An external evaluation of the effectiveness of the Souns-for-literarcy program in the Knysna and Plettenberg Bay areas
- Authors: Smith, Angelina
- Date: 2015
- Subjects: Educational evaluation -- South Africa -- Western Cape Literacy programs -- South Africa -- Western Cape Early childhood education -- South Africa -- Western Cape
- Language: English
- Type: Thesis , Masters , MEd
- Identifier: http://hdl.handle.net/10948/11157 , vital:26891
- Description: The primary objective of this study was to evaluate the effectiveness of the Souns-for-Literacy program in selected Knysna and Plettenberg Bay pre-schools. This included investigating if there were significant benefits for its recipients and recommending improvements that could be made to the program, particularly in adapting it to fit the South African context. The program claims to build letter-sound associations. In response to evidence gained in the biannual surveys done by KET, it was decided that the program warranted a more formal evaluation. It was later agreed that the evaluation should i) critically examine claims about the effectiveness of the program; ii) analyse the relative value of factors contributing to its effectiveness, such as teachers, implementation practices and the program’s material and methodology, then iii) recommend improvements that cauld be made to the program. The evaluation should also identify insights gained in developing reading skills in pre-school children, specifically in South Africa’s multicultural and multilingual contexts. The total number of schools investigated was 25 (21 pre-schools and 4 primary schools for follow-up purposes). The data collection was primarily through i) interviews with program personnel (mentors, facilitators, teachers and volunteers), ii) observations of the children interacting with the equipment of the program as well as iii) individual, informal and age-appropriate testing of letter-sound association knowledge at the end of the academic year. The findings revealed that: i) the program’s materials and methodology showed ‘highly significant’ benefits to most of its beneficiaries; ii) KET’s support system (including mentors, facilitators and volunteers) was particularly valuable in contributing to the program’s effectiveness; iii) certain adaptations to the sequence of symbol presentation for each language would benefit the children’s word-building capacity; iv)the emergent literacy skill of learning letter-sound knowledge should gain more focus during this pre-school stage.
- Full Text:
- Date Issued: 2015
- Authors: Smith, Angelina
- Date: 2015
- Subjects: Educational evaluation -- South Africa -- Western Cape Literacy programs -- South Africa -- Western Cape Early childhood education -- South Africa -- Western Cape
- Language: English
- Type: Thesis , Masters , MEd
- Identifier: http://hdl.handle.net/10948/11157 , vital:26891
- Description: The primary objective of this study was to evaluate the effectiveness of the Souns-for-Literacy program in selected Knysna and Plettenberg Bay pre-schools. This included investigating if there were significant benefits for its recipients and recommending improvements that could be made to the program, particularly in adapting it to fit the South African context. The program claims to build letter-sound associations. In response to evidence gained in the biannual surveys done by KET, it was decided that the program warranted a more formal evaluation. It was later agreed that the evaluation should i) critically examine claims about the effectiveness of the program; ii) analyse the relative value of factors contributing to its effectiveness, such as teachers, implementation practices and the program’s material and methodology, then iii) recommend improvements that cauld be made to the program. The evaluation should also identify insights gained in developing reading skills in pre-school children, specifically in South Africa’s multicultural and multilingual contexts. The total number of schools investigated was 25 (21 pre-schools and 4 primary schools for follow-up purposes). The data collection was primarily through i) interviews with program personnel (mentors, facilitators, teachers and volunteers), ii) observations of the children interacting with the equipment of the program as well as iii) individual, informal and age-appropriate testing of letter-sound association knowledge at the end of the academic year. The findings revealed that: i) the program’s materials and methodology showed ‘highly significant’ benefits to most of its beneficiaries; ii) KET’s support system (including mentors, facilitators and volunteers) was particularly valuable in contributing to the program’s effectiveness; iii) certain adaptations to the sequence of symbol presentation for each language would benefit the children’s word-building capacity; iv)the emergent literacy skill of learning letter-sound knowledge should gain more focus during this pre-school stage.
- Full Text:
- Date Issued: 2015
Seasonality, behaviour and philopatry of spotted ragged tooth sharks Carcharias taurus in Eastern Cape nursery areas, South Africa
- Smale, Malcolm J, Dicken, Matthew L, Booth, Anthony J
- Authors: Smale, Malcolm J , Dicken, Matthew L , Booth, Anthony J
- Date: 2015
- Language: English
- Type: text , article
- Identifier: http://hdl.handle.net/10962/126672 , vital:35910 , https://doi.10.2989/1814232X.2015.1043342
- Description: Spotted ragged-tooth sharks Carcharias taurus occur along the southern and eastern coasts of South Africa. We report on movements of juveniles and adults within a known nursery area on the Eastern Cape coast using acoustic telemetry. The focus area of the study was Algoa Bay, where six VEMCO VR2 ultrasonic receivers were placed at known shark aggregation sites. An additional receiver was placed at Thunderbolt Reef, approximately 2 km southwest of Cape Recife, the south-western tip of Algoa Bay. Single receivers were also deployed at Port Alfred and East London, some 45 and 170 km north-east of Algoa Bay, respectively. VEMCO acoustic V16 tags were either surgically implanted (n = 37) or attached externally using dart heads (n = 6) between January 2003 and March 2006. Surgically implanted tags were recorded over multiple months and years, whereas external tags were probably lost shortly after tagging because they were detected for very short periods. Sharks moved extensively between the sites and revisited monitored reefs over time-periods of months and years, demonstrating philopatry. Departures from and arrivals at reefs were more frequently recorded at sunset and sunrise, respectively. Sharks were detected throughout the year but they spent more time at aggregation sites during summer and autumn, indicating seasonal abundance in agreement with previous findings. Movements away from study reefs were attributed to either foraging or movements to other reefs. Despite extensive movements around the bay and beyond, both juveniles and adults exhibited philopatry to the study area over multiple years.
- Full Text:
- Date Issued: 2015
- Authors: Smale, Malcolm J , Dicken, Matthew L , Booth, Anthony J
- Date: 2015
- Language: English
- Type: text , article
- Identifier: http://hdl.handle.net/10962/126672 , vital:35910 , https://doi.10.2989/1814232X.2015.1043342
- Description: Spotted ragged-tooth sharks Carcharias taurus occur along the southern and eastern coasts of South Africa. We report on movements of juveniles and adults within a known nursery area on the Eastern Cape coast using acoustic telemetry. The focus area of the study was Algoa Bay, where six VEMCO VR2 ultrasonic receivers were placed at known shark aggregation sites. An additional receiver was placed at Thunderbolt Reef, approximately 2 km southwest of Cape Recife, the south-western tip of Algoa Bay. Single receivers were also deployed at Port Alfred and East London, some 45 and 170 km north-east of Algoa Bay, respectively. VEMCO acoustic V16 tags were either surgically implanted (n = 37) or attached externally using dart heads (n = 6) between January 2003 and March 2006. Surgically implanted tags were recorded over multiple months and years, whereas external tags were probably lost shortly after tagging because they were detected for very short periods. Sharks moved extensively between the sites and revisited monitored reefs over time-periods of months and years, demonstrating philopatry. Departures from and arrivals at reefs were more frequently recorded at sunset and sunrise, respectively. Sharks were detected throughout the year but they spent more time at aggregation sites during summer and autumn, indicating seasonal abundance in agreement with previous findings. Movements away from study reefs were attributed to either foraging or movements to other reefs. Despite extensive movements around the bay and beyond, both juveniles and adults exhibited philopatry to the study area over multiple years.
- Full Text:
- Date Issued: 2015
Identification and documentation of ethnobiological methods used by rural farmers to control stalk borers on maize in the Eastern Cape Province of South Africa
- Authors: Skenjana, Nolitha Leonora
- Date: 2015
- Subjects: Ethnobotany , Stem borers , Biological pest control agents -- South Africa , Corn -- Diseases and pests -- South Africa
- Language: English
- Type: Thesis , Masters , MSc (Ethnobotany)
- Identifier: vital:11312 , http://hdl.handle.net/10353/d1019852 , Ethnobotany , Stem borers , Biological pest control agents -- South Africa , Corn -- Diseases and pests -- South Africa
- Description: Maize contributes substantially to food security in the Eastern Cape province of South Africa. It is a staple food to many of the province’s rural and urban inhabitants. Insect pests are one of the factors that hamper its productivity and as a result, deprive farmers of good yields. The adverse effects of insecticides and the high cost associated with them and the cost of transgenic seeds are some of the challenges faced by small-scale farmers in rural areas. Alternative control methods which include the use of indigenous techniques to control pests are now sought. A study to identify and document ethnobiological means used by rural farmers to manage insect pests of maize was conducted in the rural areas of the Eastern Cape Province. A total of 217 participants were interviewed on the matter, using semi-structured but detailed questionnaires. Rural farmers due to their linkage to agriculture activities and the fact that they are considered as custodians of agricultural indigenous knowledge were selected as respondents. Only maize producing and IsiXhosa speaking people were chosen to contribute. Main focus was on the demography of respondents, crop production activities and insect pest control. Pretesting of the questionnaire in order to assess the appropriateness of questions and comprehension by both farmers and enumerators was done. Data was analysed using descriptive statistics. Fifty five percent (55 %) of the respondents were females and the highest number of participants was from the Chris Hani District Municipality. Majority of the people were unemployed or pensioners. Most had only attended primary school and the mean age was 59 years. Apart from maize, respondents were cultivating other crops such as cabbage, Swiss chard, potatoes etc. Stalk borers followed by cutworms were the main pests of maize in these areas. Respondents used mainly insecticides, followed by alternative substances, which also included cultural control methods such as planting date manipulation. Few respondents used plants as control agents for insect pests. Some people did not control pests even though they were a problem in their fields. The most used plant was Chenopodium ambrosiodes L, while the most used substance was Madubula (a detergent). The most used insecticide was carbaryl from the carbamite family. Respondents listed different preparation techniques for all the control methods mentioned. These techniques revealed different times of preparation, quantities of ingredients, amounts applied on plants, modes of application and intervals of application. Rural farmers in the study areas used different atypical methods which may play a significant role in pest management today. Some of the products may have a positive influence on agriculture, while some are dangerous to humans and environmental health. Further research which will investigate their potential use in pest control needs to be done.
