Effects of frequent changes in curriculum on effective teaching and learning for creating safe, caring and child-friendly schools : a South African case study
- Authors: Makwarela, Mawela Convince
- Date: 2016
- Subjects: School discipline--South Africa School violence--South Africa School management and organization--South Africa
- Language: English
- Type: Thesis , Doctoral , Education
- Identifier: http://hdl.handle.net/10353/15594 , vital:40481
- Description: South Africa‟s government strategy for Child Protection Programmes is the pre-requisite that plans to articulate its work on school learner protection as a distinct area of programmatic intervention. Hence, this study explores an assessment of the implementation of DoE and UNICEF guidelines for creating safe, caring and child-friendly schools. A sequential mixed method approach was used in this study; both questionnaires and interviews were used. The design allows using both quantitative and qualitative data collection methods to elicit implicit and explicit information from the same case through pattern-matching; a technique linking several pieces when a holistic and in-depth investigation is required. The sample of the study consisted of 24 school principals, 24 HoDs, 24 SGB members, 24 educators, 24 educators‟ union members and 24 learners who were conveniently selected from 24 secondary schools across Vhembe District. Survey data were obtained from school principals, HoDs, SGB members, educators, educators‟ union members and learners regarding the ways and degree to which participants are involved in school incidents, decision-making processes, and their own experiences regarding safe, caring and child-friendly schools. In terms of data analysis, validation indicates concurrent and construct validity obtained by combining participant‟s responses from interviews and self-report questionnaires based on experiences of incidents from their schools. Statistically significant results point the way to validating the approaches taken as best practices. The findings reveals among others that the factors contributing to learner aggression include family factors, environmental factors and school-related factors, whilst the most common forms of learner incidents in schools are verbal violence, physical violence and bullying. The results also indicate that a safe school climate is not enough for learners to speak freely and report unwanted sexual experiences. The study concludes with the role that the school, parents and the Department of Education can play in addressing learner problems in schools.
- Full Text:
- Date Issued: 2016
- Authors: Makwarela, Mawela Convince
- Date: 2016
- Subjects: School discipline--South Africa School violence--South Africa School management and organization--South Africa
- Language: English
- Type: Thesis , Doctoral , Education
- Identifier: http://hdl.handle.net/10353/15594 , vital:40481
- Description: South Africa‟s government strategy for Child Protection Programmes is the pre-requisite that plans to articulate its work on school learner protection as a distinct area of programmatic intervention. Hence, this study explores an assessment of the implementation of DoE and UNICEF guidelines for creating safe, caring and child-friendly schools. A sequential mixed method approach was used in this study; both questionnaires and interviews were used. The design allows using both quantitative and qualitative data collection methods to elicit implicit and explicit information from the same case through pattern-matching; a technique linking several pieces when a holistic and in-depth investigation is required. The sample of the study consisted of 24 school principals, 24 HoDs, 24 SGB members, 24 educators, 24 educators‟ union members and 24 learners who were conveniently selected from 24 secondary schools across Vhembe District. Survey data were obtained from school principals, HoDs, SGB members, educators, educators‟ union members and learners regarding the ways and degree to which participants are involved in school incidents, decision-making processes, and their own experiences regarding safe, caring and child-friendly schools. In terms of data analysis, validation indicates concurrent and construct validity obtained by combining participant‟s responses from interviews and self-report questionnaires based on experiences of incidents from their schools. Statistically significant results point the way to validating the approaches taken as best practices. The findings reveals among others that the factors contributing to learner aggression include family factors, environmental factors and school-related factors, whilst the most common forms of learner incidents in schools are verbal violence, physical violence and bullying. The results also indicate that a safe school climate is not enough for learners to speak freely and report unwanted sexual experiences. The study concludes with the role that the school, parents and the Department of Education can play in addressing learner problems in schools.
- Full Text:
- Date Issued: 2016
Effects of grazing and housing management systems on greenhouse gas emissions, blood profiles and meat quality of Nguni goats
- Authors: Tapiwa, Chikwanda Allen
- Date: 2016
- Subjects: Goats Goats -- Feeding and feeds Greenhouse gas mitigation , Grazing -- Environmental aspects
- Language: English
- Type: Thesis , Doctoral , DPhil
- Identifier: http://hdl.handle.net/10353/2314 , vital:27752
- Description: The broad objective of this study was to evaluate the effects of grazing and housing management systems on greenhouse gas emissions, blood profiles and meat quality of Nguni goats. A total of 64 castrated Nguni goats were used and a housing structure was designed to accommodate the goats as well as evaluate effects of type of floor on greenhouse gases, meat quality, blood metabolites and fatty acid profiles. In the first experiment: Forty-eight castrated Nguni goats, at 6-7 months old were used for herding (H) or tethering (T) management systems and randomly allocated to pens with earth (E) or slatted (S) floors. Gas sampling was done using static chambers and analysed using a SRI 8610C gas chromatography machine. The highest CH4 fluxes were from the manure of herded goats on earth floors (HE). The highest CO2 fluxes were from manure of herded goats that were housed on slatted floors (HS): The highest N2O fluxes were from the manure of tethered goats that were sheltered on slatted floors (TS). It was concluded from the first experiment that goat manure is an important source of GHG that is influenced by grazing and floor type management systems. The second experiment was done to evaluate greenhouse gas (GHG) emission from disused (DP) vs occupied goat pens (OP) with earth (EF) or slatted (SF) floors. Eight previously occupied pens were used in this study. Sixteen goats were randomly put in the pens labelled occupied pens with earth floors (OPEF) and occupied pens with slatted floors (OPSF) resulting in four goats per OP. There were month by pen use; month by floor type; and use by floor type interaction effects (P < 0.05) on CH4 production. Floor type, use (DP vs OP) and month affected (P < 0.05) CH4 production. Manure on earth floors of occupied pens (OPEF) emitted the highest (P < 0.05) methane followed by earth floors of disused pens (DPEF). The least CH4 was emitted from DPSF. There was pen use (DP vs OP) by floor type interaction effect (P < 0.05) on CO2 emission. Floor type and pen use affected (P < 0.05) CO2 production. Manure in occupied pens with slatted floors (OPSF) produced the highest CO2 and the least CO2 was from disused pens with slatted floors (DPSF). Floor type and month influenced (P < 0.05) N2O production. It was concluded that continued use of goat pens increased GHG emissions. However, disused goat pens with manure remain an important source of GHG as they continued to emit quantifiable levels of CH4, CO2 and N2O. The third experiment was done to determine the effects of grazing and housing management systems on the concentrations of blood metabolites, activity of creatine kinase, body weight (BW), body condition score (BCS) and carcass characteristics using 48 castrated Nguni goats. Tethered goats had higher (P<0.05): urea, creatinine, total protein, globulin concentrations and more activity of CK than herded goats. On the other hand, herded goats had higher (P<0.05) plasma glucose (H: 3.39±0.020 vs T: 3.23±0.020 mmol/L), serum albumin (H: 15.30±0.147 vs T: 14.82±0.144 g/L) concentration. It was concluded that serum concentrations of all the metabolites and the activity of CK were sensitive to grazing system. Herding of goats promoted more glucose concentration and preservation of muscle protein and hence superior body weights and BCS than tethered goats. The fourth experiment was done to determine the effects of grazing and housing management systems on the activity of creatine kinase (CK) and cortisol concentration, and chevon quality. Further, the effect of muscle type [Muscularis longissimus thoracis et. Lumborum (LTL) and triceps brachii (TB)] on chevon quality was also investigated. Forty eight castrated Nguni goats aged 6- 7 months were randomly allocated to tethering (n=24) and herding (n=24) treatments. Floor type affected meat (P<0.05) pH24. Tethered goats had higher (P < 0.05) L* and CL percent than herded goats. Muscle type had a significant influence (P < 0.05) on a*, WBSF and pH. It was observed and concluded that T resulted in higher L* and more CL percent whilst SF lowered the pH24 of chevon; at the same time meat from the TB muscle was more tender, despite having a higher pH24 and more CL percent relative to LTH cuts. The fifth experiment was done to determine the effect of grazing and floor type on fatty acid composition of chevon from tethered and herded Nguni goats. Floor type had no effect on fatty acid composition. Oleic, stearic, palmitic and linoleic were the major fatty acids. Chevon from tethered goats had higher (P < 0.05) proportions of long chain polyunsaturated fatty acids (PUFAs): eicosapentaenoic, docosapentaenoic, docosahexaenoic, conjugated linoleic acid (CLA) and more total SFA, total PUFA, total Omega- 6 and total omega 3 fatty acids than herded goats. On the other hand, chevon from herded goats had more (P < 0.05) C18:1c9, C18:2t9, 12 (n-6), C20:3c11, 14, 17 (n-3) and total MUFA than tethered goats. However, there was no difference (P > 0.05) in the PUFA: SFA and n-6/n-3 fatty acid ratios between the herded and tethered goats. It was concluded that tethering promoted higher proportions of beneficial PUFAs which were more in TB than LTH muscle. The overall conclusions from the whole study were that goat manure is an important source of GHG with high CH4 being emitted from earth floors of herded goats. High CO2 and N2O are emitted from SF of herded and tethered goats, respectively. There were no major differences in meat quality between herded and tethered goats. However, herding promoted more live weight gain than tethering. On the other hand, tethering promoted more beneficial fatty acids. Therefore depending on the objective of the enterprise, smallholder farmers can safely tether or herd their goats. Further, there is need to develop technologies to harness CH4 from goat manure.
- Full Text:
- Date Issued: 2016
- Authors: Tapiwa, Chikwanda Allen
- Date: 2016
- Subjects: Goats Goats -- Feeding and feeds Greenhouse gas mitigation , Grazing -- Environmental aspects
- Language: English
- Type: Thesis , Doctoral , DPhil
- Identifier: http://hdl.handle.net/10353/2314 , vital:27752
- Description: The broad objective of this study was to evaluate the effects of grazing and housing management systems on greenhouse gas emissions, blood profiles and meat quality of Nguni goats. A total of 64 castrated Nguni goats were used and a housing structure was designed to accommodate the goats as well as evaluate effects of type of floor on greenhouse gases, meat quality, blood metabolites and fatty acid profiles. In the first experiment: Forty-eight castrated Nguni goats, at 6-7 months old were used for herding (H) or tethering (T) management systems and randomly allocated to pens with earth (E) or slatted (S) floors. Gas sampling was done using static chambers and analysed using a SRI 8610C gas chromatography machine. The highest CH4 fluxes were from the manure of herded goats on earth floors (HE). The highest CO2 fluxes were from manure of herded goats that were housed on slatted floors (HS): The highest N2O fluxes were from the manure of tethered goats that were sheltered on slatted floors (TS). It was concluded from the first experiment that goat manure is an important source of GHG that is influenced by grazing and floor type management systems. The second experiment was done to evaluate greenhouse gas (GHG) emission from disused (DP) vs occupied goat pens (OP) with earth (EF) or slatted (SF) floors. Eight previously occupied pens were used in this study. Sixteen goats were randomly put in the pens labelled occupied pens with earth floors (OPEF) and occupied pens with slatted floors (OPSF) resulting in four goats per OP. There were month by pen use; month by floor type; and use by floor type interaction effects (P < 0.05) on CH4 production. Floor type, use (DP vs OP) and month affected (P < 0.05) CH4 production. Manure on earth floors of occupied pens (OPEF) emitted the highest (P < 0.05) methane followed by earth floors of disused pens (DPEF). The least CH4 was emitted from DPSF. There was pen use (DP vs OP) by floor type interaction effect (P < 0.05) on CO2 emission. Floor type and pen use affected (P < 0.05) CO2 production. Manure in occupied pens with slatted floors (OPSF) produced the highest CO2 and the least CO2 was from disused pens with slatted floors (DPSF). Floor type and month influenced (P < 0.05) N2O production. It was concluded that continued use of goat pens increased GHG emissions. However, disused goat pens with manure remain an important source of GHG as they continued to emit quantifiable levels of CH4, CO2 and N2O. The third experiment was done to determine the effects of grazing and housing management systems on the concentrations of blood metabolites, activity of creatine kinase, body weight (BW), body condition score (BCS) and carcass characteristics using 48 castrated Nguni goats. Tethered goats had higher (P<0.05): urea, creatinine, total protein, globulin concentrations and more activity of CK than herded goats. On the other hand, herded goats had higher (P<0.05) plasma glucose (H: 3.39±0.020 vs T: 3.23±0.020 mmol/L), serum albumin (H: 15.30±0.147 vs T: 14.82±0.144 g/L) concentration. It was concluded that serum concentrations of all the metabolites and the activity of CK were sensitive to grazing system. Herding of goats promoted more glucose concentration and preservation of muscle protein and hence superior body weights and BCS than tethered goats. The fourth experiment was done to determine the effects of grazing and housing management systems on the activity of creatine kinase (CK) and cortisol concentration, and chevon quality. Further, the effect of muscle type [Muscularis longissimus thoracis et. Lumborum (LTL) and triceps brachii (TB)] on chevon quality was also investigated. Forty eight castrated Nguni goats aged 6- 7 months were randomly allocated to tethering (n=24) and herding (n=24) treatments. Floor type affected meat (P<0.05) pH24. Tethered goats had higher (P < 0.05) L* and CL percent than herded goats. Muscle type had a significant influence (P < 0.05) on a*, WBSF and pH. It was observed and concluded that T resulted in higher L* and more CL percent whilst SF lowered the pH24 of chevon; at the same time meat from the TB muscle was more tender, despite having a higher pH24 and more CL percent relative to LTH cuts. The fifth experiment was done to determine the effect of grazing and floor type on fatty acid composition of chevon from tethered and herded Nguni goats. Floor type had no effect on fatty acid composition. Oleic, stearic, palmitic and linoleic were the major fatty acids. Chevon from tethered goats had higher (P < 0.05) proportions of long chain polyunsaturated fatty acids (PUFAs): eicosapentaenoic, docosapentaenoic, docosahexaenoic, conjugated linoleic acid (CLA) and more total SFA, total PUFA, total Omega- 6 and total omega 3 fatty acids than herded goats. On the other hand, chevon from herded goats had more (P < 0.05) C18:1c9, C18:2t9, 12 (n-6), C20:3c11, 14, 17 (n-3) and total MUFA than tethered goats. However, there was no difference (P > 0.05) in the PUFA: SFA and n-6/n-3 fatty acid ratios between the herded and tethered goats. It was concluded that tethering promoted higher proportions of beneficial PUFAs which were more in TB than LTH muscle. The overall conclusions from the whole study were that goat manure is an important source of GHG with high CH4 being emitted from earth floors of herded goats. High CO2 and N2O are emitted from SF of herded and tethered goats, respectively. There were no major differences in meat quality between herded and tethered goats. However, herding promoted more live weight gain than tethering. On the other hand, tethering promoted more beneficial fatty acids. Therefore depending on the objective of the enterprise, smallholder farmers can safely tether or herd their goats. Further, there is need to develop technologies to harness CH4 from goat manure.
