in various educational institutions in the province of KwaZulu-Natal. In line with the original study, this study aimed at obtaining an understanding of the enactment of teacher leadership in a township high school in the King William’s Town education district, in the Eastern Cape. I further explored what factors promoted or hindered such enactment. As an Eastern Cape Master of Education student participating in a group research programme at Rhodes University, we adopted and used the same research questions, research approach, data collection methods as well as data analysis techniques as utilised in the original study. Therefore, this research study was conducted within the interpretive paradigm, following a qualitative approach. I adopted a case study methodology, with the case being the school and three teacher leaders as units of analysis. Data were gathered through a multi-method approach which consisted of a school profile, a focus group interview, semi-structured individual interviews, questionnaires, self reflective journaling and observations. Whilst the research was guided by distributed leadership theory, Grant’s (2008) Model of teacher leadership and thematic content analysis was used to analyse data. Research findings revealed that the enactment of teacher leadership was evident in Zones 1, 2 and 4 of Grant’s (2008) Model of teacher leadership in the case study school. However, a restricted form of teacher leadership was enacted in Zone 3, whereby teachers were not regularly involved in school-wide decision-making processes. When teacher leadership was enacted, it was in a form of authorised distributed leadership. The study further identified the autocratic leadership style of the principal and of the School Management Team members, as well as the non-inclusive school culture as main barriers towards the enactment of teacher leadership in the case study school. Despite these barriers, teachers’ high levels of enthusiasm were identified as an enabling factor that promoted the enactment of teacher leadership in the case study school.
- Full Text:
The experience of single fathers as primary caregivers
- Authors: Naidoo, Raydene
- Date: 2015
- Subjects: Single fathers , Parenthood -- Psychological aspects , Father and child
- Language: English
- Type: Thesis , Masters , MA
- Identifier: vital:3263 , http://hdl.handle.net/10962/d1017886
- Description: Single-parent households are on the increase in our society and especially single-father households where fathers are fulfilling the role of both parents in rearing their children. In this qualitative study, three single fathers who are primary caregivers were interviewed regarding their experience of primary caregiving, adjusting and coping with the transition to primary caregiving and their needs and concerns for their children's future. This study utilised a phenomenological approach to look at single fathers as the best and most informed individuals to explore and describe their lived experiences of being primary caregivers. The rationale for using interpretive phenomenological analysis (IPA) is that it is concerned with individuals' subjective reports and assumes that participants seek to interpret their experiences into some form that is understandable to them. The researcher utilised three semi-structured, in depth, face-to-face interviews as a method of data collection. Each interview focused on eliciting different sets of data, firstly the researcher look at identifying the participants' experience of primary care giving, then moved onto their adjusting and coping with the transition and finally focused on the primary needs and concerns of participants with regards to primary care giving. The sub-themes that emerged from the study include the loss of a partner, shifts in the role the fathers play as parent, dealing with children's reaction to the "loss" of a mother in the home, good parenting: biology vs upbringing, social construction of men and woman, the value of self-care for single fathers, where self-care incorporates both physical and mental care, internal support from family or friends, external support from the community, relationship between fathers and children and sibling relationships. These led to the various super-ordinate themes. The super-ordinate themes and categories that resulted from the analysis of the material include: (1) The transition to being a single-parent and primary caregiver was difficult, (2) Parenting is not biological it is cultural and fathers can fulfil the role, (3) Self-care is important, (4) Support comes from family and friends but social support is rare, (5) Close family relationships are formed
- Full Text:
- Authors: Naidoo, Raydene
- Date: 2015
- Subjects: Single fathers , Parenthood -- Psychological aspects , Father and child
- Language: English
- Type: Thesis , Masters , MA
- Identifier: vital:3263 , http://hdl.handle.net/10962/d1017886
