Evaluating neuropsychiatric symptomology in HIV-positive patients on efavirenz in public-sector clinics and psychiatric hospitals
- Gaida, Razia, Grobler, Christoffel
- Authors: Gaida, Razia , Grobler, Christoffel
- Date: 2017
- Subjects: Drugs -- Side effects -- South Africa , HIV (Viruses) -- Enzymes , Antiretroviral agents -- South Africa , Anti-infective agents -- Side effects -- South Africa
- Language: English
- Type: Thesis , Doctoral , DPhil
- Identifier: http://hdl.handle.net/10948/29772 , vital:30776
- Description: Background: South Africa has the highest number of people living with human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) infection in the world. In 2014, an estimated 10.2% of the population was HIV-positive which amounted to 5.51 million people. Efavirenz forms part of the triple therapy backbone used in South Africa and is part of the firstline treatment for HIV. Efavirenz has been strongly associated with causing neuropsychiatric side effects in at least 50.0% of patients to whom it is prescribed. These side effects cause hesitation amongst healthcare professionals to prescribe this agent to patients with active mental illnesses. Aim: The aim of the study was to evaluate the neuropsychiatric side effects of efavirenz in HIV-positive psychiatric and non-psychiatric patients and to determine whether this drug may be recommended for use in an HIV-positive psychiatric patient population. Method: The study was divided into two parts, namely a quantitative portion and a qualitative portion. The quantitative study was a prospective drug utilisation study, while the qualitative portion consisted of semi-structured interviews carried out with healthcare professionals working with people living with HIV/AIDS (PLWHA). The study included five municipal clinics in the Nelson Mandela Metropole as well as two public-sector psychiatric facilities in the Eastern Cape where medical records were reviewed to obtain the information required. Patients were followed in both instances for a period of 24 weeks with follow-up assessments carried out at two, four, 12 and 24 week intervals. In terms of the qualitative study, nurses at the clinics and doctors at the hospitals were contacted and appointments for interviews were made. The interviews were recorded using a voice recorder and were transcribed and analysed using theoretical framework analysis. Results: The review of 126 medical records at the clinics revealed that no patient had suffered from or complained of a neuropsychiatric side effect. This may indicate that patients were not suffering from clinically significant side effects, side effects were not being adequately recorded by healthcare staff, or the healthcare staff were not questioning patients regarding side effects. A total of 26 hospitalised patients were followed for 24 weeks in the psychiatric facilities. Almost half of the patients using efavirenz experienced an improvement in symptoms to the extent that they were iii discharged from the facility. The majority of patients (66.7%) not on an efavirenzcontaining regimen did not improve to the point of discharge. Healthcare staff were vague when providing a definition of neuropsychiatric side effects. There were conflicting ideas on whether or not efavirenz should be used in patients with an active psychiatric illness. Conclusions: Further studies need to be performed in public-sector institutions to obtain a clearer picture of the side effects experienced by patients using efavirenz. Healthcare staff need to be encouraged to keep complete records to allow for meaningful analysis. The further integration of mental health services into existing HIV programmes is essential for holistic treatment. Patients in psychiatric hospitals demonstrated that even patients with psychiatric disorders on efavirenz can experience positive outcomes and stabilisation of psychiatric symptoms, which may indicate that these may not have due to efavirenz use. Further elucidation concerning the use of efavirenz in patients with psychiatric disorders, a description of the neuropsychiatric side effects, as well as management strategies must be provided in subsequent HIV guidelines.
- Full Text:
- Date Issued: 2017
- Authors: Gaida, Razia , Grobler, Christoffel
- Date: 2017
- Subjects: Drugs -- Side effects -- South Africa , HIV (Viruses) -- Enzymes , Antiretroviral agents -- South Africa , Anti-infective agents -- Side effects -- South Africa
- Language: English
- Type: Thesis , Doctoral , DPhil
- Identifier: http://hdl.handle.net/10948/29772 , vital:30776
- Description: Background: South Africa has the highest number of people living with human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) infection in the world. In 2014, an estimated 10.2% of the population was HIV-positive which amounted to 5.51 million people. Efavirenz forms part of the triple therapy backbone used in South Africa and is part of the firstline treatment for HIV. Efavirenz has been strongly associated with causing neuropsychiatric side effects in at least 50.0% of patients to whom it is prescribed. These side effects cause hesitation amongst healthcare professionals to prescribe this agent to patients with active mental illnesses. Aim: The aim of the study was to evaluate the neuropsychiatric side effects of efavirenz in HIV-positive psychiatric and non-psychiatric patients and to determine whether this drug may be recommended for use in an HIV-positive psychiatric patient population. Method: The study was divided into two parts, namely a quantitative portion and a qualitative portion. The quantitative study was a prospective drug utilisation study, while the qualitative portion consisted of semi-structured interviews carried out with healthcare professionals working with people living with HIV/AIDS (PLWHA). The study included five municipal clinics in the Nelson Mandela Metropole as well as two public-sector psychiatric facilities in the Eastern Cape where medical records were reviewed to obtain the information required. Patients were followed in both instances for a period of 24 weeks with follow-up assessments carried out at two, four, 12 and 24 week intervals. In terms of the qualitative study, nurses at the clinics and doctors at the hospitals were contacted and appointments for interviews were made. The interviews were recorded using a voice recorder and were transcribed and analysed using theoretical framework analysis. Results: The review of 126 medical records at the clinics revealed that no patient had suffered from or complained of a neuropsychiatric side effect. This may indicate that patients were not suffering from clinically significant side effects, side effects were not being adequately recorded by healthcare staff, or the healthcare staff were not questioning patients regarding side effects. A total of 26 hospitalised patients were followed for 24 weeks in the psychiatric facilities. Almost half of the patients using efavirenz experienced an improvement in symptoms to the extent that they were iii discharged from the facility. The majority of patients (66.7%) not on an efavirenzcontaining regimen did not improve to the point of discharge. Healthcare staff were vague when providing a definition of neuropsychiatric side effects. There were conflicting ideas on whether or not efavirenz should be used in patients with an active psychiatric illness. Conclusions: Further studies need to be performed in public-sector institutions to obtain a clearer picture of the side effects experienced by patients using efavirenz. Healthcare staff need to be encouraged to keep complete records to allow for meaningful analysis. The further integration of mental health services into existing HIV programmes is essential for holistic treatment. Patients in psychiatric hospitals demonstrated that even patients with psychiatric disorders on efavirenz can experience positive outcomes and stabilisation of psychiatric symptoms, which may indicate that these may not have due to efavirenz use. Further elucidation concerning the use of efavirenz in patients with psychiatric disorders, a description of the neuropsychiatric side effects, as well as management strategies must be provided in subsequent HIV guidelines.
- Full Text:
- Date Issued: 2017
Experiential learning in an undergraduate BPHARM programme: impact of an intervention on academic achievement
- Authors: McCartney, Jane Alison
- Date: 2017
- Subjects: Pharmacy -- Study and teaching -- South Africa Experiential learning -- South Africa , Academic achievement -- South Africa
- Language: English
- Type: Thesis , Doctoral , DPhil
- Identifier: http://hdl.handle.net/10948/19037 , vital:28767
- Description: The extended role of today’s pharmacist with the emphasis on patient-focused care has highlighted the need for increased exposure of undergraduate pharmacy students to experiential learning in patient-centred environments, and additional skills development in therapeutics, problem solving and clinical decision making. At the Nelson Mandela Metropolitan University (NMMU), final year pharmacy students complete a university-coordinated, hospital-based, structured experiential learning programme (ELP) for the exit-level module, Pharmacology4. However, the students consistently experience difficulties in the application of pharmacological knowledge during the transition from lecture-based learning to the patient-focused clinical setting. The student population at the NMMU is diverse, with varied cultural, ethnic, language and secondary level education backgrounds, as well as different learning preferences and approaches. The extent to which these factors affect academic achievement in the experiential learning environment is unknown. Central research question The central research question for this study was therefore, “What would be the effect of an intervention aimed at supporting undergraduate pharmacy students during clinical placements, on academic achievement in, and student attitudes towards, experiential learning programmes (ELP)?” In order to explore the research question, several factors which may influence academic achievement in ELPs were investigated, namely: academic achievement (pre-university, in the BPharm programme and, in pharmacology); the admission route into the BPharm programme and the subsequent rate of academic progression; English reading comprehension ability; learning styles; problem solving ability; the extent to which students are prepared for application of knowledge in the ELP, in terms of assessment methods used prior to the final year and previous pharmacy work-based experience. In addition, the students’ lived experience of the ELP was explored, and the need for, and nature of, an intervention was determined. The research was based in a pragmatic paradigm, using an advanced mixed methods approach. An intervention-based, two-phase, quasi-experimental design was employed with an initial exploratory Preliminary Phase (in 2013) preceding the larger experimental framework (Phases One and Two, in 2014 and 2015 respectively). The research design was primarily quantitative, with pre- and post- testing conducted before and after the ELP. The ELP was completed by the comparator cohort in Phase One and the experimental cohort in Phase Two. Supplementary qualitative data was collected before, during and after the ELP. The intervention, in the form of supplementary academic support sessions, was developed from the qualitative data using an iterative approach, and implemented during the ELP in Phase Two. Attitudes and expectations of the students towards the hospital-based ELP were generally positive and realistic. Areas of concern included the difficulties experienced in the application and integration of pharmacological knowledge, both in the clinical setting and the clinical case study-based assessments; students feeling overwhelmed, inadequate and inferior in the clinical environment, compounded by an absence of clinical pharmacists as role models; and feeling unprepared for patient-focused care. The qualitative data strongly supported the need for supplementary academic support sessions. The intervention was developed and implemented in Phase Two, using patient case-based, active learning strategies. The majority of students (91.0%; n = 104) reported improved case analysis skills. A statistically significant (p = .030, Cohen’s d = 0.34) improvement was noted in the summative Pharmacology4 assessment marks obtained by the experimental cohort post-intervention, although of small practical significance. Predictors of academic achievement in the ELP were found to be language, specifically English reading comprehension skills, academic achievement in the BPharm programme and pharmacology, the university admission score, the rate of academic progression, and problem solving ability. Previous pharmacy-based work experience and assessment questions requiring application of knowledge were also found to influence achievement in the ELP. The need for an intervention in the form of supplementary academic support sessions was confirmed. The intervention was subsequently developed and successfully implemented, with student-reported self-perceived improvements in patient case analysis skills. These positive findings were supported by quantitative data which showed a statistically significant improvement in academic achievement in the ELP. Several predictors of academic achievement in the ELP were identified, and invaluable insight was gained into the nature of the difficulties experienced by pharmacy students in the transition from lecture-based learning to experiential learning in patient-focused environments.
- Full Text:
- Date Issued: 2017
- Authors: McCartney, Jane Alison
- Date: 2017
- Subjects: Pharmacy -- Study and teaching -- South Africa Experiential learning -- South Africa , Academic achievement -- South Africa
- Language: English
- Type: Thesis , Doctoral , DPhil
- Identifier: http://hdl.handle.net/10948/19037 , vital:28767
- Description: The extended role of today’s pharmacist with the emphasis on patient-focused care has highlighted the need for increased exposure of undergraduate pharmacy students to experiential learning in patient-centred environments, and additional skills development in therapeutics, problem solving and clinical decision making. At the Nelson Mandela Metropolitan University (NMMU), final year pharmacy students complete a university-coordinated, hospital-based, structured experiential learning programme (ELP) for the exit-level module, Pharmacology4. However, the students consistently experience difficulties in the application of pharmacological knowledge during the transition from lecture-based learning to the patient-focused clinical setting. The student population at the NMMU is diverse, with varied cultural, ethnic, language and secondary level education backgrounds, as well as different learning preferences and approaches. The extent to which these factors affect academic achievement in the experiential learning environment is unknown. Central research question The central research question for this study was therefore, “What would be the effect of an intervention aimed at supporting undergraduate pharmacy students during clinical placements, on academic achievement in, and student attitudes towards, experiential learning programmes (ELP)?” In order to explore the research question, several factors which may influence academic achievement in ELPs were investigated, namely: academic achievement (pre-university, in the BPharm programme and, in pharmacology); the admission route into the BPharm programme and the subsequent rate of academic progression; English reading comprehension ability; learning styles; problem solving ability; the extent to which students are prepared for application of knowledge in the ELP, in terms of assessment methods used prior to the final year and previous pharmacy work-based experience. In addition, the students’ lived experience of the ELP was explored, and the need for, and nature of, an intervention was determined. The research was based in a pragmatic paradigm, using an advanced mixed methods approach. An intervention-based, two-phase, quasi-experimental design was employed with an initial exploratory Preliminary Phase (in 2013) preceding the larger experimental framework (Phases One and Two, in 2014 and 2015 respectively). The research design was primarily quantitative, with pre- and post- testing conducted before and after the ELP. The ELP was completed by the comparator cohort in Phase One and the experimental cohort in Phase Two. Supplementary qualitative data was collected before, during and after the ELP. The intervention, in the form of supplementary academic support sessions, was developed from the qualitative data using an iterative approach, and implemented during the ELP in Phase Two. Attitudes and expectations of the students towards the hospital-based ELP were generally positive and realistic. Areas of concern included the difficulties experienced in the application and integration of pharmacological knowledge, both in the clinical setting and the clinical case study-based assessments; students feeling overwhelmed, inadequate and inferior in the clinical environment, compounded by an absence of clinical pharmacists as role models; and feeling unprepared for patient-focused care. The qualitative data strongly supported the need for supplementary academic support sessions. The intervention was developed and implemented in Phase Two, using patient case-based, active learning strategies. The majority of students (91.0%; n = 104) reported improved case analysis skills. A statistically significant (p = .030, Cohen’s d = 0.34) improvement was noted in the summative Pharmacology4 assessment marks obtained by the experimental cohort post-intervention, although of small practical significance. Predictors of academic achievement in the ELP were found to be language, specifically English reading comprehension skills, academic achievement in the BPharm programme and pharmacology, the university admission score, the rate of academic progression, and problem solving ability. Previous pharmacy-based work experience and assessment questions requiring application of knowledge were also found to influence achievement in the ELP. The need for an intervention in the form of supplementary academic support sessions was confirmed. The intervention was subsequently developed and successfully implemented, with student-reported self-perceived improvements in patient case analysis skills. These positive findings were supported by quantitative data which showed a statistically significant improvement in academic achievement in the ELP. Several predictors of academic achievement in the ELP were identified, and invaluable insight was gained into the nature of the difficulties experienced by pharmacy students in the transition from lecture-based learning to experiential learning in patient-focused environments.