- Full Text:
- Date Issued: 2016
Effects of lethal management on black-backed jackal population structure and source-sink dynamics
- Authors: Minnie, Liaan
- Date: 2016
- Subjects: Black-backed jackal Carnivorous animals
- Language: English
- Type: Thesis , Doctoral , PhD
- Identifier: http://hdl.handle.net/10948/12658 , vital:27104
- Description: Lethal carnivore management, aimed at reducing carnivore impacts, threatens the persistence of carnivores globally. The effects of killing carnivores will depend on their life histories and social structures. Smaller canids, like black-backed jackals (Canis mesomelas), are highly adaptable and display variable population-level responses to mortality sources, which may contribute to their success in fragmented landscapes. Jackals, the dominant predator of livestock in South Africa, are widely hunted to reduce this predation. This hunting is heterogeneous across the landscape, focussed on livestock and game farms, with nature reserves acting as refuges. The aim of this research was to investigate the ecology and population dynamics of jackals in response to heterogeneous anthropogenic mortality. I hypothesized that the spatial variation in hunting results in the formation of a source-sink population structure, which contributes to the persistence of jackals. I addressed this hypothesis by evaluating two criteria, essential for the formation of a source-sink system in larger mammals. Firstly, I confirm that hunting pressures result in the formation of distinct subpopulations with asymmetrical dispersal (i.e. compensatory immigration) from unhunted reserves to neighbouring hunted farms. Secondly, I show that jackal subpopulation display asynchronous demographics, with farm populations displaying a relatively younger age structure and an associated increase in reproductive output (i.e. compensatory reproduction). This confirms the formation of a hunting-induced source-sink system. additionally, I show that jackals have a catholic diet, which confers a level of adaptability to direct (anthropogenic mortality, prey provisioning) and indirect (alteration in prey base) habitat modifications. This dietary flexibility allows jackals to obtain the appropriate resources to achieve reproductive condition. The relatively better body condition of younger jackals in sink habitats allows for compensatory reproduction which contributes to the success of jackals on hunted farms. Based on my findings, I hypothesize that the compensatory life history responses of jackals to anthropogenic mortality may be ascribed to two interconnected mechanism. Dispersal is presumably driven by density-dependent interference competition, as dominant territorial pairs outcompete subordinates in high-density reserve areas, forcing them to disperse onto low-density farms (i.e. ideal despotic model). Additionally, farms likely represent attractive habitats, owing to a reduction in conspecifics and a concomitant increase in resource availability (including anthropogenic resource provisioning). Therefore, dispersing subordinates presumably select for farms which are perceived as good quality habitats, as the high risks of anthropogenic mortality cannot be perceived by dispersing individuals. This results in the formation of an attractive sink or ecological trap. These compensatory processes will continue to counter population management actions as long as recruitment from unmanaged areas persists. This hypothesis provides a conceptual framework for future research directions in understanding jackal persistence and management (i.e. specifically focussing on controlling dispersal) of jackal populations.
- Full Text:
- Date Issued: 2016
- Authors: Minnie, Liaan
- Date: 2016
- Subjects: Black-backed jackal Carnivorous animals
- Language: English
- Type: Thesis , Doctoral , PhD
- Identifier: http://hdl.handle.net/10948/12658 , vital:27104
- Description: Lethal carnivore management, aimed at reducing carnivore impacts, threatens the persistence of carnivores globally. The effects of killing carnivores will depend on their life histories and social structures. Smaller canids, like black-backed jackals (Canis mesomelas), are highly adaptable and display variable population-level responses to mortality sources, which may contribute to their success in fragmented landscapes. Jackals, the dominant predator of livestock in South Africa, are widely hunted to reduce this predation. This hunting is heterogeneous across the landscape, focussed on livestock and game farms, with nature reserves acting as refuges. The aim of this research was to investigate the ecology and population dynamics of jackals in response to heterogeneous anthropogenic mortality. I hypothesized that the spatial variation in hunting results in the formation of a source-sink population structure, which contributes to the persistence of jackals. I addressed this hypothesis by evaluating two criteria, essential for the formation of a source-sink system in larger mammals. Firstly, I confirm that hunting pressures result in the formation of distinct subpopulations with asymmetrical dispersal (i.e. compensatory immigration) from unhunted reserves to neighbouring hunted farms. Secondly, I show that jackal subpopulation display asynchronous demographics, with farm populations displaying a relatively younger age structure and an associated increase in reproductive output (i.e. compensatory reproduction). This confirms the formation of a hunting-induced source-sink system. additionally, I show that jackals have a catholic diet, which confers a level of adaptability to direct (anthropogenic mortality, prey provisioning) and indirect (alteration in prey base) habitat modifications. This dietary flexibility allows jackals to obtain the appropriate resources to achieve reproductive condition. The relatively better body condition of younger jackals in sink habitats allows for compensatory reproduction which contributes to the success of jackals on hunted farms. Based on my findings, I hypothesize that the compensatory life history responses of jackals to anthropogenic mortality may be ascribed to two interconnected mechanism. Dispersal is presumably driven by density-dependent interference competition, as dominant territorial pairs outcompete subordinates in high-density reserve areas, forcing them to disperse onto low-density farms (i.e. ideal despotic model). Additionally, farms likely represent attractive habitats, owing to a reduction in conspecifics and a concomitant increase in resource availability (including anthropogenic resource provisioning). Therefore, dispersing subordinates presumably select for farms which are perceived as good quality habitats, as the high risks of anthropogenic mortality cannot be perceived by dispersing individuals. This results in the formation of an attractive sink or ecological trap. These compensatory processes will continue to counter population management actions as long as recruitment from unmanaged areas persists. This hypothesis provides a conceptual framework for future research directions in understanding jackal persistence and management (i.e. specifically focussing on controlling dispersal) of jackal populations.
- Full Text:
- Date Issued: 2016
Effects of Pteronia incana (Blue bush) invasion on grass biomass production, soil chemical characteristics and peoples' livelihoods in Ngqushwa communal rangelands, Eastern Cape
- Authors: Ntutha, T
- Date: 2016
- Subjects: Invasive plants -- South Africa -- Eastern Cape Shrublands -- South Africa -- Eastern Cape Rangelands -- South Africa -- Eastern Cape
- Language: English
- Type: Thesis , Masters , MSc
- Identifier: http://hdl.handle.net/10353/4682 , vital:28493
- Description: The objective of the study was to assess the farmers’ knowledge and perceptions of P. incana invasion and impacts on rangeland, livestock production and livelihood in four communal grazing areas. Twenty households per village that own livestock were randomly selected to conduct an interview using an open and closed ended questionnaire. In each household, an old and knowledgeable respondent about P. incana invasion was used as a selection criterion. For scientific assessment of range condition, the experiment was conducted in a 270 m x 100 m trial plots that were established in 2014. The area was divided into 3 open and 3 fenced subplots each having an area of 45 m x 100 m established laid down a slope gradient. Each plot was divided into four equal subplots to apply the control treatments. Therefore, the trial layout was a stratified block experiment of four treatments replicated three times. The four control treatments applied to P. incana invasion were chopping and resting (CR), resting without chopping (RWOC), grazing and chopping (GC), grazing without chopping (GWOC). A step point method was applied in each transect to monitor species composition and P. incana cover. On the fenced plots two exclosures of 1mx1m size were randomly distributed to make sure that resting is maintained. Within exclosures 0.25 m2quadrates in each were put randomly to measure biomass. Density of P. incana was determined from 5 m x 5 m quadrates that were placed randomly within each sub-plot. The density and height of individual shrub plant was measured. All rooted live woody plants were recorded and counted in each quadrate. The results revealed that species composition was not affected (P>0.05) by the treatments applied. The herbage height and basal cover had greater values (P<0.05) under rested plus chopping (CR) treatment followed by grazed plus chopping (GC). Grass biomass production and essential nutrients showed a greater concentration (P<0.05) under CR treatment than any treatments applied. The results on perceptions revealed that goats had the highest mean household holding number than any other livestock species across the selected villages in all the villages. Respondents indicated that both goats and cattle had equal or more importance than sheep. Three out of four villages raised cattle primarily for income generation and secondarily for cultural purposes like slaughtering during weddings ceremonies, amazila and also during woman circumcisions (Ntonjane). Similarly, goats and sheep were primarily raised for cash income generation. The results revealed that livestock population decreased over ten to twenty years (one-two decades) and poor rangeland condition is assumed to be the cause of the situation as feed is the key factor for production. The area was dominated by the grasses rather than by browse woody species so the above results are possible as the P. incana is more competitive than grasses. It was concluded that P. incana is detrimental to both rangeland and animal production. Forage and animal performance as well as farmers’ economic status (livelihoods) were negatively affected by P. incana invasion and the scientific assessment reported it to be detrimental to agriculture. Thus chopping and resting (CR) treatment resulted in a greater improvement of the basal cover, biomass production, soil nutrients as well as grass height than the other treatments applied. Therefore it can be concluded that chopping and resting the veld invaded with P. incana can improve the range and consequently animal production.
