Popular politics in the rural Western Cape, South Africa: a case study of Ruiterbos
- Authors: Ghedi Alasow, Jonis
- Date: 2019
- Subjects: Political participation -- South Africa -- Cape Town , South Africa -- Politics and government -- 1994- , Land tenure -- Political aspects -- South Africa , Land use, Rural -- Political aspects -- South Africa
- Language: English
- Type: text , Thesis , Masters , MA
- Identifier: http://hdl.handle.net/10962/96165 , vital:31246
- Description: This thesis argues that the philosophical foundations upon which human beings have been engaged have, across various schools of thought, made the mistake of presuming that some people are more modern than others. This suggestion is refuted throughout this thesis. To do this, intellectual traditions that take the fundamental rationality of all human beings as an indispensable starting point are engaged to argue for the need to acknowledge that everyone in the ‘now’ is indeed, of the ‘now’. This thesis connects these debates about modernity, rationality and humanity to the contemporary discussions around rural politics with particular reference to Ruiterbos in the Western Cape province of South Africa. By means of detailed empirical and ethnographic research, this thesis illustrates the issues around which people in Ruiterbos are politicised. Via this case study, the a priori assumption that rural politics will necessarily manifest itself only with respect to questions of land and agrarian reform or labour relations is complicated. The two issues around which people in Ruiterbos, during the time of this research, seem to be politicised – housing and education – are surfaced throughout this thesis. The thesis argues that the findings in this case study call for an expansion of the issues that are traditionally considered when the question of rural politics is raised. The often historicist approach that limits the possibilities for politics in rural areas should be suspended for an approach that takes popular politics and political agents in rural areas seriously. The thesis finally argues that the conclusions that are reached with respect to questions of modernity and rural politics ought to be adopted to allow for more detailed and thorough explanations of popular politics in places like Ruiterbos.
- Full Text:
- Date Issued: 2019
- Authors: Ghedi Alasow, Jonis
- Date: 2019
- Subjects: Political participation -- South Africa -- Cape Town , South Africa -- Politics and government -- 1994- , Land tenure -- Political aspects -- South Africa , Land use, Rural -- Political aspects -- South Africa
- Language: English
- Type: text , Thesis , Masters , MA
- Identifier: http://hdl.handle.net/10962/96165 , vital:31246
- Description: This thesis argues that the philosophical foundations upon which human beings have been engaged have, across various schools of thought, made the mistake of presuming that some people are more modern than others. This suggestion is refuted throughout this thesis. To do this, intellectual traditions that take the fundamental rationality of all human beings as an indispensable starting point are engaged to argue for the need to acknowledge that everyone in the ‘now’ is indeed, of the ‘now’. This thesis connects these debates about modernity, rationality and humanity to the contemporary discussions around rural politics with particular reference to Ruiterbos in the Western Cape province of South Africa. By means of detailed empirical and ethnographic research, this thesis illustrates the issues around which people in Ruiterbos are politicised. Via this case study, the a priori assumption that rural politics will necessarily manifest itself only with respect to questions of land and agrarian reform or labour relations is complicated. The two issues around which people in Ruiterbos, during the time of this research, seem to be politicised – housing and education – are surfaced throughout this thesis. The thesis argues that the findings in this case study call for an expansion of the issues that are traditionally considered when the question of rural politics is raised. The often historicist approach that limits the possibilities for politics in rural areas should be suspended for an approach that takes popular politics and political agents in rural areas seriously. The thesis finally argues that the conclusions that are reached with respect to questions of modernity and rural politics ought to be adopted to allow for more detailed and thorough explanations of popular politics in places like Ruiterbos.
- Full Text:
- Date Issued: 2019
Records Management Programmes at the Walter Sisulu University, in South Africa: Case Study of Nelson Mandela Drive Campus
- Authors: Giba, Nozipho
- Date: 2019
- Subjects: Records -- Management
- Language: English
- Type: Thesis , Masters , M.LIS
- Identifier: http://hdl.handle.net/10353/17575 , vital:41098
- Description: The main aim of this study was to investigate the status of records management programme at Walter Sisulu University (WSU) using the Nelson Mandela Drive Site of Mthatha Campus. In carrying out this study, four research objectives with thirtyseven (37) research questions were posed. Purposive Sampling was employed to sample 30 Administrative support staff. The instruments used for data collection were questionnaire and face to face interview. Twenty-nine (29) questionnaires out of the thirty (30) returned completed and five senior managers were interviewed face to face. Descriptive statistic was used to analyse the research questions on the questionnaire and thematic approach was used for analysing the response from the interviews. The major findings of the study revealed WSU fell below the requirements in terms of records management programme on maintaining records that document its business activities. Inadequate infrastructure, inadequacy regarding the desirable control of WSU records at each stage as required by the records life cycle framework was also found to be inadequate and limited knowledge of legal requirements regarding records management. Based on these findings, the following recommendations were made. Effort should be made to implement a Centralised control of Decentralised Registry System (Integrated Registry System), provision of training of staff, as well as proper infrastructural facilities.
- Full Text:
- Date Issued: 2019
- Authors: Giba, Nozipho
- Date: 2019
- Subjects: Records -- Management
- Language: English
- Type: Thesis , Masters , M.LIS
- Identifier: http://hdl.handle.net/10353/17575 , vital:41098
- Description: The main aim of this study was to investigate the status of records management programme at Walter Sisulu University (WSU) using the Nelson Mandela Drive Site of Mthatha Campus. In carrying out this study, four research objectives with thirtyseven (37) research questions were posed. Purposive Sampling was employed to sample 30 Administrative support staff. The instruments used for data collection were questionnaire and face to face interview. Twenty-nine (29) questionnaires out of the thirty (30) returned completed and five senior managers were interviewed face to face. Descriptive statistic was used to analyse the research questions on the questionnaire and thematic approach was used for analysing the response from the interviews. The major findings of the study revealed WSU fell below the requirements in terms of records management programme on maintaining records that document its business activities. Inadequate infrastructure, inadequacy regarding the desirable control of WSU records at each stage as required by the records life cycle framework was also found to be inadequate and limited knowledge of legal requirements regarding records management. Based on these findings, the following recommendations were made. Effort should be made to implement a Centralised control of Decentralised Registry System (Integrated Registry System), provision of training of staff, as well as proper infrastructural facilities.
- Full Text:
- Date Issued: 2019
A deep learning approach to classifying tyres using sidewall images
- Authors: Gifford, Dean
- Date: 2019
- Subjects: Image processing -- Digital techniques , Image processing Computer science
- Language: English
- Type: Thesis , Masters , MSc
- Identifier: http://hdl.handle.net/10948/39720 , vital:35351
- Description: End of Life Tyres (ELT's) pose a potential health and environmental risk when dumped in illegal stockpiles. For recycling to be considered feasible, a profitable business opportunity needs to be created. One method of making the recycling process of tyres more profitable is by understanding the compounds found within each tyre. This study aims at classifying these tyres in order to achieve this knowledge. A literature review was done to investigate neural networks, convolutional neural networks as well as existing deep learning architectures for image classification. A deep learning approach was applied in order to classify the logos of tyres as these approaches have proved their success in both image classification and more specifically logo classification. Although tyre classification has been implemented in the past, a deep learning approach has not been applied and the logo has not been the classifying element in any other studies. The main difference of this study compared to previous research surrounding deep learning and logo classification is the properties of the tyre logo. Logos on tyres are very similar in colour as they are purely formed in rubber and very seldom have any colour to them. Additionally, the embossed logos can contain variation among same branded tyres due to small inconsistencies in the moulds. The implementation of this deep learning solution saw multiple convolutional neural networks implemented. Some of these architectures were also implemented using transferred learning. The metrics obtained as outputs from training and testing the architectures were the accuracy, precision, recall, and F1-score. These metrics were compared in conjunction with the confusion matrix produced from testing. To ensure that variance was accounted for in the experiments, the k-fold cross-validation technique was adopted. The results of this study identified that one convolutional neural network model, MobileNet, was particularly well suited for the context of classifying logos on tyre sidewalls. The MobileNet architecture had the highest performance metrics for both training from scratch (96.7% accuracy) and transferred learning (98.8% accuracy). Three other models performed particularly well when trained from scratch, these were a modification of the LeNet architecture, ResNet50 and InceptionV3. The transferred learning results were also impressive with four out of the 5 models achieving an accuracy above 94%. Interestingly, the ResNet50 architecture failed to train when transferred learning was applied. Contrasting to this, the two models VGG16 and VGG19 failed to train when trained from scratch but performed equally as well as the other models when transferred learning was implemented. This indicates that although transferred learning can improve the performance of models, it is highly dependent on the task as well as the model. Overall the results obtained proved that a deep learning approach could be applied in order to classify tyres accurately.
- Full Text:
- Date Issued: 2019
- Authors: Gifford, Dean
- Date: 2019
- Subjects: Image processing -- Digital techniques , Image processing Computer science
- Language: English
- Type: Thesis , Masters , MSc
- Identifier: http://hdl.handle.net/10948/39720 , vital:35351
- Description: End of Life Tyres (ELT's) pose a potential health and environmental risk when dumped in illegal stockpiles. For recycling to be considered feasible, a profitable business opportunity needs to be created. One method of making the recycling process of tyres more profitable is by understanding the compounds found within each tyre. This study aims at classifying these tyres in order to achieve this knowledge. A literature review was done to investigate neural networks, convolutional neural networks as well as existing deep learning architectures for image classification. A deep learning approach was applied in order to classify the logos of tyres as these approaches have proved their success in both image classification and more specifically logo classification. Although tyre classification has been implemented in the past, a deep learning approach has not been applied and the logo has not been the classifying element in any other studies. The main difference of this study compared to previous research surrounding deep learning and logo classification is the properties of the tyre logo. Logos on tyres are very similar in colour as they are purely formed in rubber and very seldom have any colour to them. Additionally, the embossed logos can contain variation among same branded tyres due to small inconsistencies in the moulds. The implementation of this deep learning solution saw multiple convolutional neural networks implemented. Some of these architectures were also implemented using transferred learning. The metrics obtained as outputs from training and testing the architectures were the accuracy, precision, recall, and F1-score. These metrics were compared in conjunction with the confusion matrix produced from testing. To ensure that variance was accounted for in the experiments, the k-fold cross-validation technique was adopted. The results of this study identified that one convolutional neural network model, MobileNet, was particularly well suited for the context of classifying logos on tyre sidewalls. The MobileNet architecture had the highest performance metrics for both training from scratch (96.7% accuracy) and transferred learning (98.8% accuracy). Three other models performed particularly well when trained from scratch, these were a modification of the LeNet architecture, ResNet50 and InceptionV3. The transferred learning results were also impressive with four out of the 5 models achieving an accuracy above 94%. Interestingly, the ResNet50 architecture failed to train when transferred learning was applied. Contrasting to this, the two models VGG16 and VGG19 failed to train when trained from scratch but performed equally as well as the other models when transferred learning was implemented. This indicates that although transferred learning can improve the performance of models, it is highly dependent on the task as well as the model. Overall the results obtained proved that a deep learning approach could be applied in order to classify tyres accurately.
