Classical and quantum picture of the interior of two-dimensional black holes
- Authors: Shawa, Mark
- Date: 2016
- Language: English
- Type: Thesis , Masters , MSc
- Identifier: http://hdl.handle.net/10962/3629 , vital:20531
- Description: A quantum-mechanical description of black holes would represent the final step in our understanding of the nature of space-time. However, any progress towards that end is usually foiled by persistent space-time singularities that exist at the center of black holes. From the four-dimensional point of view, black holes seem to resist quantization. Under highly symmetric conditions, all higher-dimensional black holes are two-dimensional. Unlike their higher-dimensional counterparts, two dimensional black holes may not resist quantization. A non-trivial description of gravity in two dimensions is not possible using Einstein’s theory of gravity alone. However, we may still arrive at a consistent description of gravity by introducing a scalar field known as the dilaton. In this thesis, we study both the classical and quantum aspects of the interior of two-dimensional black holes using a generalized dilaton-gravity theory. Classically, we will find that the interior of most two-dimensional black holes is not much different from that of four-dimensional black holes. But by introducing quantized matter into the theory, the fluctuations in space-time will give a different picture of the structure of interior of black holes. Using a low-energy effective field theory, we will show that it is indeed possible to identify quantum modes in the interior of black holes and perform quantum-mechanical calculations near the singularity.
- Full Text:
- Date Issued: 2016
- Authors: Shawa, Mark
- Date: 2016
- Language: English
- Type: Thesis , Masters , MSc
- Identifier: http://hdl.handle.net/10962/3629 , vital:20531
- Description: A quantum-mechanical description of black holes would represent the final step in our understanding of the nature of space-time. However, any progress towards that end is usually foiled by persistent space-time singularities that exist at the center of black holes. From the four-dimensional point of view, black holes seem to resist quantization. Under highly symmetric conditions, all higher-dimensional black holes are two-dimensional. Unlike their higher-dimensional counterparts, two dimensional black holes may not resist quantization. A non-trivial description of gravity in two dimensions is not possible using Einstein’s theory of gravity alone. However, we may still arrive at a consistent description of gravity by introducing a scalar field known as the dilaton. In this thesis, we study both the classical and quantum aspects of the interior of two-dimensional black holes using a generalized dilaton-gravity theory. Classically, we will find that the interior of most two-dimensional black holes is not much different from that of four-dimensional black holes. But by introducing quantized matter into the theory, the fluctuations in space-time will give a different picture of the structure of interior of black holes. Using a low-energy effective field theory, we will show that it is indeed possible to identify quantum modes in the interior of black holes and perform quantum-mechanical calculations near the singularity.
- Full Text:
- Date Issued: 2016
Co-operatives support programme of the Cacadu District Municipality
- Authors: Kate, Pumelelo Maxwell
- Date: 2016
- Subjects: Cooperative societies -- South Africa -- Eastern Cape , Social status -- South Africa -- Eastern Cape , Economic development -- South Africa -- Eastern Cape
- Language: English
- Type: Thesis , Masters , MA
- Identifier: http://hdl.handle.net/10948/5667 , vital:20961
- Description: Despite the efforts by government to support and direct resources and institutions to address high levels of poverty through co-operative programmes, the Eastern Cape Province remains one of the poorest provinces in the country. Even in the relatively more prosperous Cacadu District in the western portion of the Province, the socio- economic landscape is punctuated by pockets of acute poverty. In order to support government policies to promote co-operatives as a means to address past exclusions from the agricultural sector, as well as to promote socio-economic development in one of its poorest local municipalities, the Cacadu District Municipality has been implementing a support and mentoring programme to agricultural co-operatives in the Ikwezi Local Municipality. Furthermore, Ikwezi was selected because it has the highest concentration of co-operatives in the region supported by the District Municipality and by other Sector Departments from the National and Provincial Governments. The relationships between the support that is provided by Cacadu District Municipality to co-operatives and the extent to which supported co-operatives harness these advantages to grow and sustain their enterprises, forms the cornerstone of this research. As such, the hypothesis that will be tested reads as follows: The government support provided by Cacadu District Municipality to co-operatives in its area of jurisdiction has resulted in the growth and sustainability of the co-operative enterprises. The literature review considers the significant role that co-operatives play in local economic development. It provides a historical overview of co-operatives, as well as the policy framework on co-operatives in South Africa. The role of Cacadu District Municipality with regards to co-operatives and local economic development is reviewed, as well as its co- operative support and mentorship programme. An overview of the socio-economic profile of the Ikwezi Local Municipality and the agricultural co-operatives in the area concludes the literature review. The research approach is based on a mixed method between the qualitative and quantitative research families, with a bias towards the qualitative approach. The study placed more emphasis on the data gathered from individual co-operative businesses and the personal experiences of individuals involved in the co-operative sector. This approach requires qualitative techniques such as interviews and observations. The internet was used as a source for the gathering of relevant data related to the stated research objectives. Other relevant information is gathered through documents reviewed and case studies. The study used questionnaires to interview a sample of agricultural co-operatives in Ikwezi. The collected data was analysed and presented according to a set of themes that formed the basis for the analysis. The analysis provided insights into the background and history of the selected co-operatives, the challenges that they face to survive and the support that they require from government and other potential support structures. The analysis furthermore focussed on the perception of the members of the co-operatives of the impact – whether positive or negative – of the Cacadu co-operatives support and, in particular, it’s mentorship programme. The findings revealed that there was overwhelming support from the co-operative members for the intervention and mentorship provided by the Cacadu District Municipality. It became clear that accessing agricultural land and providing funding and inputs to emerging farmers and co-operatives is not enough. There needs to be a building and nurturing of an entrepreneurial spirit and business mentality accompanied by appropriate training and capacity building interventions for the co- operatives to become successful enterprises. This study reveals that this is possible given all the resources at the disposal of the state. In conclusion, the hypothesis that the support provided by Cacadu District Municipality to co-operatives in its area of jurisdiction has resulted in the growth and sustainability of the co-operative enterprises, was found to be valid.