- Full Text:
- Date Issued: 2016
- Authors: Ntutha, T
- Date: 2016
- Subjects: Invasive plants -- South Africa -- Eastern Cape Shrublands -- South Africa -- Eastern Cape Rangelands -- South Africa -- Eastern Cape
- Language: English
- Type: Thesis , Masters , MSc
- Identifier: http://hdl.handle.net/10353/4682 , vital:28493
- Description: The objective of the study was to assess the farmers’ knowledge and perceptions of P. incana invasion and impacts on rangeland, livestock production and livelihood in four communal grazing areas. Twenty households per village that own livestock were randomly selected to conduct an interview using an open and closed ended questionnaire. In each household, an old and knowledgeable respondent about P. incana invasion was used as a selection criterion. For scientific assessment of range condition, the experiment was conducted in a 270 m x 100 m trial plots that were established in 2014. The area was divided into 3 open and 3 fenced subplots each having an area of 45 m x 100 m established laid down a slope gradient. Each plot was divided into four equal subplots to apply the control treatments. Therefore, the trial layout was a stratified block experiment of four treatments replicated three times. The four control treatments applied to P. incana invasion were chopping and resting (CR), resting without chopping (RWOC), grazing and chopping (GC), grazing without chopping (GWOC). A step point method was applied in each transect to monitor species composition and P. incana cover. On the fenced plots two exclosures of 1mx1m size were randomly distributed to make sure that resting is maintained. Within exclosures 0.25 m2quadrates in each were put randomly to measure biomass. Density of P. incana was determined from 5 m x 5 m quadrates that were placed randomly within each sub-plot. The density and height of individual shrub plant was measured. All rooted live woody plants were recorded and counted in each quadrate. The results revealed that species composition was not affected (P>0.05) by the treatments applied. The herbage height and basal cover had greater values (P<0.05) under rested plus chopping (CR) treatment followed by grazed plus chopping (GC). Grass biomass production and essential nutrients showed a greater concentration (P<0.05) under CR treatment than any treatments applied. The results on perceptions revealed that goats had the highest mean household holding number than any other livestock species across the selected villages in all the villages. Respondents indicated that both goats and cattle had equal or more importance than sheep. Three out of four villages raised cattle primarily for income generation and secondarily for cultural purposes like slaughtering during weddings ceremonies, amazila and also during woman circumcisions (Ntonjane). Similarly, goats and sheep were primarily raised for cash income generation. The results revealed that livestock population decreased over ten to twenty years (one-two decades) and poor rangeland condition is assumed to be the cause of the situation as feed is the key factor for production. The area was dominated by the grasses rather than by browse woody species so the above results are possible as the P. incana is more competitive than grasses. It was concluded that P. incana is detrimental to both rangeland and animal production. Forage and animal performance as well as farmers’ economic status (livelihoods) were negatively affected by P. incana invasion and the scientific assessment reported it to be detrimental to agriculture. Thus chopping and resting (CR) treatment resulted in a greater improvement of the basal cover, biomass production, soil nutrients as well as grass height than the other treatments applied. Therefore it can be concluded that chopping and resting the veld invaded with P. incana can improve the range and consequently animal production.
- Full Text:
- Date Issued: 2016
Effects of the biocontrol agent, coelocephalapion camarae kissinger, galling on petiole tissues, plant growth and stored reserves in plant parts of two lantana camara L.(verbenaceae) varieties
- Authors: Kistensamy, Yoganambal
- Date: 2016
- Language: English
- Type: Thesis , Masters , MSc
- Identifier: http://hdl.handle.net/10962/3126 , vital:20372
- Description: The agent evaluated in this study, Coelocephalapion camarae Kissinger (Brentidae), a petiole galling apionid, was released against Lantana camara L. (Verbenaceae) in South Africa and has the potential to significantly contribute to the control of this noxious weed. An important aspect of evaluating the effectiveness of a biocontrol agent; include the understanding of the mechanism in which the biocontrol agent causes damage to the plant and the plant’s response to this damage. Another aspect that was considered in evaluating the effects of the apionid was the varietal differences that exist within the weedy L. camara complex. Larval feeding of C. camarae damaged the tissue in the petioles causing gall formation and this was quantified on two common South African L. camara varieties (017 and 018). Up to 100% of the vascular tissue (xylem and phloem) of effected petioles was eaten by larvae, 25 days after ovipostion in both the L. camara varieties, effectively severing the vascular connection from the leaves. The effect of feeding and galling by different population densities of C. camarae, on biomass and total soluble sugar and starch concentrations of different plant parts was measured on these two varieties during autumn, and compared to a similar study, done during summer. Relatively low galling percentages were achieved in the experiments of this study. Plant growth was less affected by apionid feeding at similar galling levels, as higher galling densities in these trials were similar to those at low exposures in trials by Baars (2002). The dry weights of all individual and combined plant parts for lantana variety 017 was less for both adult density exposures after 70 days compared to the weights of its controls, although not statistically significant at P>0.05 The opposite effect, though barely noticeable was recorded for lantana variety 018; here, the dry weights of individual plant parts and as whole plants weighed more in the plants exposed to both densities of weevil feeding and galling after 70 days, compared to its controls. Coelocephalapion camarae herbivory may thus be more effective in inflicting damage on some L. camara varieties compared to others. The effects of late season carbohydrate storage revealed that, from early- to mid-autumn starch concentrations increased significantly in stems of both L. camara varieties and L. camara var. 018 had larger starch reserves for winter. In L. camara var. 018 stems, starch increased 52 times and concentrations doubled in stems of L. camara var 017. The increase in the sugar and decrease in starch concentrations in leaves of plants of both varieties exposed to apionids in this study was attributed to a possible reduction of available nitrogen and phosphorus, due to apionid feeding, whilst starch was reallocated within the plants to stems and roots. The increase in starch concentrations in stems of plants that were exposed to apionids may have been expected, as compensation for herbivory has been associated with, increases in photosynthetic rates and the mobilization of stored resources. Herbivory by the apionid early in the growing season may be easily compensated for by L. camara as there are nutrient flushes experienced by plants that allows the maximum uptake of nutrients facilitating recovery, whereas later in the season plants suffer lower nutrient availability and don’t recover so readily. Both early and late in the season the accumulated effects of C. camarae feeding over time will undoubtedly decrease fitness of most lantana varieties.
- Full Text:
- Date Issued: 2016
- Authors: Kistensamy, Yoganambal
- Date: 2016
- Language: English
- Type: Thesis , Masters , MSc
- Identifier: http://hdl.handle.net/10962/3126 , vital:20372
- Description: The agent evaluated in this study, Coelocephalapion camarae Kissinger (Brentidae), a petiole galling apionid, was released against Lantana camara L. (Verbenaceae) in South Africa and has the potential to significantly contribute to the control of this noxious weed. An important aspect of evaluating the effectiveness of a biocontrol agent; include the understanding of the mechanism in which the biocontrol agent causes damage to the plant and the plant’s response to this damage. Another aspect that was considered in evaluating the effects of the apionid was the varietal differences that exist within the weedy L. camara complex. Larval feeding of C. camarae damaged the tissue in the petioles causing gall formation and this was quantified on two common South African L. camara varieties (017 and 018). Up to 100% of the vascular tissue (xylem and phloem) of effected petioles was eaten by larvae, 25 days after ovipostion in both the L. camara varieties, effectively severing the vascular connection from the leaves. The effect of feeding and galling by different population densities of C. camarae, on biomass and total soluble sugar and starch concentrations of different plant parts was measured on these two varieties during autumn, and compared to a similar study, done during summer. Relatively low galling percentages were achieved in the experiments of this study. Plant growth was less affected by apionid feeding at similar galling levels, as higher galling densities in these trials were similar to those at low exposures in trials by Baars (2002). The dry weights of all individual and combined plant parts for lantana variety 017 was less for both adult density exposures after 70 days compared to the weights of its controls, although not statistically significant at P>0.05 The opposite effect, though barely noticeable was recorded for lantana variety 018; here, the dry weights of individual plant parts and as whole plants weighed more in the plants exposed to both densities of weevil feeding and galling after 70 days, compared to its controls. Coelocephalapion camarae herbivory may thus be more effective in inflicting damage on some L. camara varieties compared to others. The effects of late season carbohydrate storage revealed that, from early- to mid-autumn starch concentrations increased significantly in stems of both L. camara varieties and L. camara var. 018 had larger starch reserves for winter. In L. camara var. 018 stems, starch increased 52 times and concentrations doubled in stems of L. camara var 017. The increase in the sugar and decrease in starch concentrations in leaves of plants of both varieties exposed to apionids in this study was attributed to a possible reduction of available nitrogen and phosphorus, due to apionid feeding, whilst starch was reallocated within the plants to stems and roots. The increase in starch concentrations in stems of plants that were exposed to apionids may have been expected, as compensation for herbivory has been associated with, increases in photosynthetic rates and the mobilization of stored resources. Herbivory by the apionid early in the growing season may be easily compensated for by L. camara as there are nutrient flushes experienced by plants that allows the maximum uptake of nutrients facilitating recovery, whereas later in the season plants suffer lower nutrient availability and don’t recover so readily. Both early and late in the season the accumulated effects of C. camarae feeding over time will undoubtedly decrease fitness of most lantana varieties.
- Full Text:
- Date Issued: 2016
Efficiency analysis of electricity distribution by South African Municipalities: a cost frontier approach
- Gqwaka, Aviwe Phelele Sebatian
- Authors: Gqwaka, Aviwe Phelele Sebatian
- Date: 2016
- Subjects: Electric power distribution -- South Africa Public utilities -- South Africa Local government -- South Africa
- Language: English
- Type: Thesis , Masters , MSc
- Identifier: http://hdl.handle.net/10948/10299 , vital:26650
- Description: Efficiency analysis in the public sector assesses the performance of municipal and government entities in their provision of services to the public. South Africa, in particular, has experienced a large degree of negative feedback with respect to the ability of the government and its municipal departments to provide basic services to citizens. This has led to a number of service delivery protests throughout the country. To remedy this, the ability of the municipality to provide basic services needs to be assessed in order for improvements to be made. A first step in this process would be to determine the efficiency with which municipalities are providing these services. This study focuses on a particular municipal service, namely electricity distribution. Primarily, the efficiency with which municipalities provide electricity to consumers is determined. This is achieved using the parametric cost frontier approach, which is appropriate since municipalities aim to reduce the costs incurred in distributing electricity. The municipalities are compared to a frontier (theoretical best practice) from which inferences on their performances can be made. Those municipalities whose performances are not optimal, deviate from the frontier. The deviations (errors) are then assumed to be caused by two factors, namely stochastic random noise and inefficiency. This composition accounts for effects for which municipalities cannot control (stochastic random noise) and those for which it can (inefficiency). The parametric nature of the cost frontier approach allows for distributional assumptions to be made on these factors. Stochastic random noise is always assumed to be normally distributed, while inefficiency is assumed to be one-sided and positively skewed.
- Full Text:
- Date Issued: 2016
- Authors: Gqwaka, Aviwe Phelele Sebatian
- Date: 2016
- Subjects: Electric power distribution -- South Africa Public utilities -- South Africa Local government -- South Africa
- Language: English
- Type: Thesis , Masters , MSc
- Identifier: http://hdl.handle.net/10948/10299 , vital:26650
- Description: Efficiency analysis in the public sector assesses the performance of municipal and government entities in their provision of services to the public. South Africa, in particular, has experienced a large degree of negative feedback with respect to the ability of the government and its municipal departments to provide basic services to citizens. This has led to a number of service delivery protests throughout the country. To remedy this, the ability of the municipality to provide basic services needs to be assessed in order for improvements to be made. A first step in this process would be to determine the efficiency with which municipalities are providing these services. This study focuses on a particular municipal service, namely electricity distribution. Primarily, the efficiency with which municipalities provide electricity to consumers is determined. This is achieved using the parametric cost frontier approach, which is appropriate since municipalities aim to reduce the costs incurred in distributing electricity. The municipalities are compared to a frontier (theoretical best practice) from which inferences on their performances can be made. Those municipalities whose performances are not optimal, deviate from the frontier. The deviations (errors) are then assumed to be caused by two factors, namely stochastic random noise and inefficiency. This composition accounts for effects for which municipalities cannot control (stochastic random noise) and those for which it can (inefficiency). The parametric nature of the cost frontier approach allows for distributional assumptions to be made on these factors. Stochastic random noise is always assumed to be normally distributed, while inefficiency is assumed to be one-sided and positively skewed.