- Full Text:
- Date Issued: 2017
Foraging ecology of gentoo penguins pygoscelis papua at the Falkland Islands
- Authors: Handley, Jonathan Murray
- Date: 2017
- Subjects: Gentoo penguin -- Food -- Falkland Islands Gentoo penguin -- Ecology
- Language: English
- Type: Thesis , Doctoral , DPhil
- Identifier: http://hdl.handle.net/10948/14113 , vital:27431
- Description: Marine top predators often occupy broad geographical ranges that encompass varied habitats. Therefore, a pre-requisite towards conserving these animals is to determine the components of their realized niche, and investigate whether a species is a specialist or a generalist. For generalist species, it is also necessary to understand if local specialisation occurs. Uncovering these components can allow us to build models of a species realized niche that may then be used to infer habitat use in unsampled locations. However, fully understanding the components of a marine top predators realized niche is challenging owing to the limited opportunity for in situ observations. Overcoming these limitations is a key step in marine top predator research. It will enhance our understanding of trophic coupling in marine systems, and aid in the development of tools to better study these predators in their dynamic environment. Seabirds, penguins (Spheniscids) in particular, are a group of animals for which investigating their realized niche is of vital importance. This is because numerous species face growing uncertainty in the Anthropocene, and in a time of rapid environmental change there is furthermore a need to better understand the potential use of these birds as indicators of ecosystem health. The aim of this thesis, therefore, is to investigate the foraging ecology of gentoo penguins (Pygoscelis papua) at the Falkland Islands. At the Falkland Islands, limited historical information exists regarding this species foraging ecology, with most information coming from a single location at the Falklands. As the Falkland Islands have the world’s largest population of gentoo penguins, elucidating factors influencing this population will have global relevance. Furthermore, historical information indicated potential competition with fisheries, and with prospecting for hydrocarbons and an inshore fishery, there is a need to understand the distribution of these birds across the islands. Penguins are also well suited to carry biologging devices allowing for in situ observations of inter and intraspecific interactions, as well as habitat specific interactions. In this study, I sampled birds over three breeding seasons, from four breeding colonies - chosen for their varied surrounding at sea habitat - across the Falkland Islands. I investigated the diet with stomach content and stable isotope analysis, the at-sea distribution with GPS and time depth recorders, and how these birds behaved at sea using custom made animal-borne camera loggers. Furthermore, I developed a method to recognise prey encounter events from back mounted accelerometers, using a supervised machine learning approach. As part of the first species specific description of diet at this scale for the Falklands, I revealed six key prey items for the birds: rock cod (Patagonotothen spp.), lobster krill (Munida spp.), Falkland herring (Sprattus fuegensis), Patagonian squid (Doryteuthis gahi), juvenile fish (likely all nototheniids), and southern blue whiting (Micromesistius australis). The use of animal-borne camera loggers verified that not only do gentoo penguins consume a diverse array of prey items, but they adopted various methods to capture and pursue prey, with evidence of birds following optimal foraging theory. Prey composition varied significantly between study sites with the at-sea distribution and habitat use of penguins reflecting that of local prey. Birds from colonies close to gently sloping, shallow waters, foraged primarily in a benthic manner and had larger niche widths. However, those at a colony surrounded by steeply sloping, deeper waters, typically foraged in a pelagic manner. Contrasting diet patterns were also prevalent from stable isotope data, and the niche widths of birds relating to both stomach content and stable isotope data were larger at colonies where benthic foraging was prevalent. Therefore, it was clear that surrounding bathymetry played a key role in shaping this species’ foraging ecology, and that at the population level at the Falkland Islands birds are generalists. However, at individual colonies some specialisation occurs to take advantage of locally available prey. I developed habitat distribution models - via boosted regression trees – which transferred well in time but poorly across space. Reasons for poor model transfer might relate to the generalist foraging nature of these birds and the reduced availability of environmental predictors owing to the limited range of these birds. I furthermore developed a method to identify prey encounter events that can also, to a degree, distinguish between prey items. This method will be a promising approach to refine habitat distribution models in future. These habitat distribution models could potentially contribute to marine spatial planning at the Falkland Islands. Footage from animal-borne camera loggers clearly showed that prey behaviour can significantly influence trophic coupling in marine systems and should be accounted for in studies using marine top predators as samplers of mid to lower trophic level species. Ultimately, flexibility in foraging strategies and inter-colony variation will play a critical role when assessing factors such as interspecific competition or overlap with anthropogenic activities.
- Full Text:
- Date Issued: 2017
- Authors: Handley, Jonathan Murray
- Date: 2017
- Subjects: Gentoo penguin -- Food -- Falkland Islands Gentoo penguin -- Ecology
- Language: English
- Type: Thesis , Doctoral , DPhil
- Identifier: http://hdl.handle.net/10948/14113 , vital:27431
- Description: Marine top predators often occupy broad geographical ranges that encompass varied habitats. Therefore, a pre-requisite towards conserving these animals is to determine the components of their realized niche, and investigate whether a species is a specialist or a generalist. For generalist species, it is also necessary to understand if local specialisation occurs. Uncovering these components can allow us to build models of a species realized niche that may then be used to infer habitat use in unsampled locations. However, fully understanding the components of a marine top predators realized niche is challenging owing to the limited opportunity for in situ observations. Overcoming these limitations is a key step in marine top predator research. It will enhance our understanding of trophic coupling in marine systems, and aid in the development of tools to better study these predators in their dynamic environment. Seabirds, penguins (Spheniscids) in particular, are a group of animals for which investigating their realized niche is of vital importance. This is because numerous species face growing uncertainty in the Anthropocene, and in a time of rapid environmental change there is furthermore a need to better understand the potential use of these birds as indicators of ecosystem health. The aim of this thesis, therefore, is to investigate the foraging ecology of gentoo penguins (Pygoscelis papua) at the Falkland Islands. At the Falkland Islands, limited historical information exists regarding this species foraging ecology, with most information coming from a single location at the Falklands. As the Falkland Islands have the world’s largest population of gentoo penguins, elucidating factors influencing this population will have global relevance. Furthermore, historical information indicated potential competition with fisheries, and with prospecting for hydrocarbons and an inshore fishery, there is a need to understand the distribution of these birds across the islands. Penguins are also well suited to carry biologging devices allowing for in situ observations of inter and intraspecific interactions, as well as habitat specific interactions. In this study, I sampled birds over three breeding seasons, from four breeding colonies - chosen for their varied surrounding at sea habitat - across the Falkland Islands. I investigated the diet with stomach content and stable isotope analysis, the at-sea distribution with GPS and time depth recorders, and how these birds behaved at sea using custom made animal-borne camera loggers. Furthermore, I developed a method to recognise prey encounter events from back mounted accelerometers, using a supervised machine learning approach. As part of the first species specific description of diet at this scale for the Falklands, I revealed six key prey items for the birds: rock cod (Patagonotothen spp.), lobster krill (Munida spp.), Falkland herring (Sprattus fuegensis), Patagonian squid (Doryteuthis gahi), juvenile fish (likely all nototheniids), and southern blue whiting (Micromesistius australis). The use of animal-borne camera loggers verified that not only do gentoo penguins consume a diverse array of prey items, but they adopted various methods to capture and pursue prey, with evidence of birds following optimal foraging theory. Prey composition varied significantly between study sites with the at-sea distribution and habitat use of penguins reflecting that of local prey. Birds from colonies close to gently sloping, shallow waters, foraged primarily in a benthic manner and had larger niche widths. However, those at a colony surrounded by steeply sloping, deeper waters, typically foraged in a pelagic manner. Contrasting diet patterns were also prevalent from stable isotope data, and the niche widths of birds relating to both stomach content and stable isotope data were larger at colonies where benthic foraging was prevalent. Therefore, it was clear that surrounding bathymetry played a key role in shaping this species’ foraging ecology, and that at the population level at the Falkland Islands birds are generalists. However, at individual colonies some specialisation occurs to take advantage of locally available prey. I developed habitat distribution models - via boosted regression trees – which transferred well in time but poorly across space. Reasons for poor model transfer might relate to the generalist foraging nature of these birds and the reduced availability of environmental predictors owing to the limited range of these birds. I furthermore developed a method to identify prey encounter events that can also, to a degree, distinguish between prey items. This method will be a promising approach to refine habitat distribution models in future. These habitat distribution models could potentially contribute to marine spatial planning at the Falkland Islands. Footage from animal-borne camera loggers clearly showed that prey behaviour can significantly influence trophic coupling in marine systems and should be accounted for in studies using marine top predators as samplers of mid to lower trophic level species. Ultimately, flexibility in foraging strategies and inter-colony variation will play a critical role when assessing factors such as interspecific competition or overlap with anthropogenic activities.
- Full Text:
- Date Issued: 2017
Guidelines for cybersecurity education campaigns
- Authors: Reid, Rayne
- Date: 2017
- Subjects: Computer security Computer networks -- Security measures
- Language: English
- Type: Thesis , Doctoral , DPhil
- Identifier: http://hdl.handle.net/10948/14091 , vital:27416
- Description: In our technology- and information-infused world, cyberspace is an integral part of modern-day society. As the number of active cyberspace users increases, so too does the chances of a cyber threat finding a vulnerable target increase. All cyber users who are exposed to cyber risks need to be educated about cyber security. Human beings play a key role in the implementation and governing of an entire cybersecurity and cybersafety solution. The effectiveness of any cybersecurity and cybersafety solutions in a societal or individual context is dependent on the human beings involved in the process. If these human beings are either unaware or not knowledgeable about their roles in the security solution they become the weak link in these cybersecurity solutions. It is essential that all users be educated to combat any threats. Children are a particularly vulnerable subgroup within society. They are digital natives and make use of ICT, and online services with increasing frequency, but this does not mean they are knowledgeable about or behaving securely in their cyber activities. Children will be exposed to cyberspace throughout their lifetimes. Therefore, cybersecurity and cybersafety should be taught to children as a life-skill. There is a lack of well-known, comprehensive cybersecurity and cybersafety educational campaigns which target school children. Most existing information security and cybersecurity education campaigns limit their scope. Literature reports mainly on education campaigns focused on primary businesses, government agencies and tertiary education institutions. Additionally, most guidance for the design and implementation of security and safety campaigns: are for an organisational context, only target organisational users, and mostly provide high-level design recommendations. This thesis addressed the lack of guidance for designing and implementing cybersecurity and cybersafety educational campaigns suited to school learners as a target audience. The thesis aimed to offer guidance for designing and implementing education campaigns that educate school learners about cybersecurity and cybersafety. This was done through the implementation of an action research process over a five-year period. The action research process involved cybersecurity and cybersafety educational interventions at multiple schools. A total of 18 actionable guidelines were derived from this research to guide the design and implementation of cybersecurity and cybersafety education campaigns which aim to educate school children.
- Full Text:
- Date Issued: 2017
- Authors: Reid, Rayne
- Date: 2017
- Subjects: Computer security Computer networks -- Security measures
- Language: English
- Type: Thesis , Doctoral , DPhil
- Identifier: http://hdl.handle.net/10948/14091 , vital:27416
- Description: In our technology- and information-infused world, cyberspace is an integral part of modern-day society. As the number of active cyberspace users increases, so too does the chances of a cyber threat finding a vulnerable target increase. All cyber users who are exposed to cyber risks need to be educated about cyber security. Human beings play a key role in the implementation and governing of an entire cybersecurity and cybersafety solution. The effectiveness of any cybersecurity and cybersafety solutions in a societal or individual context is dependent on the human beings involved in the process. If these human beings are either unaware or not knowledgeable about their roles in the security solution they become the weak link in these cybersecurity solutions. It is essential that all users be educated to combat any threats. Children are a particularly vulnerable subgroup within society. They are digital natives and make use of ICT, and online services with increasing frequency, but this does not mean they are knowledgeable about or behaving securely in their cyber activities. Children will be exposed to cyberspace throughout their lifetimes. Therefore, cybersecurity and cybersafety should be taught to children as a life-skill. There is a lack of well-known, comprehensive cybersecurity and cybersafety educational campaigns which target school children. Most existing information security and cybersecurity education campaigns limit their scope. Literature reports mainly on education campaigns focused on primary businesses, government agencies and tertiary education institutions. Additionally, most guidance for the design and implementation of security and safety campaigns: are for an organisational context, only target organisational users, and mostly provide high-level design recommendations. This thesis addressed the lack of guidance for designing and implementing cybersecurity and cybersafety educational campaigns suited to school learners as a target audience. The thesis aimed to offer guidance for designing and implementing education campaigns that educate school learners about cybersecurity and cybersafety. This was done through the implementation of an action research process over a five-year period. The action research process involved cybersecurity and cybersafety educational interventions at multiple schools. A total of 18 actionable guidelines were derived from this research to guide the design and implementation of cybersecurity and cybersafety education campaigns which aim to educate school children.
- Full Text:
- Date Issued: 2017
Improving the supply of subsidised housing in South Africa
- Authors: Bekker, Jakobus Petrus
- Date: 2017
- Subjects: Housing -- South Africa Housing subsidies -- South Africa , Low-income housing -- South Africa Public housing -- South Africa Housing development -- South Africa
- Language: English
- Type: Thesis , Doctoral , DPhil
- Identifier: http://hdl.handle.net/10948/19553 , vital:28893
- Description: Despite South African citizen’s constitutional right to adequate housing, Government’s housing delivery has been described as a complex, multi-stakeholder, multi-phase problem, exacerbated by political interference and corruption. Housing delivery in South Africa is ideologically and politically designed and executed. However, the government subsidised housing sector remains plagued by: huge and increasing backlogs; corruption; quality concerns, and recipient and stakeholder dissatisfaction. This includes the government subsidised housing construction sector, which faces issues such as: established contractors leaving the sector; late and failed completion; substandard quality; rework; cost overruns; late progress payments; and insolvencies. Moreover, government subsidised housing officials, which forms part of this sector, must contend with abandoned projects and appointing new contractors; shoddy workmanship from sub-standard contractors; remedial work, including demolition and rebuilding; and systemic problems such as staff shortages and under qualified staff. The process of Government’s ideological and political designed and execution may therefore not have considered certain practicalities relative to construction principles and practice. It therefore appears that there may be some relationship between the compatibility of Government’s housing ideological and political designed (policy) and execution and general construction principles and practice. It is clear from the related literature that government subsidised housing construction has mostly been investigated as an exercise observing from the outside in, and not from a construction sector perspective. The main purpose of this study is thus to explore housing policy and practice compatibility as a major obstacle to housing delivery in general and assess whether the current housing policy is sufficiently responsive to the requirements of the government subsidised housing sector by specifically describing and exploring the effects of Government’s housing procurement policies relative to the ability of the construction sector to supply government subsidised housing. More specifically, the study describes and explores corruption, quality; contractors and worker competency, and government capacity as specific consequences of housing policy and practice incompatibility, as well as factors contributing to recipient dissatisfaction and the housing backlog. Finally, based on the finding, a proposed framework for improving the supply of subsidised housing in South Africa has been developed. The methodology for this study adopted a post-positivist philosophy, embracing a quantitative approach using questionnaires, which incorporated mainly five-point Likert type scale, but also multiple-choice questions, as instruments for data collection. Three surveys were conducted, starting with a pilot study and followed by a primary study, during which a total of 2 884 potential participants within the construction sector across South Africa were randomly sampled and solicited to participate, of which 284 responded. The respondents consisted of four groups: general contractors (76); government housing officials (34); built environment professionals (137), and built environment suppliers (37). An electronic questionnaire was sent by email to all potential participants and allowed four weeks to complete the survey. Furthermore, a housing recipient survey was conducted among 100 randomly selected recipients of government subsidised housing in the Nelson Mandela Metropolitan area, by means of a structured interview using a paper based questionnaire, over a period of two weeks. The primary outcome measures used for this study were the ranked mean scores for mainly descriptive analysis and the Chi-square test, the 𝑡-test, Cohan’s d test, ANOVA and Scheffé test, using Cronbach's alpha as a measure of internal consistency of scale and validity, for inferential analyses and hypotheses testing. Hypothesis testing was founded upon Government’s worldview that its policies will not influence the operations of the construction sector relative to housing construction, and therefore tested respondents’ perspectives with respect to the impact that government policies have in terms of contractor operations and contractor success, as well as its contribution towards the housing backlog, substandard housing, recipient dissatisfaction and corruption. The following results were obtained by means of the hypothesis testing:Government housing procurement policies are inappropriate for application in the government subsidised housing sector. Respondents therefore disagree with the notion that government policy and practices do not impact contractor operations and contractor success, and thus the supply of houses; The application of government housing procurement policies leads to inadequate quality. Respondents therefore disagree with the notion that government preferential procurement policies do not impact quality; Government’s housing procurement policies inappropriately target emerging contractors. Respondents therefore disagree with the notion that Government’s targeting of emerging contractors does not impact housing supply; Government has inadequate capacity to address subsidised housing construction sector requirements in terms of housing projects. Respondents therefore disagree with the notion that Government has the capacity to address subsidised housing construction sector requirements in the supply of housing, and Government subsidised houses do not meet recipients’ expectations. Respondents therefore disagree with the notion that government subsidised houses do meet recipients’ expectations. It thus became apparent that housing supply is mostly inhibited by Government’s housing procurement policy, contributing to various factors, such as quality capability, contractor capability, systemic and administrative capacity, and resulting in recipient dissatisfaction. Using Pearson’s product moment correlation, a framework model was developed to illustrate the process flow, which revealed definitive statistical and practical relationships between these factors, and indeed reflects complex relationships between factors inhibiting supply and resulting in recipient dissatisfaction. To find an appropriate framework model for the purpose of improving housing supply, various sources were consulted. Based on the research question, together with the aims and objectives for this study, as well as the realisation that the problems associated with housing supply relate to the project management of the construction phase, which requires interventions for improving supply, it was decided that a results framework would be the most appropriate for this purpose. The proposed framework is therefore a graphical depiction of how the research process may be used to identify problems in the government subsidised housing sector, questioning how these may be resolved, setting strategies to improve the situation, evolving hypotheses and testing these hypotheses to establish the critical factors to be considered in the process of resolving the problem in the housing sector, by means of implementation and feedback.