- Full Text:
- Date Issued: 2016
- Authors: Kate, Pumelelo Maxwell
- Date: 2016
- Subjects: Cooperative societies -- South Africa -- Eastern Cape , Social status -- South Africa -- Eastern Cape , Economic development -- South Africa -- Eastern Cape
- Language: English
- Type: Thesis , Masters , MA
- Identifier: http://hdl.handle.net/10948/5667 , vital:20961
- Description: Despite the efforts by government to support and direct resources and institutions to address high levels of poverty through co-operative programmes, the Eastern Cape Province remains one of the poorest provinces in the country. Even in the relatively more prosperous Cacadu District in the western portion of the Province, the socio- economic landscape is punctuated by pockets of acute poverty. In order to support government policies to promote co-operatives as a means to address past exclusions from the agricultural sector, as well as to promote socio-economic development in one of its poorest local municipalities, the Cacadu District Municipality has been implementing a support and mentoring programme to agricultural co-operatives in the Ikwezi Local Municipality. Furthermore, Ikwezi was selected because it has the highest concentration of co-operatives in the region supported by the District Municipality and by other Sector Departments from the National and Provincial Governments. The relationships between the support that is provided by Cacadu District Municipality to co-operatives and the extent to which supported co-operatives harness these advantages to grow and sustain their enterprises, forms the cornerstone of this research. As such, the hypothesis that will be tested reads as follows: The government support provided by Cacadu District Municipality to co-operatives in its area of jurisdiction has resulted in the growth and sustainability of the co-operative enterprises. The literature review considers the significant role that co-operatives play in local economic development. It provides a historical overview of co-operatives, as well as the policy framework on co-operatives in South Africa. The role of Cacadu District Municipality with regards to co-operatives and local economic development is reviewed, as well as its co- operative support and mentorship programme. An overview of the socio-economic profile of the Ikwezi Local Municipality and the agricultural co-operatives in the area concludes the literature review. The research approach is based on a mixed method between the qualitative and quantitative research families, with a bias towards the qualitative approach. The study placed more emphasis on the data gathered from individual co-operative businesses and the personal experiences of individuals involved in the co-operative sector. This approach requires qualitative techniques such as interviews and observations. The internet was used as a source for the gathering of relevant data related to the stated research objectives. Other relevant information is gathered through documents reviewed and case studies. The study used questionnaires to interview a sample of agricultural co-operatives in Ikwezi. The collected data was analysed and presented according to a set of themes that formed the basis for the analysis. The analysis provided insights into the background and history of the selected co-operatives, the challenges that they face to survive and the support that they require from government and other potential support structures. The analysis furthermore focussed on the perception of the members of the co-operatives of the impact – whether positive or negative – of the Cacadu co-operatives support and, in particular, it’s mentorship programme. The findings revealed that there was overwhelming support from the co-operative members for the intervention and mentorship provided by the Cacadu District Municipality. It became clear that accessing agricultural land and providing funding and inputs to emerging farmers and co-operatives is not enough. There needs to be a building and nurturing of an entrepreneurial spirit and business mentality accompanied by appropriate training and capacity building interventions for the co- operatives to become successful enterprises. This study reveals that this is possible given all the resources at the disposal of the state. In conclusion, the hypothesis that the support provided by Cacadu District Municipality to co-operatives in its area of jurisdiction has resulted in the growth and sustainability of the co-operative enterprises, was found to be valid.