- Full Text:
- Date Issued: 2016
Electrical power output estimation model for a conical diffuser augmented wind turbine
- Authors: Masukume, Peace-Maker
- Date: 2016
- Subjects: Wind power , Wind turbines , Renewable energy sources
- Language: English
- Type: Thesis , Doctoral , DPhil
- Identifier: http://hdl.handle.net/10353/1517 , vital:27404
- Description: Energy is integral to the quality of life of any society. However, meeting the demand for energy sustainably is the main challenge facing humanity. In general, non-renewable energy resources are used to supply the ever increasing energy demand. However, the extraction and processing of these resources is accompanied by the production of wastes which are a health hazard and impact negatively on climate change. Considering the finite nature of non-renewable sources, the environmental concerns which are associated with their usage and ensuring energy security, renewable energy sources have been brought in the energy supply chain. Wind energy is one of the renewable energy sources which has been supplying electrical energy to the ever increasing energy demand of humanity. Wind energy technology is a mature technology which over and above the bare (conventional) wind turbine technology has seen the development of duct augmented wind turbines. Ducts are used to encase wind turbine rotors to augment the power output of wind turbines especially in low wind speed areas. Though the technology has been under study for decades now, research indicates that there is no known model to estimate the power output of a diffuser augmented wind turbine. This thesis presents the development of the conical Diffuser Augmented Wind Turbine (DAWT) power output estimation model and its validation.
- Full Text:
- Date Issued: 2016
- Authors: Masukume, Peace-Maker
- Date: 2016
- Subjects: Wind power , Wind turbines , Renewable energy sources
- Language: English
- Type: Thesis , Doctoral , DPhil
- Identifier: http://hdl.handle.net/10353/1517 , vital:27404
- Description: Energy is integral to the quality of life of any society. However, meeting the demand for energy sustainably is the main challenge facing humanity. In general, non-renewable energy resources are used to supply the ever increasing energy demand. However, the extraction and processing of these resources is accompanied by the production of wastes which are a health hazard and impact negatively on climate change. Considering the finite nature of non-renewable sources, the environmental concerns which are associated with their usage and ensuring energy security, renewable energy sources have been brought in the energy supply chain. Wind energy is one of the renewable energy sources which has been supplying electrical energy to the ever increasing energy demand of humanity. Wind energy technology is a mature technology which over and above the bare (conventional) wind turbine technology has seen the development of duct augmented wind turbines. Ducts are used to encase wind turbine rotors to augment the power output of wind turbines especially in low wind speed areas. Though the technology has been under study for decades now, research indicates that there is no known model to estimate the power output of a diffuser augmented wind turbine. This thesis presents the development of the conical Diffuser Augmented Wind Turbine (DAWT) power output estimation model and its validation.
- Full Text:
- Date Issued: 2016
Electrode surface modification using iron(II) phthalocyanine immobilized via electrografting and click chemistry and clicked onto azide-functionalized quantum dots: applications in electrocatalysis
- Authors: Nxele, Siphesihle Robin
- Date: 2016
- Language: English
- Type: Thesis , Masters , MSc
- Identifier: http://hdl.handle.net/10962/3464 , vital:20501
- Description: Tetrakis(5-hexynoxy)Fe(II) phthalocyanine was used alone and in combination with quantum dots (QDs) in order to test the electrocatalytic ability with hydrazine and paraquat as the analytes of interest. This novel phthalocaynine was successfully synthesised and characterized using various characterisation techniques. The QDs used were the well-known core-shell CdSe/ZnS nanostructures. The fabrication of glassy carbon electrodes involved covalent attachment by electrochemical grafting and click chemistry for the first part of the work and the second part involved the conjugation of the synthesised QDs and the phthalocyanine by click chemistry. This approach of conjugating these nanostructures introduced another aspect of novelty to the work reported in this thesis. The immobilisation of this conjugate on a glassy carbon electrode (GCE) was achieved by adsorption. Characterisation techniques such as infrared spectroscopy, x-ray diffractometry, UV/vis spectroscopy, transmission electron microscopy and x-ray photoelectron spectroscopy were used to characterise the molecules and conjugates of interest. With respect to the electrocatalytic part of the work, electrode surface characterisation involved scanning electrochemical microscopy and cyclic voltammetry to determine changes in the nature of the surface as well as reactivity of the surface at different modification steps. Detection limits and the sensitivity determined for the electrocatalysts fabricated here proved to be an improvement compared to other reported work involving phthalocyanines and the test analytes chosen for application. With respect to the conjugate, the electrocatalytic ability was improved when the QDs and phthalocyanine were combined using click chemistry compared to using the phthalocyanine alone.
- Full Text:
- Date Issued: 2016
- Authors: Nxele, Siphesihle Robin
- Date: 2016
- Language: English
- Type: Thesis , Masters , MSc
- Identifier: http://hdl.handle.net/10962/3464 , vital:20501
- Description: Tetrakis(5-hexynoxy)Fe(II) phthalocyanine was used alone and in combination with quantum dots (QDs) in order to test the electrocatalytic ability with hydrazine and paraquat as the analytes of interest. This novel phthalocaynine was successfully synthesised and characterized using various characterisation techniques. The QDs used were the well-known core-shell CdSe/ZnS nanostructures. The fabrication of glassy carbon electrodes involved covalent attachment by electrochemical grafting and click chemistry for the first part of the work and the second part involved the conjugation of the synthesised QDs and the phthalocyanine by click chemistry. This approach of conjugating these nanostructures introduced another aspect of novelty to the work reported in this thesis. The immobilisation of this conjugate on a glassy carbon electrode (GCE) was achieved by adsorption. Characterisation techniques such as infrared spectroscopy, x-ray diffractometry, UV/vis spectroscopy, transmission electron microscopy and x-ray photoelectron spectroscopy were used to characterise the molecules and conjugates of interest. With respect to the electrocatalytic part of the work, electrode surface characterisation involved scanning electrochemical microscopy and cyclic voltammetry to determine changes in the nature of the surface as well as reactivity of the surface at different modification steps. Detection limits and the sensitivity determined for the electrocatalysts fabricated here proved to be an improvement compared to other reported work involving phthalocyanines and the test analytes chosen for application. With respect to the conjugate, the electrocatalytic ability was improved when the QDs and phthalocyanine were combined using click chemistry compared to using the phthalocyanine alone.
- Full Text:
- Date Issued: 2016
Embassy of the Federal Republic of Germany Pretoria
- Smith, Jan-Willem Christiaan
- Authors: Smith, Jan-Willem Christiaan
- Date: 2016
- Subjects: Embassy buildings -- South Africa -- Pretoria -- Design Architecture, Modern -- 21st century , Historic buildings -- South Africa --Pretoria
- Language: English
- Type: Thesis , Masters , MA
- Identifier: http://hdl.handle.net/10948/15400 , vital:28239
- Description: This treatise aims to demonstrate an understanding of the complexities involved in the design of a German Embassy in Pretoria, in terms of technicality and identity. Programmatic requirements will be considered, with an emphasis on creating the maximum level of security against any reasonable threat. The identity of the embassy will also be considered through the lens of a symbolic aesthetic that must be reconciled with the embassy’s physical and symbolic context. At a time of increasing cultural homogenisation and growing sameness within an ever more interconnected world, this treatise will explore the problem of creating a unique physical expression of German cultural and political identity. This aim exists in tension with the growing fluidity and porosity of cultural identity at the present moment, and the research herein therefore seeks to articulate a new vision of cultural identity that can coexist with globalisation without losing its own specificity. In essence, an attempt will be made to give a concrete expression to cultural identity and move beyond preconceptions of this idea.
- Full Text:
- Date Issued: 2016
- Authors: Smith, Jan-Willem Christiaan
- Date: 2016
- Subjects: Embassy buildings -- South Africa -- Pretoria -- Design Architecture, Modern -- 21st century , Historic buildings -- South Africa --Pretoria
- Language: English
- Type: Thesis , Masters , MA
- Identifier: http://hdl.handle.net/10948/15400 , vital:28239
- Description: This treatise aims to demonstrate an understanding of the complexities involved in the design of a German Embassy in Pretoria, in terms of technicality and identity. Programmatic requirements will be considered, with an emphasis on creating the maximum level of security against any reasonable threat. The identity of the embassy will also be considered through the lens of a symbolic aesthetic that must be reconciled with the embassy’s physical and symbolic context. At a time of increasing cultural homogenisation and growing sameness within an ever more interconnected world, this treatise will explore the problem of creating a unique physical expression of German cultural and political identity. This aim exists in tension with the growing fluidity and porosity of cultural identity at the present moment, and the research herein therefore seeks to articulate a new vision of cultural identity that can coexist with globalisation without losing its own specificity. In essence, an attempt will be made to give a concrete expression to cultural identity and move beyond preconceptions of this idea.
- Full Text:
- Date Issued: 2016
Emergent governance practices in the University of Malawi following reform implementation from 1997 to 2013
- Authors: Nampota, Tarsizius
- Date: 2016
- Subjects: Education, Higher -- Malawi , Universities and colleges -- Malawi , University of Malawi , Educational change -- Malawi
- Language: English
- Type: Thesis , Doctoral , PhD
- Identifier: vital:1330 , http://hdl.handle.net/10962/d1019933
- Description: Higher education reform is an international phenomenon and one that greatly impacts on the form and function of Universities in society. I set out in this study to investigate the University of Malawi’s (UNIMA) experiences with governance reforms after observing that no comprehensive study of this process had been undertaken following the implementation of these reforms from 1997. I used Bhaskar’s Critical Realist Theory as my main theoretical framework because my intention was to understand the mechanisms from which such reforms emerged: the emergent governance practices and properties enabling or constraining governance reforms in UNIMA. I employed Archer’s Social Realist Theory in my research design and interpretation of the results, which entailed that I focus on issues of structure, culture and agency in UNIMA governance. I have established that the governance context in UNIMA in 1995 at the time the reforms were being considered was one that promoted the continuation of the status quo because the Malawi Government’s vested interest then was to exercise great control over UNIMA at system, institutional and disciplinary level of governance due to the political imperatives of the time in Malawi. However, this situation was frustrating to many in the University as it greatly impeded academic freedom. Furthermore, in 1995 the University relied heavily on Government’s financial structures. When these were subjected to structural reforms under the influence of the World Bank and the International Monetary Fund in the early nineties the impact seriously undermined the University’s revenue base and threatened to challenge further the realization of the University’s objectives. This prompted changes in the administrative and academic governance structures and culture intended to improve utilisation of the available limited resources as well as to broaden the University’s revenue base. The governance reform measures that were introduced were mainly influenced by New Public Management (NPM) ideologies. Most of the reforms intended to transform the administrative structures and culture were successfully implemented. The study revealed that this was enabled by the interests of those operating at disciplinary levels who were frustrated by the previous constraining governance context and who viewed such reforms as bringing about the self-governance they lacked. However, the majority of the reforms that were mainly targeted at academic restructuring were resisted because they were construed as contradictory to the interests of those in the academy particularly those concerned with matters of academic freedom. The study further revealed that the academic reforms were constrained by a lack of agency for change management and weak leadership at the top senior level of the University. In addition, there have been delays in amending the UNIMA Act, which should have catalysed some of the reforms, a scenario that has perpetuated many aspects of the institutional level of governance. Consequently, compared to the situation before the reforms were introduced, governance in UNIMA at the time of reporting manifested two scenarios: (a) an elaboration in governance practices at systems level where Government machinery exercises control and at enterprise (college) level where faculties and academic departments operate promoting cultural morphogenesis, or changes at the level of ideas, beliefs and values, which in turn is exerting pressure on governance practices at institutional level; and (b) morphostasis, or lack of change, at institutional levels of the governance exacerbated by the lack of amendment of the UNIMA Act and weak leadership. The findings have also led to uncertainty regarding the unitary nature of the University. There are fears that once the UNIMA Act is amended the four colleges forming UNIMA might break away to become separate universities.
