Paranoid metaphors: an examination of the discursive, theoretical and sometimes personal, interaction between the psychoanalyst, Jacques Lacan, the surrealist, Salvador Dali, and the English poet, David Gascoyne
- Authors: De Klerk, Eugene
- Date: 2003
- Subjects: Paranoia , Lacan, Jacques, 1901-1981 , Dali, Salvador, 1904-1989 , Gascoyne, David, 1916-2001
- Language: English
- Type: Thesis , Masters , MA
- Identifier: vital:2192 , http://hdl.handle.net/10962/d1002234 , Paranoia , Lacan, Jacques, 1901-1981 , Dali, Salvador, 1904-1989 , Gascoyne, David, 1916-2001
- Description: This thesis examines the historical interaction of the psychoanalyst, Jacques Lacan, the surrealist, Salvador Dali, and the English poet, David Gascoyne. It traces the discursive, and sometimes personal, relationship between these figures which led to a psychoanalytic-based conception of paranoia that impacted on both surrealism and the surrealist-inspired poetry and theory of David Gascoyne. Furthermore it seeks to identify the potential ramifications of this conception of paranoia, and the artistic practice it engendered, for literary, Marxist and psychoanalytic theory.
- Full Text:
- Date Issued: 2003
Participants' perceptions of Computer-Mediated Communication: a case study of the Global Teenager Project
- Authors: Turyagyenda, Joy Kyarimpa
- Date: 2003
- Subjects: Global Teenager Project Computer networks -- Social aspects Communication Telematics Learning -- Technological innovations
- Language: English
- Type: Thesis , Masters , MEd
- Identifier: vital:1687 , http://hdl.handle.net/10962/d1003570
- Description: The study outlines general trends evident in Computer-Mediated Communication (CMC), participants’ perceptions and the promotion of CMC across the curriculum in a South African Secondary School. This case study focuses on the Global Teenager Project (GTP), which started as a bi-national pilot project in April 1999 between secondary schools in South Africa and the Netherlands. The study sets out to investigate how well the GTP can be incorporated into the existing school curriculum through the teacherresearcher’s direct involvement in facilitating the project at a school where she is a fulltime teacher. The main purpose of the study is to review existing literature to establish how collaborative learning could be achieved through a CMC environment between teenagers from various countries based on the research done at an international level and link the practice at this school to the existing international trends. It was found that the GTP has great potential in enhancing collaborative learning within various learning areas at Nathaniel Nyaluza Secondary School (NNSS). Despite the usefulness of the GTP and the overwhelming enthusiasm learners displayed, its success at NNSS depended on the motivation of teachers and how easily the activities of the GTP could be incorporated within day-to-day teachers’ activities. , Hodgkinson, Cheryl
- Full Text:
- Date Issued: 2003
Patents, pills, poverty and pandemic: the ethical issues
- Authors: Brown, Walter
- Date: 2003
- Subjects: Kant, Immanuel, 1724-1804 -- Ethics , AIDS (Disease) -- Treatment -- South Africa -- Moral and ethical aspects , AIDS (Disease) -- Moral and ethical aspects , HIV infections -- South Africa , HIV infections -- Treatment -- South Africa -- Moral and ethical aspects , Social responsibility of business , Pharmaceutical industry -- South Africa -- Moral and ethical aspects
- Language: English
- Type: Thesis , Masters , MA
- Identifier: vital:2705 , http://hdl.handle.net/10962/d1002835 , Kant, Immanuel, 1724-1804 -- Ethics , AIDS (Disease) -- Treatment -- South Africa -- Moral and ethical aspects , AIDS (Disease) -- Moral and ethical aspects , HIV infections -- South Africa , HIV infections -- Treatment -- South Africa -- Moral and ethical aspects , Social responsibility of business , Pharmaceutical industry -- South Africa -- Moral and ethical aspects
- Description: This thesis argues that corporations qua corporations are moral agents sui generis and hence capable of being held morally responsible. I argue that corporations qua corporations are responsible for the actual and foreseen consequences of their actions. I analyse normative theories and the different proscriptive responsibilities they place on moral agents and hence corporations. I examine Kantianism, utilitarianism and virtue ethics. I argue for a unique normative ethical theory that incorporates reasoning from all three of the normative theories. I argue for a broad range of reasons to factor into deciding whether an act is ethical or not. One of the claims of this thesis is that ethical theories must incorporate an agent’s motivation, intention and character traits as relevant to deciding on whether an action is ethical or not. My thesis argues for an indispensable role for the virtues while at the same time incorporating impartial beneficence and universal rationality from utilitarianism and Kantianism. This position I, following the literature, refer to as moderate virtue theory. Having established corporate qua corporate responsibility I question the pharmaceutical corporation’s practice of patenting life saving medication during a state of pandemic in poor countries. The moderate virtue theory position prioritises contexts and the actual human condition and criticises normative theories that attempt to give universal, abstracted answers to ethical problems. It is for this reason and the current (2003) HIV/AIDS pandemic that I focus on a particular context. I examine the practice of patenting life saving medication within South Africa and argue, applying moderate virtue theory, that this act cannot be justified. I argue that a pharmaceutical corporation that patents life saving medication in South Africa cannot justify that action and thus is morally responsible for that action. I also argue that corporations patenting HIV/AIDS medication in South Africa have unethical motivations and intentions.