- Full Text:
- Date Issued: 2019
Involving fishermen in seabirds’ conservation: bridging the gap between socio-economic needs of industry and the needs of seabirds
- Authors: Ginsburg, Tayla
- Date: 2019
- Subjects: Sea birds -- Ecology , Island ecology Island animals -- Conservation
- Language: English
- Type: Thesis , Masters , MSc
- Identifier: http://hdl.handle.net/10948/42184 , vital:36633
- Description: Marine ecosystems and species face multiple threats, particularly intensive industrial-scale fishing activities. As the human population continues to increase exponentially and drive a greater demand for food, commercial fishing effort will likely intensify. While terrestrial protected areas are well developed, marine protected areas (MPAs) are less so, both in the area covered and management practices. There is currently a drive to increase the extent of MPAs, both globally and in South Africa, particularly for those ecosystems and marine species that can benefit from area-based management. The size, shape, location zonation of MPAs generally remain static through time. However, the ocean is a dynamic environment and static MPAs are not always able to achieve conservation objectives for their component ecosystems and species. Dynamic Ocean Management (DOM) is an approach that integrates near real-time data on biological, oceanographic, social and/or economic variables to adjust an MPAs boundary and zonation in both space and time. The aim of this thesis was to assess the viability of applying DOM to a fishing exclusion zone within a zoned MPA in Algoa Bay, South Africa, to support conservation objectives for the Endangered African penguin Spheniscus demersus. Algoa Bay supports half of the world’s remaining population of this species. First, the degree of spatial overlap between foraging penguins and purse-seine fishers in Algoa Bay was determined over five years. In all years, purse-seiner fishing vessels were located around or near to St Croix Island and a large proportion of the total pelagic fish catch from the Bay was removed from this area. Breeding penguins travelled significantly further while foraging when the overlap (and subsequent competition for pelagic fish) was higher, suggesting that African penguins would benefit from a fishing exclusion zone around St Croix Island owing to reduced competition. However, an exclusion zone can have socio-economic impacts on fisheries as a result of the lost fishing area. A common concern raised by fishers is the direct loss of income, either as a result of increased fuel costs to reach alternate fishing grounds or decreased catch. An analysis of catch and travel time (as a proxy for fuel costs) when a 20 km exclusion zone was present or absent around St Croix Island revealed that the exclusion zone scenarios had no significant impact on either variable. Interviews with individuals in the local purse-seine fishery (both fishers and factory managers) showed a consensus that the marine environment needs protection and that MPAs have various environmental benefits. Despite this, individuals were concerned about how they would be impacted by the exclusion zone in the MPA. The interviews highlighted the willingness of individuals in the purse-seine fishery to talk to and work with scientists.
- Full Text:
- Date Issued: 2019
- Authors: Ginsburg, Tayla
- Date: 2019
- Subjects: Sea birds -- Ecology , Island ecology Island animals -- Conservation
- Language: English
- Type: Thesis , Masters , MSc
- Identifier: http://hdl.handle.net/10948/42184 , vital:36633
- Description: Marine ecosystems and species face multiple threats, particularly intensive industrial-scale fishing activities. As the human population continues to increase exponentially and drive a greater demand for food, commercial fishing effort will likely intensify. While terrestrial protected areas are well developed, marine protected areas (MPAs) are less so, both in the area covered and management practices. There is currently a drive to increase the extent of MPAs, both globally and in South Africa, particularly for those ecosystems and marine species that can benefit from area-based management. The size, shape, location zonation of MPAs generally remain static through time. However, the ocean is a dynamic environment and static MPAs are not always able to achieve conservation objectives for their component ecosystems and species. Dynamic Ocean Management (DOM) is an approach that integrates near real-time data on biological, oceanographic, social and/or economic variables to adjust an MPAs boundary and zonation in both space and time. The aim of this thesis was to assess the viability of applying DOM to a fishing exclusion zone within a zoned MPA in Algoa Bay, South Africa, to support conservation objectives for the Endangered African penguin Spheniscus demersus. Algoa Bay supports half of the world’s remaining population of this species. First, the degree of spatial overlap between foraging penguins and purse-seine fishers in Algoa Bay was determined over five years. In all years, purse-seiner fishing vessels were located around or near to St Croix Island and a large proportion of the total pelagic fish catch from the Bay was removed from this area. Breeding penguins travelled significantly further while foraging when the overlap (and subsequent competition for pelagic fish) was higher, suggesting that African penguins would benefit from a fishing exclusion zone around St Croix Island owing to reduced competition. However, an exclusion zone can have socio-economic impacts on fisheries as a result of the lost fishing area. A common concern raised by fishers is the direct loss of income, either as a result of increased fuel costs to reach alternate fishing grounds or decreased catch. An analysis of catch and travel time (as a proxy for fuel costs) when a 20 km exclusion zone was present or absent around St Croix Island revealed that the exclusion zone scenarios had no significant impact on either variable. Interviews with individuals in the local purse-seine fishery (both fishers and factory managers) showed a consensus that the marine environment needs protection and that MPAs have various environmental benefits. Despite this, individuals were concerned about how they would be impacted by the exclusion zone in the MPA. The interviews highlighted the willingness of individuals in the purse-seine fishery to talk to and work with scientists.
- Full Text:
- Date Issued: 2019
Quality in low - cost houses in Nelson Mandela Bay
- Authors: Gogela, Nwabisa
- Date: 2019
- Subjects: Housing development -- South Africa -- Nelson Mandela Bay Municipality , Housing -- South Africa -- Nelson Mandela Bay Municipality Dwellings -- Defects -- South Africa -- Nelson Mandela Bay Municipality Construction industry -- South Africa -- Nelson Mandela Bay Municipality
- Language: English
- Type: Thesis , Masters , MSc
- Identifier: http://hdl.handle.net/10948/39709 , vital:35350
- Description: Numerous low cost houses in the Nelson Mandela Bay Municipality, and all over South Africa for that matter, have been handed back to the provincial governments by beneficiaries for remedial work in a government programme called Rectification. Several houses have required demolition and be rebuilt because of patent and latent defects. Government spends huge sums of money in rectifying and fixing the defects on houses that should have been built appropriately from the start; this leads to fruitless and ineffective expenditure. The Department of Human Settlements cannot be solely blamed for the poor quality housing delivery. The contractors, project managers and the inspectors from different stakeholders involved in a project also play a massive role in certifying that the houses delivered are of required norms and standards to assist in minimizing poor quality in the delivery of the low cost housing. The funding spent in rectifying low-cost housing has caused huge backlogs, triggering protests within the communities and, regrettably, incomplete projects around the Nelson Mandela Bay Municipality, contributing to urban decay. The aim of this study was to investigate the poor and unacceptable quality in the delivery of low-cost subsidized houses in the Nelson Mandela Metro Region. The focus of the study was to scrutinize the loopholes and the ambiguities that might exist throughout the life cycle of a low cost housing project, and suggestions to mitigate common problems emerging in various projects. A qualitative research approach was followed in this study. The sample was purposively selected and comprised of 15 beneficiaries residing in the three selected NMBM (housing projects), the Ward Councilors (3), Contractors (3), the Quality Assurance Project Managers managing and foreseeing these projects(3), Quality Coordinators(3) and Inspectors from each organization, (NHBRC, ECDHS and HDA), making three (3) in total.. The study revealed that skills shortage, insufficient workforce training and lack of strict quality control are some of the factors affecting quality. Compliancy to norms and standards is not fully emphasized to the relevant stakeholders during the initiation and the commencement of the project. Tools to measure the effectiveness of quality assurance practices are currently used, but it can be argued that they are not effective enough. The study has offered a set of recommendations to address the key findings.
- Full Text:
- Date Issued: 2019
- Authors: Gogela, Nwabisa
- Date: 2019
- Subjects: Housing development -- South Africa -- Nelson Mandela Bay Municipality , Housing -- South Africa -- Nelson Mandela Bay Municipality Dwellings -- Defects -- South Africa -- Nelson Mandela Bay Municipality Construction industry -- South Africa -- Nelson Mandela Bay Municipality
- Language: English
- Type: Thesis , Masters , MSc
- Identifier: http://hdl.handle.net/10948/39709 , vital:35350
- Description: Numerous low cost houses in the Nelson Mandela Bay Municipality, and all over South Africa for that matter, have been handed back to the provincial governments by beneficiaries for remedial work in a government programme called Rectification. Several houses have required demolition and be rebuilt because of patent and latent defects. Government spends huge sums of money in rectifying and fixing the defects on houses that should have been built appropriately from the start; this leads to fruitless and ineffective expenditure. The Department of Human Settlements cannot be solely blamed for the poor quality housing delivery. The contractors, project managers and the inspectors from different stakeholders involved in a project also play a massive role in certifying that the houses delivered are of required norms and standards to assist in minimizing poor quality in the delivery of the low cost housing. The funding spent in rectifying low-cost housing has caused huge backlogs, triggering protests within the communities and, regrettably, incomplete projects around the Nelson Mandela Bay Municipality, contributing to urban decay. The aim of this study was to investigate the poor and unacceptable quality in the delivery of low-cost subsidized houses in the Nelson Mandela Metro Region. The focus of the study was to scrutinize the loopholes and the ambiguities that might exist throughout the life cycle of a low cost housing project, and suggestions to mitigate common problems emerging in various projects. A qualitative research approach was followed in this study. The sample was purposively selected and comprised of 15 beneficiaries residing in the three selected NMBM (housing projects), the Ward Councilors (3), Contractors (3), the Quality Assurance Project Managers managing and foreseeing these projects(3), Quality Coordinators(3) and Inspectors from each organization, (NHBRC, ECDHS and HDA), making three (3) in total.. The study revealed that skills shortage, insufficient workforce training and lack of strict quality control are some of the factors affecting quality. Compliancy to norms and standards is not fully emphasized to the relevant stakeholders during the initiation and the commencement of the project. Tools to measure the effectiveness of quality assurance practices are currently used, but it can be argued that they are not effective enough. The study has offered a set of recommendations to address the key findings.
- Full Text:
- Date Issued: 2019
Bioinformatic analysis, isolation and kinetic characterisation of red algae (Gelidium capense) dehydrogenases
- Authors: Gogela, Yanga
- Date: 2019
- Subjects: Bioinformatics Chondrus crispus
- Language: English
- Type: Thesis , Masters , MSc
- Identifier: http://hdl.handle.net/10353/19164 , vital:39878
- Description: Lactate and alcohol dehydrogenases have attracted much attention in various industries and scientific research for their ability to produce chirally pure compounds and be assayed for activity using more straightforward and reproducible assay methods. These enzymes have been previously isolated and purified from various plants, animals and microorganisms. So far, the molecular and biochemical properties of enzymes from these dehydrogenase families in red algae are mostly unknown. Red macroalgae have been used for centuries for the treatment of various diseases and as a source of ingredients in the food industry. The aim of this study was to identify genes in the sequenced red algae genomes that encode dehydrogenases, to use bioinformatic tools to confirm that the proteins encoded are dehydrogenases and to isolate and kinetically purify alcohol or lactate dehydrogenase from red algae species found along the coastline of the Eastern Cape Province. A combination of bioinformatics tools, molecular and biochemical techniques were used to identify, purify, and characterise ADH and LDH enzymes. Bioinformatics analysis revealed two alcohol dehydrogenase genes and two hypothetical genes encoding functional domains similar to D-lactate dehydrogenases from other species. The ADH and LDH-like genes shared low sequence identity at the protein level with medium-chain dehydrogenases/reductases (MDRs) and 2-hydroxy acid dehydrogenases, respectively. These two dehydrogenase genes showed a highly conserved NAD-binding motif (Rossmann-fold) similar to many other NAD-dependent dehydrogenases. The ADH and LDH proteins contained no signal peptides and may be located in the cytoplasm. The phylogenetic tree analysis showed that the two ADH genes belonged to cinnamyl and class III alcohol dehydrogenases, whereas the LDHlike genes were grouped with D-lactate dehydrogenases from other organisms. The ADH and LDH gene family showed cis-acting regulatory elements that are mostly involved in stress response and hormonal response. Structural analysis showed that the dehydrogenases 3D structure predicted models comprise of two domains, namely the substrate binding and the coenzyme binding domains that are rich in beta-strands secondary structure elements. The LDH from red algae was purified approximately 4-fold with a specific activity of 0.044 U/mg. The purified LDH enzyme had a molecular weight of approximately 37kDa. The LDH was active across a broad pH range from 5-9 with a pH optimum observed at 7.5. The LDH ii enzyme in red algae exhibits a temperature optimum of 40 ⁰C and heat stability up to 40 ⁰C. Above 50 °C the LDH activity rapidly decreased showing that the LDH in red algae is not thermostable. The LDH enzyme showed a Km value of 0.8 mM and Vmax of 0.0067 mM.min-1 when using sodium pyruvate as a substrate.
