Agreement and coordination in XiTsonga, SeSotho and IsiXhosa: an optimality theoretic perspective
- Authors: Mitchley, Hazel
- Date: 2016
- Language: English
- Type: Thesis , Masters , MA
- Identifier: http://hdl.handle.net/10962/3423 , vital:20491
- Description: This thesis provides a unified Optimality Theoretic analysis of subject-verb agreement with coordinated preverbal subjects in three Southern Bantu languages: Xitsonga (S53), Sesotho (S33), and isiXhosa (S41). This analysis is then used to formulate a typology of agreement resolution strategies and the contexts which trigger them. Although some accounts in the Bantu literature suggest that agreement with coordinate structures is avoided by speakers (e.g. Schadeberg 1992, Voeltz 1971) especially when conjuncts are from different noun classes, I show that there is ample evidence to the contrary, and that the subject marker used is dependent on several factors, including (i) the [-HUMAN] specification on the conjuncts, (ii) whether the conjuncts are singular or plural, (iii) whether or not the conjuncts both carry the same noun class feature, and (iv) the order of the conjuncts. This thesis shows that there are various agreement resolution strategies which can beused: 1) agreement with the [+HUMAN] feature on the conjuncts, 2) agreement with the[-HUMAN] feature on the conjuncts, 3) agreement with the noun class feature on both conjuncts, 4) agreement with the noun class feature on the conjunct closest to the verb, and 5) agreement with the noun class feature on the conjunct furthest from the verb. Not all of these strategies are used by all languages, nor are these strategies interchangeable in the languages which do use them – instead, multiple factors conspire to trigger the use of a specific agreement strategy within a specific agreement featural context. I show that these effects can be captured using Optimality Theory (Prince and Smolensky 2004). The analysis makes use of seven constraints: RES#, MAX[+H], MAX[-H], DEP[-H], MAXNC, DEPNC, and AGREECLOSEST. The hierarchical ranking of these constraints not only accounts for the confinement of particular strategies to specific agreement featural contexts within a language, but also accounts for the cross-linguistic differences in the use of these strategies. I end off by examining the typological implications which follow from the OT analysis provided in this thesis.
- Full Text:
- Date Issued: 2016
- Authors: Mitchley, Hazel
- Date: 2016
- Language: English
- Type: Thesis , Masters , MA
- Identifier: http://hdl.handle.net/10962/3423 , vital:20491
- Description: This thesis provides a unified Optimality Theoretic analysis of subject-verb agreement with coordinated preverbal subjects in three Southern Bantu languages: Xitsonga (S53), Sesotho (S33), and isiXhosa (S41). This analysis is then used to formulate a typology of agreement resolution strategies and the contexts which trigger them. Although some accounts in the Bantu literature suggest that agreement with coordinate structures is avoided by speakers (e.g. Schadeberg 1992, Voeltz 1971) especially when conjuncts are from different noun classes, I show that there is ample evidence to the contrary, and that the subject marker used is dependent on several factors, including (i) the [-HUMAN] specification on the conjuncts, (ii) whether the conjuncts are singular or plural, (iii) whether or not the conjuncts both carry the same noun class feature, and (iv) the order of the conjuncts. This thesis shows that there are various agreement resolution strategies which can beused: 1) agreement with the [+HUMAN] feature on the conjuncts, 2) agreement with the[-HUMAN] feature on the conjuncts, 3) agreement with the noun class feature on both conjuncts, 4) agreement with the noun class feature on the conjunct closest to the verb, and 5) agreement with the noun class feature on the conjunct furthest from the verb. Not all of these strategies are used by all languages, nor are these strategies interchangeable in the languages which do use them – instead, multiple factors conspire to trigger the use of a specific agreement strategy within a specific agreement featural context. I show that these effects can be captured using Optimality Theory (Prince and Smolensky 2004). The analysis makes use of seven constraints: RES#, MAX[+H], MAX[-H], DEP[-H], MAXNC, DEPNC, and AGREECLOSEST. The hierarchical ranking of these constraints not only accounts for the confinement of particular strategies to specific agreement featural contexts within a language, but also accounts for the cross-linguistic differences in the use of these strategies. I end off by examining the typological implications which follow from the OT analysis provided in this thesis.
- Full Text:
- Date Issued: 2016
Alcoholism and being under the influence of alcohol
- Authors: Maliti, Zandisile
- Date: 2016
- Subjects: Alcoholism and employment , Misconduct in office , Alcoholism -- Diagnosis
- Language: English
- Type: Thesis , Masters , LLM
- Identifier: http://hdl.handle.net/10948/8416 , vital:26354
- Description: Being under the influence of alcohol at work or during working hours is dealt with as misconduct. On the other hand, in a case where an employee suffers from alcoholism, such a case is treated as incapacity due to ill health. The possibility of overlap between the two has contributed to a misconception. Alcoholism cases, are at times, incorrectly treated as misconduct. The same applies to cases of being under the influence of alcohol where such cases would be treated as incapacity instead of being treated as misconduct. The distinction between alcoholism and being under the influence of alcohol was made clear in Transnet Freight Rail v Transnet Bargaining Council C644/2009 [2011] ZALCJHB (4 March 2011) where the Labour Court held that employers have an obligation of assisting employees who suffer from alcoholism with counselling and rehabilitation. Such an obligation does not arise when an employee, who is not an alcoholic, comes to work under the influence of alcohol. Whilst the nature of work is taken into consideration in determining whether an employee is under the influence of alcohol or not, the major cause of disharmony in the determination is a common defence of having consumed alcohol during a night before and whether the physical observations combined with positive breathalyser test results or on their own are indicative, on the balance of probabilities, that an employee is under the influence of alcohol or not. There is no need for an employee to injure himself or herself or other employees before a determination is made that he or she is under the influence of alcohol. Physical observations combined with breathalyzer test results, can be indicative of an employee that is being under the influence of alcohol. The nature of work should be an aggravating or mitigating factor rather than a determining factor of guilt.
- Full Text:
- Date Issued: 2016
- Authors: Maliti, Zandisile
- Date: 2016
- Subjects: Alcoholism and employment , Misconduct in office , Alcoholism -- Diagnosis
- Language: English
- Type: Thesis , Masters , LLM
- Identifier: http://hdl.handle.net/10948/8416 , vital:26354
- Description: Being under the influence of alcohol at work or during working hours is dealt with as misconduct. On the other hand, in a case where an employee suffers from alcoholism, such a case is treated as incapacity due to ill health. The possibility of overlap between the two has contributed to a misconception. Alcoholism cases, are at times, incorrectly treated as misconduct. The same applies to cases of being under the influence of alcohol where such cases would be treated as incapacity instead of being treated as misconduct. The distinction between alcoholism and being under the influence of alcohol was made clear in Transnet Freight Rail v Transnet Bargaining Council C644/2009 [2011] ZALCJHB (4 March 2011) where the Labour Court held that employers have an obligation of assisting employees who suffer from alcoholism with counselling and rehabilitation. Such an obligation does not arise when an employee, who is not an alcoholic, comes to work under the influence of alcohol. Whilst the nature of work is taken into consideration in determining whether an employee is under the influence of alcohol or not, the major cause of disharmony in the determination is a common defence of having consumed alcohol during a night before and whether the physical observations combined with positive breathalyser test results or on their own are indicative, on the balance of probabilities, that an employee is under the influence of alcohol or not. There is no need for an employee to injure himself or herself or other employees before a determination is made that he or she is under the influence of alcohol. Physical observations combined with breathalyzer test results, can be indicative of an employee that is being under the influence of alcohol. The nature of work should be an aggravating or mitigating factor rather than a determining factor of guilt.
- Full Text:
- Date Issued: 2016
Allelopathic effects of Lantana camara on indigenous forest species in South Africa
- Ruwanza, Sheunesu, Shackleton, Charlie M
- Authors: Ruwanza, Sheunesu , Shackleton, Charlie M
- Date: 2016
- Subjects: To be catalogued
- Language: English
- Type: text , article
- Identifier: http://hdl.handle.net/10962/182296 , vital:43818 , xlink:href="http://www.allelopathyjournal.org/?"
- Description: Lantana camara, is an invasive plant in South Africa and greatly influences the forest spp. In greenhouse, we evaluated the allelopathic effects of aqueous extracts of L. camara leaf, stem and root on 5-test species, (3-forest species viz., Acacia natalitia, Kiggalaria africana and Searsia crenata and 2-crops: Solanum lycopersicum and Lactuca sativa). Potential allelopathic compounds present in L. camara leaf, stem and root aqueous extracts were identified using gas chromatography mass spectrometry (GC-MS). The leaf, stem and root aqueous extracts of L. camara reduced the seed germination and seedling growth of all test species showing that L. camara aqueous extracts were deleterious to all test species. We identified 92 major volatile organic components in L. camara aqueous extracts. These compounds had the potential to inhibit the germination and seedling growth of test crops. The leaf, stem and root aqueous extracts of L. camara contained the allelopathic compounds that inhibited the germination and seedling growth of indigenous forest species and crop species.