- Full Text:
- Date Issued: 2003
Patterns of early adolescent sex and implications for HIV/AIDS risk prevention : a contextual study in the Amatole Basin, Eastern Cape
- Authors: Ntlabati, Pumla L
- Date: 2003
- Subjects: Teenagers -- Sexual behavior , Teenagers -- Health and hygiene -- South Africa -- Eastern Cape , Teenagers -- Diseases -- South Africa -- Eastern Cape , Sexually transmitted diseases -- South Africa -- Eastern Cape , AIDS (Disease) -- South Africa -- Eastern Cape , AIDS (Disease) in adolescence -- South Africa -- Eastern Cape -- Attitudes , AIDS (Disease) -- Prevention -- South Africa --Eastern Cape
- Language: English
- Type: Thesis , Masters , MA
- Identifier: vital:3176 , http://hdl.handle.net/10962/d1007814
- Description: This study involves an analysis of accounts of first and subsequent early sexual experiences in a deep rural area of the Eastern Cape in South Africa over the last forty years. Through interviews and focus group discussions, the enculturation of youth into sexual activity in the community of interest is explored. The study looks into sexual experiences from childhood, through early adolescence to adults of up to sixty five years old, allowing an analysis of the changing forms of sexual experimentation and sexual debut in this context. Contextual factors mediating these changes are explored, with special emphasis on the changing regulatory practices around early sexual experiences and the effect thereof on behaviors connected to HIV infection risk. Practices that were previously important mediators of sexual behavior were: anxiety about the social consequences of pregnancy, which was previously a significant disincentive to sexual intercourse; men's previous acceptance of the need to practice non-penetrative forms of sex and girls postponing sexual debut for as long as possible. All these were culturally endorsed, but are now noted to have changed due to changes in the regulatory practices surrounding youth sexuality. The context of early sexual experiences and the surrounding cultural practices have also changed significantly, and this needs to be taken into account in understanding receptivity to condom use messages. Implications for HIV/AIDS prevention are discussed. Among other interventions, the study describes a participatory, community-based, multi-sectoral approach that takes social conditions into account as a way of empowering the community to strengthen its response to the pandemic. This incorporates different sectors of the community, including youth, parents, religious and traditional leaders, and various other structures, services and institutions that make up the community.
- Full Text:
- Date Issued: 2003
People-centred development in practice: the case of the Zikhova-Ngqinisa Sidibene Woodlot Trust Project
- Authors: Pona, Faith Zolisa
- Date: 2003
- Subjects: Zikhova-Ngqinisa Sidibene Woodlot Trust Project , Rural development -- South Africa -- Eastern Cape , Rural development projects -- South Africa -- Eastern Cape -- Citizen participation , Woodlots -- South Africa -- Eastern Cape , Economic development projects -- South Africa -- Eastern Cape
- Language: English
- Type: Thesis , Masters , MA
- Identifier: vital:3356 , http://hdl.handle.net/10962/d1007610 , Zikhova-Ngqinisa Sidibene Woodlot Trust Project , Rural development -- South Africa -- Eastern Cape , Rural development projects -- South Africa -- Eastern Cape -- Citizen participation , Woodlots -- South Africa -- Eastern Cape , Economic development projects -- South Africa -- Eastern Cape
- Description: This study addresses the question of people-centred development as a transformative aspect of the new South African development arena. The concept is defined as the involvement and active participation of people in the decision-making, evaluation and implementation of the development processes, It is one of the forms of democratisation which involves the decentralisaton of authority to the lower tiers of government. This study provides an analysis of the efficacy, relevance, advantages and disadvantages of people-centred development in the South African context. The Zikhoya-Ngqinisa Woodlot Trust Project was chosen as a case study, The reason was that through the process of devolution of the Department of Forestry and Water Affairs (DWAF), which involved the handing over of the management and financial resources of the small woodlots to the communities for their own benefit, the two villages, Zikhova and Ngqinisa, were given the Zikhova woodlot. The devolution of DWAF is one of the various forms of decentralisation that has given more autonomy to the lower tiers of government in the sense that the communities now have to satisfy their own needs. The main focus of the study was to identify and analyse constraints on the implementation of people-centred development specific to the Zikhova-Ngqinisa Woodlot Trust Project. Other interrelated aspects of people-centred development such as sustainability, community involvement and benefits of the project were also investigated and analysed. , KMBT_363
- Full Text:
- Date Issued: 2003
Personality traits of patients participating in a group programme at a private psychiatric day clinic
- Authors: Oakes, Elizabeth Jean
- Date: 2003
- Subjects: Personality assessment -- South Africa -- Port Elizabeth , NEO Personality Inventory -- South Africa -- Port Elizabeth , Psychotherapy -- Outcome assessment -- South Africa -- Port Elizabeth
- Language: English
- Type: Thesis , Masters , MA
- Identifier: vital:11028 , http://hdl.handle.net/10948/331 , Personality assessment -- South Africa -- Port Elizabeth , NEO Personality Inventory -- South Africa -- Port Elizabeth , Psychotherapy -- Outcome assessment -- South Africa -- Port Elizabeth
- Description: The current trend in psychiatric health care is towards comprehensive primary healthcare for all South Africans. This has been has been achieved by the restructuring of the National Health System (NHS) into national, provincial, district, and community levels, which provide outpatient and inpatient care at primary, secondary, and tertiary care levels. Assessment and treatment in the form of physical and psychosocial interventions form an integral part of psychiatric care. The value of personality assessment and, in particular, the potential for matching patient personality types with effective treatment options, may play a role in facilitating effective health care in the future. An overview of the literature indicates that little research has been done regarding the area of personality traits of psychiatric patients in South Africa. This study aims to explore and describe the personality traits or profile of individuals attending a private psychiatric day care facility in The Nelson Mandela Metropole (i.e., Parkwood Day Clinic). The sample consisted of 196 participants (104 male and 92 female) who attended a group programme from April 2000 to April 2001. As part of the programme, patients were required to com plete a series of pencil-and-paper measures. The questionnaires selected for this study included a biographical questionnaire, which was used to describe the biographical variables of the sample with regard to gender, age and marital status, and The Revised NEO Personality Inventory (NEO PI-R) (Costa & McCrae, 1992a), which was used as a measure of personality. The NEO PI-R is considered a concise measure of the five major domains of personality and some of the more important traits that define each domain. Together, the five domains Neuroticism (N), Extraversion (E), Openness (O), Agreeableness (A) and Conscientiousness (C), and the six facets within each domain, allow for a comprehensive assessment of adult personality. xiv An exploratory, descriptive method was used in the study, and the data was analysed using descriptive and inferential statistics, including correlations, cluster analysis, and multivariate analysis of variance. Key findings include the following: Results from the NEO PI-R domains showed a personality profile of very high scores for N, and average scores for E, O, A, and C. Within the sample, cluster analysis revealed five distinct personality profile clusters. For the biographical variable gender, significant differences were found between males and females on N, with the majority of males scoring in the category of Very High and High, and the majority of females scoring in the Average category. For the variable age, the results indicated significant differences on A, with participants in the young adulthood group scoring significantly lower on A than participants in the middle adulthood group. For marital status, on the domain of O, significant differences were found between the divorced or widowed and the married, with the married scoring in the Low category and the divorced or widowed in the Average category. On the domain of C, significant differences were noted between the singles group and the currently or previously married groups, with the single group tending to score lower on C than both other groups. These findings reveal a need for further research into personality traits and psychiatric samples, as consideration of personality traits based on the profile established, may be useful in matching patients’ characteristics with optimal treatment options.
