A multimodal analysis of the representation of voter disillusionment in social media memes distributed on Twitter in the lead up to the 2019 South African general election
- Authors: Jeftha, Courtney Alexandra
- Date: 2022-10-14
- Subjects: Elections South Africa 21st century , Culture Study and teaching South Africa , Mass media Study and teaching South Africa , Social media South Africa , Memes South Africa , Visual sociology , Textual Analysis , Critical discourse analysis , Modality (Linguistics)
- Language: English
- Type: Academic theses , Master's theses , text
- Identifier: http://hdl.handle.net/10962/405930 , vital:70220
- Description: This study is situated in the context of the 2019 South African general election, which saw the lowest voter turnout since its first democratic election in 1994. Many have questioned the capabilities of the African National Congress (ANC) since they came into power in 1994, due to allegations of corruption, maladministration and poor leadership. The concerns about the party’s ability to manage the country’s various social issues have led to a drop in voter turnout. There was much discussion in the media about the lack of voter turnout amongst young people in South Africa. This topic became a trending topic on social media under the #iwanttovotebut hashtag. The sentiments expressed by South African Twitter users in the #iwanttovotebut memes are explored in this study. The analysis of the memes draws on the works of Kress and van Leeuwen’s (1996; 2006) visual social semiotics, Fairclough’s (1989) approach to Critical discourse analysis (CDA), and Thompson’s operation of ideologies. VSS allows for the description of the various semiotic resources that memers use to construct their meaning from multimodal texts. The tools provided by CDA go beyond the description of VSS and develop a more detailed analysis of how the memers construct their discourses of democracy/governance. Thompson’s (1991) approach to understanding how ideology operates in language enables the deepening of the understanding of the dominant and naturalised notions of democracy/governance. The findings indicate that memers have a limited understanding of democracy. They also have a limited understanding of how political parties operate and their responsibilities in the form of government and various agencies. In addition, it is not surprising that young people are not voting in the 2019 general election. This is a phenomenon that the media has characterized as “apathy.” However, this research indicates that it would be more accurate to describe it as “disillusionment.” , Thesis (MA) -- Faculty of Humanities, School of Journalism and Media Studies, 2022
- Full Text:
- Authors: Jeftha, Courtney Alexandra
- Date: 2022-10-14
- Subjects: Elections South Africa 21st century , Culture Study and teaching South Africa , Mass media Study and teaching South Africa , Social media South Africa , Memes South Africa , Visual sociology , Textual Analysis , Critical discourse analysis , Modality (Linguistics)
- Language: English
- Type: Academic theses , Master's theses , text
- Identifier: http://hdl.handle.net/10962/405930 , vital:70220
- Description: This study is situated in the context of the 2019 South African general election, which saw the lowest voter turnout since its first democratic election in 1994. Many have questioned the capabilities of the African National Congress (ANC) since they came into power in 1994, due to allegations of corruption, maladministration and poor leadership. The concerns about the party’s ability to manage the country’s various social issues have led to a drop in voter turnout. There was much discussion in the media about the lack of voter turnout amongst young people in South Africa. This topic became a trending topic on social media under the #iwanttovotebut hashtag. The sentiments expressed by South African Twitter users in the #iwanttovotebut memes are explored in this study. The analysis of the memes draws on the works of Kress and van Leeuwen’s (1996; 2006) visual social semiotics, Fairclough’s (1989) approach to Critical discourse analysis (CDA), and Thompson’s operation of ideologies. VSS allows for the description of the various semiotic resources that memers use to construct their meaning from multimodal texts. The tools provided by CDA go beyond the description of VSS and develop a more detailed analysis of how the memers construct their discourses of democracy/governance. Thompson’s (1991) approach to understanding how ideology operates in language enables the deepening of the understanding of the dominant and naturalised notions of democracy/governance. The findings indicate that memers have a limited understanding of democracy. They also have a limited understanding of how political parties operate and their responsibilities in the form of government and various agencies. In addition, it is not surprising that young people are not voting in the 2019 general election. This is a phenomenon that the media has characterized as “apathy.” However, this research indicates that it would be more accurate to describe it as “disillusionment.” , Thesis (MA) -- Faculty of Humanities, School of Journalism and Media Studies, 2022
- Full Text:
An analysis of inland fisheries resource use in the Eastern Cape, South Africa
- Authors: Matam, Ncumisa Yanga
- Date: 2022-10-14
- Subjects: Fisheries South Africa Eastern Cape , Fishery law and legislation South Africa Eastern Cape , Small-scale fisheries South Africa Eastern Cape , Small-scale fisheries Social aspects South Africa Eastern Cape , Small-scale fisheries Economic aspects South Africa Eastern Cape , SADC Inland Fisheries Sector , Subsistence fishing South Africa Eastern Cape , Draft Inland Fisheries Policy (South Africa)
- Language: English
- Type: Master's thesis , text
- Identifier: http://hdl.handle.net/10962/232215 , vital:49972
- Description: South Africa’s Draft Inland Fisheries Policy identifies inland fisheries as an opportunity for socio-economic benefits such as jobs, food security and economic development, based on small-scale fishing and recreational value chains. Using roving creel surveys, this study examined various fishing groups in publicly accessible dams in both an urban and a rural settlement in the Makana Municipal area, Eastern Cape, South Africa. While inland fisheries are particularly relevant for rural communities, there is very little information on the current use of these resources, irrespective of inland fisheries’ importance. This thesis presents a conceptual framework for a study that: (1) reviews available information of inland fisheries and development attempts in South Africa; (2) provides an assessment of the use of inland fisheries on publicly accessible dams in the Makana Municipal area and (3) evaluates case studies of current and past utilization of selected inland fisheries initiatives in the Eastern Cape. The results of this project provide insights into the current conditions and development potentials of inland fisheries in the Eastern Cape. There was a difference in species composition between the dams, but no difference in the CPUE between dams. For example, in Grey dam many species were present, but as the dam size is only one hectare, this would result in an estimated yield harvest of only 207 kg/ha/year. Anglers were encountered at all dams, although fish were only retrieved by anglers in the rural dams of Committees Drift. Dam usage in the rural area was mostly subsistence angling, and this was significantly greater than in the urban area. Subsistence fishers utilised the fish to sustain themselves and their families and for better livelihoods. Anglers from outside the area tended to utilise the dam for recreational angling. Dams found in the urban area were also mostly used by subsistence anglers, though there were a few uses for aesthetic purposes. The urban dams were also utilised recreationally (picnics, year-end functions, swimming), as opposed to the rural dams which were only used for angling. A total of 10 interviews were administered to key respondents in the form of a questionnaires to determine the importance of the fisheries to them. Catch documented from the questionnaires, interviews and logbooks constituted 1238 species and 978 020 kg. Of all the anglers encountered from the interviews, the gill net catch species varied by dam. The fate of fish caught by anglers was dependent on employment status, with most unemployed anglers selling their fish for income and most employed anglers consuming their catch. The findings show that dams were used mostly by small-scale fishers and recreational anglers. Ichthyological surveys revealed that popular fish harvested were moggel, common carp, largemouth bass and Mozambique tilapia. The results are discussed in the context of appropriate development of fisheries in small dams in the province, with recommendations to continue monitored surveys to better inform the inland fisheries policy. The findings from this thesis show that having small scale fisheries in place and providing good access to the dams is essential for rural populations, in turn, providing better livelihoods through hunger alleviation and generating household income. , Thesis (MSc) -- Faculty of Science, Environmental Science, 2022
- Full Text:
- Authors: Matam, Ncumisa Yanga
- Date: 2022-10-14
- Subjects: Fisheries South Africa Eastern Cape , Fishery law and legislation South Africa Eastern Cape , Small-scale fisheries South Africa Eastern Cape , Small-scale fisheries Social aspects South Africa Eastern Cape , Small-scale fisheries Economic aspects South Africa Eastern Cape , SADC Inland Fisheries Sector , Subsistence fishing South Africa Eastern Cape , Draft Inland Fisheries Policy (South Africa)
