The reconstruction and development programme: housing delivery in Disteneng Township, Limpopo Province
- Authors: Modiba, Makgodu Dinah
- Date: 2017
- Subjects: Low-income housing -- South Africa -- Limpopo Housing development -- South Africa -- Limpopo , Housing -- South Africa -- Limpopo Municipal services -- South Africa -- Limpopo City planning -- South Africa -- Limpopo
- Language: English
- Type: Thesis , Masters , MA
- Identifier: http://hdl.handle.net/10948/19048 , vital:28768
- Description: This research dissertation investigates the level of Reconstruction and Development Programme (RDP) housing delivery in Disteneng (Polokwane Extension 44) Township, Capricorn District: Limpopo Province. The post-apartheid South African Constitution indicates that the provision of basic services like formal housing is a basic right for all South Africans. In Limpopo Province and in particular, Disteneng (Polokwane Extension 44) Township, Capricorn District, there is still massive shortage of Reconstruction and Development Programme (RDP) housing for the poor, despite funding being made to address this need. Millions of poor families are suffering and are still living in shacks in informal settlements. There is a backlog in the provisioning of RDP housing delivery. Low cost housing projects have been identified in Limpopo Province to address the RDP housing delivery backlog. It takes time to complete RDP houses and the communities become impatient and frustrated. The quality of completed houses is often perceived to be of unacceptable standards. This study investigates the level of RDP housing delivery in Disteneng (Polokwane Extension 44) Township, Capricorn District: Limpopo Province. This study also identifies the challenges of RDP housing delivery experienced by Disteneng (Polokwane Extension 44) Township, Capricorn District: Limpopo Province. Recommendations with the view of resolving problems pertaining to Disteneng (Polokwane Extension 44) Township, Capricorn District: Limpopo Province are made. The findings from this research work identified significant challenges of RDP housing delivery experienced by Disteneng (Polokwane Extension 44) Township, Capricorn District: Limpopo Province which needs to be addressed. In its contribution, this study made recommendations with the view of resolving problems pertaining to Disteneng (Polokwane Extension 44) Township, Capricorn District: Limpopo Province. This study in conclusion, emphasizes the need to address RDP housing backlogs and ensure that RDP houses are of good quality and that the government and all South Africans have to join hands and collectively address the problems of RDP housing delivery in South Africa.
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- Date Issued: 2017
The relationship between altruistic behaviour, emotional intelligence and intrinsic motivation amongst leaders
- Authors: Hooper, Danushka
- Date: 2017
- Subjects: Intrinsic motivation -- Leadership Emotional intelligence , Employee motivation Leadership
- Language: English
- Type: Thesis , Masters , MA
- Identifier: http://hdl.handle.net/10948/15978 , vital:28299
- Description: The benefits that altruistic behaviours, emotional intelligence (EQ) and intrinsic motivation have on organisations are increasingly becoming observable and enticing greater insights into these constructs, especially from the perspective of leaders. Moreover, the increase in the effectiveness of leaders across all of these constructs enables greater employee performance, from both the perspective of leaders and their followers, which results in increased organisational profitability. The primary objective of this research study was to investigate the relationship between the three constructs of altruistic behaviour, EQ and intrinsic motivation amongst leaders in South African organisations. This study also attempted to determine whether intrinsic motivation has a mediating effect on EQ and altruistic behaviours. Moreover, this study wishes to identify demographic differences in terms of the responses to the items related to each of the constructs. The questionnaires employed by this study was administered to leaders (n=136) who currently work in South Africa. Positive and statistically significant relationships were found amongst these constructs, implying that, an increase in one of these constructs will result in an increase in another. However, there was no sufficient evidence in support of mediating effect of intrinsic motivation on EQ and altruistic behaviours. The confirmatory factor analysis was able to validate all three measuring instruments used to assess the constructs from a South African perspective. The present study was unable to identify any demographic differences for the Adapted Self-Report Altruism Scale and Intrinsic Work Motivation Scale and was only able to identify demographic differences by the Schutte Self-report Emotional Intelligence Test as a whole and the perception of emotion scale. The study encountered some limitations. Firstly, the researcher encountered a difficulty in finding appropriate literature on the constructs. Secondly, the study obtained a small sample size (n=136). The reason for this is that the target sample chosen by the researcher, namely leaders in organisations, proved to be a challenging sample because many leaders were not able or willing to complete the questionnaire due to their heavy workload and strict deadlines. Thirdly, given that three measuring instruments were used to gain the data needed for this study, the total number of items came to 136. This could mean that the questionnaire may have been burdensome to complete and it would take approximately 15 minutes to complete. In addition, factors such as biased responses, as well as personal and environmental factors on the part of the respondents all posed limitations to this study in that it may have influenced the responses given by the sample. The results obtained by this study suggests that the higher the level of EQ of leaders, the higher the likelihood that they will be intrinsically motivated and exhibit altruistic behaviour. As explained by exchange theory, if one is conditioned to be “good”, the likelihood of partaking in altruistic behaviour is enhanced (Bar-Tal, 1986). If an organisation creates a culture of altruistically helping others in the workplace and the community, the possibility of creating a “habit” of exhibiting altruistic behaviour could result. The benefits of creating this altruistic culture could be far-reaching. The researcher encourages organisations to measure and identify the level of EQ of their leaders and provide development opportunities should this be lacking. This is because, as identified by Barbuto and Burbach (2006), in order for leaders to achieve support from their followers, it is crucial that they develop a high reliance on their empathy to identify with the feelings and emotions of their followers. It is important to note that the results of this study was analysed in June 2016 and is based only on 136 leaders across some industries of South Africa. It is suggested that the results of this study to be validated in the South African context by additional empirical research that tests the hypothesis identified in this study to ascertain whether the results of the current study can be replicated and applied broadly. It is advised that the study is tested over a longer period, in different industries and across various countries. This is so that increasing value can be added to this field of research.
