The development, manufacture and assessment of solid dispersions of gliclazide
- Authors: Govere, Grace Shalom
- Date: 2018
- Language: English
- Type: text , Thesis , Masters , MSc
- Identifier: http://hdl.handle.net/10962/63390 , vital:28405
- Description: Expected release date-April 2020
- Full Text:
- Date Issued: 2018
The development, manufacture and evaluation of a selfmicro-emulsifying drug delivery system for efavirenz
- Authors: Musakana, Tanyaradzwa Gracious
- Date: 2018
- Language: English
- Type: text , Thesis , Masters , MSc
- Identifier: http://hdl.handle.net/10962/62643 , vital:28223
- Description: Expected release date-April 2020
- Full Text:
- Date Issued: 2018
The economic impact of homeland consolidation on households in the fromer Ciskei : the case of Victoria East
- Authors: Coka, Zimbini
- Date: 2018
- Subjects: Consolidation of land holdings Ciskei (South Africa) -- Economic conditions
- Language: English
- Type: Thesis , Masters , Agricultural Economics
- Identifier: http://hdl.handle.net/10353/10156 , vital:35363
- Description: This study attempts to ascertain the economic impact of the process of homeland consolidation in four communities that became part of the Ciskei. It describes the process of homeland consolidation at Lloyd, Bergplaas, Balfour and Qanda, and seeks to understand the effects of homeland consolidation on the level of economic activity in these areas. ‘Homeland consolidation’ was the official term used to describe the policy developed by the central government of South Africa in the 1970s to reduce the number of separate, isolated pieces of land making up each of the Bantustans. It was part of the ultimately unsuccessful and suspect process of turning these areas into independent ‘national states’. The Apartheid government bought out selected white farms/properties/land like in Lloyd, Bergplaas, Balfour and Qanda, and consolidated them with the adjacent homeland territory. The result of this process made commercial farmland available to black people. In a very narrow sense, this particular aspect of homeland consolidation was an antecedent of land reform. Because homeland consolidation took place some time ago, discerning the economic effects relied above all on people’s recollections of their past experiences, which could only be quantified in a very limited manner. In other words, the data and analysis were largely although not exclusively qualitative. Household and life history interviews were conducted using semi-structured questionnaires, and then the data was analyzed using content analysis, descriptive statistics, the Chi-square test and the two-proportion z test. Through the process of homeland consolidation and forced removals, people ended up losing productive land and livestock because they were forced to sell their livestock at a loss and they had no land where they were moved to. People were stripped of their livelihoods, in addition to losing a place that they called home and the loss of employment. This study also looked at the changes in farming before and during the apartheid era, during the time when the Ciskeian government was in power and after 1994 till now. And also looked at the broader perspective of what actually happened in the four sites from the life history interviews.
- Full Text:
- Date Issued: 2018
The effect of casuarina trees on sea turtles nesting beaches throughout the Indian Ocean and South-East Asia regions: A beach vulnerability assessment
- Authors: De Vos, Deidre
- Date: 2018
- Subjects: Conservation biology , Casuarina Sea turtles
- Language: English
- Type: Thesis , Masters , MSc
- Identifier: http://hdl.handle.net/10948/22420 , vital:29968
- Description: Rapid global change and anthropogenic modification of natural habitats are threatening ecosystems across the globe. Many of these threats and adverse impacts are concentrated on the world’s coastlines, with a large portion of the global population choosing to live next to the coast. To accommodate coastal populations and their related activities, the dynamic littoral active zone is often stabilized with hard engineering structures such as sea walls, which disrupt coastal ecological processes. Most natural coastal processes have since become natural disaster risks to the anthropogenically-modified coasts. Coastal stabilization has led to “coastal squeeze” with modified shorelines unable to respond naturally to changes in sea level. Furthermore, global change through global ‘warming’ exacerbates sea level rise. The combined impacts result in permanent/episodic inundation and coastal erosion, which may damage human settlements and degrade or destroy coastal habitat. As an alternative to hard armouring structures like sea walls, ‘soft’ options like large-scale plantations of trees as bio-shields are used as a ‘green’ option to protect developed coasts. Indeed, green shelter belts have rapidly increased since the December 2004 tsunami event in the Indian Ocean and South-East Asian (IOSEA) region. Extensive portions of the coastal habitat, including sensitive sea turtle nesting habitat, have been modified by planting exotic vegetation. Two invasive species, Casuarina equisetifolia and Casuarina glauca, are regularly used for coastal dune stabilization or as bio-shields because they are adapted to arid conditions, high salinity and low soil fertility typical of beach systems. The functionality of Casuarina trees as a ‘comprehensive’ coastal protection tool, however, has yet to be tested and the effects of Casuarina on sandy beach ecosystems remain largely unquantified. There is no empirical evidence to support the claim that Casuarina trees adequately function as a storm protection measure, and other studies have suggested that Casuarina species have adverse effects on sandy beach ecosystems, including the promotion of erosion in some instances and negative impacts on fauna, including sea turtles. This study investigated the potential value of non-native Casuarina trees as a coastal protection measure on sea turtle nesting beaches taking into