- Full Text:
- Date Issued: 2015
- Authors: Skenjana, Nolitha Leonora
- Date: 2015
- Subjects: Ethnobotany , Stem borers , Biological pest control agents -- South Africa , Corn -- Diseases and pests -- South Africa
- Language: English
- Type: Thesis , Masters , MSc (Ethnobotany)
- Identifier: vital:11312 , http://hdl.handle.net/10353/d1019852 , Ethnobotany , Stem borers , Biological pest control agents -- South Africa , Corn -- Diseases and pests -- South Africa
- Description: Maize contributes substantially to food security in the Eastern Cape province of South Africa. It is a staple food to many of the province’s rural and urban inhabitants. Insect pests are one of the factors that hamper its productivity and as a result, deprive farmers of good yields. The adverse effects of insecticides and the high cost associated with them and the cost of transgenic seeds are some of the challenges faced by small-scale farmers in rural areas. Alternative control methods which include the use of indigenous techniques to control pests are now sought. A study to identify and document ethnobiological means used by rural farmers to manage insect pests of maize was conducted in the rural areas of the Eastern Cape Province. A total of 217 participants were interviewed on the matter, using semi-structured but detailed questionnaires. Rural farmers due to their linkage to agriculture activities and the fact that they are considered as custodians of agricultural indigenous knowledge were selected as respondents. Only maize producing and IsiXhosa speaking people were chosen to contribute. Main focus was on the demography of respondents, crop production activities and insect pest control. Pretesting of the questionnaire in order to assess the appropriateness of questions and comprehension by both farmers and enumerators was done. Data was analysed using descriptive statistics. Fifty five percent (55 %) of the respondents were females and the highest number of participants was from the Chris Hani District Municipality. Majority of the people were unemployed or pensioners. Most had only attended primary school and the mean age was 59 years. Apart from maize, respondents were cultivating other crops such as cabbage, Swiss chard, potatoes etc. Stalk borers followed by cutworms were the main pests of maize in these areas. Respondents used mainly insecticides, followed by alternative substances, which also included cultural control methods such as planting date manipulation. Few respondents used plants as control agents for insect pests. Some people did not control pests even though they were a problem in their fields. The most used plant was Chenopodium ambrosiodes L, while the most used substance was Madubula (a detergent). The most used insecticide was carbaryl from the carbamite family. Respondents listed different preparation techniques for all the control methods mentioned. These techniques revealed different times of preparation, quantities of ingredients, amounts applied on plants, modes of application and intervals of application. Rural farmers in the study areas used different atypical methods which may play a significant role in pest management today. Some of the products may have a positive influence on agriculture, while some are dangerous to humans and environmental health. Further research which will investigate their potential use in pest control needs to be done.
- Full Text:
- Date Issued: 2015
An exploration of business level strategy at the bottom of the pyramid: a case study of Twizza, Eastern Cape
- Authors: Sityoshwana, Ludwe Lusu
- Date: 2015
- Language: English
- Type: text , Thesis , Masters , MBA
- Identifier: http://hdl.handle.net/10962/54486 , vital:26569
- Description: This qualitative study focuses on business level strategy adopted by Twizza to compete in the bottom of the pyramid market in the Eastern Cape, South Africa. Twizza enjoyed huge success between the years 2010 - 2014 as a medium to large sized manufacturer of carbonated soft drinks in the Eastern Cape. In light of this, the current study seeks to answer the following: What business level strategy did top management at Twizza adopt to compete and grow in the BoP market in the Eastern Cape, South Africa? The study takes the form of a case study to explore and understand the patterns of decisions adopted by Twizza’s top management in competing at the bottom of the pyramid. As such, the main objective of the study was to identify the business level strategy adopted by Twizza which enabled their superior performance within the BoP market. The study adopts Porter`s typology to explore business level strategy. Stratified, purposive sampling was used to identify 4 top managers as participants in this study. A total of 7, semi-structured, interviews were used to collect critical incidents from top management of Twizza. This was the primary data used in this study. This type of data was combined with relevant information which was gathered via published press articles and on-line commentary. The study found that central to Twizza’s business strategy were four pillars, namely, strict control and management of manufacturing costs, product quality equal to that of market leaders, the ability of the organisation to manufacture its own raw materials and ability to ensure product availability to the market to the market. These findings reveal that Twizza employed a hybrid strategy, anchored by cost leadership. Thus, Twizza incorporated elements of differentiation and best value strategies to offer its customers affordable quality.
- Full Text:
- Date Issued: 2015
- Authors: Sityoshwana, Ludwe Lusu
- Date: 2015
- Language: English
- Type: text , Thesis , Masters , MBA
- Identifier: http://hdl.handle.net/10962/54486 , vital:26569
- Description: This qualitative study focuses on business level strategy adopted by Twizza to compete in the bottom of the pyramid market in the Eastern Cape, South Africa. Twizza enjoyed huge success between the years 2010 - 2014 as a medium to large sized manufacturer of carbonated soft drinks in the Eastern Cape. In light of this, the current study seeks to answer the following: What business level strategy did top management at Twizza adopt to compete and grow in the BoP market in the Eastern Cape, South Africa? The study takes the form of a case study to explore and understand the patterns of decisions adopted by Twizza’s top management in competing at the bottom of the pyramid. As such, the main objective of the study was to identify the business level strategy adopted by Twizza which enabled their superior performance within the BoP market. The study adopts Porter`s typology to explore business level strategy. Stratified, purposive sampling was used to identify 4 top managers as participants in this study. A total of 7, semi-structured, interviews were used to collect critical incidents from top management of Twizza. This was the primary data used in this study. This type of data was combined with relevant information which was gathered via published press articles and on-line commentary. The study found that central to Twizza’s business strategy were four pillars, namely, strict control and management of manufacturing costs, product quality equal to that of market leaders, the ability of the organisation to manufacture its own raw materials and ability to ensure product availability to the market to the market. These findings reveal that Twizza employed a hybrid strategy, anchored by cost leadership. Thus, Twizza incorporated elements of differentiation and best value strategies to offer its customers affordable quality.
- Full Text:
- Date Issued: 2015
Exploration status for oxide and sulphide zinc ores at Skorpion Zinc Mine, Namibia
- Authors: Sitoka, Stefanus
- Date: 2015
- Subjects: Scorpion Zinc Mine (Namibia) , Zinc ores , Oxide minerals , Sulfide minerals , Zinc mines and mining -- Namibia , Prospecting -- Namibia
- Language: English
- Type: Thesis , Masters , MSc
- Identifier: vital:5087 , http://hdl.handle.net/10962/d1018204
- Description: The thesis is inspired by recent interests in oxide zinc ores caused by new developments in the technology of hydrometallurgy. The improved techniques turned the non-sulphide zinc ores in to attractive exploration targets due to a number of advantages such as low metal recovery costs and favorable environmental aspects such as the obvious absence of sulfur (Large, 2001). Historically extraction of zinc metal from oxide ores was not possible until recently. The metallurgical complexity resulted in a lack of interest and hence some economic oxide zinc ores might have been missed by conventional exploration techniques. The study presents a review of exploration status at Skorpion mine based on different exploration techniques and their application to sulphide and oxide zinc ore exploration. The challenge facing the mineral exploration industry today is the inability to detect mineral deposits under cover. Therefore a key to successful exploration program lies in the selection of the right exploration technique. Important parameters that should be highlighted in the exploration methodology are the geological situation of an area, equipment applicability and effectiveness, survey limitation, equipment mobilization and the safety aspects involved. The aim of this thesis is to provide a general guideline for sulphide and non-sulphide zinc ore exploration on the Skorpion area and other similar geological environments. Geochemical surveys appears to be more complimentary in exploration of non-sulphide zinc exploration. Although geochemical techniques are preferred, it is equally important to choose the right soil horizon. Furthermore, sample media may mean the difference between success and failure in geochemical exploration of non-sulphide zinc mineralization, due to high mobility of zinc in the surficial environment. On cost comparison, surface geochemical surveys programs are more cost effective except for litho-geochemical sampling which are commonly carried out through subsurface drilling. Geophysical techniques have limited application in exploration of non-sulphide zinc mineralization due to a lack of major physical properties (e.g., magnetic and electrical properties) in non-sulphides unlike their sulphide counterparts. However geophysical methods are commendable in delineating massive and disseminated sulphides mainly if they are associated with major Fe minerals (pyrrhotite or magnetite). In addition, geophysical techniques may be effective in mapping of subsurface primary and secondary structures such as basin faults which might have acted as pathways for metal-rich fluids. Terms non-sulphide and oxide zinc mineralization are used interchangeably throughout the thesis. Recommendations on regional and local target generation are presented in the thesis to give some basic guide lines on target generation strategies. The most important conclusion reached in this study is that, success in exploration for non-sulphide or sulphide zinc mineralization might be enhanced through the integrated exploration methodology.
- Full Text:
- Date Issued: 2015
- Authors: Sitoka, Stefanus
- Date: 2015
- Subjects: Scorpion Zinc Mine (Namibia) , Zinc ores , Oxide minerals , Sulfide minerals , Zinc mines and mining -- Namibia , Prospecting -- Namibia
- Language: English
- Type: Thesis , Masters , MSc
- Identifier: vital:5087 , http://hdl.handle.net/10962/d1018204
- Description: The thesis is inspired by recent interests in oxide zinc ores caused by new developments in the technology of hydrometallurgy. The improved techniques turned the non-sulphide zinc ores in to attractive exploration targets due to a number of advantages such as low metal recovery costs and favorable environmental aspects such as the obvious absence of sulfur (Large, 2001). Historically extraction of zinc metal from oxide ores was not possible until recently. The metallurgical complexity resulted in a lack of interest and hence some economic oxide zinc ores might have been missed by conventional exploration techniques. The study presents a review of exploration status at Skorpion mine based on different exploration techniques and their application to sulphide and oxide zinc ore exploration. The challenge facing the mineral exploration industry today is the inability to detect mineral deposits under cover. Therefore a key to successful exploration program lies in the selection of the right exploration technique. Important parameters that should be highlighted in the exploration methodology are the geological situation of an area, equipment applicability and effectiveness, survey limitation, equipment mobilization and the safety aspects involved. The aim of this thesis is to provide a general guideline for sulphide and non-sulphide zinc ore exploration on the Skorpion area and other similar geological environments. Geochemical surveys appears to be more complimentary in exploration of non-sulphide zinc exploration. Although geochemical techniques are preferred, it is equally important to choose the right soil horizon. Furthermore, sample media may mean the difference between success and failure in geochemical exploration of non-sulphide zinc mineralization, due to high mobility of zinc in the surficial environment. On cost comparison, surface geochemical surveys programs are more cost effective except for litho-geochemical sampling which are commonly carried out through subsurface drilling. Geophysical techniques have limited application in exploration of non-sulphide zinc mineralization due to a lack of major physical properties (e.g., magnetic and electrical properties) in non-sulphides unlike their sulphide counterparts. However geophysical methods are commendable in delineating massive and disseminated sulphides mainly if they are associated with major Fe minerals (pyrrhotite or magnetite). In addition, geophysical techniques may be effective in mapping of subsurface primary and secondary structures such as basin faults which might have acted as pathways for metal-rich fluids. Terms non-sulphide and oxide zinc mineralization are used interchangeably throughout the thesis. Recommendations on regional and local target generation are presented in the thesis to give some basic guide lines on target generation strategies. The most important conclusion reached in this study is that, success in exploration for non-sulphide or sulphide zinc mineralization might be enhanced through the integrated exploration methodology.