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- Date Issued: 2017
The relationship between employee value proposition, organisational commitment and intention-to-serve among provincial traffic officers
- Authors: Macpherson, Wayne Elvison
- Date: 2017
- Subjects: Organizational commitment -- South Africa -- Eastern Cape Organizational behavior -- South Africa -- Eastern Cape , Employee motivation -- South Africa -- Eastern Cape
- Language: English
- Type: Thesis , Masters , MA
- Identifier: http://hdl.handle.net/10948/18036 , vital:28567
- Description: Traffic officers are employed to protect and serve the community, but various sources including annual reports and newspaper articles cast doubt on whether these goals are attained in the Eastern Cape. These sources further allege that the failure to serve can be attributed to dissatisfaction and poor employee commitment. Therefore, the main objective of this study was to explore the relationship between the Employee Value Proposition, organisational commitment and intention-to-serve among provincial traffic officers. A literature study was conducted on the three above-mentioned variables to achieve this objective. The empirical study consisted of a survey with a self-administered questionnaire. Five components of the Employee Value Proposition, as established by the Corporate Leadership Council (CLC) (2006), were measured. These included career opportunities, organisation itself, relationships, remuneration/reward and work itself. The Three Component Model (TCM) developed by Meyer and Allen (1991) was used to measure affective, continuance and normative commitment. The Intention-to-Serve Scale was adapted from the Employee Work Passion Appraisal (EWPA) Model (Zigarmi, Nimon, Houson, Witt and Diehl, 2011) and was used to measure intent-to-perform and intent-to-use discretion. The questionnaire was completed by 357 provincial traffic officers across the six districts of the Eastern Cape, which represented a 95 percent response rate. The results from the empirical study indicated that the majority of respondents had less positive perceptions of the Employee Value Proposition offered to them. Affective commitment, regarded as the desired type of organisational commitment, was scored the lowest. However, positive scores were obtained for intention-to-serve. A statistical and practical significant relationship was found between the Employee Value Proposition and organisational commitment, and between the Employee Value Proposition and intention-to-serve as well as between organizational commitment and intention-to-serve. The results suggest that a more appealing Employee Value Proposition could result in improved organisational commitment as well as improved intention-to-serve. It is therefore recommended that the Eastern Cape Department of Transport reconsider the Employee Value Proposition offered to traffic officers and use it as a tool to improve commitment and service delivery.
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- Date Issued: 2017
The relationship between employment value proposition, work engagement and retention among employees of a selected bank in Botswana
- Authors: Ditiro, Salalenna
- Date: 2017
- Subjects: Employee motivation -- Botswana , Organizational behavior -- Botswana , Employee retention -- Botswana , Bank employees -- Botswana -- Psychological aspects
- Language: English
- Type: Thesis , Masters , MA
- Identifier: http://hdl.handle.net/10948/14994 , vital:28111
- Description: The management concept of Employee Value Proposition (EVP), which details the value and benefits employees derive from being members of the organisation, has been widely touted in literature as a determinant of work engagement and retention. The growing body of Positive Organisational Behaviour (POB) acknowledges the importance of these concepts, particularly in the service industry where engagement and retention are critical for good customer relationships. The research followed a quantitative and non-experimental approach by using primary data as the unit of analysis. Using a self-report electronic questionnaire, relationships between EVP, WE and Turnover Intentions were determined from a sample of (N=259) consisting of supervisor to management level employees in commercial banks across Botswana. The adopted composite questionnaire has been validated for the South African sample and proved to have high reliability. The individual instruments have been used in different industries as well as professions and showed no inherent bias. The results showed some important relationships between EVP, WE and Turnover Intentions. Specifically, EVP fulfilment revealed a substantive positive relationship with Work Engagement whereas another substantial relationship exists between engagement and Turnover Intention. While a definitive but small relationship exists between EVP and Turnover Intention, it was recommended that the organisation that participated can buffer turnover intention through leveraging engagement levels, especially the dedication dimension of engagement as it has found to be the prerequisite for vigor and absorption dimensions of engagement.