- Description: Single-parent households are on the increase in our society and especially single-father households where fathers are fulfilling the role of both parents in rearing their children. In this qualitative study, three single fathers who are primary caregivers were interviewed regarding their experience of primary caregiving, adjusting and coping with the transition to primary caregiving and their needs and concerns for their children's future. This study utilised a phenomenological approach to look at single fathers as the best and most informed individuals to explore and describe their lived experiences of being primary caregivers. The rationale for using interpretive phenomenological analysis (IPA) is that it is concerned with individuals' subjective reports and assumes that participants seek to interpret their experiences into some form that is understandable to them. The researcher utilised three semi-structured, in depth, face-to-face interviews as a method of data collection. Each interview focused on eliciting different sets of data, firstly the researcher look at identifying the participants' experience of primary care giving, then moved onto their adjusting and coping with the transition and finally focused on the primary needs and concerns of participants with regards to primary care giving. The sub-themes that emerged from the study include the loss of a partner, shifts in the role the fathers play as parent, dealing with children's reaction to the "loss" of a mother in the home, good parenting: biology vs upbringing, social construction of men and woman, the value of self-care for single fathers, where self-care incorporates both physical and mental care, internal support from family or friends, external support from the community, relationship between fathers and children and sibling relationships. These led to the various super-ordinate themes. The super-ordinate themes and categories that resulted from the analysis of the material include: (1) The transition to being a single-parent and primary caregiver was difficult, (2) Parenting is not biological it is cultural and fathers can fulfil the role, (3) Self-care is important, (4) Support comes from family and friends but social support is rare, (5) Close family relationships are formed
- Full Text:
The experiences of isiMpondo speakers in learning standard isiXhosa through the formal education system : an exploratory study at a school in the Bizana district of the Eastern Cape
- Authors: Maqam, Eslinah Zodwa
- Date: 2015
- Subjects: Language and teaching -- South Africa -- Eastern Cape -- Bizana , Native language and education , Language policy -- South Africa -- Eastern Cape -- Bizana
- Language: English
- Type: Thesis , Masters , MA
- Identifier: vital:3652 , http://hdl.handle.net/10962/d1017893
- Description: This study investigates the experiences of isiMpondo speakers in learning standard language through the formal education system. The sociolinguistic factors such as attitudes, language policies and language use in multilingual societies are taken into considerations. The children of non-standard language speakers such as those who speak dialects like isiMpondo have to use another language in their early years in the school system. It is articulated that the isiMpondo that the child brings to the school from the environment is not accommodated simply because it is a non-standard language; whereas the language that is used in the classroom situation is the isiXhosa variety which is a standard one. The research findings show that isiMpondo impacts on learner’s education directly because they lose marks during the course of the year and during examination times if they use it. The study concludes with a recommendation that educators should honour the seven roles of educators by appropriate norms and standards. Some approaches to teaching have been suggested to be used by teachers with regard to inclusivity, as it recognises diversity, and values the following: the uniqueness of the individuals, the experiences, abilities, cultural and language backgrounds of each individual. All in all it seeks to meet the needs of the individual learner by creating a non-discriminatory teaching and learning environment.
- Full Text:
- Authors: Maqam, Eslinah Zodwa
- Date: 2015
- Subjects: Language and teaching -- South Africa -- Eastern Cape -- Bizana , Native language and education , Language policy -- South Africa -- Eastern Cape -- Bizana
- Language: English
- Type: Thesis , Masters , MA
- Identifier: vital:3652 , http://hdl.handle.net/10962/d1017893
- Description: This study investigates the experiences of isiMpondo speakers in learning standard language through the formal education system. The sociolinguistic factors such as attitudes, language policies and language use in multilingual societies are taken into considerations. The children of non-standard language speakers such as those who speak dialects like isiMpondo have to use another language in their early years in the school system. It is articulated that the isiMpondo that the child brings to the school from the environment is not accommodated simply because it is a non-standard language; whereas the language that is used in the classroom situation is the isiXhosa variety which is a standard one. The research findings show that isiMpondo impacts on learner’s education directly because they lose marks during the course of the year and during examination times if they use it. The study concludes with a recommendation that educators should honour the seven roles of educators by appropriate norms and standards. Some approaches to teaching have been suggested to be used by teachers with regard to inclusivity, as it recognises diversity, and values the following: the uniqueness of the individuals, the experiences, abilities, cultural and language backgrounds of each individual. All in all it seeks to meet the needs of the individual learner by creating a non-discriminatory teaching and learning environment.