- Full Text:
- Date Issued: 2016
Codeswitching online: a case study of a bilingual online maths programme for grade 7 learners in Diepsloot, Johannesburg
- Authors: von Witt, Nathalia
- Date: 2016
- Language: English
- Type: Thesis , Masters , MA
- Identifier: http://hdl.handle.net/10962/3983 , vital:20577
- Description: There is an education crisis in South Africa. Mathematics and literacy are at the forefront of the problem, as particularly evidenced by Annual National Assessment results (Department of Basic Education, 2014; Spaull, 2014). This research is motivated by the unequal access to quality learning which stems from learners learning through a poorly-understood second language with little to no cognitive academic language proficiency. The vast majority of South African learners learn through their second language, English, from Grade 4 onwards. English is the language of South Africa’s political economy and is a global lingua franca; however, the understanding of concepts and content learnt at school is vital if one is to have any hope of putting one’s English to good use. This research aimed to find a way to equip learners both with English proficiency and mathematical understanding simultaneously. This was done by implementing and evaluating an experimental bilingual course in an existing mathematics programme in the township of Diepsloot in Johannesburg, South Africa. This research used design-based research methodology, using both qualitative and quantitative research methods. This methodology was chosen as it allows theory and practice to intersect in a real-life setting, and for the successes and shortcomings of this intersection to be evaluated. This study encompasses both the evaluation and creation of the bilingual online mathematics course. The course is made bilingual through the creation of bilingual videos with the use of translanguaging and the creation of a bilingual glossary of terms. The videos were created using a translanguaging ‘model’ informed by theories of basic interpersonal communication skills and cognitive academic language proficiency (Cummins, 1981), common underlying proficiency (Cummins, 1991), codeswitching (Setati, 1998; Ncoko et al., 2000) and translanguaging (Makalela 2015; Creese and Blackledge, 2010a). The aim of this research was to create a successful translanguaging model which facilitates learners’ ability to conceptualise in their first language and then discuss and understand the concept in their second language.
- Full Text:
- Date Issued: 2016
- Authors: von Witt, Nathalia
- Date: 2016
- Language: English
- Type: Thesis , Masters , MA
- Identifier: http://hdl.handle.net/10962/3983 , vital:20577
- Description: There is an education crisis in South Africa. Mathematics and literacy are at the forefront of the problem, as particularly evidenced by Annual National Assessment results (Department of Basic Education, 2014; Spaull, 2014). This research is motivated by the unequal access to quality learning which stems from learners learning through a poorly-understood second language with little to no cognitive academic language proficiency. The vast majority of South African learners learn through their second language, English, from Grade 4 onwards. English is the language of South Africa’s political economy and is a global lingua franca; however, the understanding of concepts and content learnt at school is vital if one is to have any hope of putting one’s English to good use. This research aimed to find a way to equip learners both with English proficiency and mathematical understanding simultaneously. This was done by implementing and evaluating an experimental bilingual course in an existing mathematics programme in the township of Diepsloot in Johannesburg, South Africa. This research used design-based research methodology, using both qualitative and quantitative research methods. This methodology was chosen as it allows theory and practice to intersect in a real-life setting, and for the successes and shortcomings of this intersection to be evaluated. This study encompasses both the evaluation and creation of the bilingual online mathematics course. The course is made bilingual through the creation of bilingual videos with the use of translanguaging and the creation of a bilingual glossary of terms. The videos were created using a translanguaging ‘model’ informed by theories of basic interpersonal communication skills and cognitive academic language proficiency (Cummins, 1981), common underlying proficiency (Cummins, 1991), codeswitching (Setati, 1998; Ncoko et al., 2000) and translanguaging (Makalela 2015; Creese and Blackledge, 2010a). The aim of this research was to create a successful translanguaging model which facilitates learners’ ability to conceptualise in their first language and then discuss and understand the concept in their second language.
- Full Text:
- Date Issued: 2016
Community care workers in TB care: identifying and meeting their information needs
- Authors: Okeyo, Ida L A
- Date: 2016
- Language: English
- Type: Thesis , Masters , MPharm
- Identifier: http://hdl.handle.net/10962/4211 , vital:20633
- Description: According to the 2015 World Health Organisation global tuberculosis report, South Africa had 155,473 new TB cases in the last year, 61% of whom were HIV-positive. The tuberculosis (TB) epidemic in South Africa has resulted in the increasing use of community care workers (CCWs) for the management and supervision of TB patients on treatment. CCWs are increasingly being deployed to address the shortages of healthcare workers. CCWs supervising TB patients often act as information providers, advising and counselling patients on general care and medication use. Their effectiveness depends on appropriate knowledge, adequate training and access to good quality information about TB and TB medicines. The hypothesis for this study was that user-friendly, simple, illustrated information can enhance TB knowledge of CCWs, as well as serve as a practice tool in facilitating their counselling and education of patients. A conceptual framework was used to guide the development of an intervention to test this hypothesis through the following objectives: exploring the roles and TB information needs of CCWs working with TB patients; evaluating baseline TB knowledge and health literacy levels of CCWs; developing simple, illustrated