- Full Text:
- Date Issued: 2019
- Authors: Gogela, Yanga
- Date: 2019
- Subjects: Bioinformatics Chondrus crispus
- Language: English
- Type: Thesis , Masters , MSc
- Identifier: http://hdl.handle.net/10353/19164 , vital:39878
- Description: Lactate and alcohol dehydrogenases have attracted much attention in various industries and scientific research for their ability to produce chirally pure compounds and be assayed for activity using more straightforward and reproducible assay methods. These enzymes have been previously isolated and purified from various plants, animals and microorganisms. So far, the molecular and biochemical properties of enzymes from these dehydrogenase families in red algae are mostly unknown. Red macroalgae have been used for centuries for the treatment of various diseases and as a source of ingredients in the food industry. The aim of this study was to identify genes in the sequenced red algae genomes that encode dehydrogenases, to use bioinformatic tools to confirm that the proteins encoded are dehydrogenases and to isolate and kinetically purify alcohol or lactate dehydrogenase from red algae species found along the coastline of the Eastern Cape Province. A combination of bioinformatics tools, molecular and biochemical techniques were used to identify, purify, and characterise ADH and LDH enzymes. Bioinformatics analysis revealed two alcohol dehydrogenase genes and two hypothetical genes encoding functional domains similar to D-lactate dehydrogenases from other species. The ADH and LDH-like genes shared low sequence identity at the protein level with medium-chain dehydrogenases/reductases (MDRs) and 2-hydroxy acid dehydrogenases, respectively. These two dehydrogenase genes showed a highly conserved NAD-binding motif (Rossmann-fold) similar to many other NAD-dependent dehydrogenases. The ADH and LDH proteins contained no signal peptides and may be located in the cytoplasm. The phylogenetic tree analysis showed that the two ADH genes belonged to cinnamyl and class III alcohol dehydrogenases, whereas the LDHlike genes were grouped with D-lactate dehydrogenases from other organisms. The ADH and LDH gene family showed cis-acting regulatory elements that are mostly involved in stress response and hormonal response. Structural analysis showed that the dehydrogenases 3D structure predicted models comprise of two domains, namely the substrate binding and the coenzyme binding domains that are rich in beta-strands secondary structure elements. The LDH from red algae was purified approximately 4-fold with a specific activity of 0.044 U/mg. The purified LDH enzyme had a molecular weight of approximately 37kDa. The LDH was active across a broad pH range from 5-9 with a pH optimum observed at 7.5. The LDH ii enzyme in red algae exhibits a temperature optimum of 40 ⁰C and heat stability up to 40 ⁰C. Above 50 °C the LDH activity rapidly decreased showing that the LDH in red algae is not thermostable. The LDH enzyme showed a Km value of 0.8 mM and Vmax of 0.0067 mM.min-1 when using sodium pyruvate as a substrate.
- Full Text:
- Date Issued: 2019
Assessment of some bacteria species isolated from woodlands of Raymond Mhlaba Local Municipality for high activity laccase production
- Authors: Gogotya, Asemahle
- Date: 2019
- Subjects: Laccase
- Language: English
- Type: Thesis , Masters , MSc (Microbiology)
- Identifier: http://hdl.handle.net/10353/19098 , vital:39879
- Description: The function of enzymes in keeping the earth clean is enormous; being executed in the biodegradation of different natural pollutants and biocatalysis of different responses by substituting the ecologically risky and harmful concoction impetuses offering a situation inviting option, laccases is an example of an enzyme described as it doesn’t produce harmful byproducts. Laccases are employed in several industrial processes that play a key responsibility in transformation of life and making the environment a better place. Bacteria have been described as best producers of laccases with a potential in the industrial scale processes. Laccase was produced from different bacterial isolates identified and named as Bacillus sp. strain GFN1 isolated from soil sample, Bacillus sp. strain GLN and Streptomyces sp. strain LAO both isolated from decaying wood samples in Raymond Mhlaba local municipality with accession numbers MK290988 to MK290990 respectively, as identified by partial sequencing, these were the best producers some of which were positive for Napthol and guaiacol; even upon quantitative screening they were better laccase producers. For quantitative laccase screening, 2,2'-azino-bis(3-ethylbenzothiazoline-6- sulphonic acid) was utilised as the substrate for laccase assays. These laccase producing bacteria were subjected to optimization of growth conditions using submerged fermentation which increased the activity of the produced laccase in great amounts. In optimizing basal medium growth conditions where laccase was harvested after every 72 hours where optimal activity was 16 obtained, studying several factors such as pH which turned out to be pH 5 for all isolates, effect of supplemented carbon and nitrogen sources with the be best being lactose and urea respectively with their effective concentrations using lignin as the main carbon and nitrogen source. Copper sulfate was used as the main inducer and the species preferred guaiacol and ferullic acid and the Fe2+ asthe best supplemented metal ion. The time course was done investigating parameters such as cell growth which was determined by observing the optical density, laccase activity, protein concentration and pH and the presented results suggested that when there was an increase in cell growth, enzyme activity decreased pH had no much effect on the enzyme production as it was almost stable all the time with protein concentration exhibiting no direct effect on enzyme activity also. Characterization of the crude enzyme was done to check the stability of the enzyme produced in various parameters. The enzymes produced by the different strains were thermophilic as they were able to withstand elevated temperatures between 90 and 100 C, with pH stability within an extensive variety of alkaline pH, typical of most bacterial laccases. Various metal ions affected the stability of the enzyme with CuSO4 increasing the stability of two of the bacterial enzyme and appeared to slightly decrease the stability of one enzyme. The studied inhibitors only decreased the stability on the enzyme and couldn’t completely inhibit the enzyme, and the enzymes showed specificity towards varying substrates. The studied bacterial laccases exhibit tremendous characteristics which are of great significance in the industries and will add to the novelty of bacterial laccases and their stability amongst the most studied fungal laccases.
- Full Text:
- Date Issued: 2019
- Authors: Gogotya, Asemahle
- Date: 2019
- Subjects: Laccase
- Language: English
- Type: Thesis , Masters , MSc (Microbiology)
- Identifier: http://hdl.handle.net/10353/19098 , vital:39879
- Description: The function of enzymes in keeping the earth clean is enormous; being executed in the biodegradation of different natural pollutants and biocatalysis of different responses by substituting the ecologically risky and harmful concoction impetuses offering a situation inviting option, laccases is an example of an enzyme described as it doesn’t produce harmful byproducts. Laccases are employed in several industrial processes that play a key responsibility in transformation of life and making the environment a better place. Bacteria have been described as best producers of laccases with a potential in the industrial scale processes. Laccase was produced from different bacterial isolates identified and named as Bacillus sp. strain GFN1 isolated from soil sample, Bacillus sp. strain GLN and Streptomyces sp. strain LAO both isolated from decaying wood samples in Raymond Mhlaba local municipality with accession numbers MK290988 to MK290990 respectively, as identified by partial sequencing, these were the best producers some of which were positive for Napthol and guaiacol; even upon quantitative screening they were better laccase producers. For quantitative laccase screening, 2,2'-azino-bis(3-ethylbenzothiazoline-6- sulphonic acid) was utilised as the substrate for laccase assays. These laccase producing bacteria were subjected to optimization of growth conditions using submerged fermentation which increased the activity of the produced laccase in great amounts. In optimizing basal medium growth conditions where laccase was harvested after every 72 hours where optimal activity was 16 obtained, studying several factors such as pH which turned out to be pH 5 for all isolates, effect of supplemented carbon and nitrogen sources with the be best being lactose and urea respectively with their effective concentrations using lignin as the main carbon and nitrogen source. Copper sulfate was used as the main inducer and the species preferred guaiacol and ferullic acid and the Fe2+ asthe best supplemented metal ion. The time course was done investigating parameters such as cell growth which was determined by observing the optical density, laccase activity, protein concentration and pH and the presented results suggested that when there was an increase in cell growth, enzyme activity decreased pH had no much effect on the enzyme production as it was almost stable all the time with protein concentration exhibiting no direct effect on enzyme activity also. Characterization of the crude enzyme was done to check the stability of the enzyme produced in various parameters. The enzymes produced by the different strains were thermophilic as they were able to withstand elevated temperatures between 90 and 100 C, with pH stability within an extensive variety of alkaline pH, typical of most bacterial laccases. Various metal ions affected the stability of the enzyme with CuSO4 increasing the stability of two of the bacterial enzyme and appeared to slightly decrease the stability of one enzyme. The studied inhibitors only decreased the stability on the enzyme and couldn’t completely inhibit the enzyme, and the enzymes showed specificity towards varying substrates. The studied bacterial laccases exhibit tremendous characteristics which are of great significance in the industries and will add to the novelty of bacterial laccases and their stability amongst the most studied fungal laccases.
- Full Text:
- Date Issued: 2019
South African Trade Union responses to xenophobia in workplaces: the National Union of Mineworkers (NUM) and the National Union of Metalworkers of South Africa (NUMSA)
- Authors: Gongqa, Nombulelo
- Date: 2019
- Subjects: Xenophobia , Xenophobia-- South Africa , National Union of Mineworkers , National Union of Metalworkers of South Africa , Labor unions -- South Africa , Immigrants -- South Africa , Marginality, Social -- South Africa , Social conflict -- South Africa
- Language: English
- Type: text , Thesis , Masters , MSocSc
- Identifier: http://hdl.handle.net/10962/115061 , vital:34074
- Description: This research looks at how trade unions relate to immigrants and how inclusive they are to immigrants who form part of the South African working class. South Africa has been an immigrants receiving country for decades, where most immigrants are from neighbouring countries within the South African region. It was the trade unions that empowered workers to gain back some of their basic rights during the apartheid era, and they did this for all workers who worked in sectors where they were exploited and mistreated by the apartheid regime on the basis of their skin colour. This research aims to understand how trade unions respond to xenophobia in the workplace, and the ways their strategies increase inclusion of immigrants in the trade unions. This research focuses on the National Union of Mineworkers (NUM) and the National Union of Metalworkers of South Africa (NUMSA), seeking to find whether they have strategies and planned ways to respond to xenophobia in South African workplaces. This research also looks at the impact of nationalism in South Africa on immigrants. It shows that whilst the concept of nationalism is to protect South Africans, it does exclude immigrants because it places South Africans before immigrants when it comes to benefiting from the resources of the country. This shows that protecting one section of the working class over another weakens the working class movement. To get views from the trade unions, trade union officials were interviewed and from the interviews, common themes were picked out. From the interviews, it can be identified that trade union officials believe that immigrants should be included in the trade unions, and they should be treated with dignity. However, there are some conflicting themes, which highlight the view that South African locals deserve to get the resources of the country, such as housing, before immigrants. The themes will be discussed in the research to highlight the different perspectives that came from the trade union officials.