- Full Text:
- Date Issued: 2003
Pharmaceutical analysis and aspects of the quality control of St. John's Wort products
- Authors: Wild, Tracy Joy
- Date: 2003
- Subjects: Hypericum perforatum , Hypericum perforatum -- Analysis , Hypericum perforatum -- Therapeutic use , Hypericum perforatum -- Physiological effect , Flavonoids -- Analysis
- Language: English
- Type: Thesis , Masters , MSc
- Identifier: vital:3804 , http://hdl.handle.net/10962/d1003282 , Hypericum perforatum , Hypericum perforatum -- Analysis , Hypericum perforatum -- Therapeutic use , Hypericum perforatum -- Physiological effect , Flavonoids -- Analysis
- Description: Most complementary medicines contain a multitude of chemical components, some of which are claimed to contribute to the biological activity of such products. Use of complementary medicines for preventative and therapeutic purposes is increasing rapidly worldwide. Unfortunately, although control of these products is essential to ensure quality, safety, and efficacy, the quality control of most herbal preparations is currently poor to non-existent, with little or no safety and efficacy data required to support the marketing and use of these products. The objective of this study was therefore to develop suitable analytical methods to qualitatively and quantitatively analyse the relevant components (rutin, isoquercitrin, hyperoside, quercitrin, quercetin, kaempferol, hypericin, pseudohypericin and hyperforin) in St John's Wort dosage forms for quality control purposes. A gradient HPLC method using a Luna 5·mC₁₈(2) 150 x 2.00mm internal diameter (i.d.) column and UV detection, was developed for the separation of six of the relevant flavonoid compounds in St John's Wort, namely rutin, isoquercitrin, hyperoside, quercitrin, quercetin and kaempferol. The development process involved a systematic investigation of gradient conditions, flow rate, and temperature. This method was subsequently applied to assay selected commercially available St John's Wort products. This system provided the necessary accuracy, precision and reproducibility and was associated with several advantages when compared to using standard bore (4.60 mm i.d.) HPLC columns. The method developed is currently the only known method that separates all six relevant flavonoids in a reasonable run time (less than 20 minutes). It is also one of the few methods that has sufficient separation between rutin, isoquercitrin and hyperoside. A qualitative method for the fingerprinting of flavonoid components was also developed, using capillary electrophoresis (CE). CE is a rapidly growing powerful analytical technique for the separation of charged compounds. Micellar electrokinetic chromatography (MEKC) is a very powerful electrophoretic technique that is capable of selectively resolving both neutral and ionic solutes in a single run. A MEKC method suitable for the separation and determination of various flavonoid constituents used as marker compounds in Hypericum perforatum was developed. Investigations into the effect of pH, ionic strength, applied voltage and capillary dimensions on separation were performed. The optimised method was then applied to qualitatively analyse various St John's Wort products on the market. This method was found to be advantageous in that it was simple, cost-effective, required minimal sample preparation and utilised very small quantities of sample. Due to the vast differences in chemical properties between the various marker and active components in St John's Wort, it was necessary to develop separate analytical methods for the flavonoids and for the other three relevant compounds (hypericin, pseudohypericin and hyperforin). An isocratic HPLC method using a Luna 5·mC₁₈(2) 150 x 2.00mm (i.d.) column and UV detection was developed for the separation of hypericin, pseudohypericin and hyperforin. The development process involved a systematic investigation of buffer molarity, mobile phase composition, pH, flow rate, and temperature. This method was subsequently applied to assay selected commercially available St John's Wort products on the South African market. This system also provided the necessary accuracy, precision and reproducibility, as well as the advantages associated with the use of a narrow bore column as opposed to the use of the more commonly used wider bore columns. This method was validated and used to quantitate these three compounds in various commercial St John's Wort products. By applying this method to liquid chromatography – tandem mass spectrometry (LC-MS-MS), qualitative analyses of the same products was performed to obtain confirmation of the quantitative HPLC results. Mass spectrometry is a powerful detection tool that is more selective and specific than many detection systems used with HPLC. Natural medicines usually constitute a multitude of constituents with much potential interference. In this regard LC-MS-MS is a powerful tool, with its ability to unequivocally identify target analytes regardless of the presence of interferences or complex matrices. ESI-MS-MS was used for the qualitative analysis of the content of the naphthodianthrones and hyperforin in the respective tablet products assayed with HPLC. LC-MS-MS analyses were performed in order to identify the constituents and to verify the specificity of the HPLC method. High inter-product and inter-batch variability was observed for all nine compounds assayed. These quantitative results were confirmed with the respective qualitative analyses. This study confirms the need for strict quality control of herbal medicinal products commercially available to consumers.