- Full Text:
- Date Issued: 2016
- Authors: Nampota, Tarsizius
- Date: 2016
- Subjects: Education, Higher -- Malawi , Universities and colleges -- Malawi , University of Malawi , Educational change -- Malawi
- Language: English
- Type: Thesis , Doctoral , PhD
- Identifier: vital:1330 , http://hdl.handle.net/10962/d1019933
- Description: Higher education reform is an international phenomenon and one that greatly impacts on the form and function of Universities in society. I set out in this study to investigate the University of Malawi’s (UNIMA) experiences with governance reforms after observing that no comprehensive study of this process had been undertaken following the implementation of these reforms from 1997. I used Bhaskar’s Critical Realist Theory as my main theoretical framework because my intention was to understand the mechanisms from which such reforms emerged: the emergent governance practices and properties enabling or constraining governance reforms in UNIMA. I employed Archer’s Social Realist Theory in my research design and interpretation of the results, which entailed that I focus on issues of structure, culture and agency in UNIMA governance. I have established that the governance context in UNIMA in 1995 at the time the reforms were being considered was one that promoted the continuation of the status quo because the Malawi Government’s vested interest then was to exercise great control over UNIMA at system, institutional and disciplinary level of governance due to the political imperatives of the time in Malawi. However, this situation was frustrating to many in the University as it greatly impeded academic freedom. Furthermore, in 1995 the University relied heavily on Government’s financial structures. When these were subjected to structural reforms under the influence of the World Bank and the International Monetary Fund in the early nineties the impact seriously undermined the University’s revenue base and threatened to challenge further the realization of the University’s objectives. This prompted changes in the administrative and academic governance structures and culture intended to improve utilisation of the available limited resources as well as to broaden the University’s revenue base. The governance reform measures that were introduced were mainly influenced by New Public Management (NPM) ideologies. Most of the reforms intended to transform the administrative structures and culture were successfully implemented. The study revealed that this was enabled by the interests of those operating at disciplinary levels who were frustrated by the previous constraining governance context and who viewed such reforms as bringing about the self-governance they lacked. However, the majority of the reforms that were mainly targeted at academic restructuring were resisted because they were construed as contradictory to the interests of those in the academy particularly those concerned with matters of academic freedom. The study further revealed that the academic reforms were constrained by a lack of agency for change management and weak leadership at the top senior level of the University. In addition, there have been delays in amending the UNIMA Act, which should have catalysed some of the reforms, a scenario that has perpetuated many aspects of the institutional level of governance. Consequently, compared to the situation before the reforms were introduced, governance in UNIMA at the time of reporting manifested two scenarios: (a) an elaboration in governance practices at systems level where Government machinery exercises control and at enterprise (college) level where faculties and academic departments operate promoting cultural morphogenesis, or changes at the level of ideas, beliefs and values, which in turn is exerting pressure on governance practices at institutional level; and (b) morphostasis, or lack of change, at institutional levels of the governance exacerbated by the lack of amendment of the UNIMA Act and weak leadership. The findings have also led to uncertainty regarding the unitary nature of the University. There are fears that once the UNIMA Act is amended the four colleges forming UNIMA might break away to become separate universities.
- Full Text:
- Date Issued: 2016
Emotional intelligence training model for executive leadership in South Africa
- Authors: Els, Deon André
- Date: 2016
- Subjects: Development leadership -- South Africa , Executives -- Training of -- South Africa , Emotional intelligence -- South Africa
- Language: English
- Type: Thesis , Doctoral , DPhil
- Identifier: http://hdl.handle.net/10948/7398 , vital:21350
- Description: Global leadership crises and increasing executive leadership failures necessitate a new approach to executive leadership development. Globalisation results in new leadership challenges that affect people, the planet and peace across the world. Critical issues include increasing extremism and terrorism, displaced migrants fleeing to stable countries, earth warming and economic decline. The role of the individual executive leader cannot be isolated from human development challenges. Various executive leadership failures and examples of unethical leadership practises, both internationally and in South Africa, place the focus on ethical governance and emotionally matured leadership development. This study follows a nexus, based on a three-stranded cordial link between human development, emotional intelligence and executive leadership. The central themes of the United Nations Human Development’s (UNDP) reports of 1990 to 2009 as well as the Post-United Nations Human Development Report of 2015 form a framework for evaluating the relationship between human development and executive leadership. Although economic growth is central to human development, the development of people through building human capabilities and active participation to improve their lives, are the main goals of the UNDP-2015. The role of executive leadership, leadership derailment and required executive proficiencies and attributes are investigated by evaluating traditional leadership theories and approaches as a lens for investigating leadership development. The positive effect of globalisation is that it affords new approaches and opportunities for executive leadership development. Emotional intelligence-based leadership, including the role of neuro-leadership, is evaluated and an integrative approach that involves the new paradigm of leadership as a response to human development challenges and globalisation is presented. The new paradigm of integrative leadership approaches includes empirical-based authentic leadership, shared leadership and gender-based leadership. The integrative leadership models of Hatala and Passmore are selected as a framework to propose a theoretical emotional intelligence leadership model for this study. New opportunities to develop emotionally intelligent executive leaders include technology-based training, iLeadership and eLeadership in an environment without boundaries. Time constraints are identified as a key obstacle for leadership development. Various training and executive coaching strategies are evaluated and proposed to accelerate leadership development. The link between human development and executive leadership development is proposed by collective leadership approaches towards Corporate Social Responsibilities (CSR) above entrepreneurial acumen and stakeholder involvement. A positivist approach based on quantitative research using Structural Equation Modelling (SEM) is used. The primary research problem is formulated to investigate the multidimensional and complex nature of factors that influence the success of developing emotionally intelligent executive leaders in South Africa. A conceptual theoretical model comprising of factors that influence Human Development and the perceived success of Emotional Intelligence Training is developed. A total of ten independent variables that influence the two mentioned dependent variables are identified. The proposed model and envisaged hypotheses are empirically tested. The study consists of a 73-itemed questionnaire with 360 participants. The sourced data are statically analysed by means of the exploratory factor analysis (EFA) to assess the discriminate validity of the research instrument and to confirm underlying dimensions of the constructs. Cronbach-alpha coefficients are calculated for each of the identified factors by using SEM. The significance of the hypothesised relationships in the revised model is tested. The value of this study’s contribution to the body of knowledge lies within the findings, the proposed Integrative Emotional Intelligence Leadership Model and recommendations for future research. The proposed model identifies practical training approaches to accelerate executive leadership against a background of serious leadership failures in South Africa.
- Full Text:
- Date Issued: 2016
- Authors: Els, Deon André
- Date: 2016
- Subjects: Development leadership -- South Africa , Executives -- Training of -- South Africa , Emotional intelligence -- South Africa
- Language: English
- Type: Thesis , Doctoral , DPhil
- Identifier: http://hdl.handle.net/10948/7398 , vital:21350
- Description: Global leadership crises and increasing executive leadership failures necessitate a new approach to executive leadership development. Globalisation results in new leadership challenges that affect people, the planet and peace across the world. Critical issues include increasing extremism and terrorism, displaced migrants fleeing to stable countries, earth warming and economic decline. The role of the individual executive leader cannot be isolated from human development challenges. Various executive leadership failures and examples of unethical leadership practises, both internationally and in South Africa, place the focus on ethical governance and emotionally matured leadership development. This study follows a nexus, based on a three-stranded cordial link between human development, emotional intelligence and executive leadership. The central themes of the United Nations Human Development’s (UNDP) reports of 1990 to 2009 as well as the Post-United Nations Human Development Report of 2015 form a framework for evaluating the relationship between human development and executive leadership. Although economic growth is central to human development, the development of people through building human capabilities and active participation to improve their lives, are the main goals of the UNDP-2015. The role of executive leadership, leadership derailment and required executive proficiencies and attributes are investigated by evaluating traditional leadership theories and approaches as a lens for investigating leadership development. The positive effect of globalisation is that it affords new approaches and opportunities for executive leadership development. Emotional intelligence-based leadership, including the role of neuro-leadership, is evaluated and an integrative approach that involves the new paradigm of leadership as a response to human development challenges and globalisation is presented. The new paradigm of integrative leadership approaches includes empirical-based authentic leadership, shared leadership and gender-based leadership. The integrative leadership models of Hatala and Passmore are selected as a framework to propose a theoretical emotional intelligence leadership model for this study. New opportunities to develop emotionally intelligent executive leaders include technology-based training, iLeadership and eLeadership in an environment without boundaries. Time constraints are identified as a key obstacle for leadership development. Various training and executive coaching strategies are evaluated and proposed to accelerate leadership development. The link between human development and executive leadership development is proposed by collective leadership approaches towards Corporate Social Responsibilities (CSR) above entrepreneurial acumen and stakeholder involvement. A positivist approach based on quantitative research using Structural Equation Modelling (SEM) is used. The primary research problem is formulated to investigate the multidimensional and complex nature of factors that influence the success of developing emotionally intelligent executive leaders in South Africa. A conceptual theoretical model comprising of factors that influence Human Development and the perceived success of Emotional Intelligence Training is developed. A total of ten independent variables that influence the two mentioned dependent variables are identified. The proposed model and envisaged hypotheses are empirically tested. The study consists of a 73-itemed questionnaire with 360 participants. The sourced data are statically analysed by means of the exploratory factor analysis (EFA) to assess the discriminate validity of the research instrument and to confirm underlying dimensions of the constructs. Cronbach-alpha coefficients are calculated for each of the identified factors by using SEM. The significance of the hypothesised relationships in the revised model is tested. The value of this study’s contribution to the body of knowledge lies within the findings, the proposed Integrative Emotional Intelligence Leadership Model and recommendations for future research. The proposed model identifies practical training approaches to accelerate executive leadership against a background of serious leadership failures in South Africa.
- Full Text:
- Date Issued: 2016
Employee engagement and staff retention in a motor manufacturing company in the Eastern Cape
- Authors: Sekalo,Siviwe
- Date: 2016
- Subjects: Employee retention -- South Africa -- Eastern Cape Motor industry -- South Africa -- Eastern Cape
- Language: English
- Type: Thesis , Masters , MBA
- Identifier: http://hdl.handle.net/10948/12757 , vital:27118
- Description: There is an overwhelming body of literature that exist in the subject of employee engagement. More and more studies are still conducted in this phenomenon as it had proved to produce high returns for organisations when mastered.The universal definition of this concept has not been found, various scholars continue to provide different views on how it should be defined. These definitions however bear common themes such as energy, taking initiative, going an extra mile, being grossly involved in the task, organisational citizenship, involvement, satisfaction, connection and enthusiasm which are caused by a feeling of being taken care of by the employer. It is clear from these that there is a reciprocal relationship between employer and employee which is claimed to have a link to profits and staff retention; as a result employers are increasingly devising strategies to engage the employees in order to reap the said benefits. The purpose of this study is to facilitate employee engagement and staff retention a motor manufacturing company in the Eastern Cape. In order to archive that the study assessed the level of engagement of artisans by means of a questionnaire focusing on factors such as meaningful work, organisational culture, social relationships, rewards and recognition and career development as these are repeatedly identified in the literature as key drivers of employee engagement. An imperial study was done on these drivers as well as on the existing company engagement programs to identify the employee’s perception of their effectiveness. The result of the study proves that artisans of this company are engaged and that all the drivers above were confirmed to have influence employee engagement and staff retention. The study however the study found that there is a split on the effectiveness of the existing engagement programs in the company with only less than 50% saying they were effective. A strong relationship was found to exist between all the factors that were studied and employee engagement and staff retention.
- Full Text:
- Date Issued: 2016
- Authors: Sekalo,Siviwe
- Date: 2016
- Subjects: Employee retention -- South Africa -- Eastern Cape Motor industry -- South Africa -- Eastern Cape
- Language: English
- Type: Thesis , Masters , MBA
- Identifier: http://hdl.handle.net/10948/12757 , vital:27118
- Description: There is an overwhelming body of literature that exist in the subject of employee engagement. More and more studies are still conducted in this phenomenon as it had proved to produce high returns for organisations when mastered.The universal definition of this concept has not been found, various scholars continue to provide different views on how it should be defined. These definitions however bear common themes such as energy, taking initiative, going an extra mile, being grossly involved in the task, organisational citizenship, involvement, satisfaction, connection and enthusiasm which are caused by a feeling of being taken care of by the employer. It is clear from these that there is a reciprocal relationship between employer and employee which is claimed to have a link to profits and staff retention; as a result employers are increasingly devising strategies to engage the employees in order to reap the said benefits. The purpose of this study is to facilitate employee engagement and staff retention a motor manufacturing company in the Eastern Cape. In order to archive that the study assessed the level of engagement of artisans by means of a questionnaire focusing on factors such as meaningful work, organisational culture, social relationships, rewards and recognition and career development as these are repeatedly identified in the literature as key drivers of employee engagement. An imperial study was done on these drivers as well as on the existing company engagement programs to identify the employee’s perception of their effectiveness. The result of the study proves that artisans of this company are engaged and that all the drivers above were confirmed to have influence employee engagement and staff retention. The study however the study found that there is a split on the effectiveness of the existing engagement programs in the company with only less than 50% saying they were effective. A strong relationship was found to exist between all the factors that were studied and employee engagement and staff retention.