- Full Text:
- Date Issued: 2019
- Authors: Gongqa, Nombulelo
- Date: 2019
- Subjects: Xenophobia , Xenophobia-- South Africa , National Union of Mineworkers , National Union of Metalworkers of South Africa , Labor unions -- South Africa , Immigrants -- South Africa , Marginality, Social -- South Africa , Social conflict -- South Africa
- Language: English
- Type: text , Thesis , Masters , MSocSc
- Identifier: http://hdl.handle.net/10962/115061 , vital:34074
- Description: This research looks at how trade unions relate to immigrants and how inclusive they are to immigrants who form part of the South African working class. South Africa has been an immigrants receiving country for decades, where most immigrants are from neighbouring countries within the South African region. It was the trade unions that empowered workers to gain back some of their basic rights during the apartheid era, and they did this for all workers who worked in sectors where they were exploited and mistreated by the apartheid regime on the basis of their skin colour. This research aims to understand how trade unions respond to xenophobia in the workplace, and the ways their strategies increase inclusion of immigrants in the trade unions. This research focuses on the National Union of Mineworkers (NUM) and the National Union of Metalworkers of South Africa (NUMSA), seeking to find whether they have strategies and planned ways to respond to xenophobia in South African workplaces. This research also looks at the impact of nationalism in South Africa on immigrants. It shows that whilst the concept of nationalism is to protect South Africans, it does exclude immigrants because it places South Africans before immigrants when it comes to benefiting from the resources of the country. This shows that protecting one section of the working class over another weakens the working class movement. To get views from the trade unions, trade union officials were interviewed and from the interviews, common themes were picked out. From the interviews, it can be identified that trade union officials believe that immigrants should be included in the trade unions, and they should be treated with dignity. However, there are some conflicting themes, which highlight the view that South African locals deserve to get the resources of the country, such as housing, before immigrants. The themes will be discussed in the research to highlight the different perspectives that came from the trade union officials.
- Full Text:
- Date Issued: 2019
Lean leadership behaviours required for employee engagement
- Authors: Grewan, Symone
- Date: 2019
- Subjects: Leadership , Management -- South Africa Employee motivation -- South Africa Employees -- Attitudes
- Language: English
- Type: Thesis , Masters , MBA
- Identifier: http://hdl.handle.net/10948/39665 , vital:35345
- Description: The study highlighted the importance of leadership and employee engagement in LEAN manufacturing. Dombrowski and Mielke emphasised the critical importance of leadership as a cornerstone for stimulating employee engagement in continuous improvement systems. It was also noted that leadership was listed as either the key failure factor or key success factor for LEAN Implementation. This study confirmed that LEAN Leadership behaviours have a definite effect on employee engagement. The LEAN Leadership Model was tested on employee engagement in a Fast Moving Consumer Goods (FMCG) confectionery plant in Port Elizabeth, South Africa. Two mail surveys were used. The first survey was directed towards shop-floor factory operators, which included 141 respondents. This figure was greater than 50% of the target population. The survey tested for employee engagement (dependent variable) and the operator’s perception of their line manager behaviours (independent variables). The second survey was directed towards line managers, which included 8 respondents, providing 100% of the desired population. The survey for the line managers requested them to respond to their own engagement, as well as their perception of their own leadership behaviours. The study aimed to answer three research questions related to: The effect of LEAN Leadership behaviours on employee engagement. The suitability of the LEAN Leadership Model for promoting employee engagement. Whether or not the perception of shop-floor employees met the perception of line managers on leadership behaviours. In answering the first research question, the descriptive statistical analysis showed that LEAN Leadership behaviours have a positive influence on employee engagement. This was confirmed using a Pearson Correlation Test and the ANOVA Test amongst the different line managers. The findings correlated with studies reviewed in the literature chapter. The second research question asked whether the LEAN Leadership Model was a suitable framework for employee engagement or not. It was found that the hypothesised framework was not validated. Through conducting an EFA and mediating variable test, a new model i.e. The LEAN Leadership – Employee Engagement Model was constructed. The model comprised of two independent variables (Authentic Improvement Culture and Hoshin Kanri), one mediating variable (Gemba Qualification) and one dependent variable (Employee Engagement). Overall, the LEAN Leadership - Employee Engagement Model suggested that line managers were able to promote employee engagement by spending time with employees and recognising them on the shop-floor. The model also showed that Authentic Improvement Culture leadership behaviours and strategic management behaviours (Hoshin Kanri) had a direct positive influence on employee engagement, while they also indirectly worked through the Gemba Qualification to positively influence engagement. It is worth mentioning that the role of the Team is the centre of the LEAN Leadership Model, from which the LEAN Leadership – Employee Engagement Model was derived. It is important that the role of the team in LEAN methodologies, and the behaviours that promote teamwork amongst the shop-floor employees, does not lose focus. The final research question on whether or not shop-floor perceptions met line manager perceptions regarding line manager behaviours was also answered through a Two Sample T-Test. Large effects in perception were not apparent regarding Authentic Improvement Culture behaviours. With regard to the Gemba Qualification and Hoshin Kanri, line managers felt that they displayed more of these behaviours than what was perceived by their shop-floor employees. Overall, large effects showed that in some cases, perceptions differed. This had the potential to influence shop-floor employee engagement. The findings from this research study provided a management solution and an academic contribution to influence and correct leadership behaviours to aid sustainable LEAN Implementation. In addition, the findings could be used to troubleshoot stagnations in LEAN phase executions from a possible lack of employee engagement.
- Full Text:
- Date Issued: 2019
- Authors: Grewan, Symone
- Date: 2019
- Subjects: Leadership , Management -- South Africa Employee motivation -- South Africa Employees -- Attitudes
- Language: English
- Type: Thesis , Masters , MBA
- Identifier: http://hdl.handle.net/10948/39665 , vital:35345
- Description: The study highlighted the importance of leadership and employee engagement in LEAN manufacturing. Dombrowski and Mielke emphasised the critical importance of leadership as a cornerstone for stimulating employee engagement in continuous improvement systems. It was also noted that leadership was listed as either the key failure factor or key success factor for LEAN Implementation. This study confirmed that LEAN Leadership behaviours have a definite effect on employee engagement. The LEAN Leadership Model was tested on employee engagement in a Fast Moving Consumer Goods (FMCG) confectionery plant in Port Elizabeth, South Africa. Two mail surveys were used. The first survey was directed towards shop-floor factory operators, which included 141 respondents. This figure was greater than 50% of the target population. The survey tested for employee engagement (dependent variable) and the operator’s perception of their line manager behaviours (independent variables). The second survey was directed towards line managers, which included 8 respondents, providing 100% of the desired population. The survey for the line managers requested them to respond to their own engagement, as well as their perception of their own leadership behaviours. The study aimed to answer three research questions related to: The effect of LEAN Leadership behaviours on employee engagement. The suitability of the LEAN Leadership Model for promoting employee engagement. Whether or not the perception of shop-floor employees met the perception of line managers on leadership behaviours. In answering the first research question, the descriptive statistical analysis showed that LEAN Leadership behaviours have a positive influence on employee engagement. This was confirmed using a Pearson Correlation Test and the ANOVA Test amongst the different line managers. The findings correlated with studies reviewed in the literature chapter. The second research question asked whether the LEAN Leadership Model was a suitable framework for employee engagement or not. It was found that the hypothesised framework was not validated. Through conducting an EFA and mediating variable test, a new model i.e. The LEAN Leadership – Employee Engagement Model was constructed. The model comprised of two independent variables (Authentic Improvement Culture and Hoshin Kanri), one mediating variable (Gemba Qualification) and one dependent variable (Employee Engagement). Overall, the LEAN Leadership - Employee Engagement Model suggested that line managers were able to promote employee engagement by spending time with employees and recognising them on the shop-floor. The model also showed that Authentic Improvement Culture leadership behaviours and strategic management behaviours (Hoshin Kanri) had a direct positive influence on employee engagement, while they also indirectly worked through the Gemba Qualification to positively influence engagement. It is worth mentioning that the role of the Team is the centre of the LEAN Leadership Model, from which the LEAN Leadership – Employee Engagement Model was derived. It is important that the role of the team in LEAN methodologies, and the behaviours that promote teamwork amongst the shop-floor employees, does not lose focus. The final research question on whether or not shop-floor perceptions met line manager perceptions regarding line manager behaviours was also answered through a Two Sample T-Test. Large effects in perception were not apparent regarding Authentic Improvement Culture behaviours. With regard to the Gemba Qualification and Hoshin Kanri, line managers felt that they displayed more of these behaviours than what was perceived by their shop-floor employees. Overall, large effects showed that in some cases, perceptions differed. This had the potential to influence shop-floor employee engagement. The findings from this research study provided a management solution and an academic contribution to influence and correct leadership behaviours to aid sustainable LEAN Implementation. In addition, the findings could be used to troubleshoot stagnations in LEAN phase executions from a possible lack of employee engagement.
- Full Text:
- Date Issued: 2019
Religious pluralism: an analysis of its practice and effect in four historical examples
- Authors: Groves, Samuel Peter
- Date: 2019
- Subjects: Religious pluralism , Christianity and other religions , Freedom of religion -- History , Alexandria (Egypt) -- History , Athens (Greece) -- History , Alexandria (Egypt) -- Religion , Athens (Greece) -- Religion , Eusebius, of Caesarea, Bishop of Caesarea, approximately 260-approximately 340 , Constantine I, Emperor of Rome, -337 , Constantine I, Emperor of Rome, -337 -- Religion , Rome -- History -- Constantine I, the Great, 306-337 , Rome -- Religion , Jews -- Spain -- History -- Expulsion, 1492 , Spain -- History -- Ferdinand and Isabella, 1479-1516 , Spain -- Religion
- Language: English
- Type: text , Thesis , Masters , MA
- Identifier: http://hdl.handle.net/10962/67709 , vital:29132
- Description: Despite the fact that religious freedom is considered a basic human right, provided for in the South African constitution, the practise of religious freedom is often denied in certain countries and discouraged in others. The goal of this thesis is to examine four historical examples in which religious freedom was practised or denied, and the effect this decision had on the countries or people concerned. The first example of Alexander's empire is a positive example of religious liberty. His practise of religious pluralism offered peace to the Greeks and Jews of Alexandria, and it prompted creative and intellectual pursuits that would have been impossible without religious freedom. The second example is of Paul the Apostle's approach to positive religious engagement, as recorded in Acts 17 of the New Testament. Paul models constructive religious debate as he engages with the Athenian philosophers. The third example is of Constantine's pursuit of unity through religious prescription. In his bid for one empire under one God, he created both a divided empire and a divided church. The final example is of the Catholic Monarchs of Spain, who through the persecution of Jews and Muslims, caused the economic collapse of Spain and the division of the church within Spain. This thesis provides historical evidence that religious pluralism benefits humanity and it is my hope that it will encourage religious and political leaders to uphold religious pluralism for the good of society and for the good of religion.
- Full Text:
- Date Issued: 2019
- Authors: Groves, Samuel Peter
- Date: 2019
- Subjects: Religious pluralism , Christianity and other religions , Freedom of religion -- History , Alexandria (Egypt) -- History , Athens (Greece) -- History , Alexandria (Egypt) -- Religion , Athens (Greece) -- Religion , Eusebius, of Caesarea, Bishop of Caesarea, approximately 260-approximately 340 , Constantine I, Emperor of Rome, -337 , Constantine I, Emperor of Rome, -337 -- Religion , Rome -- History -- Constantine I, the Great, 306-337 , Rome -- Religion , Jews -- Spain -- History -- Expulsion, 1492 , Spain -- History -- Ferdinand and Isabella, 1479-1516 , Spain -- Religion
- Language: English
- Type: text , Thesis , Masters , MA
- Identifier: http://hdl.handle.net/10962/67709 , vital:29132
- Description: Despite the fact that religious freedom is considered a basic human right, provided for in the South African constitution, the practise of religious freedom is often denied in certain countries and discouraged in others. The goal of this thesis is to examine four historical examples in which religious freedom was practised or denied, and the effect this decision had on the countries or people concerned. The first example of Alexander's empire is a positive example of religious liberty. His practise of religious pluralism offered peace to the Greeks and Jews of Alexandria, and it prompted creative and intellectual pursuits that would have been impossible without religious freedom. The second example is of Paul the Apostle's approach to positive religious engagement, as recorded in Acts 17 of the New Testament. Paul models constructive religious debate as he engages with the Athenian philosophers. The third example is of Constantine's pursuit of unity through religious prescription. In his bid for one empire under one God, he created both a divided empire and a divided church. The final example is of the Catholic Monarchs of Spain, who through the persecution of Jews and Muslims, caused the economic collapse of Spain and the division of the church within Spain. This thesis provides historical evidence that religious pluralism benefits humanity and it is my hope that it will encourage religious and political leaders to uphold religious pluralism for the good of society and for the good of religion.
