Improving the effectiveness of training in Sanlam sky
- Authors: Gonya, Odwa Otto
- Date: 2017
- Subjects: Employees -- Training of -- Evaluation Occupational training
- Language: English
- Type: Thesis , Masters , MBA
- Identifier: http://hdl.handle.net/10948/15116 , vital:28140
- Description: Sanlam Sky is a division of the Sanlam Group focusing on the developing markets. The division plays an important role in employing previously disadvantaged people with little or no prior training and experience. Training is the methodical development of Knowledge, Skills and Attitude that is required by the employee to perform a given task on the job satisfactorily. The training department therefore has a key responsibility of providing effective training to the newly appointed and existing employees and can be viewed as an essential vehicle for company success. The study identified that investment is allocated for the training and development of employees over the past years at Sanlam Sky and the organisation has not measured the effectiveness of training prior to this study. The main purpose of this study was to determine if the training initiatives at Sanlam Sky are effective or not and then identify factors to improve effectiveness of training at Sanlam Sky. The study also addresses the question of “what are the assessment methods for measuring T&D effectiveness that exist in the literature?” The empirical study included the distribution of a self-administered questionnaire amongst operations and distribution staff. Data was collected from multiple sources including 88 respondents and triangulated with unstructured interview data sourced from the learning managers; this data was used to assess the effectiveness of training and develop strategies for improvement. The findings indicate that the training provided at Sanlam Sky is effective, however there are no clear guidelines on identifying training needs in the organisation. The study identified that there is no evaluation framework that is used at Sanlam Sky. The trainees are not given an opportunity to choose how they want their training to be facilitated. Hypothesis of the study was tested and finally the study offers recommendations to be implemented in improving the effectiveness of training.
- Full Text:
- Date Issued: 2017
- Authors: Gonya, Odwa Otto
- Date: 2017
- Subjects: Employees -- Training of -- Evaluation Occupational training
- Language: English
- Type: Thesis , Masters , MBA
- Identifier: http://hdl.handle.net/10948/15116 , vital:28140
- Description: Sanlam Sky is a division of the Sanlam Group focusing on the developing markets. The division plays an important role in employing previously disadvantaged people with little or no prior training and experience. Training is the methodical development of Knowledge, Skills and Attitude that is required by the employee to perform a given task on the job satisfactorily. The training department therefore has a key responsibility of providing effective training to the newly appointed and existing employees and can be viewed as an essential vehicle for company success. The study identified that investment is allocated for the training and development of employees over the past years at Sanlam Sky and the organisation has not measured the effectiveness of training prior to this study. The main purpose of this study was to determine if the training initiatives at Sanlam Sky are effective or not and then identify factors to improve effectiveness of training at Sanlam Sky. The study also addresses the question of “what are the assessment methods for measuring T&D effectiveness that exist in the literature?” The empirical study included the distribution of a self-administered questionnaire amongst operations and distribution staff. Data was collected from multiple sources including 88 respondents and triangulated with unstructured interview data sourced from the learning managers; this data was used to assess the effectiveness of training and develop strategies for improvement. The findings indicate that the training provided at Sanlam Sky is effective, however there are no clear guidelines on identifying training needs in the organisation. The study identified that there is no evaluation framework that is used at Sanlam Sky. The trainees are not given an opportunity to choose how they want their training to be facilitated. Hypothesis of the study was tested and finally the study offers recommendations to be implemented in improving the effectiveness of training.
- 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
In conversation with Andrew Tshabangu and Thembinkosi Goniwe "Footprints" exhibition:
- Authors: Lila, Philiswa
- Date: 2017
- Language: English
- Type: text , article
- Identifier: http://hdl.handle.net/10962/146489 , vital:38530 , https://www.ru.ac.za/artsofafrica/exhibitionsperformances/inzwi/
- Description: Inzwi! was an art event during the 2017 National Arts Festival in Grahamstown that celebrated the 5th anniversary of the Lucid Lunchbox, a student-led series of talks linked to the Arts of Africa and Global Souths research programme at Rhodes University. During the festival, five sets composed of three videos interjected the talks presented by Dineo Seshee Bopape and Beth Diane Armstrong, as well as a conversation between Andrew Tshabangu, Thembinkosi Goniwe and Philiswa Lila. The event intended to trigger reflection and dialogue, through a ‘wake-up call’ to grapple with our collective heritage and struggles, our fears and points of departure in order to envision futures. The selection of videos drew from the work of Rhodes Fine Art students, Alumni and Artists in Residence. Works on display addressed matters of identity (social, political and/or fictional); social engagement and activism; religious and spiritual practices in African contexts; race and white supremacy; and, finally, patronising relations in the art world. Borrowing from the words of Weléla Mar Kindred, the choreography of this event, like others that have been propelling black body politics in recent movements, is one of "communal healing, strength and solidarity".
- Full Text:
- Date Issued: 2017
- Authors: Lila, Philiswa
- Date: 2017
- Language: English
- Type: text , article
- Identifier: http://hdl.handle.net/10962/146489 , vital:38530 , https://www.ru.ac.za/artsofafrica/exhibitionsperformances/inzwi/
- Description: Inzwi! was an art event during the 2017 National Arts Festival in Grahamstown that celebrated the 5th anniversary of the Lucid Lunchbox, a student-led series of talks linked to the Arts of Africa and Global Souths research programme at Rhodes University. During the festival, five sets composed of three videos interjected the talks presented by Dineo Seshee Bopape and Beth Diane Armstrong, as well as a conversation between Andrew Tshabangu, Thembinkosi Goniwe and Philiswa Lila. The event intended to trigger reflection and dialogue, through a ‘wake-up call’ to grapple with our collective heritage and struggles, our fears and points of departure in order to envision futures. The selection of videos drew from the work of Rhodes Fine Art students, Alumni and Artists in Residence. Works on display addressed matters of identity (social, political and/or fictional); social engagement and activism; religious and spiritual practices in African contexts; race and white supremacy; and, finally, patronising relations in the art world. Borrowing from the words of Weléla Mar Kindred, the choreography of this event, like others that have been propelling black body politics in recent movements, is one of "communal healing, strength and solidarity".
- Full Text:
- Date Issued: 2017
In silico analysis of plasmodium falciparum Hsp70-x for potential binding sites and hits
- Authors: Amusengeri, Arnold
- Date: 2017
- Subjects: Uncatalogued
- Language: English
- Type: text , Thesis , Masters , MSc
- Identifier: http://hdl.handle.net/10962/59136 , vital:27435
- Description: Restricted access-thesis embargoed for 1 year - release date April 2019
- Full Text:
- Date Issued: 2017
- Authors: Amusengeri, Arnold
- Date: 2017
- Subjects: Uncatalogued
- Language: English
- Type: text , Thesis , Masters , MSc
- Identifier: http://hdl.handle.net/10962/59136 , vital:27435
- Description: Restricted access-thesis embargoed for 1 year - release date April 2019
- Full Text:
- Date Issued: 2017
In vitro antimicrobial activity of the methanol extract and compounds from the wood of Ficus elastica Roxb. ex Hornem. aerial roots
- Meyer, Franck, Fannang, Simone Véronique, Noundou, Xavier Siwe, Krause, Rui W M, Teinkela, Jean Emmanuel Mbosso, Vardamides, Juliette Cathérine, Mpondo, Albert Emmanuel Mpondo, Azebaze, Anatole Guy Blaise, Nguedia, Jules Clément Assob
- Authors: Meyer, Franck , Fannang, Simone Véronique , Noundou, Xavier Siwe , Krause, Rui W M , Teinkela, Jean Emmanuel Mbosso , Vardamides, Juliette Cathérine , Mpondo, Albert Emmanuel Mpondo , Azebaze, Anatole Guy Blaise , Nguedia, Jules Clément Assob
- Date: 2017
- Language: English
- Type: text , article
- Identifier: http://hdl.handle.net/10962/126154 , vital:35854 , https://doi.org/10.1016/j.sajb.2017.03.026
- Description: Ficus elastica Roxb. ex Hornem., an edible plant belonging to the family of Moraceae, is traditionally used against skin infections and allergies besides having diuretic properties. This study aimed at investigating the antimicrobial activity of the wood of F. elastica aerial roots against a set of bacteria (Staphylococcus aureus; Escherichia coli, Proteus vulgaris, Providencia stuartii and Pseudomonas aeruginosa) and a yeast (Candida albicans). A mixture of linear aliphatic alkanes with n-hexacosane as major compound, β-sitosterol, biochanin A, sitosteryl 3-O-β-D-glucopyranoside (1), elasticamide (2), elastiquinone (3) and ficusoside B (4) were purified and characterized. Antimicrobial activities, expressed as minimum inhibitory concentration (MIC), indicated that the methanol extract showed MIC of 39.1 μg/mL; the lowest values were obtained for 3 and 4, with MIC as low as 4.9 μg/mL, smaller than the values of reference antibiotics (25 μg/mL). Furthermore, as most of the studied samples exhibited Minimum Microbicidal Concentration/Minimum Inhibitory Concentration (MMC/MIC) ratios lower than 4, a microbicidal effect was clearly exhibited. The overall results provided evidence that the wood of F. elastica aerial roots, as well as some of its isolated components might be potential sources of new antimicrobial drugs.