information materials to address CCW TB information needs; and assessing the influence of the information materials on TB knowledge and practice of CCWs. Six CCWs from Grahamstown Hospice and 25 CCWs from six primary healthcare clinics in Grahamstown participated in the study, which was conducted in three main phases. Phase 1 began with focus group discussions and individual semi-structured interviews with 14 CCWs to explore their perceptions regarding their roles in TB care and their information needs. This was followed by individual interviews with all 31 CCWs using a structured questionnaire to collect quantitative data on health literacy and establish baseline TB knowledge. For Phase 2, the design of an A5 booklet was informed by the findings from Phase 1 and contained information about TB and TB medication. Pictograms were designed using a rigorous, iterative design process and were included in the booklet which was translated into isiXhosa and Afrikaans. The booklets were individually distributed to CCWs during an information session in which the topics in the booklet were discussed. Three months after completion of Phase 2, individual follow-up interviews were conducted with all CCWs to measure post-intervention TB knowledge. Focus group discussions or semi-structured interviews were conducted with 19 of the CCWs to explore the role and impact of the information materials on everyday CCW practice. Qualitative data were transcribed and analysed thematically by developing codes and identifying themes. Quantitative results were analysed using the t-test, Pearson Chi-square and a Z-test of proportions at a 0.05 level of significance. The conceptual framework provided a useful lens through which to view, and reflect on, the interaction between the elements of the healthcare system in relation to the results obtained. CCWs associated their roles in TB control with helping patients and having an impact in patients’ lives which they perceived as being meaningful. The good relationships with patients noted by study CCWs, as well as the appreciation they received from patients, contributed to their confidence and belief that they were well positioned and able to positively influence health outcomes. This study found that CCWs in the healthcare system were disadvantaged by the lack of support and supervision, deficiencies in training and lack of information materials, all of which reflect a negative interaction between CCWs with the healthcare system. Use of the booklet resulted in an improvement in CCW knowledge about the disease, TB medication, MDR and XDR-TB and HIV/AIDS and TB co-infection. The mean knowledge score significantly increased from 76.1% at baseline to 85.4% at follow up showing that the use of the booklet had a positive impact on TB knowledge. Poor knowledge areas were identified as being related to TB medication-related knowledge and drug-resistant TB, highlighting the need for additional intervention to improve knowledge in these areas. The health literacy level of CCWs, which was assessed using the modified Newest Vital Signs– South Africa test, showed that the majority of CCWs had only marginal health literacy, indicating the need for wider assessment of health literacy within CCWs, and the need to tailor training and information materials to cater for their health literacy levels. The pictorial-based, simple booklet tailored for CCWs was also found to enhance confidence in decision making, and reduce their uncertainty when confronted with difficult care scenarios. CCWs were enthusiastic about the inclusion of pictograms which were reported to enhance recall of TB information and understanding of text. The booklet also served as a patient educational tool, where it reportedly improved communication and had a positive effect on the CCW-patient interpersonal relationship. The simplicity of the booklet and the inclusion of pictograms resulted in a user-friendly appealing information source for patients. Factors contributing to the success of the booklet can be attributed to paying attention to CCW information needs, involving CCWs in the design process, translating the booklet into local dialect, ensuring simplicity of the text and including pictograms that had undergone a rigorous design process. This study was the first to design TB information materials targeted specifically for CCWs that were also suitable as patient education materials. The study demonstrated that these information materials can have a positive outcome on CCW roles in TB care by improving their knowledge and facilitating patient communication and education.
- Full Text:
- Date Issued: 2016
- Authors: Okeyo, Ida L A
- Date: 2016
- Language: English
- Type: Thesis , Masters , MPharm
- Identifier: http://hdl.handle.net/10962/4211 , vital:20633
- Description: According to the 2015 World Health Organisation global tuberculosis report, South Africa had 155,473 new TB cases in the last year, 61% of whom were HIV-positive. The tuberculosis (TB) epidemic in South Africa has resulted in the increasing use of community care workers (CCWs) for the management and supervision of TB patients on treatment. CCWs are increasingly being deployed to address the shortages of healthcare workers. CCWs supervising TB patients often act as information providers, advising and counselling patients on general care and medication use. Their effectiveness depends on appropriate knowledge, adequate training and access to good quality information about TB and TB medicines. The hypothesis for this study was that user-friendly, simple, illustrated information can enhance TB knowledge of CCWs, as well as serve as a practice tool in facilitating their counselling and education of patients. A conceptual framework was used to guide the development of an intervention to test this hypothesis through the following objectives: exploring the roles and TB information needs of CCWs working with TB patients; evaluating baseline TB knowledge and health literacy levels of CCWs; developing simple, illustrated information materials to address CCW TB information needs; and assessing the influence of the information materials on TB knowledge and practice of CCWs. Six CCWs from Grahamstown Hospice and 25 CCWs from six primary healthcare clinics in Grahamstown participated in the study, which was conducted in three main phases. Phase 1 began with focus group discussions