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- Date Issued: 2017
The relationship between intrinsic rewards, personality and emotional intelligence within the education sector
- Authors: Shelton, Stacy Ann
- Date: 2017
- Subjects: Employee motivation -- South Africa Achievement motivation -- South Africa , Emotional intelligence -- South Africa Organizational behavior -- South Africa
- Language: English
- Type: Thesis , Masters , MA
- Identifier: http://hdl.handle.net/10948/20440 , vital:29287
- Description: The primary objective of this dissertation was to investigate the relationship between intrinsic rewards, personality and emotional intelligence within the education sector within South Africa. In order to achieve this objective, the researcher tested a theoretical model using regression analysis, and made use of Pearson’s Product Moment Correlations. A further aim was to investigate whether differences existed according to teaching sector and teaching level with regards to these constructs. This was done using t-tests and analysis of variance tests. Moreover, the researcher aimed to further validate the Intrinsic Work Rewards Scale within the South African context. This was done via the use of confirmatory factor analysis. The questionnaire was completed by a total of 269 educators spanning across eleven educational institutions, including institutions within the private and public sector, and primary, secondary and tertiary educational institutions within the Eastern Cape. Data analysis was conducted using descriptive statistics which included frequency tables, and pie charts, and the aforementioned inferential statistics. The findings revealed a number of correlations between the three constructs, and significant differences between private and public sector institutions, and between primary, secondary and tertiary institutions with regards to intrinsic rewards, personality factors and emotional intelligence. The proposed theoretical model could be partly accepted as it showed that a correlation does exist between Extraversion, Neuroticism, Agreeableness and Conscientiousness (Openness was not correlated) and intrinsic rewards, and between intrinsic rewards and emotional intelligence. Moreover, the model showed that emotional intelligence acted as a mediator and partial mediator in predicting one’s level of intrinsic rewards via Extraversion, Neuroticism, Agreeableness and Conscientiousness, but no mediation could be shown with regards to Openness. Finally, the results of confirmatory factor analysis confirmed that the Intrinsic Work Rewards Scale showed acceptable fit and thus provided evidence for this instrument holding construct validity within the South African context. These results theoretically contribute to the area of intrinsic rewards, and have uncovered a new area whereby intrinsic rewards are shown to be related to personality factors and emotional intelligence. The findings of this study hold important implications for the effective management of educators in the South African context.
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- Date Issued: 2017
The relationship between leadership resilience and self-renewal practices
- Authors: Venter, Celeste
- Date: 2017
- Subjects: Leadership Success in business Organizational resilience
- Language: English
- Type: Thesis , Masters , MA
- Identifier: http://hdl.handle.net/10948/14024 , vital:27395
- Description: Most organisations operate in a turbulent environment characterised by volatility, uncertainty, complexity and ambiguity. Disruptive and unpredictable forces of change are key features of this environment and sustainability of organisations has become fragile and unstable. Organisations that are able to grow and thrive within this environment have adaptive capabilities to learn (Ovans, 2005) and adjust faster with more confidence compared to their competitors. Leadership is a decisive influence in the creation of a competitive advantage within thriving organisations. Leaders absorb high levels of turmoil, unpredictability and uncertainty and need to respond to regular shocks and surprises in a productive manner so that the organisation can be responsive to threats and opportunities. The ability of leaders to offer this type of leadership is determined by their own levels of leadership resilience. Leadership resilience is a capability that can increase or diminish depending on the leader’s ability to learn and adapt following unexpected disruptive experiences, continued adverse conditions or while dealing with persistent pressure. Practices associated with self-renewal offer leaders, opportunities to develop disciplined intentional processes of change and adjustment. These are based on a state of awareness regarding one’s level of internal well-being, energy and balance, aimed at replenishing or strengthening resilient qualities and protective factors. Leadership development programmes can make a significant contribution to sustained leadership being effective, by developing personal strengths and strategies that can buttress tough resilience capabilities in leaders. The main research problem in this study was to explore the relationship between leadership resilience and self-renewal practices. To address the main and identified sub-problems, a literature study was conducted focusing on the main components of resilience with specific reference to resilience in leaders, while exploring self-renewal practices that can be used by leaders to improve their resilience. A web-based survey with a questionnaire was administered to a target group consisting of middle and senior managers who have participated in leadership development programmes at the Leadership Academy of the Nelson Mandela Metropolitan University Business School. The survey was a self-reporting instrument that included the Leadership Resilience Profile developed by Dianne Reed and Jerry Patterson (2009) as well as a section focused on self-renewal practices that included physical, spiritual, cognitive and socio-emotional renewal practices. The results from the empirical study revealed that the levels of leadership resilience are related to the self-renewal practices of leaders. The study identified spiritual self-renewal as most significant to leadership resilience. Higher levels of resilience were demonstrated with regard to value-driven leadership, optimism, courageous decision-making and self-efficacy. Senior managers reported higher levels of self-efficacy as compared to their counterparts at middle level management. The study identified adaptability, perseverance and social support as resilience capabilities that leaders should grow. In general, lower scores were obtained for self-renewal practices than for resilience levels. Leadership development initiatives that integrate resilience capabilities and self-renewal practices will create an adaptive resource within organisations. Supporting the development and maintenance of strong leadership resilience capabilities will contribute to the development of adaptive organisations that are able to navigate turbulent conditions with confidence.