- Full Text:
- Date Issued: 2003
Physiological, perceptual and performance responses during cricket activity
- Authors: King, Gregory Allen
- Date: 2003
- Subjects: Cricket , Sports -- Psychological aspects , Sports -- Physiological aspects
- Language: English
- Type: Thesis , Masters , MSc
- Identifier: vital:5131 , http://hdl.handle.net/10962/d1005210 , Cricket , Sports -- Psychological aspects , Sports -- Physiological aspects
- Description: The present study sought to determine the influence of environmental conditions and protective clothing on physiological, perceptual and performance responses during batting activity. The investigation examined mean skin temperature, average heart rate, estimated sweat rate, rating of perceived exertion, thermal sensation rating, average sprint time and pre-post choice reaction time. Twenty-five cricketers (18-22 yr, 73.1 ± 9.6 kg, 1768 ± 75 mm, 12.6 ± 3.1% body fat, 1.89 ± 0.16 m2) performed a work-bout consisting of a seven-Over batting period, during which time they faced deliveries from a bowling machine and performed two shuttle runs every third ball to total four sprints per Over. Trials were carried out under High-stress (23.8 ± 2.2 °C) and Low-stress (13.3 ± 1.9 °C) environmental conditions (WBGT). Within each environmental condition subjects performed the test wearing full protective batting gear and no protective gear. Thus, four specific conditions were examined; high full-gear (HFG), high no-gear (HNG), low full-gear (LFG) and low no-gear (LNG). Two-way ANOVAs were calculated to determine whether there were differences between environmental conditions and whether differences existed between the clothing conditions. One-way ANOVAs were utilised to compute differences between the four specific conditions combining clothing and environment. High environmental stress and wearing protective clothing caused batsmen to experience significant physiological strain. The environment was the greatest stressor, with the protective gear exacerbating these effects. However, when padding covered skin areas directly, this was the primary skin temperature stressor, particularly later in the activity. For skin temperature and heart rate, the strain was the most pronounced at the end of the trials. Perceptual responses indicated that the protective gear had no influence on effort sense, thermal sensation or thermal comfort. However, environmental conditions had an effect, and High-stress conditions resulted in significantly higher perceptions of effort, elevated sensations of heat and greater thermal discomfort. Effort was perceived to be greatest towards the end of the trial. There were mixed findings for performance factors. In general sprint performance was not hindered by environmental stress, but protective clothing caused a reduction in several sprint times. Choice reaction times were for the most part unaffected by either environment or clothing and few differences were observed between pre and post times. It is contended that intense short duration batting activity, likely encountered during one-day participation, imposes a stress on batsmen. The stress is greater when conditions are warmer and protective padding is worn, although it is not sufficient to impede choice reaction time. However, protective gear did have a deleterious effect on sprint performance.
- Full Text:
- Date Issued: 2003
Politics of asylum : sovereign considerations in the multilateral and humanitarian practices of refugee protection in post-apartheid South Africa
- Authors: Oduba, Victor
- Date: 2003
- Subjects: Refugees -- Africa , Refugees -- Government policy -- South Africa , Refugees -- Legal status, laws, etc. -- South Africa , Asylum, Right of -- South Africa
- Language: English
- Type: Thesis , Masters , MA
- Identifier: vital:2870 , http://hdl.handle.net/10962/d1007725 , Refugees -- Africa , Refugees -- Government policy -- South Africa , Refugees -- Legal status, laws, etc. -- South Africa , Asylum, Right of -- South Africa
- Description: Most scholars claim that international human rights norms embodied in formal international declarations and treaties have an important impact on domestic political interests and governmental practices. This reasoning about the impact of global human rights is often applied to the post-apartheid South African immigration and refugee policies. While I acknowledge that the ratification of United Nations Conventions on refugees has altered the traditional sovereignty considerations of South Africa towards asylum seekers, I take issue with the claims that South African refugee and asylum policies are primarily motivated and based on humanitarian considerations. Instead, I argue that these policies are based on sovereign considerations and strategic foreign policy interests. As a result this sovereign interests of South Africa to study has sought to demonstrate that largely explain decisions on the part accept or reject refugees. Although norms diffusion, international advocacy networks, and prestige factors have made a big impact, in practice the refugee policy has continued to reflect South Africa's strategic interests and domestic considerations at all levels. However, I have not argued that South Africa should overlook its national and foreign interests and abide by international human rights norms regardless of the cost of doing so. I have only sought to demonstrate that refugee protection is more when powerful national interests find it conducive to manage the destabilizing refugee flows.
- Full Text:
- Date Issued: 2003
Predictive modelling of species' potential geographical distributions
- Authors: Robertson, Mark Peter
- Date: 2003
- Subjects: Alien plants -- South Africa -- Geographical distribution Species -- Geographical distribution -- Mathematical models Cicadas -- South Africa -- Geographical distribution Scaevola plumieri -- South Africa -- Geographical distribution
- Language: English
- Type: Thesis , Doctoral , PhD
- Identifier: vital:5816 , http://hdl.handle.net/10962/d1007189
- Description: Models that are used for predicting species' potential distributions are important tools that have found applications in a number of areas of applied ecology. The majority of these models can be classified as correlative, as they rely on strong, often indirect, links between species distribution records and environmental predictor variables to make predictions. Correlative models are an alternative to more complex mechanistic models that attempt to simulate the mechanisms considered to underlie the observed correlations with environmental attributes. This study explores the influence of the type and quality of the data used to calibrate correlative models. In terms of data type, the most popular techniques in use are group discrimination techniques, those that use both presence and absence locality data to make predictions. However, for many organisms absence data are either not available or are considered to be unreliable. As the available range of profile techniques (those using presence only data) appeared to be limited, new profile techniques were investigated and evaluated. A new profile modelling technique based on fuzzy classification (the Fuzzy Envelope Model) was developed and implemented. A second profile technique based on Principal Components Analysis was implemented and evaluated. Based on quantitative model evaluation tests, both of these techniques performed well and show considerable promise. In terms of data quality, the effects on model performance of false absence records, the number of locality records (sample size) and the proportion of localities representing species presence (prevalence) in samples were investigated for logistic regression distribution models. Sample size and prevalence both had a significant effect on model performance. False absence records had a significant influence on model performance, which was affected by sample size. A quantitative comparison of the performance of selected profile models and group discrimination modelling techniques suggests that different techniques may be more successful for predicting distributions for particular species or types of organism than others. The results also suggest that several different model design! sample size combinations are capable of making predictions that will on average not differ significantly in performance for a particular species. A further quantitative comparison among modelling techniques suggests that correlative techniques can perform as well as simple mechanistic techniques for predicting potential distributions.