- Full Text:
- Date Issued: 2019
Efficient market hypothesis with structural breaks: evidence from BRICS stock markets
- Authors: Guduza, Sinazo
- Date: 2019
- Subjects: Stock exchanges , Investment analysis Developing countries -- Economic conditions
- Language: English
- Type: Thesis , Masters , MCom
- Identifier: http://hdl.handle.net/10948/42342 , vital:36647
- Description: The study is an examination of weak form market efficiency (EMH) in BRICS equity markets using weekly data spanning from 2005 to 2018. The study makes use linear as well as nonlinear unit rot tests, that is, the ADF and KSS tests respectively. For more robust results, the study uses the Integer Flexible Fourier Function (IFFF) and the Fractional Frequency Flexible Fourier Function (FFFFF) to account for smooth structural breaks. The study investigates the full sample period and splits the empirical data into three sub-samples corresponding to the period succeeding the global financial crisis, the BRICS summits and the BRICS Development Bank (BDB). This study, to the best of our knowledge, is the first to investigate the efficiency in the BRICS stock markets using a combination of the specified series of unit root tests. Moreover, there are no prior studies that have examined these markets for the sub-samples mentioned above. Our empirical results point us to convincing evidence of weak form inefficiency as the majority of the results reject the null hypothesis of a unit root.
- Full Text:
- Date Issued: 2019
- Authors: Guduza, Sinazo
- Date: 2019
- Subjects: Stock exchanges , Investment analysis Developing countries -- Economic conditions
- Language: English
- Type: Thesis , Masters , MCom
- Identifier: http://hdl.handle.net/10948/42342 , vital:36647
- Description: The study is an examination of weak form market efficiency (EMH) in BRICS equity markets using weekly data spanning from 2005 to 2018. The study makes use linear as well as nonlinear unit rot tests, that is, the ADF and KSS tests respectively. For more robust results, the study uses the Integer Flexible Fourier Function (IFFF) and the Fractional Frequency Flexible Fourier Function (FFFFF) to account for smooth structural breaks. The study investigates the full sample period and splits the empirical data into three sub-samples corresponding to the period succeeding the global financial crisis, the BRICS summits and the BRICS Development Bank (BDB). This study, to the best of our knowledge, is the first to investigate the efficiency in the BRICS stock markets using a combination of the specified series of unit root tests. Moreover, there are no prior studies that have examined these markets for the sub-samples mentioned above. Our empirical results point us to convincing evidence of weak form inefficiency as the majority of the results reject the null hypothesis of a unit root.
- Full Text:
- Date Issued: 2019
The taxation of the “sharing economy” in South Africa
- Authors: Gumbo, Wadzanai Charisma
- Date: 2019
- Subjects: Corporations -- Taxation Taxation -- South Africa Value-added tax -- Law and legislation -- South Africa Double taxation -- South Africa Tax evasion -- South Africa Income tax -- Law and legislation -- South Africa Tax administration and procedure -- South Africa
- Language: English
- Type: text , Thesis , Masters , MCom
- Identifier: http://hdl.handle.net/10962/64045 , vital:28525
- Description: The research examined whether the services provided by the “sharing economy” platforms are adequately dealt with by the current South African tax systems. In addressing this main goal, the research analysed how the South African tax systems deal with the income and expenses of Uber, Airbnb and their respective service providers. The research also investigated how South Africa could classify “sharing economy” workers and how this would affect the deductibility of the worker’s expenses. A brief analysis was made of the taxation of the “sharing economy” businesses in Australia and the United States of America. These countries have implemented measures to effectively deal with regulating the “sharing economy” businesses. An interpretative research approach was used to provide clarity on the matter. Documentary data used for the research consists of tax legislation, case law, textbooks, commentaries, journal articles and theses. The research concluded that the current taxation systems have loopholes that are allowing participants in the “sharing economy” to avoid paying tax in South Africa. The thesis recommends that the legislature could adopt certain measures applied in Australia and the United States of America to more effectively regulate “sharing economy” in South African and remedy the leakages the current tax systems suffer, causing SARS to lose potential revenue.
- Full Text:
- Date Issued: 2019
- Authors: Gumbo, Wadzanai Charisma
- Date: 2019
- Subjects: Corporations -- Taxation Taxation -- South Africa Value-added tax -- Law and legislation -- South Africa Double taxation -- South Africa Tax evasion -- South Africa Income tax -- Law and legislation -- South Africa Tax administration and procedure -- South Africa
- Language: English
- Type: text , Thesis , Masters , MCom
- Identifier: http://hdl.handle.net/10962/64045 , vital:28525
- Description: The research examined whether the services provided by the “sharing economy” platforms are adequately dealt with by the current South African tax systems. In addressing this main goal, the research analysed how the South African tax systems deal with the income and expenses of Uber, Airbnb and their respective service providers. The research also investigated how South Africa could classify “sharing economy” workers and how this would affect the deductibility of the worker’s expenses. A brief analysis was made of the taxation of the “sharing economy” businesses in Australia and the United States of America. These countries have implemented measures to effectively deal with regulating the “sharing economy” businesses. An interpretative research approach was used to provide clarity on the matter. Documentary data used for the research consists of tax legislation, case law, textbooks, commentaries, journal articles and theses. The research concluded that the current taxation systems have loopholes that are allowing participants in the “sharing economy” to avoid paying tax in South Africa. The thesis recommends that the legislature could adopt certain measures applied in Australia and the United States of America to more effectively regulate “sharing economy” in South African and remedy the leakages the current tax systems suffer, causing SARS to lose potential revenue.
- Full Text:
- Date Issued: 2019
Effect of single-walled carbon nanotubes on various properties of reclaimed rubber/natural rubber blends
- Authors: Gumede, Jabulani Innocent
- Date: 2019
- Subjects: Carbon nanotubes , Nanotubes Nanostructured materials Polymers
- Language: English
- Type: Thesis , Masters , MSc
- Identifier: http://hdl.handle.net/10948/39675 , vital:35347
- Description: Mechanical and thermal processes are the preferred methods used to reclaim rubber from waste tyres. However, these methods produce reclaimed rubber (RR) with poor quality and lowered properties compared to virgin rubber. As a result, RR is commonly blended with virgin natural rubber (NR) in order to enhance its quality and properties to widen its application scope. The use of RR in the production of new rubber products is however limited to only about 1-10%. This is because the amounts of RR above this percentage negatively affect the properties of the resultant RR/NR blends. Researchers have used various conventional and nonconventional fillers such as carbon black and maize stalk fibres, respectively, in an attempt to enhance the properties of RR/NR blends. One main disadvantage with the use of these fillers is the need for high quantities to achieve desired properties. Several researchers have therefore focused on developing other reinforcing fillers. The fillers that have recently attracted a lot of attention of the present researchers include single-walled carbon nanotubes (SWCNTs), which are very small tubes solely made up of carbon molecules. This is because SWCNTs offer many impressive properties, and even small quantity of these nanofillers is sufficient to achieve desired properties due to their small size, large surface area and high aspect ratio. The main challenge with the use of SWCNTs however is getting them to disperse well in the rubber matrix. Therefore, their surface is either modified and then mixed with rubber or a dispersant is used to disperse them in the rubber matrix, forming a masterbatch. The common nanomaterial masterbatch product for applications in rubber is the TUBALLTM RUBBER (TR), which is a masterbatch product consisting of 1 wt. % TUBALL™ SWCNTs dispersed, using 1.5 wt.% sulfonol as a dispersant, in 97.5 wt.% NR (from latex Taytex FA). This product is a versatile masterbatch designed to enhance the mechanical, chemical, electrical and thermal properties of rubbers since it contains SWCNTs. However, the performance of this product has not been explored in the cases where recycled/reclaimed rubber is used. The main aim of this project was therefore to explore the effect of SWCNTs (via using TR) in the formulations of RR/virgin NR blends. This project was divided into two parts; (i) optimisation of SWCNTs based on tensile properties of specific formulations of compounds. These compounds were prepared by mixing various amounts of TR and NR using a Banbury internal mixer and two-roll mill. (ii) the effect of the addition of SWCNTs from the optimum SWCNTs/NR masterbatch compound on curing, mechanical, aging, dynamic mechanical and thermal properties of RR/NR blends was studied. Curing properties explored include minimum torque (ML), maximum torque (MH), scorch time (ts0.5), curing time (t90) and cure rate. Mechanical properties studied are tensile strength, modulus at 100%, 200%, 300% and 500% elongation, elongation at break, hardness and resilience. Dynamic mechanical properties include stiffness, storage modulus (E'), loss modulus (E''), loss tangent delta (tanδ) and glass transition temperature (Tg). Thermal degradation (stability) was studied by means of thermogravimetric analysis (TGA) for analysing the effect of SWCNTs inclusion on RR/NR blends. The optimum SWCNTs/NR masterbatch compound contained 0.1 wt. % of SWCNTs. The results obtained for various properties indicate that SWCNTs from the optimum SWCNTs/NR masterbatch compound enhanced the curing, mechanical, aging and dynamic mechanical properties of RR/NR blends with lower RR loading. Thermal properties of RR/NR blends were found to be unaffected by the addition of SWCNTs. However, owing to their impressive properties, the use of SWCNTs as nanofillers in RR/NR blends have the greatest potential for extending the applications of RR/NR blends.