consideration the potential impacts of global change. First, the study estimated local scale effects of Casuarina trees within the South African sea turtle nesting rookery in the iSimangaliso Wetland Park by measuring impacts on back-beach substrate characteristics and shape. A few metrics were unaffected, such as grain size, sand penetrability and sand moisture, but sand pH and sand temperature were significantly lower underneath Casuarina stands. A mean pH of 8.2 and a median temperature of 26 ± SD1.5oC were recorded under Casuarina trees and a pH of 9 and a median temperature of 27.2 ± SD1.9oC under native vegetation. The significantly lower, more stable average temperature underneath Casuarina trees may have significant implications for sex ratios of sea turtles as the sex of sea turtles is determined by temperature; Temperatures above 32°C will yield all females and temperatures below 28°C will produce only males, with a pivotal temperature at which a 1:1 sex ratio is developed is about 29°C. Furthermore, sand temperature underneath Casuarina trees is less likely to reach lethal temperatures (above ~33°C) that could lead to hatchling mortality than in areas with no vegetation. So, in terms of hatchling success, the thermal environment created by Casuarina trees might be favourable in extremely hot climate areas, especially when considering the effects of climate change. Casuarina trees, however, affect back-beach and dune dynamics by altering sand movement. Semi-quantitative and qualitative analyses of beach profiles suggested that Casuarina trees and shrubs result in wind scouring directly in front of the foredunes as evidenced by the concave shape in front of Casuarina stands at some sites. Sites with natural vegetation had mainly convex beach shapes, suggesting sand accretion. Either way, vegetation had an important effect on sand dynamics (both positive and negative) where areas with no vegetation (bare sand) only had a neutral/straight shape. There was, however, a significant interaction between vegetation type and site, indicating that vegetation type alone cannot account for all the differences in beach profile dynamics and that site-specific conditions like wave height, sand budget, precipitation and orientation differences among locations may also have an effect. The second part of the study had a regional perspective, investigating the effect of Casuarina trees on 50 sea turtle nesting beaches across the Indian Ocean South East Asia (IOSEA) region. The study first derived an appropriate (novel) beach vulnerability index using features that drive beach erosion. The index was then applied to 50 turtle rookeries in the presence/absence of Casuarina trees. The study noted the extensive distribution of exotic Casuarina trees throughout the IOSEA region and established that 28% of the 50 selected sea turtle nesting beaches had non-native Casuarina present. There was no significant difference in the erosion vulnerability of beaches with and without Casuarina based on the existing indicators. However, the study did show that seven important sea turtle rookeries were highly vulnerable to erosion, some with extensive exotic Casuarina stands. Olive ridley (Lepidochelys olivacea) nesting beaches in India, were dominated by Casuarina trees and were highly vulnerable to erosion. The study showed that the presence of Casuarina trees alone could not be viewed as an indicator of erosion but could be a contributing factor, as several other drivers like narrow back-beach width, absence of dunes and development on exposed coasts prone to storms, also contribute to the high erosion vulnerability of beaches. The study questions the use of exotic vegetation, such as Casuarina species, for coastal protection by demonstrating local scale effects on the back-beach environment and provides a comprehensive overview of the erosion potential of sea turtle nesting beaches throughout the IOSEA region.
- Full Text:
- Date Issued: 2018
The effect of ER stress in INS-1E cells using IL-1β under hyperglycaemic conditions
- Authors: Jackson, Simon
- Date: 2018
- Subjects: Diabetes -- Pathogenesis , Endoplasmic reticulum -- Pathophysiology Endoplasmic reticulum Diabetes
- Language: English
- Type: Thesis , Masters , MSc
- Identifier: http://hdl.handle.net/10948/30397 , vital:30938
- Description: Diabetes afflicts millions of individuals worldwide, and the statistics rise each year. It is associated with various ailments which reduce the quality of life and has been shown to be associated with seemingly unrelated diseases or conditions. One aspect of the pathogenesis of diabetes is endoplasmic reticulum (ER) stress, which is an imbalance in the protein loading and protein folding capacities of the ER of a cell. Under chronic hyperglycaemic conditions associated with the development of diabetes, excessive insulin production disrupts the ER homeostasis, leading to ER stress. If the ER stress is severe or chronic, cell death of pancreatic β-cells may occur, leading to the onset of diabetes. There is currently a gap in available models that closely resemble the pathogenesis of diabetes in insulinoma-1E (INS-1E) pancreatic β-cells to study ER stress under hyperglycaemic conditions. This study optimised various ER stress-inducing models and tested terpenoid treatments to investigate their potential in modulating ER stress. Using various cell viability assays, five models to induce ER stress were optimised (hyperglycaemic, interleukin-1β (IL-1β), tunicamycin (Tm), brefeldin-A (BFA) and thapsigargin (Tg)). The five models were shown to induce ER stress through the expression of the downstream ER stress marker CCAAT-enhancer binding protein (C/EBP) homologous protein (CHOP). The various models induced ER stress under different mechanisms. Insulin secretion analysis using enzyme-linked immunosorbent assays (ELISAs) demonstrated that low concentrations of IL-1β promoted insulin secretion. Several of the terpenoid treatments showed potential in alleviating different aspects of either ER stress or inflammation.