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- Date Issued: 2017
The relationship between quality of sleep and mood states among athletes
- Authors: Loock, Nerine
- Date: 2017
- Subjects: Sleep -- Psychological aspects Mood (Psychology) , Sports -- Psychological aspects
- Language: English
- Type: Thesis , Masters , MA
- Identifier: http://hdl.handle.net/10948/18134 , vital:28579
- Description: Sleep quality is an aspect of sleep on which there is currently a lack of research and, in particular, there is little published data related to the quality of sleep obtained by athletes. Sleep quality is difficult to define because it includes quantitative aspects of sleep such as sleep duration, sleep latency and number of arousals as well as the subjective aspects such as ‘depth’ and ‘restfulness’ of sleep. Athletes require more sleep than the non-athlete population in order to recover from their exertions and, although evidence suggests that athletes are concerned about the impact that inadequate sleep has upon performance, there is a paucity of literature examining how poor sleep patterns affect the athletes’ psychological states during training and competition. Due to the scarcity of literature examining how the quality of sleep affects the psychological states of athletes, very little research has focused on athletes’ sleep and mood within the South African (SA) context. A quantitative research method with a combination of an exploratory and descriptive approach was employed. The sample of this study comprised of 87 athletes. The researcher made use of a purposive, non-randomized sampling technique. A self-report biographical questionnaire, the Profile of Mood States 2 – Adults (POMS 2), the State-Trait Anxiety Inventory-Adults (STAI-A) and the Pittsburgh Sleep Quality Index (PSQI) was administered once a week on the same day for the duration of 4 weeks. Descriptive and inferential statistics, Pearson R correlation and One-sample t-test were used to analyse the data. The researcher obtained the necessary authorisation to conduct the study and followed the ethical rules of conduct. Results indicated that there were certain relationships between the quality of sleep and mood states among athletes such as fatigue-inertia, anxiety (state and trait), depression-dejection, anger-hostility, vigour-activity and confusion-bewilderment. There was sufficient evidence to conclude that there was a significant between-week (week 1 and 2, 2 and 3, 3 and 4) difference in fatigue-inertia and sleep quality. Apart from differences in fatigue-inertia and sleep quality scores over the four weeks, all other results indicate a constant outcome over the four weeks for mood states and sleep quality. The results also indicated sufficient evidence to conclude that although there was evidence of a relationship between quality of sleep and mood states, it was not possible to make a definitive conclusion regarding whether sleep quality, anxiety, and depression were bi-directionally related. Despite some of the limitations to the study, the findings were thought to contribute in a valuable way to furthering knowledge regarding the quality of sleep and mood states among athletes. The current data suggest that monitoring athletes’ sleep and mood states may be a determining factor for satisfactory performance; therefore, the reasons for poor sleep quality should be identified in order to implement any coping strategies needed.
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- Date Issued: 2017
The relationship between survivor traumatic stress, coping self-efficacy and secondary traumatic stress in informal supporters of rape survivors
- Authors: Theunissen, Shanae
- Date: 2017
- Subjects: Psychic trauma -- South Africa Self-help groups -- South Africa , Victims of violent crimes -- Counseling of -- South Africa Rape victims -- Mental health -- South Africa
- Language: English
- Type: Thesis , Masters , MA
- Identifier: http://hdl.handle.net/10948/20801 , vital:29396
- Description: The prevalence of rape in South Africa is widespread and survivors often experience severe posttraumatic stress and shame. Although secondary traumatic stress (STS) is a risk for everyone who works with primary survivors of trauma it has only been examined in a variety of professionals that provide supportive and clinical services to traumatised populations. Little is known about the impact that this experience has on the friends and family members that support these survivors. In some cases, supporters have to find a way to cope with significant distress associated with witnessing posttraumatic stress in a loved one. This begs the question of how their perceived ability to cope would influence their experience of STS. However, no studies exist that explore the dynamics between severity of posttraumatic stress in rape survivors and secondary traumatic stress and coping self-efficacy in their supporters. For this quantitative study, 23 rape survivors from a local non-governmental organisation completed the Harvard Trauma Questionnaire-Revised (HTQ-R). The 28 informal supporters that were identified, completed the Traumatic Attachment Belief Scale (TABS) and the Coping Self-Efficacy Scale (CSE). Cross-group equivalence, the presence of the outlined factors in the sample, as well as the interaction between factors, are explored and described. Findings indicate that although the survivors endorsed some symptoms of posttraumatic stress disorder, their scores were not elevated enough to meet the cut-off point for this diagnosis. Findings related to the supporters indicate that the sample experienced average to high average levels of secondary traumatisation. Despite this, the subjects experienced adequate levels of coping self-efficacy. These findings indicate a need to provide more counselling resources to informal supporters in order to alleviate their secondary traumatisation and in turn increase their ability to assist primary rape survivors.
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- Date Issued: 2017
The role of councillors in service delivery: the case of the Intsika Yethu Local Municipality
- Authors: Hlalukana, Simthembile Divillius
- Date: 2017
- Subjects: City council members -- South Africa -- Eastern Cape Municipal services -- South Africa -- Eastern Cape , Municipal government -- South Africa -- Eastern Cape Local government -- South Africa -- Eastern Cape
- Language: English
- Type: Thesis , Masters , MA
- Identifier: http://hdl.handle.net/10948/15082 , vital:28120
- Description: This study was conducted at Intsika Yethu Local Municipality of Chris Hani District Municipality in the Eastern Cape Province, in the Republic of South Africa. The study has as its main thrust: The role of councillors in service delivery: The case of the Intsika Yethu Local Municipality of Chris Hani District Municipality. This municipality consists of 21 wards and 21 ward councillors. The Preamble to the Constitution of the Republic of South Africa, 1996, states that the injustices of the past have to be addressed and those who suffered for justice and freedom in the country should be honoured. The results of the 1994 national and 1995 local government elections marked a political breakthrough in South African politics. The new democratic and social reconstruction agenda necessitated the transformation of the legislative framework in various areas. The legislative prescriptions that underpin the operations and activities of municipal councillors in delivering public services to citizens and in ensuring the effective and efficient implementation of government policies are therefore crucial. In this study, the role of ward councillors in service delivery was interrogated and investigated to establish whether the Intsika Yethu Local Municipality community in Tsomo and Cofimvaba has benefited in accessing basic services. Furthermore, the study seeks to find ways through which the relationship between community and ward councillors could be managed to harmonise the relationship between them in order to improve service delivery in Intsika Yethu Local Municipality. In this regard, a legislative framework regulates and guides municipal councillors in performing their developmental duties to achieve local government developmental outcomes.