- Language: English
- Type: Master's thesis , text
- Identifier: http://hdl.handle.net/10962/232215 , vital:49972
- Description: South Africa’s Draft Inland Fisheries Policy identifies inland fisheries as an opportunity for socio-economic benefits such as jobs, food security and economic development, based on small-scale fishing and recreational value chains. Using roving creel surveys, this study examined various fishing groups in publicly accessible dams in both an urban and a rural settlement in the Makana Municipal area, Eastern Cape, South Africa. While inland fisheries are particularly relevant for rural communities, there is very little information on the current use of these resources, irrespective of inland fisheries’ importance. This thesis presents a conceptual framework for a study that: (1) reviews available information of inland fisheries and development attempts in South Africa; (2) provides an assessment of the use of inland fisheries on publicly accessible dams in the Makana Municipal area and (3) evaluates case studies of current and past utilization of selected inland fisheries initiatives in the Eastern Cape. The results of this project provide insights into the current conditions and development potentials of inland fisheries in the Eastern Cape. There was a difference in species composition between the dams, but no difference in the CPUE between dams. For example, in Grey dam many species were present, but as the dam size is only one hectare, this would result in an estimated yield harvest of only 207 kg/ha/year. Anglers were encountered at all dams, although fish were only retrieved by anglers in the rural dams of Committees Drift. Dam usage in the rural area was mostly subsistence angling, and this was significantly greater than in the urban area. Subsistence fishers utilised the fish to sustain themselves and their families and for better livelihoods. Anglers from outside the area tended to utilise the dam for recreational angling. Dams found in the urban area were also mostly used by subsistence anglers, though there were a few uses for aesthetic purposes. The urban dams were also utilised recreationally (picnics, year-end functions, swimming), as opposed to the rural dams which were only used for angling. A total of 10 interviews were administered to key respondents in the form of a questionnaires to determine the importance of the fisheries to them. Catch documented from the questionnaires, interviews and logbooks constituted 1238 species and 978 020 kg. Of all the anglers encountered from the interviews, the gill net catch species varied by dam. The fate of fish caught by anglers was dependent on employment status, with most unemployed anglers selling their fish for income and most employed anglers consuming their catch. The findings show that dams were used mostly by small-scale fishers and recreational anglers. Ichthyological surveys revealed that popular fish harvested were moggel, common carp, largemouth bass and Mozambique tilapia. The results are discussed in the context of appropriate development of fisheries in small dams in the province, with recommendations to continue monitored surveys to better inform the inland fisheries policy. The findings from this thesis show that having small scale fisheries in place and providing good access to the dams is essential for rural populations, in turn, providing better livelihoods through hunger alleviation and generating household income. , Thesis (MSc) -- Faculty of Science, Environmental Science, 2022
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An investigation of language choice on Twitter: the case of isiXhosa-speaking users and the o jewa ke eng? Trend
- Authors: Nkunzi, Zindzi
- Date: 2022-10-14
- Subjects: Twitter , Social media South Africa , Social media and society South Africa , Xhosa language Usage , Mass media and language South Africa , Language choice , Language shift , Language attitude
- Language: English
- Type: Academic theses , Master's theses , text
- Identifier: http://hdl.handle.net/10962/406331 , vital:70259
- Description: The study critically examines and discusses language choice on twitter, a social media platform that has a vast number of people from different language groups. This diverse platform allows people to tweet, communicate, and share information online. There are tweets that trend and attract more engagement across different language groups. O jewa ke eng? which translates to ‘what’s bothering you?’ is one of those tweets, and it is communicated in Sesotho. (More discussion about the tweet in the introduction section that follows). According to Eisenstein, O’ Connor, Smith & Xing (2010) & Eisenstein (2016), “the popularity and ubiquity of social media allows access to a wide variety of spontaneous language enabling researchers to study language variation across space and time at large scale”, (Preotiuc-Pietro & Ungar, 2018: 1534). The introduction to the internet and socially mediated platforms such as Twitter and others has changed how information is produced and consumed. Social media allow people to communicate and engage in languages they are comfortable and familiar with. The study discusses language choice at three levels: language choice between isiXhosa verses English; isiXhosa verses other African languages and isiXhosa verses other varieties. The study is pursued with the overarching aim to investigate the possibility of African languages such as isiXhosa being used as dominant languages on social media. Thus, the study explores language use by isiXhosa speaking users on twitter that engaged with the tweet. Moreover, the study investigated why they choose to use one language over the other or multiple languages. To give a broader perspective on the study, language choice, language shift and language attitude are discussed and critically evaluated. Theoretically, the concept of code-switching and code-mixing is used when looking at bilingualism and multilingualism. It is imperative to look at multilingualism because the prevalent use of English is no longer a barrier to communication, social media platforms have created a space where African language users are able to engage in their native languages. Moreover, the study explores the use of standard and non-standard isiXhosa languages. There are varieties of languages such as tsotsitaal, slang and others, and these language varieties are not recognised as standard, used in educational settings and so on. In doing so, language attitude is used as the concept to investigate what propels isiXhosa users to or not to use these language varieties in the online communities. The study is explored with the aim to investigate whether social media either grows and preserves African languages online or these platforms are detrimental to these languages, as the language utilised on them is casual and vague, in terms of both spoken and written speech. , Olu phando luvavanya kwaye luxoxa nzulu ngokhetho lolwimi kuTwitter, ikhasi lonxibelelwano elinenani elikhulu labantu abavela kumaqela eelwimi ezahlukeneyo. Eli khasi labantu abohlukeneyo libavumela ukuba babhale, banxibelelane, kwaye babelane ngolwazi kwi-intanethi. Kukho ii-tweets (imibhalwana emifutshane) ezihamba phambili kwaye zitsala uthethathethwano phakathi kumaqela eelwimi ezahlukeneyo. O jewa ke eng? ethetha ukuthi, ‘ukhathazwa yintoni?’ yenye yezo tweets (yalo mibhalwana mifutshane), kwaye idluliselwe ngesiSuthu. (Ingxoxo engakumbi malunga ne-tweet (nombhalwana omfutshane) ifumaneka kwicandelo lentshayelelo elilandelayo). Ngokutsho kukaEisenstein, O’ Connor, Smith & Xing (2010) kunye noEisenstein (2016), “ukuduma kunye nobuninzi beendaba zoluntu kubangela ezo ndaba ukuba zinwenwele kwiindidi ezininzi zeelwimi nezivumela abaphandi ukuba bafunde ngokwahlukana kolwimi kwindawo kunye nexesha…”, (Preotiuc-Pietro & Ungar, 2008: 1534). Ulwaziso kwi-intanethi kunye namakhasi onxibelelwano oluntu afana ne-Twitter kunye namanye, luyitshintshile indlela ulwazi oluveliswa ngayo kunye nendlela olusetyenziswa ngayo. Amakhasi onxibelelwano oluntu avumela abantu ukuba banxibelelane kwaye bazibandakanye ngeelwimi abakhululekileyo ukuzisebenzisa nabaqhelene nazo Olu phando luxoxa ngokukhethwa kolwimi kumanqanaba amathathu: ukukhethwa kolwimi phakathi kwesiXhosa kunye nesiNgesi, isiXhosa kunye nezinye iilwimi ziseNtu, kwakunye nesiXhosa kunye nezinye iindidi zolwimi. Olu phando luqhutywa ngeyona njongo iphambili yokuphanda ukuba ngaba iilwimi zesiNtu ezifana nesiXhosa zingasetyenziswa njengeelwimi eziphambili kamakhasi onxibelelwano na. Kungoko, uphando luphonononga ukusetyenziswa kolwimi ngabo bantetho isisiXhosa kuTwitter abanxibelelana ne-tweet (nombhalo omfutshane). Olu phando, lukwaphanda ukuba kutheni bekhetha ukusebenzisa ulwimi oluthile kunolunye okanye iilwimi ezininzi. Ukunika umbono ngokuthe gabalala ngolu phando, ukukhethwa kolwimi, utshintsho lolwimi, kunye nesimo sengqondo solwimi ziyaxoxwa kwaye zihlolwa ngokunzulu. Ngokwethiyori, ingqikelelo yokutshintshatshintsha iilwimi kunye nokuxuba iilwimi (ukusebenzisa iilwimi ezahlukeneyo kumgca okanye umbhalo omnye) ziyasetyenziswa xa kujongwa ukusetyenziswa kweelwimi ezimbini kunye neelwimi ezininzi. Kunyanzelekile ukuba kujongwe ukusetyenziswa kweelwimi ezininzi kuba ukuxhaphaka kokusetyenziswa kwesiNgesi akusengomqobo kunxibelelwano, amakhasi onxibelelwano (amaqonga osasazo) oluntu avule indawo apho abasebenzisi beelwimi zesiNtu bakwaziyo ukuthetha ngeelwimi zabo zomthonyama. Ngaphezu koko, olu phando luphonononga ukusetyenziswa kweelwimi zesiXhosa ezisemgangathweni nezingekho mgangathweni. Kukho iintlobo ngeentlobo zeelwimi ezifana neTsotsitaal, ulwimi lwe-slang nezinye, kwaye ezi ntlobo zeelwimi aziqatshelwa njengeelwimi ezisemgangathweni, ezisetyenziswa kumajelo emfundo njalo njalo. Ngokwenza oko, isimo sengqondo solwimi sisetyenziswa njengengcamango yokuphanda ukuba yintoni eyenza abasebenzisi besiXhosa basebenzise okanye bangasebenzisi ezi ntlobo zeelwimi kwi-intanethi. Olu phononongo luphononongwa ngeenjongo zokuphanda apho amaqonga onxibelelwano akhula kwaye agcine khona iilwimi zesiNtu kwi-intanethi okanye lamaqonga onxibelelwano abubungozi kwezilwimi, njengoko ulwimi olusetyenziswa kula maqonga luqhelekile kwaye alucacanga, ngokwentetho ethethwayo nebhaliweyo. , Thesis (MA) -- Faculty of Humanities, School of Languages and Literatures, 2022