- Full Text:
- Date Issued: 2018
The effect of school-based physical activity interventions on body composition of grade 4 children from lower socio-economic communities in Port Elizabeth
- Authors: Nqweniso, Siphesihle
- Date: 2018
- Subjects: Physical fitness for children -- South Africa -- Port Elizabeth , Physical education and training Exercise -- Physiological aspects Body composition
- Language: English
- Type: Thesis , Masters , MA
- Identifier: http://hdl.handle.net/10948/33556 , vital:32886
- Description: South Africa is classified as a low- to middle-income country and is amongst countries affected by the double burden of disease. This double burden may occur in the same household and may be related to food insecurity, nutritional transition and economic inequalities. While the prevalence of underweight has been reduced in the country, stunting and the rise in overweight and obesity in children still remains a problem. The study aimed to determine the effect of various combinations of school-based interventions on the body composition of Grade 4 children from lower socio-economic communities in Port Elizabeth. A cluster randomized controlled trial was conducted with eight schools which were randomly assigned to the experimental group (n=442) and control group (n=437). A ten-week school-based intervention was implemented, consisting of three components, namely: a physical activity (PA) intervention including physical education lessons, dance-to-music lesson and in-class PA breaks, a health and hygiene education intervention, and a nutrition intervention. Body composition measures, pre- and post the intervention included height, weight and skinfolds (triceps & subscapular). Body mass index (BMI), percentage body fat, and BMI-for-age (BAZ), height-for-age (HAZ), and weight-for-age (WAZ) z-scores were also calculated. Baseline data indicated that Coloured children were more likely to be underweight and stunted than Black African children, who were more likely to be obese. After the ten-week intervention, children exposed to the PA intervention showed significantly (p<.05; d>0.2) lower BF% and higher HAZ scores. The nutrition intervention resulted in significantly (p<.05; d>0.2) higher BMI and BAZ scores, indicating an increase in the prevalence of obesity in children. The health and hygiene education intervention had a significant effect on children’s underweight status (WAZ), showing higher WAZ scores. Findings suggest that participating in various combinations of school-based interventions had beneficial effects on children’s body composition and nutritional status. Therefore, strategies to implement school-based interventions are recommended as a means to improve children’s health status.
- Full Text:
- Date Issued: 2018
The effect of the amendments to the labour relations act on collective labour law and proliferation of the unions
- Authors: Galorale, Mompati Jonas
- Date: 2018
- Subjects: Collective labor agreements -- South Africa , Labor unions -- Law and legislation -- South Africa Labor laws and legislation -- South Africa
- Language: English
- Type: Thesis , Masters , LLM
- Identifier: http://hdl.handle.net/10948/30216 , vital:30901
- Description: The Constitution guarantees freedom of association, the right of employees to form and join trade unions and to strike, and the rights of trade unions, employers and employers’ associations to bargaining collectively. Section 23 of the Constitution is even-handed: it confers on “everyone” (including employers) a right to fair labour practices and leaving aside the right to strike, confers identical rights on trade unions and employers’ organisations. It is also important to note that the Constitution seeks to advance principles of equality and human dignity before the law. Section 1 of the Labour Relations Act 65 of 1995 (the LRA) provides that the purpose of the LRA is to advance economic development, social justice, labour peace and democratization of the workplace. When interpreting and applying the LRA and the amendments one must give effect to the primary objects of the LRA in compliance with the Constitution of the Republic of South Africa, 1996 (the Constitution) and in compliance with ratified Conventions of the International Labour Organisation (the ILO). In terms of section 45 of the Labour Relations Amendment Act 6 of 2014 (the LRAA), the President of the Republic of South Africa declared 1 January 2015 as the effective date for the amendments. Employers had from the 1 January 2015 to comply with the LRAA. The amendments impact on all employees, employers and registered trade unions. The amendments responded to, amongst other things, the increased formalisation of labour and also seeks to ensure that vulnerable groups of employees receive adequate protection. The main purpose for the amendments to section 21 of the LRA is to provide for the organisation of employees engaged by a temporary employment service (TES), to broaden the discretion of commissioners under which organisational rights may be granted, to grant majority rights to most representative unions and to allow a commissioner to grant organisational rights despite a threshold agreement. Collective labour law is also materially effected by these amendments, which are aimed at promoting the inclusion of non-standard employees in the collective bargaining framework and expanding the application of organisational rights. The collective-labour law amendments are the focus of this treatise. This will expand the employee pool in a workplace for purposes of securing organisational rights. The amendments have the effect of creating a more inclusive collective bargaining environment in the workplace. It is hoped that this will lessen the need felt by smaller unions to use industrial action as the only route to secure organisational rights previously intended for more representative unions only. The LRAA made it much easier for unions to obtain organisational rights to sufficiently represented unions who do not have majority representation. A commisioner may in terms section 22 of the amendments extend a collective agreement between a TES and its employees and this agreement may be enforced on the client and vice versa. Trade unions representing the employees of a TES will be in a position to exercise their organisational rights not only at the workplace of the TES, but also at the client’s workplace, despite the employees not being employees of the client. In furtherance of these objectives the LRA1 provides a regulatory framework for collective bargaining and organisational rights – in keeping with international and constitutional obligations. Trade unions are the vehicles for effective collective bargaining, while the LRA unequivocally promotes the policy choice of majoritarianism. The LRA was formulated around the furthering of section 23(5) of the Constitution. What is of significance therefore, is to regulate the framework for collective bargaining, of which the amendments prioritized the provision of legislated organisational rights. In keeping with the constitutional objectives mentioned above, section 21(8)(a)(i) of the LRA directs commissioners, in resolving recognition disputes, to: “seek to minimise the proliferation of trade union representation in a single workplace, and where possible, to encourage a system of a representative trade union in a workplace.”