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- Date Issued: 2017
The role of local economic development in job creation in Dimbaza Township
- Authors: Mabece, Victor Nkosabantu
- Date: 2017
- Subjects: Economic development -- South Africa -- Eastern Cape Job creation -- South Africa -- Eastern Cape , Community development -- South Africa -- Eastern Cape
- Language: English
- Type: Thesis , Masters , MA
- Identifier: http://hdl.handle.net/10948/18069 , vital:28573
- Description: The study investigated the role of local economic development in job creation in the Dimbaza Township. Despite a plethora of policy provisions to give strategic direction for the implementation of local economic development in the Republic of South Africa, in the general and local government spheres in particular, local economic development has not benefited local people in terms of creating job opportunities as envisaged. The study consulted the legislative framework governing local economic development (LED) in the Republic of South Africa, investigated the implementation of LED and how it benefited local citizens as well as the cause of failure of the LED intervention strategies, and also provided recommendation to enhance the implementation of local economic development. Scholarly articles provided valuable insights on the centrality of local economic development in socio-economic development. A qualitative approach was used to enable the researcher to explain local economic development and show how it influenced job creation and well-being of the local citizens of the Dimbaza Township. Purposive sampling was chosen as the method to select cases that were informative for this study and to create an understanding of the research problem. Respondents mainly included the ward committee members and ward councillors, who are instrumental in the implementation of local economic development in their respective wards. Self-administered interviewing schedules were used to glean information and to obtain the views, opinions and ideas about the extent of the challenges regarding the topic of discussion. The study found that, despite policy interventions on LED, unemployment levels remained persistently high due to the poor conceptualisation and understanding of LED, the lack of adequate funding and support and the reduction of LED stature from job creation to poverty alleviation projects. Based on the above findings, the study recommended the following: (a) institutionalisation of LED, (b) strengthening intergovernmental cooperation and partnerships, (c) development of a coherent LED strategy, (d) improving stakeholder capacity and participation so that intervention strategies are not externally imposed, (e) strengthening accountability and responsibility, (f) provision of adequate funding for LED interventions, and (g) the establishment of a local economic development agency (LEDA).
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- Date Issued: 2017
The role of psychosocial factors in academic performance of first year psychology students at a historically white university
- Authors: Dlamini, Sipho Solomon
- Date: 2017
- Subjects: Rhodes University -- Students , Academic achievement , Undergraduates -- South Africa , Dropouts -- South Africa , College students -- South Africa , Psychology students -- South Africa , Minorities -- Education -- South Africa
- Language: English
- Type: Thesis , Masters , MA
- Identifier: http://hdl.handle.net/10962/5150 , vital:20781
- Description: The success rate of students in higher education has been a cause for concern in South Africa (Letseka & Maile, 2008; Department of Higher Education and Training, 2015). This has been particularly concerning for first-year students, where the rate of attrition is especially high (Letseka, Cosser, Breier, and Visser, 2010). A number of factors have been identified in past research as having an effect on academic performance, which influences attrition and graduation. These factors include age (Justice, & Dornan, 2001), gender (Buchmann, & DiPrete, 2006), socio-economic status which is confounded by race (Letseka & Breier, 2008), type of educational background (Spreen, & Vally, 2006), and whether a student is a domestic or international student (Li, Chen, Duanmu, 2009), social capital (Young & Strelitz, 2014), whether the student is a first language speaker of the language of instruction at the university (Snowball, and Boughey, 2012), student wellbeing (Quinn, & Duckworth, 2007), locus of control (Findley, & Cooper, 1983), and frequency of lecture attendance (van Wallbeek, 2004). The study was conducted at Rhodes University, a small historically white South African institution. For this study, academic performance was measured using the participant’s midyear exam results for an introductory psychology cause, a course that straddles faculties. Of the 690 students registered for the course, 361 (52%) completed an electronic survey that explored the various factors associated with academic performance. A hierarchical regression analysis indicates that pre-university factors (age, gender, race, nationality, language, type of school, and socio-economic status) were the only significant predictors of academic performance, contributing 11% of the effect. Race and nationality, when all the other factors were controlled for, were the only predictors of academic performance. The implications of these findings pose troubling questions of the institutional culture at the university.
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- Date Issued: 2017
The role of public participation in the integrated development planning process: Chris Hani District Municipality
- Authors: Dywili, Siyanda
- Date: 2017
- Subjects: Public administration -- Planning Local government -- South Africa -- Eastern Cape -- Citizen participation , Municipal government -- South Africa -- Eastern Cape -- Citizen participation Political participation -- South Africa -- Eastern Cape
- Language: English
- Type: Thesis , Masters , MA
- Identifier: http://hdl.handle.net/10948/14983 , vital:28109
- Description: Constitution of the Republic of South Africa, in Chapter 7, requires all municipalities to encourage members of the public to participate in the matters of local government. Public participation is the process by which public concerns, needs, and values are integrated into governmental and corporate decision making. The Integrated Development Plan is an example of local government instruments which seek public participation in order to address community needs through service delivery. Consequently, this study was to explore the role of public participation in the Integrated Development Planning process of the Chris Hani District Municipality. The main objectives of this study were to understand the IDP making process, establish the importance of public participation, understand the role played by the municipality to encourage public participation in the IDP processes, understand the influence of IDP in service delivery and to make recommendations based on the findings presented. To conduct this study, qualitative research methodology was employed. The population sample comprised of councillors and municipal officials. Structured interviews were conducted with the councillors, while semi-structured interviews were held with municipal officials. The findings of the study revealed that the Chris Hani District Municipality views public participation as an integral part of the IDP making process. Measures and strategies are taken by the municipality to enhance public involvement in all matters of the municipality, including the IDP process. To achieve this the municipality partners with a number of stakeholders such as the local municipalities, government departments and organised groups. However, this is not enough hence recommendations are presented to improve this situation. Recommendations proposed include introducing capacity building programmes for councillors, establishment of a public participation unit, availing budget for public participation and educating members of the public about public participation and the IDP process.