- Full Text:
- Date Issued: 2017
- Authors: Meyer, Franck , Fannang, Simone Véronique , Noundou, Xavier Siwe , Krause, Rui W M , Teinkela, Jean Emmanuel Mbosso , Vardamides, Juliette Cathérine , Mpondo, Albert Emmanuel Mpondo , Azebaze, Anatole Guy Blaise , Nguedia, Jules Clément Assob
- Date: 2017
- Language: English
- Type: text , article
- Identifier: http://hdl.handle.net/10962/126154 , vital:35854 , https://doi.org/10.1016/j.sajb.2017.03.026
- Description: Ficus elastica Roxb. ex Hornem., an edible plant belonging to the family of Moraceae, is traditionally used against skin infections and allergies besides having diuretic properties. This study aimed at investigating the antimicrobial activity of the wood of F. elastica aerial roots against a set of bacteria (Staphylococcus aureus; Escherichia coli, Proteus vulgaris, Providencia stuartii and Pseudomonas aeruginosa) and a yeast (Candida albicans). A mixture of linear aliphatic alkanes with n-hexacosane as major compound, β-sitosterol, biochanin A, sitosteryl 3-O-β-D-glucopyranoside (1), elasticamide (2), elastiquinone (3) and ficusoside B (4) were purified and characterized. Antimicrobial activities, expressed as minimum inhibitory concentration (MIC), indicated that the methanol extract showed MIC of 39.1 μg/mL; the lowest values were obtained for 3 and 4, with MIC as low as 4.9 μg/mL, smaller than the values of reference antibiotics (25 μg/mL). Furthermore, as most of the studied samples exhibited Minimum Microbicidal Concentration/Minimum Inhibitory Concentration (MMC/MIC) ratios lower than 4, a microbicidal effect was clearly exhibited. The overall results provided evidence that the wood of F. elastica aerial roots, as well as some of its isolated components might be potential sources of new antimicrobial drugs.
- Full Text:
- Date Issued: 2017
Incidence of norovirus from pig faecal samples in the Eastern Cape South Africa
- Authors: Taku, Ongeziwe
- Date: 2017
- Subjects: Viral gastroenteritis Virus diseases Swine -- Diseases
- Language: English
- Type: Thesis , Masters , MSc
- Identifier: http://hdl.handle.net/10353/12374 , vital:39257
- Description: Norovirus is one of the causative agents of gastroenteritis in humans and belongs to the Caliciviridae family. Gastroenteritis is a common disease which has emerged as a worldwide health problem and it induces high number of diarrheal episodes in children and adults. Communal location such as schools, homes, day-care, cruise ships and hospitals have high risk of Norovirus infection. Besides humans, Norovirus have been found in farm animals including pigs; porcine Norovirus has been reported to be genetically related to human Norovirus which raise concerns about potential zoonotic spread and pigs may serve as reservoirs of human Norovirus strains. This current study assessed the occurrence of Norovirus infection amongst pigs in selected commercial pig farms in the Eastern Cape, South Africa. One hundred and twenty (120) RNA samples isolated from faecal samples of pigs were amplified using the RT-PCR and Nested PCR assay targeting the RdRp gene. Out of the one hundred and twenty RNA samples analysed, only five (4.2 percent) were positive for Norovirus. All positive isolates were sequenced (ABI 310 prism sequencer), edited and analysed phylogenetically using the Geneious version 9.1.5 software. Phylogenetic analysis of the generated sequences from the positive samples was performed with reference sequences obtained from the GenBank. Out of the five positive isolates analysed, four nucleotide sequences (FH14, FH20, FH13 and TS05) showed high similarity with Caliciviruses (non-human) and FHO5 showed high similarity to human Norovirus and clustered with human Norovirus GII. These findings revealed low prevalence of Norovirus in the Eastern Cape Province. Notwithstanding the low prevalence of Norovirus in the study communities, it is still of serious health concern.
- Full Text:
- Date Issued: 2017
- Authors: Taku, Ongeziwe
- Date: 2017
- Subjects: Viral gastroenteritis Virus diseases Swine -- Diseases
- Language: English
- Type: Thesis , Masters , MSc
- Identifier: http://hdl.handle.net/10353/12374 , vital:39257
- Description: Norovirus is one of the causative agents of gastroenteritis in humans and belongs to the Caliciviridae family. Gastroenteritis is a common disease which has emerged as a worldwide health problem and it induces high number of diarrheal episodes in children and adults. Communal location such as schools, homes, day-care, cruise ships and hospitals have high risk of Norovirus infection. Besides humans, Norovirus have been found in farm animals including pigs; porcine Norovirus has been reported to be genetically related to human Norovirus which raise concerns about potential zoonotic spread and pigs may serve as reservoirs of human Norovirus strains. This current study assessed the occurrence of Norovirus infection amongst pigs in selected commercial pig farms in the Eastern Cape, South Africa. One hundred and twenty (120) RNA samples isolated from faecal samples of pigs were amplified using the RT-PCR and Nested PCR assay targeting the RdRp gene. Out of the one hundred and twenty RNA samples analysed, only five (4.2 percent) were positive for Norovirus. All positive isolates were sequenced (ABI 310 prism sequencer), edited and analysed phylogenetically using the Geneious version 9.1.5 software. Phylogenetic analysis of the generated sequences from the positive samples was performed with reference sequences obtained from the GenBank. Out of the five positive isolates analysed, four nucleotide sequences (FH14, FH20, FH13 and TS05) showed high similarity with Caliciviruses (non-human) and FHO5 showed high similarity to human Norovirus and clustered with human Norovirus GII. These findings revealed low prevalence of Norovirus in the Eastern Cape Province. Notwithstanding the low prevalence of Norovirus in the study communities, it is still of serious health concern.
- Full Text:
- Date Issued: 2017
Incidence of unnatural deaths in Transkei subregion of South Africa (1996 –2015)
- Date: 2017
- Subjects: South Africa Death 2078-6204 Journal article
- Language: English
- Type: text , article
- Identifier: http://hdl.handle.net/11260/6172 , vital:45258 , xlink:href=": https://doi.org/10.1080/20786190.2017.1292697"
- Description: Background: Unnatural deaths are a serious and preventable public health problem in South Africa. Such an event is more than the death of an individual who has died in an unnatural way. It has a negative and long-lasting impact on family members as well as on society as a whole. Objective: To study the pattern of unnatural deaths in the Transkei sub-region of South Africa. Method: A record review was undertaken from 1996 to 2015 of 24 693 medico-legal autopsies performed at Mthatha Forensic Pathology Laboratory. Results: At the Mthatha Forensic Pathology Laboratory, 24 693 autopsies were performed between 1996 and 2015 on people who had died unnatural deaths. The average rate of unnatural death is 205 per 100 000 per year in this region. The figure is 160 per 100 000 among males and 44 per 100 000 among females. The rate of unnatural death has increased from 153 per 100 000 in 1996 to 260 per 100 000 in 2015. In two-thirds (69%) of cases, the cause of death is related to trauma. Slightly less than half (45%) of the victims in this study were murdered. Conclusion: There is an increasing trend of unnatural deaths in the Mthatha region of South Africa. The male-to-female ratio is 3.8:1, and about half (48%) of the victims were between 11 and 30 years old. This situation needs the urgent attention of the law enforcement agencies. Keywords: unnatural deaths, traumatic deaths, violent death
- Full Text:
- Date Issued: 2017
- Date: 2017
- Subjects: South Africa Death 2078-6204 Journal article
- Language: English
- Type: text , article
- Identifier: http://hdl.handle.net/11260/6172 , vital:45258 , xlink:href=": https://doi.org/10.1080/20786190.2017.1292697"
- Description: Background: Unnatural deaths are a serious and preventable public health problem in South Africa. Such an event is more than the death of an individual who has died in an unnatural way. It has a negative and long-lasting impact on family members as well as on society as a whole. Objective: To study the pattern of unnatural deaths in the Transkei sub-region of South Africa. Method: A record review was undertaken from 1996 to 2015 of 24 693 medico-legal autopsies performed at Mthatha Forensic Pathology Laboratory. Results: At the Mthatha Forensic Pathology Laboratory, 24 693 autopsies were performed between 1996 and 2015 on people who had died unnatural deaths. The average rate of unnatural death is 205 per 100 000 per year in this region. The figure is 160 per 100 000 among males and 44 per 100 000 among females. The rate of unnatural death has increased from 153 per 100 000 in 1996 to 260 per 100 000 in 2015. In two-thirds (69%) of cases, the cause of death is related to trauma. Slightly less than half (45%) of the victims in this study were murdered. Conclusion: There is an increasing trend of unnatural deaths in the Mthatha region of South Africa. The male-to-female ratio is 3.8:1, and about half (48%) of the victims were between 11 and 30 years old. This situation needs the urgent attention of the law enforcement agencies. Keywords: unnatural deaths, traumatic deaths, violent death
- Full Text:
- Date Issued: 2017
Indigenous and traditional musics in the school classroom : a re-evaluation of the South African Indigenous African Music (IAM) curriculum
- Authors: McConnachie, Boudina
- Date: 2017
- Subjects: Ethnomusicology , Indigenous people -- Music , Music -- Instruction and study -- Africa , Music -- Instruction and study -- Curricula -- Africa
- Language: English
- Type: Thesis , Doctoral , PhD
- Identifier: vital:21182 , http://hdl.handle.net/10962/6806
- Description: Musical ideals set by European standards and values, entrenched through colonial oppression and promoted by the continued veneration of Western culture need to be re-evaluated. Despite the intention of the ANC government, through the Department of Basic Education's Curriculum and Assessment Policy Statement music curricula, to integrate Indigenous Knowledge and musics into the South African classroom, evidence shows that opportunities to do so are not seized. With reference to the proclaimed values of an African sensibility in the model of the South African music education curriculum, the history of its development and the current pedagogical movement towards transformation in the production of knowledge and the inclusion of Indigenous Knowledge (IK), this thesis questions why teachers in government schools in South Africa are not executing the Indigenous African Music (IAM) syllabus in the CAPS FET music curriculum. Taking the history of music education and the development of curriculum models and frameworks into account, it interrogates what strategies could improve the application of the current music curriculum in government schools in South Africa. These questions are addressed in the thesis by way of a discussion of the music curriculum and what its praxis in the classroom reveals about its efficacy, through observations and personal experiences, the observations of teachers and student teachers, a comparison with the experience in Zimbabwe, and an analysis of the music curriculum as it is currently devised and implemented. Straddling three methodological approaches, namely the ethnographic, the autoethnographic and the action research approach this study finds that the CAPS FET music curriculum does provide realistic opportunities to engage with African Indigenous and traditional music. This, however, is dependent upon the training of the teacher, facilities available in the classroom and the prior knowledge of the learner. A fundamental flaw of this curriculum is the approach to practical assessment of Indigenous and traditional African musics and the lack of assessment criteria and practical guidelines. In addition, the findings suggest that the fault regarding implementation of the curriculum lies in the training of students (who become teachers) at tertiary level, where an integrated approach to skills development regarding Indigenous African music is suggested.