- Full Text:
- Date Issued: 2018
The effect of the relationship between traditional leaders and municipal councillors on service delivery: a case of Polokwane Local Municipality, Limpopo Province
- Authors: Ramolobe, Kutu Sam
- Date: 2018
- Subjects: Traditional government -- South Africa -- Limpopo , Municipal government -- South Africa -- Limpopo Municipal services -- South Africa -- Limpopo Local government -- South Africa -- Limpopo Municipal officials and employees -- South Africa -- Limpopo
- Language: English
- Type: Thesis , Masters , MPA
- Identifier: http://hdl.handle.net/10948/35103 , vital:33624
- Description: The study examined the effectiveness of the relationship between traditional leaders and municipal councillors regarding service delivery in Polokwane Local Municipality. The introduction of municipalities in rural areas brought about two kinds of leadership in rural communities, namely, traditional leaders and municipal councillors. Traditional leaders are representatives of their traditional communities and municipal councillors are elected to represent the municipality in traditional communities. The problem for the research deals with the relationship between traditional leaders and municipal councillors and the effect it has on service delivery. The role and place of the institution of traditional leadership in democratic local government system have been fraught with tension, confusion and contradictory practices. The Constitution of the South Africa 1996 is not clear on the role of traditional leaders in local government although section 156 defines the powers and functions of elected councillors, which largely overlaps with those exercised by traditional leaders. The difficulties encountered in the relationship between traditional leaders and municipal councillors and challenges that contribute to service delivery in local government were analysed. The desktop analysis method was applied by the study to collect information from the municipal documents that incorporated the nature and place of traditional leaders in local government municipality, and the pieces of legislation that focuses on the affairs of local government. The data collected was analysed by use of a qualitative approach. Polokwane Local Municipality is predominantly rural including considerable land under traditional authority. The analysis of data indicate that municipal council are required to consult traditional leaders in matters of local government. What is not clear is whether the traditional leaders form part of decision making. The study recommends a clear specification of the roles of traditional leaders in Polokwane Local Municipality.
- Full Text:
- Date Issued: 2018
The effect of the van Staden wind farm on the power quality of the rural distribution network
- Authors: Venter, Clement
- Date: 2018
- Subjects: Electric transformers , Wind power Electric power production
- Language: English
- Type: Thesis , Masters , MTech
- Identifier: http://hdl.handle.net/10948/36761 , vital:34051
- Description: Connection of wind farms to weak networks with a typically low X/R and short circuit ratio could result in a larger variation of voltage for corresponding variation in wind farm generation output. This variation in voltage could negatively affect the quality of electrical power in the vicinity of the connected wind farm. The analysis was based on actual on-site measurement data at individual consumers’ point of supply and the effect of the Van Stadens Wind Farm integration as seen by the consumers can be determined. It was found through statistical and correlative analysis that the voltage quality measured at the test sites were not negatively affected by the presence of generation at the Metrowind Van Stadens Wind Farm. The voltage was found to be more negatively affected by the load current drawn by the consumer at the test site and that it is foremost when the loading current was higher. No definitive evidence of an increase in voltage harmonics due to generation output or loading current was found. At two sites it was however found that the 7th order harmonic is eliminated or reduced by an increase in the generation of the wind farm above approximately 20% of maximum output. Power Factory simulations, using the Quasi Dynamic simulation tool, was performed to validate the voltage findings of the on-site power quality measurements and two things were clear from the simulations. Firstly the voltage at the point of connection has a strong negative correlation with the consumer loading current and means that the voltage will usually decrease with an increase in the loading current and vice versa. Secondly, as with the analysis of the on-site measurement results, it can be said that when current is low, then the generation output of the wind farm will have a proportional effect on the voltage. From the findings of the on-site measurements it was concluded that the wind farm did not have a negative effect on the test site consumers in the vicinity and the Power factory simulations confirmed the conclusions on the voltage analysis. It was also concluded that the local consumer load current has a larger effect on the local measured voltage than the generation output of the wind farm.