- Full Text:
- Date Issued: 2015
Termination of the contract of employment not constituting dismissal
- Authors: Sipuka, Sibongile
- Date: 2015
- Subjects: Employees -- Dismissal of -- Law and legislation -- South Africa , Labor discipline -- Law and legislation -- South Africa , Unfair labor practices -- South Africa
- Language: English
- Type: Thesis , Masters , LLM
- Identifier: vital:10258 , http://hdl.handle.net/10948/d1021152
- Description: Section 23 of the Constitution provides that everyone has a right to fair labour practice. The constitutional right to fair labour practices includes the right not to be unfairly dismissed and is given effect to by section 185 of the LRA. The constitutional right not to be unfairly dismissed is given effect to by Chapter VIII of the Labour Relations Act 66 of 1995 (the LRA), which provides a remedy for an unfair dismissal. Schedule 8 of the LRA contains a “Code of Good Practice: Dismissal”, which the Commission for Conciliation, Mediation and Arbitration (the CCMA) and the Labour Courts must take into account when determining the fairness of a dismissal. The LRA expressly recognises three grounds for termination of the employment contract namely; misconduct on the part of the employee, incapacity due to an employee’s poor work performance, ill health or injury and termination due an employer’s operational requirements. In terms of the LRA, a dismissal must be procedurally and substantively fair. The requirements for procedural and substantive fairness are contained in Schedule 8 of the Code of Good Practice: Dismissal. The provisions of section 185 of the LRA apply to all employers and employees in both the public and the private sectors, with the exception of members of the National Defence Force, the National Intelligence Agency, the South African Secret Service and the South African National Academy of Intelligence. Section 213 of the LRA defines an “employee” as any person, excluding an independent contractor, who works for another person or for the State and who receives, or is entitled to receive, any remuneration and any person who in any manner assists in carrying out or conducting the business of an employer. Section 200A of the LRA sets out the presumption as to who is an employee. This is a guideline to assist in determining who is an employee The Basic Conditions of Employment Act 75 of 1997 (the BCEA) sets minimum terms and conditions of employment including the notice of termination of employment. Under the common law an employment contract of employment can be terminated on either the expiration of the agreed period of employment or on completion of the specified task in cases of fixed-term contracts. Also, in terms of general contract principles an employment contract may be terminated by notice duly given by either party or by summary termination in the event of a material breach on the part of either party. The death of either party may terminate the employment contract. However, the death of an employer will not necessarily lead to the contract’s termination. An employment contract may also terminate by operation of law or effluxion of time namely retirement and coming into being of fixed-term contracts, by mutual agreement, employee resigning, due to insolvency of the employer and due to supervening impossibility of performance. In the circumstances indicated above, the termination of the contract of employment does not constitute dismissal. This means that the CCMA and the Labour Court do not have jurisdiction to determine should the employee allege that his or her dismissal was unfair. It has been argued that the instances where a termination of a contract of employment is terminated, but there is no dismissal should be scrutinised to avoid a situation where employees are deprived of protection afforded by the fundamental right not to be unfairly dismissed. There have been some instances where employment contracts contain clauses that provide for automatic termination of employment contracts. It has been held by the courts in various decisions that such clauses are against public policy and thus invalid. The Labour Court stated that a contractual device that renders the termination of a contract something other than a dismissal is exactly the exploitation the LRA prohibits There are various court decisions providing guidelines of circumstances in which termination of employment may be regarded as not constituting dismissal. The main focus of the treatise is to discuss these instances and critically analyse the approach taken by forums like the CCMA, bargaining councils and the Labour Court in dealing with such instances
- Full Text:
- Date Issued: 2015
- Authors: Sipuka, Sibongile
- Date: 2015
- Subjects: Employees -- Dismissal of -- Law and legislation -- South Africa , Labor discipline -- Law and legislation -- South Africa , Unfair labor practices -- South Africa
- Language: English
- Type: Thesis , Masters , LLM
- Identifier: vital:10258 , http://hdl.handle.net/10948/d1021152
- Description: Section 23 of the Constitution provides that everyone has a right to fair labour practice. The constitutional right to fair labour practices includes the right not to be unfairly dismissed and is given effect to by section 185 of the LRA. The constitutional right not to be unfairly dismissed is given effect to by Chapter VIII of the Labour Relations Act 66 of 1995 (the LRA), which provides a remedy for an unfair dismissal. Schedule 8 of the LRA contains a “Code of Good Practice: Dismissal”, which the Commission for Conciliation, Mediation and Arbitration (the CCMA) and the Labour Courts must take into account when determining the fairness of a dismissal. The LRA expressly recognises three grounds for termination of the employment contract namely; misconduct on the part of the employee, incapacity due to an employee’s poor work performance, ill health or injury and termination due an employer’s operational requirements. In terms of the LRA, a dismissal must be procedurally and substantively fair. The requirements for procedural and substantive fairness are contained in Schedule 8 of the Code of Good Practice: Dismissal. The provisions of section 185 of the LRA apply to all employers and employees in both the public and the private sectors, with the exception of members of the National Defence Force, the National Intelligence Agency, the South African Secret Service and the South African National Academy of Intelligence. Section 213 of the LRA defines an “employee” as any person, excluding an independent contractor, who works for another person or for the State and who receives, or is entitled to receive, any remuneration and any person who in any manner assists in carrying out or conducting the business of an employer. Section 200A of the LRA sets out the presumption as to who is an employee. This is a guideline to assist in determining who is an employee The Basic Conditions of Employment Act 75 of 1997 (the BCEA) sets minimum terms and conditions of employment including the notice of termination of employment. Under the common law an employment contract of employment can be terminated on either the expiration of the agreed period of employment or on completion of the specified task in cases of fixed-term contracts. Also, in terms of general contract principles an employment contract may be terminated by notice duly given by either party or by summary termination in the event of a material breach on the part of either party. The death of either party may terminate the employment contract. However, the death of an employer will not necessarily lead to the contract’s termination. An employment contract may also terminate by operation of law or effluxion of time namely retirement and coming into being of fixed-term contracts, by mutual agreement, employee resigning, due to insolvency of the employer and due to supervening impossibility of performance. In the circumstances indicated above, the termination of the contract of employment does not constitute dismissal. This means that the CCMA and the Labour Court do not have jurisdiction to determine should the employee allege that his or her dismissal was unfair. It has been argued that the instances where a termination of a contract of employment is terminated, but there is no dismissal should be scrutinised to avoid a situation where employees are deprived of protection afforded by the fundamental right not to be unfairly dismissed. There have been some instances where employment contracts contain clauses that provide for automatic termination of employment contracts. It has been held by the courts in various decisions that such clauses are against public policy and thus invalid. The Labour Court stated that a contractual device that renders the termination of a contract something other than a dismissal is exactly the exploitation the LRA prohibits There are various court decisions providing guidelines of circumstances in which termination of employment may be regarded as not constituting dismissal. The main focus of the treatise is to discuss these instances and critically analyse the approach taken by forums like the CCMA, bargaining councils and the Labour Court in dealing with such instances
- Full Text:
- Date Issued: 2015
Termination of the contract of employment not constituting dismissal
- Sipuka, Sibongile, Supervisor details
- Authors: Sipuka, Sibongile , Supervisor details
- Date: 2015
- Subjects: Employees -- Dismissal of -- Law and legislation -- South Africa , Labor discipline -- Law and legislation -- South Africa , Unfair labor practices -- South Africa
- Language: English
- Type: Thesis , Masters , LLM
- Identifier: http://hdl.handle.net/10948/4811 , vital:20701
- Description: Section 23 of the Constitution provides that everyone has a right to fair labour practice. The constitutional right to fair labour practices includes the right not to be unfairly dismissed and is given effect to by section 185 of the LRA. The constitutional right not to be unfairly dismissed is given effect to by Chapter VIII of the Labour Relations Act 66 of 1995 (the LRA), which provides a remedy for an unfair dismissal. Schedule 8 of the LRA contains a “Code of Good Practice: Dismissal”, which the Commission for Conciliation, Mediation and Arbitration (the CCMA) and the Labour Courts must take into account when determining the fairness of a dismissal. The LRA expressly recognises three grounds for termination of the employment contract namely; misconduct on the part of the employee, incapacity due to an employee’s poor work performance, ill health or injury and termination due an employer’s operational requirements. In terms of the LRA, a dismissal must be procedurally and substantively fair. The requirements for procedural and substantive fairness are contained in Schedule 8 of the Code of Good Practice: Dismissal. The provisions of section 185 of the LRA apply to all employers and employees in both the public and the private sectors, with the exception of members of the National Defence Force, the National Intelligence Agency, the South African Secret Service and the South African National Academy of Intelligence. Section 213 of the LRA defines an “employee” as any person, excluding an independent contractor, who works for another person or for the State and who receives, or is entitled to receive, any remuneration and any person who in any manner assists in carrying out or conducting the business of an employer. Section 200A of the LRA sets out the presumption as to who is an employee. This is a guideline to assist in determining who is an employee. The Basic Conditions of Employment Act 75 of 1997 (the BCEA) sets minimum terms and conditions of employment including the notice of termination of employment. Under the common law an employment contract of employment can be terminated on either the expiration of the agreed period of employment or on completion of the specified task in cases of fixed-term contracts. Also, in terms of general contract principles an employment contract may be terminated by notice duly given by either party or by summary termination in the event of a material breach on the part of either party. The death of either party may terminate the employment contract. However, the death of an employer will not necessarily lead to the contract’s termination. An employment contract may also terminate by operation of law or effluxion of time namely retirement and coming into being of fixed-term contracts, by mutual agreement, employee resigning, due to insolvency of the employer and due to supervening impossibility of performance. In the circumstances indicated above, the termination of the contract of employment does not constitute dismissal. This means that the CCMA and the Labour Court do not have jurisdiction to determine should the employee allege that his or her dismissal was unfair. It has been argued that the instances where a termination of a contract of employment is terminated, but there is no dismissal should be scrutinised to avoid a situation where employees are deprived of protection afforded by the fundamental right not to be unfairly dismissed. There have been some instances where employment contracts contain clauses that provide for automatic termination of employment contracts. It has been held by the courts in various decisions that such clauses are against public policy and thus invalid. The Labour Court stated that a contractual device that renders the termination of a contract something other than a dismissal is exactly the exploitation the LRA prohibits. There are various court decisions providing guidelines of circumstances in which termination of employment may be regarded as not constituting dismissal. The main focus of the treatise is to discuss these instances and critically analyse the approach taken by forums like the CCMA, bargaining councils and the Labour Court in dealing with such instances.