- Full Text:
The exploration of influence as a leadership competency amongst emerging adult males
- Authors: Munyai, Pfarelo Pardon
- Date: 2015
- Subjects: Leadership , Leadership -- Psychological aspects , Influence (Psychology) , Control (Psychology) , Social media , Executives -- Training of , Executive ability , College students , Young adults , Educational leadership , Executive coaching , Male college students , Leadership -- Study and teaching (Higher) , College student government
- Language: English
- Type: Thesis , Masters , MBA
- Identifier: vital:852 , http://hdl.handle.net/10962/d1017520
- Description: The association between leadership, influence and power is well developed in the literature. However, there is a notable lack of research on youth leadership development, especially as it pertains to their exercise of influence. This paper was borne out of the need to explore how youth - emerging adults’ males in particular - exercise influence as a leadership competency within their voluntary leadership positions. Using semi-structured face-to-face interviews and the Critical Incident Technique (CIT), the research primarily focused on influence tactics and how they were employed. This included assessing the related power bases and principles of influence that were manifest, as well as the learning and development that occurred when reflecting on the outcome of the influence process. Data was analysed using an open coding procedure. Incidents explored in the study were primarily interpersonal in nature. This was reminiscent of lateral influence that characterised the peer to peer contextual environment of the study. The study found that in their influence pursuits, emerging adults followed a rational approach to influence. The distinguishable power bases and their relative importance in application were context dependent (Krause and Kearney, 2006:59-86). In addition, various proactive influence tactics were employed with a leaning towards those perceived as positive, honest and non-manipulative in application, which was congruent with Head Student role expectations and the culture of the organization. The utilization of social media as a communication platform from which various tactics could be launched was a novel and notable finding. Consequently, the results were presented primarily under two themes, exploring how tactics of influence are used face to face and via the social media platform. In addition, the study emphasised the ethical implications of the exercise of influence in both of these platforms and related to this, the challenge of influencing friends or close associates, without undermining leadership integrity. Overall, the various influence incidents presented and their outcomes, evidently shaped leadership development by reinforcing tactics which worked and stimulating continuous reflection and learning, adaptive strategies and the development of new means to deal with resistance and non-compliance. All of these are critical to shaping future influence behaviour. Primary recommendations include the need for a proactive approach to educating youth on leadership and influence through formal programmes, if they were to be empowered with tools to develop and maximize their leadership potential. Equally, practitioners need to be sensitized to the significance of their role as catalysts in nurturing youth leadership development. In addition, the novel use of social media as a leadership influence platform was recognised as significant and as such, a candidate for further research. Beyond the limited scope of this study, other angles worthy of further research include, factoring in elements such as gender, cross-cultural differences and the aspect of voluntary versus incentivised (or paid) leadership positions. The research is presented in an academic paper format, and is structured in three sections. These sections are written up as relatively independent sections, but are complementary in covering the full scope of the research. Section One, which is essentially a paper in a format of an academic journal article, represent the primary section and covers the results of the study, together with discussions and recommendations. This is followed by a literature review (i.e. Section Two), which delves into all the relevant literature explored. Section Three covers the methodology, research design and research procedure pursued. As part of the addendum, a comprehensive summary of the incidents explored is presented. This gives insight into the nature of the various incidents, the influence tactics preferred, power bases and influence principles manifested, together with the outcomes of the incidents. Furthermore, lessons drawn in reflection are noted, which participants viewed as critical, in that they shaped the way they now intend to exercise influence and thereby reflects their personal leadership development.
- Full Text:
- Authors: Munyai, Pfarelo Pardon
- Date: 2015
- Subjects: Leadership , Leadership -- Psychological aspects , Influence (Psychology) , Control (Psychology) , Social media , Executives -- Training of , Executive ability , College students , Young adults , Educational leadership , Executive coaching , Male college students , Leadership -- Study and teaching (Higher) , College student government
- Language: English
- Type: Thesis , Masters , MBA
- Identifier: vital:852 , http://hdl.handle.net/10962/d1017520
- Description: The association between leadership, influence and power is well developed in the literature. However, there is a notable lack of research on youth leadership development, especially as it pertains to their exercise of influence. This paper was borne out of the need to explore how youth - emerging adults’ males in particular - exercise influence as a leadership competency within their voluntary leadership positions. Using semi-structured face-to-face interviews and the Critical Incident Technique (CIT), the research primarily focused on influence tactics and how they were employed. This included assessing the related power bases and principles of influence that were manifest, as well as the learning and development that occurred when reflecting on the outcome of the influence process. Data was analysed using an open coding procedure. Incidents explored in the study were primarily interpersonal in nature. This was reminiscent of lateral influence that characterised the peer to peer contextual environment of the study. The study found that in their influence pursuits, emerging adults followed a rational approach to influence. The distinguishable power bases and their relative importance in application were context dependent (Krause and Kearney, 2006:59-86). In addition, various proactive influence tactics were employed with a leaning towards those perceived as positive, honest and non-manipulative in application, which was congruent with Head Student role expectations and the culture of the organization. The utilization of social media as a communication platform from which various tactics could be launched was a novel and notable finding. Consequently, the results were presented primarily under two themes, exploring how tactics of influence are used face to face and via the social media platform. In addition, the study emphasised the ethical implications of the exercise of influence in both of these platforms and related to this, the challenge of influencing friends or close associates, without undermining leadership integrity. Overall, the various influence incidents presented and their outcomes, evidently shaped leadership development by reinforcing tactics which worked and stimulating continuous reflection and learning, adaptive strategies and the development of new means to deal with resistance and non-compliance. All of these are critical to shaping future influence behaviour. Primary recommendations include the need for a proactive approach to educating youth on leadership and influence through formal programmes, if they were to be empowered with tools to develop and maximize their leadership potential. Equally, practitioners need to be sensitized to the significance of their role as catalysts in nurturing youth leadership development. In addition, the novel use of social media as a leadership influence platform was recognised as significant and as such, a candidate for further research. Beyond the limited scope of this study, other angles worthy of further research include, factoring in elements such as gender, cross-cultural differences and the aspect of voluntary versus incentivised (or paid) leadership positions. The research is presented in an academic paper format, and is structured in three sections. These sections are written up as relatively independent sections, but are complementary in covering the full scope of the research. Section One, which is essentially a paper in a format of an academic journal article, represent the primary section and covers the results of the study, together with discussions and recommendations. This is followed by a literature review (i.e. Section Two), which delves into all the relevant literature explored. Section Three covers the methodology, research design and research procedure pursued. As part of the addendum, a comprehensive summary of the incidents explored is presented. This gives insight into the nature of the various incidents, the influence tactics preferred, power bases and influence principles manifested, together with the outcomes of the incidents. Furthermore, lessons drawn in reflection are noted, which participants viewed as critical, in that they shaped the way they now intend to exercise influence and thereby reflects their personal leadership development.