- Full Text:
- Date Issued: 2017
- Authors: Bekker, Jakobus Petrus
- Date: 2017
- Subjects: Housing -- South Africa Housing subsidies -- South Africa , Low-income housing -- South Africa Public housing -- South Africa Housing development -- South Africa
- Language: English
- Type: Thesis , Doctoral , DPhil
- Identifier: http://hdl.handle.net/10948/19553 , vital:28893
- Description: Despite South African citizen’s constitutional right to adequate housing, Government’s housing delivery has been described as a complex, multi-stakeholder, multi-phase problem, exacerbated by political interference and corruption. Housing delivery in South Africa is ideologically and politically designed and executed. However, the government subsidised housing sector remains plagued by: huge and increasing backlogs; corruption; quality concerns, and recipient and stakeholder dissatisfaction. This includes the government subsidised housing construction sector, which faces issues such as: established contractors leaving the sector; late and failed completion; substandard quality; rework; cost overruns; late progress payments; and insolvencies. Moreover, government subsidised housing officials, which forms part of this sector, must contend with abandoned projects and appointing new contractors; shoddy workmanship from sub-standard contractors; remedial work, including demolition and rebuilding; and systemic problems such as staff shortages and under qualified staff. The process of Government’s ideological and political designed and execution may therefore not have considered certain practicalities relative to construction principles and practice. It therefore appears that there may be some relationship between the compatibility of Government’s housing ideological and political designed (policy) and execution and general construction principles and practice. It is clear from the related literature that government subsidised housing construction has mostly been investigated as an exercise observing from the outside in, and not from a construction sector perspective. The main purpose of this study is thus to explore housing policy and practice compatibility as a major obstacle to housing delivery in general and assess whether the current housing policy is sufficiently responsive to the requirements of the government subsidised housing sector by specifically describing and exploring the effects of Government’s housing procurement policies relative to the ability of the construction sector to supply government subsidised housing. More specifically, the study describes and explores corruption, quality; contractors and worker competency, and government capacity as specific consequences of housing policy and practice incompatibility, as well as factors contributing to recipient dissatisfaction and the housing backlog. Finally, based on the finding, a proposed framework for improving the supply of subsidised housing in South Africa has been developed. The methodology for this study adopted a post-positivist philosophy, embracing a quantitative approach using questionnaires, which incorporated mainly five-point Likert type scale, but also multiple-choice questions, as instruments for data collection. Three surveys were conducted, starting with a pilot study and followed by a primary study, during which a total of 2 884 potential participants within the construction sector across South Africa were randomly sampled and solicited to participate, of which 284 responded. The respondents consisted of four groups: general contractors (76); government housing officials (34); built environment professionals (137), and built environment suppliers (37). An electronic questionnaire was sent by email to all potential participants and allowed four weeks to complete the survey. Furthermore, a housing recipient survey was conducted among 100 randomly selected recipients of government subsidised housing in the Nelson Mandela Metropolitan area, by means of a structured interview using a paper based questionnaire, over a period of two weeks. The primary outcome measures used for this study were the ranked mean scores for mainly descriptive analysis and the Chi-square test, the 𝑡-test, Cohan’s d test, ANOVA and Scheffé test, using Cronbach's alpha as a measure of internal consistency of scale and validity, for inferential analyses and hypotheses testing. Hypothesis testing was founded upon Government’s worldview that its policies will not influence the operations of the construction sector relative to housing construction, and therefore tested respondents’ perspectives with respect to the impact that government policies have in terms of contractor operations and contractor success, as well as its contribution towards the housing backlog, substandard housing, recipient dissatisfaction and corruption. The following results were obtained by means of the hypothesis testing:Government housing procurement policies are inappropriate for application in the government subsidised housing sector. Respondents therefore disagree with the notion that government policy and practices do not impact contractor operations and contractor success, and thus the supply of houses; The application of government housing procurement policies leads to inadequate quality. Respondents therefore disagree with the notion that government preferential procurement policies do not impact quality; Government’s housing procurement policies inappropriately target emerging contractors. Respondents therefore disagree with the notion that Government’s targeting of emerging contractors does not impact housing supply; Government has inadequate capacity to address subsidised housing construction sector requirements in terms of housing projects. Respondents therefore disagree with the notion that Government has the capacity to address subsidised housing construction sector requirements in the supply of housing, and Government subsidised houses do not meet recipients’ expectations. Respondents therefore disagree with the notion that government subsidised houses do meet recipients’ expectations. It thus became apparent that housing supply is mostly inhibited by Government’s housing procurement policy, contributing to various factors, such as quality capability, contractor capability, systemic and administrative capacity, and resulting in recipient dissatisfaction. Using Pearson’s product moment correlation, a framework model was developed to illustrate the process flow, which revealed definitive statistical and practical relationships between these factors, and indeed reflects complex relationships between factors inhibiting supply and resulting in recipient dissatisfaction. To find an appropriate framework model for the purpose of improving housing supply, various sources were consulted. Based on the research question, together with the aims and objectives for this study, as well as the realisation that the problems associated with housing supply relate to the project management of the construction phase, which requires interventions for improving supply, it was decided that a results framework would be the most appropriate for this purpose. The proposed framework is therefore a graphical depiction of how the research process may be used to identify problems in the government subsidised housing sector, questioning how these may be resolved, setting strategies to improve the situation, evolving hypotheses and testing these hypotheses to establish the critical factors to be considered in the process of resolving the problem in the housing sector, by means of implementation and feedback.
- Full Text:
- Date Issued: 2017
Local economic development: a study of Nelson Mandela Bay and Buffalo City Metropolitan Municipalities
- Authors: Ngatiane, Mativenga
- Date: 2017
- Subjects: Economic development -- South Africa -- Nelson Mandela Bay Municipality Economic development -- South Africa -- Eastern Cape , Local government -- South Africa -- Eastern Cape Municipal government -- South Africa -- Eastern Cape
- Language: English
- Type: Thesis , Doctoral , DPhil
- Identifier: http://hdl.handle.net/10948/19299 , vital:28829
- Description: Albeit in its infancy, South Africa’s LED practice is a benchmark of a large number of African countries in general and Sub-Saharan African countries in particular. The LED practice stands out, for widespread decentralisation of powers, massive and growing LED budgets, robust legal frameworks that govern its implementation and development of LED structures, amongst others. This study seeks to answer three critical questions: What theoretical LED facets (particular aspects) are available in literature? Are these facets being implemented in Nelson Mandela Bay Municipality (NMBM) and Buffalo City Metropolitan Municipality (BCMM)? Besides the effort and monies invested in ingraining LED in South Africa, are the levels of LED practices of the two municipalities deeply embedded in literature? The study utilises a purpose-built tool to measure the level at which LED practice of respective municipalities is ingrained in LED literature. The thesis employed both qualitative and quantitative research methods in order to provide scientifically adequate answers to this research. The former method was employed in identifying available LED facets while, the latter was useful in measuring the level at which LED practice in the two metros is embedded in LED theory. The research findings reveal presence of 6 LED facets, namely, enterprise development, locality development, livelihoods development, workforce development, community development and LED Governance. However, this study discovered that the aforementioned facets fail to cover other general items like the availability or unavailability of LED strategy, functional location of LED within municipal directorates and availability of a budget to drive the LED functions. In light of this, the researcher decided to group all the other key LED functions that he felt were not finding expression under the 6 facets identified in LED literature. This, then, led to the introduction of “General LED” facets. This facet, besides presenting a pre-cursor to the 6 other facets, manages to capture some key factors that are equally behind the success or failure of LED e.g. the LED strategy factor, a factor which a number of sources name “The heart” or “guiding compass” of successful LED implementation. The “General LED” facet contained other factors like: other plans that aided LED, experience of LED practitioners, budget allocation of the LED function, amongst others. The research found that all the 7 facets are being implemented in both municipalities, albeit to varying degrees. The two metropolitan municipalities’ LED practice, with respect to all the identified LED facets, provided some measure of their respective levels of embeddedness in LED theory using a purpose built tool. The embedded (ness) outcome proved that Nelson Mandela Bay Municipality’s LED practice was embedded in the LED theory across all the 7 facets, namely: general LED, enterprise development, locality development, community development, livelihood development, workforce development, and LED governance. The same analysis proved that Buffalo City Metropolitan Municipality’s LED practice was embedded in LED theory in all the other facets bar community development. The survey results revealed that there are inadequate or limited initiatives in Buffalo.
- Full Text:
- Date Issued: 2017
- Authors: Ngatiane, Mativenga
- Date: 2017
- Subjects: Economic development -- South Africa -- Nelson Mandela Bay Municipality Economic development -- South Africa -- Eastern Cape , Local government -- South Africa -- Eastern Cape Municipal government -- South Africa -- Eastern Cape
- Language: English
- Type: Thesis , Doctoral , DPhil
- Identifier: http://hdl.handle.net/10948/19299 , vital:28829
- Description: Albeit in its infancy, South Africa’s LED practice is a benchmark of a large number of African countries in general and Sub-Saharan African countries in particular. The LED practice stands out, for widespread decentralisation of powers, massive and growing LED budgets, robust legal frameworks that govern its implementation and development of LED structures, amongst others. This study seeks to answer three critical questions: What theoretical LED facets (particular aspects) are available in literature? Are these facets being implemented in Nelson Mandela Bay Municipality (NMBM) and Buffalo City Metropolitan Municipality (BCMM)? Besides the effort and monies invested in ingraining LED in South Africa, are the levels of LED practices of the two municipalities deeply embedded in literature? The study utilises a purpose-built tool to measure the level at which LED practice of respective municipalities is ingrained in LED literature. The thesis employed both qualitative and quantitative research methods in order to provide scientifically adequate answers to this research. The former method was employed in identifying available LED facets while, the latter was useful in measuring the level at which LED practice in the two metros is embedded in LED theory. The research findings reveal presence of 6 LED facets, namely, enterprise development, locality development, livelihoods development, workforce development, community development and LED Governance. However, this study discovered that the aforementioned facets fail to cover other general items like the availability or unavailability of LED strategy, functional location of LED within municipal directorates and availability of a budget to drive the LED functions. In light of this, the researcher decided to group all the other key LED functions that he felt were not finding expression under the 6 facets identified in LED literature. This, then, led to the introduction of “General LED” facets. This facet, besides presenting a pre-cursor to the 6 other facets, manages to capture some key factors that are equally behind the success or failure of LED e.g. the LED strategy factor, a factor which a number of sources name “The heart” or “guiding compass” of successful LED implementation. The “General LED” facet contained other factors like: other plans that aided LED, experience of LED practitioners, budget allocation of the LED function, amongst others. The research found that all the 7 facets are being implemented in both municipalities, albeit to varying degrees. The two metropolitan municipalities’ LED practice, with respect to all the identified LED facets, provided some measure of their respective levels of embeddedness in LED theory using a purpose built tool. The embedded (ness) outcome proved that Nelson Mandela Bay Municipality’s LED practice was embedded in the LED theory across all the 7 facets, namely: general LED, enterprise development, locality development, community development, livelihood development, workforce development, and LED governance. The same analysis proved that Buffalo City Metropolitan Municipality’s LED practice was embedded in LED theory in all the other facets bar community development. The survey results revealed that there are inadequate or limited initiatives in Buffalo.
- Full Text:
- Date Issued: 2017
Market participation and value chain integration among smallholder homestead and irrigated crop farmers in the Eastern Cape province of South Africa
- Authors: Mdoda, Lelethu
- Date: 2017
- Subjects: Farms, Small -- South Africa -- Eastern Cape Irrigation farming -- South Africa -- Eastern Cape
- Language: English
- Type: Thesis , Doctoral , DPhil
- Identifier: http://hdl.handle.net/10353/15023 , vital:40152
- Description: The irrigation schemes had been established over the years and now are operational but there is no marked improvement in the living conditions of the rural farmers and households. Smallholder farmers still face numerous constraints in market participation that hinder smallholder farmers, irrigators and homestead growth which have been attributed to lack of access to markets and technical expertise. Despite the government efforts, smallholder farmers effectively functioning in the agro-food chains, high-valued markets and commercial agricultural markets are rare; this indicates that the objective to allow smallholder farmers to advance their livelihood through participating in commercial agro-food chains has not yet been met. Farmers in the Eastern Cape produce many crops which they mainly sell in informal local markets; there is minimal number of smallholder farmers supplying their produce to the formal markets. Irrigation development is very crucial to the development of the agricultural sector as it ensures improvement in yields and reduces rural poverty through creating rural employment, enhance smallholder farmers’ market participation and enhance market access policies by smallholder farmers as means to achieve the Sustainable Development Goals The study was conducted in the Eastern Cape Province and employed survey data obtained from 200 smallholder irrigated crop farmers and homestead gardeners. A multistage stratified sampling procedure was used in which the first stage involved selecting the study areas. This was followed by the selection of the district and then the respondents. The farmers were selected from three District Municipalities which have operational irrigation schemes, namely OR Tambo, Amathole and Chris Hani District Municipalities in the province. STATA and SPSS were used to analyze the data. The Heckman model was applied to examine factors influencing farmers’ decision to participate in market among crop producing farmers in the province. In the first stage Heckman analysis, the decision as to whether or not to participate (which is a binary choice situation) is used to undertake the maximum likelihood estimation (MLE). In the second stage, the conditional quantity sold (continuous variable) is assumed to follow a truncated normal regression model, whereby the MLE is estimated by fitting a truncated normal regression of quantity sold. Gross Margin and Net Farm Income were used to measure farm profit as well as multiple regression analysis to estimate determinants of profitability in the study area. Profit efficiency was measured using the normalized transcendent logarithmic profit frontier approach (translog). he descriptive statistics employed include means, percentages and frequencies mostly of the socio-economic characteristics of farmers in the study area. The results show that males were dominant with the representation of 61.7percent. The majority of farmers were aged and the mean age was 60 years, indicating that farmers in the province are old which has implication for productivity and market participation. High level of illiteracy is shown in the data and mean household size of 5 persons with the household head having at least obtained some primary school education.The irrigated crop farmers and homesteads were found to have farm size under 4 ha. About 86.5percent were full time farmers and Farming is their major source of livelihood. Smallholder irrigators and homestead gardeners derive their income from social grants and remittances. This thesis found out that majority of the farmers do not participate in markets. In this instance, farming becomes a scapegoat for failure to enter alternative labour markets. The average annual on-farm production income from smallholder irrigators was R7 860.27 and homestead gardeners was R5 915.50. The empirical results from probit model suggest that age of the farmer, level of education of the farmer, household size, farm organization, access to extension, distance to markets, occupation and farm experience were some of the key determinants that had significant and positive effects on farmers’ decision to participate in markets while access to credit, transport to the markets and farm size were some of the key determinants that had significant and negative effect on farmers’ decision to participate in markets. The volume of crops sold to the market is determined by gender, age, years spent in school, distance to the market, farm experience, household size, access to extension, membership in farm organization and non-farm income.