- Full Text:
- Date Issued: 2017
- Authors: McConnachie, Boudina
- Date: 2017
- Subjects: Ethnomusicology , Indigenous people -- Music , Music -- Instruction and study -- Africa , Music -- Instruction and study -- Curricula -- Africa
- Language: English
- Type: Thesis , Doctoral , PhD
- Identifier: vital:21182 , http://hdl.handle.net/10962/6806
- Description: Musical ideals set by European standards and values, entrenched through colonial oppression and promoted by the continued veneration of Western culture need to be re-evaluated. Despite the intention of the ANC government, through the Department of Basic Education's Curriculum and Assessment Policy Statement music curricula, to integrate Indigenous Knowledge and musics into the South African classroom, evidence shows that opportunities to do so are not seized. With reference to the proclaimed values of an African sensibility in the model of the South African music education curriculum, the history of its development and the current pedagogical movement towards transformation in the production of knowledge and the inclusion of Indigenous Knowledge (IK), this thesis questions why teachers in government schools in South Africa are not executing the Indigenous African Music (IAM) syllabus in the CAPS FET music curriculum. Taking the history of music education and the development of curriculum models and frameworks into account, it interrogates what strategies could improve the application of the current music curriculum in government schools in South Africa. These questions are addressed in the thesis by way of a discussion of the music curriculum and what its praxis in the classroom reveals about its efficacy, through observations and personal experiences, the observations of teachers and student teachers, a comparison with the experience in Zimbabwe, and an analysis of the music curriculum as it is currently devised and implemented. Straddling three methodological approaches, namely the ethnographic, the autoethnographic and the action research approach this study finds that the CAPS FET music curriculum does provide realistic opportunities to engage with African Indigenous and traditional music. This, however, is dependent upon the training of the teacher, facilities available in the classroom and the prior knowledge of the learner. A fundamental flaw of this curriculum is the approach to practical assessment of Indigenous and traditional African musics and the lack of assessment criteria and practical guidelines. In addition, the findings suggest that the fault regarding implementation of the curriculum lies in the training of students (who become teachers) at tertiary level, where an integrated approach to skills development regarding Indigenous African music is suggested.
- Full Text:
- Date Issued: 2017
Indigenous knowledge in the school curriculum: teacher educator perceptions of place and position
- Ronoh, Janet Chepchirchir, Siebenhuner, Bernd
- Authors: Ronoh, Janet Chepchirchir , Siebenhuner, Bernd
- Date: 2017
- Subjects: Education -- Curricula -- Africa , Curriculum planning -- Africa Curriculum change -- Africa Ethnoscience -- Africa
- Language: English
- Type: Thesis , Masters , MEd
- Identifier: http://hdl.handle.net/10948/19971 , vital:29015
- Description: Post-colonial school curricula in Africa, which are mostly dominated by western values, knowledge and pedagogies at the expense of indigenous knowledge (IK) and epistemologies, remain a major area of concern in education. After decades of debate on the relevance of IK and its suitability for integration in school curricula, there appears to be a shift in paradigm towards recognising indigenous ways of knowing and transforming curricula towards using inclusive, contextual and practical content and pedagogies that reflect the changing needs of African society. Despite specific provisions in the South African and Kenyan constitutions and education policy documents, the development and implementation of IK integrated curricula remains a major concern. Teacher educators are important stakeholders in terms of the integration of IK and, as such, this qualitative study, which is framed within an interpretivist philosophical view and draws on a case study methodology, explores teacher educators‘ perceptions of value, place and position of IK in the school curriculum. The samples, which were drawn from two African universities, one in South Africa and one in Kenya, comprised ten purposively selected teacher educators from local indigenous communities in each university. Data were generated via a semi-structured questionnaire, a modified focus group discussion (Imbizo/Baraza) process, and individual semi-structured interviews. The data generated were analysed thematically and revealed that the participating teacher educators have shared conceptual understandings of indigenous knowledge and advocate for more inclusive appropriation and integration of indigenous languages, agriculture, herbal medicine, technological and scientific indigenous knowledge items that they feel are still marginalised in the school curriculum of their respective countries. An inclusive education approach was proposed in which both modern knowledge and IK are intertwined in the curriculum in order to serve the current needs of indigenous cultures and society in general.
- Full Text:
- Date Issued: 2017
- Authors: Ronoh, Janet Chepchirchir , Siebenhuner, Bernd
- Date: 2017
- Subjects: Education -- Curricula -- Africa , Curriculum planning -- Africa Curriculum change -- Africa Ethnoscience -- Africa
- Language: English
- Type: Thesis , Masters , MEd
- Identifier: http://hdl.handle.net/10948/19971 , vital:29015
- Description: Post-colonial school curricula in Africa, which are mostly dominated by western values, knowledge and pedagogies at the expense of indigenous knowledge (IK) and epistemologies, remain a major area of concern in education. After decades of debate on the relevance of IK and its suitability for integration in school curricula, there appears to be a shift in paradigm towards recognising indigenous ways of knowing and transforming curricula towards using inclusive, contextual and practical content and pedagogies that reflect the changing needs of African society. Despite specific provisions in the South African and Kenyan constitutions and education policy documents, the development and implementation of IK integrated curricula remains a major concern. Teacher educators are important stakeholders in terms of the integration of IK and, as such, this qualitative study, which is framed within an interpretivist philosophical view and draws on a case study methodology, explores teacher educators‘ perceptions of value, place and position of IK in the school curriculum. The samples, which were drawn from two African universities, one in South Africa and one in Kenya, comprised ten purposively selected teacher educators from local indigenous communities in each university. Data were generated via a semi-structured questionnaire, a modified focus group discussion (Imbizo/Baraza) process, and individual semi-structured interviews. The data generated were analysed thematically and revealed that the participating teacher educators have shared conceptual understandings of indigenous knowledge and advocate for more inclusive appropriation and integration of indigenous languages, agriculture, herbal medicine, technological and scientific indigenous knowledge items that they feel are still marginalised in the school curriculum of their respective countries. An inclusive education approach was proposed in which both modern knowledge and IK are intertwined in the curriculum in order to serve the current needs of indigenous cultures and society in general.
- Full Text:
- Date Issued: 2017
Individual-related factors influencing knowledge-sharing intention in knowledge-intensive businesses
- Authors: Van Greunen, Conrad
- Date: 2017
- Subjects: Knowledge management Intellectual capital -- Management , Management -- Information services Organizational learning
- Language: English
- Type: Thesis , Doctoral , PhD
- Identifier: http://hdl.handle.net/10948/21274 , vital:29469
- Description: It has become generally accepted to refer to today‟s global economy as a knowledge-based economy, since knowledge has increasingly become the resource, instead of a resource for wealth creation. The ability of businesses to harness the potential of intangible assets such as knowledge has become far more decisive than their ability to manage physical assets. In the implementation of knowledge management activities, knowledge sharing is recognised as an integral task and key enabler of knowledge management. Although knowledge sharing is regarded as one of the most crucial factors in the effective management of knowledge, in knowledge-intensive businesses in particular, it has also been established that most employees are reluctant to share knowledge. Research further confirms that the factors that promote or discourage knowledge-sharing behaviour in businesses are poorly understood and that knowledge management systems fail as a result of the misunderstanding of individual characteristics that could influence knowledge sharing. Moreover, the focus of knowledge-sharing literature, in terms of the unit of analysis, is rarely at an individual/micro level, although the role of individuals in the knowledge-sharing process is critical as tacit knowledge resides within the individual and knowledge sharing starts with individuals. Given the importance of understanding knowledge sharing of individuals in knowledge-intensive businesses – but noting the lack of existing systematic, integrated research that focuses on individual-related factors influencing knowledge sharing – the purpose of this study was to fill the gap in the current literature. As such, the primary objective of this research was to identify and empirically investigate the individual-related factors influencing the Knowledge-sharing intention of individual employees in knowledge-intensive businesses. The literature review revealed twelve constructs, namely Individuals’ awareness, Intrinsic motivation, Extrinsic motivation, Transactional psychological contract breach, Relational psychological contract breach, Relationship conflict, Task conflict, Extraversion, Neuroticism, Openness to experience, Agreeableness and Conscientiousness that could influence the dependent variable Knowledge-sharing intention in knowledge-intensive businesses. Various moderating relationships between the dependent and independent variables were also proposed, while seven demographic variables (Age, Gender, Language, Highest qualification, Ethnic background, Organisational tenure and Job tenure of the respondent) were identified as potential control variables. Each construct in the hypothesised model of individual-related factors influencing Knowledge-sharing intention was defined and operationalised using items sourced from validated measuring instruments in previous studies. Several self-generated items based on secondary sources were also formulated. A structured questionnaire was made available to respondents identified by means of the convenience sampling technique, and the data collected from 597 usable questionnaires was subjected to various statistical analyses. An exploratory factor analysis (EFA) was conducted which confirmed the unique factors present in the data, and Cronbach-alpha coefficients were calculated to confirm the reliability of the measuring instrument. Structural equation modelling (SEM) was the main statistical procedure used to test the significance of the relationships hypothesised between the various independent and dependent variables. A subset of SEM, namely general linear modelling (GLM) was used to determine the influence of selected demographic variables on Knowledge-sharing intention and to assess various moderating relationships as proposed in the hypothesised model. The main findings of this study were that personality traits are strong predictors of individual employees‟ willingness to share knowledge, and that the maturity of individuals, in terms of realising the significance and value of sharing their knowledge with others, and in recognising the intrinsic benefits of sharing, influence Knowledge-sharing intention. The main limitations of the study were the use of a convenience sampling technique to collect the data, as well as the dependence of self-report by respondents, which could lead to response bias. This study has added to the body of knowledge management research, in particular knowledge-sharing research, by investigating selected individual-related factors influencing the Knowledge-sharing intention of individuals in a particular subset of businesses, namely knowledge-intensive businesses, and focusing on a particular type of knowledge, namely tacit knowledge. From a business‟s perspective, this study offers recommendations and suggestions for managing these individual-related factors in such a way as to increase knowledge sharing among employees, and as a result, the effectiveness and competitive advantage of knowledge-intensive businesses.