- Full Text:
- Date Issued: 2018
The effect of water temperature on the distribution of the Eastern Cape redfin minnow, Pseudobarbus afer (Peters, 1864)
- Authors: Bloy, Lesley Elizabeth
- Date: 2018
- Subjects: Minnows -- South Africa -- Eastern Cape , Cyprinidae -- South Africa -- Eastern Cape , Minnows -- Effect of temperature on -- South Africa -- Eastern Cape , Minnows -- Effect of exotic animals on -- South Africa -- Eastern Cape , Introduced organisms -- South Africa -- Eastern Cape
- Language: English
- Type: text , Thesis , Masters , MSc
- Identifier: http://hdl.handle.net/10962/62017 , vital:28096
- Description: The main objective of this MSc study was to disentangle whether temperature or the presence of non-native fish was limiting the distribution of Pseudobarbus afer (Peters, 1864) in the Blindekloof stream, Eastern Cape, South Africa. The aims were to: i) describe the thermal regime of the Blindekloof stream; ii) conduct experiments to determine the preferred and critical temperatures of P. afer and; iii) use snorkel surveys to contextualise the distribution of both native and non-native fishes in the Blindekloof stream to assess whether the downstream distribution of P. afer was likely to be influenced by temperature or by the presence of non-native, predatory fishes. To describe the thermal regime, year-long temperature data from four long term monitoring sites in the Blindekloof stream were collected using Hobo temperature loggers and analysed in order to better understand the thermal profile, the thermal variation and the rate of temperature change in the stream. The warmest temperatures were recorded in late December 2015 (absolute maximum of 29.4 °C). The coolest water temperatures were recorded in early August 2015 (absolute minimum of 9.5 °C). There is both seasonal and diel variation in temperature with mean, minimum, maximum, 7 day mean, 7 day maximum and temperature ranges differing significantly between sites. With knowledge of the thermal regime of a monitored reach of the Blindekloof stream, the thermal tolerance and preference of P. afer were investigated. The thermal tolerance of P. afer was investigated using the Critical Thermal Method (CTM) which uses non-lethal endpoints (the loss of equilibrium). At low acclimatization temperatures (11.9 ± 0.7 °C), the mean CTmax of P. afer was found to be 29.9 ± 0.7 °C, while at a higher acclimatization temperature (19.9 ± 0.1 °C), the mean CTmax was 35.1 ± 0.6°C. Custom-built thermal choice tanks were used to investigate the thermal preference of P. afer in both summer and winter. The preferred median temperatures for the summer experiments ranged from 22.4 - 29.3 °C while the winter preferred median temperatures ranged from 18.5 - 23.1 °C. The thermal tolerance of P. afer was compared to the thermal regime of the stream and the results suggest that temperature is not limiting the distribution of P. afer. Snorkel surveys were used to determine the distribution of fishes in the Blindekloof stream. Analysis of the distribution data suggests that, in the absence of non-native predatory species, native fishes have the potential to inhabit pools throughout the system right to the confluence, thus predatory fishes and not temperature was limiting P. afer distributions.
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- Date Issued: 2018
The effective use of legal protection to combat stigma and discrimination related to HIV and AIDS in a workplace: a case study in kwa Zulu Natal
- Authors: Ndobeni, Zoliswa Nomawesile
- Date: 2018
- Subjects: AIDS (Disease) -- Law and legislation , Medical policy -- legislation & jurisprudence Public health -- legislation & jurisprudence HIV-positive persons -- Employment -- South Africa
- Language: English
- Type: Thesis , Masters , LLM
- Identifier: http://hdl.handle.net/10948/32804 , vital:32365
- Description: Stigma and discrimination continue to be the leading cause of everyday cases of new HIV/AIDS infections in spite of the current legal and medical interventions available. The purpose of the study is to explore the effective use of legal protection in combating stigma and discrimination related to HIV/AIDS in the workplace. When it comes to fighting discrimination and stigma against people living with HIV/AIDS, it is still a challenge as these aspects prevent people from coming forward for testing and for prevention as well as treatment service. The rationale for conducting the study is to examine the relationship of the human rights as per the Constitution of South Africa and the spread and impact of HIV/AIDS on individuals in the workplace. The study is of significance to conduct as the research will further provide knowledge and awareness to both the employer and employee regarding the legal framework pertaining to HIV/AIDS and perhaps unintentional consequences of the legal framework to both the employer and employee concerning productivity and growth. Various legal frameworks were determined to address HIV pandemic in South Africa which constitutes one of the utmost challenges facing the nation as well as benchmarking international law. The structure and functioning of the workplace is a key possibility to address developmental inequities in South Africa. This includes the development of healthcare centres in the workplace. HIV testing involves a great deal of risks and consequences that may not be apparent to the patient. Hence, informed consent is required. Policies and guidelines have been put in place to protect employees. HIV clinicians now argue that HIV testing should be presented as a routine procedure, to remove social barriers and stigma. The present study recommends various programmes that may assist in minimizing stigma and discrimination of people living with HIV. This stigma prevent persons from testing for HIV status. The study also seeks to evaluate and review current policies concerning HIV/AIDS.