- Full Text:
- Date Issued: 2016
Employee happiness in general motors
- Authors: Cooper, Julian
- Date: 2016
- Subjects: Job satisfaction -- South Africa , Corporate culture -- South Africa , Happiness -- South Africa
- Language: English
- Type: Thesis , Masters , MBA
- Identifier: http://hdl.handle.net/10948/4365 , vital:20590
- Description: Happiness is essentially the degree to which you find and judge your existence as favourable, in addition to an enduring, psychological feeling of contentment. In the hedonic view, happiness is pleasant feelings and favourable judgements, while the contrasting eudaimonic view describes it as doing what is morally right, what is righteous, that will enhance growth and that is meaningful to an individual. Both these views contribute to the overall happiness of an individual. People that are pleased with their lives usually experience greater satisfaction in their jobs. This is in line with the literature as happiness is positively correlated with job satisfaction, which suggests that a happy employee will most likely result in one that is satisfied with his/her job. In addition, happiness is correlated with evidence of success in the workplace and can increase an employee’s effectiveness at work. It is, therefore, essential that organisations identify the factors which influence employee happiness in order to enhance its cultural value-offering for employees and, in turn, increase their levels of job satisfaction. Job satisfaction is essentially the degree to which a person enjoys his/her job. It is the positive emotional state resulting from the evaluation of one’s work experience. This has profitable outcomes such as improved work performance. Furthermore, people who experience satisfaction in their jobs are better ambassadors for their organisation, demonstrate greater commitment, are more engaged and perform better within the organisation than their unhappy peers. Job satisfaction can be deemed an attitude. It is therefore important to understand the dimensions of the job, which are complex and interrelated in nature, in order to understand job attitudes. Organisational culture has been shown to influence the attitude and behaviour of employees through shared values and beliefs in the organisation. It is for this reason that there is a significant need to determine the factors in organisational culture that influence employee happiness and, in turn, job satisfaction. An organisation’s employees, through their participation and commitment, can be regarded as the most important source of success for the organisation. Organisational culture can therefore, greatly influence the efficiency and effectiveness of an organisation through its employees. Moreover, the culture of an organisation has a significant influence on the commitment and satisfaction of its employees. It inspires employees not only to feel committed to the organisation but also to perform well. The correlation between organisational culture and job satisfaction have been examined by various authors in the literature. All of these authors found a positive relationship between the two concepts. These conclusions show that the culture of an organisation can actually influence an employee’s job satisfaction and therefore his/her happiness. This research investigates the cultural value-offering of General Motors South Africa (GMSA) and its alignment to the needs of its employees. Until the end of 2012, an employee needs-analysis regarding employee happiness and his/her job satisfaction, was non-existent in the organisation. Towards the end of 2012 the organisation introduced a “Workplace of Choice” survey to perform an employee needs-analysis in order to investigate if there was a difference between employee needs and the organisation’s cultural value-offering. Another “Workplace of Choice” survey followed in 2014. This, however, was performed with the staff employees only and not with the hourly employees. Many organisations neglect to analyse the workplace needs of their employees to ensure that the organisation fully understands and is able to satisfy or accommodate these needs. Understanding employee needs is crucial to an organisation’s success. It is therefore important that the organisation investigates the employee needs to be able to align them with the cultural value-offering of the organisation. The purpose of this study is to advance the current understanding of Employee Happiness in the workplace by conducting a systematic analysis of the factors in Organisational Culture that influence Employee Happiness and, in turn, their Job Satisfaction in GMSA.
- Full Text:
- Date Issued: 2016
- Authors: Cooper, Julian
- Date: 2016
- Subjects: Job satisfaction -- South Africa , Corporate culture -- South Africa , Happiness -- South Africa
- Language: English
- Type: Thesis , Masters , MBA
- Identifier: http://hdl.handle.net/10948/4365 , vital:20590
- Description: Happiness is essentially the degree to which you find and judge your existence as favourable, in addition to an enduring, psychological feeling of contentment. In the hedonic view, happiness is pleasant feelings and favourable judgements, while the contrasting eudaimonic view describes it as doing what is morally right, what is righteous, that will enhance growth and that is meaningful to an individual. Both these views contribute to the overall happiness of an individual. People that are pleased with their lives usually experience greater satisfaction in their jobs. This is in line with the literature as happiness is positively correlated with job satisfaction, which suggests that a happy employee will most likely result in one that is satisfied with his/her job. In addition, happiness is correlated with evidence of success in the workplace and can increase an employee’s effectiveness at work. It is, therefore, essential that organisations identify the factors which influence employee happiness in order to enhance its cultural value-offering for employees and, in turn, increase their levels of job satisfaction. Job satisfaction is essentially the degree to which a person enjoys his/her job. It is the positive emotional state resulting from the evaluation of one’s work experience. This has profitable outcomes such as improved work performance. Furthermore, people who experience satisfaction in their jobs are better ambassadors for their organisation, demonstrate greater commitment, are more engaged and perform better within the organisation than their unhappy peers. Job satisfaction can be deemed an attitude. It is therefore important to understand the dimensions of the job, which are complex and interrelated in nature, in order to understand job attitudes. Organisational culture has been shown to influence the attitude and behaviour of employees through shared values and beliefs in the organisation. It is for this reason that there is a significant need to determine the factors in organisational culture that influence employee happiness and, in turn, job satisfaction. An organisation’s employees, through their participation and commitment, can be regarded as the most important source of success for the organisation. Organisational culture can therefore, greatly influence the efficiency and effectiveness of an organisation through its employees. Moreover, the culture of an organisation has a significant influence on the commitment and satisfaction of its employees. It inspires employees not only to feel committed to the organisation but also to perform well. The correlation between organisational culture and job satisfaction have been examined by various authors in the literature. All of these authors found a positive relationship between the two concepts. These conclusions show that the culture of an organisation can actually influence an employee’s job satisfaction and therefore his/her happiness. This research investigates the cultural value-offering of General Motors South Africa (GMSA) and its alignment to the needs of its employees. Until the end of 2012, an employee needs-analysis regarding employee happiness and his/her job satisfaction, was non-existent in the organisation. Towards the end of 2012 the organisation introduced a “Workplace of Choice” survey to perform an employee needs-analysis in order to investigate if there was a difference between employee needs and the organisation’s cultural value-offering. Another “Workplace of Choice” survey followed in 2014. This, however, was performed with the staff employees only and not with the hourly employees. Many organisations neglect to analyse the workplace needs of their employees to ensure that the organisation fully understands and is able to satisfy or accommodate these needs. Understanding employee needs is crucial to an organisation’s success. It is therefore important that the organisation investigates the employee needs to be able to align them with the cultural value-offering of the organisation. The purpose of this study is to advance the current understanding of Employee Happiness in the workplace by conducting a systematic analysis of the factors in Organisational Culture that influence Employee Happiness and, in turn, their Job Satisfaction in GMSA.
- Full Text:
- Date Issued: 2016
Enablers and barriers to involvement in commercialisation
- Authors: Chetty, Mary-Ann T
- Date: 2016
- Subjects: Commercialism , Entrepreneurship , Technology transfer
- Language: English
- Type: Thesis , Masters , MBA
- Identifier: http://hdl.handle.net/10948/4720 , vital:20657
- Description: Universities are facing growing pressure to contribute towards innovation which has social impact and which contributes to economic development. Researchers mainly in the Science and Engineering fields are the primary sources of innovation outputs from universities and as such their involvement in commercialisation activities directly adds to the growth of innovative outputs from publicly financed research. Technology Transfer Offices (TTO) have been established at universities across South Africa to foster the involvement of researchers in commercialisation activities, to champion the innovation conversation within higher education institutions and to progress innovations from concept to application in society. This study focussed on understanding the factors which enable or create a barrier to the involvement of researchers in commercialisation activities at the Nelson Mandela Metropolitan University. The key elements examined in this study include the researchers’ perception of enablers (monetary and nonmonetary incentives) and barriers to involvement at national, institutional and individual levels. This study undertook to understand the perceptions of researchers of enablers and barriers to involvement in commercialisation at the Nelson Mandela Metropolitan University. Researchers in the two faculties of Science and Engineering, Built Environment and Information Technology were approached to anonymously complete an electronic survey, the questions for which were developed from literature. The results from the survey were analysed using descriptive statistics and hypothesis testing. This study finds that a combination of incentives is necessary to enable researcher involvement and to lower barriers to involvement in commercialisation research. A set of recommendations based on the study are put forward on how such recommendations can be implemented.
- Full Text:
- Date Issued: 2016
- Authors: Chetty, Mary-Ann T
- Date: 2016
- Subjects: Commercialism , Entrepreneurship , Technology transfer
- Language: English
- Type: Thesis , Masters , MBA
- Identifier: http://hdl.handle.net/10948/4720 , vital:20657
- Description: Universities are facing growing pressure to contribute towards innovation which has social impact and which contributes to economic development. Researchers mainly in the Science and Engineering fields are the primary sources of innovation outputs from universities and as such their involvement in commercialisation activities directly adds to the growth of innovative outputs from publicly financed research. Technology Transfer Offices (TTO) have been established at universities across South Africa to foster the involvement of researchers in commercialisation activities, to champion the innovation conversation within higher education institutions and to progress innovations from concept to application in society. This study focussed on understanding the factors which enable or create a barrier to the involvement of researchers in commercialisation activities at the Nelson Mandela Metropolitan University. The key elements examined in this study include the researchers’ perception of enablers (monetary and nonmonetary incentives) and barriers to involvement at national, institutional and individual levels. This study undertook to understand the perceptions of researchers of enablers and barriers to involvement in commercialisation at the Nelson Mandela Metropolitan University. Researchers in the two faculties of Science and Engineering, Built Environment and Information Technology were approached to anonymously complete an electronic survey, the questions for which were developed from literature. The results from the survey were analysed using descriptive statistics and hypothesis testing. This study finds that a combination of incentives is necessary to enable researcher involvement and to lower barriers to involvement in commercialisation research. A set of recommendations based on the study are put forward on how such recommendations can be implemented.
- Full Text:
- Date Issued: 2016
Energy management system for the diagnosis and control of an automatic guided vehicle
- Authors: Church, Stuart Michael
- Date: 2016
- Subjects: Automated guided vehicle systems , Mechatronics
- Language: English
- Type: Thesis , Masters , MEng
- Identifier: http://hdl.handle.net/10948/4798 , vital:20681
- Description: With the increase in electronic equipment implemented in various systems, as well as the increase in calculating power that these devices offer, designers are being empowered to make use of this power in real-time systems to diagnose and protect the systems themselves. This reasoning is too compounded by the focus on efficiency and safety in the design of complex systems, as well as the increasing expense and sensitivity of the electronic components themselves. With this in mind, this dissertation aims at developing a comprehensive measurement, control and reaction system for the electrical diagnosis and ultimately optimisation of complex electrical and electronic systems. This system will serve as a real-time diagnosis tool, which will enable the real-time diagnosis of various components in an electro-mechanical system, which can then be interpreted to determine the working state of the various components. Another sphere of this project will involve the accurate monitoring of the battery status as well as actively balancing the series connected batteries. The focus on the batteries will seek to prolong the life of the batteries, while being able to squeeze as much capacity out of them. The initial design and testing will be based on an AGV system implemented at VWSA, however a main goal throughout the design process will be modularity, i.e. the ease of implementation of this system in other systems. The key technologies used in the development of this system will still comprise of the components used in the original AGV, however new prototype components sourced from Microcare are used for the battery management system, while current sensors directly connected to the PLC’s analog input ports will be used for the active monitoring of currents distributed through the AGV.
- Full Text:
- Date Issued: 2016
- Authors: Church, Stuart Michael
- Date: 2016
- Subjects: Automated guided vehicle systems , Mechatronics
- Language: English
- Type: Thesis , Masters , MEng
- Identifier: http://hdl.handle.net/10948/4798 , vital:20681
- Description: With the increase in electronic equipment implemented in various systems, as well as the increase in calculating power that these devices offer, designers are being empowered to make use of this power in real-time systems to diagnose and protect the systems themselves. This reasoning is too compounded by the focus on efficiency and safety in the design of complex systems, as well as the increasing expense and sensitivity of the electronic components themselves. With this in mind, this dissertation aims at developing a comprehensive measurement, control and reaction system for the electrical diagnosis and ultimately optimisation of complex electrical and electronic systems. This system will serve as a real-time diagnosis tool, which will enable the real-time diagnosis of various components in an electro-mechanical system, which can then be interpreted to determine the working state of the various components. Another sphere of this project will involve the accurate monitoring of the battery status as well as actively balancing the series connected batteries. The focus on the batteries will seek to prolong the life of the batteries, while being able to squeeze as much capacity out of them. The initial design and testing will be based on an AGV system implemented at VWSA, however a main goal throughout the design process will be modularity, i.e. the ease of implementation of this system in other systems. The key technologies used in the development of this system will still comprise of the components used in the original AGV, however new prototype components sourced from Microcare are used for the battery management system, while current sensors directly connected to the PLC’s analog input ports will be used for the active monitoring of currents distributed through the AGV.