- Full Text:
- Date Issued: 2017
Individual-related factors influencing knowledge-sharing intention in knowledge-intensive businesses
- Authors: Van Greunen, Conrad
- Date: 2017
- Subjects: Knowledge management Intellectual capital -- Management , Management -- Information services Organizational learning
- Language: English
- Type: Thesis , Doctoral , PhD
- Identifier: http://hdl.handle.net/10948/21274 , vital:29469
- Description: It has become generally accepted to refer to today‟s global economy as a knowledge-based economy, since knowledge has increasingly become the resource, instead of a resource for wealth creation. The ability of businesses to harness the potential of intangible assets such as knowledge has become far more decisive than their ability to manage physical assets. In the implementation of knowledge management activities, knowledge sharing is recognised as an integral task and key enabler of knowledge management. Although knowledge sharing is regarded as one of the most crucial factors in the effective management of knowledge, in knowledge-intensive businesses in particular, it has also been established that most employees are reluctant to share knowledge. Research further confirms that the factors that promote or discourage knowledge-sharing behaviour in businesses are poorly understood and that knowledge management systems fail as a result of the misunderstanding of individual characteristics that could influence knowledge sharing. Moreover, the focus of knowledge-sharing literature, in terms of the unit of analysis, is rarely at an individual/micro level, although the role of individuals in the knowledge-sharing process is critical as tacit knowledge resides within the individual and knowledge sharing starts with individuals. Given the importance of understanding knowledge sharing of individuals in knowledge-intensive businesses – but noting the lack of existing systematic, integrated research that focuses on individual-related factors influencing knowledge sharing – the purpose of this study was to fill the gap in the current literature. As such, the primary objective of this research was to identify and empirically investigate the individual-related factors influencing the Knowledge-sharing intention of individual employees in knowledge-intensive businesses. The literature review revealed twelve constructs, namely Individuals’ awareness, Intrinsic motivation, Extrinsic motivation, Transactional psychological contract breach, Relational psychological contract breach, Relationship conflict, Task conflict, Extraversion, Neuroticism, Openness to experience, Agreeableness and Conscientiousness that could influence the dependent variable Knowledge-sharing intention in knowledge-intensive businesses. Various moderating relationships between the dependent and independent variables were also proposed, while seven demographic variables (Age, Gender, Language, Highest qualification, Ethnic background, Organisational tenure and Job tenure of the respondent) were identified as potential control variables. Each construct in the hypothesised model of individual-related factors influencing Knowledge-sharing intention was defined and operationalised using items sourced from validated measuring instruments in previous studies. Several self-generated items based on secondary sources were also formulated. A structured questionnaire was made available to respondents identified by means of the convenience sampling technique, and the data collected from 597 usable questionnaires was subjected to various statistical analyses. An exploratory factor analysis (EFA) was conducted which confirmed the unique factors present in the data, and Cronbach-alpha coefficients were calculated to confirm the reliability of the measuring instrument. Structural equation modelling (SEM) was the main statistical procedure used to test the significance of the relationships hypothesised between the various independent and dependent variables. A subset of SEM, namely general linear modelling (GLM) was used to determine the influence of selected demographic variables on Knowledge-sharing intention and to assess various moderating relationships as proposed in the hypothesised model. The main findings of this study were that personality traits are strong predictors of individual employees‟ willingness to share knowledge, and that the maturity of individuals, in terms of realising the significance and value of sharing their knowledge with others, and in recognising the intrinsic benefits of sharing, influence Knowledge-sharing intention. The main limitations of the study were the use of a convenience sampling technique to collect the data, as well as the dependence of self-report by respondents, which could lead to response bias. This study has added to the body of knowledge management research, in particular knowledge-sharing research, by investigating selected individual-related factors influencing the Knowledge-sharing intention of individuals in a particular subset of businesses, namely knowledge-intensive businesses, and focusing on a particular type of knowledge, namely tacit knowledge. From a business‟s perspective, this study offers recommendations and suggestions for managing these individual-related factors in such a way as to increase knowledge sharing among employees, and as a result, the effectiveness and competitive advantage of knowledge-intensive businesses.
- Full Text:
- Date Issued: 2017
Inequality, social comparisons and minimum income aspirations: Evidence from South Africa
- Posel, Dorrit, Rogan, Michael
- Authors: Posel, Dorrit , Rogan, Michael
- Date: 2017
- Subjects: Economic development -- South Africa South Africa -- Economic conditions South Africa -- Social policy Economic development -- Political aspects -- South Africa
- Language: English
- Type: Book , Text
- Identifier: http://hdl.handle.net/10962/59510 , vital:27621 , ISBN 9780868106359 , DOI 10.21504/10962/59509
- Description: We investigate the formation of minimum income aspirations in South Africa, a country with high rates of poverty together with very high and rising rates of inequality. A number of empirical studies in both developed and developing countries have shown that income aspirations increase with the individual’s own income and with the income of others in their community, relationships which are explained by processes of adaptation through habituation and social comparison. However, the relationship between income aspirations and inequality has received far less empirical attention. We analyse the minimum income question (MIQ) asked in nationally representative household survey from 2008/2009 to test for evidence of aspirations failure among the poor in South Africa, and to investigate whether high levels of local inequality dampen or stimulate minimum income aspirations, and particularly among those living in poverty.
- Full Text:
- Date Issued: 2017
- Authors: Posel, Dorrit , Rogan, Michael
- Date: 2017
- Subjects: Economic development -- South Africa South Africa -- Economic conditions South Africa -- Social policy Economic development -- Political aspects -- South Africa
- Language: English
- Type: Book , Text
- Identifier: http://hdl.handle.net/10962/59510 , vital:27621 , ISBN 9780868106359 , DOI 10.21504/10962/59509
- Description: We investigate the formation of minimum income aspirations in South Africa, a country with high rates of poverty together with very high and rising rates of inequality. A number of empirical studies in both developed and developing countries have shown that income aspirations increase with the individual’s own income and with the income of others in their community, relationships which are explained by processes of adaptation through habituation and social comparison. However, the relationship between income aspirations and inequality has received far less empirical attention. We analyse the minimum income question (MIQ) asked in nationally representative household survey from 2008/2009 to test for evidence of aspirations failure among the poor in South Africa, and to investigate whether high levels of local inequality dampen or stimulate minimum income aspirations, and particularly among those living in poverty.