- Full Text:
- Authors: Nkunzi, Zindzi
- Date: 2022-10-14
- Subjects: Twitter , Social media South Africa , Social media and society South Africa , Xhosa language Usage , Mass media and language South Africa , Language choice , Language shift , Language attitude
- Language: English
- Type: Academic theses , Master's theses , text
- Identifier: http://hdl.handle.net/10962/406331 , vital:70259
- Description: The study critically examines and discusses language choice on twitter, a social media platform that has a vast number of people from different language groups. This diverse platform allows people to tweet, communicate, and share information online. There are tweets that trend and attract more engagement across different language groups. O jewa ke eng? which translates to ‘what’s bothering you?’ is one of those tweets, and it is communicated in Sesotho. (More discussion about the tweet in the introduction section that follows). According to Eisenstein, O’ Connor, Smith & Xing (2010) & Eisenstein (2016), “the popularity and ubiquity of social media allows access to a wide variety of spontaneous language enabling researchers to study language variation across space and time at large scale”, (Preotiuc-Pietro & Ungar, 2018: 1534). The introduction to the internet and socially mediated platforms such as Twitter and others has changed how information is produced and consumed. Social media allow people to communicate and engage in languages they are comfortable and familiar with. The study discusses language choice at three levels: language choice between isiXhosa verses English; isiXhosa verses other African languages and isiXhosa verses other varieties. The study is pursued with the overarching aim to investigate the possibility of African languages such as isiXhosa being used as dominant languages on social media. Thus, the study explores language use by isiXhosa speaking users on twitter that engaged with the tweet. Moreover, the study investigated why they choose to use one language over the other or multiple languages. To give a broader perspective on the study, language choice, language shift and language attitude are discussed and critically evaluated. Theoretically, the concept of code-switching and code-mixing is used when looking at bilingualism and multilingualism. It is imperative to look at multilingualism because the prevalent use of English is no longer a barrier to communication, social media platforms have created a space where African language users are able to engage in their native languages. Moreover, the study explores the use of standard and non-standard isiXhosa languages. There are varieties of languages such as tsotsitaal, slang and others, and these language varieties are not recognised as standard, used in educational settings and so on. In doing so, language attitude is used as the concept to investigate what propels isiXhosa users to or not to use these language varieties in the online communities. The study is explored with the aim to investigate whether social media either grows and preserves African languages online or these platforms are detrimental to these languages, as the language utilised on them is casual and vague, in terms of both spoken and written speech. , Olu phando luvavanya kwaye luxoxa nzulu ngokhetho lolwimi kuTwitter, ikhasi lonxibelelwano elinenani elikhulu labantu abavela kumaqela eelwimi ezahlukeneyo. Eli khasi labantu abohlukeneyo libavumela ukuba babhale, banxibelelane, kwaye babelane ngolwazi kwi-intanethi. Kukho ii-tweets (imibhalwana emifutshane) ezihamba phambili kwaye zitsala uthethathethwano phakathi kumaqela eelwimi ezahlukeneyo. O jewa ke eng? ethetha ukuthi, ‘ukhathazwa yintoni?’ yenye yezo tweets (yalo mibhalwana mifutshane), kwaye idluliselwe ngesiSuthu. (Ingxoxo engakumbi malunga ne-tweet (nombhalwana omfutshane) ifumaneka kwicandelo lentshayelelo elilandelayo). Ngokutsho kukaEisenstein, O’ Connor, Smith & Xing (2010) kunye noEisenstein (2016), “ukuduma kunye nobuninzi beendaba zoluntu kubangela ezo ndaba ukuba zinwenwele kwiindidi ezininzi zeelwimi nezivumela abaphandi ukuba bafunde ngokwahlukana kolwimi kwindawo kunye nexesha…”, (Preotiuc-Pietro & Ungar, 2008: 1534). Ulwaziso kwi-intanethi kunye namakhasi onxibelelwano oluntu afana ne-Twitter kunye namanye, luyitshintshile indlela ulwazi oluveliswa ngayo kunye nendlela olusetyenziswa ngayo. Amakhasi onxibelelwano oluntu avumela abantu ukuba banxibelelane kwaye bazibandakanye ngeelwimi abakhululekileyo ukuzisebenzisa nabaqhelene nazo Olu phando luxoxa ngokukhethwa kolwimi kumanqanaba amathathu: ukukhethwa kolwimi phakathi kwesiXhosa kunye nesiNgesi, isiXhosa kunye nezinye iilwimi ziseNtu, kwakunye nesiXhosa kunye nezinye iindidi zolwimi. Olu phando luqhutywa ngeyona njongo iphambili yokuphanda ukuba ngaba iilwimi zesiNtu ezifana nesiXhosa zingasetyenziswa njengeelwimi eziphambili kamakhasi onxibelelwano na. Kungoko, uphando luphonononga ukusetyenziswa kolwimi ngabo bantetho isisiXhosa kuTwitter abanxibelelana ne-tweet (nombhalo omfutshane). Olu phando, lukwaphanda ukuba kutheni bekhetha ukusebenzisa ulwimi oluthile kunolunye okanye iilwimi ezininzi. Ukunika umbono ngokuthe gabalala ngolu phando, ukukhethwa kolwimi, utshintsho lolwimi, kunye nesimo sengqondo solwimi ziyaxoxwa kwaye zihlolwa ngokunzulu. Ngokwethiyori, ingqikelelo yokutshintshatshintsha iilwimi kunye nokuxuba iilwimi (ukusebenzisa iilwimi ezahlukeneyo kumgca okanye umbhalo omnye) ziyasetyenziswa xa kujongwa ukusetyenziswa kweelwimi ezimbini kunye neelwimi ezininzi. Kunyanzelekile ukuba kujongwe ukusetyenziswa kweelwimi ezininzi kuba ukuxhaphaka kokusetyenziswa kwesiNgesi akusengomqobo kunxibelelwano, amakhasi onxibelelwano (amaqonga osasazo) oluntu avule indawo apho abasebenzisi beelwimi zesiNtu bakwaziyo ukuthetha ngeelwimi zabo zomthonyama. Ngaphezu koko, olu phando luphonononga ukusetyenziswa kweelwimi zesiXhosa ezisemgangathweni nezingekho mgangathweni. Kukho iintlobo ngeentlobo zeelwimi ezifana neTsotsitaal, ulwimi lwe-slang nezinye, kwaye ezi ntlobo zeelwimi aziqatshelwa njengeelwimi ezisemgangathweni, ezisetyenziswa kumajelo emfundo njalo njalo. Ngokwenza oko, isimo sengqondo solwimi sisetyenziswa njengengcamango yokuphanda ukuba yintoni eyenza abasebenzisi besiXhosa basebenzise okanye bangasebenzisi ezi ntlobo zeelwimi kwi-intanethi. Olu phononongo luphononongwa ngeenjongo zokuphanda apho amaqonga onxibelelwano akhula kwaye agcine khona iilwimi zesiNtu kwi-intanethi okanye lamaqonga onxibelelwano abubungozi kwezilwimi, njengoko ulwimi olusetyenziswa kula maqonga luqhelekile kwaye alucacanga, ngokwentetho ethethwayo nebhaliweyo. , Thesis (MA) -- Faculty of Humanities, School of Languages and Literatures, 2022
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Cyborg bodies and the search for self: an ethnographic exploration of supportive technologies as tools to mitigate daily distresses
- Authors: Kibane, Lebogang Zandile
- Date: 2022-10-14
- Subjects: Posthuman , Posthumanism , Anthropology , m-health , Wireless communication systems in medical care , Cyber-ethnography , Distress (Psychology)
- Language: English
- Type: Academic theses , Master's theses , text
- Identifier: http://hdl.handle.net/10962/408625 , vital:70510
- Description: This dissertation explores the ways in which individuals embody cyborg realities through engaging with technological aids. It examines how these interactions have the potential to bring to light new ways of thinking about and experiencing daily distresses. Pertinent human technology interaction was observed through an overarching cyborg lens, embedded in posthumanist thought. The study began with a “human as cyborg” ontology that sought to impress upon readers the intimacy with which technology is entangled in our lives. It aimed to call to attention the use of the cyborg myth as it is concerned with “transgressed boundaries, potent fusions, and dangerous possibilities” (Haraway, 1985:7). The study followed a cyber ethnographic strategy, where cyber ethnography refers to a virtual research method that observes social and cultural phenomena that are mediated by online interactions. Data was collected over a period of eight months, beginning in December 2020 and ending in July 2021. It was collected through the following means: a short self-administered online questionnaire, computer mediated in-depth interviews, and group interviews. I also kept a journal on reflections of my own use of these supportive technologies. After analysing the results of in-depth interviews with nine primary participants and twenty-six online questionnaires, the following key themes were brought to light: Firstly, the tethered self, or cyborg self, engages in evolved acts of ‘care of the self’ mitigated through supportive technology use. Secondly, access to new technologies brings about new ways of performing the self. Thirdly, engagement with supportive technologies provides opportunity for aiding distress in the way of encouraging self-reflective and self-interrogation behaviours as seen in mobile health app use. This constant self-interrogation behaviour in turn develops a kind of technological dependency, characterized by escapism and evolved methods of self- soothing. Lastly, exploring the use of technology to aid distress revealed that technologies generate equal opportunities for improved well-being, as they do for a decreased sense of connectedness and security. The research demonstrates that supportive technology use is entangled in the fabric of our everyday lives. Through it we fashion our identities, alleviate distress, evade distress, and discover new causes of distress. , Thesis (MSocSci) -- Faculty of Humanities, Anthropology, 2022