- Full Text:
- Date Issued: 2019
- Authors: Gumede, Jabulani Innocent
- Date: 2019
- Subjects: Carbon nanotubes , Nanotubes Nanostructured materials Polymers
- Language: English
- Type: Thesis , Masters , MSc
- Identifier: http://hdl.handle.net/10948/39675 , vital:35347
- Description: Mechanical and thermal processes are the preferred methods used to reclaim rubber from waste tyres. However, these methods produce reclaimed rubber (RR) with poor quality and lowered properties compared to virgin rubber. As a result, RR is commonly blended with virgin natural rubber (NR) in order to enhance its quality and properties to widen its application scope. The use of RR in the production of new rubber products is however limited to only about 1-10%. This is because the amounts of RR above this percentage negatively affect the properties of the resultant RR/NR blends. Researchers have used various conventional and nonconventional fillers such as carbon black and maize stalk fibres, respectively, in an attempt to enhance the properties of RR/NR blends. One main disadvantage with the use of these fillers is the need for high quantities to achieve desired properties. Several researchers have therefore focused on developing other reinforcing fillers. The fillers that have recently attracted a lot of attention of the present researchers include single-walled carbon nanotubes (SWCNTs), which are very small tubes solely made up of carbon molecules. This is because SWCNTs offer many impressive properties, and even small quantity of these nanofillers is sufficient to achieve desired properties due to their small size, large surface area and high aspect ratio. The main challenge with the use of SWCNTs however is getting them to disperse well in the rubber matrix. Therefore, their surface is either modified and then mixed with rubber or a dispersant is used to disperse them in the rubber matrix, forming a masterbatch. The common nanomaterial masterbatch product for applications in rubber is the TUBALLTM RUBBER (TR), which is a masterbatch product consisting of 1 wt. % TUBALL™ SWCNTs dispersed, using 1.5 wt.% sulfonol as a dispersant, in 97.5 wt.% NR (from latex Taytex FA). This product is a versatile masterbatch designed to enhance the mechanical, chemical, electrical and thermal properties of rubbers since it contains SWCNTs. However, the performance of this product has not been explored in the cases where recycled/reclaimed rubber is used. The main aim of this project was therefore to explore the effect of SWCNTs (via using TR) in the formulations of RR/virgin NR blends. This project was divided into two parts; (i) optimisation of SWCNTs based on tensile properties of specific formulations of compounds. These compounds were prepared by mixing various amounts of TR and NR using a Banbury internal mixer and two-roll mill. (ii) the effect of the addition of SWCNTs from the optimum SWCNTs/NR masterbatch compound on curing, mechanical, aging, dynamic mechanical and thermal properties of RR/NR blends was studied. Curing properties explored include minimum torque (ML), maximum torque (MH), scorch time (ts0.5), curing time (t90) and cure rate. Mechanical properties studied are tensile strength, modulus at 100%, 200%, 300% and 500% elongation, elongation at break, hardness and resilience. Dynamic mechanical properties include stiffness, storage modulus (E'), loss modulus (E''), loss tangent delta (tanδ) and glass transition temperature (Tg). Thermal degradation (stability) was studied by means of thermogravimetric analysis (TGA) for analysing the effect of SWCNTs inclusion on RR/NR blends. The optimum SWCNTs/NR masterbatch compound contained 0.1 wt. % of SWCNTs. The results obtained for various properties indicate that SWCNTs from the optimum SWCNTs/NR masterbatch compound enhanced the curing, mechanical, aging and dynamic mechanical properties of RR/NR blends with lower RR loading. Thermal properties of RR/NR blends were found to be unaffected by the addition of SWCNTs. However, owing to their impressive properties, the use of SWCNTs as nanofillers in RR/NR blends have the greatest potential for extending the applications of RR/NR blends.
- Full Text:
- Date Issued: 2019
A gatherer's paradise? Early humans and plant foraging on the cape south coast, South Africa
- Authors: Gummow, William Thomas
- Date: 2019
- Subjects: Soil amendments , Plants -- Nutrition Plant physiology
- Language: English
- Type: Thesis , Masters , MSc
- Identifier: http://hdl.handle.net/10948/39687 , vital:35348
- Description: South Africa is a semi-arid country that is experiencing population growth and the associated pressure of producing sufficient crops to sustain the population. Furthermore, poor land management has also led to increased degradation of valuable arable land. To improve poor soil quality and possibly avoid or reverse degradation and ultimately desertification, it was suggested that soil amendments are a potential solution to some of these problems. Although soil amendment is a relatively well-known practice to improve soil quality, the use of rubber crumb as a soil amendment is not well studied. Rubber crumb is produced from end-of-life tyres that have been ground up to fine particles and as such can be used as a secondary resource to replace the use of virgin materials. Rubber crumb has been used in an array of industries, however, the present study investigated the possibility that rubber crumb might be used as a soil amendment to alleviate various forms of soil degradation, specifically soil compaction and crusting, and potentially improve crop establishment and growth.To determine this, a soil that is prone to crusting and compaction was amended with rubber crumb at rates of 5%, 15% and 25%. Various soil physical characteristics, such as bulk density, particle density, porosity, field capacity and penetration resistance were investigated and it was determined that as the percentage rubber crumb increases in the soil, so do the beneficial characteristics of the soil. Furthermore, the rubber crumb was also treated in various ways in order to determine how the treatments might affect the chemical properties of the soil, as well as the amount of zinc that is leached from the rubber crumb. It was found that washing the rubber with a weak acid or even water prior to adding it to the soil resulted in more desirable chemical condition compared to untreated rubber crumb. Lastly, maize (Zea mays L.) was used to determine whether amending soil with pre-treated rubber crumb in different percentages had an influence on the germination success and growth rate of maize. In terms of germination success, amending soil with rubber crumb does not seem to have a significant influence, however, growth rate decreased as the percentage rubber crumb increased, while treating the rubber with a weak acid or water prior to adding it to soil had the most positive effect on plant growth. It can therefore be concluded that rubber crumb amendment rates between 5% and 15% resulted in the most desirable soil physical properties and plant growth amongst the amendments. However the best plant growth was still seen in the control soil, to which no rubber crumb had been added.
- Full Text:
- Date Issued: 2019
- Authors: Gummow, William Thomas
- Date: 2019
- Subjects: Soil amendments , Plants -- Nutrition Plant physiology
- Language: English
- Type: Thesis , Masters , MSc
- Identifier: http://hdl.handle.net/10948/39687 , vital:35348
- Description: South Africa is a semi-arid country that is experiencing population growth and the associated pressure of producing sufficient crops to sustain the population. Furthermore, poor land management has also led to increased degradation of valuable arable land. To improve poor soil quality and possibly avoid or reverse degradation and ultimately desertification, it was suggested that soil amendments are a potential solution to some of these problems. Although soil amendment is a relatively well-known practice to improve soil quality, the use of rubber crumb as a soil amendment is not well studied. Rubber crumb is produced from end-of-life tyres that have been ground up to fine particles and as such can be used as a secondary resource to replace the use of virgin materials. Rubber crumb has been used in an array of industries, however, the present study investigated the possibility that rubber crumb might be used as a soil amendment to alleviate various forms of soil degradation, specifically soil compaction and crusting, and potentially improve crop establishment and growth.To determine this, a soil that is prone to crusting and compaction was amended with rubber crumb at rates of 5%, 15% and 25%. Various soil physical characteristics, such as bulk density, particle density, porosity, field capacity and penetration resistance were investigated and it was determined that as the percentage rubber crumb increases in the soil, so do the beneficial characteristics of the soil. Furthermore, the rubber crumb was also treated in various ways in order to determine how the treatments might affect the chemical properties of the soil, as well as the amount of zinc that is leached from the rubber crumb. It was found that washing the rubber with a weak acid or even water prior to adding it to the soil resulted in more desirable chemical condition compared to untreated rubber crumb. Lastly, maize (Zea mays L.) was used to determine whether amending soil with pre-treated rubber crumb in different percentages had an influence on the germination success and growth rate of maize. In terms of germination success, amending soil with rubber crumb does not seem to have a significant influence, however, growth rate decreased as the percentage rubber crumb increased, while treating the rubber with a weak acid or water prior to adding it to soil had the most positive effect on plant growth. It can therefore be concluded that rubber crumb amendment rates between 5% and 15% resulted in the most desirable soil physical properties and plant growth amongst the amendments. However the best plant growth was still seen in the control soil, to which no rubber crumb had been added.
- Full Text:
- Date Issued: 2019
Development of an Extensible Framework for Easy Implementation of Image Processing Applications on Android Operating System
- Authors: Gunu, Bulelani
- Date: 2019
- Subjects: Operating systems (Computers)
- Language: English
- Type: Thesis , Masters , MSc (Computer Science )
- Identifier: http://hdl.handle.net/10353/17201 , vital:40865
- Description: Image processing is a field that has been in existence for many years and it continues to grow with many other research areas adopting its use. One such research area is the area of mobile devices. Mobile devices have been equipped with image processing software and hardware so as to apply image processing features. While there are many applications of image processing and new applications have been developed, there are still many functionalities that these image processing software perform the same. The development of these software from scratch requires a lot of effort and can be time consuming. This becomes even worse for mobile device application developers, specifically Android developers, who have no knowledge of implementing image processing functionalities. This project offers a software framework which allows Android application developers to focus on their unique requirements while incorporating image processing features into their applications. The framework provides the common image processing functionalities and Android developers do not need to know the internal working of the framework in order to use it. This helps reduce application development time and effort. The framework also offers an extensibility feature which takes into consideration the future growth. This means that third party developers can keep the framework up to date with the technological advancements. The presented framework is shown to be requiring less technical expertise. Also, the way in which the system is design makes it easy to understand. This design can be adopted for other related projects that require extensible frameworks for the Android operating system.
- Full Text:
- Date Issued: 2019
- Authors: Gunu, Bulelani
- Date: 2019
- Subjects: Operating systems (Computers)
- Language: English
- Type: Thesis , Masters , MSc (Computer Science )
- Identifier: http://hdl.handle.net/10353/17201 , vital:40865
- Description: Image processing is a field that has been in existence for many years and it continues to grow with many other research areas adopting its use. One such research area is the area of mobile devices. Mobile devices have been equipped with image processing software and hardware so as to apply image processing features. While there are many applications of image processing and new applications have been developed, there are still many functionalities that these image processing software perform the same. The development of these software from scratch requires a lot of effort and can be time consuming. This becomes even worse for mobile device application developers, specifically Android developers, who have no knowledge of implementing image processing functionalities. This project offers a software framework which allows Android application developers to focus on their unique requirements while incorporating image processing features into their applications. The framework provides the common image processing functionalities and Android developers do not need to know the internal working of the framework in order to use it. This helps reduce application development time and effort. The framework also offers an extensibility feature which takes into consideration the future growth. This means that third party developers can keep the framework up to date with the technological advancements. The presented framework is shown to be requiring less technical expertise. Also, the way in which the system is design makes it easy to understand. This design can be adopted for other related projects that require extensible frameworks for the Android operating system.
- Full Text:
- Date Issued: 2019
The impact of public libraries in the Eastern Cape Province with reference to three Buffalo City Municipal libraries in King Williams' Town
- Authors: Gunuza, Nokuthula
- Date: 2019
- Subjects: Public libraries Information services
- Language: English
- Type: Thesis , Masters , M.Bibl
- Identifier: http://hdl.handle.net/10353/16452 , vital:40721
- Description: The study sought to investigate the impact of public libraries in developing information literacy in libraries in the Eastern Cape Province of South Africa: a case study of Buffalo City Municipality public libraries in King William’s Town. The objectives of the study were to find out how these three libraries in Buffalo City Metro public libraries ensure equity of library and information services provision to the user communities, to find out how public libraries support education and lifelong learning, to identify the challenges that public libraries face in rendering library and information services with reference to the three libraries, and to investigate the role of library professionals in marketing the library services to the community. Both quantitative and qualitative research methodologies were employed in a descriptive survey. The main research instrument was a questionnaire supported by face to face interviews. A total of 297 questionnaires were distributed and 200 were returned giving a response rate of 67.3%. The quantitative data which was collected through questionnaire was presented using graphs and tables, while qualitative was analysed manually by content analysis, using the notes that were taken by the researcher from the respondents during the interview sessions and reported verbatim in some instances. The findings showed that regardless of South African LIS environment having contradictions resulting from years of apartheid, most of the Buffalo City Metro public library patrons indicated that they experienced fair and equitable access to library and information services. In addition to participants’ quantitative responses, the qualitative excerpts from librarians attested to the library having a classification system that allows easy access to library resources. In addition, findings of the study also revealed that the Buffalo City Metro public libraries have a diversity of users, ranging from different age groups and social standing. The results from the current study revealed that the Buffalo City metropolitan public library users have little knowledge about literacy programmes that are taking place in the library. The findings also indicated that the Buffalo City Metro public libraries market library services by word of mouth, posters and notice boards. One of the major findings of the study is that Buffalo City Metro public libraries are faced with financial constraints and that led to a myriad of challenges ranging from inadequate library operating hours; limited information sources; lack of information retrieval training to patrons; internet connectivity issues; xii lack of professional staff and lack of training on the latest technological trends. The study concludes that the Buffalo City Metro public libraries should establish a marketing strategy to motivate for funding. The study recommended that the Buffalo City public libraries should create an integrated system for all libraries in the metromunicipality that encourages adult literacy programme to raise awareness of information literacy.