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- Date Issued: 2018
The effectiveness of corporate social investment in addressing social challenges in the Nelson Mandela Bay Metropolitan area
- Authors: Mokoena, Lehlohonolo Edward
- Date: 2018
- Subjects: Social responsibility of business -- South Africa -- Nelson Mandela Bay Municipality , Community development -- South Africa -- Nelson Mandela Bay Municipality Corporations -- Social aspects -- South Africa -- Nelson Mandela Bay Municipality
- Language: English
- Type: Thesis , Masters , MBA
- Identifier: http://hdl.handle.net/10948/22736 , vital:30069
- Description: This study investigated the effectiveness of corporate social investment in addressing social challenges in the Nelson Mandela Bay Metropolitan Area. The study findings indicate that Volkswagen Group South Africa (VWSA) conducts corporate social investment programmes in the Uitenhage and Kwanobuhle communities. The study discovered that VWSA CSI programmes contribute to education, youth development, and enterprise development. Participants in this study gave responses that indicated their perceptions on the existence of these social programmes. The community also indicated its involvement and benefit in the VWSA CSI programmes.
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- Date Issued: 2018
The effectiveness of employee assistance programme and its contribution in the improvement of employee productivity in the Department of Health, OR Tambo District : a case study of forensic pathology laboratory
- Authors: Siyangaphi, Thembinkosi
- Date: 2018
- Subjects: Employee assistance programs -- South Africa -- Eastern Cape Labor productivity Employee motivation -- South Africa -- Eastern Cape
- Language: English
- Type: Thesis , Masters , Public Health
- Identifier: http://hdl.handle.net/10353/10542 , vital:35603
- Description: The Employee Assistance Programme (EAP) is a programme used by organizations to address problems related to drug addiction, stress and family problems, aimed at enhancing both work productivity and promoting high morale among the workers. The employees in the Department of Health (DoH) are faced with many challenges which affect them, personally, and their output at work. The OR Tambo District is currently faced with high levels of absenteeism, stress, low morale amongst health staff members, resulting in most employees resigning from the service. Others die due to ill health caused by high levels of stress and depression. Some employees are being dismissed for unethical behaviour, which include, among other things, alcohol and drug abuse and abuse of state resources, non-performance and absenteeism. Furthermore, due to the shortage of staff which results in a very high workload for the incumbents, some employees experience burnout, stress, depression and exhaustion. The main objective of the study was to assess the effectiveness of the Employee Assistance Programme among OR Tambo health workers in order to improve their work productivity and performance. The study applied a descriptive, quantitative design. The target population were all employees in the Forensic Pathology Laboratory in OR Tambo District and the sample included Managers, FPOs, Supervisors and General Assistants. The questionnaire was used to collect data. The major findings of the study demonstrated that most workers are dissatisfied with their personal growth and development in the organization. Furthermore, the results indicate that respondents are not satisfied with the decision space in their job functions, salary and benefits. The findings of this study demonstrated that most employees of the Department of Health experienced health, emotional and financial problems relating to alcohol and drug abuse, stress and work overload in their workplace. The study shows that the managers referred their employees for cases related to poor performance, absenteeism, alcohol and drug abuse, tiredness, employee and health problems; changes which were noticeable after referral. One of the major conclusions and recommendations that have been drawn in this study is that EAP is a good programme in terms of its contribution to work productivity of employees, however, it needs to be marketed and services should be utilized effectively.
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- Date Issued: 2018
The effectiveness of juvenile delinquents rehabilitation programmes in Zimbabwe : a case study of Harare Central Prison
- Authors: Nyakatawa, Rumbidzai
- Date: 2018
- Subjects: Juvenile delinquency Juvenile delinquents Rehabilitation
- Language: English
- Type: Thesis , Masters , MSoc
- Identifier: http://hdl.handle.net/10353/12436 , vital:39263
- Description: The Zimbabwe Prison and Correctional Services records show that there are around 300 children incarcerated every year. Most of these children commit crimes such as rape, murder, theft, possession of drugs due to issues like poverty, substance abuse, peer pressure and neglect. A number of these children face many forms of abuse in their homes, including physical, emotional, mental abuse as well as rape. The major aim of the study was to investigate the effectiveness of juvenile delinquents’ rehabilitation programmes at Harare Central Prison. The qualitative methodology was appropriate for this study because it gives in depth information through conducting interviews and focus groups with participants. The sampling procedure involved deliberate choice of an informant due to the qualities the informant possessed. A sample size of thirty-seven participants comprising sixteen juvenile delinquents, four social workers, five prison guards, five probation officers and seven community members, were selected for this study. Their perceptions provided baseline data that helped in gaining a deeper understanding of the juvenile rehabilitation programmes. Despite the findings, gaps remain in the current system, for instance children continue to spend prolonged periods of time in adult prisons while they await repatriation to institutions due to resource constraints, and the rehabilitation programmes have proved to be partially effective, yet at the same time the post rehabilitation programmes are not being provided to juveniles after their release from prison. Key recommendations include expanding the Pre-trial Diversion Programme to all the provinces as it has yielded results that benefit the child as well introduction of alternatives of institutionalisation.