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The gentle pressure of the sky
- Authors: Watermeyer, Laura
- Date: 2015
- Subjects: South African fiction (English) -- 21st century , South African fiction (English) -- Study and teaching (Higher) , South African poetry (English) -- Study and teaching (Higher) , Creative writing (Higher education) -- South Africa , Short stories, South African -- 21st century
- Language: English
- Type: Thesis , Masters , MA
- Identifier: vital:5996 , http://hdl.handle.net/10962/d1017780
- Description: A collection of lyrical, imaginative prose, ranging from prose poems to more formal short stories to flash fiction. I challenge the ordinary or commonplace by exploring the realms between fiction and poetry, realism and fantasy, reality and illusion. I would like reading the collection to be a sensory experience, one that draws the reader deeper into the imaginary. Stylistically, I work elements of poetic language into the narrative in order to express the mystery and remoteness that the stories require.
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- Authors: Watermeyer, Laura
- Date: 2015
- Subjects: South African fiction (English) -- 21st century , South African fiction (English) -- Study and teaching (Higher) , South African poetry (English) -- Study and teaching (Higher) , Creative writing (Higher education) -- South Africa , Short stories, South African -- 21st century
- Language: English
- Type: Thesis , Masters , MA
- Identifier: vital:5996 , http://hdl.handle.net/10962/d1017780
- Description: A collection of lyrical, imaginative prose, ranging from prose poems to more formal short stories to flash fiction. I challenge the ordinary or commonplace by exploring the realms between fiction and poetry, realism and fantasy, reality and illusion. I would like reading the collection to be a sensory experience, one that draws the reader deeper into the imaginary. Stylistically, I work elements of poetic language into the narrative in order to express the mystery and remoteness that the stories require.
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The impact of internal behavioural decision-making biases on South African collective investment scheme performance
- Authors: Muller, Stacey Leigh
- Date: 2015
- Subjects: Decision making , Investment analysis , Efficient market theory , Consumer behavior , Behavioral assessment , Mutual funds
- Language: English
- Type: Thesis , Masters , MCom
- Identifier: vital:1209 , http://hdl.handle.net/10962/d1020308
- Description: Market efficiency, based on people acting rationally, has been the dominating finance theory for most of the 20th and 21st Century’s. This classical finance theory is based on assumptions that people are rational, they absorb all available information and maximise utility. This view is outdated; it has been shown that people are in fact irrational and that this could be the cause of anomalies in the market. Behavioural finance takes into account people, and their natural biases. Behavioural finance has integrated classical financial theories and psychological theories to illustrate the way in which irrational people can impact market efficiency. This research looks at the way collective investment scheme manager decision-making can impact market efficiency. Specifically the behavioural biases: overconfidence, over optimism, loss aversion and frame dependence and whether or not collective investment scheme performance is affected by these. This research was carried out using a questionnaire distributed directly to CIS managers and risk-adjusted returns were used in order to allow for comparative results. The results from the questionnaire show evidence that actively managing South African CIS managers do indeed suffer from overconfidence and loss aversion and they do not appear to suffer from frame dependence or over optimism in this research context. There was also evidence showing that managers who suffer from these biases also demonstrated lower investment returns. “The investor’s chief problem, and even his worst enemy, is likely to be himself.” - Benjamin Graham
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- Authors: Muller, Stacey Leigh
- Date: 2015
- Subjects: Decision making , Investment analysis , Efficient market theory , Consumer behavior , Behavioral assessment , Mutual funds
- Language: English
- Type: Thesis , Masters , MCom
- Identifier: vital:1209 , http://hdl.handle.net/10962/d1020308