- Full Text:
- Date Issued: 2019
- Authors: Gunuza, Nokuthula
- Date: 2019
- Subjects: Public libraries Information services
- Language: English
- Type: Thesis , Masters , M.Bibl
- Identifier: http://hdl.handle.net/10353/16452 , vital:40721
- Description: The study sought to investigate the impact of public libraries in developing information literacy in libraries in the Eastern Cape Province of South Africa: a case study of Buffalo City Municipality public libraries in King William’s Town. The objectives of the study were to find out how these three libraries in Buffalo City Metro public libraries ensure equity of library and information services provision to the user communities, to find out how public libraries support education and lifelong learning, to identify the challenges that public libraries face in rendering library and information services with reference to the three libraries, and to investigate the role of library professionals in marketing the library services to the community. Both quantitative and qualitative research methodologies were employed in a descriptive survey. The main research instrument was a questionnaire supported by face to face interviews. A total of 297 questionnaires were distributed and 200 were returned giving a response rate of 67.3%. The quantitative data which was collected through questionnaire was presented using graphs and tables, while qualitative was analysed manually by content analysis, using the notes that were taken by the researcher from the respondents during the interview sessions and reported verbatim in some instances. The findings showed that regardless of South African LIS environment having contradictions resulting from years of apartheid, most of the Buffalo City Metro public library patrons indicated that they experienced fair and equitable access to library and information services. In addition to participants’ quantitative responses, the qualitative excerpts from librarians attested to the library having a classification system that allows easy access to library resources. In addition, findings of the study also revealed that the Buffalo City Metro public libraries have a diversity of users, ranging from different age groups and social standing. The results from the current study revealed that the Buffalo City metropolitan public library users have little knowledge about literacy programmes that are taking place in the library. The findings also indicated that the Buffalo City Metro public libraries market library services by word of mouth, posters and notice boards. One of the major findings of the study is that Buffalo City Metro public libraries are faced with financial constraints and that led to a myriad of challenges ranging from inadequate library operating hours; limited information sources; lack of information retrieval training to patrons; internet connectivity issues; xii lack of professional staff and lack of training on the latest technological trends. The study concludes that the Buffalo City Metro public libraries should establish a marketing strategy to motivate for funding. The study recommended that the Buffalo City public libraries should create an integrated system for all libraries in the metromunicipality that encourages adult literacy programme to raise awareness of information literacy.
- Full Text:
- Date Issued: 2019
The Intsomi Ambassadors: using communicative ecologies to enhance home literacy practices amongst working class parents in Grahamstown
- Authors: Gush, Cathy
- Date: 2019
- Subjects: Communication in economic development -- South Africa -- Makhanda , Literacy -- South Africa -- Makhanda , Literacy programs -- South Africa -- Makhanda , Education -- Parent participation -- South Africa -- Makhanda , Intsomi Project
- Language: English
- Type: text , Thesis , Masters , MA
- Identifier: http://hdl.handle.net/10962/71459 , vital:29855
- Description: Utilising theories of Communication for Development, the research explores how literacy practices in the homes of a group of working class, English second language parents in Grahamstown are affected by the introduction of new literacy material and insights Furthermore, it discusses how, and through which forms of media, these observed dynamics and changes in practice are best communicated to similar households. The issue of children's literacy development in South Africa is of serious concern, in particular the role that parents play and the level of support they give through home literacy practices. The context is one in which South African children have performed very poorly with regard to literacy levels in international benchmark testing as well as in national assessments. The summary report on the Progress in International Reading Literacy Study (PIRLS) found that some of the factors contributing to these poor results were the lack of reading resources in homes, as well as the lack of strong home-school partnerships in which parents took up the role of co-educators, or even of primary educators at the preschool stage. A group of parents employed by Rhodes University at the Grade 1 - 5 levels signed up to be the recipients of a programme supporting the literacy development of their primary and pre-primary school children. The Intsomi Project is run by the Rhodes Community Engagement Office as part of the Vice-Chancellor’s Education Initiative and provides close to 100 families with weekly reading material and educational games for their children, as well as workshops on the use of these materials and how they might benefit the children. Following a Participatory Action Research approach, a “vanguard” group of parent participants, known as the Intsomi Ambassadors, developed their role as literacy activists, becoming co-creators of media messages that utilised and built on the first stage of their communication within the group. The research explored how the principles and techniques of development support communication, and those of communicative ecologies, could be applied to explore, enhance and disseminate those qualitative changes in behaviour within households that positively affect children’s literacy development. In the process, it aimed to explore whether media representations that reflect the stories of parents trying out new literacy practices can create authentic, endogenous messages that resonate with people in similar circumstances, and can stimulate debate around the issue.
- Full Text:
- Date Issued: 2019
- Authors: Gush, Cathy
- Date: 2019
- Subjects: Communication in economic development -- South Africa -- Makhanda , Literacy -- South Africa -- Makhanda , Literacy programs -- South Africa -- Makhanda , Education -- Parent participation -- South Africa -- Makhanda , Intsomi Project
- Language: English
- Type: text , Thesis , Masters , MA
- Identifier: http://hdl.handle.net/10962/71459 , vital:29855
- Description: Utilising theories of Communication for Development, the research explores how literacy practices in the homes of a group of working class, English second language parents in Grahamstown are affected by the introduction of new literacy material and insights Furthermore, it discusses how, and through which forms of media, these observed dynamics and changes in practice are best communicated to similar households. The issue of children's literacy development in South Africa is of serious concern, in particular the role that parents play and the level of support they give through home literacy practices. The context is one in which South African children have performed very poorly with regard to literacy levels in international benchmark testing as well as in national assessments. The summary report on the Progress in International Reading Literacy Study (PIRLS) found that some of the factors contributing to these poor results were the lack of reading resources in homes, as well as the lack of strong home-school partnerships in which parents took up the role of co-educators, or even of primary educators at the preschool stage. A group of parents employed by Rhodes University at the Grade 1 - 5 levels signed up to be the recipients of a programme supporting the literacy development of their primary and pre-primary school children. The Intsomi Project is run by the Rhodes Community Engagement Office as part of the Vice-Chancellor’s Education Initiative and provides close to 100 families with weekly reading material and educational games for their children, as well as workshops on the use of these materials and how they might benefit the children. Following a Participatory Action Research approach, a “vanguard” group of parent participants, known as the Intsomi Ambassadors, developed their role as literacy activists, becoming co-creators of media messages that utilised and built on the first stage of their communication within the group. The research explored how the principles and techniques of development support communication, and those of communicative ecologies, could be applied to explore, enhance and disseminate those qualitative changes in behaviour within households that positively affect children’s literacy development. In the process, it aimed to explore whether media representations that reflect the stories of parents trying out new literacy practices can create authentic, endogenous messages that resonate with people in similar circumstances, and can stimulate debate around the issue.
- Full Text:
- Date Issued: 2019
Virtual reality bridging the gap between work experience required and university qualifications in South Africa
- Authors: Gwatiringa, Tsitsi
- Date: 2019
- Subjects: Employment forecasting -- South Africa , Labor supply -- South Africa -- Forecasting Work environment -- South Africa -- Forecasting
- Language: English
- Type: Thesis , Masters , MBA
- Identifier: http://hdl.handle.net/10948/42331 , vital:36646
- Description: Increasing technological evolutions are constantly requiring humankind to reform how we plan for the future. Pervasive technologies such as Virtual Reality are making our working life and education to become more digital, complex and interconnected. The job landscape has already been disrupted by the Fourth Industrial Revolution (FIR). The way we work and learn is set to be transformed as the jobs people have and required skills necessary for success are some of the areas most impacted by technological advances such as the FIR and this is particularly concerning for the South African context. New ways of education are required in order to allow future employees to flexibly react to the future world of work and meet the demands of such a digitised working environment. The expected future trajectory of the job landscape may present challenges but there are also unique opportunities. By way of the futures methodology, the intention of this research was to systematically make inquiries, create, suggest and test foreseeable and desirable future visions. Ultimately, the purpose of the research was to assess and suggest plausible futures for the future of education and future of jobs in South Africa. The Six Pillars of Futures Studies approach to research by Inayatullah was applied throughout this study. The mapping (environmental scanning) of Virtual Reality technologies as a driver of change was done, highlighting the impact of such technology on tertiary education and on the world of work. The purpose of the environmental scanning was to uncover existing and driving forces that will influence the future of tertiary education and the future of work. The Causal Layer Analysis (CLA) was the primary futures methodology applied in this research. CLA was used to investigate deeper causal issues from various viewpoints in order to formulate scenarios for the future. The study developed four different future scenarios, namely, “Virtually Going & Thriving”, “Running on Fumes”, “Sneaky Turn” and “Oh Snap! Never Left”. These scenarios can be used as departure points for bridging the gap between education qualifications and skills requirement for jobs in South Africa. Formulated from the “Virtually Going & Thriving" scenario the recommended vision, "Future Vision of Education and Work in South Africa towards 2030" incorporates a realistic, attainable and desirable future that could foreground the improvement of the skills gap in the South African context. The desired future of education and future of work in South Africa is a result of transformation of the tertiary education sector and the acceptance of the Fourth Industrial Revolution, of digital learning, of the new world of work, the demand for new skills - it is a future where Virtual Reality technology is being applied in an innovative approach to equip students with the right skills, to reskill and upskill workers in the workplace and technologies have been leveraged for a sustainable future. The preferred future offered by this research, the “Future Vision of Education and Work in South Africa towards 2030" envisages an education system that broadens access to opportunities and provides the skills and competences that people need to thrive in a new sustainable economy. Education 4.0 can bring a radical shift in the way people think, act and discharge their responsibilities to one another and to the planet. The programmes instituted by "Future Vision of Education and Work in South Africa towards 2030" will build knowledge, skills and values that will be pivotal for the sustainable future of South Africa as a nation.