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- Date Issued: 2018
The effectiveness of public participation in the environmental politics of hydraulic fracturing : the case of the Great Karoo
- Authors: Kalipa-Mini, Nomampondomise Cynthia
- Date: 2018
- Subjects: Hydraulic fracturing Hydraulic fracturing -- Environmental aspects -- South Africa -- Eastern Cape
- Language: English
- Type: Thesis , Masters , Environmental Studies
- Identifier: http://hdl.handle.net/10353/10779 , vital:35760
- Description: Shale gas has become a part of the world’s energy mix. South Africa (SA) is facing huge energy problems and job creation challenges whilst the Karoo region has large amounts of shale gas reserves. It is against this background that the South African government is considering fracking, showing interest by lifting fracking ban and repeatedly calling it a game changer. This generated debates among environmentalists, farmer groups, capitalists, politicians, researchers and community groups, as they voiced their views regarding fracking. The debates influenced the study to focus on public participation regarding the Karoo fracking initiative, with particular emphasis on the marginalised persons. The aim was to examine the effectiveness of public participation in the environmental politics of fracking in the Great Karoo region in Eastern Cape Province. The study adopted a qualitative case study approach through document analysis, questionnaires given to the interested and affected parties, relevant government department, local municipality and non-governmental organisations as well as focus group discussions with 35 participants from marginalised groupings. It was grounded on the Integrated Environmental Management (IEM) paradigm using the outcomes-based framework in the thematic analysis of the collected data. The results showed little evidence of social learning among the marginalised persons when the collected data was benchmarked against the chosen pillars of the IEM paradigm within the outcomes-based approach. These results convey that effective and developmental public participation should be empowering, informing and educating rather than merely serving documentary purposes.
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- Date Issued: 2018
The effects of father absenteeism on the development of a masculine identity of young Xhosa men in an urban township
- Authors: Kibi, Aluta
- Date: 2018
- Subjects: Absentee fathers -- South Africa , Men -- Identity , Masculinity , Men -- Psychology
- Language: English
- Type: Thesis , Masters , MA
- Identifier: http://hdl.handle.net/10948/22332 , vital:29944
- Description: The absence of a biological father in a family system is associated with a myriad of familial and societal problems. Although father absenteeism affects the entire family system, boys raised in the absence of a paternal figure appear to be the most affected especially when they belong to patriarchal cultures. Among the many important roles played by a father in his son’s development he plays a significant role in modelling a culture specific masculinity. This masculinity enables him to effectively navigate the social spaces to acceptance from others within his culture. In his absence, boys look elsewhere for masculinity models some of which may be damaging to the males identity. Although there is substantial research on masculinity there is however paucity of research on how young Xhosa men develop a masculine identity in the absence of a paternal figure. This study sought to elucidate common themes through semi-structured interviews with young Xhosa men in navigating a masculine identity for themselves in the absence of a biological father. A purposive sampling technique was used to recruit participants for this study. Thematic content analysis was used to analyse the data, using Tesch’s method. The results of the study are beneficial to absent fathers, single mothers raising boy children and cultural leaders.
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- Date Issued: 2018
The effects of intermittent task parameters on muscle fatigue development during submaximal dynamic exertions
- Authors: King, Josephine Claire
- Date: 2018
- Subjects: Muscles -- Physiology , Muscles -- Wounds and injuries , Fatigue , Human engineering , Occupational diseases
- Language: English
- Type: text , Thesis , Masters , MSc
- Identifier: http://hdl.handle.net/10962/63855 , vital:28498
- Description: The negative effects of localised muscle fatigue on accidents, injuries and poor work performance are well known, as is the realisation that modifying task characteristics can minimise fatigue development. A large amount of literature has investigated the effects of task-dependent factors on localised muscle fatigue, most studies have focussed on prolonged or intermittent static (isometric) exertions. Few studies have investigated muscle fatigue development during more complex tasks, namely those which resemble common work activities and which tend to be intermittent and dynamic in nature. More specifically, the interactions between the main intermittent parameters - duty cycle, force level, and cycle time - during dynamic exertions are poorly understood. The purpose of this study was to investigate the effects of cycle time and combinations of duty cycles and force levels on the development of muscle fatigue during submaximal dynamic exertions while the overall mean muscle load was kept constant. A two-factorial repeated-measures experiment was developed for this study. Nine experimental conditions, each lasting 16 minutes, aimed at inducing muscle fatigue in the middle deltoid muscle via intermittent dynamic shoulder abduction and adduction motions at three cycle times (30, 60, and 120 seconds) and three combinations of duty cycles and force levels. The percentage of muscle activation during one cycle (i.e. the duty cycle) varied depending on the exertion intensity (force level) so that the overall mean muscle load remained consistent throughout all experimental conditions, namely at 20% of maximum force exertion. As a result, the three duty cycle/force level combinations were: 0.8/25% of maximum voluntary force (MVF), 0.5/40%MVF, and 0.4/50%MVF. Muscle fatigue development was inferred by changes in peak torque, total work, average power, local Ratings of Perceived Exertion (RPE), and surface electromyographical (EMG) activity (time domain and frequency domain).Two-factorial analyses of variance with Tukey post-hoc tests were used to identify significant condition effects at p<0.05. All dependent measures showed that muscle fatigue was induced by the 16-minute fatigue protocol. Peak torque, total work, average power, and EMG percentage of maximum showed that cycle time and the duty cycle/force level combination had no effect on the development of muscle fatigue, whereas the measures evaluated during the 16-minute fatigue protocol did. The cycle time of 120 seconds induced the greatest change in six of the eight variables, while the duty cycle/force level combination (0.8/25%) also resulted in the greatest effect in six of the measures. Fatigue was also found to be dependent on the interaction of cycle time and duty cycle/force level combination. The conclusion draws from this study is that shorter cycles and activities with short activation periods, and proportionally longer rest breaks result in the lowest fatigue developments.