- Full Text:
- Date Issued: 2016
- Authors: Ruwanza, Sheunesu , Shackleton, Charlie M
- Date: 2016
- Subjects: To be catalogued
- Language: English
- Type: text , article
- Identifier: http://hdl.handle.net/10962/182296 , vital:43818 , xlink:href="http://www.allelopathyjournal.org/?"
- Description: Lantana camara, is an invasive plant in South Africa and greatly influences the forest spp. In greenhouse, we evaluated the allelopathic effects of aqueous extracts of L. camara leaf, stem and root on 5-test species, (3-forest species viz., Acacia natalitia, Kiggalaria africana and Searsia crenata and 2-crops: Solanum lycopersicum and Lactuca sativa). Potential allelopathic compounds present in L. camara leaf, stem and root aqueous extracts were identified using gas chromatography mass spectrometry (GC-MS). The leaf, stem and root aqueous extracts of L. camara reduced the seed germination and seedling growth of all test species showing that L. camara aqueous extracts were deleterious to all test species. We identified 92 major volatile organic components in L. camara aqueous extracts. These compounds had the potential to inhibit the germination and seedling growth of test crops. The leaf, stem and root aqueous extracts of L. camara contained the allelopathic compounds that inhibited the germination and seedling growth of indigenous forest species and crop species.
- Full Text:
- Date Issued: 2016
Alzheimer’s disease: making sense of the stress
- Authors: Whiteley, Chris G
- Date: 2016
- Language: English
- Type: text , book
- Identifier: http://hdl.handle.net/10962/67072 , vital:29029 , http://www.smgebooks.com/alzheimers-disease/chapters/ALZD-16-08.pdf
- Description: publisher version , To facilitate a deep understanding of the mechanisms involved in neurodegeneration and Alzheimer’s disease fundamental knowledge is required about the action and function of enzymes in the brain that not only metabolise arginine (neuronal nitric oxide synthase) but are closely associated with oxidative (superoxide dismutase; catalase; glutathione peroxidase) and/or nitrosative stress. In particular the focus extends towards enzymes that contribute to amyloid peptide aggregation and senile plaquedeposits (fibrillogenesis). Of special importance are the glycine zipper regions within these amyloid peptides, especially Aβ25-29 and Aβ29-33 (that contains two isoleucine residues) and the pentapeptide Aβ17-21 (that contains two phenylalanines), each generated by enzymatic cleavage of the intramembrane amyloid precursor protein. Use of antisense-sense technology has identified regions in each enzyme that are capable of binding with the amyloid peptides. After an initial inhibition of each enzyme there is an oligomerisation into soluble fibrils which accumulate and eventually precipitate. The use of nanoparticles do not just prevent but reverse the formation of these fibrils either by disrupting the binary adduct – enzyme-Aβ-peptide- or by reaction with, and therefore deplete, Aβ-monomers in solution and so block potential aggregation sites on the enzyme itself. Future therapy towards Alzheimer’s disease should target the C-terminal region of the amyloid precursor protein and substitute hydrophobic residues for the glycine amino acids within the glycine zipper region.
- Full Text:
- Date Issued: 2016
- Authors: Whiteley, Chris G
- Date: 2016
- Language: English
- Type: text , book
- Identifier: http://hdl.handle.net/10962/67072 , vital:29029 , http://www.smgebooks.com/alzheimers-disease/chapters/ALZD-16-08.pdf
- Description: publisher version , To facilitate a deep understanding of the mechanisms involved in neurodegeneration and Alzheimer’s disease fundamental knowledge is required about the action and function of enzymes in the brain that not only metabolise arginine (neuronal nitric oxide synthase) but are closely associated with oxidative (superoxide dismutase; catalase; glutathione peroxidase) and/or nitrosative stress. In particular the focus extends towards enzymes that contribute to amyloid peptide aggregation and senile plaquedeposits (fibrillogenesis). Of special importance are the glycine zipper regions within these amyloid peptides, especially Aβ25-29 and Aβ29-33 (that contains two isoleucine residues) and the pentapeptide Aβ17-21 (that contains two phenylalanines), each generated by enzymatic cleavage of the intramembrane amyloid precursor protein. Use of antisense-sense technology has identified regions in each enzyme that are capable of binding with the amyloid peptides. After an initial inhibition of each enzyme there is an oligomerisation into soluble fibrils which accumulate and eventually precipitate. The use of nanoparticles do not just prevent but reverse the formation of these fibrils either by disrupting the binary adduct – enzyme-Aβ-peptide- or by reaction with, and therefore deplete, Aβ-monomers in solution and so block potential aggregation sites on the enzyme itself. Future therapy towards Alzheimer’s disease should target the C-terminal region of the amyloid precursor protein and substitute hydrophobic residues for the glycine amino acids within the glycine zipper region.
- Full Text:
- Date Issued: 2016
An analysis of balanced scorecard for improved customer satisfaction in local government: a comparative study of the City of Cape Town and the City of Johannesburg
- Authors: Makina, Clive
- Date: 2016
- Subjects: Organizational effectiveness Consumer satisfaction Performance -- Management
- Language: English
- Type: Thesis , Masters , Degree
- Identifier: http://hdl.handle.net/10353/4596 , vital:28463
- Description: This study sought to understand the application of the BSC as a tool that facilitates customer satisfaction in local government service delivery. The main thrust was on its application in South African metropolitan municipalities with a view of establishing means of improving its adoption for better customer-focused performance measurement. This area has not received much attention, yet local government performance is in an unacceptable state. The study employed a secondary data analysis approach and findings from the study reflect widespread usage of the BSC but without proper consideration of factors influencing its successful application. Findings of this study reinforce previous study results that there is poor communication with regards to how the BSC must be applied. Its application is also faced with the challenge of lack of training on the use and application of the BSC. However, the tool has significantly transformed and shaped the functioning of South Africa’s two best performing metropolitan municipalities and altered their performance in a favourable manner. Through the BSC approach, the City of Cape Town and the City of Johannesburg have moved towards improving their relations with the customers they serve. The BSC allows the municipalities to take into consideration the non-financial assets that were previously not considered valuable in organisations. Accommodating the views of customers has gained much traction in these municipalities and measures have been put in place to ensure real time data enables managers to make decisions that attempt to address people’s needs and expectations. Conclusively, the study recommends strong improvement in training and communication of the objectives and goals of a PMS within an organisation. Strong emphasis should also be placed on listening to what the customers say and expect from service delivery. This will strengthen the use and value of CSS and CBP and help improve performance and the achievement of the NDP goals of 2030 through local government. This study sought to understand the application of the BSC as a tool that facilitates customer satisfaction in local government service delivery. The main thrust was on its application in South African metropolitan municipalities with a view of establishing means of improving its adoption for better customer-focused performance measurement. This area has not received much attention, yet local government performance is in an unacceptable state. The study employed a secondary data analysis approach and findings from the study reflect widespread usage of the BSC but without proper consideration of factors influencing its successful application. Findings of this study reinforce previous study results that there is poor communication with regards to how the BSC must be applied. Its application is also faced with the challenge of lack of training on the use and application of the BSC. However, the tool has significantly transformed and shaped the functioning of South Africa’s two best performing metropolitan municipalities and altered their performance in a favourable manner. Through the BSC approach, the City of Cape Town and the City of Johannesburg have moved towards improving their relations with the customers they serve. The BSC allows the municipalities to take into consideration the non-financial assets that were previously not considered valuable in organisations. Accommodating the views of customers has gained much traction in these municipalities and measures have been put in place to ensure real time data enables managers to make decisions that attempt to address people’s needs and expectations. Conclusively, the study recommends strong improvement in training and communication of the objectives and goals of a PMS within an organisation. Strong emphasis should also be placed on listening to what the customers say and expect from service delivery. This will strengthen the use and value of CSS and CBP and help improve performance and the achievement of the NDP goals of 2030 through local government..