- Full Text:
- Date Issued: 2017
Influence of sedimentological and hydrological processes on the distribution of the Spartina maritima salt marsh in the Keurbooms Estuary, Western Cape
- Authors: Mfikili, Athi Nkosibonile
- Date: 2017
- Subjects: Salt marshes -- South Africa -- Western Cape Estuarine hydrology -- South Africa -- Western Cape
- Language: English
- Type: Thesis , Masters , MSc
- Identifier: http://hdl.handle.net/10948/13004 , vital:27143
- Description: Salt marshes are some of the most productive ecosystems in the world and have been the centre of attention over the past few decades, due to their decline as a result of global climate change and anthropogenic impacts. The growth of salt marshes is determined by substrate type, soil conductivity and elevation. The permanently open Keurbooms Estuary along the south-east coast of South Africa is subjected to occasional fluvial flooding and its intertidal area lacks well developed salt marshes, with Spartina maritima restricted to the lower reaches of the Bitou tributary and a few sections of the Keurbooms tributary. Presumeably because of fine sediment habitat in the confluence and lower Bitou tributary. The salinity of the estuarine water ranges between 0.1 – 26.9 and 3.2 – 35.3 in the Bitou and Keurbooms tributaries respectively. A typical salt wedge salinity pattern is common in the Keurbooms tributary where saline water often intrudes underneath the freshwater, especially during high river flows. The following hypotheses were developed and tested in this study: The limited spatial distribution of S. maritima in the Keurbooms Estuary is due to limited availability of fine sediment habitat; and the source of the fine sediment in the estuary is the Bitou tributary rather than the Keurbooms tributary or the sea. It was further postulated that after sediment characteristics, floods are the major hydrological driver determining the distribution of S. maritima in the Keurbooms Estuary. The results of the surveys of the estuarine channel bottom sediments showed that the Keurbooms tributary was mostly characterized by the sand-size sediment fraction derived from the feldspathic and sandstone with evidence of fine sediment fractions restricted to the upper reaches at the confluence with Whiskey Creek. The Bitou was almost always composed of coarse sized sediments in the upper reaches, fine sediment deposits in the middle and lower reaches and medium sorted sand with almost no clay or calcium carbonate in the estuarine component below the confluence of the tributaries. These findings were further supported by the surface sediment deposited within the S. maritima intertidal salt marsh, which showed finer sediment deposits in the Bitou marsh compared to the Keurbooms marsh surface. Similar results were also found in the sediment cores, with the Keurbooms marsh sediment becoming finer with increasing depth whereas fine sediments reduced with depth in the Bitou marsh. The results of the sediment mineralogy indicated that the increased concentrations of clay minerals in the S. maritima surface sediments are derived from the Bokkeveld shale, siltstone and clay slate exposed above the N2 Bridge in the Keurbooms Estuary. GIS mapping shows that S. maritima has been declining over the past two decades, with rapid decreases especially evident after big flooding events. The GIS mapping also indicates that the patches of the S. maritima in the Keurbooms tributary are more exposed to big floods than the Bitou marsh. Despite showing an overall decline, S. maritima area coverage remained more consistent in the lower reaches of the Bitou tributary than in the Keurbooms tributary. Despite the larger and more persistent area cover, the S. maritima plants were shorter and less dense than the plants growing in the sandy substrate. The black/grey colouration of soil with increasing depth in the Bitou tributary was an indication of the reduced state of the soil caused by prolonged waterlogged conditions. The roots of S. maritima in both tributaries were mostly restricted to the sub-surface substrate layer (i.e. 0 – 0.25 m), although the Bitou populations showed more vegetative propagation than the Keurbooms populations. This mechanism of reproduction was also demonstrated during the transplant experiment which showed a greater number of new stem production in the fine sediment substrates compared to the sandy silt substrates. Although accretion rates were not determined in this study, the short-term sediment deposition rates revealed that sedimentation is active in the marshes of the Keurbooms Estuary. Therefore, in spite of showing a decline in area cover, the production of viable seed and observed vegetative propagation suggest that the S. maritima is likely to colonize open stable intertidal mudflats / sandflats, thus maintaining its distribution as an intertidal species in the salt marshes of the Keurbooms Estuary.
- Full Text:
- Date Issued: 2017
- Authors: Mfikili, Athi Nkosibonile
- Date: 2017
- Subjects: Salt marshes -- South Africa -- Western Cape Estuarine hydrology -- South Africa -- Western Cape
- Language: English
- Type: Thesis , Masters , MSc
- Identifier: http://hdl.handle.net/10948/13004 , vital:27143
- Description: Salt marshes are some of the most productive ecosystems in the world and have been the centre of attention over the past few decades, due to their decline as a result of global climate change and anthropogenic impacts. The growth of salt marshes is determined by substrate type, soil conductivity and elevation. The permanently open Keurbooms Estuary along the south-east coast of South Africa is subjected to occasional fluvial flooding and its intertidal area lacks well developed salt marshes, with Spartina maritima restricted to the lower reaches of the Bitou tributary and a few sections of the Keurbooms tributary. Presumeably because of fine sediment habitat in the confluence and lower Bitou tributary. The salinity of the estuarine water ranges between 0.1 – 26.9 and 3.2 – 35.3 in the Bitou and Keurbooms tributaries respectively. A typical salt wedge salinity pattern is common in the Keurbooms tributary where saline water often intrudes underneath the freshwater, especially during high river flows. The following hypotheses were developed and tested in this study: The limited spatial distribution of S. maritima in the Keurbooms Estuary is due to limited availability of fine sediment habitat; and the source of the fine sediment in the estuary is the Bitou tributary rather than the Keurbooms tributary or the sea. It was further postulated that after sediment characteristics, floods are the major hydrological driver determining the distribution of S. maritima in the Keurbooms Estuary. The results of the surveys of the estuarine channel bottom sediments showed that the Keurbooms tributary was mostly characterized by the sand-size sediment fraction derived from the feldspathic and sandstone with evidence of fine sediment fractions restricted to the upper reaches at the confluence with Whiskey Creek. The Bitou was almost always composed of coarse sized sediments in the upper reaches, fine sediment deposits in the middle and lower reaches and medium sorted sand with almost no clay or calcium carbonate in the estuarine component below the confluence of the tributaries. These findings were further supported by the surface sediment deposited within the S. maritima intertidal salt marsh, which showed finer sediment deposits in the Bitou marsh compared to the Keurbooms marsh surface. Similar results were also found in the sediment cores, with the Keurbooms marsh sediment becoming finer with increasing depth whereas fine sediments reduced with depth in the Bitou marsh. The results of the sediment mineralogy indicated that the increased concentrations of clay minerals in the S. maritima surface sediments are derived from the Bokkeveld shale, siltstone and clay slate exposed above the N2 Bridge in the Keurbooms Estuary. GIS mapping shows that S. maritima has been declining over the past two decades, with rapid decreases especially evident after big flooding events. The GIS mapping also indicates that the patches of the S. maritima in the Keurbooms tributary are more exposed to big floods than the Bitou marsh. Despite showing an overall decline, S. maritima area coverage remained more consistent in the lower reaches of the Bitou tributary than in the Keurbooms tributary. Despite the larger and more persistent area cover, the S. maritima plants were shorter and less dense than the plants growing in the sandy substrate. The black/grey colouration of soil with increasing depth in the Bitou tributary was an indication of the reduced state of the soil caused by prolonged waterlogged conditions. The roots of S. maritima in both tributaries were mostly restricted to the sub-surface substrate layer (i.e. 0 – 0.25 m), although the Bitou populations showed more vegetative propagation than the Keurbooms populations. This mechanism of reproduction was also demonstrated during the transplant experiment which showed a greater number of new stem production in the fine sediment substrates compared to the sandy silt substrates. Although accretion rates were not determined in this study, the short-term sediment deposition rates revealed that sedimentation is active in the marshes of the Keurbooms Estuary. Therefore, in spite of showing a decline in area cover, the production of viable seed and observed vegetative propagation suggest that the S. maritima is likely to colonize open stable intertidal mudflats / sandflats, thus maintaining its distribution as an intertidal species in the salt marshes of the Keurbooms Estuary.
- Full Text:
- Date Issued: 2017
Informal urbanism : an appraisal of socio-legal and economic dynamics in East London, South Africa
- Authors: Sibanda, Phaxenda Maxwell
- Date: 2017
- Subjects: Street vendors -- Legal status, laws, etc Informal sector (Economics) -- Law and legislation -- South Africa -- Eastern Cape
- Language: English
- Type: Thesis , Masters , MSoc
- Identifier: http://hdl.handle.net/10353/5763 , vital:29381
- Description: Many cities and towns in the Global South continue to experience the growth of the informal sector. There are a number of reasons which explain the growth of the informal sector. These include formal sector retrenchments, shortage of jobs in the formal sector and lack of skills. Street vendors are the most visible traders in the informal sector as compared to other kind of traders. In many cities, the spaces in which vendors conduct their trading is not allocated to them legally as they are seen as a nuisance or obstruction to commerce and the free flow of traffic. Against this background, this study examines the contestation for vending in the East London Central Business District (CBD) Eastern Cape, South Africa. It specifically explores social processes and vendor decision making when it comes to choosing (or claiming) a particular vending space, the legal instruments (by-laws) that either promote or constrain informal trading activities. Furthermore, it investigates the extent to which street vending contributes to the traders‟ income generation and sustainable livelihoods. This study uses a qualitative research design. Purposive sampling was used to select thirty informal traders. In-depth semi structured interviews were conducted with all thirty respondents In addition to the thirty respondents, five key informants were interviewed. The study found that street vending plays a major role in providing BCMM people with livelihood opportunities. Trading space in the CBD is strictly competitive and the spaces they acquire are too small for their businesses to expand to another level. Vendors face a lot of challenges but at the epitome of their challenges is the vending by- laws which the vendors view as a major constraint when it comes to operating smoothly in the streets. The study suggested that vending polices and by- laws be reviewed in order to derive a better socio- economic and functional environment for vendors.
- Full Text:
- Date Issued: 2017
- Authors: Sibanda, Phaxenda Maxwell
- Date: 2017
- Subjects: Street vendors -- Legal status, laws, etc Informal sector (Economics) -- Law and legislation -- South Africa -- Eastern Cape
- Language: English
- Type: Thesis , Masters , MSoc
- Identifier: http://hdl.handle.net/10353/5763 , vital:29381
- Description: Many cities and towns in the Global South continue to experience the growth of the informal sector. There are a number of reasons which explain the growth of the informal sector. These include formal sector retrenchments, shortage of jobs in the formal sector and lack of skills. Street vendors are the most visible traders in the informal sector as compared to other kind of traders. In many cities, the spaces in which vendors conduct their trading is not allocated to them legally as they are seen as a nuisance or obstruction to commerce and the free flow of traffic. Against this background, this study examines the contestation for vending in the East London Central Business District (CBD) Eastern Cape, South Africa. It specifically explores social processes and vendor decision making when it comes to choosing (or claiming) a particular vending space, the legal instruments (by-laws) that either promote or constrain informal trading activities. Furthermore, it investigates the extent to which street vending contributes to the traders‟ income generation and sustainable livelihoods. This study uses a qualitative research design. Purposive sampling was used to select thirty informal traders. In-depth semi structured interviews were conducted with all thirty respondents In addition to the thirty respondents, five key informants were interviewed. The study found that street vending plays a major role in providing BCMM people with livelihood opportunities. Trading space in the CBD is strictly competitive and the spaces they acquire are too small for their businesses to expand to another level. Vendors face a lot of challenges but at the epitome of their challenges is the vending by- laws which the vendors view as a major constraint when it comes to operating smoothly in the streets. The study suggested that vending polices and by- laws be reviewed in order to derive a better socio- economic and functional environment for vendors.