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- Date Issued: 2018
The effects of monetary policy on output and unemployment
- Authors: Mkhombo, Thabo
- Date: 2018
- Subjects: Monetary policy -- Econometric models , Monetary policy -- South Africa Unemployment -- South Africa
- Language: English
- Type: Thesis , Masters , MCom
- Identifier: http://hdl.handle.net/10948/32783 , vital:32360
- Description: Following the global financial crisis of 2007 and the ensuing global recessionary of 2009, most economies have been concerned with improving economic growth levels as well as lowering levels of unemployment rates. For the case of South Africa, much concern has been placed on the ability of monetary authorities to contribute to such macroeconomics objectives. therefore the primary objective of the study was to investigate the influence of the monetary policy conduct on economic growth and unemployment.
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- Date Issued: 2018
The effects of old age grants on poverty alleviation in Dutywa in Eastern Cape of South Africa
- Authors: Lindi, Bomkazi
- Date: 2018
- Subjects: Old age assistance -- South Africa -- Eastern Cape Old age pensions -- South Africa -- Eastern Cape
- Language: English
- Type: Thesis , Masters , M. Soc. Sci.
- Identifier: http://hdl.handle.net/10353/9599 , vital:34801
- Description: Old age grant was designed to reduce level of poverty in South Africa and according to SASSA (2016), there are 28 981 beneficiaries of old age grant in Dutywa. The study seeks to investigate the effect of old age grant on poverty eradication programme in Dutywa community in Eastern Cape. Three objectives were set for the study that include: to find out the influence of old age grant on poverty alleviation; to examine the challenges faced by old age grant beneficiaries in fighting poverty; to explore coping mechanisms available for old age grant beneficiaries in fighting poverty; to find out if there are any other support services put in place by professionals or agencies such as Social Workers, Nurses, Educators and Traditional leaders in fighting poverty. Both quantitative and qualitative approaches were used to collect data from respondents. A sample of seventy (70) respondents for quantitative approach and sixteen (16) participants for the qualitative approach were purposively selected for the study. The results reveal that old age grant gives beneficiaries an opportunity of spending, which in turn sustains impoverished and vulnerable communities. In this way, the old age grant strengthens existing, deep-rooted informal social protection systems and social networks. In the case of Dutywa community, this is seen in instances where beneficiaries of the old age grant enable many rural grandmothers to take care of their grandchildren and afford beneficiaries’ necessities. It was concluded that old age grant has positively reduced poverty in Dutywa community of Eastern Cape though it does not meet all their necessities. Appropriate recommendations were made in the study.
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- Date Issued: 2018
The English East India Company and the British Crown: c. 1795-1803, the first occupation at the Cape of Good Hope
- Authors: Jordan, Calvin
- Date: 2018
- Subjects: East India Company , East India Company -- Influence , Cape of Good Hope (Colony) , Cape of Good Hope (South Africa) -- History -- 1795-1872 , Cape of Good Hope (South Africa) -- Politics and government -- 1795-1872 , British -- South Africa -- History -- 19th century , Great Britain -- Colonies -- Commerce , Great Britain -- Colonies -- Administration -- History -- 19th century , Merchant marine -- Great Britain -- History
- Language: English
- Type: text , Thesis , Masters , MA
- Identifier: http://hdl.handle.net/10962/63164 , vital:28369
- Description: My thesis aims to investigate the relationship between the English East India Company (EEIC) and the British colonial administration at the Cape of Good Hope during the first British occupation (1795 to 1803). Studies and literature that concern the EEIC have rarely gone beyond the surface, detailing the presence of the EEIC at the Cape, and neglecting the Company’s involvement in the administration thereof. My thesis draws on prior works but attempts to address both temporal and spatial gaps in this literature on the Atlantic and Indian Ocean, and the history of the EEIC. This study takes note of the seaborne related activity around the ports, bays and islands at the Cape – including the regulation of these spaces and issues related to securing British trade and colonial possessions more generally. I question the framing of the Cape primarily as a constituent of a national unit by locating the colony within a broader global and maritime context. A key interest is to determine the degree to which the EEIC influenced and participated in the British governance of the Cape, particularly by exploring the maritime dimensions of the relationship between the EEIC and colonial governance during this particular period. This involves understanding the embeddedness of the Cape in British (Crown and Company) networks and the constitution of a ‘British maritime zone’. This study uses archival sources drawn from the British colonial government records, Company records, and the private diaries and letters of Lady Anne Barnard that relate to the Cape. It is shown that a uniquely configured governance convention was constituted to secure the mutual commercial and imperial interests of both Crown and Company. By keeping the Cape secure, the British sought to keep their greater seaborne Empire secure. This study reveals that the EEIC was significantly involved in and influenced the way the British administration governed the Cape.
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- Date Issued: 2018