- Description: Market efficiency, based on people acting rationally, has been the dominating finance theory for most of the 20th and 21st Century’s. This classical finance theory is based on assumptions that people are rational, they absorb all available information and maximise utility. This view is outdated; it has been shown that people are in fact irrational and that this could be the cause of anomalies in the market. Behavioural finance takes into account people, and their natural biases. Behavioural finance has integrated classical financial theories and psychological theories to illustrate the way in which irrational people can impact market efficiency. This research looks at the way collective investment scheme manager decision-making can impact market efficiency. Specifically the behavioural biases: overconfidence, over optimism, loss aversion and frame dependence and whether or not collective investment scheme performance is affected by these. This research was carried out using a questionnaire distributed directly to CIS managers and risk-adjusted returns were used in order to allow for comparative results. The results from the questionnaire show evidence that actively managing South African CIS managers do indeed suffer from overconfidence and loss aversion and they do not appear to suffer from frame dependence or over optimism in this research context. There was also evidence showing that managers who suffer from these biases also demonstrated lower investment returns. “The investor’s chief problem, and even his worst enemy, is likely to be himself.” - Benjamin Graham
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The impact of job redesign on employee job outcomes: the case of the implementation of a private-public partnership model at a hospital
- Authors: Onaga, Chukwuka Moses
- Date: 2015
- Subjects: Eastern Cape (South Africa) -- Department of Health , Hospitals -- Employees , Public-private sector cooperation -- South Africa -- Eastern Cape , Personnel management -- South Africa -- Eastern Cape , Organizational change -- South Africa -- Eastern Cape , Job enrichment -- South Africa -- Eastern Cape , Job satisfaction -- South Africa -- Eastern Cape
- Language: English
- Type: Thesis , Masters , MBA
- Identifier: vital:853 , http://hdl.handle.net/10962/d1017521
- Description: It has been widely reported that despite high health expenditure and a myriad of policies in place, South Africa’s health outcomes are worse than those in many lower income countries. The adverse health outcomes are even more pronounced in a rural province such as the Eastern Cape Province. Consequently, the Eastern Cape Department of Health (ECDOH) had turned to Private Public Partnerships (PPP) with the hope of mitigating some of the challenges beleaguering the health system in the province. This study evaluated the impact of the implementation of one of the PPP models at an Eastern Cape Hospital on key employee job outcomes. This is crucial as there had not yet, been this type of scientific assessment of the impact of the PPP model since the inception of the PPP about half a decade ago. Theoretical guidance of the study was provided by the Job Characteristics Theory (JCT) of Oldham and Hackman (1975), which predicted that changes in five core characteristics of a job will affect three critical psychological states which will in turn impact on key employee job outcomes. Uniquely, this study veered away from the traditional quantitative approach to the application of the JCT but rather adopted a qualitative case study approach. There is historical evidence that cross cultural validation of a theory in a new setting (a South African PPP hospital in this instance) benefits from an initial qualitative study. Data collection and analysis were guided by the JCT. Primary data collection was by semi-structured, face to face, one on one interviews. The analyses of the data specifically employed pattern matching and explanation building techniques, all underpinned by the JCT. Validity of interview data was strongly contributed to by available relevant case study documents. This study found that indeed, the implementation of this PPP model brought about changes in all five (JCT) core job characteristics of clinical staff, but to varying degrees in the three unique shared service areas. Interestingly, the three psychological states were found to have been impacted upon by changes in the JCT core job characteristics but also by factors related to the context of the job, such as quality of supervision and co-worker relationship. In contrast to the predictions of the JCT, this study also found that the key job outcomes were impacted directly by such contextual factors as the recent availability of specialists and staff shortages, among others. It also emerged that the PPP implementation has directly evoked a perception of inequity and breach of psychological contract among clinical staff working at the shared service areas. Among the three shared areas, the accident and emergency unit was discovered to have had the worst overall impact. Due to the importance of contextual factors at this PPP setting, key recommendations were directed towards improved management of the jobs. It is also recommended that a follow-up quantitative study be commissioned to further explore the main themes that emerged from this study. This research report is presented in three sections. Section 1 is the evaluative report itself, structured as an academic paper. Section 2 expands on the literature that was briefly reviewed in Section 1 while Section 3 outlines, in greater details, the research methods followed during the conduct of the research and the justifications thereof.