- Full Text:
- Date Issued: 2017
Information and propaganda in the federation of Rhodesia and Nyasaland with special reference to print and radio propaganda for Africans, 1953-1963
- Authors: Zimudzi, Tapiwa Brown
- Date: 2017
- Language: English
- Type: Thesis , Doctoral , PhD
- Identifier: http://hdl.handle.net/10962/6957 , vital:21204
- Description: This thesis contributes to the history of the information and propaganda policy and practice of the government of the Federation of Rhodesia and Nyasaland by examining this government's pro-Federation print and radio propaganda for Africans in the Federation. Using a multi-theoretical approach, it analyses the character of this propaganda, highlighting its main methods and themes as well as the policy considerations, plus political and economic circumstances that gave rise to it. It also discusses how Africans in the Federation reacted to this propaganda and assesses its effectiveness in gaining the support of these Africans for Federation and the policies of the Federal government. The thesis argues that Federal government propaganda aimed at gaining the support of Africans for Federation was predominantly panic-driven propaganda and was the product of an information panic that lay at the heart of the very idea of Federation itself. This information panic arose out of the Federal government's belated recognition of the strength of African opposition to Federation and of how this opposition seriously threatened the continued survival of the Federation. It is also argued that this panic-driven pro-Federation propaganda elicited largely hostile reactions from the majority of Africans in the Federation and failed to persuade them to support Federation.
- Full Text:
- Date Issued: 2017
- Authors: Zimudzi, Tapiwa Brown
- Date: 2017
- Language: English
- Type: Thesis , Doctoral , PhD
- Identifier: http://hdl.handle.net/10962/6957 , vital:21204
- Description: This thesis contributes to the history of the information and propaganda policy and practice of the government of the Federation of Rhodesia and Nyasaland by examining this government's pro-Federation print and radio propaganda for Africans in the Federation. Using a multi-theoretical approach, it analyses the character of this propaganda, highlighting its main methods and themes as well as the policy considerations, plus political and economic circumstances that gave rise to it. It also discusses how Africans in the Federation reacted to this propaganda and assesses its effectiveness in gaining the support of these Africans for Federation and the policies of the Federal government. The thesis argues that Federal government propaganda aimed at gaining the support of Africans for Federation was predominantly panic-driven propaganda and was the product of an information panic that lay at the heart of the very idea of Federation itself. This information panic arose out of the Federal government's belated recognition of the strength of African opposition to Federation and of how this opposition seriously threatened the continued survival of the Federation. It is also argued that this panic-driven pro-Federation propaganda elicited largely hostile reactions from the majority of Africans in the Federation and failed to persuade them to support Federation.
- Full Text:
- Date Issued: 2017
Information as a service for dairy farmers
- Authors: Hart, James Andrew
- Date: 2017
- Subjects: Communication in agriculture -- South Africa Customer relations -- Management -- Agriculture -- Developing countries , Customer services -- Agriculture -- Developing countries
- Language: English
- Type: Thesis , Masters , MBA
- Identifier: http://hdl.handle.net/10948/16000 , vital:28303
- Description: Communication with an organisation’s customers has become one of the most important factors that play a role in doing business today. Organisations that supply their customers with correct and different kinds of information create customer loyalty. Dairy farmers are no exception to the rule, because of the ongoing planning that dairy farmers need to do on a daily basis. Dairy farming in South Africa is extremely price sensitive and therefore information that can help in decision making plays an important role in making the right decision at the right time. The Internet has become an essential environment where information is readily available to anyone who has access to the technologies, such as smartphones, computers and tablets. Thus, it will be beneficial for both the organisation and the dairy farmer to have relevant information available on the organisation’s website. The information that is made available to the dairy farmers on these websites needs to be updated on a daily basis. The information must be relevant to dairy farming and must provide additional information besides the information that the specific organisation specialises in. Information as a Service (IaaS) for Dairy Farmers in South Africa is the focus of this research. The purpose of the investigation is to provide a means of providing the information needed by dairy farmers in South Africa, to enable them to make the right decisions on an operational level. The empirical data were collected, analysed and interpreted. From these findings a proposed communications framework is created to assist organisations to better communicate with dairy farmers in South Africa. The purpose of this research study is to design a framework which will provide IaaS to dairy farmers in South Africa. The research determined the different ways in which organisations can communicate with dairy farmers and the best time period in which that communication should take place for each specific communication strategy. Therefore, the aim of the research study was to determine the best ways to communicate with dairy farmers. A clear knowledge of the technologies that dairy farmers use to manage information was determined by the research study. The required information that dairy farmers need to make the correct decisions suitable for the requirement of farming on a practical level was determined by the research study.The proposed framework on Information as a Service for Dairy Farmers could help organisations to supply dairy farmers with the right information at the right time. The proposed framework will assist organisations dealing with dairy farmers easier and will also assist farmers, because the information provided as a service will be relevant to dairy farming. The treatise is an exploratory, mixed method research study which consists of literature reviews, surveys and cross-sectional studies. Secondary resources was used to conduct literature studies to determine the information needed by dairy farmers. A questionnaire was compiled from existing questionnaires as well as from literature studies and was completed by the respective respondents in the dairy farming community. The survey also consists of questions that determine what dairy farmers think about the service they receive from the organisations that they deal with. A cross-sectional study was used to compare the information needed specifically by pasture-based dairy farmers in relation to total mixed-ration-based dairy farmers. Both Descriptive and Inferential Statistical methods will be used for the analysis of the data. The communication systems can vary from Self-Help Groups to Mobile Technology. The type of communication system will depend on the systems that the organisation have available for their customers. The timing of communication with dairy farmers needs to be convenient and depends, according to literature, on the type of social networking that the organisation might use. An organisation that deals with dairy farmers needs to decide which Social Media site is most suitable when it needs to communicate with dairy farmers. The technology used to access information consist of Laptops, Smart Phones, Tablets and Desktops. Agricultural organisations provide information which dairy farmers need, to give them the correct guidance in performing good farming practices in order to produce safe, high-quality milk. The study will conclude with the development of a proposed communications framework where agricultural organisations can provide information as a service to dairy farmers.
- Full Text:
- Date Issued: 2017
- Authors: Hart, James Andrew
- Date: 2017
- Subjects: Communication in agriculture -- South Africa Customer relations -- Management -- Agriculture -- Developing countries , Customer services -- Agriculture -- Developing countries
- Language: English
- Type: Thesis , Masters , MBA
- Identifier: http://hdl.handle.net/10948/16000 , vital:28303
- Description: Communication with an organisation’s customers has become one of the most important factors that play a role in doing business today. Organisations that supply their customers with correct and different kinds of information create customer loyalty. Dairy farmers are no exception to the rule, because of the ongoing planning that dairy farmers need to do on a daily basis. Dairy farming in South Africa is extremely price sensitive and therefore information that can help in decision making plays an important role in making the right decision at the right time. The Internet has become an essential environment where information is readily available to anyone who has access to the technologies, such as smartphones, computers and tablets. Thus, it will be beneficial for both the organisation and the dairy farmer to have relevant information available on the organisation’s website. The information that is made available to the dairy farmers on these websites needs to be updated on a daily basis. The information must be relevant to dairy farming and must provide additional information besides the information that the specific organisation specialises in. Information as a Service (IaaS) for Dairy Farmers in South Africa is the focus of this research. The purpose of the investigation is to provide a means of providing the information needed by dairy farmers in South Africa, to enable them to make the right decisions on an operational level. The empirical data were collected, analysed and interpreted. From these findings a proposed communications framework is created to assist organisations to better communicate with dairy farmers in South Africa. The purpose of this research study is to design a framework which will provide IaaS to dairy farmers in South Africa. The research determined the different ways in which organisations can communicate with dairy farmers and the best time period in which that communication should take place for each specific communication strategy. Therefore, the aim of the research study was to determine the best ways to communicate with dairy farmers. A clear knowledge of the technologies that dairy farmers use to manage information was determined by the research study. The required information that dairy farmers need to make the correct decisions suitable for the requirement of farming on a practical level was determined by the research study.The proposed framework on Information as a Service for Dairy Farmers could help organisations to supply dairy farmers with the right information at the right time. The proposed framework will assist organisations dealing with dairy farmers easier and will also assist farmers, because the information provided as a service will be relevant to dairy farming. The treatise is an exploratory, mixed method research study which consists of literature reviews, surveys and cross-sectional studies. Secondary resources was used to conduct literature studies to determine the information needed by dairy farmers. A questionnaire was compiled from existing questionnaires as well as from literature studies and was completed by the respective respondents in the dairy farming community. The survey also consists of questions that determine what dairy farmers think about the service they receive from the organisations that they deal with. A cross-sectional study was used to compare the information needed specifically by pasture-based dairy farmers in relation to total mixed-ration-based dairy farmers. Both Descriptive and Inferential Statistical methods will be used for the analysis of the data. The communication systems can vary from Self-Help Groups to Mobile Technology. The type of communication system will depend on the systems that the organisation have available for their customers. The timing of communication with dairy farmers needs to be convenient and depends, according to literature, on the type of social networking that the organisation might use. An organisation that deals with dairy farmers needs to decide which Social Media site is most suitable when it needs to communicate with dairy farmers. The technology used to access information consist of Laptops, Smart Phones, Tablets and Desktops. Agricultural organisations provide information which dairy farmers need, to give them the correct guidance in performing good farming practices in order to produce safe, high-quality milk. The study will conclude with the development of a proposed communications framework where agricultural organisations can provide information as a service to dairy farmers.