- Full Text:
- Date Issued: 2003
Procedural fairness in unprotected strike dismissals
- Authors: Nel, Werner
- Date: 2003
- Subjects: Strikes and lockouts -- Law and legislation -- South Africa , Labor laws and legislation -- South Africa , Employees -- Dismissal of -- Law and legislation -- South Africa , South Africa. Labour Relations Act -- 1995
- Language: English
- Type: Thesis , Masters , LLM
- Identifier: vital:11049 , http://hdl.handle.net/10948/314 , Strikes and lockouts -- Law and legislation -- South Africa , Labor laws and legislation -- South Africa , Employees -- Dismissal of -- Law and legislation -- South Africa , South Africa. Labour Relations Act -- 1995
- Description: The Labour Relations Act contains a definition of a strike which reads as follows: “’strike’ means the partial or complete concerted refusal to work, or the retardation or obstruction of work, by persons who are or have been employed by the same employer or by different employers, for the purpose of remedying a grievance or resolving a dispute in respect of any matter of mutual interest between employer and employee, and every reference to ‘work’ in this definition includes overtime work, whether it is voluntary or compulsory.” The Labour Relations Act offers strikers special protection against dismissal if they conform with the Act and its provisions. Hence the distinction between those strikes and protest action in compliance with the Act, namely ‘protected’ strikes and protest action, and those strikes and protest action in violation of the Act, namely, ‘unprotected’ strikes and protest action. Participation in an unprotected strike is one form of misbehaviour. The Labour Relations Act expressly prohibits the dismissal of employees engaged in a lawful strike. Employees engaged in strike action contrary to the provisions of the Labour Relations Act may be dismissed since their strike action is deemed to be a form of misconduct. The dismissal of striking employees must be both substantially and procedurally fair.
- Full Text:
- Date Issued: 2003
Progress towards the development and implementation of an unambiguous copper wire fingerprinting system
- Authors: Poole, Martin
- Date: 2003
- Subjects: Electroplating , Copper , Telecommunication , Theft -- Prevention
- Language: English
- Type: Thesis , Masters , MSc
- Identifier: vital:5484 , http://hdl.handle.net/10962/d1005270 , Electroplating , Copper , Telecommunication , Theft -- Prevention
- Description: The Telecommunications industry in Southern Africa is faced with the problem of theft of the signal carrying copper wire, both from the ground and from telephone poles. In many cases, if the offenders are caught, the prosecuting party has no way of proving that the wire is the property of any one Telecommunication company, as any inked markings on the insulating sheaths have been burned off along with the insulation and protective coatings themselves. Through this work we * describe the problem, * specify the necessary and preferred technical properties of a viable solution, * report the preliminary investigations into the devising of an unambiguous "fingerprinting" of the 0.5 mm wires, including some of those solutions that, upon investigation, appear non-viable, * describe the development and implementation of an electrochemical marker with detection mechanism which has shown in proof-of-principle to work, * outline the road-map of necessary future work.
- Full Text:
- Date Issued: 2003
Provocation as a defence in English and South African criminal law
- Authors: Krause, Samantha
- Date: 2003
- Subjects: Provocation (Criminal law) -- South Africa , Provocation (Criminal law) -- Great Britain
- Language: English
- Type: Thesis , Masters , LLM
- Identifier: vital:11044 , http://hdl.handle.net/10948/310 , Provocation (Criminal law) -- South Africa , Provocation (Criminal law) -- Great Britain
- Description: In the past 20 years the defence of provocation has shifted from the periphery of South African law to a fully developed defence available to those who kill when provoked. Not only is the defence available to the provoked, but it has been extended to those who kill when subjected to emotional stress. However, the defence is mirred in controversy and bad decisions. Not only has the precise nature of the defence not been clarified, but this lack of clarity has been exacerbated by confusing decisions of our courts. This confusion is partly a result of the development of the defence of incapacity, particularly its extension to cases involving provocation and mental stress, and partly a result of its application in practice. Three major problems have plagued the provocation defence. Firstly, the courts have confused the defence of sane automatism with that of non-pathological incapacity. Secondly, there has been an implied use of an objective test in determining criminal incapacity where the enquiry has clearly been a subjective one. Thirdly, it has been held that the problem may not so much be the subjective aspect of provocation, but rather its application. The real problem seems to lie in the theoretical confusion as to the precise meaning of lack of “selfcontrol”. Lastly, on occasion the courts have failed to distinguish lack of capacity from diminished responsibility. Thus, in order to gain clarity concerning this “grey” area of the law these problems have created, it is necessary for South African law to consult more authoritative sources to receive guidance for the problems identified. One of those sources that has been consulted is that of English law. English law, however, deals with the defence of provocation in a different manner. Raising a defence of provocation here does not result in an acquittal but rather in a reduction of the charge to manslaughter. However, the English law on provocation is also 7 plagued by various problems. Firstly, there is the issue of cumulative provocation. Generally, there is little difficulty in cases where there is no “immediate trigger”. Secondly, the fundamental flaw with the current test of the reasonable man is that the courts have had to swing between the two aims of taking a compassionate view of human frailty while endeavoring to maintain an objective standard of the reasonable man. Lastly, it can be said that the problem with the proportionality requirement is that it makes the provocation defence dependant upon the assessment of the accused’s conduct after he or she lost his or her selfcontrol rather than on his or her giving way to passion and losing control in the first place. It is clear that from the problems identified in both South African law and English law concerning the defence of provocation the courts in each jurisdiction will have to pay careful attentio n to the problems highlighted and apply the law in such a way so as to ensure clarity and legal certainty.
- Full Text:
- Date Issued: 2003
Psychoanalysis and realism
- Authors: Rae, Andrew Kenneth McKenzie
- Date: 2003
- Subjects: Psychoanalysis Realism Human beings -- Psychology International relations -- Psychological aspects
- Language: English
- Type: Thesis , Masters , MSocSc
- Identifier: vital:2825 , http://hdl.handle.net/10962/d1003035
- Description: International politics has always been characterised by conflict. This has been true regardless of the political systems in place or of any specific time in the history of humanity. Inter-state conflict exists today despite the fact that the vast majority of the states of the world are members of the United Nations and signatories to various treaties aimed at removing conflict as a means of state action. The realist school of thought argues that the international system is characterised by continual state conflict, caused by competition over scarce resources. The propensity towards conflict is argued to be an essential characteristic of human nature and, as such, human nature is considered to be aggressive and conflictual. Thus, for the realist, inter-state competition, coupled with aggressive human nature, constitutes the primary cause of interstate conflict. This thesis aims to examine two criticisms of the realist position in depth. The first concerns the attribution of human nature to states. This logical progression is problematic because it creates a type of „state-nature‟ that cannot be defended without providing a logical link between the individual, the group and the state. It is therefore an aim of this thesis to provide this link, using methodological individualism, in order to provide a basis for the attribution of human nature to states. The second aim of this thesis is to examine the notion of human nature that is offered by the realists. It is not enough to claim that human nature is aggressive and conflictual merely because conflict has characterised international relations throughout history. Rather, one should examine the individual‟s psychological development, in order to gain an understanding of aggressive instincts apparent in human nature. The thesis therefore examines psychoanalysis in order to attempt an understanding both of human nature, and of the conditions under which human nature may manifest itself in an aggressive, conflictual manner. The intention of this thesis, then, is to provide a defence of political realism, highlighting the shortcomings of the two criticisms outlined above.