- Full Text:
- Date Issued: 2015
- Authors: Sipuka, Sibongile , Supervisor details
- Date: 2015
- Subjects: Employees -- Dismissal of -- Law and legislation -- South Africa , Labor discipline -- Law and legislation -- South Africa , Unfair labor practices -- South Africa
- Language: English
- Type: Thesis , Masters , LLM
- Identifier: http://hdl.handle.net/10948/4811 , vital:20701
- Description: Section 23 of the Constitution provides that everyone has a right to fair labour practice. The constitutional right to fair labour practices includes the right not to be unfairly dismissed and is given effect to by section 185 of the LRA. The constitutional right not to be unfairly dismissed is given effect to by Chapter VIII of the Labour Relations Act 66 of 1995 (the LRA), which provides a remedy for an unfair dismissal. Schedule 8 of the LRA contains a “Code of Good Practice: Dismissal”, which the Commission for Conciliation, Mediation and Arbitration (the CCMA) and the Labour Courts must take into account when determining the fairness of a dismissal. The LRA expressly recognises three grounds for termination of the employment contract namely; misconduct on the part of the employee, incapacity due to an employee’s poor work performance, ill health or injury and termination due an employer’s operational requirements. In terms of the LRA, a dismissal must be procedurally and substantively fair. The requirements for procedural and substantive fairness are contained in Schedule 8 of the Code of Good Practice: Dismissal. The provisions of section 185 of the LRA apply to all employers and employees in both the public and the private sectors, with the exception of members of the National Defence Force, the National Intelligence Agency, the South African Secret Service and the South African National Academy of Intelligence. Section 213 of the LRA defines an “employee” as any person, excluding an independent contractor, who works for another person or for the State and who receives, or is entitled to receive, any remuneration and any person who in any manner assists in carrying out or conducting the business of an employer. Section 200A of the LRA sets out the presumption as to who is an employee. This is a guideline to assist in determining who is an employee. The Basic Conditions of Employment Act 75 of 1997 (the BCEA) sets minimum terms and conditions of employment including the notice of termination of employment. Under the common law an employment contract of employment can be terminated on either the expiration of the agreed period of employment or on completion of the specified task in cases of fixed-term contracts. Also, in terms of general contract principles an employment contract may be terminated by notice duly given by either party or by summary termination in the event of a material breach on the part of either party. The death of either party may terminate the employment contract. However, the death of an employer will not necessarily lead to the contract’s termination. An employment contract may also terminate by operation of law or effluxion of time namely retirement and coming into being of fixed-term contracts, by mutual agreement, employee resigning, due to insolvency of the employer and due to supervening impossibility of performance. In the circumstances indicated above, the termination of the contract of employment does not constitute dismissal. This means that the CCMA and the Labour Court do not have jurisdiction to determine should the employee allege that his or her dismissal was unfair. It has been argued that the instances where a termination of a contract of employment is terminated, but there is no dismissal should be scrutinised to avoid a situation where employees are deprived of protection afforded by the fundamental right not to be unfairly dismissed. There have been some instances where employment contracts contain clauses that provide for automatic termination of employment contracts. It has been held by the courts in various decisions that such clauses are against public policy and thus invalid. The Labour Court stated that a contractual device that renders the termination of a contract something other than a dismissal is exactly the exploitation the LRA prohibits. There are various court decisions providing guidelines of circumstances in which termination of employment may be regarded as not constituting dismissal. The main focus of the treatise is to discuss these instances and critically analyse the approach taken by forums like the CCMA, bargaining councils and the Labour Court in dealing with such instances.
- Full Text:
- Date Issued: 2015
An analysis of policy implementation on HIV and AIDS in pregnant women : a case study of Lukhanji sub-district Municipality in the Eastern Cape Province in South Africa
- Authors: Sinyanya, Yoliswa
- Date: 2015
- Subjects: AIDS (Disease) in pregnancy -- Government policy -- South Africa -- Eastern Cape , HIV infections -- Government policy -- South Africa -- Eastern Cape , HIV-positive women -- South Africa -- Eastern Cape
- Language: English
- Type: Thesis , Masters , MPA
- Identifier: http://hdl.handle.net/10353/2282 , vital:27747
- Description: This research was conducted with the aim to evaluate the policy interventions on HIV and AIDS in pregnant women in the Lukhanji sub district of Chris Hani District Municipality. The study would also propose policy improvement strategies towards curbing the spread of HIV and AIDS in pregnant women. In realizing these goals, the entire research process was guided by the research objectives and questions which sought to evaluate policies and strategies relevant to HIV prevalence in pregnant women. The secondary research objectives were accomplished through the review and analysis of the relevant literature and theories. Qualitative research approach was used in determining the findings and conclusions from the study. Data was collected using qualitative research methods and in this case a structured questionnaire was developed and distributed to the study participants. The Questionnaires were handed and discussed with each participant. Demographics, socioeconomic and cultural factors were considered in designing the data collection tool. These factors are known to have an impact on the prevalence of HIV. It has been shown through the study that demographic variables have an effect on HIV prevalence. Hence when considering policy interventions these should be taken into account. All the respondents were given enough time and they provided clear and comprehensive responses to the questionnaire and follow up discussions. The evaluation of the responses showed that various HIV prevention related policies are being implemented within the Lukhanji sub-district. Numerous programmes relating to HIV and AIDS, also specifically covering pregnant women are being rolled out across the sub-district. HIV prevalence in the study population is rated as average to low when comparing with the district, provincial and national statistics. Current data obtained from the study indicates that HIV prevalence stands at 17%. This finding demonstrates the heterogeneity of HIV prevalence when comparing this result with current provincial and national statistics. Evaluation of the different HIV and AIDS programmes that are aligned to provincial and national policy somehow explain the positive outcomes observed in the Lukhanji sub-district The study recommends that more work be done in reaching out to the communities using various communication channels and strategies. This could address the challenges associated with the lack of cooperation with local traditional leaders, because this has been found to have a negative impact on implementation of some programmes such as circumcision. One of the positive findings from the study is the accessibility of health care facilities to the local rural communities. Further research on the subject should be undertaken to ensure continuous evaluation as this topic is viewed as a continuous global issue.
- Full Text:
- Date Issued: 2015
- Authors: Sinyanya, Yoliswa
- Date: 2015
- Subjects: AIDS (Disease) in pregnancy -- Government policy -- South Africa -- Eastern Cape , HIV infections -- Government policy -- South Africa -- Eastern Cape , HIV-positive women -- South Africa -- Eastern Cape
- Language: English
- Type: Thesis , Masters , MPA
- Identifier: http://hdl.handle.net/10353/2282 , vital:27747
- Description: This research was conducted with the aim to evaluate the policy interventions on HIV and AIDS in pregnant women in the Lukhanji sub district of Chris Hani District Municipality. The study would also propose policy improvement strategies towards curbing the spread of HIV and AIDS in pregnant women. In realizing these goals, the entire research process was guided by the research objectives and questions which sought to evaluate policies and strategies relevant to HIV prevalence in pregnant women. The secondary research objectives were accomplished through the review and analysis of the relevant literature and theories. Qualitative research approach was used in determining the findings and conclusions from the study. Data was collected using qualitative research methods and in this case a structured questionnaire was developed and distributed to the study participants. The Questionnaires were handed and discussed with each participant. Demographics, socioeconomic and cultural factors were considered in designing the data collection tool. These factors are known to have an impact on the prevalence of HIV. It has been shown through the study that demographic variables have an effect on HIV prevalence. Hence when considering policy interventions these should be taken into account. All the respondents were given enough time and they provided clear and comprehensive responses to the questionnaire and follow up discussions. The evaluation of the responses showed that various HIV prevention related policies are being implemented within the Lukhanji sub-district. Numerous programmes relating to HIV and AIDS, also specifically covering pregnant women are being rolled out across the sub-district. HIV prevalence in the study population is rated as average to low when comparing with the district, provincial and national statistics. Current data obtained from the study indicates that HIV prevalence stands at 17%. This finding demonstrates the heterogeneity of HIV prevalence when comparing this result with current provincial and national statistics. Evaluation of the different HIV and AIDS programmes that are aligned to provincial and national policy somehow explain the positive outcomes observed in the Lukhanji sub-district The study recommends that more work be done in reaching out to the communities using various communication channels and strategies. This could address the challenges associated with the lack of cooperation with local traditional leaders, because this has been found to have a negative impact on implementation of some programmes such as circumcision. One of the positive findings from the study is the accessibility of health care facilities to the local rural communities. Further research on the subject should be undertaken to ensure continuous evaluation as this topic is viewed as a continuous global issue.
- Full Text:
- Date Issued: 2015
The impact of decentralisation on participatory development in the Nsanje district of Malawi
- Simwaka, Rodin Rams Kapelele Atughanire
- Authors: Simwaka, Rodin Rams Kapelele Atughanire
- Date: 2015
- Subjects: Community development -- Malawi , Decentralization in government -- Malawi
- Language: English
- Type: Thesis , Masters , MA
- Identifier: vital:9255 , http://hdl.handle.net/10948/d1021206
- Description: This research investigated the impact of decentralisation on participatory development in the Nsanje District of Malawi from 2009 to 2014. Existing challenges in realising effective participation were identified by acquiring information from documents at three spheres of government, namely local, district and national. The literature explains decentralisation and local government; the theories of state-local relations; the nature, types and determinants of participation; the legislative framework of local government; and decentralisation reforms being implemented in Malawi. A descriptive approach was used in the study, with the emphasis on collecting data from primary sources such as minutes, reports, newspapers, and secondary sources such as the District Council and local government department records, books, academic journals, completed and unpublished post-graduate research theses, and legislation. From the acquired information, a number of recommendations are made to deal with various challenges faced to achieve effective participatory development in the District.
- Full Text:
- Date Issued: 2015
- Authors: Simwaka, Rodin Rams Kapelele Atughanire
- Date: 2015
- Subjects: Community development -- Malawi , Decentralization in government -- Malawi
- Language: English
- Type: Thesis , Masters , MA
- Identifier: vital:9255 , http://hdl.handle.net/10948/d1021206
- Description: This research investigated the impact of decentralisation on participatory development in the Nsanje District of Malawi from 2009 to 2014. Existing challenges in realising effective participation were identified by acquiring information from documents at three spheres of government, namely local, district and national. The literature explains decentralisation and local government; the theories of state-local relations; the nature, types and determinants of participation; the legislative framework of local government; and decentralisation reforms being implemented in Malawi. A descriptive approach was used in the study, with the emphasis on collecting data from primary sources such as minutes, reports, newspapers, and secondary sources such as the District Council and local government department records, books, academic journals, completed and unpublished post-graduate research theses, and legislation. From the acquired information, a number of recommendations are made to deal with various challenges faced to achieve effective participatory development in the District.