- Full Text:
- Date Issued: 2017
- Authors: Mdoda, Lelethu
- Date: 2017
- Subjects: Farms, Small -- South Africa -- Eastern Cape Irrigation farming -- South Africa -- Eastern Cape
- Language: English
- Type: Thesis , Doctoral , DPhil
- Identifier: http://hdl.handle.net/10353/15023 , vital:40152
- Description: The irrigation schemes had been established over the years and now are operational but there is no marked improvement in the living conditions of the rural farmers and households. Smallholder farmers still face numerous constraints in market participation that hinder smallholder farmers, irrigators and homestead growth which have been attributed to lack of access to markets and technical expertise. Despite the government efforts, smallholder farmers effectively functioning in the agro-food chains, high-valued markets and commercial agricultural markets are rare; this indicates that the objective to allow smallholder farmers to advance their livelihood through participating in commercial agro-food chains has not yet been met. Farmers in the Eastern Cape produce many crops which they mainly sell in informal local markets; there is minimal number of smallholder farmers supplying their produce to the formal markets. Irrigation development is very crucial to the development of the agricultural sector as it ensures improvement in yields and reduces rural poverty through creating rural employment, enhance smallholder farmers’ market participation and enhance market access policies by smallholder farmers as means to achieve the Sustainable Development Goals The study was conducted in the Eastern Cape Province and employed survey data obtained from 200 smallholder irrigated crop farmers and homestead gardeners. A multistage stratified sampling procedure was used in which the first stage involved selecting the study areas. This was followed by the selection of the district and then the respondents. The farmers were selected from three District Municipalities which have operational irrigation schemes, namely OR Tambo, Amathole and Chris Hani District Municipalities in the province. STATA and SPSS were used to analyze the data. The Heckman model was applied to examine factors influencing farmers’ decision to participate in market among crop producing farmers in the province. In the first stage Heckman analysis, the decision as to whether or not to participate (which is a binary choice situation) is used to undertake the maximum likelihood estimation (MLE). In the second stage, the conditional quantity sold (continuous variable) is assumed to follow a truncated normal regression model, whereby the MLE is estimated by fitting a truncated normal regression of quantity sold. Gross Margin and Net Farm Income were used to measure farm profit as well as multiple regression analysis to estimate determinants of profitability in the study area. Profit efficiency was measured using the normalized transcendent logarithmic profit frontier approach (translog). he descriptive statistics employed include means, percentages and frequencies mostly of the socio-economic characteristics of farmers in the study area. The results show that males were dominant with the representation of 61.7percent. The majority of farmers were aged and the mean age was 60 years, indicating that farmers in the province are old which has implication for productivity and market participation. High level of illiteracy is shown in the data and mean household size of 5 persons with the household head having at least obtained some primary school education.The irrigated crop farmers and homesteads were found to have farm size under 4 ha. About 86.5percent were full time farmers and Farming is their major source of livelihood. Smallholder irrigators and homestead gardeners derive their income from social grants and remittances. This thesis found out that majority of the farmers do not participate in markets. In this instance, farming becomes a scapegoat for failure to enter alternative labour markets. The average annual on-farm production income from smallholder irrigators was R7 860.27 and homestead gardeners was R5 915.50. The empirical results from probit model suggest that age of the farmer, level of education of the farmer, household size, farm organization, access to extension, distance to markets, occupation and farm experience were some of the key determinants that had significant and positive effects on farmers’ decision to participate in markets while access to credit, transport to the markets and farm size were some of the key determinants that had significant and negative effect on farmers’ decision to participate in markets. The volume of crops sold to the market is determined by gender, age, years spent in school, distance to the market, farm experience, household size, access to extension, membership in farm organization and non-farm income.
- Full Text:
- Date Issued: 2017
Milton Hyland Erickson: psychobiographical study
- Authors: Ramasamy, Kameshnee
- Date: 2017
- Subjects: Erickson, Milton H Psychology -- Biographical methods , Hypnotism -- Therapeutic use
- Language: English
- Type: Thesis , Doctoral , DPhil
- Identifier: http://hdl.handle.net/10948/14444 , vital:27605
- Description: Historically psychobiography has focused to a large extent on the study of pathology in human development. In recent years, scholars in the field of psychobiography have recommended that studies with a eugraphic focus be undertaken, thereby investigating optimal human development. Milton Hyland Erickson (1901-1980) was an American psychologist and psychiatrist. An extraordinary creative individual who conducted pioneering work in the field of hypnosis. Whilst vast publications of his academic work exist and his work is continued through the Milton H. Erickson Foundation and its global subsidiaries, in comparison, his life story has not been the focus of much study. The psychobiographical merit of Erickson as the subject of the study was based on his involvement in interesting and important events, as well as his resilient attitude towards life, during even dire moments. The focus of this psychobiography was to conceptualise Erickson’s life in terms of the principles of Adler’s Individual Psychology and Peterson and Seligman’s Character Strengths and Virtues Classification. Through this process it was aimed to provide descriptions and interpretations of Erickson’s personality in order to illuminate aspects such as his creativity, service to others, and optimism. The study is written from the first person perspective and is rooted in the interpretive paradigm. It utilises a qualitative research approach in order to gain an in-depth understanding of Erickson’s finished life and thereby taking into account contextual factors. The two theoretical frameworks guided the iterative data collection and data analysis processes and the data were organised into a descriptive framework. The method of data analysis was idiographic thus describing the uniqueness of Erickson life. Strategies such as the triangulation of data sources and theory, focusing on aspects of saliency, trustworthiness, and ethics were employed to ensure reliable data extraction and interpretation. The study revealed that both theoretical frameworks were appropriate in their description and interpretation of Erickson’s personality and character strengths. Of significance was the protective role that creativity, social interest, hope, and optimism played against trauma and these emerged as central themes in Erickson’s life in terms of his psychological wellbeing. The findings on creativity and social interest are supported by existing research and theory but also highlight perspectives for future research. Creativity is a key component of knowledge production and therefore research in this area could improve our understanding of how it can be nurtured and developed across the lifespan. Whilst the construct of social interest was integral to this study its validity in terms of providing adequate explanations of how individuals balance their own needs against the needs of others was examined and suggestions of where the theory can be elaborated were highlighted.
- Full Text:
- Date Issued: 2017
- Authors: Ramasamy, Kameshnee
- Date: 2017
- Subjects: Erickson, Milton H Psychology -- Biographical methods , Hypnotism -- Therapeutic use
- Language: English
- Type: Thesis , Doctoral , DPhil
- Identifier: http://hdl.handle.net/10948/14444 , vital:27605
- Description: Historically psychobiography has focused to a large extent on the study of pathology in human development. In recent years, scholars in the field of psychobiography have recommended that studies with a eugraphic focus be undertaken, thereby investigating optimal human development. Milton Hyland Erickson (1901-1980) was an American psychologist and psychiatrist. An extraordinary creative individual who conducted pioneering work in the field of hypnosis. Whilst vast publications of his academic work exist and his work is continued through the Milton H. Erickson Foundation and its global subsidiaries, in comparison, his life story has not been the focus of much study. The psychobiographical merit of Erickson as the subject of the study was based on his involvement in interesting and important events, as well as his resilient attitude towards life, during even dire moments. The focus of this psychobiography was to conceptualise Erickson’s life in terms of the principles of Adler’s Individual Psychology and Peterson and Seligman’s Character Strengths and Virtues Classification. Through this process it was aimed to provide descriptions and interpretations of Erickson’s personality in order to illuminate aspects such as his creativity, service to others, and optimism. The study is written from the first person perspective and is rooted in the interpretive paradigm. It utilises a qualitative research approach in order to gain an in-depth understanding of Erickson’s finished life and thereby taking into account contextual factors. The two theoretical frameworks guided the iterative data collection and data analysis processes and the data were organised into a descriptive framework. The method of data analysis was idiographic thus describing the uniqueness of Erickson life. Strategies such as the triangulation of data sources and theory, focusing on aspects of saliency, trustworthiness, and ethics were employed to ensure reliable data extraction and interpretation. The study revealed that both theoretical frameworks were appropriate in their description and interpretation of Erickson’s personality and character strengths. Of significance was the protective role that creativity, social interest, hope, and optimism played against trauma and these emerged as central themes in Erickson’s life in terms of his psychological wellbeing. The findings on creativity and social interest are supported by existing research and theory but also highlight perspectives for future research. Creativity is a key component of knowledge production and therefore research in this area could improve our understanding of how it can be nurtured and developed across the lifespan. Whilst the construct of social interest was integral to this study its validity in terms of providing adequate explanations of how individuals balance their own needs against the needs of others was examined and suggestions of where the theory can be elaborated were highlighted.
- Full Text:
- Date Issued: 2017
Perceptions regarding the impact of ubuntu and servant leadership on employee engagement in the workplace
- Authors: Muller, Roger Joseph
- Date: 2017
- Subjects: Leadership Management -- South Africa , Management -- Africa -- Philosophy Employees -- Attitudes Organizational effectiveness -- South Africa
- Language: English
- Type: Thesis , Doctoral , DPhil
- Identifier: http://hdl.handle.net/10948/19409 , vital:28868
- Description: South Africa have some of the lowest employee engagement scores in the world. Leadership is a key determinant of employee engagement, but existing leadership theories and practices are often ineffective in more humanistic and collectivistic cultures like South Africa. To this end, Ubuntu and servant leadership is posited to positively influence organisational performance by increasing employee engagement. The primary objective of this study is to investigate perceptions regarding the impact of Ubuntu and servant leadership on employee engagement in private organisations of the Eastern Cape. A quantitative research design was utilised and yielded 428 usable questionnaires through nonprobability sampling. The empirical results revealed that the spirit of solidarity dimension of Ubuntu leadership influenced significantly and positively. Furthermore, it was found that survival and spirit of solidarity had a significant and positive influence on organisational performance as measured through the balanced scorecard (BSC). Servant leadership positively and significantly influenced employee engagement and organisational performance. In addition, it was found that employee engagement mediates the relationship between servant leadership and organizational performance. This study has made several significant empirical and theoretical contributions, and can be classified as one of the pioneering attempts to gather empirical evidence on how Ubuntu manifests in the workplace. The high convergent validity of the dimensions of Ubuntu leadership and comparisons to Servant leadership established in this study, provides some proof of its novel contribution towards leadership theory. A highly reliable and valid measuring instrument was developed to evaluate Ubuntu from a leadership perspective. This is a major empirical contribution as, at the time, there were no reliable scales available in South Africa to measure Ubuntu leadership.
- Full Text:
- Date Issued: 2017
- Authors: Muller, Roger Joseph
- Date: 2017
- Subjects: Leadership Management -- South Africa , Management -- Africa -- Philosophy Employees -- Attitudes Organizational effectiveness -- South Africa
- Language: English
- Type: Thesis , Doctoral , DPhil
- Identifier: http://hdl.handle.net/10948/19409 , vital:28868
- Description: South Africa have some of the lowest employee engagement scores in the world. Leadership is a key determinant of employee engagement, but existing leadership theories and practices are often ineffective in more humanistic and collectivistic cultures like South Africa. To this end, Ubuntu and servant leadership is posited to positively influence organisational performance by increasing employee engagement. The primary objective of this study is to investigate perceptions regarding the impact of Ubuntu and servant leadership on employee engagement in private organisations of the Eastern Cape. A quantitative research design was utilised and yielded 428 usable questionnaires through nonprobability sampling. The empirical results revealed that the spirit of solidarity dimension of Ubuntu leadership influenced significantly and positively. Furthermore, it was found that survival and spirit of solidarity had a significant and positive influence on organisational performance as measured through the balanced scorecard (BSC). Servant leadership positively and significantly influenced employee engagement and organisational performance. In addition, it was found that employee engagement mediates the relationship between servant leadership and organizational performance. This study has made several significant empirical and theoretical contributions, and can be classified as one of the pioneering attempts to gather empirical evidence on how Ubuntu manifests in the workplace. The high convergent validity of the dimensions of Ubuntu leadership and comparisons to Servant leadership established in this study, provides some proof of its novel contribution towards leadership theory. A highly reliable and valid measuring instrument was developed to evaluate Ubuntu from a leadership perspective. This is a major empirical contribution as, at the time, there were no reliable scales available in South Africa to measure Ubuntu leadership.
- Full Text:
- Date Issued: 2017
Potential use of Islamic finance among Muslims in Port Elizabeth
- Authors: Ismail, Badroen
- Date: 2017
- Subjects: Finance -- Religious aspects Banks and banking -- Religious aspects -- Islam , Consumer behavior -- Religious aspects
- Language: English
- Type: Thesis , Doctoral , DPhil
- Identifier: http://hdl.handle.net/10948/17526 , vital:28374
- Description: The resurgence of Islam across the globe combined with the resilience that Islamic financial assets have shown against the onslaught of the current financial crisis, make Islamic finance an attractive alternative financial system. Over the past decade, the Islamic finance sector have shown double digit growth rates beyond the traditional areas of the Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) regions of Asia as well as other parts of the Middle-East and North Africa (MENA) regions. Research suggests that the future of Islamic finance in Africa depends on business opportunities in South Africa, Kenya, Nigeria and Senegal. The South African government, in conjunction with the national finance authorities, have made their intention clear to position the country as the Islamic finance hub for the rest of the African continent. Despite various marketing campaigns over the past decade to convince the public that Islamic banking and finance is for everyone, non-Muslims generally view Islamic banking as being for Muslims alone. Scepticism towards Islamic finance has resulted in a mere 15 per cent of the estimated 1.5 million South African Muslims currently making use of the sector’s banking and retail instruments. This lack of interest is impacting negatively on the country’s aspirations to establish itself as the gateway of Islamic finance to the rest of Africa. Generally, people’s attitudes toward utilising Islamic finance are regarded as a key obstacle to the development of the Islamic banking and finance system in Muslim minority countries. A Kuwait Finance House research report (2012) highlighted a lack of awareness and knowledge of Islamic finance products and services as key factors stifling the growth of the Islamic finance sector in South Africa. In this context, it was deemed necessary to analyse how knowledge, awareness, expectations, beliefs, perceptions and ancillary external factors impact on potential users’ attitude and decision to adopt or reject Islamic finance.By means of adapting Fishbein’s (2000; 2008) Integrative Model of Behavioural Prediction, a universally-acceptable behavioural-change model, this research explains in a holistic manner how cognitive, affective and environmental measures impact on a Port Elizabethan Muslim’s attitude and eventual decision to accept (or reject) Islamic finance. This study has found that knowledge was the most important variable influencing attitude and intention to use (or reject) Islamic finance. Consequently, this thesis proposed that Islamic institutions should focus their efforts on promoting knowledge and awareness of their products among the South African Muslim and non- Muslim population. As the global Shari’ah finance industry continues its positive growth trajectory, it is imperative that Islamic finance stakeholders in South Africa ensure that they exploit the benefits derived from online learning platforms and assist, by means of cross-border collaborations, more students to have greater access to Islamic finance courses. Furthermore, universities and training institutions are encouraged to offer courses and qualifications in Islamic finance to close the talent gap that currently exist in this particular field of study.
- Full Text:
- Date Issued: 2017
- Authors: Ismail, Badroen
- Date: 2017
- Subjects: Finance -- Religious aspects Banks and banking -- Religious aspects -- Islam , Consumer behavior -- Religious aspects
- Language: English
- Type: Thesis , Doctoral , DPhil
- Identifier: http://hdl.handle.net/10948/17526 , vital:28374
- Description: The resurgence of Islam across the globe combined with the resilience that Islamic financial assets have shown against the onslaught of the current financial crisis, make Islamic finance an attractive alternative financial system. Over the past decade, the Islamic finance sector have shown double digit growth rates beyond the traditional areas of the Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) regions of Asia as well as other parts of the Middle-East and North Africa (MENA) regions. Research suggests that the future of Islamic finance in Africa depends on business opportunities in South Africa, Kenya, Nigeria and Senegal. The South African government, in conjunction with the national finance authorities, have made their intention clear to position the country as the Islamic finance hub for the rest of the African continent. Despite various marketing campaigns over the past decade to convince the public that Islamic banking and finance is for everyone, non-Muslims generally view Islamic banking as being for Muslims alone. Scepticism towards Islamic finance has resulted in a mere 15 per cent of the estimated 1.5 million South African Muslims currently making use of the sector’s banking and retail instruments. This lack of interest is impacting negatively on the country’s aspirations to establish itself as the gateway of Islamic finance to the rest of Africa. Generally, people’s attitudes toward utilising Islamic finance are regarded as a key obstacle to the development of the Islamic banking and finance system in Muslim minority countries. A Kuwait Finance House research report (2012) highlighted a lack of awareness and knowledge of Islamic finance products and services as key factors stifling the growth of the Islamic finance sector in South Africa. In this context, it was deemed necessary to analyse how knowledge, awareness, expectations, beliefs, perceptions and ancillary external factors impact on potential users’ attitude and decision to adopt or reject Islamic finance.By means of adapting Fishbein’s (2000; 2008) Integrative Model of Behavioural Prediction, a universally-acceptable behavioural-change model, this research explains in a holistic manner how cognitive, affective and environmental measures impact on a Port Elizabethan Muslim’s attitude and eventual decision to accept (or reject) Islamic finance. This study has found that knowledge was the most important variable influencing attitude and intention to use (or reject) Islamic finance. Consequently, this thesis proposed that Islamic institutions should focus their efforts on promoting knowledge and awareness of their products among the South African Muslim and non- Muslim population. As the global Shari’ah finance industry continues its positive growth trajectory, it is imperative that Islamic finance stakeholders in South Africa ensure that they exploit the benefits derived from online learning platforms and assist, by means of cross-border collaborations, more students to have greater access to Islamic finance courses. Furthermore, universities and training institutions are encouraged to offer courses and qualifications in Islamic finance to close the talent gap that currently exist in this particular field of study.