- Full Text:
- Date Issued: 2016
- Authors: Makina, Clive
- Date: 2016
- Subjects: Organizational effectiveness Consumer satisfaction Performance -- Management
- Language: English
- Type: Thesis , Masters , Degree
- Identifier: http://hdl.handle.net/10353/4596 , vital:28463
- Description: This study sought to understand the application of the BSC as a tool that facilitates customer satisfaction in local government service delivery. The main thrust was on its application in South African metropolitan municipalities with a view of establishing means of improving its adoption for better customer-focused performance measurement. This area has not received much attention, yet local government performance is in an unacceptable state. The study employed a secondary data analysis approach and findings from the study reflect widespread usage of the BSC but without proper consideration of factors influencing its successful application. Findings of this study reinforce previous study results that there is poor communication with regards to how the BSC must be applied. Its application is also faced with the challenge of lack of training on the use and application of the BSC. However, the tool has significantly transformed and shaped the functioning of South Africa’s two best performing metropolitan municipalities and altered their performance in a favourable manner. Through the BSC approach, the City of Cape Town and the City of Johannesburg have moved towards improving their relations with the customers they serve. The BSC allows the municipalities to take into consideration the non-financial assets that were previously not considered valuable in organisations. Accommodating the views of customers has gained much traction in these municipalities and measures have been put in place to ensure real time data enables managers to make decisions that attempt to address people’s needs and expectations. Conclusively, the study recommends strong improvement in training and communication of the objectives and goals of a PMS within an organisation. Strong emphasis should also be placed on listening to what the customers say and expect from service delivery. This will strengthen the use and value of CSS and CBP and help improve performance and the achievement of the NDP goals of 2030 through local government. This study sought to understand the application of the BSC as a tool that facilitates customer satisfaction in local government service delivery. The main thrust was on its application in South African metropolitan municipalities with a view of establishing means of improving its adoption for better customer-focused performance measurement. This area has not received much attention, yet local government performance is in an unacceptable state. The study employed a secondary data analysis approach and findings from the study reflect widespread usage of the BSC but without proper consideration of factors influencing its successful application. Findings of this study reinforce previous study results that there is poor communication with regards to how the BSC must be applied. Its application is also faced with the challenge of lack of training on the use and application of the BSC. However, the tool has significantly transformed and shaped the functioning of South Africa’s two best performing metropolitan municipalities and altered their performance in a favourable manner. Through the BSC approach, the City of Cape Town and the City of Johannesburg have moved towards improving their relations with the customers they serve. The BSC allows the municipalities to take into consideration the non-financial assets that were previously not considered valuable in organisations. Accommodating the views of customers has gained much traction in these municipalities and measures have been put in place to ensure real time data enables managers to make decisions that attempt to address people’s needs and expectations. Conclusively, the study recommends strong improvement in training and communication of the objectives and goals of a PMS within an organisation. Strong emphasis should also be placed on listening to what the customers say and expect from service delivery. This will strengthen the use and value of CSS and CBP and help improve performance and the achievement of the NDP goals of 2030 through local government..
- Full Text:
- Date Issued: 2016
An analysis of grade 12 students' attitudes towards agriculture as a career choice in Nkonkobe municipality, Eastern Cape
- Authors: Ndema, Tenjiwe N
- Date: 2016
- Subjects: Career development -- South Africa , Agriculture -- Study and teaching -- South Africa -- Eastern Cape
- Language: English
- Type: Master's theses , text
- Identifier: http://hdl.handle.net/10353/26592 , vital:65661
- Description: In South Africa there is a perception that the youth, particularly black youth, lack interest in agriculture as a career. The youth are perceived to be more drawn to white collar jobs, because they believe that these jobs are more pleasant and better paying. The literature moreover suggests that the youth perceive agriculture as dirty work which is more appropriate for uneducated or illiterate people. The main aim of the research was to analyse Grade12 students’ attitudes towards agriculture as a career choice in Nkonkobe Municipality. Students from four high schools were interviewed using a structured questionnaire, and the total sample size was 100. Based on the results, about one third of students have a favorable perception of agriculture as a career choice, which is more than what had been expected based on the literature reviewed. Both students from non-agricultural schools and agricultural schools possess a positive attitude towards agriculture. They indicated that agriculture offers a lot of financial gain, is not necessarily associated with poverty, nor is agriculture widely regarded as a last resort for those who have failed in other careers. Moreover, they believe that agriculture is as important as other sectors. However, of those learners who indicated an intention to pursue agriculture as a career, only 1 % specifically wished to become a farmer. The others rather wanted professional careers within the agricultural sector, such as veterinarians, agricultural economists, and so forth. Their interest in agriculture as a career related in large measure to a desire to live in a rural area and work with their hands; however this did not extend to actual farming. , Thesis (M Agric) -- Faculty of Science and Agriculture, 2016
- Full Text:
- Date Issued: 2016
- Authors: Ndema, Tenjiwe N
- Date: 2016
- Subjects: Career development -- South Africa , Agriculture -- Study and teaching -- South Africa -- Eastern Cape
- Language: English
- Type: Master's theses , text
- Identifier: http://hdl.handle.net/10353/26592 , vital:65661
- Description: In South Africa there is a perception that the youth, particularly black youth, lack interest in agriculture as a career. The youth are perceived to be more drawn to white collar jobs, because they believe that these jobs are more pleasant and better paying. The literature moreover suggests that the youth perceive agriculture as dirty work which is more appropriate for uneducated or illiterate people. The main aim of the research was to analyse Grade12 students’ attitudes towards agriculture as a career choice in Nkonkobe Municipality. Students from four high schools were interviewed using a structured questionnaire, and the total sample size was 100. Based on the results, about one third of students have a favorable perception of agriculture as a career choice, which is more than what had been expected based on the literature reviewed. Both students from non-agricultural schools and agricultural schools possess a positive attitude towards agriculture. They indicated that agriculture offers a lot of financial gain, is not necessarily associated with poverty, nor is agriculture widely regarded as a last resort for those who have failed in other careers. Moreover, they believe that agriculture is as important as other sectors. However, of those learners who indicated an intention to pursue agriculture as a career, only 1 % specifically wished to become a farmer. The others rather wanted professional careers within the agricultural sector, such as veterinarians, agricultural economists, and so forth. Their interest in agriculture as a career related in large measure to a desire to live in a rural area and work with their hands; however this did not extend to actual farming. , Thesis (M Agric) -- Faculty of Science and Agriculture, 2016
- Full Text:
- Date Issued: 2016
An analysis of revisions to the South African quarterly gross domestic product
- Authors: Fotoyi, Asanda
- Date: 2016
- Subjects: Gross domestic product -- South Africa
- Language: English
- Type: Thesis , Masters , MCom
- Identifier: http://hdl.handle.net/10948/3635 , vital:20448
- Description: Gross domestic product (GDP) is one of the most important economic performance indicators for any country that is closely watched by governments, businesses and financial communities. GDP often influences economic decisions and policy-making. These decisions are however often based on preliminary initial announcements by statistical agencies. The preliminary estimates are then revised as more comprehensive information becomes available. Therefore, it is important to ensure that the initial GDP announcements are unbiased, efficient and can be relied on. This study focuses on seasonally adjusted and annualised (qq) growth rates at constant prices for the following national accounts aggregates: GDP, gross domestic expenditure (GDE), final consumption expenditure by households and general government, gross fixed capital formation (GFCF), Exports and imports of goods and services, gross national income (GNI) and disposable income of households. The research methodology used is based on descriptive statistics and Ordinary Least Squares (OLS) regression estimations. The results of the study indicate that little confidence should be attributed to interpretations of the initially announced estimates for GDP, GDE, final consumption expenditure by households, GNI and disposable income by households. The study found evidence that suggests that the initial announcements are biased and inefficient. This implies that the initial announcements contain measurement errors that could be eliminated in order to become a better forecast of the final or true value. This further suggests a lack of expected reliability of existing and future initial announcements of the estimates. For short-term analysis the users of GDP data are encouraged to focus on different measures. It is also recommended that the statistical agents producing South Africa’s national accounts aggregates improve their statistical compilation processes. The agencies are also encouraged to conduct periodic revisions studies and make these available to the users.
- Full Text:
- Date Issued: 2016
- Authors: Fotoyi, Asanda
- Date: 2016
- Subjects: Gross domestic product -- South Africa
- Language: English
- Type: Thesis , Masters , MCom
- Identifier: http://hdl.handle.net/10948/3635 , vital:20448
- Description: Gross domestic product (GDP) is one of the most important economic performance indicators for any country that is closely watched by governments, businesses and financial communities. GDP often influences economic decisions and policy-making. These decisions are however often based on preliminary initial announcements by statistical agencies. The preliminary estimates are then revised as more comprehensive information becomes available. Therefore, it is important to ensure that the initial GDP announcements are unbiased, efficient and can be relied on. This study focuses on seasonally adjusted and annualised (qq) growth rates at constant prices for the following national accounts aggregates: GDP, gross domestic expenditure (GDE), final consumption expenditure by households and general government, gross fixed capital formation (GFCF), Exports and imports of goods and services, gross national income (GNI) and disposable income of households. The research methodology used is based on descriptive statistics and Ordinary Least Squares (OLS) regression estimations. The results of the study indicate that little confidence should be attributed to interpretations of the initially announced estimates for GDP, GDE, final consumption expenditure by households, GNI and disposable income by households. The study found evidence that suggests that the initial announcements are biased and inefficient. This implies that the initial announcements contain measurement errors that could be eliminated in order to become a better forecast of the final or true value. This further suggests a lack of expected reliability of existing and future initial announcements of the estimates. For short-term analysis the users of GDP data are encouraged to focus on different measures. It is also recommended that the statistical agents producing South Africa’s national accounts aggregates improve their statistical compilation processes. The agencies are also encouraged to conduct periodic revisions studies and make these available to the users.