- Full Text:
- Date Issued: 2015
Rise and fall of apartheid: photography and the bureaucracy of everyday life
- Authors: Simbao, Ruth Kerkham, 1969-
- Date: 2015
- Language: English
- Type: text , article
- Identifier: http://hdl.handle.net/10962/125910 , vital:35831 , https://doi.10.1080/02533952.2014.998052
- Description: The exhibition catalogue Rise and Fall of Apartheid is a valuable collection of photographic images that create, according to Enwezor, “a critical visualization and interrogation of […] [apartheid’s] normative symbols, signs and representation” (18). The catalogue focuses on African subjects as “agents of their own emancipation” (18), and contextualises South Africa’s anticipation of the end of apartheid within broader global changes in the late 1980s. Essays by Okwui Enwezor, Michael Godby, Achille Mbembe, Darren Newbury, Colin Richards, Patricia Hayes, Andries Walter Olifant, Rory Bester and Khwezi Gule are included in the catalogue, and are interspersed between photographic images that are grouped in chronological clusters: 1948–1959; 1960–1969; 1970–1979; 1980–1989; and 1990–1995.
- Full Text:
- Date Issued: 2015
- Authors: Simbao, Ruth Kerkham, 1969-
- Date: 2015
- Language: English
- Type: text , article
- Identifier: http://hdl.handle.net/10962/125910 , vital:35831 , https://doi.10.1080/02533952.2014.998052
- Description: The exhibition catalogue Rise and Fall of Apartheid is a valuable collection of photographic images that create, according to Enwezor, “a critical visualization and interrogation of […] [apartheid’s] normative symbols, signs and representation” (18). The catalogue focuses on African subjects as “agents of their own emancipation” (18), and contextualises South Africa’s anticipation of the end of apartheid within broader global changes in the late 1980s. Essays by Okwui Enwezor, Michael Godby, Achille Mbembe, Darren Newbury, Colin Richards, Patricia Hayes, Andries Walter Olifant, Rory Bester and Khwezi Gule are included in the catalogue, and are interspersed between photographic images that are grouped in chronological clusters: 1948–1959; 1960–1969; 1970–1979; 1980–1989; and 1990–1995.
- Full Text:
- Date Issued: 2015
Blind spots: trickery and the'opaque stickiness' of seeing
- Authors: Simbao, Ruth K
- Date: 2015
- Language: English
- Type: text , article
- Identifier: http://hdl.handle.net/10962/147303 , vital:38624 , https://0-hdl.handle.net.wam.seals.ac.za/10520/EJC176319
- Description: In a flash the spot will disappear, and in its place - and this is the interesting thing - there is nothing. According to experimental psychology, the eye does not fill in the blind spot, but tricks us into thinking that it has been filled. The blind spot is pure absence of vision, and cannot be experienced at all. The blind spot is an invisible absence : an absence whose invisibility is itself invisible (Elkins 1996 : 170).
- Full Text:
- Date Issued: 2015
- Authors: Simbao, Ruth K
- Date: 2015
- Language: English
- Type: text , article
- Identifier: http://hdl.handle.net/10962/147303 , vital:38624 , https://0-hdl.handle.net.wam.seals.ac.za/10520/EJC176319
- Description: In a flash the spot will disappear, and in its place - and this is the interesting thing - there is nothing. According to experimental psychology, the eye does not fill in the blind spot, but tricks us into thinking that it has been filled. The blind spot is pure absence of vision, and cannot be experienced at all. The blind spot is an invisible absence : an absence whose invisibility is itself invisible (Elkins 1996 : 170).
- Full Text:
- Date Issued: 2015
What "global art" and current (re)turns fail to see: a modest counter-narrative of "not-another-biennial"
- Authors: Simbao, Ruth K
- Date: 2015
- Language: English
- Type: text , article
- Identifier: http://hdl.handle.net/10962/147314 , vital:38625 , https://0-hdl.handle.net.wam.seals.ac.za/10520/EJC176315
- Description: What is the scope of "global art" and who drives its framing within the current climate of 'corporate globalization' (Demos 2009 : 7, emphasis in original)? In what ways do the recent global turn and curatorial turn underwrite meaningful global inclusivity and visibility, and to what degree does this globally shared art constitute mutuality? Does "global art", including the accompanying process of biennialisation, allow for local narratives in a way that seriously accounts for a geopolitical view of contemporary art in the twenty-first century? While the inclusion of "new art worlds" in what Belting, Buddensieg and Weibel (2013) term "global art" is framed as a democratisation of contemporary art and the demise of the western art canon, it is important to raise questions regarding the blind spots of this supposedly global, post-1989 expansion.
- Full Text:
- Date Issued: 2015
- Authors: Simbao, Ruth K
- Date: 2015
- Language: English
- Type: text , article
- Identifier: http://hdl.handle.net/10962/147314 , vital:38625 , https://0-hdl.handle.net.wam.seals.ac.za/10520/EJC176315
- Description: What is the scope of "global art" and who drives its framing within the current climate of 'corporate globalization' (Demos 2009 : 7, emphasis in original)? In what ways do the recent global turn and curatorial turn underwrite meaningful global inclusivity and visibility, and to what degree does this globally shared art constitute mutuality? Does "global art", including the accompanying process of biennialisation, allow for local narratives in a way that seriously accounts for a geopolitical view of contemporary art in the twenty-first century? While the inclusion of "new art worlds" in what Belting, Buddensieg and Weibel (2013) term "global art" is framed as a democratisation of contemporary art and the demise of the western art canon, it is important to raise questions regarding the blind spots of this supposedly global, post-1989 expansion.
- Full Text:
- Date Issued: 2015
The influence of people-centred leadership styles on owners's job satisfation and perceived financial performance : an SME perspective
- Authors: Silwana, Hlumela Zukiswa
- Date: 2015
- Subjects: Leadership , Job satisfaction , Business enterprises
- Language: English
- Type: Thesis , Masters , MCom
- Identifier: vital:9307 , http://hdl.handle.net/10948/d1018511
- Description: It is well supported in the literature that a positive relationship exists between effective leadership and business success. Given the importance of SMEs in South Africa, their large numbers, and the extent to which they positively influence the economy of the country, it is important to study leadership behaviour in the context of small and medium-sized businesses in an attempt to reduce their high failure rates. More specifically a need has been identified to research, develop, and implement more ethical and relational leadership styles among business owners. The focus of this study is therefore on several people-centred leadership styles, and their influence on selected outcomes among the owners of small and medium-sized businesses. Against this background, the primary objective is to assess the level of Servant, Authentic, Ethical and Participative leadership exhibited by SME owners in the Eastern Cape, and to establish whether exhibiting these people-centred leadership styles influences their Job satisfaction and the Perceived financial performance of their businesses. A quantitative research paradigm was adopted for this study. More specifically, an explanatory and descriptive study of a cross-sectional nature was undertaken. A comprehensive literature study was conducted using existing secondary sources. The primary data collection procedures involved selecting the population, the sample, and the sampling method, as well as the sample size for the study. For the purpose of this study, the population consisted of all small and medium-sized business owners operating businesses within the boundaries of the Eastern Cape Province. A sample of 500 of these businesses was selected by means of convenience sampling. In total 246 usable questionnaires were returned, on which to undertake the statistical analyses. A survey was undertaken, and a structured, self-administered questionnaire was used to gather the necessary data. The scales for measuring the constructs under investigation were developed based on previous research. To assess the validity of the scales measuring the constructs in this study, an exploratory factor analysis was undertaken, and its reliability was tested by calculating Cronbach’s alpha coefficients. Statistical analysis included descriptive statistics, Pearson’s product moment correlation, regression analyses (simple and multiple) and analyses of variance. Five usable factors were extracted from the exploratory factor analysis; these corresponded with the theoretical dimensions of Participative leadership, Perceived financial performance, Ethical leadership, Servant leadership, and Job satisfaction. The items measuring Authentic leadership did not load as expected, and this construct was thus no longer included in empirical testing in this study. Satisfactory evidence of validity and reliability were provided for the other factors extracted. The independent variables reported mean scores of between 3.760 and 4.548, with the majority of respondents agreeing with the statements measuring these leadership styles. The dependent variables Job satisfaction and Perceived financial performance returned mean scores of 4.508 and 3.962 respectively, with the majority of the respondents agreeing with the statements measuring these factors. All the independent variables (Servant leadership, Ethical leadership and Participative leadership) reported significant and positive relationships with each another. The correlation between the dependent variables (Perceived financial performance and Job satisfaction) was found to reflect a moderate positive association. Job satisfaction and Perceived financial performance both reported significantly positive associations with all the independent variables. The simple regression analyses undertaken revealed a significant positive linear relationship between Perceived financial performance and Job satisfaction, as well as between Perceived financial performance and the Job satisfaction of SME owners. The multiple regression analysis undertaken revealed that significant positive linear relationships existed between two independent variables, Servant leadership and Ethical leadership, and the dependent variable Job satisfaction. A significant positive linear relationship was also reported between Ethical leadership and Perceived financial performance. No relationships were found between the independent variables Servant leadership and Participative leadership and the dependent variable Perceived financial performance. No relationship was found between the independent variable Participative leadership and the dependent variable Job satisfaction. The analysis of variance results revealed that Gender, Qualification and the Nature of the business exerted a significant influence on Servant leadership. The results also showed that Generation exerted a significant influence on the perceived level of Ethical leadership displayed by the SME owner. In addition, the findings of the present study showed that the demographic variable Nature of the business exerted a significant influence on Participative leadership. Investigating leadership styles among SMEs is a topic of significance and growing interest among researchers. Given the importance of SMEs to the economies of countries, investigating factors that influence their success is vital. The findings of this study showed that by adopting more people-centred leadership styles, the job satisfaction of SME owners was increased, and the financial performance of their businesses improved. It is hoped that the findings of this study will provide SME owners with practical suggestions on how to increase their levels of job satisfaction and the financial performance of their businesses, and that the suggestions for future research will inspire future researchers to further investigate the issue of leadership among SMEs.