- Full Text:
- Date Issued: 2017
Ruthenium sulphide nanoparticles derived from tri-dithiocarbamato ruthenium (III) complexes : synthesis, optical and structural studies
- Authors: Mbese, Johannes Zanoxolo
- Date: 2017
- Subjects: Nanoparticles Ruthenium compounds
- Language: English
- Type: Thesis , Doctoral , DPhil
- Identifier: http://hdl.handle.net/10353/15420 , vital:40406
- Description: The present Thesis pioneer the application of single-source molecular precursor method for the synthesis of ruthenium sulfide nanoparticles using a series of novel self-prepared single-source molecular precursors. The preparation of precursors involved the design and synthesis of compounds containing all the desired elements required within the coordination compound. Good precursors are tailored to give reproducible, clean decomposition at moderate temperatures, leading to high quality, defect free, mono-dispersed nanoparticles. Nine (9) homonuclear tris-dithiocarbamato ruthenium(III) complexes, [Ru(S2CNR2)3] were prepared from a stoichiometric reaction of RuCl3·H2O with self-prepared dithiocarbamate ligands at room temperature in a molar ratio of Ru3+: Ligand of 1:3. Dithiocarbamate ligands were derived from a stoichiometric reaction of carbon disulfide with (aniline, N-allylmethylamine, p-toluidine, p-anisidine, N-ethyl-m-toluidine, piperidine, morpholine, di-isopropylamine, and diallylamine) in the presence of concentrated ammonia or potassium hydroxide in ice cold bath. The dithiocarbamate ligands and complexes were characterized by elemental analyses, UV-Vis, Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR), 1H- and 13C-NMR spectroscopy. Thermogravimetric analyses (TGA) was used to study the decomposition profiles of the precursor complexes. The results obtained from the TGA of precursors showed that the complexes decompose to ruthenium sulfide nanoparticles. The FTIR spectra of the ligands revealed prominent strong absorption bands ascribed to v(N-H) stretching vibrations and also confirm the bidentate coordination of the dithiocarbamate ligands. Ruthenium(III) complexes show absorption spectra in the visible region that exhibit bands attributed to n → π* electronic transitions located on the sulfur atoms located in the S–C–S and N–C–S chromophores of the bidentate dithiocarbamate ligands respectively. The absorption spectra also confirmed the geometry of ruthenium(III) complexes to be octahedral. The proposed structures of dithiocarbamate ligands and ruthenium(III) complexes were confirmed by the 1H- and 13C-NMR. The complexes were used as single-source molecular precursors for the synthesis of ruthenium sulfide nanoparticles. The structural and optical properties were studied using transmission electron microscope (TEM), scanning electron microscope (SEM), energy dispersive X-ray spectroscopy (EDS), UV-Vis absorption and photoluminescence (PL) spectra. FTIR revealed that Ru2S3 nanoparticles are capped through the interaction of the –NH2 group of hexadecylamine HDA adsorbed on the surfaces of nanoparticles and it also showed that oleic acid (OA) is acting as both coordinating stabilizing surfactant and capping agent. The XRD confirmed the successful formation of Ru2S3 nanoparticles induced by the thermal decomposition of series of [Ru(S2CNR2)3] complexes. The diffraction peaks: 2θ = 29.43, 40.54, 49.33, 51.86, 61.92, and 75.94 were assign the Miler indices (hkl) to be (111), (211), (220), (300), (222) and (330) reflections, respectively, and were found to be in agreement with a cubic crystal structure reported in database file of (JCPDS 19-1107). The particle sizes estimated from Scherer's equation were found in a range between 2.5 and 4.9 nm. EDS spectra reveal that the prepared nanoparticles are mainly composed of Ru and S, confirming the presence of Ru2S3 nanoparticles in cubic phase. The inner morphology of nanoparticles was obtained by transmission electron microscopy (TEM) and most nanoparticles had narrow particle size distribution characterized by an average diameter of 8.45 nm with a standard deviation of 1.6 nm. The optical band gap (Eg) determined from Tauc plot was found in the range (3.44 to 4.18 eV) values.
- Full Text:
- Date Issued: 2017
- Authors: Mbese, Johannes Zanoxolo
- Date: 2017
- Subjects: Nanoparticles Ruthenium compounds
- Language: English
- Type: Thesis , Doctoral , DPhil
- Identifier: http://hdl.handle.net/10353/15420 , vital:40406
- Description: The present Thesis pioneer the application of single-source molecular precursor method for the synthesis of ruthenium sulfide nanoparticles using a series of novel self-prepared single-source molecular precursors. The preparation of precursors involved the design and synthesis of compounds containing all the desired elements required within the coordination compound. Good precursors are tailored to give reproducible, clean decomposition at moderate temperatures, leading to high quality, defect free, mono-dispersed nanoparticles. Nine (9) homonuclear tris-dithiocarbamato ruthenium(III) complexes, [Ru(S2CNR2)3] were prepared from a stoichiometric reaction of RuCl3·H2O with self-prepared dithiocarbamate ligands at room temperature in a molar ratio of Ru3+: Ligand of 1:3. Dithiocarbamate ligands were derived from a stoichiometric reaction of carbon disulfide with (aniline, N-allylmethylamine, p-toluidine, p-anisidine, N-ethyl-m-toluidine, piperidine, morpholine, di-isopropylamine, and diallylamine) in the presence of concentrated ammonia or potassium hydroxide in ice cold bath. The dithiocarbamate ligands and complexes were characterized by elemental analyses, UV-Vis, Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR), 1H- and 13C-NMR spectroscopy. Thermogravimetric analyses (TGA) was used to study the decomposition profiles of the precursor complexes. The results obtained from the TGA of precursors showed that the complexes decompose to ruthenium sulfide nanoparticles. The FTIR spectra of the ligands revealed prominent strong absorption bands ascribed to v(N-H) stretching vibrations and also confirm the bidentate coordination of the dithiocarbamate ligands. Ruthenium(III) complexes show absorption spectra in the visible region that exhibit bands attributed to n → π* electronic transitions located on the sulfur atoms located in the S–C–S and N–C–S chromophores of the bidentate dithiocarbamate ligands respectively. The absorption spectra also confirmed the geometry of ruthenium(III) complexes to be octahedral. The proposed structures of dithiocarbamate ligands and ruthenium(III) complexes were confirmed by the 1H- and 13C-NMR. The complexes were used as single-source molecular precursors for the synthesis of ruthenium sulfide nanoparticles. The structural and optical properties were studied using transmission electron microscope (TEM), scanning electron microscope (SEM), energy dispersive X-ray spectroscopy (EDS), UV-Vis absorption and photoluminescence (PL) spectra. FTIR revealed that Ru2S3 nanoparticles are capped through the interaction of the –NH2 group of hexadecylamine HDA adsorbed on the surfaces of nanoparticles and it also showed that oleic acid (OA) is acting as both coordinating stabilizing surfactant and capping agent. The XRD confirmed the successful formation of Ru2S3 nanoparticles induced by the thermal decomposition of series of [Ru(S2CNR2)3] complexes. The diffraction peaks: 2θ = 29.43, 40.54, 49.33, 51.86, 61.92, and 75.94 were assign the Miler indices (hkl) to be (111), (211), (220), (300), (222) and (330) reflections, respectively, and were found to be in agreement with a cubic crystal structure reported in database file of (JCPDS 19-1107). The particle sizes estimated from Scherer's equation were found in a range between 2.5 and 4.9 nm. EDS spectra reveal that the prepared nanoparticles are mainly composed of Ru and S, confirming the presence of Ru2S3 nanoparticles in cubic phase. The inner morphology of nanoparticles was obtained by transmission electron microscopy (TEM) and most nanoparticles had narrow particle size distribution characterized by an average diameter of 8.45 nm with a standard deviation of 1.6 nm. The optical band gap (Eg) determined from Tauc plot was found in the range (3.44 to 4.18 eV) values.
- Full Text:
- Date Issued: 2017
Self-determined development practices for a marginalised San community of Tsumkwe East in Otjozondjupa Region, Namibia
- Authors: Chingwe, Shuvai
- Date: 2017
- Subjects: San (African people) -- Namibia San (African people) -- Namibia -- Social conditions , San (African people) -- Namibia -- Politics and government Indigenous peoples -- Namibia
- Language: English
- Type: Thesis , Doctoral , DPhil
- Identifier: http://hdl.handle.net/10948/33239 , vital:32597
- Description: This study was an exploration of self-determined development practices as a panacea for poverty reduction in the San communities. The main aim of this study was to propose possible strategies for eliminating the marginalisation of San in order to reduce poverty. This study was guided by an Indigenous research paradigm. This study used an Indigenous research methodology because it ensures that research on Indigenous issues is carried out in a more respectful, ethical, correct, sympathetic, useful and beneficial fashion seen from the point of Indigenous people. Nine out of thirty-six villages in Tsumkwe East participated in this study. Data collection was done through key informant interviews and conversational methods namely talking circles and storying. The findings of this study reveal that the marginalisation of the Ju/’hoansi San of Nyae Nyae and other San communities is closely related to their loss of ancestral land during the colonial and post-colonial era. Although the Ju/’hoansi San have fought to maintain their ancestral lands, hunting which is their main livelihood has been restricted by government regulation. The restriction on their hunting and gathering culture has been the major contribution to their marginalisation as they can no longer fend for themselves as their forefathers used to do. Despite a multitude of factors militating against the self-determination of San communities, the Ju/’hoansi San have managed to express their voice through a remnant of their hunting and gathering culture. This study also reveals that there are two important actors in Nyae Nyae namely the government of the Republic of Namibia and the Nyae Nyae Conservancy. Nyae Nyae Conservancy is a community based natural resource management organisation which has taken a participatory developmental approach to the development of Tsumkwe East. The government has taken more of a welfare approach. Although the mainstream has labelled San people lazy, uneducated, backward and uncivilised, the success of the Nyae Nyae Conservancy which is managed by the Ju/’hoansi San is a testimony to the contrary. This study reveals that the government has failed to deliver on its policy of meeting all the welfare needs of the Ju/’hoansi San but the conservancy has risen to be a relevant organisation meeting the needs of the community whilst respecting their culture and identity as a hunting and gathering community. This study concludes that self-determined development practices maybe a panacea for the development of San communities. This can be made possible by supporting the San’s hunting and gathering livelihoods, respecting their culture, securing their land and resource rights, through long-term and consistent capacity building and supporting a culturally relevant education system.
- Full Text:
- Date Issued: 2017
- Authors: Chingwe, Shuvai
- Date: 2017
- Subjects: San (African people) -- Namibia San (African people) -- Namibia -- Social conditions , San (African people) -- Namibia -- Politics and government Indigenous peoples -- Namibia
- Language: English
- Type: Thesis , Doctoral , DPhil
- Identifier: http://hdl.handle.net/10948/33239 , vital:32597
- Description: This study was an exploration of self-determined development practices as a panacea for poverty reduction in the San communities. The main aim of this study was to propose possible strategies for eliminating the marginalisation of San in order to reduce poverty. This study was guided by an Indigenous research paradigm. This study used an Indigenous research methodology because it ensures that research on Indigenous issues is carried out in a more respectful, ethical, correct, sympathetic, useful and beneficial fashion seen from the point of Indigenous people. Nine out of thirty-six villages in Tsumkwe East participated in this study. Data collection was done through key informant interviews and conversational methods namely talking circles and storying. The findings of this study reveal that the marginalisation of the Ju/’hoansi San of Nyae Nyae and other San communities is closely related to their loss of ancestral land during the colonial and post-colonial era. Although the Ju/’hoansi San have fought to maintain their ancestral lands, hunting which is their main livelihood has been restricted by government regulation. The restriction on their hunting and gathering culture has been the major contribution to their marginalisation as they can no longer fend for themselves as their forefathers used to do. Despite a multitude of factors militating against the self-determination of San communities, the Ju/’hoansi San have managed to express their voice through a remnant of their hunting and gathering culture. This study also reveals that there are two important actors in Nyae Nyae namely the government of the Republic of Namibia and the Nyae Nyae Conservancy. Nyae Nyae Conservancy is a community based natural resource management organisation which has taken a participatory developmental approach to the development of Tsumkwe East. The government has taken more of a welfare approach. Although the mainstream has labelled San people lazy, uneducated, backward and uncivilised, the success of the Nyae Nyae Conservancy which is managed by the Ju/’hoansi San is a testimony to the contrary. This study reveals that the government has failed to deliver on its policy of meeting all the welfare needs of the Ju/’hoansi San but the conservancy has risen to be a relevant organisation meeting the needs of the community whilst respecting their culture and identity as a hunting and gathering community. This study concludes that self-determined development practices maybe a panacea for the development of San communities. This can be made possible by supporting the San’s hunting and gathering livelihoods, respecting their culture, securing their land and resource rights, through long-term and consistent capacity building and supporting a culturally relevant education system.
- Full Text:
- Date Issued: 2017
South African public sector property management: a performance model
- Mali-Swelindawo, Bongiwe Lorreta, Yan, Bingwen
- Authors: Mali-Swelindawo, Bongiwe Lorreta , Yan, Bingwen
- Date: 2017
- Subjects: Performance -- Management -- South Africa Performance standards -- South Africa , Public buildings -- South Africa Real estate management -- South Africa
- Language: English
- Type: Thesis , Doctoral , DPhil
- Identifier: http://hdl.handle.net/10948/21185 , vital:29454
- Description: This research was conducted with the intention of accomplishing effective property management (PM) in order for public sector properties in South Africa (SA) SA to fulfil more remarkably, public sector property stakeholders’ requirements. In particular, this study was concluded within a South African municipal environment with the specific purpose of alleviating South African municipalities from problems associated with overall poor operational performance, dissatisfied public sector property stakeholders, and inadequacies in competitiveness and global alignment. The primary objective of this study was to develop a performance model deemed necessary for the effective management of public sector properties in SA. This was achieved by developing a performance model for effective management of public sector properties, a model to systematically monitor, measure and control current expectations and changes within a public sector property management function. Herewith, performance model for effective management of public sector properties in South Africa. At the time of conducting this study, there was no conceptual model developed for performance management of public sector properties. In order to develop the performance model, the conceptual model identified key elements that included: 1) obsolescence and strategic factors; 2) global alignment; 3) finance and cost control; 4) PESTEL impact; 5) transformation and sustainability; 6) leadership and governance; and 7) monitoring, measurement and control as influences that directly impact a perceived successful management of public sector properties in SA. The study also took the form of a quantitative research project that included a formal survey of the identified population sample. The main statistical procedure employed was Structural Equation Modelling (SEM). Originally, the study offered 24 hypotheses; however, only 11 hypotheses could be confirmed by SEM measurement. Therefore, through SEM, the significance of the relationships between variables could be tested. Appropriate quantitative data were collected from public and private South African Built Environment professionals, students and other academics. The research made use of snowball sampling through questionnaires, with a sample size of 171. It is anticipated that findings of this study will be acknowledged by public sector PM in an effort to resolve PM problems through the incorporation of pertinent recommendations. Likewise, since the performance model for effective management of public sector properties was not extant prior to this study, this research is cutting-edge and therefore pioneering to PM, especially within the public sector.