- Full Text:
- Date Issued: 2017
Inhalable particulate systems for anti-tubercular drug delivery
- Nkanga, Christian Isalomboto
- Authors: Nkanga, Christian Isalomboto
- Date: 2017
- Language: English
- Type: Thesis , Masters , MSc
- Identifier: http://hdl.handle.net/10962/37966 , vital:24720
- Description: Tuberculosis (TB) is a deadly infectious microbial disease that is currently dominating public health concerns. Among the pharmacological issues in the management of TB are the poor bioavailability of some anti-TB drugs, mostly due to the fast first-pass metabolism, and high drug load needed for combination therapy. These result in a lengthy treatment with several adverse effects causing decreased patient compliance. These factors often lead to the therapeutic failure and promote the development of drug resistant strains, justifying the urgent need for new therapeutic strategies. Liposomes are lipid-based particulate vehicles known to be the most clinically appointed drug carriers currently. Liposomal systems are reported to be rapidly engulfed by macrophages - where the mycobacterium often resides. This makes liposomes appropriate vehicles for targeted anti-TB drug delivery. Many research groups have reported the potential of liposomes systems to deliver anti-TB drugs. However, the costly formulation status of liposomes, due the use of expensive synthetic or highly purified natural phospholipids, is a limitation to the treatment of a poverty related infectious disease like TB. The aim of this study was to design and develop liposomes for pulmonary delivery of anti-TB drugs using crude soybean lecithin (CL) and its purirified version. CL is an FDA- approved naturally occurring phospholipid mixture that is quite cheap and readily available. Various liposome batches were prepared using a film hydration method and characterized by dynamic light scattering (DLS) and transmission electron microscopy (TEM). Liposomes composed of CL and cholesterol (Chol) in a 3:1 mass ratio were selected for drug encapsulation based on the following characteristics: polydispersity index (PDI, 0.28), mean particles sizes (PS, 502 nm) and zeta potential (ZP, -56 mV). Isoniazid (INH) was encapsulated as a model drug using a freeze-thaw loading technique and an HPLC method was validated for quantitative analysis. The physicochemical properties of INH-loaded liposomes were comprehensively investigated using thermal, microscopy and spectroscopic techniques. This formulation showed a high encapsulation efficiency (%EE) of 78%, much better than the liposomes made from purified lecithin, 20%. Other characteristics of INH- loaded liposomes, which make them attractive for pulmonary TB therapy, are presented in this dissertation. These include a controlled release of 50% of the encapsulated INH over 12 hours. Finally, rifampicin (RIF) was added as a hydrophobic model drug and several evaluations were conducted on these dual drug-loaded liposomes. Of particular interest, it was noted that the dual drug-loaded liposomes made of CL alone showed the highest %EE (59% for INH and 90% for RIF) compared to those containing Chol or those made of purified lecithin. Surprisingly, the average PS of the dual CL-based liposomes (1114 nm) was in the size range reported for optimum deep lung deposition and macrophage uptake. In addition, the mean ZP of these liposomes (-63 mV) seems to be favourable for their shelf stability and internalization by macrophages. Overall, these findings show that the dual CL-based liposomes developed would be promising for macrophage-targeting pulmonary delivery of anti-TB drugs.
- Full Text:
- Date Issued: 2017
- Authors: Nkanga, Christian Isalomboto
- Date: 2017
- Language: English
- Type: Thesis , Masters , MSc
- Identifier: http://hdl.handle.net/10962/37966 , vital:24720
- Description: Tuberculosis (TB) is a deadly infectious microbial disease that is currently dominating public health concerns. Among the pharmacological issues in the management of TB are the poor bioavailability of some anti-TB drugs, mostly due to the fast first-pass metabolism, and high drug load needed for combination therapy. These result in a lengthy treatment with several adverse effects causing decreased patient compliance. These factors often lead to the therapeutic failure and promote the development of drug resistant strains, justifying the urgent need for new therapeutic strategies. Liposomes are lipid-based particulate vehicles known to be the most clinically appointed drug carriers currently. Liposomal systems are reported to be rapidly engulfed by macrophages - where the mycobacterium often resides. This makes liposomes appropriate vehicles for targeted anti-TB drug delivery. Many research groups have reported the potential of liposomes systems to deliver anti-TB drugs. However, the costly formulation status of liposomes, due the use of expensive synthetic or highly purified natural phospholipids, is a limitation to the treatment of a poverty related infectious disease like TB. The aim of this study was to design and develop liposomes for pulmonary delivery of anti-TB drugs using crude soybean lecithin (CL) and its purirified version. CL is an FDA- approved naturally occurring phospholipid mixture that is quite cheap and readily available. Various liposome batches were prepared using a film hydration method and characterized by dynamic light scattering (DLS) and transmission electron microscopy (TEM). Liposomes composed of CL and cholesterol (Chol) in a 3:1 mass ratio were selected for drug encapsulation based on the following characteristics: polydispersity index (PDI, 0.28), mean particles sizes (PS, 502 nm) and zeta potential (ZP, -56 mV). Isoniazid (INH) was encapsulated as a model drug using a freeze-thaw loading technique and an HPLC method was validated for quantitative analysis. The physicochemical properties of INH-loaded liposomes were comprehensively investigated using thermal, microscopy and spectroscopic techniques. This formulation showed a high encapsulation efficiency (%EE) of 78%, much better than the liposomes made from purified lecithin, 20%. Other characteristics of INH- loaded liposomes, which make them attractive for pulmonary TB therapy, are presented in this dissertation. These include a controlled release of 50% of the encapsulated INH over 12 hours. Finally, rifampicin (RIF) was added as a hydrophobic model drug and several evaluations were conducted on these dual drug-loaded liposomes. Of particular interest, it was noted that the dual drug-loaded liposomes made of CL alone showed the highest %EE (59% for INH and 90% for RIF) compared to those containing Chol or those made of purified lecithin. Surprisingly, the average PS of the dual CL-based liposomes (1114 nm) was in the size range reported for optimum deep lung deposition and macrophage uptake. In addition, the mean ZP of these liposomes (-63 mV) seems to be favourable for their shelf stability and internalization by macrophages. Overall, these findings show that the dual CL-based liposomes developed would be promising for macrophage-targeting pulmonary delivery of anti-TB drugs.
- Full Text:
- Date Issued: 2017
Integrating Afrocentric approaches for meaningful learning of science concepts
- Chikunda, Charles, Ngcoza, Kenneth M
- Authors: Chikunda, Charles , Ngcoza, Kenneth M
- Date: 2017
- Subjects: To be catalogued
- Language: English
- Type: text , book chapter
- Identifier: http://hdl.handle.net/10962/436248 , vital:73252 , ISBN 978-3-319-45989-9 , https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-319-45989-9_
- Description: Economic and social development in any modern country re-lies heavily on a sound scientific and technological base. Es-sentially, science constitutes an area of any nation’s education system where many of the skills that are needed to stimulate development are learned, such as securing good health, fighting diseases, protecting the environment, farming and de-veloping agriculture and developing new industries and tech-nologies and even building resilience to climate change. There is a need therefore for a country to harness the intellectual and scientific capacity of its young people. Ironically, however, sci-ence (especially physical sciences) is one of the least popular areas within the educational system of most developing countries. Research shows that students’ and especially girls’ low interest in science and their relatively negative attitudes are at least partially attributed to the way science is taught at school.
- Full Text:
- Date Issued: 2017
- Authors: Chikunda, Charles , Ngcoza, Kenneth M
- Date: 2017
- Subjects: To be catalogued
- Language: English
- Type: text , book chapter
- Identifier: http://hdl.handle.net/10962/436248 , vital:73252 , ISBN 978-3-319-45989-9 , https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-319-45989-9_
- Description: Economic and social development in any modern country re-lies heavily on a sound scientific and technological base. Es-sentially, science constitutes an area of any nation’s education system where many of the skills that are needed to stimulate development are learned, such as securing good health, fighting diseases, protecting the environment, farming and de-veloping agriculture and developing new industries and tech-nologies and even building resilience to climate change. There is a need therefore for a country to harness the intellectual and scientific capacity of its young people. Ironically, however, sci-ence (especially physical sciences) is one of the least popular areas within the educational system of most developing countries. Research shows that students’ and especially girls’ low interest in science and their relatively negative attitudes are at least partially attributed to the way science is taught at school.
- Full Text:
- Date Issued: 2017
Integrating biodiversity considerations into urban golf courses: Managers’ perceptions and woody plant diversity in the Eastern Cape, South Africa
- Jarrett, Mitchell, Shackleton, Charlie M
- Authors: Jarrett, Mitchell , Shackleton, Charlie M
- Date: 2017
- Subjects: To be catalogued
- Language: English
- Type: text , article
- Identifier: http://hdl.handle.net/10962/180353 , vital:43356 , xlink:href="https://doi.org/10.1080/1747423X.2017.1325525"
- Description: Rapid rates of urbanisation affect biodiversity through habitat fragmentation and loss. Because urban golf courses are large green spaces, they potentially harbour much biodiversity if managed for such. The area of untransformed land of golf courses in the Eastern Cape (South Africa) was determined using Geographic Information System (GIS), the woody plant composition of a subsample was determined by field sampling and the greenkeepers were interviewed. There was a significant relationship between climate and woody cover, species richness and percentage native plants but not species diversity. There was no relationship between management scores and species richness, diversity and percentage native. Significant relationships were evident between woody plant species richness and course income, number of grounds staff, number of club members and greenkeepers’ years of experience. These results suggest a complex suite of factors that play a role in the woody plant composition of urban golf courses and their contribution to urban biodiversity.