- Full Text:
- Date Issued: 2015
- Authors: Silwana, Hlumela Zukiswa
- Date: 2015
- Subjects: Leadership , Job satisfaction , Business enterprises
- Language: English
- Type: Thesis , Masters , MCom
- Identifier: vital:9307 , http://hdl.handle.net/10948/d1018511
- Description: It is well supported in the literature that a positive relationship exists between effective leadership and business success. Given the importance of SMEs in South Africa, their large numbers, and the extent to which they positively influence the economy of the country, it is important to study leadership behaviour in the context of small and medium-sized businesses in an attempt to reduce their high failure rates. More specifically a need has been identified to research, develop, and implement more ethical and relational leadership styles among business owners. The focus of this study is therefore on several people-centred leadership styles, and their influence on selected outcomes among the owners of small and medium-sized businesses. Against this background, the primary objective is to assess the level of Servant, Authentic, Ethical and Participative leadership exhibited by SME owners in the Eastern Cape, and to establish whether exhibiting these people-centred leadership styles influences their Job satisfaction and the Perceived financial performance of their businesses. A quantitative research paradigm was adopted for this study. More specifically, an explanatory and descriptive study of a cross-sectional nature was undertaken. A comprehensive literature study was conducted using existing secondary sources. The primary data collection procedures involved selecting the population, the sample, and the sampling method, as well as the sample size for the study. For the purpose of this study, the population consisted of all small and medium-sized business owners operating businesses within the boundaries of the Eastern Cape Province. A sample of 500 of these businesses was selected by means of convenience sampling. In total 246 usable questionnaires were returned, on which to undertake the statistical analyses. A survey was undertaken, and a structured, self-administered questionnaire was used to gather the necessary data. The scales for measuring the constructs under investigation were developed based on previous research. To assess the validity of the scales measuring the constructs in this study, an exploratory factor analysis was undertaken, and its reliability was tested by calculating Cronbach’s alpha coefficients. Statistical analysis included descriptive statistics, Pearson’s product moment correlation, regression analyses (simple and multiple) and analyses of variance. Five usable factors were extracted from the exploratory factor analysis; these corresponded with the theoretical dimensions of Participative leadership, Perceived financial performance, Ethical leadership, Servant leadership, and Job satisfaction. The items measuring Authentic leadership did not load as expected, and this construct was thus no longer included in empirical testing in this study. Satisfactory evidence of validity and reliability were provided for the other factors extracted. The independent variables reported mean scores of between 3.760 and 4.548, with the majority of respondents agreeing with the statements measuring these leadership styles. The dependent variables Job satisfaction and Perceived financial performance returned mean scores of 4.508 and 3.962 respectively, with the majority of the respondents agreeing with the statements measuring these factors. All the independent variables (Servant leadership, Ethical leadership and Participative leadership) reported significant and positive relationships with each another. The correlation between the dependent variables (Perceived financial performance and Job satisfaction) was found to reflect a moderate positive association. Job satisfaction and Perceived financial performance both reported significantly positive associations with all the independent variables. The simple regression analyses undertaken revealed a significant positive linear relationship between Perceived financial performance and Job satisfaction, as well as between Perceived financial performance and the Job satisfaction of SME owners. The multiple regression analysis undertaken revealed that significant positive linear relationships existed between two independent variables, Servant leadership and Ethical leadership, and the dependent variable Job satisfaction. A significant positive linear relationship was also reported between Ethical leadership and Perceived financial performance. No relationships were found between the independent variables Servant leadership and Participative leadership and the dependent variable Perceived financial performance. No relationship was found between the independent variable Participative leadership and the dependent variable Job satisfaction. The analysis of variance results revealed that Gender, Qualification and the Nature of the business exerted a significant influence on Servant leadership. The results also showed that Generation exerted a significant influence on the perceived level of Ethical leadership displayed by the SME owner. In addition, the findings of the present study showed that the demographic variable Nature of the business exerted a significant influence on Participative leadership. Investigating leadership styles among SMEs is a topic of significance and growing interest among researchers. Given the importance of SMEs to the economies of countries, investigating factors that influence their success is vital. The findings of this study showed that by adopting more people-centred leadership styles, the job satisfaction of SME owners was increased, and the financial performance of their businesses improved. It is hoped that the findings of this study will provide SME owners with practical suggestions on how to increase their levels of job satisfaction and the financial performance of their businesses, and that the suggestions for future research will inspire future researchers to further investigate the issue of leadership among SMEs.
- Full Text:
- Date Issued: 2015
Understanding Grade 10 Life Sciences teachers’ perceptions and experiences of teaching topics on human reproduction
- Authors: Silas, Fenni
- Date: 2015
- Subjects: Life sciences -- Study and teaching (Secondary) , Human reproduction -- Cross-cultural studies , Human reproduction -- Social aspects -- Namibia -- Ohangwena , Ohangwena (Namibia) -- Moral conditions , Taboo -- Namibia -- Ohangwena
- Language: English
- Type: Thesis , Masters , MEd
- Identifier: vital:2062 , http://hdl.handle.net/10962/d1020305
- Description: This study was conducted in order to understand Grade 10 Life Science teachers’ perceptions and experiences of teaching human reproduction topics in the Ohangwena political region in the northern part of Namibia. It also explored how the culture of the majority of the inhabitants of Ohangwena region who are Oshiwambo speaking impacts the teaching of human reproduction topics. The study was prompted by the fact that the Grade 10 Life Science syllabus requires learners to learn details of human reproduction although in Oshiwambo culture such things are not discussed openly. And this section has proven to be one of the poorly answered sections in the Grade 10 national examinations. A total of thirty five (35) Grade 10 Life Science teachers participated in this study. It is a qualitative case study underpinned by an interpretive paradigm. The unit of analysis for this study was teachers’ perceptions and experiences of teaching the topic of human reproduction. Data were generated through document analysis, questionnaires and tape recorded semi-structured interviews. Such data were analysed inductively by sorting them into categories and then into emerging themes. Categories included teachers’ views and experiences of being taught and teaching human reproduction, how culture influenced the manner in which teaching and learning of human reproduction takes place as stated in the socio-cultural theory, and how teachers of different gender perceived and experienced the teaching of human reproduction according to the feminist standpoint theory. The emerging themes were colour coded and then developed into analytical statements. Data triangulation, member checking, and follow up interviews ensured data validity and trustworthiness. This study revealed that the cultural belief of the Owambo people that prohibits adults to talk to children about things related to sex because it encourages them to practice sex is still strong among individuals in the community including teachers themselves. As a result, teachers are not comfortable with teaching human reproduction topics. From the findings, it is recommended that teachers should be empowered to teach Life Science, specifically human reproduction topics, with confidence. Furthermore, parents should be made aware of the importance of including human reproduction topics in the school curriculum so that they can motivate their children to study it with an open mind.
- Full Text:
- Date Issued: 2015
- Authors: Silas, Fenni
- Date: 2015
- Subjects: Life sciences -- Study and teaching (Secondary) , Human reproduction -- Cross-cultural studies , Human reproduction -- Social aspects -- Namibia -- Ohangwena , Ohangwena (Namibia) -- Moral conditions , Taboo -- Namibia -- Ohangwena
- Language: English
- Type: Thesis , Masters , MEd
- Identifier: vital:2062 , http://hdl.handle.net/10962/d1020305
- Description: This study was conducted in order to understand Grade 10 Life Science teachers’ perceptions and experiences of teaching human reproduction topics in the Ohangwena political region in the northern part of Namibia. It also explored how the culture of the majority of the inhabitants of Ohangwena region who are Oshiwambo speaking impacts the teaching of human reproduction topics. The study was prompted by the fact that the Grade 10 Life Science syllabus requires learners to learn details of human reproduction although in Oshiwambo culture such things are not discussed openly. And this section has proven to be one of the poorly answered sections in the Grade 10 national examinations. A total of thirty five (35) Grade 10 Life Science teachers participated in this study. It is a qualitative case study underpinned by an interpretive paradigm. The unit of analysis for this study was teachers’ perceptions and experiences of teaching the topic of human reproduction. Data were generated through document analysis, questionnaires and tape recorded semi-structured interviews. Such data were analysed inductively by sorting them into categories and then into emerging themes. Categories included teachers’ views and experiences of being taught and teaching human reproduction, how culture influenced the manner in which teaching and learning of human reproduction takes place as stated in the socio-cultural theory, and how teachers of different gender perceived and experienced the teaching of human reproduction according to the feminist standpoint theory. The emerging themes were colour coded and then developed into analytical statements. Data triangulation, member checking, and follow up interviews ensured data validity and trustworthiness. This study revealed that the cultural belief of the Owambo people that prohibits adults to talk to children about things related to sex because it encourages them to practice sex is still strong among individuals in the community including teachers themselves. As a result, teachers are not comfortable with teaching human reproduction topics. From the findings, it is recommended that teachers should be empowered to teach Life Science, specifically human reproduction topics, with confidence. Furthermore, parents should be made aware of the importance of including human reproduction topics in the school curriculum so that they can motivate their children to study it with an open mind.
- Full Text:
- Date Issued: 2015
The diets of co-occuring anurans in a small South African river: assessments using stomach contents, stable isotope ratios and fatty acid profiles
- Authors: Sikutshwa, Likho
- Date: 2015
- Language: English
- Type: text , Thesis , Masters , MSc
- Identifier: http://hdl.handle.net/10962/54405 , vital:26562
- Description: During their life cycle amphibians change their habitat and feeding, and are important consumers in both terrestrial and aquatic habitats. The trophic ecology of anurans has been studied intensively using gut content analysis, but very little work has been done using biochemical techniques such as stable isotope and fatty acid analyses. These biochemical techniques produce data that allow for additional inferences about the trophic ecology of anurans, as they reveal what the organisms assimilated over time rather than what was recently ingested. The investigation of the feeding ecology and trophic interactions of anurans using gut content analyses together with stable isotope and fatty acid analyses will help us to better understand their ecological roles. The objective of this thesis was to assess the feeding ecology of four anurans (Amietia angolensis, Amietophyrnus rangeri, Strongylopus grayii and Xenopus laevis) in a temperate river using a combination of gut content, stable isotope and fatty acid analyses. Frogs, tadpoles and potential food sources were sampled in two sites (upstream and downstream) in the Kowie River, Eastern Cape Province, South Africa. Gut content analyses identified 147 prey items belonging to 12 prey orders in the stomachs of the sampled specimens. In both A. angolensis and S. grayii the most important prey category was Coleoptera, followed by Hemiptera, Diptera and Hymenoptera at both sites. Aquatic prey items (aquatic hemipterans, chirinomids and blackflies) were the most important food sources for X. laevis (Alimentary Index (IAi) = 6.4; 5.2; 4.2). In Am. rangeri, Hymenoptera was the most important prey category (IAi = 8.3). The trophic niche overlap between A. angolensis and S. grayii was biologically significant (> 0.6), and in the remaining species there was no significant trophic niche overlap. Amietia angolensis showed a larger trophic niche (Levin’s measure; B = 7.7 and Bst = 0.84 downstream, and upstream B = 7.6 (Bst = 0.82) compared to the other species. The gut content analyses showed that frogs feed on a variety of prey items that constitutes food sources from both aquatic and terrestrial habitats. Stable isotopes indicated that aquatic derived sources contributed significantly more towards the diets of X. laevis, A. angolensis tadpoles and S. grayii tadpoles compared with the other anurans, whereas aquatic and terrestrial derived food sources contributed equally to the diets of A. angolensis and S. grayii. Increased trophic positions in A. angolensis and S. grayii occurred throughout their development. The four different species had similar fatty acid profiles in the upstream region, and fairly similar δ13C values, suggesting that they probably consumed similar food. Fatty acid profiles of anurans in the downstream region showed distinct separations among the species. Tadpoles had high levels of diatom-associated fatty acids (20:5ω3; A. angolensis tadpole – 8.4 %, S. grayii tadpole – 9.4 % upstream and downstream; 9.1 and 6.1 % total fatty acids (TFA), respectively). All four species had substantial contributions from bacterial fatty acids, and large proportions of saturated fatty acids (30.6 - 50.0 %) including those with 14 and 18 carbons, indicating that bacterial and detritus food sources played an important role in their diets. The fatty acid profiles revealed high proportions of polyunsaturated fatty acids (PUFAs) and essential fatty acids (EFAs) in all species, indicating a good quality of food and that the quality of food consumed was similar among species. The results demonstrated the usefulness of a combination of traditional techniques (gut content techniques) and biochemical techniques (stable isotopes and fatty acid analysis) for assessing consumption and assimilation. The amphibian assemblages examined derived much of their energy from terrestrial and aquatic sources. This information will allow more precise and comprehensive assessments of trophic interactions in freshwater habitats, along with aiding in future amphibian conservation and management efforts.