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- Authors: Onaga, Chukwuka Moses
- Date: 2015
- Subjects: Eastern Cape (South Africa) -- Department of Health , Hospitals -- Employees , Public-private sector cooperation -- South Africa -- Eastern Cape , Personnel management -- South Africa -- Eastern Cape , Organizational change -- South Africa -- Eastern Cape , Job enrichment -- South Africa -- Eastern Cape , Job satisfaction -- South Africa -- Eastern Cape
- Language: English
- Type: Thesis , Masters , MBA
- Identifier: vital:853 , http://hdl.handle.net/10962/d1017521
- Description: It has been widely reported that despite high health expenditure and a myriad of policies in place, South Africa’s health outcomes are worse than those in many lower income countries. The adverse health outcomes are even more pronounced in a rural province such as the Eastern Cape Province. Consequently, the Eastern Cape Department of Health (ECDOH) had turned to Private Public Partnerships (PPP) with the hope of mitigating some of the challenges beleaguering the health system in the province. This study evaluated the impact of the implementation of one of the PPP models at an Eastern Cape Hospital on key employee job outcomes. This is crucial as there had not yet, been this type of scientific assessment of the impact of the PPP model since the inception of the PPP about half a decade ago. Theoretical guidance of the study was provided by the Job Characteristics Theory (JCT) of Oldham and Hackman (1975), which predicted that changes in five core characteristics of a job will affect three critical psychological states which will in turn impact on key employee job outcomes. Uniquely, this study veered away from the traditional quantitative approach to the application of the JCT but rather adopted a qualitative case study approach. There is historical evidence that cross cultural validation of a theory in a new setting (a South African PPP hospital in this instance) benefits from an initial qualitative study. Data collection and analysis were guided by the JCT. Primary data collection was by semi-structured, face to face, one on one interviews. The analyses of the data specifically employed pattern matching and explanation building techniques, all underpinned by the JCT. Validity of interview data was strongly contributed to by available relevant case study documents. This study found that indeed, the implementation of this PPP model brought about changes in all five (JCT) core job characteristics of clinical staff, but to varying degrees in the three unique shared service areas. Interestingly, the three psychological states were found to have been impacted upon by changes in the JCT core job characteristics but also by factors related to the context of the job, such as quality of supervision and co-worker relationship. In contrast to the predictions of the JCT, this study also found that the key job outcomes were impacted directly by such contextual factors as the recent availability of specialists and staff shortages, among others. It also emerged that the PPP implementation has directly evoked a perception of inequity and breach of psychological contract among clinical staff working at the shared service areas. Among the three shared areas, the accident and emergency unit was discovered to have had the worst overall impact. Due to the importance of contextual factors at this PPP setting, key recommendations were directed towards improved management of the jobs. It is also recommended that a follow-up quantitative study be commissioned to further explore the main themes that emerged from this study. This research report is presented in three sections. Section 1 is the evaluative report itself, structured as an academic paper. Section 2 expands on the literature that was briefly reviewed in Section 1 while Section 3 outlines, in greater details, the research methods followed during the conduct of the research and the justifications thereof.
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The influence of organisational culture on a high commitment work system and organisational commitment : the case of a Chinese multinational corporation in South Africa
- Authors: Mabuza, Linda Tengetile
- Date: 2015
- Subjects: Corporate culture -- South Africa , Corporate culture -- Cross-cultural studies , International business enterprises -- South Africa , Investments, Chinese -- South Africa , Organizational commitment -- South Africa , Performance -- Management , Host countries (Business) , Personnel management -- South Africa , South Africa -- Foreign economic relations -- China
- Language: English
- Type: Thesis , Masters , MCom
- Identifier: vital:1205 , http://hdl.handle.net/10962/d1017768
- Description: Chinese presence in Africa has been rapidly increasing in the past few years and has been speculated to be mainly due to China seeking Africa’s political alliance and access to Africa’s natural resources and growing consumer markets. The growing presence of Chinese organisations in Africa, however, has not been without its challenges. In particular, Chinese multinational corporations (MNCs) in search of consumer markets in Africa have been cited as facing human resource (HR) challenges which may affect their organisational performance. In this regard, literature on human resource management has already established the important role of organisational culture, HR practices and organisational commitment in enabling organisations to achieve superior organisational performance. Given the fact that there is currently little research knowledge of Chinese presence in Africa at the organisational level, this research aimed to contribute empirical knowledge to the growing body of research in this area. Specifically, the main purpose of this research was to examine how the organisational culture of a Chinese MNC’s South African subsidiary has shaped the nature of its high commitment work system (HCWS) and to assess the consequences thereof on organisational commitment. In alignment with the phenomenological paradigm, the research applied a descriptive and explanatory case study methodology in order to generate rich, qualitative data which was required for in-depth descriptions and to uncover the underlying interactions of the researched phenomena at the subsidiary. The selected case for the research was, therefore, a Chinese MNC operating in the personal computer (PC) industry, which had expanded its operations to South Africa in order to reach Africa’s growing consumer markets. In particular, the South African subsidiary served as a PC sales and distribution organisation for the Chinese MNC. There were about 40 employees at the subsidiary who were all South African employees. Semi-structured, in-depth interviews were conducted with twelve employees from different job functions and across different job levels. Data collection was guided by the theoretical frameworks by Cameron and Freeman (1991) for organisational culture and Xiao and Bjorkman (2006) for the HCWS and organisational commitment. The data collected from interviews was then analysed through a qualitative, content analysis process. The findings of the research thus pointed to the market culture as the dominant organisational culture type at the South African subsidiary of the Chinese MNC; characteristics of the adhocracy and clan cultures were also discovered. The externally oriented market culture was found to be the most relevant for the high performance and market leadership aspirations of the subsidiary. The market culture also appears to be the most appropriate organisational culture that would enable the subsidiary to deal with the competitive nature of the PC industry. Furthermore, it was found that certain cultural values emphasised by the Confucian and Ubuntu value systems could have had a part to play in the formation of the subsidiary’s organisational culture. The market culture was also found to have had the greatest influence in shaping the primarily performance oriented HCWS practices. Of the investigated HR practices at the subsidiary, all were found to be consistent with HCWS practices, with the exception of ownership practices and the performance appraisal system. Finally, although there were generally high levels of organisational commitment reported at the subsidiary, other job and organisational context factors besides the HCWS practices were found to be the major contributors to those feelings of organisational commitment. By investigating the organisational culture, HCWS and organisational commitment of a Chinese MNC in South Africa, this research has added to the body of knowledge concerning the growing presence of Chinese organisations in Africa. Based on the empirical findings of this study, several recommendations have been made in an attempt to assist the Chinese MNC manage the organisational commitment of its South African employees towards superior organisational performance.