- Full Text:
- Date Issued: 2017
- Authors: Jarrett, Mitchell , Shackleton, Charlie M
- Date: 2017
- Subjects: To be catalogued
- Language: English
- Type: text , article
- Identifier: http://hdl.handle.net/10962/180353 , vital:43356 , xlink:href="https://doi.org/10.1080/1747423X.2017.1325525"
- Description: Rapid rates of urbanisation affect biodiversity through habitat fragmentation and loss. Because urban golf courses are large green spaces, they potentially harbour much biodiversity if managed for such. The area of untransformed land of golf courses in the Eastern Cape (South Africa) was determined using Geographic Information System (GIS), the woody plant composition of a subsample was determined by field sampling and the greenkeepers were interviewed. There was a significant relationship between climate and woody cover, species richness and percentage native plants but not species diversity. There was no relationship between management scores and species richness, diversity and percentage native. Significant relationships were evident between woody plant species richness and course income, number of grounds staff, number of club members and greenkeepers’ years of experience. These results suggest a complex suite of factors that play a role in the woody plant composition of urban golf courses and their contribution to urban biodiversity.
- Full Text:
- Date Issued: 2017
Integrating Climate Change Adaptation (CCA) and Disaster Risk Reduction (DRR) for greater local level resilience: lessons from a multi-stakeholder think-tank
- Pereira, Taryn, Shackleton, Sheona E, Donkor, Felix Kwabena
- Authors: Pereira, Taryn , Shackleton, Sheona E , Donkor, Felix Kwabena
- Date: 2017
- Subjects: Climatic changes -- South Africa , Climatic changes -- South Africa -- Eastern Cape -- South Africa
- Language: English
- Type: text
- Identifier: http://hdl.handle.net/10962/62027 , vital:28097
- Description: The last few years have seen one of the most severe droughts in recent times in the southern African region, and news headlines are increasingly full of warnings about heavy storms, fires and floods. There is no doubt that extreme hydro-meteorological events, and their multiple and potentially disastrous impacts, are at the forefront of the public consciousness at the present time and are one of the key concerns regarding the impacts of climate change in the region. While the links between extreme climate events, disaster risk reduction (DRR - see Box 1) and climate change adaptation (CCA - see Box 2) are recognised in the South African Climate Change White Paper, this is not the case for the whole region. Furthermore, even if there is national recognition of the need to synergise these two spheres of endeavour, this does not always trickle down to effective policy, planning and implementation at the local level.
- Full Text:
- Date Issued: 2017
- Authors: Pereira, Taryn , Shackleton, Sheona E , Donkor, Felix Kwabena
- Date: 2017
- Subjects: Climatic changes -- South Africa , Climatic changes -- South Africa -- Eastern Cape -- South Africa
- Language: English
- Type: text
- Identifier: http://hdl.handle.net/10962/62027 , vital:28097
- Description: The last few years have seen one of the most severe droughts in recent times in the southern African region, and news headlines are increasingly full of warnings about heavy storms, fires and floods. There is no doubt that extreme hydro-meteorological events, and their multiple and potentially disastrous impacts, are at the forefront of the public consciousness at the present time and are one of the key concerns regarding the impacts of climate change in the region. While the links between extreme climate events, disaster risk reduction (DRR - see Box 1) and climate change adaptation (CCA - see Box 2) are recognised in the South African Climate Change White Paper, this is not the case for the whole region. Furthermore, even if there is national recognition of the need to synergise these two spheres of endeavour, this does not always trickle down to effective policy, planning and implementation at the local level.
- Full Text:
- Date Issued: 2017
Integrating local indigenous knowledge in the teaching of water conservation by senior primary school Natural Science teachers: a Namibian case study
- Authors: Visagie, Ronald Arnold
- Date: 2017
- Language: English
- Type: Thesis , Masters , MEd
- Identifier: http://hdl.handle.net/10962/6907 , vital:21199
- Description: The conservation of biodiversity to meet the needs and aspirations of present and future generations is a cornerstone for sustainable development. In response to this, one of the aims of Basic Education in Namibia is to develop an environmentally friendly society which has a concern for the conservation of water. Thus, the National Curriculum of Basic Education [NCBE], 2010, p. 8) expects Grade 6 Natural Science learners to be competent in using simple scientific models, methods and skills to make scientific sense of the natural environment; and most importantly for the learners to relate the implications of this scientific understanding to their personal and social health and the sustainable use of all natural resources for future generations. Additionally, teachers are encouraged to make innovative use of various knowledge systems including indigenous knowledge. However, there is no mention of how teachers should make use of local indigenous knowledge (IK) when teaching the topic on water conservation in particular. It is against this backdrop that in this study I sought to understand how two Grade 6 Natural Science teachers use local indigenous knowledge in their classrooms to teach the topic of water conservation. This interpretive case study was carried out in collaboration with a rural community in the Erongo region. Data were collected in three stages. The first stage was the gathering of information through document analysis to strengthen my context. Documents such as the National Curriculum, Science Curriculum, Syllabi, Grade 6 Natural Science textbooks and SATs results were analysed to gain some insight and understanding of the issue before conducting interviews. In the second phase of this study I conducted semi-structured interviews with the Topnaar community members and two teachers. This was followed by classroom observations. Additionally, I used stimulated recall interviews (SRI) to provide clarity on how teachers use prior knowledge and mediate learning when teaching the topic water conservation using indigenous knowledge. The study is informed by Vygotsky’s (1978) socio-cultural theory in conjunction with Shulman’s (1986) pedagogical content knowledge (PCK). Since a classroom is a social unit where interactions occur between teachers and learners, and learners and learners, these theories provided a useful lens for observing lessons and analysing teachers’ content knowledge and how they mediate learning using local indigenous knowledge. A thematic approach to data analysis was adopted and qualitative data were analysed inductively. The findings of the study revealed that the indigenous knowledge amongst the Topnaars are governed by the ideals of Ubuntu. Findings also revealed that proper planning is needed to incorporate IK into science lessons as it may clear up misconceptions that may arise from indigenous knowledge. The study recommends that teachers and curriculum planners should explore different indigenous practices that are linked to the topics in the curriculum or syllabus to enhance learning and teaching in their science classrooms. It also recommends that curriculum developers, with the help of subject advisors, teachers and community members, should start planning on how indigenous knowledge can best be integrated into science textbooks as it has become a hindrance for the teachers to incorporate it.
- Full Text:
- Date Issued: 2017
- Authors: Visagie, Ronald Arnold
- Date: 2017
- Language: English
- Type: Thesis , Masters , MEd
- Identifier: http://hdl.handle.net/10962/6907 , vital:21199
- Description: The conservation of biodiversity to meet the needs and aspirations of present and future generations is a cornerstone for sustainable development. In response to this, one of the aims of Basic Education in Namibia is to develop an environmentally friendly society which has a concern for the conservation of water. Thus, the National Curriculum of Basic Education [NCBE], 2010, p. 8) expects Grade 6 Natural Science learners to be competent in using simple scientific models, methods and skills to make scientific sense of the natural environment; and most importantly for the learners to relate the implications of this scientific understanding to their personal and social health and the sustainable use of all natural resources for future generations. Additionally, teachers are encouraged to make innovative use of various knowledge systems including indigenous knowledge. However, there is no mention of how teachers should make use of local indigenous knowledge (IK) when teaching the topic on water conservation in particular. It is against this backdrop that in this study I sought to understand how two Grade 6 Natural Science teachers use local indigenous knowledge in their classrooms to teach the topic of water conservation. This interpretive case study was carried out in collaboration with a rural community in the Erongo region. Data were collected in three stages. The first stage was the gathering of information through document analysis to strengthen my context. Documents such as the National Curriculum, Science Curriculum, Syllabi, Grade 6 Natural Science textbooks and SATs results were analysed to gain some insight and understanding of the issue before conducting interviews. In the second phase of this study I conducted semi-structured interviews with the Topnaar community members and two teachers. This was followed by classroom observations. Additionally, I used stimulated recall interviews (SRI) to provide clarity on how teachers use prior knowledge and mediate learning when teaching the topic water conservation using indigenous knowledge. The study is informed by Vygotsky’s (1978) socio-cultural theory in conjunction with Shulman’s (1986) pedagogical content knowledge (PCK). Since a classroom is a social unit where interactions occur between teachers and learners, and learners and learners, these theories provided a useful lens for observing lessons and analysing teachers’ content knowledge and how they mediate learning using local indigenous knowledge. A thematic approach to data analysis was adopted and qualitative data were analysed inductively. The findings of the study revealed that the indigenous knowledge amongst the Topnaars are governed by the ideals of Ubuntu. Findings also revealed that proper planning is needed to incorporate IK into science lessons as it may clear up misconceptions that may arise from indigenous knowledge. The study recommends that teachers and curriculum planners should explore different indigenous practices that are linked to the topics in the curriculum or syllabus to enhance learning and teaching in their science classrooms. It also recommends that curriculum developers, with the help of subject advisors, teachers and community members, should start planning on how indigenous knowledge can best be integrated into science textbooks as it has become a hindrance for the teachers to incorporate it.
- Full Text:
- Date Issued: 2017