- Full Text:
- Date Issued: 2015
- Authors: Sikutshwa, Likho
- Date: 2015
- Language: English
- Type: text , Thesis , Masters , MSc
- Identifier: http://hdl.handle.net/10962/54405 , vital:26562
- Description: During their life cycle amphibians change their habitat and feeding, and are important consumers in both terrestrial and aquatic habitats. The trophic ecology of anurans has been studied intensively using gut content analysis, but very little work has been done using biochemical techniques such as stable isotope and fatty acid analyses. These biochemical techniques produce data that allow for additional inferences about the trophic ecology of anurans, as they reveal what the organisms assimilated over time rather than what was recently ingested. The investigation of the feeding ecology and trophic interactions of anurans using gut content analyses together with stable isotope and fatty acid analyses will help us to better understand their ecological roles. The objective of this thesis was to assess the feeding ecology of four anurans (Amietia angolensis, Amietophyrnus rangeri, Strongylopus grayii and Xenopus laevis) in a temperate river using a combination of gut content, stable isotope and fatty acid analyses. Frogs, tadpoles and potential food sources were sampled in two sites (upstream and downstream) in the Kowie River, Eastern Cape Province, South Africa. Gut content analyses identified 147 prey items belonging to 12 prey orders in the stomachs of the sampled specimens. In both A. angolensis and S. grayii the most important prey category was Coleoptera, followed by Hemiptera, Diptera and Hymenoptera at both sites. Aquatic prey items (aquatic hemipterans, chirinomids and blackflies) were the most important food sources for X. laevis (Alimentary Index (IAi) = 6.4; 5.2; 4.2). In Am. rangeri, Hymenoptera was the most important prey category (IAi = 8.3). The trophic niche overlap between A. angolensis and S. grayii was biologically significant (> 0.6), and in the remaining species there was no significant trophic niche overlap. Amietia angolensis showed a larger trophic niche (Levin’s measure; B = 7.7 and Bst = 0.84 downstream, and upstream B = 7.6 (Bst = 0.82) compared to the other species. The gut content analyses showed that frogs feed on a variety of prey items that constitutes food sources from both aquatic and terrestrial habitats. Stable isotopes indicated that aquatic derived sources contributed significantly more towards the diets of X. laevis, A. angolensis tadpoles and S. grayii tadpoles compared with the other anurans, whereas aquatic and terrestrial derived food sources contributed equally to the diets of A. angolensis and S. grayii. Increased trophic positions in A. angolensis and S. grayii occurred throughout their development. The four different species had similar fatty acid profiles in the upstream region, and fairly similar δ13C values, suggesting that they probably consumed similar food. Fatty acid profiles of anurans in the downstream region showed distinct separations among the species. Tadpoles had high levels of diatom-associated fatty acids (20:5ω3; A. angolensis tadpole – 8.4 %, S. grayii tadpole – 9.4 % upstream and downstream; 9.1 and 6.1 % total fatty acids (TFA), respectively). All four species had substantial contributions from bacterial fatty acids, and large proportions of saturated fatty acids (30.6 - 50.0 %) including those with 14 and 18 carbons, indicating that bacterial and detritus food sources played an important role in their diets. The fatty acid profiles revealed high proportions of polyunsaturated fatty acids (PUFAs) and essential fatty acids (EFAs) in all species, indicating a good quality of food and that the quality of food consumed was similar among species. The results demonstrated the usefulness of a combination of traditional techniques (gut content techniques) and biochemical techniques (stable isotopes and fatty acid analysis) for assessing consumption and assimilation. The amphibian assemblages examined derived much of their energy from terrestrial and aquatic sources. This information will allow more precise and comprehensive assessments of trophic interactions in freshwater habitats, along with aiding in future amphibian conservation and management efforts.
- Full Text:
- Date Issued: 2015
The effectiveness of risk mangement in local government with reference to the Nelson Mandela Bay Minicipality
- Authors: Sihlali, Siphosihle
- Date: 2015
- Subjects: Risk management -- South Africa -- Nelson Mandela Bay Municipality
- Language: English
- Type: Thesis , Masters , MCom
- Identifier: http://hdl.handle.net/10948/4407 , vital:20596
- Description: In the 1960s, risk management primarily took the form of purchased insurance against force majeure events. Today, many corporate executives are worried about not only these types of events but also many others (Mair and Cendrowski, 2009:3). “People risks” versus environmental risks, financial risks and technical risks are examples of risks that are often overlooked. People risks include, succession planning (this refers to identifying and developing key talent) and competency and skills building (dealing with employees that do not have requisite skills for success), (William & Paul, 2007:4). Massingham (2010:464) mentions that corporate disasters, such as the collapse of Enron, have increased the need for effective corporate governance, while catastrophic natural disasters, man-made tragedies such as the September 11 terrorist attacks and tsunami of 2004, have increased risk awareness as well as its consequences.
- Full Text:
- Date Issued: 2015
- Authors: Sihlali, Siphosihle
- Date: 2015
- Subjects: Risk management -- South Africa -- Nelson Mandela Bay Municipality
- Language: English
- Type: Thesis , Masters , MCom
- Identifier: http://hdl.handle.net/10948/4407 , vital:20596
- Description: In the 1960s, risk management primarily took the form of purchased insurance against force majeure events. Today, many corporate executives are worried about not only these types of events but also many others (Mair and Cendrowski, 2009:3). “People risks” versus environmental risks, financial risks and technical risks are examples of risks that are often overlooked. People risks include, succession planning (this refers to identifying and developing key talent) and competency and skills building (dealing with employees that do not have requisite skills for success), (William & Paul, 2007:4). Massingham (2010:464) mentions that corporate disasters, such as the collapse of Enron, have increased the need for effective corporate governance, while catastrophic natural disasters, man-made tragedies such as the September 11 terrorist attacks and tsunami of 2004, have increased risk awareness as well as its consequences.
- Full Text:
- Date Issued: 2015
An in-silico investigation of Morita-Baylis-Hillman accessible heterocyclic analogues for applications as novel HIV-1 C protease inhibitors
- Authors: Sigauke, Lester Takunda
- Date: 2015
- Subjects: Protease inhibitors , Heterocyclic compounds , HIV (Viruses) , HIV infections , Drug resistance , Cheminformatics
- Language: English
- Type: Thesis , Masters , MSc
- Identifier: vital:4152 , http://hdl.handle.net/10962/d1017913
- Description: Cheminformatic approaches have been employed to optimize the bis-coumarin scaffold identified by Onywera et al. (2012) as a potential hit against the protease HIV-1 protein. The Open Babel library of commands was used to access functions that were incorporated into a markov chain recursive program that generated 17750 analogues of the bis-coumarin scaffold. The Morita-Baylis-Hillman accessible heterocycles were used to introduce structural diversity within the virtual library. In silico high through-put virtual screening using AutoDock Vina was used to rapidly screen the virtual library ligand set against 61 protease models built by Onywera et al. (2012). CheS-Mapper computed a principle component analysis of the compounds based on 13 selected chemical descriptors. The compounds were plotted against the principle component analysis within a 3 dimensional chemical space in order to inspect the diversity of the virtual library. The physicochemical properties and binding affinities were used to identify the top 3 performing ligands. ACPYPE was used to inspect the constitutional properties and eliminated virtual compounds that possessed open valences. Chromene based ligand 805 and ligand 6610 were selected as the lead candidates from the high-throughput virtual screening procedure we employed. Molecular dynamic simulations of the lead candidates performed for 5 ns allowed the stability of the ligand protein complexes with protease model 305152. The free energy of binding of the leads with protease model 305152 was computed over the first 50 ps of simulation using the molecular mechanics Poisson-Boltzmann method. Analysis structural features and energy profiles from molecular dynamic simulations of the protein–ligand complexes indicated that although ligand 805 had a weaker binding affinity in terms of docking, it outperformed ligand 6610 in terms of complex stability and free energy of binding. Medicinal chemistry approaches will be used to optimize the lead candidates before their analogues will be synthesized and assayed for in vivo protease activity.
- Full Text:
- Date Issued: 2015
- Authors: Sigauke, Lester Takunda
- Date: 2015
- Subjects: Protease inhibitors , Heterocyclic compounds , HIV (Viruses) , HIV infections , Drug resistance , Cheminformatics
- Language: English
- Type: Thesis , Masters , MSc
- Identifier: vital:4152 , http://hdl.handle.net/10962/d1017913
- Description: Cheminformatic approaches have been employed to optimize the bis-coumarin scaffold identified by Onywera et al. (2012) as a potential hit against the protease HIV-1 protein. The Open Babel library of commands was used to access functions that were incorporated into a markov chain recursive program that generated 17750 analogues of the bis-coumarin scaffold. The Morita-Baylis-Hillman accessible heterocycles were used to introduce structural diversity within the virtual library. In silico high through-put virtual screening using AutoDock Vina was used to rapidly screen the virtual library ligand set against 61 protease models built by Onywera et al. (2012). CheS-Mapper computed a principle component analysis of the compounds based on 13 selected chemical descriptors. The compounds were plotted against the principle component analysis within a 3 dimensional chemical space in order to inspect the diversity of the virtual library. The physicochemical properties and binding affinities were used to identify the top 3 performing ligands. ACPYPE was used to inspect the constitutional properties and eliminated virtual compounds that possessed open valences. Chromene based ligand 805 and ligand 6610 were selected as the lead candidates from the high-throughput virtual screening procedure we employed. Molecular dynamic simulations of the lead candidates performed for 5 ns allowed the stability of the ligand protein complexes with protease model 305152. The free energy of binding of the leads with protease model 305152 was computed over the first 50 ps of simulation using the molecular mechanics Poisson-Boltzmann method. Analysis structural features and energy profiles from molecular dynamic simulations of the protein–ligand complexes indicated that although ligand 805 had a weaker binding affinity in terms of docking, it outperformed ligand 6610 in terms of complex stability and free energy of binding. Medicinal chemistry approaches will be used to optimize the lead candidates before their analogues will be synthesized and assayed for in vivo protease activity.