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- Authors: Mabuza, Linda Tengetile
- Date: 2015
- Subjects: Corporate culture -- South Africa , Corporate culture -- Cross-cultural studies , International business enterprises -- South Africa , Investments, Chinese -- South Africa , Organizational commitment -- South Africa , Performance -- Management , Host countries (Business) , Personnel management -- South Africa , South Africa -- Foreign economic relations -- China
- Language: English
- Type: Thesis , Masters , MCom
- Identifier: vital:1205 , http://hdl.handle.net/10962/d1017768
- Description: Chinese presence in Africa has been rapidly increasing in the past few years and has been speculated to be mainly due to China seeking Africa’s political alliance and access to Africa’s natural resources and growing consumer markets. The growing presence of Chinese organisations in Africa, however, has not been without its challenges. In particular, Chinese multinational corporations (MNCs) in search of consumer markets in Africa have been cited as facing human resource (HR) challenges which may affect their organisational performance. In this regard, literature on human resource management has already established the important role of organisational culture, HR practices and organisational commitment in enabling organisations to achieve superior organisational performance. Given the fact that there is currently little research knowledge of Chinese presence in Africa at the organisational level, this research aimed to contribute empirical knowledge to the growing body of research in this area. Specifically, the main purpose of this research was to examine how the organisational culture of a Chinese MNC’s South African subsidiary has shaped the nature of its high commitment work system (HCWS) and to assess the consequences thereof on organisational commitment. In alignment with the phenomenological paradigm, the research applied a descriptive and explanatory case study methodology in order to generate rich, qualitative data which was required for in-depth descriptions and to uncover the underlying interactions of the researched phenomena at the subsidiary. The selected case for the research was, therefore, a Chinese MNC operating in the personal computer (PC) industry, which had expanded its operations to South Africa in order to reach Africa’s growing consumer markets. In particular, the South African subsidiary served as a PC sales and distribution organisation for the Chinese MNC. There were about 40 employees at the subsidiary who were all South African employees. Semi-structured, in-depth interviews were conducted with twelve employees from different job functions and across different job levels. Data collection was guided by the theoretical frameworks by Cameron and Freeman (1991) for organisational culture and Xiao and Bjorkman (2006) for the HCWS and organisational commitment. The data collected from interviews was then analysed through a qualitative, content analysis process. The findings of the research thus pointed to the market culture as the dominant organisational culture type at the South African subsidiary of the Chinese MNC; characteristics of the adhocracy and clan cultures were also discovered. The externally oriented market culture was found to be the most relevant for the high performance and market leadership aspirations of the subsidiary. The market culture also appears to be the most appropriate organisational culture that would enable the subsidiary to deal with the competitive nature of the PC industry. Furthermore, it was found that certain cultural values emphasised by the Confucian and Ubuntu value systems could have had a part to play in the formation of the subsidiary’s organisational culture. The market culture was also found to have had the greatest influence in shaping the primarily performance oriented HCWS practices. Of the investigated HR practices at the subsidiary, all were found to be consistent with HCWS practices, with the exception of ownership practices and the performance appraisal system. Finally, although there were generally high levels of organisational commitment reported at the subsidiary, other job and organisational context factors besides the HCWS practices were found to be the major contributors to those feelings of organisational commitment. By investigating the organisational culture, HCWS and organisational commitment of a Chinese MNC in South Africa, this research has added to the body of knowledge concerning the growing presence of Chinese organisations in Africa. Based on the empirical findings of this study, several recommendations have been made in an attempt to assist the Chinese MNC manage the organisational commitment of its South African employees towards superior organisational performance.