- Full Text:
- Date Issued: 2016
An analysis of the efficacy of placing ailing municipalities under administration: a case of Mnquma Municipality in the Eastern Cape
- Authors: Twalo, Nondumiso
- Date: 2016
- Subjects: Municipal government -- South Africa -- Eastern Cape Public administration -- South Africa -- Eastern Cape Municipal services -- South Africa -- Eastern Cape
- Language: English
- Type: Thesis , Masters , MPA
- Identifier: http://hdl.handle.net/10353/1862 , vital:27568
- Description: This research conducts an examination of the efficacy of placing municipalities under administration with the overriding objective of determining the appropriate strategies that can be recommended for improving governance in municipalities. In a bid to achieve this overriding objective, the entire research process was guided by the research objectives and questions that examined; tools used to evaluate the success of provincial interventions, governance of Mnquma Municipality pre and post the intervention strategies which are used for improving municipal governance. Although the secondary research was accomplished through the review and analysis of the relevant literatures and theories, the qualitative research approach was used in the primary research process. The findings of the study indicate that achieving effective municipal governance in South Africa is far from being attained. In terms of the principles for effective governance, the study reveals that the effective implementations of good governance principles in municipalities is marred by factors that include; poor definitions of terms of reference of intervention processes, poor definition of what poor governance in municipalities, lack of evaluation tools for intervention and a process that is highly dependent on subjectivity which subjects it to undue external influence. In thediscussions, it was argued that this subsequently contribute poor working environment, non-improving municipal governance, lack of commitment and non-improving quality of service delivery. However, it was noted that there is still ineffective applications strategies which can be used for improving municipal governance in South Africa. While considering the primary and secondary findings of the study, it was recommended that despite all the contrasting views on the intervention, there was a lot of common ground on the strategies that could be used to improve municipal governance which should be implemented in municipalities.
- Full Text:
- Date Issued: 2016
- Authors: Twalo, Nondumiso
- Date: 2016
- Subjects: Municipal government -- South Africa -- Eastern Cape Public administration -- South Africa -- Eastern Cape Municipal services -- South Africa -- Eastern Cape
- Language: English
- Type: Thesis , Masters , MPA
- Identifier: http://hdl.handle.net/10353/1862 , vital:27568
- Description: This research conducts an examination of the efficacy of placing municipalities under administration with the overriding objective of determining the appropriate strategies that can be recommended for improving governance in municipalities. In a bid to achieve this overriding objective, the entire research process was guided by the research objectives and questions that examined; tools used to evaluate the success of provincial interventions, governance of Mnquma Municipality pre and post the intervention strategies which are used for improving municipal governance. Although the secondary research was accomplished through the review and analysis of the relevant literatures and theories, the qualitative research approach was used in the primary research process. The findings of the study indicate that achieving effective municipal governance in South Africa is far from being attained. In terms of the principles for effective governance, the study reveals that the effective implementations of good governance principles in municipalities is marred by factors that include; poor definitions of terms of reference of intervention processes, poor definition of what poor governance in municipalities, lack of evaluation tools for intervention and a process that is highly dependent on subjectivity which subjects it to undue external influence. In thediscussions, it was argued that this subsequently contribute poor working environment, non-improving municipal governance, lack of commitment and non-improving quality of service delivery. However, it was noted that there is still ineffective applications strategies which can be used for improving municipal governance in South Africa. While considering the primary and secondary findings of the study, it was recommended that despite all the contrasting views on the intervention, there was a lot of common ground on the strategies that could be used to improve municipal governance which should be implemented in municipalities.
- Full Text:
- Date Issued: 2016
An analysis of the efficiency of ontology and symbolic learning algorithms in indigenous knowledge representation
- Authors: Dzimba, Jesman
- Date: 2016
- Subjects: Ontology Computer algorithms
- Language: English
- Type: Thesis , Masters , MSc
- Identifier: http://hdl.handle.net/10353/11939 , vital:39120
- Description: It is without a doubt that machine learning has been the area of focus in early days of artificial intelligence, but the early neural networks approach suffered some shortcomings and this led to a temporary decline in research capacity. New symbolic learning techniques have emerged since then which have yielded promising results and have led to a revival in research in machine learning. This has seen many researchers focusing on these techniques and experimenting with them by comparing their performances for different applications. With that in mind, the research thus decided to make an analysis of the symbolic approach against other approaches such as the neural network (connectionist) to evaluate the power of the former approach. This was done by first generating an ontology that acted as a representation of some collected indigenous knowledge. It is from this ontology that a dataset was generated. The dataset was made ambiguous to see the learning power of classifiers in such data. Two experiments were done, one using WEKA and the other using Orange as tools. The reason why the two experiments were used is because there was not a single tool which contained all the required learning algorithms. The research wanted to make use of ID3 and CN2 symbolic algorithm. However, WEKA had ID3 and not CN2 while Orange had CN2 and not ID3. The most important attributes from the ontology regarding the indigenous knowledge were the name of the plant, the province it is found and the disease the plant treats. Therefore the dataset had two features which were disease and province and one label which was the name of the plant. The learning algorithm was to use the two features to generate rules used to predict the label. However, there was ambiguity on the dataset. The challenge was that two different labels would contain the same features, thus leading to wrongful classification. This was the core of the research. Even though the learning model concluded this situation as wrongful classification, in real time, a system using the same learning model would provide desired and correct results. The only flow which was there is that the learning model simply used one label to predict under and ignore the other label with similar features. This was identified as a flow for both symbolic and non-symbolic algorithms. There is no way of giving suggestions in the case a user wants a different plant but with similar features. Therefore for classification using an ambiguous dataset, both these approaches proved to have the fore mentions flow. The research then decided to use recall to analyze the power of these approaches. It was discovered that ID3 has better recall than Multilayer perceptron and Naïve Bayes algorithms when using a training set. ID3 managed to recall clearly and effectively three of its classes by a probability of 1 while Bayes Net had only one class with recall probability of 1. To further investigate the issue of recall, cross validation was used to contrast the competence of recall of the three algorithms to strengthen the assertion that indeed ID3 has a better recall as compared to the other two algorithms. Three stages of cross-validation were done, one stage using 10 fold, the other 20 fold, and the last using 50 fold. For all the different stages of crossvalidation, Bayes Net proved to perform better in terms of recall than the other two algorithms. In cross-validation, MLP could recall approximately above 88% of the instances available in contrast to when using training set where the algorithm recall only two out of 18 instances. In overall the symbolic approach proved to be a commendable approach for use over the nonsymbolic approach. The study of machine learning involves the building of learning algorithms, improving upon learning algorithms or making comparisons of machine learning algorithms. The research raised awareness on some improvements that need to be done on not only symbolic algorithms but non-symbolic ones as well. Some improvements include improving on or coming up with algorithms that suggest alternative predictions in cases of ambiguity instead of doing wrongful classification and not reflect on other possibilities.
- Full Text:
- Date Issued: 2016
- Authors: Dzimba, Jesman
- Date: 2016
- Subjects: Ontology Computer algorithms
- Language: English
- Type: Thesis , Masters , MSc
- Identifier: http://hdl.handle.net/10353/11939 , vital:39120
- Description: It is without a doubt that machine learning has been the area of focus in early days of artificial intelligence, but the early neural networks approach suffered some shortcomings and this led to a temporary decline in research capacity. New symbolic learning techniques have emerged since then which have yielded promising results and have led to a revival in research in machine learning. This has seen many researchers focusing on these techniques and experimenting with them by comparing their performances for different applications. With that in mind, the research thus decided to make an analysis of the symbolic approach against other approaches such as the neural network (connectionist) to evaluate the power of the former approach. This was done by first generating an ontology that acted as a representation of some collected indigenous knowledge. It is from this ontology that a dataset was generated. The dataset was made ambiguous to see the learning power of classifiers in such data. Two experiments were done, one using WEKA and the other using Orange as tools. The reason why the two experiments were used is because there was not a single tool which contained all the required learning algorithms. The research wanted to make use of ID3 and CN2 symbolic algorithm. However, WEKA had ID3 and not CN2 while Orange had CN2 and not ID3. The most important attributes from the ontology regarding the indigenous knowledge were the name of the plant, the province it is found and the disease the plant treats. Therefore the dataset had two features which were disease and province and one label which was the name of the plant. The learning algorithm was to use the two features to generate rules used to predict the label. However, there was ambiguity on the dataset. The challenge was that two different labels would contain the same features, thus leading to wrongful classification. This was the core of the research. Even though the learning model concluded this situation as wrongful classification, in real time, a system using the same learning model would provide desired and correct results. The only flow which was there is that the learning model simply used one label to predict under and ignore the other label with similar features. This was identified as a flow for both symbolic and non-symbolic algorithms. There is no way of giving suggestions in the case a user wants a different plant but with similar features. Therefore for classification using an ambiguous dataset, both these approaches proved to have the fore mentions flow. The research then decided to use recall to analyze the power of these approaches. It was discovered that ID3 has better recall than Multilayer perceptron and Naïve Bayes algorithms when using a training set. ID3 managed to recall clearly and effectively three of its classes by a probability of 1 while Bayes Net had only one class with recall probability of 1. To further investigate the issue of recall, cross validation was used to contrast the competence of recall of the three algorithms to strengthen the assertion that indeed ID3 has a better recall as compared to the other two algorithms. Three stages of cross-validation were done, one stage using 10 fold, the other 20 fold, and the last using 50 fold. For all the different stages of crossvalidation, Bayes Net proved to perform better in terms of recall than the other two algorithms. In cross-validation, MLP could recall approximately above 88% of the instances available in contrast to when using training set where the algorithm recall only two out of 18 instances. In overall the symbolic approach proved to be a commendable approach for use over the nonsymbolic approach. The study of machine learning involves the building of learning algorithms, improving upon learning algorithms or making comparisons of machine learning algorithms. The research raised awareness on some improvements that need to be done on not only symbolic algorithms but non-symbolic ones as well. Some improvements include improving on or coming up with algorithms that suggest alternative predictions in cases of ambiguity instead of doing wrongful classification and not reflect on other possibilities.