- Full Text:
- Date Issued: 2015
Structural studies on yeast eIF5A using biomolecular NMR and molecular dynamics
- Authors: Sigauke, Lester Takunda
- Date: 2015
- Subjects: Molecular dynamics , Reverse transcriptase , HIV (Viruses) , HIV infections , Eukaryotic cells , Yeast
- Language: English
- Type: Thesis , Masters , MSc
- Identifier: vital:4547 , http://hdl.handle.net/10962/d1017927
- Description: Eukaryotic initiation factor 5A, eIF5A, is a ubiquitous eukaryotic protein that has been shown to influence the translation initiation of a specific subset of mRNAs. It is the only protein known to undergo hypusination in a two-step post translational modification process involving deoxyhypusine synthase (DHS) and deoxyhypusine hydroxylase (DOHH) enzymes. Hypusination has been shown to influence translation of HIV-1 and HTLV-1 nuclear export signals, while the involvement of active hypusinated eIF5A in induction of IRES mediated processes that initiate pro-apoptotic process have inspired studies into the manipulation of eIF5A in anti-cancer and anti-diabetic therapies. eIF5A oligomerisation in eukaryotic systems has been shown to be influenced by hypusination and the mechanism of dimerisation is RNA dependent. Nuclear magnetic resonance spectroscopy approaches were proposed to solve the structure of the hypusinated eIF5A in solution in order to understand the influence of hypusination on the monomeric arrangement which enhances dimerisation and activates the protein. Cleavage of the 18 kDa protein monomer by introduction of thrombin cleavage site within the flexible domain was thought to give rise to 10 kDa fragments accessible to a 600 MHz NMR spectrometer. Heteronuclear single quantum correlation experiments of the mutated isotopically labelled protein expressed in E. coli showed that the eIF5A protein with a thrombin cleavage insert, eIF5AThr (eIF5A subscript Thr), was unfolded. In silico investigations of the behaviour of eIF5A and eIF5AThr (eIF5A subscript Thr) models in solution using molecular dynamics showed that the mutated model had different solution dynamics to the native model. Chemical shift predictors were used to extract atomic resolution data of solution dynamics and the introduction of rigidity in the flexible loop region of eIF5A affected solution behaviour consistent with lack of in vivo function of eIF5AThr (eIF5A subscript Thr) in yeast. Residual dipolar coupling and T₁ relaxation times were calculated in anticipation of the extraction of experimental data from RDC and relaxation dispersion experiments based on HSQC measurable restraints.
- Full Text:
- Date Issued: 2015
- Authors: Sigauke, Lester Takunda
- Date: 2015
- Subjects: Molecular dynamics , Reverse transcriptase , HIV (Viruses) , HIV infections , Eukaryotic cells , Yeast
- Language: English
- Type: Thesis , Masters , MSc
- Identifier: vital:4547 , http://hdl.handle.net/10962/d1017927
- Description: Eukaryotic initiation factor 5A, eIF5A, is a ubiquitous eukaryotic protein that has been shown to influence the translation initiation of a specific subset of mRNAs. It is the only protein known to undergo hypusination in a two-step post translational modification process involving deoxyhypusine synthase (DHS) and deoxyhypusine hydroxylase (DOHH) enzymes. Hypusination has been shown to influence translation of HIV-1 and HTLV-1 nuclear export signals, while the involvement of active hypusinated eIF5A in induction of IRES mediated processes that initiate pro-apoptotic process have inspired studies into the manipulation of eIF5A in anti-cancer and anti-diabetic therapies. eIF5A oligomerisation in eukaryotic systems has been shown to be influenced by hypusination and the mechanism of dimerisation is RNA dependent. Nuclear magnetic resonance spectroscopy approaches were proposed to solve the structure of the hypusinated eIF5A in solution in order to understand the influence of hypusination on the monomeric arrangement which enhances dimerisation and activates the protein. Cleavage of the 18 kDa protein monomer by introduction of thrombin cleavage site within the flexible domain was thought to give rise to 10 kDa fragments accessible to a 600 MHz NMR spectrometer. Heteronuclear single quantum correlation experiments of the mutated isotopically labelled protein expressed in E. coli showed that the eIF5A protein with a thrombin cleavage insert, eIF5AThr (eIF5A subscript Thr), was unfolded. In silico investigations of the behaviour of eIF5A and eIF5AThr (eIF5A subscript Thr) models in solution using molecular dynamics showed that the mutated model had different solution dynamics to the native model. Chemical shift predictors were used to extract atomic resolution data of solution dynamics and the introduction of rigidity in the flexible loop region of eIF5A affected solution behaviour consistent with lack of in vivo function of eIF5AThr (eIF5A subscript Thr) in yeast. Residual dipolar coupling and T₁ relaxation times were calculated in anticipation of the extraction of experimental data from RDC and relaxation dispersion experiments based on HSQC measurable restraints.
- Full Text:
- Date Issued: 2015
Informed Interdependence: A model for collaboration in fostering communicative competencies in a Commerce curriculum
- Siebörger, Ian, van der Merwe, Kristin, Adendorff, Ralph D
- Authors: Siebörger, Ian , van der Merwe, Kristin , Adendorff, Ralph D
- Date: 2015
- Language: English
- Type: text , article
- Identifier: http://hdl.handle.net/10962/124822 , vital:35700 , https://doi.org/10.2989/16073614.2015.1023502
- Description: The current orthodoxy among academics in higher education studies is that content and language learning should be integrated in order to facilitate communicative competencies in degrees seeking to prepare students for business and professions such as accounting, engineering and pharmacy. Content and Language Integrated Learning (CLIL) has been well-theorised and its goals are laudable; however, we contend that a one-size-fits-all solution of complete integration is not the most practicable or pedagogically-sound option in all contexts. Instead, we argue that establishing relationships of Informed Interdependence between content and language courses may offer greater benefits in specific contexts. This argument may appear counterintuitive, but we believe it has significant insights to add to the continuing dialogue around the use of CLIL. Accordingly, we describe a Professional Communication course at Rhodes University and then outline how we have responded to changes in our context through a process of engagement which led to a new course, namely, Professional Communication for Accountants, and recurriculation of the original Professional Communication course. In reporting on this process we foreground the importance of suitable boundary objects and discursive spaces around which interdisciplinary collaboration can occur. We provide staff and student reactions to a pilot project designed to test the curricular innovations made thus far, and conclude by reflecting on the efficacy of an Informed Interdependence model in our context.
- Full Text:
- Date Issued: 2015
- Authors: Siebörger, Ian , van der Merwe, Kristin , Adendorff, Ralph D
- Date: 2015
- Language: English
- Type: text , article
- Identifier: http://hdl.handle.net/10962/124822 , vital:35700 , https://doi.org/10.2989/16073614.2015.1023502
- Description: The current orthodoxy among academics in higher education studies is that content and language learning should be integrated in order to facilitate communicative competencies in degrees seeking to prepare students for business and professions such as accounting, engineering and pharmacy. Content and Language Integrated Learning (CLIL) has been well-theorised and its goals are laudable; however, we contend that a one-size-fits-all solution of complete integration is not the most practicable or pedagogically-sound option in all contexts. Instead, we argue that establishing relationships of Informed Interdependence between content and language courses may offer greater benefits in specific contexts. This argument may appear counterintuitive, but we believe it has significant insights to add to the continuing dialogue around the use of CLIL. Accordingly, we describe a Professional Communication course at Rhodes University and then outline how we have responded to changes in our context through a process of engagement which led to a new course, namely, Professional Communication for Accountants, and recurriculation of the original Professional Communication course. In reporting on this process we foreground the importance of suitable boundary objects and discursive spaces around which interdisciplinary collaboration can occur. We provide staff and student reactions to a pilot project designed to test the curricular innovations made thus far, and conclude by reflecting on the efficacy of an Informed Interdependence model in our context.
- Full Text:
- Date Issued: 2015
Resemiotising concerns from constituencies in the South African parliament
- Siebörger, Ian, Adendorff, Ralph D
- Authors: Siebörger, Ian , Adendorff, Ralph D
- Date: 2015
- Subjects: To be catalogued
- Language: English
- Type: text , article
- Identifier: http://hdl.handle.net/10962/385362 , vital:68011 , xlink:href="https://doi.org/10.2989/16073614.2015.1061892"
- Description: Members of Parliament (MPs) in South Africa represent different constituencies across the country. In this article, we report on how MPs resemiotise concerns from their constituencies in spoken discourse in a parliamentary committee, and on the effectiveness with which this informa- tion is in turn resemiotised into a written committee report. Both resemiotisations form part of a genre chain which we investigated while conducting a linguistic ethnography of the communica- tion difficulties which occur in parliament's committee process. We use a multi-stranded theoretical foundation, including tools from Systemic Functional Linguistics, Interactional Sociolinguistics and Legitimation Code Theory to analyse MPs’ ability to communicate concerns from their constituen- cies in parliamentary discourse. We conclude that the success of MPs’ resemiotisations of these concerns depends on their ability to rescale them as relevant on a national level, and on their ability to negotiate the power relations at play in parliament.
- Full Text:
- Date Issued: 2015
- Authors: Siebörger, Ian , Adendorff, Ralph D
- Date: 2015
- Subjects: To be catalogued
- Language: English
- Type: text , article
- Identifier: http://hdl.handle.net/10962/385362 , vital:68011 , xlink:href="https://doi.org/10.2989/16073614.2015.1061892"
- Description: Members of Parliament (MPs) in South Africa represent different constituencies across the country. In this article, we report on how MPs resemiotise concerns from their constituencies in spoken discourse in a parliamentary committee, and on the effectiveness with which this informa- tion is in turn resemiotised into a written committee report. Both resemiotisations form part of a genre chain which we investigated while conducting a linguistic ethnography of the communica- tion difficulties which occur in parliament's committee process. We use a multi-stranded theoretical foundation, including tools from Systemic Functional Linguistics, Interactional Sociolinguistics and Legitimation Code Theory to analyse MPs’ ability to communicate concerns from their constituen- cies in parliamentary discourse. We conclude that the success of MPs’ resemiotisations of these concerns depends on their ability to rescale them as relevant on a national level, and on their ability to negotiate the power relations at play in parliament.
- Full Text:
- Date Issued: 2015