- Full Text:
- Date Issued: 2003
Putting participatory communication into practice through community radio: a case study of how policies on programming and production are formulated and implemented at Radio Graaff-Reinet
- Authors: Kanyegirire, Andrew Steve Tumuhirwe
- Date: 2003
- Subjects: Radio broadcasting -- South Africa -- Graaff-Reinet , Radio in community development , Radio stations -- South Africa -- Graaff-Reinet -- Management
- Language: English
- Type: Thesis , Masters , MA
- Identifier: vital:3442 , http://hdl.handle.net/10962/d1002896 , Radio broadcasting -- South Africa -- Graaff-Reinet , Radio in community development , Radio stations -- South Africa -- Graaff-Reinet -- Management
- Description: In the South African (SA) model of community radio, listeners are expected to be in charge of the management and programming operations of stations. This study tests the SA model against the actual conditions at an existing station. For this purpose, the study focuses on Radio Graaff-Reinet, a community radio station in the Eastern Cape. Emphasis is on examining the extent to which members of the station’s target community are involved in its operations. The study first assesses the nature of this involvement, keeping in mind the principles of, ‘community ownership’ and ‘participatory programming’ on which the SA model of community radio is based. It is argued that the station does provide a valuable ‘public sphere’ for its listeners. The potential of this sphere remains limited, however, due to the impact of ongoing power struggles around the ownership of the station. The lack of proper systems for managing these struggles has contributed to the fact that the station continues to be in a constant state of flux, with a high turnover of staff and regular changes in its policies and strategies. The study argues that, until such systems are put in place, the principles of community ownership will not be fully realizable. Areas in which the struggle over ownership plays itself out can be identified in the relationship between the station’s Board of Directors and its managing staff, between one particular station manager and her staff and between the station and its target community. These struggles often take place in context of a debate about the financial sustainability of the station versus its developmental aims. It is argued that this opposition needs to be questioned since, until the station is financially stable, it will remain vulnerable to interference by powerful individuals and groups in its attempts to establish such developmental aims. The study then goes on to identify key weaknesses in the station’s approach to community ownership and participation. In particular, it is pointed out that various stakeholders in the station have contradictory understandings of what is meant by ‘community’, using the term to include or exclude sections of the Graaff-Reinet society in very different ways. There are also very different understandings at play about the concept of community radio itself. These contradictions have an impact on the station’s ability to implement participatory programming. This situation is exacerbated by the fact that the station does not have a consistent forum in which shared decision-making can take place. Consequently, the station also remains unable to draw effectively on its own volunteer staff and on its community as resources for programming content. Finally, the study explores the broader significance of the weaknesses that exist in the case of Graaff-Reinet, arguing that these are problems that repeat themselves throughout the South African community radio sector. Possible strategies for addressing these problems are suggested, including approaches to monitoring and research, training, organizational development and advocacy.
- Full Text:
- Date Issued: 2003
Pyrroloiminoquinone metabolites from South African Latrunculid sponges
- Authors: Antunes, Edith Martins
- Date: 2003
- Subjects: Sponges -- South Africa PQQ (Biochemistry) Marine metabolites -- South Africa
- Language: English
- Type: Thesis , Doctoral , PhD
- Identifier: vital:4340 , http://hdl.handle.net/10962/d1005001
- Description: An in depth chemical investigation of the major and minor pyrroloiminoquinone metabolites produced by four species of endemic South African Latrunculid sponges, collected from Algoa Bay and the Tsitsikamma Marine Reserve off the south eastern coast of South Africa, yielded eleven new and twelve known pyrroloiminoquinone metabolites. The structures of the new metabolites were determined using standard spectroscopic techniques. Tsitsikamma pedunculata was shown to contain 7,8-dehydro-3-dihydro-discorhabdin C (2.1), 14-bromo-7,8-dehydro-3-dihydro-discorhabdin C (2.2), discorhabdin S (2.3), 14-bromo-1-hydroxy-discorhabdin S (2.4), 1-bromo-2-hydroxy-4-debromo-discorhabdin S (2.5), and 2,4-debromo-3-dihydro-discorhabdin C (2.6), together with the known compounds 14-bromo-discorhabdin C (1.51), 14-bromo-3-dihydro-discorhabdin C (1.52) and 3-dihydro-discorhabdin C. The metabolites from T. pedunculata were characterised by the presence of a reduced C-3 carbonyl and bromination at C-14. Compounds isolated from a second Latrunculid sponge, Latrunculia lorii, ranged from a substituted bicyclic pyrrolecarboxylic acid, makaluvic acid A (1.47), to the simple tricyclic known pyrroloiminoquinones makaluvamine C (1.33) and damirone B (1.20) and the more complex discorhabdin D type metabolites, discorhabdin M (3.2), 1-amino discorhabdin D (3.3), 1-methoxy discorhabdin D (3.4) and 1-alanyl discorhabdin D (3.5). Discorhabdin G* (3.1) was also isolated and characterised. This is the first reported occurrence of the known compounds 1.20, 1.33 and 1.47 in a Latrunculia sponge. Discorhabdin and bis-pyrroloiminoquinone type compounds predominated in Tsitsikamma favus. Three known, tsitsikammamines A (1.71) and B (1.72), 1.52, and five new pyrroloiminoquinones, tsitsikammamine N-oxime (4.1), tsitsikammamine B N-oxime (4.2), 2.1, 2.4 and 2.6, were isolated from this sponge. A fourth Latrunculid sponge (Strongylodesma sp.) yielded three known compounds, discorhabdins A (1.57), D (1.61) and 1.53, and one new pyrroloiminoquinone 3.3. The dual role of these metabolites as cytotoxic agents and pigments resulted in an attempt to relate the photochemical properties of these metabolites to their cytotoxicity. The pyrroloiminoquinone metabolites studied exhibited moderate singlet oxygen quantum yields, while three compounds (1.57, 4.1 and 4.2) were shown to be capable of producing radicals at a wavelength of 532 nm. The possibility of a correlation between the electrochemical properties and anti-cancer (HCT-116) activity of selected pyrroloiminoquinones was explored. A study of the oesophageal and ovarian cytotoxicities of two pyrroloiminoquinones (1.57 and 1.72), together with an investigation into the intercalation and topoisomerase I inhibitory activity of the bis-pyrroloiminoquinones (1.71, 1.72, 4.1 and 4.2), are presented.