- Full Text:
- Date Issued: 2017
- Authors: Mali-Swelindawo, Bongiwe Lorreta , Yan, Bingwen
- Date: 2017
- Subjects: Performance -- Management -- South Africa Performance standards -- South Africa , Public buildings -- South Africa Real estate management -- South Africa
- Language: English
- Type: Thesis , Doctoral , DPhil
- Identifier: http://hdl.handle.net/10948/21185 , vital:29454
- Description: This research was conducted with the intention of accomplishing effective property management (PM) in order for public sector properties in South Africa (SA) SA to fulfil more remarkably, public sector property stakeholders’ requirements. In particular, this study was concluded within a South African municipal environment with the specific purpose of alleviating South African municipalities from problems associated with overall poor operational performance, dissatisfied public sector property stakeholders, and inadequacies in competitiveness and global alignment. The primary objective of this study was to develop a performance model deemed necessary for the effective management of public sector properties in SA. This was achieved by developing a performance model for effective management of public sector properties, a model to systematically monitor, measure and control current expectations and changes within a public sector property management function. Herewith, performance model for effective management of public sector properties in South Africa. At the time of conducting this study, there was no conceptual model developed for performance management of public sector properties. In order to develop the performance model, the conceptual model identified key elements that included: 1) obsolescence and strategic factors; 2) global alignment; 3) finance and cost control; 4) PESTEL impact; 5) transformation and sustainability; 6) leadership and governance; and 7) monitoring, measurement and control as influences that directly impact a perceived successful management of public sector properties in SA. The study also took the form of a quantitative research project that included a formal survey of the identified population sample. The main statistical procedure employed was Structural Equation Modelling (SEM). Originally, the study offered 24 hypotheses; however, only 11 hypotheses could be confirmed by SEM measurement. Therefore, through SEM, the significance of the relationships between variables could be tested. Appropriate quantitative data were collected from public and private South African Built Environment professionals, students and other academics. The research made use of snowball sampling through questionnaires, with a sample size of 171. It is anticipated that findings of this study will be acknowledged by public sector PM in an effort to resolve PM problems through the incorporation of pertinent recommendations. Likewise, since the performance model for effective management of public sector properties was not extant prior to this study, this research is cutting-edge and therefore pioneering to PM, especially within the public sector.
- Full Text:
- Date Issued: 2017
Studies on acoustic properties of non-woven fabrics
- Authors: Mvubu, Mlando Basel
- Date: 2017
- Subjects: Needlepunch (Nonwoven fabric) Nonwoven fabrics , Textile fabrics
- Language: English
- Type: Thesis , Doctoral , DPhil
- Identifier: http://hdl.handle.net/10948/19387 , vital:28866
- Description: This study is divided in to two main parts. The first part deals with the optimization of process parameters of needle-punched non-woven fabrics for achieving maximum sound absorption by employing a Box-Behnken factorial design. The influence of fibre type, depth of needle penetration and stroke frequency on sound absorption properties were studied. These parameters were varied at three levels during experimental trials. From multiple regression analysis, it was observed that the depth of needle penetration alone was the most dominant factor among the selected parameters, which was followed by the interaction between depth of needle penetration and stroke frequency. Fibre type was the least dominant parameter affecting sound absorption. A maximum sound absorption coefficient of 47% (0.47) was obtained from the selected parameters. The results showed that for a process such as needle-punching, which is influenced by multiple variables, it is important to also study the interactive effects of process parameters for achieving optimum sound absorption. The second part of the study deals with the effect of type of natural fibre (fineness), and the blending ratio (with PET fibres) on the air permeability of the needle-punched non-woven fabrics and then it proceeds to study the effect of the air-gap, type of natural fibre (fineness) and blending ratio (with PET fibres) on sound absorption of needle-punched non-woven fabrics. These parameters are tested individually and their two way interaction (synergy) effect using ANOVA. The air-gap was varied from 0mm to 25mm with 5mm increments, three natural fibre types were used and all were blended with polyester fibres at three blending ratios for each natural fibre type. The Univariate Tests of Significance shows that all three parameters have a significant effect on sound absorption together with two two-way interactions, with the exception of the Blend Ratio × Air Gap two-way interaction which was not significant. It was found that the sound absorption improves with the increase in the air-gap size up to 15mm after which sound absorption decreased slightly with the further increase in the air-gap up to 25mm.
- Full Text:
- Date Issued: 2017
- Authors: Mvubu, Mlando Basel
- Date: 2017
- Subjects: Needlepunch (Nonwoven fabric) Nonwoven fabrics , Textile fabrics
- Language: English
- Type: Thesis , Doctoral , DPhil
- Identifier: http://hdl.handle.net/10948/19387 , vital:28866
- Description: This study is divided in to two main parts. The first part deals with the optimization of process parameters of needle-punched non-woven fabrics for achieving maximum sound absorption by employing a Box-Behnken factorial design. The influence of fibre type, depth of needle penetration and stroke frequency on sound absorption properties were studied. These parameters were varied at three levels during experimental trials. From multiple regression analysis, it was observed that the depth of needle penetration alone was the most dominant factor among the selected parameters, which was followed by the interaction between depth of needle penetration and stroke frequency. Fibre type was the least dominant parameter affecting sound absorption. A maximum sound absorption coefficient of 47% (0.47) was obtained from the selected parameters. The results showed that for a process such as needle-punching, which is influenced by multiple variables, it is important to also study the interactive effects of process parameters for achieving optimum sound absorption. The second part of the study deals with the effect of type of natural fibre (fineness), and the blending ratio (with PET fibres) on the air permeability of the needle-punched non-woven fabrics and then it proceeds to study the effect of the air-gap, type of natural fibre (fineness) and blending ratio (with PET fibres) on sound absorption of needle-punched non-woven fabrics. These parameters are tested individually and their two way interaction (synergy) effect using ANOVA. The air-gap was varied from 0mm to 25mm with 5mm increments, three natural fibre types were used and all were blended with polyester fibres at three blending ratios for each natural fibre type. The Univariate Tests of Significance shows that all three parameters have a significant effect on sound absorption together with two two-way interactions, with the exception of the Blend Ratio × Air Gap two-way interaction which was not significant. It was found that the sound absorption improves with the increase in the air-gap size up to 15mm after which sound absorption decreased slightly with the further increase in the air-gap up to 25mm.
- Full Text:
- Date Issued: 2017
The design and testing of a national estuarine monitoring prgramme for South Africa
- Authors: Cilliers, Gerhard Jordaan
- Date: 2017
- Subjects: Estuaries -- South Africa Berg Estuary (South Africa)
- Language: English
- Type: Thesis , Doctoral , DPhil
- Identifier: http://hdl.handle.net/10948/15490 , vital:28258
- Description: Adaptive water resource management requires sound scientific based decisions, emanating from robust scientific data. The Department of Environmental Affairs are mandated for collaborative management of the South African coast, including estuaries, through the Integrated Coastal Management Act (Act no 24 of 2008) (ICMA). The Department Water and Sanitation is mandated through the National Water Act (Act no 36 of 1998) (NWA) to design, test and implement monitoring programmes to provide water resource data. Extensive freshwater monitoring programmes exist in South Africa but there is no standard long-term monitoring programme for estuaries. This study designed and tested a National Estuarine Monitoring Programme (NESMP) that is anchored in the NWA and the ICMA. The design was based on a review of international estuary monitoring programmes, consultation with relevant role players and five decades experience in the design, testing and implementation of water resource monitoring programmes by DWS. The main objective of this thesis is 1) to design a national estuarine monitoring programme 2) test the design of the programme for practical implementation by reflecting on collected data from case studies, and 3) design a Decision Support System to translate complex monitoring data into management information. The main objective of the NESMP is 1) to collect long-term data to determine trends in the condition of estuaries in South Africa and 2) to provide management orientated information for effective estuary management. The National Estuary Monitoring programme consists of three tiers. Tier 1 focuses on basic data including system variables and nutrient data. Tier 2 collects data required for the determination of the Ecological Water Requirements (EWR) of estuaries in accordance with a standardised method used by DWS. A tailor made monitoring programme addressing specific issues including pollution incidents and localised development pressure, making use of a combination of Tier 1 and Tier 2 components, forms Tier 3 of the NESMP. This study tested the Tier 1 components of the programme on 28 estuaries across the South African coast since 2012. However, due to space constraints, the data reflected on in this thesis, is only for case studies on the Berg and Breede estuaries between 2012 and 2016. The results indicate that the establishment and operation of the NESMP on South African estuaries making use of monthly surveys, and the deployment of permanent water quality loggers, in line with the proposed protocol, are possible. This does however require collaboration with other role players in order to share responsibility and associated resources. A tiered management structure ensures national, regional and local level implementation takes place seamlessly. A decision support system (DSS) was also designed as part of this thesis to assist with data interpretation and the creation of management orientated information. This DSS includes a measurement of the percentage exceedance of the Threshold of Potential Concern (TPC), which acts as an early warning system for water resource deterioration. This study showed that effective collaboration will ensure the sustainability of the NESMP. Implementation of the more complex and resource intensive Tier 2 and Tier 3 sampling will however need to be investigated to establish the overall success of the NESMP.
- Full Text:
- Date Issued: 2017
- Authors: Cilliers, Gerhard Jordaan
- Date: 2017
- Subjects: Estuaries -- South Africa Berg Estuary (South Africa)
- Language: English
- Type: Thesis , Doctoral , DPhil
- Identifier: http://hdl.handle.net/10948/15490 , vital:28258
- Description: Adaptive water resource management requires sound scientific based decisions, emanating from robust scientific data. The Department of Environmental Affairs are mandated for collaborative management of the South African coast, including estuaries, through the Integrated Coastal Management Act (Act no 24 of 2008) (ICMA). The Department Water and Sanitation is mandated through the National Water Act (Act no 36 of 1998) (NWA) to design, test and implement monitoring programmes to provide water resource data. Extensive freshwater monitoring programmes exist in South Africa but there is no standard long-term monitoring programme for estuaries. This study designed and tested a National Estuarine Monitoring Programme (NESMP) that is anchored in the NWA and the ICMA. The design was based on a review of international estuary monitoring programmes, consultation with relevant role players and five decades experience in the design, testing and implementation of water resource monitoring programmes by DWS. The main objective of this thesis is 1) to design a national estuarine monitoring programme 2) test the design of the programme for practical implementation by reflecting on collected data from case studies, and 3) design a Decision Support System to translate complex monitoring data into management information. The main objective of the NESMP is 1) to collect long-term data to determine trends in the condition of estuaries in South Africa and 2) to provide management orientated information for effective estuary management. The National Estuary Monitoring programme consists of three tiers. Tier 1 focuses on basic data including system variables and nutrient data. Tier 2 collects data required for the determination of the Ecological Water Requirements (EWR) of estuaries in accordance with a standardised method used by DWS. A tailor made monitoring programme addressing specific issues including pollution incidents and localised development pressure, making use of a combination of Tier 1 and Tier 2 components, forms Tier 3 of the NESMP. This study tested the Tier 1 components of the programme on 28 estuaries across the South African coast since 2012. However, due to space constraints, the data reflected on in this thesis, is only for case studies on the Berg and Breede estuaries between 2012 and 2016. The results indicate that the establishment and operation of the NESMP on South African estuaries making use of monthly surveys, and the deployment of permanent water quality loggers, in line with the proposed protocol, are possible. This does however require collaboration with other role players in order to share responsibility and associated resources. A tiered management structure ensures national, regional and local level implementation takes place seamlessly. A decision support system (DSS) was also designed as part of this thesis to assist with data interpretation and the creation of management orientated information. This DSS includes a measurement of the percentage exceedance of the Threshold of Potential Concern (TPC), which acts as an early warning system for water resource deterioration. This study showed that effective collaboration will ensure the sustainability of the NESMP. Implementation of the more complex and resource intensive Tier 2 and Tier 3 sampling will however need to be investigated to establish the overall success of the NESMP.
- Full Text:
- Date Issued: 2017
The effect of synthetically-derived xanthone compounds on the suppression of the progression of breast cancer and the associated complications
- Authors: Davison, Candace
- Date: 2017
- Subjects: Breast -- Cancer -- Chemotherapy Breast -- Cancer -- Prevention , Antibacterial agents -- Therapeutic use
- Language: English
- Type: Thesis , Doctoral , DPhil
- Identifier: http://hdl.handle.net/10948/13889 , vital:27354
- Description: Breast cancer is the most frequently diagnosed cancer in women worldwide.A treatment regime, both effective and safe and can only be achieved once more effective chemotherapeutic agents are discovered or identified. These “drugs” must selectively induce cell death such as apoptosis or necroptosis in the cancer cells. Apoptotic cell death allows a cell to “commit suicide” in genetically- controlled or programmed mechanism(s). The microenvironment of the tumour is important since a nurturing malignant environment is required for tumour maintenance, progression and ultimately the development of metastasis. Due to the correlation of the tumour microenvironment to aggressive tumour progression, emphasis should be placed on the constituents of the tumour’s microenvironment. In recent years, the understanding of intracellular pathways in cancer cells has increased rapidly, contributing to the development of drugs with more specific targets such as growth factors, signalling molecules, cell adhesion proteins, proteases, cell-cycle proteins, modulators of apoptosis and molecules that promote angiogenesis and metastasis. The main aim of this study was thus to identify a few potential or active compounds from a library of synthetically-derived compounds as possible alternative breast cancer treatment candidates.
- Full Text:
- Date Issued: 2017
- Authors: Davison, Candace
- Date: 2017
- Subjects: Breast -- Cancer -- Chemotherapy Breast -- Cancer -- Prevention , Antibacterial agents -- Therapeutic use
- Language: English
- Type: Thesis , Doctoral , DPhil
- Identifier: http://hdl.handle.net/10948/13889 , vital:27354
- Description: Breast cancer is the most frequently diagnosed cancer in women worldwide.A treatment regime, both effective and safe and can only be achieved once more effective chemotherapeutic agents are discovered or identified. These “drugs” must selectively induce cell death such as apoptosis or necroptosis in the cancer cells. Apoptotic cell death allows a cell to “commit suicide” in genetically- controlled or programmed mechanism(s). The microenvironment of the tumour is important since a nurturing malignant environment is required for tumour maintenance, progression and ultimately the development of metastasis. Due to the correlation of the tumour microenvironment to aggressive tumour progression, emphasis should be placed on the constituents of the tumour’s microenvironment. In recent years, the understanding of intracellular pathways in cancer cells has increased rapidly, contributing to the development of drugs with more specific targets such as growth factors, signalling molecules, cell adhesion proteins, proteases, cell-cycle proteins, modulators of apoptosis and molecules that promote angiogenesis and metastasis. The main aim of this study was thus to identify a few potential or active compounds from a library of synthetically-derived compounds as possible alternative breast cancer treatment candidates.