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- Date Issued: 2017
The role of universities on human capital development in Zimbabwe
- Authors: Bandama, Carol Tambudzai
- Date: 2017
- Subjects: Economic development -- Zimbabwe Human capital -- Zimbabwe
- Language: English
- Type: Thesis , Masters , MA
- Identifier: http://hdl.handle.net/10948/16044 , vital:28315
- Description: Countries should encourage their workforce to foster human development as it contributes to the economic development through having a well-trained and skilled workforce. The countries that are economically developed have stood out because of human capabilities that have triggered economic development. With innovation being one of the major advantages of human capital, new ideas lead to the creation of vast employment opportunities especially for those that have studied critical skill subjects. The economic status of Zimbabwe shows that there is human capital development happening in the country, but there is a serious shortage of skills in sciences, technology, engineering and mathematics that are necessary for the industrialisation of the country. The government believes that Zimbabwe can industrialise if STEM education is integrated in the country’s educational system to make human capital development wholistic. The study aims to understand the concept of human capital development and how it can be developed at a balance. A discussion on the primary role of universities and higher learning institutions on developing human capital will be done. Universities educate and equip students with knowledge and skills, hence both STEM and non-STEM curricula is needed to develop human capital that is balanced. This is because STEM graduates that are innovative can create jobs for non-STEM graduates and help a country to industrialise and develop its economy. Universities are recommended to increase public awareness of STEM, train teachers specifically for STEM, invest in research and development and develop STEM-related policies and systems to develop more STEM graduates to strike a balance with non-STEM graduates and enhance industrialisation in Zimbabwe. Interviews were conducted and analysed and some of the recommendations made were to encourage the government to deregulate to attract investment, to increase the public’s awareness of STEM and to train STEM teachers accordingly.
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- Date Issued: 2017
The socio-economic impact of urban renewal projects in South Africa townships
- Authors: Kagande, Albert Tafadzwa
- Date: 2017
- Subjects: Urban renewal -- South Africa City planning -- South Africa , Economic development -- South Africa Land use -- South Africa South Africa -- Social conditions
- Language: English
- Type: Thesis , Masters , MA
- Identifier: http://hdl.handle.net/10948/17756 , vital:28451
- Description: Urban areas have become strategic locations where many throng to for a better life. However, wealth and economic opportunities are not evenly distributed in these urban spaces. South Africa is a fairly young democracy whose urban landscape has been largely shaped by the colonial apartheid system. The apartheid system segregated and relegated the black majority to the fringes of the cities into crowded communities characterised by poor living conditions, exclusion from the mainstream economy and limited urban amenities. Townships epitomise the harsh reality of the urban poor and how underdevelopment has been perpetuated. South Africa came up with different policies to redress the historical imbalances and inform urban development strategies. Urban renewal has been implemented as a development strategy in various cities across the world in an attempt to revive and improve the social, economic and environmental state of derelict urban spaces. Townships in South Africa have been the target areas for urban renewal with 8 presidential nodes having been initially identified for such in 2001. Eventually, Helenvale was added to the mix as a prime node in 2006 and the Helenvale Urban Renewal Project (HURP) was birthed - Helenvale and HURP being the identified site and project for this research respectively. An evaluative approach was adopted in assessing the socio-economic impact of urban renewal in South Africa townships and more specifically the socio-economic impact of HURP. Helenvale, like most townships in South Africa, is characterised by a high density settlement pattern, poverty, high unemployment, high rate of violence and crime, drug trade and substance abuse as well as a high rate of school dropouts. The Helenvale Urban Renewal Project (HURP) was implemented by the Nelson Mandela Bay Municipality (NMBM) and eventually the Mandela Bay Development Agency (MBDA) with the intention to rejuvenate the community on the social, economic and environmental front. The study findings showed that Helenvale, like all urban renewal nodes in South Africa had a number of socio-economic issues which prompted HURP. These include high unemployment (was 53.5% in 2013); alarming levels of violence and crime; drug trade and substance abuse and high rate of school dropout. Between 2007 and 2014, different projects were implemented under HURP, focusing mainly on physical development and community building. Study respondents had mixed reactions and perceptions of the impact of HURP. On one hand, the project saw the community benefit from the constructed public facilities like recreational parks and resource centre as well as capacity development and created employment opportunities. On the other hand, unemployment has persisted with only a small proportion of the population benefiting from the created jobs; crime remains unabated; drug trade has persisted leaving parents fearing for their young and gang violence has rendered the provided safe public physical features ineffective and the housing challenge has also not been resolved. By and large urban renewal and in this particular study, HURP has made great strides in improving the social and economic standing of the township community despite the challenges that are still lurking. A number of recommendations were proposed for similar studies and for urban renewal initiatives in South Africa. For the latter the study recommended having a robust policy that speaks to urban renewal directly and informs such. Other propositions include allowing the community to own and be stewards of urban renewal initiatives; allocating enough resources, both human and financial; and tailoring the project to respond to the needs of a particular community and not a one size fits all approach. In terms of similar studies the study recommends using a mixed methods approach to evaluate the impact of such ventures as well as evaluating more than one urban renewal initiatives for comparison and to allow for the generalizability of the findings.