- Full Text:
- Date Issued: 2016
An analysis of the implementation of the Indigenization Economic Empowerment Policy in Zimbabwe
- Authors: Nyathi, Trezah
- Date: 2016
- Subjects: Economic development -- Zimbabwe Zimbabwe -- Economic conditions Zimbabwe -- Economic policy
- Language: English
- Type: Thesis , Masters , MPA
- Identifier: http://hdl.handle.net/10353/2900 , vital:28123
- Description: The anchor of this research was to analyze the implementation process of Zimbabwe’s IEEP. Implementation of policy has been the Achilles heel of most African countries it has been proven that it is a disease of the continents. In this research the focus is on analyzing what happened between the tabled idea and the implemented policy, this is because the implemented policy had a tremendous contradictory impact to the world as it disempowered the investors in an attempt to economically empower its citizens. The tabled idea was great it had its own flows because it lacked clarity in some of its definition and the goals, objectives and how the policy were to be implemented are not clear there is basically lack of clarity pertaining to the policy. This study made use of two theories the Top- down approach and the politics and administration dichotomy, these two theories are in favour of an autocratic way of policy implementation which follows a chain of command. These two theories highlighted that administrators are being covered be politicians and that administration as a practice and discipline are dead. This has lead to policies being made implemented first before they are formulated because there are no administrators. This study reviewed that the implementation process of the IEEP is not clear or rather it does not exist; there is little or no transparency on the events that took place between the tabled idea and the implemented policy.
- Full Text:
- Date Issued: 2016
- Authors: Nyathi, Trezah
- Date: 2016
- Subjects: Economic development -- Zimbabwe Zimbabwe -- Economic conditions Zimbabwe -- Economic policy
- Language: English
- Type: Thesis , Masters , MPA
- Identifier: http://hdl.handle.net/10353/2900 , vital:28123
- Description: The anchor of this research was to analyze the implementation process of Zimbabwe’s IEEP. Implementation of policy has been the Achilles heel of most African countries it has been proven that it is a disease of the continents. In this research the focus is on analyzing what happened between the tabled idea and the implemented policy, this is because the implemented policy had a tremendous contradictory impact to the world as it disempowered the investors in an attempt to economically empower its citizens. The tabled idea was great it had its own flows because it lacked clarity in some of its definition and the goals, objectives and how the policy were to be implemented are not clear there is basically lack of clarity pertaining to the policy. This study made use of two theories the Top- down approach and the politics and administration dichotomy, these two theories are in favour of an autocratic way of policy implementation which follows a chain of command. These two theories highlighted that administrators are being covered be politicians and that administration as a practice and discipline are dead. This has lead to policies being made implemented first before they are formulated because there are no administrators. This study reviewed that the implementation process of the IEEP is not clear or rather it does not exist; there is little or no transparency on the events that took place between the tabled idea and the implemented policy.
- Full Text:
- Date Issued: 2016
An analysis of the South African common law defence of moderate and reasonable child chastisement
- Authors: Maqhosha, Noluthando
- Date: 2016
- Subjects: Common law Corporal punishment
- Language: English
- Type: Thesis , Masters , Degree
- Identifier: http://hdl.handle.net/10353/5447 , vital:29248
- Description: The study sought to analyse the South African common law defence of moderate and reasonable child chastisement. Regarded by those with religious and cultural beliefs as a way of instilling child discipline, child chastisement has been a centre of contestation in recent years. Constitutionally, children have rights to care, dignity and protection. Thus, child chastisement infringes upon these rights. However, regardless of its intentions, child chastisement has an effect of inflicting pain onto its victims thereby infringing on their rights to human dignity, equality and protection. It can also lead to unintended consequences such as injury or death to its victims. Subjecting children to this cruel, inhuman and degrading action affects the development of children and sometimes haunts them at a later stage in life. In addition, child chastisement lacks the measure of determining whether it is moderate or severe, thereby making it prone to abuse or misuse. The study used a qualitative research paradigm, where data was collected from existing documents and analysed towards understanding child chastisement and finding sustainable ways of improving child welfare in the home or in society. The study also analysed the legal framework on child welfare and chastisement globally, regionally and locally. Instruments such as the UNCRC, ACRWC and the UDHR have a clear stance abolishing child chastisement. The study established that, despite the existence of global instruments promoting child care and protection, the common law defence of corporal punishment in the home and society remains a loophole that needs closing and enactment of laws that outlaws it completely.
- Full Text:
- Date Issued: 2016
- Authors: Maqhosha, Noluthando
- Date: 2016
- Subjects: Common law Corporal punishment
- Language: English
- Type: Thesis , Masters , Degree
- Identifier: http://hdl.handle.net/10353/5447 , vital:29248
- Description: The study sought to analyse the South African common law defence of moderate and reasonable child chastisement. Regarded by those with religious and cultural beliefs as a way of instilling child discipline, child chastisement has been a centre of contestation in recent years. Constitutionally, children have rights to care, dignity and protection. Thus, child chastisement infringes upon these rights. However, regardless of its intentions, child chastisement has an effect of inflicting pain onto its victims thereby infringing on their rights to human dignity, equality and protection. It can also lead to unintended consequences such as injury or death to its victims. Subjecting children to this cruel, inhuman and degrading action affects the development of children and sometimes haunts them at a later stage in life. In addition, child chastisement lacks the measure of determining whether it is moderate or severe, thereby making it prone to abuse or misuse. The study used a qualitative research paradigm, where data was collected from existing documents and analysed towards understanding child chastisement and finding sustainable ways of improving child welfare in the home or in society. The study also analysed the legal framework on child welfare and chastisement globally, regionally and locally. Instruments such as the UNCRC, ACRWC and the UDHR have a clear stance abolishing child chastisement. The study established that, despite the existence of global instruments promoting child care and protection, the common law defence of corporal punishment in the home and society remains a loophole that needs closing and enactment of laws that outlaws it completely.
- Full Text:
- Date Issued: 2016
An analysis of the South African common law defence of moderate and reasonable child chastisement
- Authors: Maqhosha, Noluthando
- Date: 2016
- Subjects: Common law Common law -- South Africa -- Cases Corporal punishment
- Language: English
- Type: Thesis , Masters , MA (Human Rights)
- Identifier: http://hdl.handle.net/10353/2556 , vital:27894
- Description: The study sought to analyse the South African common law defence of moderate and reasonable child chastisement. Regarded by those with religious and cultural beliefs as a way of instilling child discipline, child chastisement has been a centre of contestation in recent years. Constitutionally, children have rights to care, dignity and protection. Thus, child chastisement infringes upon these rights. However, regardless of its intentions, child chastisement has an effect of inflicting pain onto its victims thereby infringing on their rights to human dignity, equality and protection. It can also lead to unintended consequences such as injury or death to its victims. Subjecting children to this cruel, inhuman and degrading action affects the development of children and sometimes haunts them at a later stage in life. In addition, child chastisement lacks the measure of determining whether it is moderate or severe, thereby making it prone to abuse or misuse. The study used a qualitative research paradigm, where data was collected from existing documents and analysed towards understanding child chastisement and finding sustainable ways of improving child welfare in the home or in society. The study also analysed the legal framework on child welfare and chastisement globally, regionally and locally. Instruments such as the UNCRC, ACRWC and the UDHR have a clear stance abolishing child chastisement. The study established that, despite the existence of global instruments promoting child care and protection, the common law defence of corporal punishment in the home and society remains a loophole that needs closing and enactment of laws that outlaws it completely.
- Full Text:
- Date Issued: 2016
- Authors: Maqhosha, Noluthando
- Date: 2016
- Subjects: Common law Common law -- South Africa -- Cases Corporal punishment
- Language: English
- Type: Thesis , Masters , MA (Human Rights)
- Identifier: http://hdl.handle.net/10353/2556 , vital:27894
- Description: The study sought to analyse the South African common law defence of moderate and reasonable child chastisement. Regarded by those with religious and cultural beliefs as a way of instilling child discipline, child chastisement has been a centre of contestation in recent years. Constitutionally, children have rights to care, dignity and protection. Thus, child chastisement infringes upon these rights. However, regardless of its intentions, child chastisement has an effect of inflicting pain onto its victims thereby infringing on their rights to human dignity, equality and protection. It can also lead to unintended consequences such as injury or death to its victims. Subjecting children to this cruel, inhuman and degrading action affects the development of children and sometimes haunts them at a later stage in life. In addition, child chastisement lacks the measure of determining whether it is moderate or severe, thereby making it prone to abuse or misuse. The study used a qualitative research paradigm, where data was collected from existing documents and analysed towards understanding child chastisement and finding sustainable ways of improving child welfare in the home or in society. The study also analysed the legal framework on child welfare and chastisement globally, regionally and locally. Instruments such as the UNCRC, ACRWC and the UDHR have a clear stance abolishing child chastisement. The study established that, despite the existence of global instruments promoting child care and protection, the common law defence of corporal punishment in the home and society remains a loophole that needs closing and enactment of laws that outlaws it completely.