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The influence of the physical environment, topography and time on the inshore distribution of invertebrate larvae : a multi-taxon approach
- Authors: Duna, Oliver Olwethu
- Date: 2015
- Subjects: Benthic animals -- Larvae , Benthic animals -- Ecology , Plankton -- Larvae
- Language: English
- Type: Thesis , Masters , MSc
- Identifier: vital:5926 , http://hdl.handle.net/10962/d1017804
- Description: Coastal hydrodynamics regulate population dynamics through the distribution and dispersal of the meroplankton of many benthic invertebrates. I examined the hydrodynamics at four different sites on the south-east coast of South Africa and coupled them with larval sampling done at high temporal and spatial resolution. Day and night sampling was done at all four sites and a continuous 24 hour study was done in one site, both forms of sampling were carried out in autumn and spring. Samples were taken at two stations, 900 metres offshore and 300 metres apart, within each site. Water properties measured were depth, temperature and current velocity and direction. Plankton samples were collected using a plankton pump at various depths, from the surface, bottom and either side of the thermocline when present. A wide range of taxa (mostly bryozoans, bivalves, barnacles and decapods) was examined. 2-way ANOVAs were used to test the effects of time and depth on each taxon. In addition, multiple regression analyses were performed on each taxon to investigate the effects of hydrodynamics on the distribution of larvae. Bryozoanlarvae proved to be positively phototactic whilst bivalve veligers, barnacle larvae and decapod zoeae performed diel vertical migration. Turbulence and temperature had an effect on the vertical distribution/migration of decapod zoeae. These results highlight the role of taxon-specific responses to flow and the potential differential effects on larval retention and ultimately connectivity of benthic populations.
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- Authors: Duna, Oliver Olwethu
- Date: 2015
- Subjects: Benthic animals -- Larvae , Benthic animals -- Ecology , Plankton -- Larvae
- Language: English
- Type: Thesis , Masters , MSc
- Identifier: vital:5926 , http://hdl.handle.net/10962/d1017804
- Description: Coastal hydrodynamics regulate population dynamics through the distribution and dispersal of the meroplankton of many benthic invertebrates. I examined the hydrodynamics at four different sites on the south-east coast of South Africa and coupled them with larval sampling done at high temporal and spatial resolution. Day and night sampling was done at all four sites and a continuous 24 hour study was done in one site, both forms of sampling were carried out in autumn and spring. Samples were taken at two stations, 900 metres offshore and 300 metres apart, within each site. Water properties measured were depth, temperature and current velocity and direction. Plankton samples were collected using a plankton pump at various depths, from the surface, bottom and either side of the thermocline when present. A wide range of taxa (mostly bryozoans, bivalves, barnacles and decapods) was examined. 2-way ANOVAs were used to test the effects of time and depth on each taxon. In addition, multiple regression analyses were performed on each taxon to investigate the effects of hydrodynamics on the distribution of larvae. Bryozoanlarvae proved to be positively phototactic whilst bivalve veligers, barnacle larvae and decapod zoeae performed diel vertical migration. Turbulence and temperature had an effect on the vertical distribution/migration of decapod zoeae. These results highlight the role of taxon-specific responses to flow and the potential differential effects on larval retention and ultimately connectivity of benthic populations.
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The interrelationships between foreign direct investment and economic growth in Africa
- Authors: Bolani, Lindelwa Mandisa
- Date: 2015
- Subjects: Investments, Foreign -- Africa , Economic development -- Africa , Africa -- Economic conditions -- 1960- , Africa -- Foreign economic relations , Gross domestic product -- Africa
- Language: English
- Type: Thesis , Masters , MCom
- Identifier: vital:1123 , http://hdl.handle.net/10962/d1019885
- Description: There has been a long search for the keys to development and economic growth in Africa. This study investigates the relationship between FDI and economic growth over the period 2000-2012 using data from 48 African countries. On the aggregate regional level FDI and economic growth were found to be positively correlated during this period. Using panel data econometric techniques and the Panel Granger Causality test, results revealed that a bi-directional causality relationship existed between FDI and GDP. Thus, the results suggest that GDP is a requirement for increased investment, and at the same time is the result of increased foreign investment. Thus, the conclusion is that African policy makers are justified in increasing their attempts to create an attractive business environment for foreign investors, as it is beneficial for economic growth.
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- Authors: Bolani, Lindelwa Mandisa
- Date: 2015
- Subjects: Investments, Foreign -- Africa , Economic development -- Africa , Africa -- Economic conditions -- 1960- , Africa -- Foreign economic relations , Gross domestic product -- Africa
- Language: English
- Type: Thesis , Masters , MCom
- Identifier: vital:1123 , http://hdl.handle.net/10962/d1019885
- Description: There has been a long search for the keys to development and economic growth in Africa. This study investigates the relationship between FDI and economic growth over the period 2000-2012 using data from 48 African countries. On the aggregate regional level FDI and economic growth were found to be positively correlated during this period. Using panel data econometric techniques and the Panel Granger Causality test, results revealed that a bi-directional causality relationship existed between FDI and GDP. Thus, the results suggest that GDP is a requirement for increased investment, and at the same time is the result of increased foreign investment. Thus, the conclusion is that African policy makers are justified in increasing their attempts to create an attractive business environment for foreign investors, as it is beneficial for economic growth.
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