- Full Text:
- Date Issued: 2003
Reader-response approaches to literature teaching in a South African OBE environment
- Authors: Van Renen, Charles Gerard
- Date: 2003
- Subjects: Reader-response criticism -- South Africa , Literature -- Study and teaching -- South Africa , Competency-based education -- South Africa
- Language: English
- Type: Thesis , Doctoral , DEd
- Identifier: vital:11013 , http://hdl.handle.net/10948/297 , Reader-response criticism -- South Africa , Literature -- Study and teaching -- South Africa , Competency-based education -- South Africa
- Description: This research is based on the hypothesis that response-based approaches to teaching literature and an outcomes-based system of education (OBE) are conceptually incompatible. This thesis claims that reader response involves processes that cannot be accommodated pedagogically within a system based on pre-determined outcomes. Furthermore, the kind of assessment prescribed by OBE is inappropriate to the nature of reader response. The hypothesis is based on three main premises. The first is that each reader brings a highly individual and complex set of personal schemata to the reading of imaginative texts, and these schemata have a decisive influence on the nature of a reader’s response. This means that response during imaginative engagements with literary texts tends to be idiosyncratic, and therefore largely unpredictable. Because of this, it would be inappropriate for a teacher, working within an OBE system, to try to teach towards pre-selected outcomes and to attempt to ensure that these outcomes, based on responses to literary texts, are in fact achieved. The second premise is that readers’ imaginative engagements with literary texts are essentially hidden events, which even the individual reader cannot fully bring to the surface and articulate. Because they are complex, and to some extent inaccessible, it would be inappropriate to assess the processes of response in the form of tangible evidence that a particular kind of response has taken place, or an outcome achieved. The third premise is that responses need time to grow and develop and do not merely happen quickly and cleanly. Consequently, aesthetic response, already a complex and inaccessible process, has no clearly distinguishable beginnings or endings. It would therefore be inappropriate to try to pinpoint the exact nature and parameters of a particular response or fragment it into a discrete unit of competence or knowledge. A two-dimensional problem emerges. The first is a conceptual one: whether there is an inherent tension between encouraging response to imaginative literature on the one hand, and accepting the rationale for OBE, on the other. The second dimension of the problem is empirical: whether teachers of literature experience any tension of either a conceptual or a practical nature when following response based approaches within the OBE system of Curriculum 2005, and if so, what they do in order to cope. In exploring the conceptual problem, the argument of this thesis is supported by reception theory and reader response criticism. The former provides key theoretical principles and insights that illuminate the nature of aesthetic reading, while the latter describes and analyses the nature, extent and manifestations of response in educational contexts, underpinned by both reception theory and empirical research. Together they offer evidence that personal response is determined by a complex range of processes, and is the core activity in reading for aesthetic purposes. This thesis also examines the conceptual basis and the structure of OBE as interpreted in both Curriculum 2005 and the revised National Curriculum Statement. The purpose of this is to establish the extent to which the philosophy and modus operandi of these curricula are rooted in notions of competence, and the requirement that learners give tangible demonstrations of pre-determined outcomes being achieved. If it is found that the curricula do lean heavily on pre-determined outcomes in regard to competencies that must be demonstrated, it may be concluded that 1) reader response activities are incompatible with OBE in a South African context, and 2) the potential exists for such incompatibility to create obstacles to creative and effective literature teaching. This can lead to difficulties for the teacher, who will then have to adopt acceptable strategies to cope with the situation. These strategies may ultimately be to the detriment of the pupils, particularly if the teacher seeks a compromise between genuine response and the kinds of activities that would yield precise, palpable measures of attainment that can be easily demonstrated. Exploring the empirical dimension of the problem involves investigating the responses of both teachers and teacher trainers to the experience of promoting response-based literature teaching and learning in an OBE environment. In order firstly investigated whether the practitioners do encourage reading response as a core activity in reading for aesthetic purposes. The extent to which practitioners have a sound grasp of the conceptual issues relevant to this research is also investigated. Insight into such issues depends on teachers and teacher trainers understanding the nature of reader response, on the one hand, and the rationale and structures of the relevant OBE curricula, on the other. Whether, and to what extent, practitioners experience tensions through their awareness of conceptual incompatibilities is also investigated. It should be borne in mind that practitioners work in real contexts in which a variety of complex factors play a role in determining how they respond to pressures from the environment. It cannot therefore be expected that teachers and others involved in delivering the curriculum will be able to reflect on purely conceptual issues without being influenced to an extent by more practical or logistical considerations. However, this study argues that the extent to which they are able to identify the relevant factors that affect the conceptual underpinnings of their practice will determine the degree to which their responses support the argument of this thesis. Together, the empirical and the theoretical findings offer qualitative evidence that should illuminate the nature and extent of the problem.