- Full Text:
- Date Issued: 2016
An analysis of the South African income tax legislation in respect of transfer pricing
- Authors: Le Roux, Ayesha
- Date: 2016
- Subjects: Transfer pricing -- Taxation -- South Africa Transfer pricing -- Taxation -- Law and legislation -- South Africa
- Language: English
- Type: Thesis , Masters , MCom
- Identifier: http://hdl.handle.net/10948/13105 , vital:27152
- Description: Transfer pricing has become a very popular term in South Africa over the last few years, even more so since July 2013 when the Base Erosion and Profit Shifting (BEPS) Action plan was issued by the Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD) and G20 (an international forum for the governments and central bank governors from 20 major economies). The OECD and G20 has issued the plan to address the perceived flaws in international tax rules, giving rise to profit shifting. Subsequently, the OECD has issued numerous reports and as a result has updated its 2010 Transfer Pricing Guidelines. Many countries have adopted these guidelines. However as South Africa is not an OECD member, there is no certainty that it will be adopted. The question is therefore: has the South African Tax legislation met the OECD guidelines and addressed the BEPS issue? Therefore, the objective of the research is to understand whether the current South African tax legislation is in line with the OECD Transfer Pricing Guidelines and BEPS Action Plan. The South African tax legislation provides South African taxpayers with no guidance as to how the OECD Transfer Pricing Guidelines needs to be implemented and interpreted. However, even though not legislation, the SARS practice note 7 and draft interpretation note on thin capitalisation provides taxpayers with a good basis of understanding the OECD Transfer Pricing Guidelines, as these documents provided by SARS is similar to that of the guidance in the OECD Transfer Pricing Guidelines, specifically relating to transfer pricing documentation. The issue that may result where the South African tax legislation is not in line with the OECD guidelines and the BEPS Action Plan is that Multinational Enterprises (MNEs) may use South Africa as the country to shift its profits to or from, thus effectively resulting in a loss to the Fiscus.
- Full Text:
- Date Issued: 2016
- Authors: Le Roux, Ayesha
- Date: 2016
- Subjects: Transfer pricing -- Taxation -- South Africa Transfer pricing -- Taxation -- Law and legislation -- South Africa
- Language: English
- Type: Thesis , Masters , MCom
- Identifier: http://hdl.handle.net/10948/13105 , vital:27152
- Description: Transfer pricing has become a very popular term in South Africa over the last few years, even more so since July 2013 when the Base Erosion and Profit Shifting (BEPS) Action plan was issued by the Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD) and G20 (an international forum for the governments and central bank governors from 20 major economies). The OECD and G20 has issued the plan to address the perceived flaws in international tax rules, giving rise to profit shifting. Subsequently, the OECD has issued numerous reports and as a result has updated its 2010 Transfer Pricing Guidelines. Many countries have adopted these guidelines. However as South Africa is not an OECD member, there is no certainty that it will be adopted. The question is therefore: has the South African Tax legislation met the OECD guidelines and addressed the BEPS issue? Therefore, the objective of the research is to understand whether the current South African tax legislation is in line with the OECD Transfer Pricing Guidelines and BEPS Action Plan. The South African tax legislation provides South African taxpayers with no guidance as to how the OECD Transfer Pricing Guidelines needs to be implemented and interpreted. However, even though not legislation, the SARS practice note 7 and draft interpretation note on thin capitalisation provides taxpayers with a good basis of understanding the OECD Transfer Pricing Guidelines, as these documents provided by SARS is similar to that of the guidance in the OECD Transfer Pricing Guidelines, specifically relating to transfer pricing documentation. The issue that may result where the South African tax legislation is not in line with the OECD guidelines and the BEPS Action Plan is that Multinational Enterprises (MNEs) may use South Africa as the country to shift its profits to or from, thus effectively resulting in a loss to the Fiscus.
- Full Text:
- Date Issued: 2016
An anthropological investigation on the marginalization of women in sport: the case of women soccer in Gelvandale
- Authors: Sait, Shaabiera
- Date: 2016
- Subjects: Sports for women -- South Africa -- Port Elizabeth Sex discrimination in sports -- South Africa -- Port Elizabeth
- Language: English
- Type: Thesis , Masters , MA
- Identifier: http://hdl.handle.net/10948/10773 , vital:26822
- Description: During the Apartheid era in South Africa, women were marginalized from sport. The ability to participate in sport in South Africa is inherently linked to the political history of the country. Sport played a dynamic role in the struggle against the diabolical system of apartheid in South Africa and has a powerful role to play in the transformation and nation building of South Africa. Women have made great strides in sport in recent years in South Africa. However, at times we find that there is unfair media coverage. The unfair coverage of women’s sport displays gender based attitudes which systematically disadvantage women’s position in society. Women’s participation in sport has grown dramatically but despite this growth coverage of women in sport remains inferior. This research study investigated the marginalization of women in soccer in the Gelvandale area, Port Elizabeth. The objective of this study is to investigate if women are being marginalised in Gelvandale where soccer is concern as well as determining the meaning of gender inequality from an anthropological perspective within the context of soccer in the Gelvandale area. Further, to contribute within the anthropology of soccer in South Africa particularly in the Eastern Cape Province and to come up with recommendations that will contribute towards improvement of soccer in Gelvandale and beyond.
- Full Text:
- Date Issued: 2016
- Authors: Sait, Shaabiera
- Date: 2016
- Subjects: Sports for women -- South Africa -- Port Elizabeth Sex discrimination in sports -- South Africa -- Port Elizabeth
- Language: English
- Type: Thesis , Masters , MA
- Identifier: http://hdl.handle.net/10948/10773 , vital:26822
- Description: During the Apartheid era in South Africa, women were marginalized from sport. The ability to participate in sport in South Africa is inherently linked to the political history of the country. Sport played a dynamic role in the struggle against the diabolical system of apartheid in South Africa and has a powerful role to play in the transformation and nation building of South Africa. Women have made great strides in sport in recent years in South Africa. However, at times we find that there is unfair media coverage. The unfair coverage of women’s sport displays gender based attitudes which systematically disadvantage women’s position in society. Women’s participation in sport has grown dramatically but despite this growth coverage of women in sport remains inferior. This research study investigated the marginalization of women in soccer in the Gelvandale area, Port Elizabeth. The objective of this study is to investigate if women are being marginalised in Gelvandale where soccer is concern as well as determining the meaning of gender inequality from an anthropological perspective within the context of soccer in the Gelvandale area. Further, to contribute within the anthropology of soccer in South Africa particularly in the Eastern Cape Province and to come up with recommendations that will contribute towards improvement of soccer in Gelvandale and beyond.
- Full Text:
- Date Issued: 2016
An anthropological perspective of destitute families in the Walmer Township, Port Elizabeth
- Authors: Thornton, Jessica Leigh
- Date: 2016
- Subjects: Poverty -- South Africa -- Port Elizabeth Families, Black -- South Africa -- Social conditions , Economic assistance, Domestic -- South Africa -- Port Elizabeth
- Language: English
- Type: Thesis , Masters , MA
- Identifier: http://hdl.handle.net/10948/45690 , vital:38927
- Description: It is noticeable that poverty and deprivation exists in all forms in most, if not all, societies. Poverty and destitution have led to the formation and development of rural settlements within an urban context, which is known as informal housing. An example of this is Port Elizabeth’s Walmer Township. Walmer Township is seen to be one of the poorest informal settlements within the Eastern Cape, and has common problems of unemployment, violence, substance abuse, HIV/Aids and illiteracy. These problems adversely affect the community’s living conditions and plummets the society further into a state of destitution. In a last attempt to alleviate poverty among communities, such as the Walmer Township, organizations and external agencies have stepped in to reduce the harmful effects caused by poverty. These include shelters, feeding schemes and job empowerment. However, questions as to whether these organizations actually assist those living in poverty, and how can the organizations or current policy be improved, still exist and are raised regularly today. Thus, the research attempts to investigate the social effects of poverty and how it compromises family units, in order to understand what external organizations are in place to assist these families in destitution, and to come up with recommendations with the view of improving the existing policy
- Full Text:
- Date Issued: 2016
- Authors: Thornton, Jessica Leigh
- Date: 2016
- Subjects: Poverty -- South Africa -- Port Elizabeth Families, Black -- South Africa -- Social conditions , Economic assistance, Domestic -- South Africa -- Port Elizabeth
- Language: English
- Type: Thesis , Masters , MA
- Identifier: http://hdl.handle.net/10948/45690 , vital:38927
- Description: It is noticeable that poverty and deprivation exists in all forms in most, if not all, societies. Poverty and destitution have led to the formation and development of rural settlements within an urban context, which is known as informal housing. An example of this is Port Elizabeth’s Walmer Township. Walmer Township is seen to be one of the poorest informal settlements within the Eastern Cape, and has common problems of unemployment, violence, substance abuse, HIV/Aids and illiteracy. These problems adversely affect the community’s living conditions and plummets the society further into a state of destitution. In a last attempt to alleviate poverty among communities, such as the Walmer Township, organizations and external agencies have stepped in to reduce the harmful effects caused by poverty. These include shelters, feeding schemes and job empowerment. However, questions as to whether these organizations actually assist those living in poverty, and how can the organizations or current policy be improved, still exist and are raised regularly today. Thus, the research attempts to investigate the social effects of poverty and how it compromises family units, in order to understand what external organizations are in place to assist these families in destitution, and to come up with recommendations with the view of improving the existing policy
- Full Text:
- Date Issued: 2016
An appraisal of the Methodist church’s role in poverty alleviation in the Alice region
- Authors: Jibiliza, Xolisa Terrance
- Date: 2016
- Subjects: Economic assistance, Domestic , Rural poor -- South Africa -- Eastern Cape
- Language: English
- Type: Thesis , Masters , M Th
- Identifier: http://hdl.handle.net/10353/1451 , vital:27187
- Description: “All religions emphasize the need to support charity, welfare and the disadvantaged. Obligatory giving is, thus, a manifestation of spirituality. This is why religious communities are capable, like no other sector of society, of mobilizing enormous resources for poverty alleviation and development initiative” (Maharaj & Chetty, 2007:82). Most African countries are faced with serious and worsening poverty (Wogaman, 1986:47), and one of greatest issues that demands our immediate attention within the church and society is poverty alleviation. Wogaman (1986:47) further argues that the increase in production has not served to bridge the great historic chasm between rich and poor. Hence, the church needs to direct its attention and its activity to poverty alleviation so that it becomes an advocate for the poor. Lawrence (2012:1) argued that we are created for fellowship with other people and also depend on God for our survival. Therefore, poverty touches all of God’s creatures and not simply those who experience it directly. Poverty prevents human beings from realizing their potential; it creates barriers of inequality between people, and bars people from experiencing the abundance of God’s creation.