and individual semi-structured interviews with 14 CCWs to explore their perceptions regarding their roles in TB care and their information needs. This was followed by individual interviews with all 31 CCWs using a structured questionnaire to collect quantitative data on health literacy and establish baseline TB knowledge. For Phase 2, the design of an A5 booklet was informed by the findings from Phase 1 and contained information about TB and TB medication. Pictograms were designed using a rigorous, iterative design process and were included in the booklet which was translated into isiXhosa and Afrikaans. The booklets were individually distributed to CCWs during an information session in which the topics in the booklet were discussed. Three months after completion of Phase 2, individual follow-up interviews were conducted with all CCWs to measure post-intervention TB knowledge. Focus group discussions or semi-structured interviews were conducted with 19 of the CCWs to explore the role and impact of the information materials on everyday CCW practice. Qualitative data were transcribed and analysed thematically by developing codes and identifying themes. Quantitative results were analysed using the t-test, Pearson Chi-square and a Z-test of proportions at a 0.05 level of significance. The conceptual framework provided a useful lens through which to view, and reflect on, the interaction between the elements of the healthcare system in relation to the results obtained. CCWs associated their roles in TB control with helping patients and having an impact in patients’ lives which they perceived as being meaningful. The good relationships with patients noted by study CCWs, as well as the appreciation they received from patients, contributed to their confidence and belief that they were well positioned and able to positively influence health outcomes. This study found that CCWs in the healthcare system were disadvantaged by the lack of support and supervision, deficiencies in training and lack of information materials, all of which reflect a negative interaction between CCWs with the healthcare system. Use of the booklet resulted in an improvement in CCW knowledge about the disease, TB medication, MDR and XDR-TB and HIV/AIDS and TB co-infection. The mean knowledge score significantly increased from 76.1% at baseline to 85.4% at follow up showing that the use of the booklet had a positive impact on TB knowledge. Poor knowledge areas were identified as being related to TB medication-related knowledge and drug-resistant TB, highlighting the need for additional intervention to improve knowledge in these areas. The health literacy level of CCWs, which was assessed using the modified Newest Vital Signs– South Africa test, showed that the majority of CCWs had only marginal health literacy, indicating the need for wider assessment of health literacy within CCWs, and the need to tailor training and information materials to cater for their health literacy levels. The pictorial-based, simple booklet tailored for CCWs was also found to enhance confidence in decision making, and reduce their uncertainty when confronted with difficult care scenarios. CCWs were enthusiastic about the inclusion of pictograms which were reported to enhance recall of TB information and understanding of text. The booklet also served as a patient educational tool, where it reportedly improved communication and had a positive effect on the CCW-patient interpersonal relationship. The simplicity of the booklet and the inclusion of pictograms resulted in a user-friendly appealing information source for patients. Factors contributing to the success of the booklet can be attributed to paying attention to CCW information needs, involving CCWs in the design process, translating the booklet into local dialect, ensuring simplicity of the text and including pictograms that had undergone a rigorous design process. This study was the first to design TB information materials targeted specifically for CCWs that were also suitable as patient education materials. The study demonstrated that these information materials can have a positive outcome on CCW roles in TB care by improving their knowledge and facilitating patient communication and education.
- Full Text:
- Date Issued: 2016
Community development and rural poverty in Zimbabwe : a policy perspective
- Authors: Chatindo, Annah
- Date: 2016
- Subjects: Community development -- Zimbabwe Rural development -- Government policy -- Zimbabwe Poverty -- Zimbabwe
- Language: English
- Type: Thesis , Masters , MSoc
- Identifier: http://hdl.handle.net/10353/6092 , vital:29490
- Description: There is persistence of rural poverty in African countries despite efforts by governments to implement community development projects to curb poverty in impoverished rural communities. Zimbabwe adopted the Poverty Alleviation Action Plan (PAAP) under which community development programme was initiated. Community development projects by NGOs and government did not manage to meet the needs of the impoverished communities in Mvuma rural communities. More so, the incremental approach to policy making adopted by the government of Zimbabwe failed to embrace the principles of community development, for example, participation of community projects beneficiaries on everything that impact to their way of living. Despite all the efforts to alleviate rural poverty in Mvuma rural district there is still persistence of rural poverty, characterized by poor roads and struggling of most families to meeting basic needs. Mvuma rural communities are rich in mineral resources and water sources that can be utilized instead of relying on external resources through NGOs. This therefore, calls on the government and NGOs to collaborate towards capacitating Mvuma rural dwellers in order to help alleviate poverty. This study employed qualitative approach to research as it was aimed at describing and understanding rather than explaining human behaviour. Purposive or judgmental sampling was applied. This technique was used as the researcher wanted to get hold of the people who are directly or indirectly linked to implementation of community development projects. However, quantitative method was used to gather demographic information. The PAAP policy relevance to poverty reduction in Mvuma rural district and in Zimbabwe in general was the heart of this study.