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- Date Issued: 2017
The tablet teacher: learning literacy through technology in Northern Sotho
- Authors: Shiohira, Kelly
- Date: 2017
- Language: English
- Type: Thesis , Masters , MA
- Identifier: http://hdl.handle.net/10962/7034 , vital:21211
- Description: This study evaluates the efficacy of the Bridges to the Future Initiative - South Africa 2 (BFI) tablet program on early literacy skills, as well as the ways in which learner-operated technology interacts with a traditional South African education system. The BFI is a curriculum-aligned early literacy development intervention implemented through technology in grades 2 and 3 in Northern Sotho1 first-language schools. A mixed-methods research design was utilized, involving three components: a literacy skills test administered through a time sequence trial design; a curriculum-aligned uptake and retention test using a pre-post design; and a qualitative research component including classroom observation, participant interviews and prompted drawings by learners. Paired sample t-tests show significantly higher gains during the treatment period in fluency and comprehension, and significantly higher gains in the control period in decoding individual words. It is theorized that this is due to teacher emphasis on emergent literacy. When initial ability is taken into consideration, all ability levels gain more on average during the treatment period in at least one measured skill. Regression analysis determines that time spent on the BFI program is not the most significant determiner of gains in the intervention period. Qualitative analysis supports this finding and suggests that program use cannot replace quality classroom practice in advancing literacy skills. Learners performed better after a delayed retention period than in an initial uptake test, indicating high rates of retention of knowledge gained through program use and traditional instruction, but inconsistent access to literacy skills gained.
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- Date Issued: 2017
Therapist perceptions of narcissism in traditional cultural contexts
- Authors: Puckreesamy, Sashika
- Date: 2017
- Subjects: Narcissism -- South Africa Personality disorders -- South Africa , Psychotherapy-- South Africa Xhosa (African people) -- Psychology Xhosa (African people) -- Social life and customs
- Language: English
- Type: Thesis , Masters , MA
- Identifier: http://hdl.handle.net/10948/19872 , vital:28995
- Description: Narcissism, often linked to a sense of entitlement and inflated sense of self, is a complex condition that has been studied for approximately a century. It is typically associated with individualistic cultures, which place emphasis on the self. Although much is known about narcissism, there is far less knowledge on narcissism in collectivist cultures. The Xhosa culture is commonly seen as a collectivist culture. No research to date has been conducted on this construct with Xhosa-speaking South Africans. The aim of the study was to explore and describe therapist perceptions of narcissism in traditional cultural contexts. The objectives of the study included an investigation into how narcissism presents in the Xhosa culture, and an exploration of the narcissistic elements that manifest more prominently. A qualitative, exploratory descriptive research design was employed, and snowball sampling was used to identify psychologists from the Nelson Mandela Metropole for inclusion in the study. Semi-structured interviews were used to gather data, and data was analysed by thematic analysis. The findings of the thematic analysis consisted of six themes, which are thoughts on the Xhosa culture, culture and personality, contemporary Western theory lacking, traits, parenting, and interpersonal and personal difficulties. These themes reflect the participants’ experience, thoughts, and opinions on narcissism in individuals from the Xhosa culture.
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- Date Issued: 2017
The design of an adult skills development centre in Hillbrow, Johannesburg, Gauteng
- Authors: Lombard, Danielle
- Date: 2017
- Subjects: Community centers -- Designs and plans Community centers -- Gauteng -- Johannesburg -- Hillbrow --Designs and plans
- Language: English
- Type: Thesis , Masters , MA
- Identifier: http://hdl.handle.net/10948/38772 , vital:34964
- Description: This treatise is concerned with the design of an Adult Skills Development Centre in Hillbrow, Johannesburg. The project stems from a personal perception with an understanding of the city as a “place of community” and a perceived need to provide accessible adult education for previously disadvantage communities. The methodology employed in this study is qualitative in nature and the research is concerned with reaching some understanding of community and public space in city structure. This study identifies the broken link in the urban context of Johannesburg, which lacks welldefined public spaces. It, therefore, supports the need for an extension of the existing urban fabric by means of educational and community facilities and well-integrated and connected public spaces. The building within the city of Johannesburg will aim to create a sense of ‘place’ and identity within a multi-cultural society what might unlock the potential for future development in the Inner City. The Skills Development Centre could also act as a social catalyst for further development by activating the most pedestrianized routes along Klein Street and Pretoria Street which will strengthen the connection of the inner city. The difficulty of insensitively placing a new contemporary building into a defined urban context with a historical architectural fabric, was explored through acquiring a critical understanding of both the broader context of Johannesburg and the Inner City as well as its immediate surroundings. This was resolved in the development of a design that acknowledges both place and programme within, the past and present, in a coherent well defined architectural expression.