- Full Text:
- Date Issued: 2016
Engendering the meaningful use of electronic medical records: a South African perspective
- Chipfumbu, Colletor Tendeukai
- Authors: Chipfumbu, Colletor Tendeukai
- Date: 2016
- Subjects: Electronic records -- South Africa -- Management Information storage and retrieval systems -- Management , Medical records -- South Africa Medical records -- Data processing
- Language: English
- Type: Thesis , Masters , MTech
- Identifier: http://hdl.handle.net/10948/18420 , vital:28635
- Description: Theoretically, the use of Electronic Medical Records (EMRs) holds promise of numerous benefits in healthcare provision, including improvement in continuity of care, quality of care and safety. However, in practice, there is evidence that the adoption of electronic medical records has been slow and where adopted, often lacks meaningful use. Thus there is a clear dichotomy between the ambitions for EMR use and the reality of EMR implementation. In the USA, a legislative approach was taken to turn around the situation. Other countries such as Canada and European countries have followed suit (in their own way) to address the adoption and meaningful use of electronic medical records. The South African e-Health strategy and the National Health Normative Standards Framework for Interoperability in eHealth in South Africa documents both recommend the adoption of EMRs. Much work has been done to establish a baseline for standards to ensure interoperability and data portability of healthcare applications and data. However, even with the increased focus on e-Health, South Africa remains excessively reliant on paper-based medical records. Where health information technologies have been adopted, there is lack of coordination between and within provinces, leading to a multitude of systems and vendors. Thus there is a lack of systematic adoption and meaningful use of EMRs in South Africa. The main objective of this research is to develop the components required to engender meaningful use of electronic medical records in the South African healthcare context. The main contributors are identified as EMR certification and consistent, proper use of certified EMRs. Literature review, a Delphi study and logical argumentation are used to develop the relevant components for the South African healthcare context. The benefits of EMRs can only be realized through systematic adoption and meaningful use of EMRs, thus this research contributes to providing a road map for engendering the meaningful use of EMRs with the ultimate aim of improving healthcare in the South African healthcare landscape.
- Full Text:
- Date Issued: 2016
- Authors: Chipfumbu, Colletor Tendeukai
- Date: 2016
- Subjects: Electronic records -- South Africa -- Management Information storage and retrieval systems -- Management , Medical records -- South Africa Medical records -- Data processing
- Language: English
- Type: Thesis , Masters , MTech
- Identifier: http://hdl.handle.net/10948/18420 , vital:28635
- Description: Theoretically, the use of Electronic Medical Records (EMRs) holds promise of numerous benefits in healthcare provision, including improvement in continuity of care, quality of care and safety. However, in practice, there is evidence that the adoption of electronic medical records has been slow and where adopted, often lacks meaningful use. Thus there is a clear dichotomy between the ambitions for EMR use and the reality of EMR implementation. In the USA, a legislative approach was taken to turn around the situation. Other countries such as Canada and European countries have followed suit (in their own way) to address the adoption and meaningful use of electronic medical records. The South African e-Health strategy and the National Health Normative Standards Framework for Interoperability in eHealth in South Africa documents both recommend the adoption of EMRs. Much work has been done to establish a baseline for standards to ensure interoperability and data portability of healthcare applications and data. However, even with the increased focus on e-Health, South Africa remains excessively reliant on paper-based medical records. Where health information technologies have been adopted, there is lack of coordination between and within provinces, leading to a multitude of systems and vendors. Thus there is a lack of systematic adoption and meaningful use of EMRs in South Africa. The main objective of this research is to develop the components required to engender meaningful use of electronic medical records in the South African healthcare context. The main contributors are identified as EMR certification and consistent, proper use of certified EMRs. Literature review, a Delphi study and logical argumentation are used to develop the relevant components for the South African healthcare context. The benefits of EMRs can only be realized through systematic adoption and meaningful use of EMRs, thus this research contributes to providing a road map for engendering the meaningful use of EMRs with the ultimate aim of improving healthcare in the South African healthcare landscape.
- Full Text:
- Date Issued: 2016
Enhancing clinical preparedness of basic midwifery students: perceptions of midwifery educators
- Authors: Vuso, Virginia Zanyiwe
- Date: 2016
- Subjects: Midwifery -- Study and teaching Childbirth -- Study and teaching -- South Africa Nursing -- Study and teaching
- Language: English
- Type: Thesis , Masters , MCur
- Identifier: http://hdl.handle.net/10948/13204 , vital:27161
- Description: Since the inception of the student supernumerary status, both globally and in South Africa, nursing and midwifery educators have been concerned about the clinical competencies of their students. Student clinical competency levels in South Africa are critical to midwifery practice, especially as most litigation against the Department of Health in South Africa concerns negligence in midwifery practice. In addition, the litigations mostly involve newly qualified midwives, thus suggesting a link with practice competency levels. Several challenges exist in the academic and practice environments regarding student learning, practice and clinical preparedness. Lack of support during clinical placement and a lack of facilities for use during clinical practice modules are among these challenges. Some students, due to the challenges they face with clinical learning and practice, fail to meet the practical competencies for examination entry requirements. Consequently, some of these students have to repeat the year or exit the programme. The current study sought to identify how to assist midwifery educators in their activities to prepare students for clinical placement readiness. The first objective of the study was to explore and describe the perceptions of midwifery educators regarding the need for additional measures to enhance the clinical preparedness of basic midwifery students before they are allocated to the clinical areas. The second objective sought to make recommendations that would further assist the midwifery educators to clinically prepare midwifery students before being allocated and placed in different clinical areas. A qualitative, explorative, descriptive and contextual research design was used for the study and the study was conducted at a nursing college in the Eastern Cape Province from August 2014 to January 2016. The research population consisted of midwifery educators at a nursing college and a purposive sampling technique was used guided by set criteria. Data were collected using focus group interviews. Four focus groups were used making a total of 17 participants. The principles applied for data analysis were those of Tesch’s method of data analysis, which were used to develop the themes and sub-themes. An independent coder assisted with the coding of the data for the purposes of trustworthiness. In addition, Lincoln and Guba’s model of trustworthiness consisting of the criteria of credibility, transferability, dependability and conformability was used to confirm the validity of the study while the ethical principles adopted were informed consent, justice, non-maleficence, privacy and confidentiality. The study found that the participants perceived numerous challenges that hindered the clinical preparedness of their students. These related to increased workload, lack of support from management and a lack of commitment on the part of students towards their studies. The participants also identified inconsistencies in clinical practice between the clinical midwives and the educators, and even among the educators themselves. This lack of consistency in turn causes confusion among the students and thus impacts negatively on their clinical practice preparedness. Based on these findings recommendations for clinical nursing practice, nursing education and research were made.
- Full Text:
- Date Issued: 2016
- Authors: Vuso, Virginia Zanyiwe
- Date: 2016
- Subjects: Midwifery -- Study and teaching Childbirth -- Study and teaching -- South Africa Nursing -- Study and teaching
- Language: English
- Type: Thesis , Masters , MCur
- Identifier: http://hdl.handle.net/10948/13204 , vital:27161
- Description: Since the inception of the student supernumerary status, both globally and in South Africa, nursing and midwifery educators have been concerned about the clinical competencies of their students. Student clinical competency levels in South Africa are critical to midwifery practice, especially as most litigation against the Department of Health in South Africa concerns negligence in midwifery practice. In addition, the litigations mostly involve newly qualified midwives, thus suggesting a link with practice competency levels. Several challenges exist in the academic and practice environments regarding student learning, practice and clinical preparedness. Lack of support during clinical placement and a lack of facilities for use during clinical practice modules are among these challenges. Some students, due to the challenges they face with clinical learning and practice, fail to meet the practical competencies for examination entry requirements. Consequently, some of these students have to repeat the year or exit the programme. The current study sought to identify how to assist midwifery educators in their activities to prepare students for clinical placement readiness. The first objective of the study was to explore and describe the perceptions of midwifery educators regarding the need for additional measures to enhance the clinical preparedness of basic midwifery students before they are allocated to the clinical areas. The second objective sought to make recommendations that would further assist the midwifery educators to clinically prepare midwifery students before being allocated and placed in different clinical areas. A qualitative, explorative, descriptive and contextual research design was used for the study and the study was conducted at a nursing college in the Eastern Cape Province from August 2014 to January 2016. The research population consisted of midwifery educators at a nursing college and a purposive sampling technique was used guided by set criteria. Data were collected using focus group interviews. Four focus groups were used making a total of 17 participants. The principles applied for data analysis were those of Tesch’s method of data analysis, which were used to develop the themes and sub-themes. An independent coder assisted with the coding of the data for the purposes of trustworthiness. In addition, Lincoln and Guba’s model of trustworthiness consisting of the criteria of credibility, transferability, dependability and conformability was used to confirm the validity of the study while the ethical principles adopted were informed consent, justice, non-maleficence, privacy and confidentiality. The study found that the participants perceived numerous challenges that hindered the clinical preparedness of their students. These related to increased workload, lack of support from management and a lack of commitment on the part of students towards their studies. The participants also identified inconsistencies in clinical practice between the clinical midwives and the educators, and even among the educators themselves. This lack of consistency in turn causes confusion among the students and thus impacts negatively on their clinical practice preparedness. Based on these findings recommendations for clinical nursing practice, nursing education and research were made.
- Full Text:
- Date Issued: 2016
Entrepreneurial mindset and entrepreneurial education as tools for sustainable SMES
- Authors: Mbanga, Nelisa
- Date: 2016
- Subjects: Entrepreneurship -- South Africa Small business -- South Africa New business enterprises -- Management
- Language: English
- Type: Thesis , Masters , MBA
- Identifier: http://hdl.handle.net/10948/11277 , vital:26905
- Description: Small and Medium Enterprises are the engines of economic development. In developing countries, they play an irreplaceable role in poverty alleviation through creation of jobs and contribution towards the countries’ gross domestic products. South Africa is faced with a challenge of high failure rate of SMEs despite the efforts by government to support and grow this sector. For a country to have a strong sustainable economy, sustainable and successful SME sector is necessary. Literature reviews have demonstrated that incorporating sustainability aspect into entrepreneurship improves the performance of businesses. Research on implementation of sustainability principles by SMEs is limited and SMEs have been left out in sustainability teachings and monitoring. The purpose of the study was to analyse the role played by entrepreneurial mind-set and entrepreneurial education on sustainability of SMEs. The research was conducted amongst 10 SME owners/managers with businesses located in the Buffalo City Metropolitan Municipality. Case study method using a semi-structured interview guide was conducted. Results were transcribed, analysed and interpreted. Results of the research demonstrated that SME owners/managers possess entrepreneurial mind-set, which is a necessity to run a successful business. There was also evidence that entrepreneurial education enhances entrepreneurial mind-set of SME owners/managers. SMEs owners/managers also demonstrated that they implement sustainability principles informally with no guiding documents. With regards to implementation of sustainability principles, there was no noticeable difference between SME owners/managers who had undergone entrepreneurship education and the ones who had not gone through entrepreneurship education. This highlighted the need to incorporate sustainability issues in entrepreneurship education courses. The study brings contribution towards building sustainable SMEs.