- Full Text:
- Date Issued: 2016
- Authors: Chatindo, Annah
- Date: 2016
- Subjects: Community development -- Zimbabwe Rural development -- Government policy -- Zimbabwe Poverty -- Zimbabwe
- Language: English
- Type: Thesis , Masters , MSoc
- Identifier: http://hdl.handle.net/10353/6092 , vital:29490
- Description: There is persistence of rural poverty in African countries despite efforts by governments to implement community development projects to curb poverty in impoverished rural communities. Zimbabwe adopted the Poverty Alleviation Action Plan (PAAP) under which community development programme was initiated. Community development projects by NGOs and government did not manage to meet the needs of the impoverished communities in Mvuma rural communities. More so, the incremental approach to policy making adopted by the government of Zimbabwe failed to embrace the principles of community development, for example, participation of community projects beneficiaries on everything that impact to their way of living. Despite all the efforts to alleviate rural poverty in Mvuma rural district there is still persistence of rural poverty, characterized by poor roads and struggling of most families to meeting basic needs. Mvuma rural communities are rich in mineral resources and water sources that can be utilized instead of relying on external resources through NGOs. This therefore, calls on the government and NGOs to collaborate towards capacitating Mvuma rural dwellers in order to help alleviate poverty. This study employed qualitative approach to research as it was aimed at describing and understanding rather than explaining human behaviour. Purposive or judgmental sampling was applied. This technique was used as the researcher wanted to get hold of the people who are directly or indirectly linked to implementation of community development projects. However, quantitative method was used to gather demographic information. The PAAP policy relevance to poverty reduction in Mvuma rural district and in Zimbabwe in general was the heart of this study.
- Full Text:
- Date Issued: 2016
Comparative analysis of characteristics of the various sugarcane bagasse types in terms of gasification
- Authors: Kula, Mpumezo
- Date: 2016
- Subjects: Bagasse Sugarcane -- Breeding Coal gasification
- Language: English
- Type: Thesis , Masters , MSc
- Identifier: http://hdl.handle.net/10353/13392 , vital:39656
- Description: The insight that the fossil fuel reserves are limited, together with concerns over security of supply (i.e. the oil crises), initiated the first raise of interest in biomass and all other renewable energy forms. However, the concern grew that global warming and the resulting climate change were enhanced by carbon dioxide (CO2) emissions resulting from fossil fuel consumption. Meanwhile, biomass energy is thought to account for 14–15percent of total world energy consumption. Hence, the exploitation and utilization of biomass energy are effective and necessary for relieving the pressures caused by environmental pollution and fossil fuel shortage (Lv et al., 2010). Recently, extensive research aimed at converting biomass to useful energy have been carried out, especially pyrolysis and gasification, which are particularly suitable for the effective and efficient utilization of biomass. Sugarcane bagasse is the main byproduct of sugarcane mill, ready available at the production site so that it may be a suitable raw material for the production of biofuels, chemicals, and electricity. Among the methods that have been previously studied, is this particular study we explore thermochemical process, gasification. The properties of sugarcane bagasse relevant to gasification are briefly reviewed. The compositions of the bagasse as a fuel are variable, especially with respect to inorganic constituents important to the critical problems of sintering, fouling and slagging. Alkali and alkaline earth metals, in combination with other fuel elements such as silica and sulfur, are responsible for many undesirable reactions in a gasifier system. The three sugarcane bagasse types namely washed, unwashed and the depithed sugarcane bagasse were subjected in different types of characterization to review and compare their characteristics for gasification. Ultimate analysis was used to determine the elemental compositions and this was helpful in estimating the energy input of the materials. Elemental compositions were determined with the CHNS analyzer which gave the percent compositions of each fuel in terms of Carbon, Hydrogen, Nitrogen, Sulphur as well as Oxygen (by difference) and the SEM/EDX which gave the elemental composition of the materials as can be viewed from the EDX. The proximate analysis which is the physical characterization of the materials was carried out to preview the behavior of the sugarcane bagasse when subjected into high temperatures as the gasification process uses very high temperatures. These were determined by the TGA and the volatile matter content; fixed carbon content, moisture content and ash content were extrapolated from the resulting thermogram. SEM images for surface structures of the bagasse and FTIR for the structural functionality and bonding structures. The characterization of the bagasse was conducted to compare their gasification properties.