- Full Text:
- Date Issued: 2017
The impact of different exchange-rate policies on SADC economies
- Authors: Qabhobho, Thobekile
- Date: 2017
- Subjects: Southern African Development Community -- Economic conditions , Foreign exchange rates International economic relations Developing countries -- Economic policy
- Language: English
- Type: Thesis , Doctoral , DPhil
- Identifier: http://hdl.handle.net/10948/19883 , vital:28996
- Description: An exchange-rate regime is an essential element of a country’s regional and international trade, since it is the monetary link between its domestic and international economy. Appropriate exchange-rate regimes that would facilitate capital flows, trade, Foreign Direct Investment (FDI) and economic growth need to be identified and researched within the Southern Africa Development Community (SADC). This study investigated five underlying themes on exchange-rate regimes, behaviour and monetary policy-related issues in the SADC region: the different exchange-rate regimes’ performance and features – before, during and after the 2007/2008 financial crisis; the implication of the adopted exchange-rate regime on monetary-policy independence through examining the impact of the U.S. interest rate on domestic interest rates; the transmission of the South African exchange-rate volatility to other SADC currencies during and after the 2007/2008 financial crisis; the relationship between the exchange-market pressure and monetary policy, and the relationship between exchange rates and stock prices. The following models were used to address the identified themes: the Exchange-Flexibility Index; the Regression-Based Model; the General Methods of Moments (GMM) Model; the GARCH (p, q) Model; the Exponential GARCH Model; the VAR framework, and the Granger-Causality Tests in the VAR System, with their Impulse Response Functions (IRF) and Variance Decomposition. These models were applied to cover different aspects of the study before, during and after the 2007/ 2008 financial-crisis periods. They enabled critical evaluation of the exchange-rate policies, behaviours and performances. The results of the thesis indicate that, in general, both fixed and flexible exchange rates became more flexible after the crisis period and the influence of the United States (U.S.) Dollar, Chinese RMB and EURO was affirmed. There was no evidence of an increase in the co-ordination of SADC currency arrangements in the post-crisis period. Countries with a fixed exchange-rate regime responded more to international interest rates. The study further confirmed the presence of the Rand volatility-contagion effect during the crisis period, as well as its spill-over effect during tranquil periods, to most currency markets in the region. The evaluation of the relationship between the Exchange-Market Pressure (EMP) and monetary policy relationship revealed their close interdependence. This confirms traditional theories that a tighter monetary policy reduces the EMP. The portfolio theory was further affirmed in that stock prices Granger-cause the exchange rates. The recommendations emanating from this study include modernisation of the financial systems of SADC states to cope with foreign capital flows and external shocks, especially since global and regional economies are intensifying, as well as deepening of financial regulations and supervision of financial systems. Furthermore, there is a need for governments and central banks to synchronise their economic policies to minimise the negative effect of global financial crises. The fixed exchange rate regimes and intermediate regimes proved more suitable to countries with less exposure to global capital markets. However, they should prepare their financial institutions to cope with the transition from peg arrangements to more flexible exchange rate regimes. Countries are more appealing if they have more advanced financial markets, links to global capital markets and flexible exchange rate regimes. SADC countries will eventually engage in full global financial integration because of the intensification of global financial markets. This will require the countries to adopt exchange-rate stability and financial integration, but sacrifice monetary autonomy; alternatively, they could achieve monetary independence with financial integration, but sacrifice exchange-rate stability. The results clarify that currency exchange shocks in one country can cause a persistent rise in the volatility of other countries’ foreign exchange markets. These results show that the Central Banks in SADC countries will need to take policy actions following a large exchange rate shock. Therefore, the results on the exchange-rate volatility theme are useful for policy makers to formulate and implement appropriate policies in the event an adverse shock is observed in SADC exchange markets where contagion/spill over effect is empirically manifested. Even though a rise in short-term interest rates could reduce the EMP, it could also further raise the fluctuations of short-term interest rates. Stabilising the EMP through manipulating short-term interest rates will often heighten volatility of interest rates for an extended period. The assumption that changes in the exchange rate affect the competitiveness of a firm, thus influencing the firm’s earnings, net worth, and stock prices was not supported by the results of this study for the period under analysis. However, the results concur with the portfolio theory that stock prices Granger-cause the exchange rates. This might mean that there is high movement of investors’ money between the South African stock markets and that of other countries. This will have significant influence on the demand for and supply of the South African Rand, which often is in disequilibrium. The policy implication is that the Central Bank should pay more attention to stabilising exchange rates against the major currencies. The results of this study have critical implications for monetary authorities (Central Banks) and decision-makers in business.
- Full Text:
- Date Issued: 2017
- Authors: Qabhobho, Thobekile
- Date: 2017
- Subjects: Southern African Development Community -- Economic conditions , Foreign exchange rates International economic relations Developing countries -- Economic policy
- Language: English
- Type: Thesis , Doctoral , DPhil
- Identifier: http://hdl.handle.net/10948/19883 , vital:28996
- Description: An exchange-rate regime is an essential element of a country’s regional and international trade, since it is the monetary link between its domestic and international economy. Appropriate exchange-rate regimes that would facilitate capital flows, trade, Foreign Direct Investment (FDI) and economic growth need to be identified and researched within the Southern Africa Development Community (SADC). This study investigated five underlying themes on exchange-rate regimes, behaviour and monetary policy-related issues in the SADC region: the different exchange-rate regimes’ performance and features – before, during and after the 2007/2008 financial crisis; the implication of the adopted exchange-rate regime on monetary-policy independence through examining the impact of the U.S. interest rate on domestic interest rates; the transmission of the South African exchange-rate volatility to other SADC currencies during and after the 2007/2008 financial crisis; the relationship between the exchange-market pressure and monetary policy, and the relationship between exchange rates and stock prices. The following models were used to address the identified themes: the Exchange-Flexibility Index; the Regression-Based Model; the General Methods of Moments (GMM) Model; the GARCH (p, q) Model; the Exponential GARCH Model; the VAR framework, and the Granger-Causality Tests in the VAR System, with their Impulse Response Functions (IRF) and Variance Decomposition. These models were applied to cover different aspects of the study before, during and after the 2007/ 2008 financial-crisis periods. They enabled critical evaluation of the exchange-rate policies, behaviours and performances. The results of the thesis indicate that, in general, both fixed and flexible exchange rates became more flexible after the crisis period and the influence of the United States (U.S.) Dollar, Chinese RMB and EURO was affirmed. There was no evidence of an increase in the co-ordination of SADC currency arrangements in the post-crisis period. Countries with a fixed exchange-rate regime responded more to international interest rates. The study further confirmed the presence of the Rand volatility-contagion effect during the crisis period, as well as its spill-over effect during tranquil periods, to most currency markets in the region. The evaluation of the relationship between the Exchange-Market Pressure (EMP) and monetary policy relationship revealed their close interdependence. This confirms traditional theories that a tighter monetary policy reduces the EMP. The portfolio theory was further affirmed in that stock prices Granger-cause the exchange rates. The recommendations emanating from this study include modernisation of the financial systems of SADC states to cope with foreign capital flows and external shocks, especially since global and regional economies are intensifying, as well as deepening of financial regulations and supervision of financial systems. Furthermore, there is a need for governments and central banks to synchronise their economic policies to minimise the negative effect of global financial crises. The fixed exchange rate regimes and intermediate regimes proved more suitable to countries with less exposure to global capital markets. However, they should prepare their financial institutions to cope with the transition from peg arrangements to more flexible exchange rate regimes. Countries are more appealing if they have more advanced financial markets, links to global capital markets and flexible exchange rate regimes. SADC countries will eventually engage in full global financial integration because of the intensification of global financial markets. This will require the countries to adopt exchange-rate stability and financial integration, but sacrifice monetary autonomy; alternatively, they could achieve monetary independence with financial integration, but sacrifice exchange-rate stability. The results clarify that currency exchange shocks in one country can cause a persistent rise in the volatility of other countries’ foreign exchange markets. These results show that the Central Banks in SADC countries will need to take policy actions following a large exchange rate shock. Therefore, the results on the exchange-rate volatility theme are useful for policy makers to formulate and implement appropriate policies in the event an adverse shock is observed in SADC exchange markets where contagion/spill over effect is empirically manifested. Even though a rise in short-term interest rates could reduce the EMP, it could also further raise the fluctuations of short-term interest rates. Stabilising the EMP through manipulating short-term interest rates will often heighten volatility of interest rates for an extended period. The assumption that changes in the exchange rate affect the competitiveness of a firm, thus influencing the firm’s earnings, net worth, and stock prices was not supported by the results of this study for the period under analysis. However, the results concur with the portfolio theory that stock prices Granger-cause the exchange rates. This might mean that there is high movement of investors’ money between the South African stock markets and that of other countries. This will have significant influence on the demand for and supply of the South African Rand, which often is in disequilibrium. The policy implication is that the Central Bank should pay more attention to stabilising exchange rates against the major currencies. The results of this study have critical implications for monetary authorities (Central Banks) and decision-makers in business.
- Full Text:
- Date Issued: 2017
The impact of external shocks on economic performance and policy responses in Zimbabwe
- Authors: Manda, Smart
- Date: 2017
- Subjects: Macroeconomics , Economic forecasting -- Zimbabwe Economic development -- Zimbabwe Zimbabwe -- Economic conditions -- 21st century Developing countries -- Economic conditions
- Language: English
- Type: Thesis , Doctoral , DPhil
- Identifier: http://hdl.handle.net/10948/18354 , vital:28626
- Description: This study analysed the impact of external shocks on macroeconomic performance and policy responses in Zimbabwe for the period spanning from 2009 to 2016. The study was motivated by the rising global economic vulnerabilities following the global economic and financial crisis experienced between 2007 and 2009. The study was also in response to the concern by the Zimbabwean government that external shocks had become increasingly important in influencing macroeconomic developments in Zimbabwe. In view of the intensifying debate on external shocks, the study, therefore, sought to understand the impact of external shocks on economic performance and policy responses in Zimbabwe. The study contributes to empirical literature by assessing the relative contribution of external shocks in explaining business cycles, the main transmission mechanisms of the macroeconomic shocks in Zimbabwe, the extent to which shocks in Zimbabwe were synchronised with shocks affecting other regional countries and how effective were government policies in mitigating the impact of shocks in Zimbabwe. Zimbabwe is a fascinating case study given its unique exchange rate arrangements under the multiple currency system. The application of the micro-founded DSGE models in addition to the Structural Vector Autoregressive (SVAR) models is also a novel approach. The results of the DSGE model demonstrated that foreign output shocks and imported inflation were not important in accounting for developments in endogenous variables in Zimbabwe. In addition, the domestic output and inflation did not respond to a domestic monetary policy shock. However, the international commodity price was found to have some bearing on domestic output. Foreign interest rates had a positive effect on domestic interest rates. On the other hand, domestic variables did not respond to domestic interest rate movements. This effectively implies that whilst foreign interest rates influenced domestic interest rates, domestic interest rates did not influence real economic activity. In other words, the transmission mechanism was not from domestic monetary policy to real economic variables. The results of the SVAR model also confirmed the results obtained from the DSGE model. The results from the analysis of the synchronicity of shocks also provided very important information on the dynamics of external shocks and economic performance in Zimbabwe. These results pointed to the fact that although countries in the region experienced similar shocks, economic fluctuations were not synchronised implying that the shocks could be emanating from the domestic sources rather than external sources. The results from the analysis of the role of external shocks in explaining macroeconomic fluctuations in Zimbabwe revealed that domestic factors contribute more to macroeconomic fluctuations in Zimbabwe compared to external variables. The contribution of climatic factors to domestic output fluctuations was, however, found to have a limited or minimal impact on the economy. Regarding the monetary policy effectiveness, the study observed that there was a weak link between interest rates and output and inflation developments in Zimbabwe. The results also suggested a week link between interest rates and money supply in the economy. The results, however, suggested that international oil prices were very important in the domestic price formations, accounting for about 20 percent of the variation. The monetary policy conditional index on the other hand indicated that monetary conditions in the economy did not influence inflation and output developments, implying ineffectiveness of monetary policy. The results from the study demonstrated the fact that although external shocks do affect economic activity in Zimbabwe, domestic factors are more significant in influencing macroeconomic activity. The policy implication of the findings is that there is need to consider the domestic factors, which are more significant compared to the external factors. However, since monetary policy is not effective under the multiple currencies system, fiscal policy is important to deal with external shocks. This will also enable the economy to absorb the impact of external shocks into the economy. The policies should focus more on reducing the over-reliance on primary commodities for exports through diversification of the economy.
- Full Text:
- Date Issued: 2017
- Authors: Manda, Smart
- Date: 2017
- Subjects: Macroeconomics , Economic forecasting -- Zimbabwe Economic development -- Zimbabwe Zimbabwe -- Economic conditions -- 21st century Developing countries -- Economic conditions
- Language: English
- Type: Thesis , Doctoral , DPhil
- Identifier: http://hdl.handle.net/10948/18354 , vital:28626
- Description: This study analysed the impact of external shocks on macroeconomic performance and policy responses in Zimbabwe for the period spanning from 2009 to 2016. The study was motivated by the rising global economic vulnerabilities following the global economic and financial crisis experienced between 2007 and 2009. The study was also in response to the concern by the Zimbabwean government that external shocks had become increasingly important in influencing macroeconomic developments in Zimbabwe. In view of the intensifying debate on external shocks, the study, therefore, sought to understand the impact of external shocks on economic performance and policy responses in Zimbabwe. The study contributes to empirical literature by assessing the relative contribution of external shocks in explaining business cycles, the main transmission mechanisms of the macroeconomic shocks in Zimbabwe, the extent to which shocks in Zimbabwe were synchronised with shocks affecting other regional countries and how effective were government policies in mitigating the impact of shocks in Zimbabwe. Zimbabwe is a fascinating case study given its unique exchange rate arrangements under the multiple currency system. The application of the micro-founded DSGE models in addition to the Structural Vector Autoregressive (SVAR) models is also a novel approach. The results of the DSGE model demonstrated that foreign output shocks and imported inflation were not important in accounting for developments in endogenous variables in Zimbabwe. In addition, the domestic output and inflation did not respond to a domestic monetary policy shock. However, the international commodity price was found to have some bearing on domestic output. Foreign interest rates had a positive effect on domestic interest rates. On the other hand, domestic variables did not respond to domestic interest rate movements. This effectively implies that whilst foreign interest rates influenced domestic interest rates, domestic interest rates did not influence real economic activity. In other words, the transmission mechanism was not from domestic monetary policy to real economic variables. The results of the SVAR model also confirmed the results obtained from the DSGE model. The results from the analysis of the synchronicity of shocks also provided very important information on the dynamics of external shocks and economic performance in Zimbabwe. These results pointed to the fact that although countries in the region experienced similar shocks, economic fluctuations were not synchronised implying that the shocks could be emanating from the domestic sources rather than external sources. The results from the analysis of the role of external shocks in explaining macroeconomic fluctuations in Zimbabwe revealed that domestic factors contribute more to macroeconomic fluctuations in Zimbabwe compared to external variables. The contribution of climatic factors to domestic output fluctuations was, however, found to have a limited or minimal impact on the economy. Regarding the monetary policy effectiveness, the study observed that there was a weak link between interest rates and output and inflation developments in Zimbabwe. The results also suggested a week link between interest rates and money supply in the economy. The results, however, suggested that international oil prices were very important in the domestic price formations, accounting for about 20 percent of the variation. The monetary policy conditional index on the other hand indicated that monetary conditions in the economy did not influence inflation and output developments, implying ineffectiveness of monetary policy. The results from the study demonstrated the fact that although external shocks do affect economic activity in Zimbabwe, domestic factors are more significant in influencing macroeconomic activity. The policy implication of the findings is that there is need to consider the domestic factors, which are more significant compared to the external factors. However, since monetary policy is not effective under the multiple currencies system, fiscal policy is important to deal with external shocks. This will also enable the economy to absorb the impact of external shocks into the economy. The policies should focus more on reducing the over-reliance on primary commodities for exports through diversification of the economy.