- Full Text:
- Date Issued: 2016
- Authors: Jibiliza, Xolisa Terrance
- Date: 2016
- Subjects: Economic assistance, Domestic , Rural poor -- South Africa -- Eastern Cape
- Language: English
- Type: Thesis , Masters , M Th
- Identifier: http://hdl.handle.net/10353/1451 , vital:27187
- Description: “All religions emphasize the need to support charity, welfare and the disadvantaged. Obligatory giving is, thus, a manifestation of spirituality. This is why religious communities are capable, like no other sector of society, of mobilizing enormous resources for poverty alleviation and development initiative” (Maharaj & Chetty, 2007:82). Most African countries are faced with serious and worsening poverty (Wogaman, 1986:47), and one of greatest issues that demands our immediate attention within the church and society is poverty alleviation. Wogaman (1986:47) further argues that the increase in production has not served to bridge the great historic chasm between rich and poor. Hence, the church needs to direct its attention and its activity to poverty alleviation so that it becomes an advocate for the poor. Lawrence (2012:1) argued that we are created for fellowship with other people and also depend on God for our survival. Therefore, poverty touches all of God’s creatures and not simply those who experience it directly. Poverty prevents human beings from realizing their potential; it creates barriers of inequality between people, and bars people from experiencing the abundance of God’s creation.
- Full Text:
- Date Issued: 2016
An assessment of participatory development and rural sustainable livelihoods in Zimbabwe : the case of Tsholotsho District
- Authors: Moyo, Walter Ntandoyenkosi
- Date: 2016
- Subjects: Community development -- Zimbabwe Rural development projects -- Zimbabwe
- Language: English
- Type: Thesis , Masters , MSc
- Identifier: http://hdl.handle.net/10353/8419 , vital:32744
- Description: The central merits of this study and of the efforts invested throughout its development lie in its focus on participatory development and rural sustainable livelihoods. The main objective of the study was to assess the implementation of development projects in Tsholotsho district in Zimbabwe with regards to the issue of participation and its role to sustainable development. The study utilised the documentary research methodology which was used to gather data. The analysis of data was undertaken through the use of the participatory approach as the main theoretical framework. The study has shown that participatory development has been altered to take numerous and divergent forms that do not usher in the expected outcomes. Participatory development in Tsholotsho has thus taken a different stance since it has turned to be merely rhetoric and has suffered modifications and transformations to such an extent that power relations between and among development stakeholders subjugate the poor further leaving them without any voice. Community members are experiencing a ritual of empty processes that camouflage as participatory development making the people not to be centrally involved in bringing about rural sustainable development. One of the greatest challenges facing the rural development domain today is the search for alternative tools that seek to facilitate collective actions and solutions through the process of participation so that the poor get to be active not passive agents of development. This study is of the view that more research is needed to study the indigenous rural knowledge systems and their integration to modern knowledge systems; more so that is also a need to scrutinize the roles and responsibilities of NGOs interventions since they have made significant impacts in rural development. Finally, there is need to assess how policies affect development providers’ contributions in development processes.
- Full Text:
- Date Issued: 2016
- Authors: Moyo, Walter Ntandoyenkosi
- Date: 2016
- Subjects: Community development -- Zimbabwe Rural development projects -- Zimbabwe
- Language: English
- Type: Thesis , Masters , MSc
- Identifier: http://hdl.handle.net/10353/8419 , vital:32744
- Description: The central merits of this study and of the efforts invested throughout its development lie in its focus on participatory development and rural sustainable livelihoods. The main objective of the study was to assess the implementation of development projects in Tsholotsho district in Zimbabwe with regards to the issue of participation and its role to sustainable development. The study utilised the documentary research methodology which was used to gather data. The analysis of data was undertaken through the use of the participatory approach as the main theoretical framework. The study has shown that participatory development has been altered to take numerous and divergent forms that do not usher in the expected outcomes. Participatory development in Tsholotsho has thus taken a different stance since it has turned to be merely rhetoric and has suffered modifications and transformations to such an extent that power relations between and among development stakeholders subjugate the poor further leaving them without any voice. Community members are experiencing a ritual of empty processes that camouflage as participatory development making the people not to be centrally involved in bringing about rural sustainable development. One of the greatest challenges facing the rural development domain today is the search for alternative tools that seek to facilitate collective actions and solutions through the process of participation so that the poor get to be active not passive agents of development. This study is of the view that more research is needed to study the indigenous rural knowledge systems and their integration to modern knowledge systems; more so that is also a need to scrutinize the roles and responsibilities of NGOs interventions since they have made significant impacts in rural development. Finally, there is need to assess how policies affect development providers’ contributions in development processes.