- Full Text:
- Date Issued: 2016
- Authors: Kula, Mpumezo
- Date: 2016
- Subjects: Bagasse Sugarcane -- Breeding Coal gasification
- Language: English
- Type: Thesis , Masters , MSc
- Identifier: http://hdl.handle.net/10353/13392 , vital:39656
- Description: The insight that the fossil fuel reserves are limited, together with concerns over security of supply (i.e. the oil crises), initiated the first raise of interest in biomass and all other renewable energy forms. However, the concern grew that global warming and the resulting climate change were enhanced by carbon dioxide (CO2) emissions resulting from fossil fuel consumption. Meanwhile, biomass energy is thought to account for 14–15percent of total world energy consumption. Hence, the exploitation and utilization of biomass energy are effective and necessary for relieving the pressures caused by environmental pollution and fossil fuel shortage (Lv et al., 2010). Recently, extensive research aimed at converting biomass to useful energy have been carried out, especially pyrolysis and gasification, which are particularly suitable for the effective and efficient utilization of biomass. Sugarcane bagasse is the main byproduct of sugarcane mill, ready available at the production site so that it may be a suitable raw material for the production of biofuels, chemicals, and electricity. Among the methods that have been previously studied, is this particular study we explore thermochemical process, gasification. The properties of sugarcane bagasse relevant to gasification are briefly reviewed. The compositions of the bagasse as a fuel are variable, especially with respect to inorganic constituents important to the critical problems of sintering, fouling and slagging. Alkali and alkaline earth metals, in combination with other fuel elements such as silica and sulfur, are responsible for many undesirable reactions in a gasifier system. The three sugarcane bagasse types namely washed, unwashed and the depithed sugarcane bagasse were subjected in different types of characterization to review and compare their characteristics for gasification. Ultimate analysis was used to determine the elemental compositions and this was helpful in estimating the energy input of the materials. Elemental compositions were determined with the CHNS analyzer which gave the percent compositions of each fuel in terms of Carbon, Hydrogen, Nitrogen, Sulphur as well as Oxygen (by difference) and the SEM/EDX which gave the elemental composition of the materials as can be viewed from the EDX. The proximate analysis which is the physical characterization of the materials was carried out to preview the behavior of the sugarcane bagasse when subjected into high temperatures as the gasification process uses very high temperatures. These were determined by the TGA and the volatile matter content; fixed carbon content, moisture content and ash content were extrapolated from the resulting thermogram. SEM images for surface structures of the bagasse and FTIR for the structural functionality and bonding structures. The characterization of the bagasse was conducted to compare their gasification properties.
- Full Text:
- Date Issued: 2016
Comparative analysis of characteristics of the various sugarcane bagasse types in terms of gasification
- Authors: Kula, Mpumezo
- Date: 2016
- Subjects: Bagasse Bioenergetics Sugarcane -- Breeding Solar energy
- Language: English
- Type: Thesis , Masters , MSc
- Identifier: http://hdl.handle.net/10353/1929 , vital:27584
- Description: The insight that the fossil fuel reserves are limited, together with concerns over security of supply (i.e. the oil crises), initiated the first raise of interest in biomass and all other renewable energy forms. However, the concern grew that global warming and the resulting climate change were enhanced by carbon dioxide (CO2) emissions resulting from fossil fuel consumption. Meanwhile, biomass energy is thought to account for 14–15% of total world energy consumption. Hence, the exploitation and utilization of biomass energy are effective and necessary for relieving the pressures caused by environmental pollution and fossil fuel shortage (Lv et al., 2010). Recently, extensive research aimed at converting biomass to useful energy have been carried out, especially pyrolysis and gasification, which are particularly suitable for the effective and efficient utilization of biomass. Sugarcane bagasse is the main byproduct of sugarcane mill, ready available at the production site so that it may be a suitable raw material for the production of biofuels, chemicals, and electricity. Among the methods that have been previously studied, is this particular study we explore thermochemical process, gasification. The properties of sugarcane bagasse relevant to gasification are briefly reviewed. The compositions of the bagasse as a fuel are variable, especially with respect to inorganic constituents important to the critical problems of sintering, fouling and slagging. Alkali and alkaline earth metals, in combination with other fuel elements such as silica and sulfur, are responsible for many undesirable reactions in a gasifier system.
- Full Text:
- Date Issued: 2016
- Authors: Kula, Mpumezo
- Date: 2016
- Subjects: Bagasse Bioenergetics Sugarcane -- Breeding Solar energy
- Language: English
- Type: Thesis , Masters , MSc
- Identifier: http://hdl.handle.net/10353/1929 , vital:27584
- Description: The insight that the fossil fuel reserves are limited, together with concerns over security of supply (i.e. the oil crises), initiated the first raise of interest in biomass and all other renewable energy forms. However, the concern grew that global warming and the resulting climate change were enhanced by carbon dioxide (CO2) emissions resulting from fossil fuel consumption. Meanwhile, biomass energy is thought to account for 14–15% of total world energy consumption. Hence, the exploitation and utilization of biomass energy are effective and necessary for relieving the pressures caused by environmental pollution and fossil fuel shortage (Lv et al., 2010). Recently, extensive research aimed at converting biomass to useful energy have been carried out, especially pyrolysis and gasification, which are particularly suitable for the effective and efficient utilization of biomass. Sugarcane bagasse is the main byproduct of sugarcane mill, ready available at the production site so that it may be a suitable raw material for the production of biofuels, chemicals, and electricity. Among the methods that have been previously studied, is this particular study we explore thermochemical process, gasification. The properties of sugarcane bagasse relevant to gasification are briefly reviewed. The compositions of the bagasse as a fuel are variable, especially with respect to inorganic constituents important to the critical problems of sintering, fouling and slagging. Alkali and alkaline earth metals, in combination with other fuel elements such as silica and sulfur, are responsible for many undesirable reactions in a gasifier system.