- Full Text:
- Authors: Kibane, Lebogang Zandile
- Date: 2022-10-14
- Subjects: Posthuman , Posthumanism , Anthropology , m-health , Wireless communication systems in medical care , Cyber-ethnography , Distress (Psychology)
- Language: English
- Type: Academic theses , Master's theses , text
- Identifier: http://hdl.handle.net/10962/408625 , vital:70510
- Description: This dissertation explores the ways in which individuals embody cyborg realities through engaging with technological aids. It examines how these interactions have the potential to bring to light new ways of thinking about and experiencing daily distresses. Pertinent human technology interaction was observed through an overarching cyborg lens, embedded in posthumanist thought. The study began with a “human as cyborg” ontology that sought to impress upon readers the intimacy with which technology is entangled in our lives. It aimed to call to attention the use of the cyborg myth as it is concerned with “transgressed boundaries, potent fusions, and dangerous possibilities” (Haraway, 1985:7). The study followed a cyber ethnographic strategy, where cyber ethnography refers to a virtual research method that observes social and cultural phenomena that are mediated by online interactions. Data was collected over a period of eight months, beginning in December 2020 and ending in July 2021. It was collected through the following means: a short self-administered online questionnaire, computer mediated in-depth interviews, and group interviews. I also kept a journal on reflections of my own use of these supportive technologies. After analysing the results of in-depth interviews with nine primary participants and twenty-six online questionnaires, the following key themes were brought to light: Firstly, the tethered self, or cyborg self, engages in evolved acts of ‘care of the self’ mitigated through supportive technology use. Secondly, access to new technologies brings about new ways of performing the self. Thirdly, engagement with supportive technologies provides opportunity for aiding distress in the way of encouraging self-reflective and self-interrogation behaviours as seen in mobile health app use. This constant self-interrogation behaviour in turn develops a kind of technological dependency, characterized by escapism and evolved methods of self- soothing. Lastly, exploring the use of technology to aid distress revealed that technologies generate equal opportunities for improved well-being, as they do for a decreased sense of connectedness and security. The research demonstrates that supportive technology use is entangled in the fabric of our everyday lives. Through it we fashion our identities, alleviate distress, evade distress, and discover new causes of distress. , Thesis (MSocSci) -- Faculty of Humanities, Anthropology, 2022
- Full Text:
Exploration of remote work and wellbeing of academics in a South African tertiary institution
- Authors: Chikutu, Michelle
- Date: 2022-10-14
- Subjects: Uncatalogued
- Language: English
- Type: Academic theses , Master's theses , text
- Identifier: http://hdl.handle.net/10962/405963 , vital:70223
- Description: Thesis embargoed. To be released in 2024. , Thesis (MA) -- Faculty of Humanities, Psychology, 2022
- Full Text:
- Authors: Chikutu, Michelle
- Date: 2022-10-14
- Subjects: Uncatalogued
- Language: English
- Type: Academic theses , Master's theses , text
- Identifier: http://hdl.handle.net/10962/405963 , vital:70223
- Description: Thesis embargoed. To be released in 2024. , Thesis (MA) -- Faculty of Humanities, Psychology, 2022
- Full Text:
Exploring the influence of student protests on organisational citizenship behaviour of academics and support mechanisms in higher learning institutions
- Authors: Mayekiso, Sinovuyo
- Date: 2022-10-14
- Subjects: Uncatalogued
- Language: English
- Type: Academic theses , Master's theses , text
- Identifier: http://hdl.handle.net/10962/406198 , vital:70248
- Description: Embargoed. To be released in 2024. , Thesis (MA) -- Faculty of Humanities, Psychology, 2022
- Full Text:
- Authors: Mayekiso, Sinovuyo
- Date: 2022-10-14
- Subjects: Uncatalogued
- Language: English
- Type: Academic theses , Master's theses , text
- Identifier: http://hdl.handle.net/10962/406198 , vital:70248
- Description: Embargoed. To be released in 2024. , Thesis (MA) -- Faculty of Humanities, Psychology, 2022
- Full Text:
Factors constraining and enabling the adoption of a disruptive technology by African small, micro, and medium enterprises for the Fourth Industrial Revolution: The case of mobile money
- Authors: Tarr, Dillon
- Date: 2022-10-14
- Subjects: Disruptive technologies , Mobile commerce , Industry 4.0 , Small business Africa, Sub-Saharan , Diffusion of innovations Africa, Sub-Saharan , Technological innovations Management
- Language: English
- Type: Academic theses , Master's theses , text
- Identifier: http://hdl.handle.net/10962/357709 , vital:64770
- Description: The Fourth Industrial Revolution (4IR) is set to disrupt existing economic and social structures through the use of cyber-physical systems that result from a fusion of the digital, biological, and physical spheres. The fifth and current long wave of innovation is going through such a digital revolution in the ongoing deployment period which is being driven by the generalpurpose technologies of Artificial Intelligence and the Internet of Things, among other cyberphysical systems. The impact of mobile money in the access of financial services has shown how disruptive incremental innovations in mobile and digital technologies can be. The transformational power of mobile money in financial access is due to its use as an accessible financial tool that utilizes mobile devices to send and/or receive money over great distances. With the 4IR looming, this thesis determines the factors that enable and constrain the adoption of a disruptive technology amongst Sub-Saharan African small, micro, and medium enterprises (SMMEs). Therefore, due to its impact on financial inclusion and the formalization of SMMEs, mobile money is used as an indicator for the adoption of 4IR disruptive digital technologies. The adoption of mobile money was evaluated using secondary data from a survey conducted by Research ICT Africa, which surveyed 4408 SMMEs in nine African countries. The Diffusion of Innovations (DOI) model and the Unified Theory of Acceptance and Use of Technology (UTAUT) model were used to identify the factors enabling and constraining the adoption of a disruptive technology, in this case mobile money. Factors included gender, vocational training, business skills training, tertiary education, services, performance expectancy, social media, location, and nine African countries (Kenya, Mozambique, Ghana, Nigeria, Rwanda, South Africa, Tanzania, Uganda, and Senegal). The factors were grouped into owner characteristics, firm attributes and country attributes. SMME owners with business skills (49%) showed the highest level of adoption in terms of owner characteristics, Kenyan SMMEs (21%) had the highest adoption between the countries surveyed, and social media (62%) showed the highest adoption in terms of firm attributes followed by the formal variable (47%). In general, only 29% of SMMEs surveyed adopted mobile money. The study found that women SMME owners were more likely to be affected by business formality when adopting a disruptive technology compared to male owned SMMEs. This is because informality often exacerbates other barriers/challenges women face such as lower access to finance, lower ability to exercise property, business, and labour rights, and lower visibility. The results also demonstrate that vocational training is more important than general tertiary education for the ii adoption of a disruptive technology such as mobile money. Furthermore, when using social media as a tool for business advice SMME owners were more likely to adopt the disruptive technology. The study suggests that to encourage African SMMEs to adequately adopt disruptive technologies of the 4IR, more women owned SMMEs need to enter the formal economy, and vocational training targeted at business skills must be promoted amongst all SMME owners. Eastern African SMMEs were found to be more likely to adopt mobile money compared to other African regions. The finding demonstrates the need for more African countries (particularly outside of the Eastern African region) to encourage innovation by addressing the four enablers of mobile connectivity (i.e. infrastructure, affordability, consumer readiness, and mobile services) which will in effect lead to economic growth and development. The study shows that to address country/regional differences, in addition to building the required infrastructure in terms of mobile internet connectivity, countries should increase the local relevancy of disruptive technologies between SMMEs. To achieve this the study suggests increasing mobile social media penetration rates. This is because when social media is used as a tool for business advice SMME owners are more likely to adopt a disruptive technology (as is the case with mobile money) due to the social influence of social media. , Thesis (MCom) -- Faculty of Commerce, Economics and Economic History, 2022
- Full Text:
- Authors: Tarr, Dillon
- Date: 2022-10-14