- Full Text:
- Date Issued: 2019
- Authors: Gwatiringa, Tsitsi
- Date: 2019
- Subjects: Employment forecasting -- South Africa , Labor supply -- South Africa -- Forecasting Work environment -- South Africa -- Forecasting
- Language: English
- Type: Thesis , Masters , MBA
- Identifier: http://hdl.handle.net/10948/42331 , vital:36646
- Description: Increasing technological evolutions are constantly requiring humankind to reform how we plan for the future. Pervasive technologies such as Virtual Reality are making our working life and education to become more digital, complex and interconnected. The job landscape has already been disrupted by the Fourth Industrial Revolution (FIR). The way we work and learn is set to be transformed as the jobs people have and required skills necessary for success are some of the areas most impacted by technological advances such as the FIR and this is particularly concerning for the South African context. New ways of education are required in order to allow future employees to flexibly react to the future world of work and meet the demands of such a digitised working environment. The expected future trajectory of the job landscape may present challenges but there are also unique opportunities. By way of the futures methodology, the intention of this research was to systematically make inquiries, create, suggest and test foreseeable and desirable future visions. Ultimately, the purpose of the research was to assess and suggest plausible futures for the future of education and future of jobs in South Africa. The Six Pillars of Futures Studies approach to research by Inayatullah was applied throughout this study. The mapping (environmental scanning) of Virtual Reality technologies as a driver of change was done, highlighting the impact of such technology on tertiary education and on the world of work. The purpose of the environmental scanning was to uncover existing and driving forces that will influence the future of tertiary education and the future of work. The Causal Layer Analysis (CLA) was the primary futures methodology applied in this research. CLA was used to investigate deeper causal issues from various viewpoints in order to formulate scenarios for the future. The study developed four different future scenarios, namely, “Virtually Going & Thriving”, “Running on Fumes”, “Sneaky Turn” and “Oh Snap! Never Left”. These scenarios can be used as departure points for bridging the gap between education qualifications and skills requirement for jobs in South Africa. Formulated from the “Virtually Going & Thriving" scenario the recommended vision, "Future Vision of Education and Work in South Africa towards 2030" incorporates a realistic, attainable and desirable future that could foreground the improvement of the skills gap in the South African context. The desired future of education and future of work in South Africa is a result of transformation of the tertiary education sector and the acceptance of the Fourth Industrial Revolution, of digital learning, of the new world of work, the demand for new skills - it is a future where Virtual Reality technology is being applied in an innovative approach to equip students with the right skills, to reskill and upskill workers in the workplace and technologies have been leveraged for a sustainable future. The preferred future offered by this research, the “Future Vision of Education and Work in South Africa towards 2030" envisages an education system that broadens access to opportunities and provides the skills and competences that people need to thrive in a new sustainable economy. Education 4.0 can bring a radical shift in the way people think, act and discharge their responsibilities to one another and to the planet. The programmes instituted by "Future Vision of Education and Work in South Africa towards 2030" will build knowledge, skills and values that will be pivotal for the sustainable future of South Africa as a nation.
- Full Text:
- Date Issued: 2019
Uphicotho nzulu lobunzululwazi bolwimi olusetyenziswa kwimiyalezo emifutshane yesiXhosa sisini esahlukeneyo
- Authors: Gwavu-Peter, Yoliswa Ruby
- Date: 2019
- Subjects: Xhosa language -- Grammar , Applied linguistics , Sociolinguistics , Linguistic change -- Social aspects
- Language: Isixhosa
- Type: Thesis , Masters , MA
- Identifier: http://hdl.handle.net/10948/39653 , vital:35343
- Description: Olu phando luza kuthi lubeke umnwe kwindlela ulwimi negrama ezithi zisetyenziswe ngayo kumakhasi onxibelelwano zizini ezahlukileyo. Imiyalezo emifutshane iye yathatha unyawo kule mihla sikuyo. Ukanti kukho nokugxekwa kwayo ngenxa yokuba inempembelelo kuphanzo lolwimi. Olunye uphando olwenziweyo luyaphikisana nale mbono njengokuba lungqina ukuba itextism* ayonakalisi lwazi lwamntu kulwimi. Umahluko ophawulekayo kwimiyalezo ethunyelwa ngamadoda nabafazi awukabonakali uphandiwe esiXhoseni, nto leyo ethe yakhuthaza umphandi ukuba akhe avule indlela. Olu phando lujolise ekuphononongeni igrama yesiXhosa kwimiyalezo emifutshane ethunyelwa zizini ezahlukeneyo. Abathathi nxaxheba kolu phando bayikhethe ngokwabo imiyalezo eza kuthi isetyenziswe kolu phando. Uhlalutyo luza kuthi lujonge ikhophasi engangemiyalezo elikhulu linamashumi mahlanu (150) ethunyelwe ngabathathi nxaxheba abangamashumi amahlanu anesihlanu (55), amadoda angamashumi amabini anesihlanu (25) kunye namabhinqa angamashumi amathathu (30). Abantu abanikezele ngemiyalezo baza kunikwa uxwebhu oluchaza ngeenjongo zolu phando nesizathu sokusebenzisa imiyalezo emifutshane njengomsimelelo wolu phando. Kuza kufuneka batyikitye noxwebhu lwesivumelwano. Yonke le miyalezo ivela kubantu abathetha isiXhosa njengolwimi lwasekhaya. Iminyaka yabantu abanikele ngemiyalezo yabo ngokukhululekileyo iphakathi kwama-25 kunye nama-48. Isizathu sokuba amabhinqa ibe ngawona maninzi anikezele ngemiyalezo kunamadoda sesokuba amadoda ebemadolwa-nzima ukunikezela ngemiyalezo yawo kunamabhinqa. Injongo ibikukufumana amanani alinganayo kwisini ngasinye. Olu phando luza kuthi luthathe indlela yentyila-lwazi njengoko kuza kuthi kuhlalutywe, kucakacwe kuchazwe le miyalezo ikhethelwe uphando. Umphandi uza kuthi asebenzise ingcingane yobunzululwazi yolwimi yoluntu (sociolinguistics*) njengengundoqo kolu phando ze ezinye iingcingane ezifana nefonoloji, isintaksi kunye netextism zisetyenziswe ukuxhasa le ingundoqo.
- Full Text:
- Date Issued: 2019
- Authors: Gwavu-Peter, Yoliswa Ruby
- Date: 2019
- Subjects: Xhosa language -- Grammar , Applied linguistics , Sociolinguistics , Linguistic change -- Social aspects
- Language: Isixhosa
- Type: Thesis , Masters , MA
- Identifier: http://hdl.handle.net/10948/39653 , vital:35343
- Description: Olu phando luza kuthi lubeke umnwe kwindlela ulwimi negrama ezithi zisetyenziswe ngayo kumakhasi onxibelelwano zizini ezahlukileyo. Imiyalezo emifutshane iye yathatha unyawo kule mihla sikuyo. Ukanti kukho nokugxekwa kwayo ngenxa yokuba inempembelelo kuphanzo lolwimi. Olunye uphando olwenziweyo luyaphikisana nale mbono njengokuba lungqina ukuba itextism* ayonakalisi lwazi lwamntu kulwimi. Umahluko ophawulekayo kwimiyalezo ethunyelwa ngamadoda nabafazi awukabonakali uphandiwe esiXhoseni, nto leyo ethe yakhuthaza umphandi ukuba akhe avule indlela. Olu phando lujolise ekuphononongeni igrama yesiXhosa kwimiyalezo emifutshane ethunyelwa zizini ezahlukeneyo. Abathathi nxaxheba kolu phando bayikhethe ngokwabo imiyalezo eza kuthi isetyenziswe kolu phando. Uhlalutyo luza kuthi lujonge ikhophasi engangemiyalezo elikhulu linamashumi mahlanu (150) ethunyelwe ngabathathi nxaxheba abangamashumi amahlanu anesihlanu (55), amadoda angamashumi amabini anesihlanu (25) kunye namabhinqa angamashumi amathathu (30). Abantu abanikezele ngemiyalezo baza kunikwa uxwebhu oluchaza ngeenjongo zolu phando nesizathu sokusebenzisa imiyalezo emifutshane njengomsimelelo wolu phando. Kuza kufuneka batyikitye noxwebhu lwesivumelwano. Yonke le miyalezo ivela kubantu abathetha isiXhosa njengolwimi lwasekhaya. Iminyaka yabantu abanikele ngemiyalezo yabo ngokukhululekileyo iphakathi kwama-25 kunye nama-48. Isizathu sokuba amabhinqa ibe ngawona maninzi anikezele ngemiyalezo kunamadoda sesokuba amadoda ebemadolwa-nzima ukunikezela ngemiyalezo yawo kunamabhinqa. Injongo ibikukufumana amanani alinganayo kwisini ngasinye. Olu phando luza kuthi luthathe indlela yentyila-lwazi njengoko kuza kuthi kuhlalutywe, kucakacwe kuchazwe le miyalezo ikhethelwe uphando. Umphandi uza kuthi asebenzise ingcingane yobunzululwazi yolwimi yoluntu (sociolinguistics*) njengengundoqo kolu phando ze ezinye iingcingane ezifana nefonoloji, isintaksi kunye netextism zisetyenziswe ukuxhasa le ingundoqo.
- Full Text:
- Date Issued: 2019
Multi-temporal assessment of chlorophyll-a concentration in estuarine waters: a case study of sundays and swartkops estuaries, Eastern Cape Province
- Authors: Gwazani, Nothando
- Date: 2019
- Subjects: Chlorophyll -- South Africa Estuaries -- South Africa
- Language: English
- Type: Thesis , Masters , MSc (Applied Remote Sensing & GIS)
- Identifier: http://hdl.handle.net/10353/11972 , vital:39123
- Description: Estuaries are productive and delicate marine systems, which are of commercial, recreational and aesthetic value as they reflect the land use of a catchment by creating “nutrient traps”, these nutrients are absorbed by water and later released into the coastal oceans. Disturbances in an estuary influence a wide variety of habitats and organisms in a marine ecosystem, for example, high chlorophyll-a affects marine species that utilize calm waters, food and turbid water found in estuaries. The degradation of South African estuaries is an on-going accelerating process; therefore, there is a need for preservation measures for estuarine ecosystems by means of monitoring nutrient flow. This research was aimed at assessing the use of OLCI ocean color products in monitoring chl-a concentration and impacts of the estuaries in Algoa Bay. OLCI on the Sentinel platforms, coupled with OCNN and OC4ME algorithms were employed to assess the distribution of chlorophyll-a in Swartkops and Sunday’s estuaries. OC4Me and OCNN are the default models designed for OLCI data. However, the OLCI resolution was not able to measure the chl-a concentration within these estuaries. Therefore, satellite product assessment was primarily focused on the Algoa bay scale due to the resolution of the available data. SNAP and Matlab were applied for the production of the final products. Accuracy assessment was used to check the agreement between the in situ datasets of chl-a and the final processed satellite products. Results of this investigation point that OCNN did not perform well in the study as compared to OC4Me and it did not produce accurate results in areas with very high biomass concentration. The research concludes by recommending the use of higher resolution data such as Sentinel 2 MSI (10m, 20m, and 60m resolution) for resolving chlorophyll-a within these estuaries.
- Full Text:
- Date Issued: 2019
- Authors: Gwazani, Nothando
- Date: 2019
- Subjects: Chlorophyll -- South Africa Estuaries -- South Africa
- Language: English
- Type: Thesis , Masters , MSc (Applied Remote Sensing & GIS)
- Identifier: http://hdl.handle.net/10353/11972 , vital:39123
- Description: Estuaries are productive and delicate marine systems, which are of commercial, recreational and aesthetic value as they reflect the land use of a catchment by creating “nutrient traps”, these nutrients are absorbed by water and later released into the coastal oceans. Disturbances in an estuary influence a wide variety of habitats and organisms in a marine ecosystem, for example, high chlorophyll-a affects marine species that utilize calm waters, food and turbid water found in estuaries. The degradation of South African estuaries is an on-going accelerating process; therefore, there is a need for preservation measures for estuarine ecosystems by means of monitoring nutrient flow. This research was aimed at assessing the use of OLCI ocean color products in monitoring chl-a concentration and impacts of the estuaries in Algoa Bay. OLCI on the Sentinel platforms, coupled with OCNN and OC4ME algorithms were employed to assess the distribution of chlorophyll-a in Swartkops and Sunday’s estuaries. OC4Me and OCNN are the default models designed for OLCI data. However, the OLCI resolution was not able to measure the chl-a concentration within these estuaries. Therefore, satellite product assessment was primarily focused on the Algoa bay scale due to the resolution of the available data. SNAP and Matlab were applied for the production of the final products. Accuracy assessment was used to check the agreement between the in situ datasets of chl-a and the final processed satellite products. Results of this investigation point that OCNN did not perform well in the study as compared to OC4Me and it did not produce accurate results in areas with very high biomass concentration. The research concludes by recommending the use of higher resolution data such as Sentinel 2 MSI (10m, 20m, and 60m resolution) for resolving chlorophyll-a within these estuaries.
- Full Text:
- Date Issued: 2019