- Full Text:
- Date Issued: 2017
The impact of trade liberalisation on Cote d’Ivoire
- Authors: Guei, Kore Marc Antoine
- Date: 2017
- Subjects: Trade regulation -- Côte d'Ivoire Free trade -- Côte d'Ivoire , Developing countries -- Economic conditions
- Language: English
- Type: Thesis , Doctoral , DPhil
- Identifier: http://hdl.handle.net/10948/17514 , vital:28373
- Description: The process of trade liberalisation and market-oriented economic reforms was initiated in many developing countries in early 1980s; and it intensified in 1990s. In 1994, Cote d’Ivoire was assisted by the IMF to implement trade-policy reforms under Structural Adjustment Programme (SAP). After adopting SAP, the country witnessed soaring balance-of-payment problems, contraction of output, unemployment and the loss of government revenue. Several factors, which were at play resulted in dismal economic performance under SAP. In order to consolidate gains in competitiveness, and achieve high and sustainable growth, the Ivorian authorities coordinated efforts to establish and intra-regional custom tariffs among the member of the West African and Monetary Union (WAEMU), the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS), World Trade Organisation (WTO), Economic Partnership Agreements (EPAs) and bilateral agreements. It is against this background that this study is undertaken, in order to evaluate the impact of different trade-policy regimes on trade, welfare and revenue in Cote d’Ivoire. This study used one model: World Integrated Trade Solutions/Software for Market Analysis and Restrictions on Trade (WITS/SMART). The WITS/SMART model was used because of its ability in analysing the tariff effect of a single market on disaggregated product lines. The model also has the capability to analyse the effects of trade-policy reforms in the presence of imperfect substitutes. Using the WITS/SMART model, the study considered seven trade-liberalisation frameworks for Cote d’Ivoire: full implementation of the ECOWAS free trade agreement (FTA), ECOWAS common external tariff (CET), WAEMU CET, WAEMU FTA, EPAs, BFTAs and WTO FTA. The WITS/SMART model reveals that all trade liberalisation scenarios may cause welfare gains – due to the plummeting of prices. However, in all trade liberalisation scenarios, welfare gains were found to be is insignificant. In all cases, welfare gains fell far short of compensating for revenue loss. The impact of trade liberalisation on exports and imports was met with mixed reactions. For the WAEMU customs union and the ECOWAS customs union, and WTO FTA, trade reforms are likely to face serious balance-of-payment problems, as imports exceeded exports by significant margins. With respect to revenue loss, of all trading arrangements, the WTO FTA presents a serious challenge for Cote d’Ivoire revenue followed by BFTAs, ECOWAS FTA, EPAs, ECOWAS CET, WAEMU CET, and WAEMU FTA with anticipated revenue losses. Another challenge for Cote d’Ivoire is the presence of trade creation effects, which were observed in all trade reform scenarios. From this study, it appeared that WAEMU CET poses serious threats of trade creation followed by WTO FTA, BFTA, SADC FTA, COMESA CET, SADC CET, EPAs and WAEMU FTA. Specifically, the study highlighted that Cote d’Ivoire, on balance loses out on trade liberalisation, mainly from revenue loss and possible de-industrialisation from trade-creation effects. The study has also revealed that Cote d’Ivoire offers excessive tax exemptions, which worsens the fiscal position of the country in the face of trade liberalisation. Hence, based on the findings, this study recommends that Cote d’Ivoire needs to call for the design of a financial facility aimed at assisting industries affected by trade-creation effects. The country needs to consider improving the collection of revenue from alternative sources, such as VAT, excise duties, personal and company taxes and excise duty, in order to cushion itself against the revenue loss impact of trade reforms. Government could also consider widening the tax base, by taxing the informal sector, which has been growing rapidly in the past years. In addition, policies aimed at exports promotion, such as export subsidies, trade finance and the strengthening of trade-promotion organisations should be considered. The outcome of this study provides a wake-up call to developing countries engaged in the WTO negotiations and other regional trading arrangements.
- Full Text:
- Date Issued: 2017
- Authors: Guei, Kore Marc Antoine
- Date: 2017
- Subjects: Trade regulation -- Côte d'Ivoire Free trade -- Côte d'Ivoire , Developing countries -- Economic conditions
- Language: English
- Type: Thesis , Doctoral , DPhil
- Identifier: http://hdl.handle.net/10948/17514 , vital:28373
- Description: The process of trade liberalisation and market-oriented economic reforms was initiated in many developing countries in early 1980s; and it intensified in 1990s. In 1994, Cote d’Ivoire was assisted by the IMF to implement trade-policy reforms under Structural Adjustment Programme (SAP). After adopting SAP, the country witnessed soaring balance-of-payment problems, contraction of output, unemployment and the loss of government revenue. Several factors, which were at play resulted in dismal economic performance under SAP. In order to consolidate gains in competitiveness, and achieve high and sustainable growth, the Ivorian authorities coordinated efforts to establish and intra-regional custom tariffs among the member of the West African and Monetary Union (WAEMU), the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS), World Trade Organisation (WTO), Economic Partnership Agreements (EPAs) and bilateral agreements. It is against this background that this study is undertaken, in order to evaluate the impact of different trade-policy regimes on trade, welfare and revenue in Cote d’Ivoire. This study used one model: World Integrated Trade Solutions/Software for Market Analysis and Restrictions on Trade (WITS/SMART). The WITS/SMART model was used because of its ability in analysing the tariff effect of a single market on disaggregated product lines. The model also has the capability to analyse the effects of trade-policy reforms in the presence of imperfect substitutes. Using the WITS/SMART model, the study considered seven trade-liberalisation frameworks for Cote d’Ivoire: full implementation of the ECOWAS free trade agreement (FTA), ECOWAS common external tariff (CET), WAEMU CET, WAEMU FTA, EPAs, BFTAs and WTO FTA. The WITS/SMART model reveals that all trade liberalisation scenarios may cause welfare gains – due to the plummeting of prices. However, in all trade liberalisation scenarios, welfare gains were found to be is insignificant. In all cases, welfare gains fell far short of compensating for revenue loss. The impact of trade liberalisation on exports and imports was met with mixed reactions. For the WAEMU customs union and the ECOWAS customs union, and WTO FTA, trade reforms are likely to face serious balance-of-payment problems, as imports exceeded exports by significant margins. With respect to revenue loss, of all trading arrangements, the WTO FTA presents a serious challenge for Cote d’Ivoire revenue followed by BFTAs, ECOWAS FTA, EPAs, ECOWAS CET, WAEMU CET, and WAEMU FTA with anticipated revenue losses. Another challenge for Cote d’Ivoire is the presence of trade creation effects, which were observed in all trade reform scenarios. From this study, it appeared that WAEMU CET poses serious threats of trade creation followed by WTO FTA, BFTA, SADC FTA, COMESA CET, SADC CET, EPAs and WAEMU FTA. Specifically, the study highlighted that Cote d’Ivoire, on balance loses out on trade liberalisation, mainly from revenue loss and possible de-industrialisation from trade-creation effects. The study has also revealed that Cote d’Ivoire offers excessive tax exemptions, which worsens the fiscal position of the country in the face of trade liberalisation. Hence, based on the findings, this study recommends that Cote d’Ivoire needs to call for the design of a financial facility aimed at assisting industries affected by trade-creation effects. The country needs to consider improving the collection of revenue from alternative sources, such as VAT, excise duties, personal and company taxes and excise duty, in order to cushion itself against the revenue loss impact of trade reforms. Government could also consider widening the tax base, by taxing the informal sector, which has been growing rapidly in the past years. In addition, policies aimed at exports promotion, such as export subsidies, trade finance and the strengthening of trade-promotion organisations should be considered. The outcome of this study provides a wake-up call to developing countries engaged in the WTO negotiations and other regional trading arrangements.
- Full Text:
- Date Issued: 2017
The impact of trade liberalisation on Kenya
- Authors: Simiyu, Edwin Jairus
- Date: 2017
- Subjects: Trade regulation -- Kenya Free trade -- Kenya , Foreign trade regulation -- Kenya Developing countries -- Economic conditions
- Language: English
- Type: Thesis , Doctoral , DPhil
- Identifier: http://hdl.handle.net/10948/20244 , vital:29163
- Description: This study examined the impact of trade liberalisation on Kenya. It analysed the influence of trade liberalisation on trade creation, trade diversion, exports, imports, revenue effects and welfare effects. The developments in trade liberalisation and free-trade economic arrangements were introduced in Kenya and many developing countries in the early 1980s and strengthened from 1990s onward. The short term effects of the structural-adjustment programs were characterised by poor balance of payment conditions, high levels of unemployment, contraction of the imports from other countries, and government revenue losses, among other social problems. Notwithstanding the dismal performance of the Kenyan Economy after liberalisation, the Kenyan government continued to liberalise its trade under various frameworks such as the Economic Partnership agreements (EPAs) with the European Union, the World Trade Organization (WTO) and various bilateral free-trade agreements (BFTA) with its largest trading partners. This study used the World Integrated Trade Solutions-Software for Market Analysis and Restrictions on Trade (WITS/SMART) using 2008 as the base year. This method was used mainly because of its strengths to analyse the tariff effects of a sole market on disaggregate product lines. In addition the WITS/SMART model is able to analyse the impact of trade liberalisation in scenarios of imperfect substitutes. Hence, this study used the WITS/SMART Model to examine the trade liberalisation framework for Kenya under comprehensive implementation of COMESA customs Union, COMESA FTA, WTOFTA and the EPAs. The comparative valuation of the trade-creation effects reveals that the WTOFTA expected the highest trade-creation effects of US$995.16 million. This was followed by the various bilateral free-trade agreements which had a trade-creation effect of US$333.04 million, then COMESACU which had a trade-creation effect of US$310.50 million followed by the EPAs with a value of US$129.45 million. COMESA FTA was expecting trade-creation effects valued at US$15.51 million. These trade-creation effects are expected to cause unemployment through de-industrialisation. This study has also noted that WTO FTA and COMESA CU had no evidence of trade diversion. However, BFTA, EPAs and COMESA FTA showed evidence of trade diversion of US$134.88 million, US$89.28 million and US$2.61 million respectively. This study also examined the possible revenue effect from the free-trade agreements and customs union. It was noted that most losses emanated from the WTOFTA, which was valued at US$817.15 million. This was followed by the COMESACU protocol, which is expected to register a loss amounting to US$327 million. The third free-trade agreement with the highest losses comprised the various BFTAs amounting to US$304 million. The forth probable losses were anticipated from EPAs amounting to US$142 million. The free-trade agreement with the least losses is COMESA FTA with an expected loss of US$7.88 million. The consumer welfare effect was done to assess if consumers benefitted from trade agreements. This study observed that the WTOFTA expected the highest consumer welfare effect of US$103.98 million. This was followed by the various COMESACU with an expected consumer welfare effect of US$56.27 million. The BFTA were the third with a consumer welfare effect of US$ 41.82 million. This was followed by the EPAs with a consumer welfare value of US$ 17.56 million. The trade protocol with the least-expected consumer-welfare effect was the COMESA FTA valued at US$ 1.60 million. Although welfare gains resulting from the anticipated trade agreements were an indication of potential benefits to Kenyans, they were insignificant. This study also analysed the export performance from five different trade agreements and their impact on Kenya. The BFTA expected an export value US$4.63 billion, followed by the EPAs with an expected export value of US$2.18 billion. The third largest export values was WTOFTA with an export value of US$12.12 billion, the fourth being COMESAFTA having an export value of US$ 434.28 million and finally COMESACU with an expected export value of US$394.14 million. The study showed that major exports were composed of minerals, tobacco and agricultural products dominating the export basket. The export destinations were expected to be the WTO members, which include Uganda, Congo, Egypt, Rwanda, Sudan and Zambia. Kenya expected an increase in imports mainly from the WTO amounting to 8.95 per cent. This was followed by the BFTA rated with an expected 3.2 per cent growth in imports. The third protocol expecting import growth was the COMESACU of 2.8 per cent import growth and the EPA with 1.16 per cent import growth, and finally, 0.07 per cent import growth from the COMESA FTA. The expected increase in imports is anticipated to create balance of payment problems for Kenya. The results of the study show that the welfare gains from trade liberalisation were not able to compensate for the revenue losses. The study also showed that Kenya was not able to make optimal use of trade liberalisation to expand its export destinations; as the COMESACU was expected to reduce exports. In light of these findings, the study recommends that measures aimed at boosting exports like strengthening of the Export Processing Zones, export subsidies, the establishing of supply-side facilities, trade financing plus strengthening of the export-supporting institutions. It is important to note that the findings of this study provide an opportunity for Kenya, and other developing countries, to implement measures to ensure that they achieve optimal benefits from the various regional trade agreements.
- Full Text:
- Date Issued: 2017
- Authors: Simiyu, Edwin Jairus
- Date: 2017
- Subjects: Trade regulation -- Kenya Free trade -- Kenya , Foreign trade regulation -- Kenya Developing countries -- Economic conditions
- Language: English
- Type: Thesis , Doctoral , DPhil
- Identifier: http://hdl.handle.net/10948/20244 , vital:29163
- Description: This study examined the impact of trade liberalisation on Kenya. It analysed the influence of trade liberalisation on trade creation, trade diversion, exports, imports, revenue effects and welfare effects. The developments in trade liberalisation and free-trade economic arrangements were introduced in Kenya and many developing countries in the early 1980s and strengthened from 1990s onward. The short term effects of the structural-adjustment programs were characterised by poor balance of payment conditions, high levels of unemployment, contraction of the imports from other countries, and government revenue losses, among other social problems. Notwithstanding the dismal performance of the Kenyan Economy after liberalisation, the Kenyan government continued to liberalise its trade under various frameworks such as the Economic Partnership agreements (EPAs) with the European Union, the World Trade Organization (WTO) and various bilateral free-trade agreements (BFTA) with its largest trading partners. This study used the World Integrated Trade Solutions-Software for Market Analysis and Restrictions on Trade (WITS/SMART) using 2008 as the base year. This method was used mainly because of its strengths to analyse the tariff effects of a sole market on disaggregate product lines. In addition the WITS/SMART model is able to analyse the impact of trade liberalisation in scenarios of imperfect substitutes. Hence, this study used the WITS/SMART Model to examine the trade liberalisation framework for Kenya under comprehensive implementation of COMESA customs Union, COMESA FTA, WTOFTA and the EPAs. The comparative valuation of the trade-creation effects reveals that the WTOFTA expected the highest trade-creation effects of US$995.16 million. This was followed by the various bilateral free-trade agreements which had a trade-creation effect of US$333.04 million, then COMESACU which had a trade-creation effect of US$310.50 million followed by the EPAs with a value of US$129.45 million. COMESA FTA was expecting trade-creation effects valued at US$15.51 million. These trade-creation effects are expected to cause unemployment through de-industrialisation. This study has also noted that WTO FTA and COMESA CU had no evidence of trade diversion. However, BFTA, EPAs and COMESA FTA showed evidence of trade diversion of US$134.88 million, US$89.28 million and US$2.61 million respectively. This study also examined the possible revenue effect from the free-trade agreements and customs union. It was noted that most losses emanated from the WTOFTA, which was valued at US$817.15 million. This was followed by the COMESACU protocol, which is expected to register a loss amounting to US$327 million. The third free-trade agreement with the highest losses comprised the various BFTAs amounting to US$304 million. The forth probable losses were anticipated from EPAs amounting to US$142 million. The free-trade agreement with the least losses is COMESA FTA with an expected loss of US$7.88 million. The consumer welfare effect was done to assess if consumers benefitted from trade agreements. This study observed that the WTOFTA expected the highest consumer welfare effect of US$103.98 million. This was followed by the various COMESACU with an expected consumer welfare effect of US$56.27 million. The BFTA were the third with a consumer welfare effect of US$ 41.82 million. This was followed by the EPAs with a consumer welfare value of US$ 17.56 million. The trade protocol with the least-expected consumer-welfare effect was the COMESA FTA valued at US$ 1.60 million. Although welfare gains resulting from the anticipated trade agreements were an indication of potential benefits to Kenyans, they were insignificant. This study also analysed the export performance from five different trade agreements and their impact on Kenya. The BFTA expected an export value US$4.63 billion, followed by the EPAs with an expected export value of US$2.18 billion. The third largest export values was WTOFTA with an export value of US$12.12 billion, the fourth being COMESAFTA having an export value of US$ 434.28 million and finally COMESACU with an expected export value of US$394.14 million. The study showed that major exports were composed of minerals, tobacco and agricultural products dominating the export basket. The export destinations were expected to be the WTO members, which include Uganda, Congo, Egypt, Rwanda, Sudan and Zambia. Kenya expected an increase in imports mainly from the WTO amounting to 8.95 per cent. This was followed by the BFTA rated with an expected 3.2 per cent growth in imports. The third protocol expecting import growth was the COMESACU of 2.8 per cent import growth and the EPA with 1.16 per cent import growth, and finally, 0.07 per cent import growth from the COMESA FTA. The expected increase in imports is anticipated to create balance of payment problems for Kenya. The results of the study show that the welfare gains from trade liberalisation were not able to compensate for the revenue losses. The study also showed that Kenya was not able to make optimal use of trade liberalisation to expand its export destinations; as the COMESACU was expected to reduce exports. In light of these findings, the study recommends that measures aimed at boosting exports like strengthening of the Export Processing Zones, export subsidies, the establishing of supply-side facilities, trade financing plus strengthening of the export-supporting institutions. It is important to note that the findings of this study provide an opportunity for Kenya, and other developing countries, to implement measures to ensure that they achieve optimal benefits from the various regional trade agreements.
- Full Text:
- Date Issued: 2017