- Full Text:
- Date Issued: 2016
- Authors: Mbanga, Nelisa
- Date: 2016
- Subjects: Entrepreneurship -- South Africa Small business -- South Africa New business enterprises -- Management
- Language: English
- Type: Thesis , Masters , MBA
- Identifier: http://hdl.handle.net/10948/11277 , vital:26905
- Description: Small and Medium Enterprises are the engines of economic development. In developing countries, they play an irreplaceable role in poverty alleviation through creation of jobs and contribution towards the countries’ gross domestic products. South Africa is faced with a challenge of high failure rate of SMEs despite the efforts by government to support and grow this sector. For a country to have a strong sustainable economy, sustainable and successful SME sector is necessary. Literature reviews have demonstrated that incorporating sustainability aspect into entrepreneurship improves the performance of businesses. Research on implementation of sustainability principles by SMEs is limited and SMEs have been left out in sustainability teachings and monitoring. The purpose of the study was to analyse the role played by entrepreneurial mind-set and entrepreneurial education on sustainability of SMEs. The research was conducted amongst 10 SME owners/managers with businesses located in the Buffalo City Metropolitan Municipality. Case study method using a semi-structured interview guide was conducted. Results were transcribed, analysed and interpreted. Results of the research demonstrated that SME owners/managers possess entrepreneurial mind-set, which is a necessity to run a successful business. There was also evidence that entrepreneurial education enhances entrepreneurial mind-set of SME owners/managers. SMEs owners/managers also demonstrated that they implement sustainability principles informally with no guiding documents. With regards to implementation of sustainability principles, there was no noticeable difference between SME owners/managers who had undergone entrepreneurship education and the ones who had not gone through entrepreneurship education. This highlighted the need to incorporate sustainability issues in entrepreneurship education courses. The study brings contribution towards building sustainable SMEs.
- Full Text:
- Date Issued: 2016
Environmental factors influencing ecotonal changes in an indigenous forest in the Keiskammahoek Forest Estate, Eastern Cape, South Africa
- Authors: Kiva, Luthando
- Date: 2016
- Subjects: Forest ecology -- South Africa -- Eastern Cape Forests and forestry -- South Africa -- Eastern Cape Forest conservation -- South Africa -- Eastern Cape
- Language: English
- Type: Thesis , Masters , MSc
- Identifier: http://hdl.handle.net/10353/2743 , vital:28071
- Description: This study investigates environmental factors influencing ecotonal changes in the Dontsa Forest Management Unit (FMU) of the Keiskammahoek Estate Forest which is located in the Amatole Mountains of the Eastern Cape in the Republic of South Africa. The patterns of forest edge movement were analysed to show trends of forest edge movement from 1975 to 1985, 1975 to 1992, 1975 to 2002, 1975 to 2014, 1985 to 1992, 1985 to 2002, 1985 to 2014, 1992 to 2002, 1992 to 2014 and 2002 to 2014 by digitizing and assessing the scale of forest edge movement using georeferenced aerial photographs. Belt transects were established in six sites that were selected on the basis of physiographic elements for determination of the driving forces of forest ecotonal changes. The results of the study show that the forest edge moved positive towards the grassland biome while in other sites there was contraction of the forest edge from 1975 to 2014. The findings of the study show that some forest patches moved with few individual pioneer species towards the grassland while indigenous species dominated in the ecotone area of the forest in other research sites. D whyteana, A latifolius, R melanophloes, A facultus, R prenoides, C aurea, C bispinosa, C inerme, and S martina are the plant species with high density in the forest ecotone while A latifolius, R prenoides, R melanophloes were highly distributed along the grassland area. The results also show that harvesting of Pinus patula and illegal harvesting of understory species are major factors that result in ecotonal changes of Dontsa FMU. The research sites adjacent to residential areas have experienced reduction of ecotone area as compared to the research sites in high altitude areas of the Amathole Mountains where there is less disturbance. The eastern facing aspect of the forest exhibited a high density of plants in the forest ecotone as compared to the west facing slope.
- Full Text:
- Date Issued: 2016
- Authors: Kiva, Luthando
- Date: 2016
- Subjects: Forest ecology -- South Africa -- Eastern Cape Forests and forestry -- South Africa -- Eastern Cape Forest conservation -- South Africa -- Eastern Cape
- Language: English
- Type: Thesis , Masters , MSc
- Identifier: http://hdl.handle.net/10353/2743 , vital:28071
- Description: This study investigates environmental factors influencing ecotonal changes in the Dontsa Forest Management Unit (FMU) of the Keiskammahoek Estate Forest which is located in the Amatole Mountains of the Eastern Cape in the Republic of South Africa. The patterns of forest edge movement were analysed to show trends of forest edge movement from 1975 to 1985, 1975 to 1992, 1975 to 2002, 1975 to 2014, 1985 to 1992, 1985 to 2002, 1985 to 2014, 1992 to 2002, 1992 to 2014 and 2002 to 2014 by digitizing and assessing the scale of forest edge movement using georeferenced aerial photographs. Belt transects were established in six sites that were selected on the basis of physiographic elements for determination of the driving forces of forest ecotonal changes. The results of the study show that the forest edge moved positive towards the grassland biome while in other sites there was contraction of the forest edge from 1975 to 2014. The findings of the study show that some forest patches moved with few individual pioneer species towards the grassland while indigenous species dominated in the ecotone area of the forest in other research sites. D whyteana, A latifolius, R melanophloes, A facultus, R prenoides, C aurea, C bispinosa, C inerme, and S martina are the plant species with high density in the forest ecotone while A latifolius, R prenoides, R melanophloes were highly distributed along the grassland area. The results also show that harvesting of Pinus patula and illegal harvesting of understory species are major factors that result in ecotonal changes of Dontsa FMU. The research sites adjacent to residential areas have experienced reduction of ecotone area as compared to the research sites in high altitude areas of the Amathole Mountains where there is less disturbance. The eastern facing aspect of the forest exhibited a high density of plants in the forest ecotone as compared to the west facing slope.
- Full Text:
- Date Issued: 2016
Environmental management in military activities of the South African National Defence Force
- Authors: Magagula, Hezekiel Bheki
- Date: 2016
- Subjects: South Africa -- South African Defence Force Military bases -- Environmental aspects Hazardous waste site remediation
- Language: English
- Type: Thesis , Doctoral , PhD
- Identifier: http://hdl.handle.net/10353/5927 , vital:29430
- Description: This thesis presents research findings on current environmental management practices used by the South African National Defence Force (SANDF). Two case studies are presented; the first is the Grahamstown Military Installation (6 South African Infantry Battalion) and the second the South African Army Combat Training Centre (42 Brigade). A combination of three sampling techniques, namely, the stratified, purposive and link-tracing (snowball) samplings were employed and structured questionnaires and semi-structured interviews with key SANDF officials were used as primary data. In addition, secondary data sources in the form of inter alia the first and second editions of the Environmental Management Plan for Defence (2001 & 2008 respectively); the development and implementation of environmental education and training in the military: a joint United States-Republic of South Africa Environmental Working Group Project (2003); Overarching Strategic Statement for 2011; Integrated Environmental Management Information Series: Linking Environmental Impact Assessment and Environmental Management Systems (2004); The Department of Defence Strategic Plan (2010): Republic of South Africa and the South African Defence Review (2012) were studied. In addition, field observations were also carried out within the two military installations training areas between July, 2011 and November, 2013. Primary data on the conditions of training areas, waste removal after training exercises, pollution prevention measures, and rehabilitation efforts to restore degraded training ranges were collected. Furthermore, composite surface sediment samples and water samples were collected for analysis. A total of fifty-six surface sediments and thirty water samples were analysed for the concentrations of heavy metals using the ICP-MS. These attitudes and perceptions are predominantly positive. Statistical analysis (ANOVA) did not reveal any significant differences in responses, especially, between military ranks. However, sporadic significant differences were found in five of the statements in the questionnaire from respondents with different service periods. Furthermore, the emphasis placed on environmental protection within defence force activities worldwide has compelled the South African Department of Defence and Military Veterans (DoDMV) to regulate the management of the environment within its properties. Yet, these efforts have faced numerous challenges ranging from financial to human resource deficiencies. It was found that environmental management practices and programmes at different military installations vary significantly. Consequently, six environmental management programmes were identified at South African Army Combat Training Centre, while only one environmental management programme was identified at Grahamstown Military Installation. This programme is a collaborative effort between the SANDF/DoDMV and the Department of Water Affairs and Sanitation to eradicate invasive alien plant species. In the light of the analysis of official documents and interviews with respondents, it was established that the DoDMV does not have a budget for environmental management services and environmental management is yet to be incorporated into formal military training programmes. There is a severe shortage of environmentally qualified and knowledgeable personnel within the SANDF. Subsequently, all these drawbacks lead to the failure of the implementation of the Defence Force’s Environmental Management System (EMS) and inadequate management of the environment at military installations of the SANDF. Consequently, these challenges have severely compromised the commitment of the SANDF to honour its environmental management obligations. Such deficiencies tend to undermine the sustainable utilisation of the national assets entrusted to the Defence Force. Therefore, this thesis argues that environmental management programmes for the SANDF are based on a very weak foundation. This thesis proposes an ideal model for the successful implementation of the EMS and management of the environment at SANDF military installations. The analysis of water and soil samples led to the identification and quantification of heavy mental pollutants. The concentrations of heavy metals in water samples were varying between <0.01 to <0.05mg/l, but generally constant. Thus, no significant or meaningful statistical results were obtained. Pearson’s correlation coefficient was used to analyse the concentrations of heavy metals obtained in the sediment samples.
- Full Text:
- Date Issued: 2016
- Authors: Magagula, Hezekiel Bheki
- Date: 2016
- Subjects: South Africa -- South African Defence Force Military bases -- Environmental aspects Hazardous waste site remediation
- Language: English
- Type: Thesis , Doctoral , PhD
- Identifier: http://hdl.handle.net/10353/5927 , vital:29430
- Description: This thesis presents research findings on current environmental management practices used by the South African National Defence Force (SANDF). Two case studies are presented; the first is the Grahamstown Military Installation (6 South African Infantry Battalion) and the second the South African Army Combat Training Centre (42 Brigade). A combination of three sampling techniques, namely, the stratified, purposive and link-tracing (snowball) samplings were employed and structured questionnaires and semi-structured interviews with key SANDF officials were used as primary data. In addition, secondary data sources in the form of inter alia the first and second editions of the Environmental Management Plan for Defence (2001 & 2008 respectively); the development and implementation of environmental education and training in the military: a joint United States-Republic of South Africa Environmental Working Group Project (2003); Overarching Strategic Statement for 2011; Integrated Environmental Management Information Series: Linking Environmental Impact Assessment and Environmental Management Systems (2004); The Department of Defence Strategic Plan (2010): Republic of South Africa and the South African Defence Review (2012) were studied. In addition, field observations were also carried out within the two military installations training areas between July, 2011 and November, 2013. Primary data on the conditions of training areas, waste removal after training exercises, pollution prevention measures, and rehabilitation efforts to restore degraded training ranges were collected. Furthermore, composite surface sediment samples and water samples were collected for analysis. A total of fifty-six surface sediments and thirty water samples were analysed for the concentrations of heavy metals using the ICP-MS. These attitudes and perceptions are predominantly positive. Statistical analysis (ANOVA) did not reveal any significant differences in responses, especially, between military ranks. However, sporadic significant differences were found in five of the statements in the questionnaire from respondents with different service periods. Furthermore, the emphasis placed on environmental protection within defence force activities worldwide has compelled the South African Department of Defence and Military Veterans (DoDMV) to regulate the management of the environment within its properties. Yet, these efforts have faced numerous challenges ranging from financial to human resource deficiencies. It was found that environmental management practices and programmes at different military installations vary significantly. Consequently, six environmental management programmes were identified at South African Army Combat Training Centre, while only one environmental management programme was identified at Grahamstown Military Installation. This programme is a collaborative effort between the SANDF/DoDMV and the Department of Water Affairs and Sanitation to eradicate invasive alien plant species. In the light of the analysis of official documents and interviews with respondents, it was established that the DoDMV does not have a budget for environmental management services and environmental management is yet to be incorporated into formal military training programmes. There is a severe shortage of environmentally qualified and knowledgeable personnel within the SANDF. Subsequently, all these drawbacks lead to the failure of the implementation of the Defence Force’s Environmental Management System (EMS) and inadequate management of the environment at military installations of the SANDF. Consequently, these challenges have severely compromised the commitment of the SANDF to honour its environmental management obligations. Such deficiencies tend to undermine the sustainable utilisation of the national assets entrusted to the Defence Force. Therefore, this thesis argues that environmental management programmes for the SANDF are based on a very weak foundation. This thesis proposes an ideal model for the successful implementation of the EMS and management of the environment at SANDF military installations. The analysis of water and soil samples led to the identification and quantification of heavy mental pollutants. The concentrations of heavy metals in water samples were varying between <0.01 to <0.05mg/l, but generally constant. Thus, no significant or meaningful statistical results were obtained. Pearson’s correlation coefficient was used to analyse the concentrations of heavy metals obtained in the sediment samples.
- Full Text:
- Date Issued: 2016