- Subjects: Disruptive technologies , Mobile commerce , Industry 4.0 , Small business Africa, Sub-Saharan , Diffusion of innovations Africa, Sub-Saharan , Technological innovations Management
- Language: English
- Type: Academic theses , Master's theses , text
- Identifier: http://hdl.handle.net/10962/357709 , vital:64770
- Description: The Fourth Industrial Revolution (4IR) is set to disrupt existing economic and social structures through the use of cyber-physical systems that result from a fusion of the digital, biological, and physical spheres. The fifth and current long wave of innovation is going through such a digital revolution in the ongoing deployment period which is being driven by the generalpurpose technologies of Artificial Intelligence and the Internet of Things, among other cyberphysical systems. The impact of mobile money in the access of financial services has shown how disruptive incremental innovations in mobile and digital technologies can be. The transformational power of mobile money in financial access is due to its use as an accessible financial tool that utilizes mobile devices to send and/or receive money over great distances. With the 4IR looming, this thesis determines the factors that enable and constrain the adoption of a disruptive technology amongst Sub-Saharan African small, micro, and medium enterprises (SMMEs). Therefore, due to its impact on financial inclusion and the formalization of SMMEs, mobile money is used as an indicator for the adoption of 4IR disruptive digital technologies. The adoption of mobile money was evaluated using secondary data from a survey conducted by Research ICT Africa, which surveyed 4408 SMMEs in nine African countries. The Diffusion of Innovations (DOI) model and the Unified Theory of Acceptance and Use of Technology (UTAUT) model were used to identify the factors enabling and constraining the adoption of a disruptive technology, in this case mobile money. Factors included gender, vocational training, business skills training, tertiary education, services, performance expectancy, social media, location, and nine African countries (Kenya, Mozambique, Ghana, Nigeria, Rwanda, South Africa, Tanzania, Uganda, and Senegal). The factors were grouped into owner characteristics, firm attributes and country attributes. SMME owners with business skills (49%) showed the highest level of adoption in terms of owner characteristics, Kenyan SMMEs (21%) had the highest adoption between the countries surveyed, and social media (62%) showed the highest adoption in terms of firm attributes followed by the formal variable (47%). In general, only 29% of SMMEs surveyed adopted mobile money. The study found that women SMME owners were more likely to be affected by business formality when adopting a disruptive technology compared to male owned SMMEs. This is because informality often exacerbates other barriers/challenges women face such as lower access to finance, lower ability to exercise property, business, and labour rights, and lower visibility. The results also demonstrate that vocational training is more important than general tertiary education for the ii adoption of a disruptive technology such as mobile money. Furthermore, when using social media as a tool for business advice SMME owners were more likely to adopt the disruptive technology. The study suggests that to encourage African SMMEs to adequately adopt disruptive technologies of the 4IR, more women owned SMMEs need to enter the formal economy, and vocational training targeted at business skills must be promoted amongst all SMME owners. Eastern African SMMEs were found to be more likely to adopt mobile money compared to other African regions. The finding demonstrates the need for more African countries (particularly outside of the Eastern African region) to encourage innovation by addressing the four enablers of mobile connectivity (i.e. infrastructure, affordability, consumer readiness, and mobile services) which will in effect lead to economic growth and development. The study shows that to address country/regional differences, in addition to building the required infrastructure in terms of mobile internet connectivity, countries should increase the local relevancy of disruptive technologies between SMMEs. To achieve this the study suggests increasing mobile social media penetration rates. This is because when social media is used as a tool for business advice SMME owners are more likely to adopt a disruptive technology (as is the case with mobile money) due to the social influence of social media. , Thesis (MCom) -- Faculty of Commerce, Economics and Economic History, 2022
- Full Text:
Inadequate menstrual health management and human rights
- Authors: Hartley, Gemma-Maé
- Date: 2022-10-14
- Subjects: Uncatalogued
- Language: English
- Type: Academic theses , Master's theses , text
- Identifier: http://hdl.handle.net/10962/422506 , vital:71953
- Description: Various human rights bodies have suggested that Inadequate Menstrual Health Management (MHM) could contribute to violations of human rights or, at the very least, is connected to the fulfilment of human rights. Despite recognition of this, there has not been thorough analysis of whether inadequate MHM is a violation of human rights, particularly in political discussions on the philosophy of human rights. Using a liberal cosmopolitan framework, this thesis attempts to bridge this gap and, ultimately, to argue that inadequate MHM constitutes a violation of human rights. This assertion brings with it various complications due to the heavily contested nature of human rights, their correlative duties, and the requirements for a lack of fulfilment to be considered a violation. I address each complication in turn. I argue that the traditional approach to human rights violations fails to consider the various ways that human rights are violated in our contemporary, globalised world. I suggest that structural violations of human rights should not be ruled out, particularly when we consider severe poverty and its by-products. Ultimately, the question of inadequate MHM is concerned with the content of human rights. If inadequate MHM were a violation, it would be a violation of women’s socio-economic rights. However, both group rights and socio-economic rights are contested. This thesis therefore justifies these rights. Group-differentiated rights are argued to be necessary for substantive equality. This is particularly the case when we consider the various risks women face simply because they are women. Women therefore need special protections and provisions for their human rights to be fulfilled. Socio-economic rights are necessary for the well-being and dignity of individuals everywhere. We can justify them even if they are costly, vague, and demanding on states, as critics argue they are. Therefore, if we can accept socio-economic rights and women’s rights, we can argue that inadequate MHM is a structural violation of human rights. Thinking about inadequate MHM in this way means we can respond to it with a level of urgency. This has the potential to improve the well-being, development, and dignity of women. , Thesis (MA) -- Faculty of Humanities, Political and International Studies, 2023
- Full Text:
- Authors: Hartley, Gemma-Maé
- Date: 2022-10-14
- Subjects: Uncatalogued
- Language: English
- Type: Academic theses , Master's theses , text
- Identifier: http://hdl.handle.net/10962/422506 , vital:71953
- Description: Various human rights bodies have suggested that Inadequate Menstrual Health Management (MHM) could contribute to violations of human rights or, at the very least, is connected to the fulfilment of human rights. Despite recognition of this, there has not been thorough analysis of whether inadequate MHM is a violation of human rights, particularly in political discussions on the philosophy of human rights. Using a liberal cosmopolitan framework, this thesis attempts to bridge this gap and, ultimately, to argue that inadequate MHM constitutes a violation of human rights. This assertion brings with it various complications due to the heavily contested nature of human rights, their correlative duties, and the requirements for a lack of fulfilment to be considered a violation. I address each complication in turn. I argue that the traditional approach to human rights violations fails to consider the various ways that human rights are violated in our contemporary, globalised world. I suggest that structural violations of human rights should not be ruled out, particularly when we consider severe poverty and its by-products. Ultimately, the question of inadequate MHM is concerned with the content of human rights. If inadequate MHM were a violation, it would be a violation of women’s socio-economic rights. However, both group rights and socio-economic rights are contested. This thesis therefore justifies these rights. Group-differentiated rights are argued to be necessary for substantive equality. This is particularly the case when we consider the various risks women face simply because they are women. Women therefore need special protections and provisions for their human rights to be fulfilled. Socio-economic rights are necessary for the well-being and dignity of individuals everywhere. We can justify them even if they are costly, vague, and demanding on states, as critics argue they are. Therefore, if we can accept socio-economic rights and women’s rights, we can argue that inadequate MHM is a structural violation of human rights. Thinking about inadequate MHM in this way means we can respond to it with a level of urgency. This has the potential to improve the well-being, development, and dignity of women. , Thesis (MA) -- Faculty of Humanities, Political and International Studies, 2023
- Full Text:
Orthographic knowledge in isiXhosa and its relation to phonological processing, letter-sound knowledge, reading and spelling
- Authors: Daries, Mikaela Ann
- Date: 2022-10-14
- Subjects: Xhosa language Orthography and spelling , Phonological awareness , Psycholinguistics , Oral reading Usage , Literacy South Africa , Reading Phonetic method
- Language: English
- Type: Academic theses , Master's theses , text
- Identifier: http://hdl.handle.net/10962/406703 , vital:70300
- Description: Despite international research confirming its importance, writing and related metalinguistic skills have often been neglected in comparison to reading in literacy research (Cunningham et al., 2001; Castles & Coltheart, 2004; Nag, 2007; Roman et al., 2009; Zhao et al., 2017). On a national level there are very few studies that have explored the writing aspect of literacy in South Africa, and none that has investigated orthographic knowledge in a Southern Bantu language, such as isiXhosa. In an attempt to address this gap, this thesis explores orthographic knowledge and its components in isiXhosa. In particular, it seeks to investigate the unique predictors of word specific and general orthographic knowledge as well as their role for reading and spelling in isiXhosa while controlling for phonological awareness (PA), rapid automatized naming (RAN), and letter-sound knowledge. Furthermore, the thesis attempts to situate its findings within the main premises of the self-teaching hypothesis and dual route approach to orthographic processing in order to contribute to linguistic theories of reading with cross-linguistic evidence (Jorm & Share, 1983; Share & Jorm, 1987; Share, 1995; Grainger & Ziegler, 2011). A quantitative cross-sectional study was conducted with 140 isiXhosa home language third grade learners in which word specific and general orthographic knowledge tasks were specifically designed. These tasks were administered along with oral reading fluency (ORF), spelling, PA, RAN, and letter-sound knowledge. The findings revealed that letter-sound knowledge and PA contributed the largest variance towards both word specific and general orthographic knowledge. Further, word specific orthographic knowledge and letter-sound knowledge were the only significant predictors of spelling. Similarly, both word specific and letter-sound knowledge were significant predictors of reading, along with RAN and general orthographic knowledge. Quantile linear regression analyses revealed that word specific orthographic knowledge was a robust predictor of spelling and letter-sound knowledge was a robust predictor of reading across ability levels confirming the importance for word specific orthographic knowledge for spelling and letter-sound knowledge for reading in isiXhosa. In relation to the two reading theories considered in this thesis, the findings reflect similarities between the assertions of the self-teaching hypothesis and current thesis with suggestions made for further inquiry. The dual route approach to orthographic processing provides insights into the potential processing of orthographic information while reading in isiXhosa. The findings of this study confirm the importance of orthographic knowledge for reading and spelling for languages with transparent orthographies such as isiXhosa. , Thesis (MA) -- Faculty of Humanities, Linguistics and Applied Language Studies, 2022
- Full Text:
- Authors: Daries, Mikaela Ann
- Date: 2022-10-14
- Subjects: Xhosa language Orthography and spelling , Phonological awareness , Psycholinguistics , Oral reading Usage , Literacy South Africa , Reading Phonetic method
- Language: English
- Type: Academic theses , Master's theses , text
- Identifier: http://hdl.handle.net/10962/406703 , vital:70300
- Description: Despite international research confirming its importance, writing and related metalinguistic skills have often been neglected in comparison to reading in literacy research (Cunningham et al., 2001; Castles & Coltheart, 2004; Nag, 2007; Roman et al., 2009; Zhao et al., 2017). On a national level there are very few studies that have explored the writing aspect of literacy in South Africa, and none that has investigated orthographic knowledge in a Southern Bantu language, such as isiXhosa. In an attempt to address this gap, this thesis explores orthographic knowledge and its components in isiXhosa. In particular, it seeks to investigate the unique predictors of word specific and general orthographic knowledge as well as their role for reading and spelling in isiXhosa while controlling for phonological awareness (PA), rapid automatized naming (RAN), and letter-sound knowledge. Furthermore, the thesis attempts to situate its findings within the main premises of the self-teaching hypothesis and dual route approach to orthographic processing in order to contribute to linguistic theories of reading with cross-linguistic evidence (Jorm & Share, 1983; Share & Jorm, 1987; Share, 1995; Grainger & Ziegler, 2011). A quantitative cross-sectional study was conducted with 140 isiXhosa home language third grade learners in which word specific and general orthographic knowledge tasks were specifically designed. These tasks were administered along with oral reading fluency (ORF), spelling, PA, RAN, and letter-sound knowledge. The findings revealed that letter-sound knowledge and PA contributed the largest variance towards both word specific and general orthographic knowledge. Further, word specific orthographic knowledge and letter-sound knowledge were the only significant predictors of spelling. Similarly, both word specific and letter-sound knowledge were significant predictors of reading, along with RAN and general orthographic knowledge. Quantile linear regression analyses revealed that word specific orthographic knowledge was a robust predictor of spelling and letter-sound knowledge was a robust predictor of reading across ability levels confirming the importance for word specific orthographic knowledge for spelling and letter-sound knowledge for reading in isiXhosa. In relation to the two reading theories considered in this thesis, the findings reflect similarities between the assertions of the self-teaching hypothesis and current thesis with suggestions made for further inquiry. The dual route approach to orthographic processing provides insights into the potential processing of orthographic information while reading in isiXhosa. The findings of this study confirm the importance of orthographic knowledge for reading and spelling for languages with transparent orthographies such as isiXhosa. , Thesis (MA) -- Faculty of Humanities, Linguistics and Applied Language Studies, 2022
- Full Text:
Rural households’ perceptions of an invasive alien species rosa rubiginosa l. (rosehip) and the role it plays in rural livelihoods in Lesotho
- Authors: Makhorole, Thato Violet
- Date: 2022-10-14
- Subjects: Rose hips Lesotho , Invasive plants Lesotho , Rural poor Lesotho , Probit model , Principal components analysis
- Language: English
- Type: Academic theses , Master's theses , text
- Identifier: http://hdl.handle.net/10962/403069 , vital:69919
- Description: Despite the vast research on the negative impacts of invasive alien species on the environment, these species remain part of the rural communities due to their numerous livelihood uses. Thus, more research is required, focusing mainly on the impacts of invasive alien species on the livelihoods of rural communities. This study investigated the community perceptions of rosehip (Rosa rubiginosa) and its contribution to rural communities as an invasive alien species. Four community councils, Pitseng, Matlameng, Limamarela and Mphorosane in the Leribe District Lesotho, were assessed. The study followed the pragmatism paradigm. The contribution of rosehip to rural livelihoods was analysed by comparing income from rosehip with other income sources. The study used simple random sampling and snowball sampling to select a representative of 160 respondents. The primary data was collected using semi-structured questionnaires. Moreover, SPSS and Stata statistical package programs were used for statistical analyses. The results showed that rosehip's livelihood benefits, its negative impacts, the length of time it has been available in the area, and its abundance highly influence the social, economic and environmental perception of rural communities. Furthermore, the study revealed that although the income from rosehip is extremely low and available for only three months of the year, the income plays an important part to the poorer households who have no other income sources. The study found that the main reason for engagement in rosehip harvesting despite its challenging nature was unemployment. The study also revealed that rosehip is part of the risk-reducing strategy or income diversification. Some households used it to complement other sources of income, such as agricultural production. Rosehip trade, if well-controlled, has the potential to alleviate rural poverty by creating job opportunities, providing a source of household income, and acting as a safety net in the face of shocks such as limited job opportunities and food shortages. In conclusion, households’ perceptions of rosehip have proven that rosehip is a valuable resource that provides a supplementary income that contributes towards alleviating poverty in Lesotho’s rural communities. The study recommends the private sector to establish and manages small agro-processing industries focusing on products used daily. The study also encourages environmental education and indigenous knowledge among community members, which would include knowledge and recognition of invasive alien species and their potential benefits and threats. , Thesis (MEcon) -- Faculty of Commerce, Economics and Economic History, 2022