- Full Text:
- Date Issued: 2016
An assessment of public support given to land reform commonage farmers by local and provincial government and their perfomance: A case study of Makana Local Municipality in Eastern Cape
- Authors: Gqweta, N V P
- Date: 2016
- Subjects: Land reform -- South Africa , Land use
- Language: English
- Type: Master's theses , text
- Identifier: http://hdl.handle.net/10353/23991 , vital:62238
- Description: Access to land is very important for previously disadvantage people from the countries where agriculture is one of the main sources for employment in order to improve their livelihoods. Worldwide, Land Reform arose mainly because of inequalities of resources. In South Africa the Land Reform started in as early as 1658 where blacks were not afforded equal opportunities as white people and therefore off farm land and properties. When South Africa’s first democratic government came into power in 1994, one of its goals was to redress the injustice of the past and give back land to the previously disadvantaged people through various land reform programmes. One of the components of the land reform programme was the provision of commonages lands to urban municipalities for use by the urban poor. The Department of Rural Development and Land Reform acquired commonages land for the municipalities for the purpose of agricultural production. The study focused on the Municipal Commonage Programme and this has been done by assessing the public support given to land reform commonage farmers by local and provincial government and their performance in Makana Local Municipality in Eastern Cape. The study showed that land reform commonage emerging farmers are confronted by numerous challenges such as poor infrastructure, access to markets, mentorship, credit, transport by beneficiaries, lack of support from government departments and lack of co-ordination between government departments. These and other challenges ultimately hamper beneficiaries from making effective use of land. The study was done on eight commonages in Makana Municipality. The data was analyzed using Statistical Package for the Social Science (SPSS) and Microsoft Excel. Data collection entailed questionnaire, interviews and focus group discussions. In view of the challenges for commonage farmers, this study provides recommendation for improving the commonage land reform redistribution projects. Current management attempts are not ensuring the efficient equitable and sustainable use of these commonages. Municipal Commonage should be better integrated into agrarian reform through leases and an efficient Commonage Farmers Support Programmes. , Thesis (MSc) -- Faculty of Science and Agriculture, 2016
- Full Text:
- Date Issued: 2016
- Authors: Gqweta, N V P
- Date: 2016
- Subjects: Land reform -- South Africa , Land use
- Language: English
- Type: Master's theses , text
- Identifier: http://hdl.handle.net/10353/23991 , vital:62238
- Description: Access to land is very important for previously disadvantage people from the countries where agriculture is one of the main sources for employment in order to improve their livelihoods. Worldwide, Land Reform arose mainly because of inequalities of resources. In South Africa the Land Reform started in as early as 1658 where blacks were not afforded equal opportunities as white people and therefore off farm land and properties. When South Africa’s first democratic government came into power in 1994, one of its goals was to redress the injustice of the past and give back land to the previously disadvantaged people through various land reform programmes. One of the components of the land reform programme was the provision of commonages lands to urban municipalities for use by the urban poor. The Department of Rural Development and Land Reform acquired commonages land for the municipalities for the purpose of agricultural production. The study focused on the Municipal Commonage Programme and this has been done by assessing the public support given to land reform commonage farmers by local and provincial government and their performance in Makana Local Municipality in Eastern Cape. The study showed that land reform commonage emerging farmers are confronted by numerous challenges such as poor infrastructure, access to markets, mentorship, credit, transport by beneficiaries, lack of support from government departments and lack of co-ordination between government departments. These and other challenges ultimately hamper beneficiaries from making effective use of land. The study was done on eight commonages in Makana Municipality. The data was analyzed using Statistical Package for the Social Science (SPSS) and Microsoft Excel. Data collection entailed questionnaire, interviews and focus group discussions. In view of the challenges for commonage farmers, this study provides recommendation for improving the commonage land reform redistribution projects. Current management attempts are not ensuring the efficient equitable and sustainable use of these commonages. Municipal Commonage should be better integrated into agrarian reform through leases and an efficient Commonage Farmers Support Programmes. , Thesis (MSc) -- Faculty of Science and Agriculture, 2016
- Full Text:
- Date Issued: 2016
An assessment of quality, class and grade of service (QoS, CoS and GoS) over worldwide interoperability for microwave access (WiMax) networks through performance evaluation of bandwidth
- Authors: Nomnga, Phumzile
- Date: 2016
- Subjects: Wireless communication systems Wireless LANs -- Standards Broadband communication systems
- Language: English
- Type: Thesis , Masters , MSc
- Identifier: http://hdl.handle.net/10353/8033 , vital:31481
- Description: The Dwesa WiMAX network provides broadband communications over wireless connectivity for various types of multimedia traffic, such as emailing, browsing, VoIP, file transfer, etc. to the community members. The community members of Dwesa use schools’ computer labs to access the network and generate the aforementioned multimedia packets on dedicated timeslots and thus cause network congestion during such timeslots. Against this background, WiMAX implementation has faced several challenges in living up to its objectives in RMAs. Quality of Service (QoS) degradation as a result of high traffic demands remains one of the challenges thwarting WiMAX implementation. The GoS is also bound to get compromised as connectivity demands arise consistently with more subscribers connecting to the network, making it difficult to measure the success a subscriber is expected to have in accessing the network. The CoS and SchedType play a significant role in the redistribution of the available bandwidth to all bandwidth requests. This research project exploits this avenue to assess the resultant degradation of QoS and GoS caused by the inconsistent availability of bandwidth as redistributed by the CoS combination with a SchedType. The four CoS which are, namely, the UGS, rtPS, nrtPS and BE were implemented with the different SchedTypes, namely, MBQOS, FCFS and rtPS. Although the implementation process was conducted in a simulated environment using NS-3, the simulated network emulated the network setup implemented in Dwesa. The outcomes of the implementation suggests that certain combinations of the CoS’s with SchedTypes can lead to degradation of QoS whilst some combinations can redistribute the available bandwidth to ensure the provisioning of guaranteed QoS.
- Full Text:
- Date Issued: 2016
- Authors: Nomnga, Phumzile
- Date: 2016
- Subjects: Wireless communication systems Wireless LANs -- Standards Broadband communication systems
- Language: English
- Type: Thesis , Masters , MSc
- Identifier: http://hdl.handle.net/10353/8033 , vital:31481
- Description: The Dwesa WiMAX network provides broadband communications over wireless connectivity for various types of multimedia traffic, such as emailing, browsing, VoIP, file transfer, etc. to the community members. The community members of Dwesa use schools’ computer labs to access the network and generate the aforementioned multimedia packets on dedicated timeslots and thus cause network congestion during such timeslots. Against this background, WiMAX implementation has faced several challenges in living up to its objectives in RMAs. Quality of Service (QoS) degradation as a result of high traffic demands remains one of the challenges thwarting WiMAX implementation. The GoS is also bound to get compromised as connectivity demands arise consistently with more subscribers connecting to the network, making it difficult to measure the success a subscriber is expected to have in accessing the network. The CoS and SchedType play a significant role in the redistribution of the available bandwidth to all bandwidth requests. This research project exploits this avenue to assess the resultant degradation of QoS and GoS caused by the inconsistent availability of bandwidth as redistributed by the CoS combination with a SchedType. The four CoS which are, namely, the UGS, rtPS, nrtPS and BE were implemented with the different SchedTypes, namely, MBQOS, FCFS and rtPS. Although the implementation process was conducted in a simulated environment using NS-3, the simulated network emulated the network setup implemented in Dwesa. The outcomes of the implementation suggests that certain combinations of the CoS’s with SchedTypes can lead to degradation of QoS whilst some combinations can redistribute the available bandwidth to ensure the provisioning of guaranteed QoS.
- Full Text:
- Date Issued: 2016
An assessment of the budgeting system in the Eastern Cape Department of Health to ensure effective and efficient health care service delivery
- Authors: Mangwanya, Maonei Gladys
- Date: 2016
- Subjects: Health services administration -- South Africa -- Eastern Cape Government spending policy -- South Africa -- Eastern Cape Health facilities -- Finance , Finance, Public -- South Africa -- Eastern Cape
- Language: English
- Type: Thesis , Masters , MPA
- Identifier: http://hdl.handle.net/10353/2061 , vital:27603
- Description: The National Department of Health is the executive department of the South African government which is assigned to the national health issues of the country. This research was however aimed specifically on the budgeting process within the Eastern Cape Provincial Department of Health. This was provisioned by assessing the significance of the budgeting system and its correlation to efficient and effective healthcare service delivery. The aim of the research was to highlight on how policies have an effect on the budgeting system at the provincial level, considering the provincial health department is responsible for the provision of publicly funded health services. This research assessed the budgeting system in the Eastern Cape Department of Health in an attempt to propagate effective and efficient health service delivery for the general citizenry. This was a qualitative study design which harnessed the merits of secondary data as the main code of the research design which enabled the comprehension of the budgeting system in the Eastern Cape Department of Health. Data was analysed using thematic analysis to examine the distinctive themes and sub-themes identified from within the reviewed literature. The Eastern Cape Province is succumbing to insufficient funding at provincial level and this has a clear-cut reflection on the administration of services within respective departments, particularly the Health Department. This is despite the fact that the Public Finance Management Act, 1999 promotes the objectives of good financial management aimed at maximizing service delivery through the effective use of the limited resources. Resultantly it was fundamental to comprehend on the issues underpinning the scope of budget reporting as well as budget accountability and the effect it has on service delivery in the Eastern Cape Department of Health. Recommendations were thus given based on the discussed and derived themes to ensure that there is an appropriate budgeting system to ensure efficient and effective provision of health care services in the Eastern Cape Department of Health.
- Full Text:
- Date Issued: 2016
- Authors: Mangwanya, Maonei Gladys
- Date: 2016
- Subjects: Health services administration -- South Africa -- Eastern Cape Government spending policy -- South Africa -- Eastern Cape Health facilities -- Finance , Finance, Public -- South Africa -- Eastern Cape
- Language: English
- Type: Thesis , Masters , MPA
- Identifier: http://hdl.handle.net/10353/2061 , vital:27603
- Description: The National Department of Health is the executive department of the South African government which is assigned to the national health issues of the country. This research was however aimed specifically on the budgeting process within the Eastern Cape Provincial Department of Health. This was provisioned by assessing the significance of the budgeting system and its correlation to efficient and effective healthcare service delivery. The aim of the research was to highlight on how policies have an effect on the budgeting system at the provincial level, considering the provincial health department is responsible for the provision of publicly funded health services. This research assessed the budgeting system in the Eastern Cape Department of Health in an attempt to propagate effective and efficient health service delivery for the general citizenry. This was a qualitative study design which harnessed the merits of secondary data as the main code of the research design which enabled the comprehension of the budgeting system in the Eastern Cape Department of Health. Data was analysed using thematic analysis to examine the distinctive themes and sub-themes identified from within the reviewed literature. The Eastern Cape Province is succumbing to insufficient funding at provincial level and this has a clear-cut reflection on the administration of services within respective departments, particularly the Health Department. This is despite the fact that the Public Finance Management Act, 1999 promotes the objectives of good financial management aimed at maximizing service delivery through the effective use of the limited resources. Resultantly it was fundamental to comprehend on the issues underpinning the scope of budget reporting as well as budget accountability and the effect it has on service delivery in the Eastern Cape Department of Health. Recommendations were thus given based on the discussed and derived themes to ensure that there is an appropriate budgeting system to ensure efficient and effective provision of health care services in the Eastern Cape Department of Health.
- Full Text:
- Date Issued: 2016