- Full Text:
- Date Issued: 2003
Regionalism and conflict resolution in the Horn of Africa : the role of inter-governmental authority on development in the Sudanese civil war
- Authors: Onyango, Moses
- Date: 2003
- Subjects: Africa, Northeast -- Politics and government -- 1900-1974 , Africa, Northeast -- Politics and government -- 1974- , Africa, Northeast -- Foreign relations -- 1974- , Federal government -- Africa, Northeast , Sudan -- History -- Civil War, 1955-1972 , Mediation, International , Culture conflict Sudan
- Language: English
- Type: Thesis , Masters , MA
- Identifier: vital:2869 , http://hdl.handle.net/10962/d1007715 , Africa, Northeast -- Politics and government -- 1900-1974 , Africa, Northeast -- Politics and government -- 1974- , Africa, Northeast -- Foreign relations -- 1974- , Federal government -- Africa, Northeast , Sudan -- History -- Civil War, 1955-1972 , Mediation, International , Culture conflict Sudan
- Description: This thesis expounds the theoretical underpinnings of problem-solving approach to conflict resolution. It also criticizes the traditional state-centric approach to conflict resolution being followed by the Inter Governmental Authority on Development (IGAD) in the Sudanese civil war. IGAD was initially known as Inter Governmental Authority on Drought and Desertification (IGADD), but was renamed IGAD in 1996. Its objectives were reformulated to give priority to conflict prevention, resolution, and management, and humanitarian affairs. It is stipulated in the thesis that IGAD faces problems that need attention if the Sudanese civil war is to be resolved. A key problem is that while IGAD's objectives were reformulated to give priority to conflict resolution, IGAD's management structure has remained the same. The management structure is state-centric and lacks neutrality, which is a very important ingredient in deep-rooted social conflict resolution. The management structure, which was initially based on combating drought and desertification, was not restructured to conform to the realities of a problem solving approach to conflict resolution. The committee that was formed to look into the Sudanese conflict is composed of states in dispute with Sudan. The other structural problem cited in the thesis is that the IGAD peace process is cumbersome and does not include all aggrieved parties. The meetings involve heads of state, ministers, ambassadors and other government representatives. The peace process is not inclusive of other important players such as other rebel movements. This thesis concludes that: 1. there is a need for peace keeping forces from neutral African Union (AU) member states; 2. conflict resolution specialists are deployed in the region whose main task would be to assist the belligerent groups to reach a common understanding of their problems; 3. the United Nations (UN) acts proactively to create international awareness to the Sudanese problem.
- Full Text:
- Date Issued: 2003
Review and development of environmental interpretation resources to foster environmental learning in two Kenyan schools
- Authors: Atiti, Abel Barasa
- Date: 2003
- Subjects: Environmental education -- Kenya Environmental education -- Kenya -- Case studies
- Language: English
- Type: Thesis , Masters , MEd
- Identifier: vital:1743 , http://hdl.handle.net/10962/d1003627
- Description: This participatory action research study involved a group of teachers in transforming school grounds into interpretation resources. Approached from a critical perspective, it challenged the conventional top-down approaches to interpretation resources and materials development. Through a teacher-centred approach, a school-based ‘botanic garden’ and ‘arboretum’ were developed at Samaj and Kenya High respectively. Teachers were further actively engaged in developing a variety of interpretive materials that might engage learners in socially critical environmental education processes at the transformed sites. A process in which educators from five non-formal education organisations shared their skills and knowledge on environmental interpretation with teachers preceded the development of interpretation resources and materials. Drawing on Latour (1999), I have applied the notion of mobilising interpretive capital when describing this process. Interpretive capital within the non-formal education sector was mobilised and made available through social interactions between teachers and non-formal educators. This occurred during workshops, organisational visits and critical reviews of a sample of interpretive materials. I provide insights into how the interpretive capital was mobilised and later drawn on by teachers during the development processes in their schools. This study argues that mobilising interpretive capital with teachers through partnerships can enhance the transformation of school grounds to foster environmental learning. It shows how attempts to find solutions with teachers were made in response to pedagogical and curriculum tensions that arise around the implementation of environmental education processes in their schools. To provide orientation in environmental education processes in schools, analyses of socially critical environmental education processes and a review of theoretical perspectives on interpretation as an environmental education process are presented. I have viewed interpretation and environmental education as reciprocally necessary aspects for enabling the development of critical environmental literacy and action competence. To explain this view, the notion of environmental interpretation and education processes has been applied and presented in this study. Finally, practical outcomes of the study on transformation of school grounds, improved education practice, enhanced professional competencies amongst teachers, new interpretive materials in schools and the establishment of partnerships are examined.
- Full Text:
- Date Issued: 2003
Rights to reality - the right to social security, with particular emphasis on the legal resources centre's welfare project in the Eastern Cape
- Authors: Delany, Mairéad Christine
- Date: 2003
- Language: English
- Type: Thesis , Masters , LLM
- Identifier: vital:21027 , http://hdl.handle.net/10962/6052
- Description: This research addresses the question of whether the courts have been used effectively to enforce the right to social security in the Eastern Cape. The nature of the right to social security is discussed and placed in the context of constitutional developments in South Africa and South Africa's obligations in terms of international law. The enforcement of socio-economic rights and legislation regarding social assistance is also discussed in detail, along with the problems associated with the social security system such as the gaps in the system, the impact of HIV / AIDS and the problems created by the amalgamation of various administrations. The history of the Legal Resources Centre, a non-governmental organisation which has been involved in public interest law for twenty four years, is detailed. The Grahamstown office's litigation campaign against the Eastern Cape Department of Welfare is then discussed and six landmark cases are analysed in detail. A discussion of the jurisprudential significance and impact of each case on the development of South African administrative and constitutional law follows. A series of stories reported in the press illustrate the human aspect of the campaign and balance the legal argument. These stories may suggest that the Constitution's commitment to social justice and the government's commitment to the principles of Batho Pete are merely noble ideals for many people in the province, but it is argued that the LRC's campaign has made a vast contribution towards making these ideals a reality on the ground. The expert opinions of various groups interviewed during the course of this research regarding the impact of the LRC's litigation campaign are discussed, and the conclusion is drawn that it has indeed had a positive effect. They include paralegals at Advice Offices around the province, legal practitioners from the LRC, a private legal practitioner, several representatives of the Black Sash, a former MEC for Health and Welfare in the Eastern Cape Provincial Government, an official from the Department, and a leader of the Anglican Church in the province. In conclusion it is submitted that, but for the LRC's litigation campaign, the situation in the Eastern Cape would not have improved to the extent it has and may even have deteriorated further. Furthermore, it is submitted that as a result of the litigation campaign, the right to social security, and particularly the right to social assistance, is more accessible and more of a reality on the ground.
- Full Text:
- Date Issued: 2003