- Full Text:
- Authors: Makhorole, Thato Violet
- Date: 2022-10-14
- Subjects: Rose hips Lesotho , Invasive plants Lesotho , Rural poor Lesotho , Probit model , Principal components analysis
- Language: English
- Type: Academic theses , Master's theses , text
- Identifier: http://hdl.handle.net/10962/403069 , vital:69919
- Description: Despite the vast research on the negative impacts of invasive alien species on the environment, these species remain part of the rural communities due to their numerous livelihood uses. Thus, more research is required, focusing mainly on the impacts of invasive alien species on the livelihoods of rural communities. This study investigated the community perceptions of rosehip (Rosa rubiginosa) and its contribution to rural communities as an invasive alien species. Four community councils, Pitseng, Matlameng, Limamarela and Mphorosane in the Leribe District Lesotho, were assessed. The study followed the pragmatism paradigm. The contribution of rosehip to rural livelihoods was analysed by comparing income from rosehip with other income sources. The study used simple random sampling and snowball sampling to select a representative of 160 respondents. The primary data was collected using semi-structured questionnaires. Moreover, SPSS and Stata statistical package programs were used for statistical analyses. The results showed that rosehip's livelihood benefits, its negative impacts, the length of time it has been available in the area, and its abundance highly influence the social, economic and environmental perception of rural communities. Furthermore, the study revealed that although the income from rosehip is extremely low and available for only three months of the year, the income plays an important part to the poorer households who have no other income sources. The study found that the main reason for engagement in rosehip harvesting despite its challenging nature was unemployment. The study also revealed that rosehip is part of the risk-reducing strategy or income diversification. Some households used it to complement other sources of income, such as agricultural production. Rosehip trade, if well-controlled, has the potential to alleviate rural poverty by creating job opportunities, providing a source of household income, and acting as a safety net in the face of shocks such as limited job opportunities and food shortages. In conclusion, households’ perceptions of rosehip have proven that rosehip is a valuable resource that provides a supplementary income that contributes towards alleviating poverty in Lesotho’s rural communities. The study recommends the private sector to establish and manages small agro-processing industries focusing on products used daily. The study also encourages environmental education and indigenous knowledge among community members, which would include knowledge and recognition of invasive alien species and their potential benefits and threats. , Thesis (MEcon) -- Faculty of Commerce, Economics and Economic History, 2022
- Full Text:
The effect of orchard sanitation and predatory ants on the eclosion of the internal feeding pests and Oriental fruit fly, in South Africa
- Authors: Makitla, Tshepang
- Date: 2022-10-14
- Subjects: Orchards South Africa , Phytosanitation , Citrus Diseases and pests Biological control , Ants , Insects as biological pest control agents
- Language: English
- Type: Academic theses , Master's theses , text
- Identifier: http://hdl.handle.net/10962/362927 , vital:65375
- Description: There are several pests of phytosanitary concern in the citrus industry in South Africa. Orchard sanitation can play an important role in suppressing the populations of these pests, however there are little data on the efficacy of sanitation techniques. Therefore, the current study investigated the effect of fruit disposal techniques and burying depths on the eclosion of the most important pests of citrus in South Africa, false codling moth Thaumatotibia leucotreta Meyrick (Lepidoptera: Tortricidae), Mediterranean fruit fly or Medfly Ceratitis capitata Wiedemann (Diptera: Tephritidae), Natal fruit fly Ceratitis rosa Karsh (Diptera: Tephritidae), and Oriental fruit fly Bactrocera dorsalis Hendel (Diptera: Tephritidae). Abscised C. sinensis fruits were inoculated with larvae of T. leucotreta, and eggs of C. capitata, C. rosa, and B. dorsalis, before being disposed as pulped, or whole, and buried at different depths (0 cm, 5 cm, 25 cm, and 50 cm). Abundance and richness of predatory ants were monitored using pitfall traps to ascertain their effect on the mortality of the immature stages of these pests. Ceratitis capitata and C. rosa failed to eclose from the inoculated fruits disposed at different depths, however, T. leucotreta and B. dorsalis adults did eclosed. Significantly fewer B. dorsalis eclosed from fruits that were pulped in comparison to eclosion where the fruit were left whole (F (3, 16) = 11.45, P < 0.01). Furthermore, depth of burial had a significant effect on the number of eclosed adults of Drosophila sp (F (3, 112) = 3.43, P < 0.01). Burying fruits at 50 cm suppressed the eclosion of all the internal feeding pests tested. Twenty-seven thousand seventy-three individual ants (Hymenoptera: Formicidae) were sampled from the same plots as used above, with at least 47% and 53% sampled from plots where pulped and whole C. sinensis fruits were disposed of, respectively. The ants were identified to morphospecies which included Pheidole1, Pheidole2, Formicinae1, Formicinae2, Formicinae3, and Myrmicinae1. The disposal of the inoculated C. sinensis fruits either as pulped or whole and burying at different depths significantly suppressed and/or delayed the eclosion of either of the tested internal feeding pests of citrus. Although, predacious ants were sampled from the same treatment plots they did not affect the survival or eclosion of the tested pests, and this could be attributed to the application of the slow toxic ant bait. Therefore, based on the observed results B. dorsalis adults showed the ability to eclose from 50 cm depth where fruit was either disposed as pulped or whole, thus, citrus farmers are advised to use hammer mill that will finely crush sanitised fruit, and/or bury fruit beyond 50 cm depth to prevent the adult od this pest from eclosing. , Thesis (MSc) -- Faculty of Science, Zoology and Entomology, 2022
- Full Text:
- Authors: Makitla, Tshepang
- Date: 2022-10-14
- Subjects: Orchards South Africa , Phytosanitation , Citrus Diseases and pests Biological control , Ants , Insects as biological pest control agents
- Language: English
- Type: Academic theses , Master's theses , text
- Identifier: http://hdl.handle.net/10962/362927 , vital:65375
- Description: There are several pests of phytosanitary concern in the citrus industry in South Africa. Orchard sanitation can play an important role in suppressing the populations of these pests, however there are little data on the efficacy of sanitation techniques. Therefore, the current study investigated the effect of fruit disposal techniques and burying depths on the eclosion of the most important pests of citrus in South Africa, false codling moth Thaumatotibia leucotreta Meyrick (Lepidoptera: Tortricidae), Mediterranean fruit fly or Medfly Ceratitis capitata Wiedemann (Diptera: Tephritidae), Natal fruit fly Ceratitis rosa Karsh (Diptera: Tephritidae), and Oriental fruit fly Bactrocera dorsalis Hendel (Diptera: Tephritidae). Abscised C. sinensis fruits were inoculated with larvae of T. leucotreta, and eggs of C. capitata, C. rosa, and B. dorsalis, before being disposed as pulped, or whole, and buried at different depths (0 cm, 5 cm, 25 cm, and 50 cm). Abundance and richness of predatory ants were monitored using pitfall traps to ascertain their effect on the mortality of the immature stages of these pests. Ceratitis capitata and C. rosa failed to eclose from the inoculated fruits disposed at different depths, however, T. leucotreta and B. dorsalis adults did eclosed. Significantly fewer B. dorsalis eclosed from fruits that were pulped in comparison to eclosion where the fruit were left whole (F (3, 16) = 11.45, P < 0.01). Furthermore, depth of burial had a significant effect on the number of eclosed adults of Drosophila sp (F (3, 112) = 3.43, P < 0.01). Burying fruits at 50 cm suppressed the eclosion of all the internal feeding pests tested. Twenty-seven thousand seventy-three individual ants (Hymenoptera: Formicidae) were sampled from the same plots as used above, with at least 47% and 53% sampled from plots where pulped and whole C. sinensis fruits were disposed of, respectively. The ants were identified to morphospecies which included Pheidole1, Pheidole2, Formicinae1, Formicinae2, Formicinae3, and Myrmicinae1. The disposal of the inoculated C. sinensis fruits either as pulped or whole and burying at different depths significantly suppressed and/or delayed the eclosion of either of the tested internal feeding pests of citrus. Although, predacious ants were sampled from the same treatment plots they did not affect the survival or eclosion of the tested pests, and this could be attributed to the application of the slow toxic ant bait. Therefore, based on the observed results B. dorsalis adults showed the ability to eclose from 50 cm depth where fruit was either disposed as pulped or whole, thus, citrus farmers are advised to use hammer mill that will finely crush sanitised fruit, and/or bury fruit beyond 50 cm depth to prevent the adult od this pest from eclosing. , Thesis (MSc) -- Faculty of Science, Zoology and Entomology, 2022
- Full Text:
The governance of schools for internally displaced learners in Puntland, Somalia: a top-down or bottom-up approach to education peacebuilding?