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- Date Issued: 2017
The design of municipal council chamber for East London: an exploration of culture and identity in a contested socio-spatial landscape
- Authors: Malefane, Reetumetsi
- Date: 2017
- Subjects: Municipal buildings -- South Africa -- East London -- Designs and plans Architecture -- South Africa -- East London -- Designs and plans , Architecture -- South Africa -- East London
- Language: English
- Type: Thesis , Masters , MA
- Identifier: http://hdl.handle.net/10948/38761 , vital:34957
- Description: The treatise seeks to explore the notions of African identity and culture in post-apartheid public space through the design of a Municipal Council Chamber for East London on the site of the first hearings of the Truth and Reconciliations Commissions in South Africa. Public space in post-apartheid South Africa is still a contested subject, where histories and identities of culture are not equally represented. The design project seeks to facilitate an inclusion of subjugated narratives of African culture into public spaces through architectural representation of form and cultural practices through programme. A qualitative research methodology is utilised for the study, as the focus for the research is to examine and explore culture and identity through a theoretical lens, based on exploring the existing theory of Jonathon Noble ‘Questions of African Identity: White Skin, Black masks’. The aim is to examine how culture and identity in architecture of post-apartheid South Africa engages with African consciousness through spatial and physical themes to renegotiate identity of public spaces, where subjugated narratives can be equally represented. The treatise provides evidence that within the discourse of culture and architecture in South Africa, architectural hybridity can be used as a mechanism for forging a new identity of an African discourse, facilitated through a dialogue of dominant narratives of colonial rule and subjugated narratives of an African discourse. The study concludes that explorations of African themes in the post-apartheid landscape can contribute and uplift the socio-spatial landscape through presenting new perspectives of identity and culture that reflect the narrative of African identity and culture that has been excluded in these public spaces.
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- Date Issued: 2017
Towards a holistic view of land and water management in the Gamtoos River catchment: applying a political geoecology approach
- Authors: Robb, Breanne Nicola
- Date: 2017
- Language: English
- Type: Thesis , Masters , MA
- Identifier: http://hdl.handle.net/10962/7914 , vital:21323
- Description: The Eastern Cape of South Africa is characterised by water scarcity, constraint on usage, and inter-basin transfers. Water from the Gamtoos River catchment supplies water users both within the catchment and outside the catchment boundaries. This requires careful management of water and land to prevent overexploitation. However, management is complex as it is divided among various stakeholders with differing interests. Political geoecology is an approach that has the potential to provide holistic insight into the catchment’s water context. It was proposed to account for spatial patterns underlying interrelationships between resource distribution, human productive activity, and power relations by integrating the fields of political ecology and geoecology. This research was undertaken to further develop political geoecology as an approach for examining human-environment relations in geography through a case study of land and water management in the Gamtoos River catchment and its subcatchments. Distribution of resources and human influences were elucidated through generation of maps. To facilitate spatial analysis, the study area was delineated into catchment zones. Additionally, stakeholders were identified and classified at local, regional, national, and international levels. Power relations between stakeholders were investigated through qualitative content analysis of transcribed semi-structured interviews and survey questionnaires that were administered to 34 research participants (selected through purposive and snowball sampling) directly involved in resource management in the catchment. Findings were spatially interpreted for each of the zones. The source zone was characterised by natural vegetation, steep, rugged topography, limited access ability, and power relations around restoration and conservation interests, which arose most significantly in the Baviaanskloof. The natural recapture zone was characterised by irrigated cultivation in areas of less harsh terrain in the upstream (Baviaanskloof and Kouga) sub-catchments. In the marginal Baviaanskloof, localised power relations over water distribution primarily arose. In the thriving commercial farming context of the Kouga, power relations included a local upstream-downstream legal conflict, competing levels of governance, issues with establishing water users’ associations (WUAs), and lack of adequate implementation of processes by government. Regional power relations are most prominent in the thriving commercial farming context of the overlapping regulated recapture and final use zones in the downstream Gamtoos sub-catchment. The reliance on upstream sub-catchments and tensions with the city of Port Elizabeth over water use are mediated through decisions made at the national level. Non-location specific power relations included indirect influence through energy, markets, and standards organisations, barriers in government preventing successful process implementation, and equity issues (particularly limiting the success of emerging farmers). These results illustrated that resource distribution, human productive activity, and power relations combine to produce unique characteristics in each of the zones in the Gamtoos catchment. The application of political geoecology in this case study situated the approach as useful for examining human- environment relations in geography.
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- Date Issued: 2017
Ubuntu: linking indigenous values with efforts in building a reconciled South Africa: the case of NMMU
- Authors: Pezisa, Lindiswa
- Date: 2017
- Subjects: Postcolonialism -- South Africa , South Africa -- Historiography -- Social aspects , Reparations for historical injustices -- South Africa , Xhosa (African people) -- Social life and customs
- Language: English
- Type: Thesis , Masters , MA
- Identifier: http://hdl.handle.net/10948/14477 , vital:27657
- Description: This thesis investigates the role that African indigenous value systems, Ubuntu in particular, could play in building a reconciled South Africa. In doing so a discourse analysis on Ubuntu is conducted and its potential in facilitating social cohesion in the quest for nation building. Specific focus is drawn on higher education an important task if we are to consider the accusation that higher education like its society, is still undergoing transformation and is under pressure to provide quality education for all people whilst also considering the large numbers of cultures that exist. For much needs to be done in redressing the imbalances caused by the apartheid education system which was organized according to racial lines. In doing so, Nelson Mandela Metropolitan University is utilised as a case study with narrative presentations of how students perceive this traditional African value and its applicability to reconciliation in a post conflict society. For seemingly, there is something inherently important about this value in that it has been invoked and referred to in many important instances in South African history.
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- Date Issued: 2017