- Authors: Ramaite, Adivhaho Florence
- Date: 2022-10-14
- Subjects: Peace-building Somalia Puntland , Internally displaced persons Education Somalia Puntland , School management and organization Somalia Puntland , Educational governance , Top-down and bottom-up design
- Language: English
- Type: Academic theses , Master's theses , text
- Identifier: http://hdl.handle.net/10962/406807 , vital:70309
- Description: This study examines educational governance in schools for internally displaced learners in Puntland, Somalia. Many Somalis have been internally displaced from the south and central of Somalia and neighbouring regions because of armed insurgence, as well as climate and ecological disasters. Communities of internally displaced Somalis who have settled in the north-eastern region of Somalia, together with the Ministry of Education and nongovernmental organisations such as Relief International, have established schools for internally displaced learners. The study uses interviews with teachers, school principals and school committee members to examine their experiences of how schools are governed, specifically in terms of the bottom-up and top-down approaches to peacebuilding education. This research study is the first of its kind to examine the experiences of education actors in internally displaced person schools in Somalia. It provides crucial, new information on northern NGOs and how they shape the governance of knowledge and resources in Somali schools and how Somali education actors interpret and respond to these interventions. Drawing on education studies and international relations, it develops a transdisciplinary framing of peacebuilding education and specifically focuses on the top-down and bottom-up approaches to peacebuilding education provision. It weaves these two disciplinary perspectives together to help establish the implications of the security sector in education and broadly post-conflict reconstruction. The study finds that donors, international NGOs and government actors use a top-down approach to education, which may sit at odds with local needs and priorities. It finds that Somali knowledge and values are marginalised in the curriculum and teachers’ professional development and that the distribution of resources such as teacher salaries and school feeding programmes is fragmented, opaque and lacking in accountability. The study emphasises that the exclusion of local voices may further contribute to the causes underlying conflict. , Thesis (MA) -- Faculty of Humanities, Political and International Studies, 2022
- Full Text:
- Authors: Ramaite, Adivhaho Florence
- Date: 2022-10-14
- Subjects: Peace-building Somalia Puntland , Internally displaced persons Education Somalia Puntland , School management and organization Somalia Puntland , Educational governance , Top-down and bottom-up design
- Language: English
- Type: Academic theses , Master's theses , text
- Identifier: http://hdl.handle.net/10962/406807 , vital:70309
- Description: This study examines educational governance in schools for internally displaced learners in Puntland, Somalia. Many Somalis have been internally displaced from the south and central of Somalia and neighbouring regions because of armed insurgence, as well as climate and ecological disasters. Communities of internally displaced Somalis who have settled in the north-eastern region of Somalia, together with the Ministry of Education and nongovernmental organisations such as Relief International, have established schools for internally displaced learners. The study uses interviews with teachers, school principals and school committee members to examine their experiences of how schools are governed, specifically in terms of the bottom-up and top-down approaches to peacebuilding education. This research study is the first of its kind to examine the experiences of education actors in internally displaced person schools in Somalia. It provides crucial, new information on northern NGOs and how they shape the governance of knowledge and resources in Somali schools and how Somali education actors interpret and respond to these interventions. Drawing on education studies and international relations, it develops a transdisciplinary framing of peacebuilding education and specifically focuses on the top-down and bottom-up approaches to peacebuilding education provision. It weaves these two disciplinary perspectives together to help establish the implications of the security sector in education and broadly post-conflict reconstruction. The study finds that donors, international NGOs and government actors use a top-down approach to education, which may sit at odds with local needs and priorities. It finds that Somali knowledge and values are marginalised in the curriculum and teachers’ professional development and that the distribution of resources such as teacher salaries and school feeding programmes is fragmented, opaque and lacking in accountability. The study emphasises that the exclusion of local voices may further contribute to the causes underlying conflict. , Thesis (MA) -- Faculty of Humanities, Political and International Studies, 2022
- Full Text:
The relationship between economic growth and taxation: an empirical study on optimal taxation in sub-Saharan Africa
- Authors: Kent, Bradley Athol
- Date: 2022-10-14
- Subjects: Taxation Africa, Sub-Saharan , Optimal tax , Economic development Africa, Sub-Saharan , Tax collection Africa, Sub-Saharan
- Language: English
- Type: Academic theses , Master's theses , text
- Identifier: http://hdl.handle.net/10962/403058 , vital:69918
- Description: The relationship between economic growth and taxation is a complex and highly debated issue, this thesis investigates whether a significant relationship can be identified, and whether it is the level that truly matters for fiscal policies aimed at being growth enhancing. Further investigation examines this relationship, in addition to testing whether there is a threshold below which tax collection may be considered ‘growth-enhancing’, and above which is negative for economic growth, and if such a threshold exists, to identify the manner in which taxation negatively impacts economic growth. The study makes use of a panel data approach to autoregressive distributed lag modelling and a generalised least squares regression. The study focuses on a panel data sample for seven (7) countries within Sub-Saharan Africa (SSA) between 1997 – 2017. It found that total tax revenue held a positive and significant relationship with economic growth at the SSA level, whilst at the individual tax level; PAYE and property taxes were found to have a negative influence on growth, with no other fiscal variables significantly influencing growth in the long run in SSA test. Whereas, when analysing at the country-specific level it was found PAYE was only significantly influencing growth in South Africa, where the relationship was found to be negative. Corporate tax revealed a similar significant negative relationship in Swaziland and Cameroon. In addition, property taxes revealed a significant and negative relationship in South Africa, yet in Rwanda the influence was positive. Overall, the study found that there is significant relationship between economic growth and taxation in the SSA context. However, when analysing the countries in isolation, no such relationship was found. , Thesis (MEcon) -- Faculty of Commerce, Economics and Economic History, 2022
- Full Text:
- Authors: Kent, Bradley Athol
- Date: 2022-10-14
- Subjects: Taxation Africa, Sub-Saharan , Optimal tax , Economic development Africa, Sub-Saharan , Tax collection Africa, Sub-Saharan
- Language: English
- Type: Academic theses , Master's theses , text
- Identifier: http://hdl.handle.net/10962/403058 , vital:69918
- Description: The relationship between economic growth and taxation is a complex and highly debated issue, this thesis investigates whether a significant relationship can be identified, and whether it is the level that truly matters for fiscal policies aimed at being growth enhancing. Further investigation examines this relationship, in addition to testing whether there is a threshold below which tax collection may be considered ‘growth-enhancing’, and above which is negative for economic growth, and if such a threshold exists, to identify the manner in which taxation negatively impacts economic growth. The study makes use of a panel data approach to autoregressive distributed lag modelling and a generalised least squares regression. The study focuses on a panel data sample for seven (7) countries within Sub-Saharan Africa (SSA) between 1997 – 2017. It found that total tax revenue held a positive and significant relationship with economic growth at the SSA level, whilst at the individual tax level; PAYE and property taxes were found to have a negative influence on growth, with no other fiscal variables significantly influencing growth in the long run in SSA test. Whereas, when analysing at the country-specific level it was found PAYE was only significantly influencing growth in South Africa, where the relationship was found to be negative. Corporate tax revealed a similar significant negative relationship in Swaziland and Cameroon. In addition, property taxes revealed a significant and negative relationship in South Africa, yet in Rwanda the influence was positive. Overall, the study found that there is significant relationship between economic growth and taxation in the SSA context. However, when analysing the countries in isolation, no such relationship was found. , Thesis (MEcon) -- Faculty of Commerce, Economics and Economic History, 2022
- Full Text:
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