- Full Text:
- Date Issued: 2016
Comparative analysis of existing pipelines for assessment of arbuscular mycorrhizal fungal biodiversity in natural and commercial rooibos (aspalathus linearis) and honeybush (cyclopia intermedia) soil samples
- Authors: De Wit, Hermina Johanna
- Date: 2016
- Language: English
- Type: Thesis , Masters , MSc
- Identifier: http://hdl.handle.net/10962/2915 , vital:20342
- Full Text:
- Date Issued: 2016
- Authors: De Wit, Hermina Johanna
- Date: 2016
- Language: English
- Type: Thesis , Masters , MSc
- Identifier: http://hdl.handle.net/10962/2915 , vital:20342
- Full Text:
- Date Issued: 2016
Comparative perspectives on the doctrine of vicarious liability
- Authors: Roets, Maria Elizabeth
- Date: 2016
- Subjects: Liability (Law) -- South Africa , Respondeat superior
- Language: English
- Type: Thesis , Masters , LLM
- Identifier: http://hdl.handle.net/10948/3675 , vital:20452
- Description: The doctrine of vicarious liability provides justification for a deviation from the general rule that fault is an indispensable requirement to attach liability to an individual. The doctrine provides that an aggrieved party may hold an employer liable for the wrongful or delictual conduct of its employees. The South African legal system inherited the doctrine of vicarious liability from common-law and the doctrine is deeply rooted in English-law. The South African legal sphere is subject to constant transformation and as a result hereof, the common-law doctrine of vicarious liability should also be subjected to transformation. Uncertainty reigned in relation to whether the judiciary or the legislature carried the burden to develop the doctrine of vicarious liability in order to accommodate the needs of a modern society. The doctrine of vicarious liability is a universal concept and the transformation that the doctrine has undergone in other common-law countries could prove to be useful guidelines to assist with the development of the doctrine within the South African legal context. The doctrine places a tremendous burden on employers by providing that employers can be held accountable for the unlawful and delictual actions of its employees. One of the stumbling blocks that the South African judiciary had to overcome was to determine in which instances the liability of employers should be restricted in relation to the conduct of their employees. It is common cause that the doctrine, due to its onerous nature, cannot be regarded as absolute. Perhaps one of the most significant restrictions that has been placed on the application of the doctrine has been the fact that employers may only be held accountable for the wrongful conduct of its employees in instances where the employee has acted within the scope of his or her employment. The dividing line between acts committed within the scope of employment and acts committed outside of the scope of employment is a very fine line and the judiciary tend to tread carefully upon pronouncing on such matters. The Constitution of the Republic of South Africa, 1996 reiterates the importance of ensuring that the constitutional values of reasonableness and fairness are adhered to. An aggrieved party would be left with deep scars in the event that the individual is prohibited from instituting an action against an employer for harm or loss suffered as a result of a wrongful action of an employee of that employer. The employer would suffer prejudice in the event that the employer is held accountable for the wrongful conduct of an employee which is unrelated to the business of the employer. The answer to the conundrum lies in striking a balance between the prejudice suffered by the aggrieved party and the prejudice suffered by the employer. The aim of the judiciary should be to ensure that restrictions made to the application and interpretation of the doctrine of vicarious liability would be justifiable and reasonable in terms of the Constitution. The balancing of the interests of the employer and the balancing of the interests of the aggrieved parties are essential to ensure that justice prevails. It is common cause that no general test exist in the South African legal sphere in order to determine the liability of an employer for the wrongful conduct of its employees. Due to the complex nature of the doctrine of vicarious liability it can be averred that a general test would not address the technicalities of the doctrine. An important consideration to determine the liability of an employer is to establish whether a sufficiently close connection existed between the duties of the employee and the wrongful conduct of the employee. This factor can be considered as the “golden thread” that must be present to determine the liability of the employer. The doctrine of vicarious liability is a concept which has proved to be imperative in the South African legal sphere. Employers should be held accountable for the wrongful conduct of its employees, but simultaneously the constitutional values of reasonableness and fairness should be adhered to. Even though vicarious liability is an onerous concept for employers, justice would prevail if the values of the Constitution are applied religiously.
- Full Text:
- Date Issued: 2016
- Authors: Roets, Maria Elizabeth
- Date: 2016
- Subjects: Liability (Law) -- South Africa , Respondeat superior
- Language: English
- Type: Thesis , Masters , LLM
- Identifier: http://hdl.handle.net/10948/3675 , vital:20452
- Description: The doctrine of vicarious liability provides justification for a deviation from the general rule that fault is an indispensable requirement to attach liability to an individual. The doctrine provides that an aggrieved party may hold an employer liable for the wrongful or delictual conduct of its employees. The South African legal system inherited the doctrine of vicarious liability from common-law and the doctrine is deeply rooted in English-law. The South African legal sphere is subject to constant transformation and as a result hereof, the common-law doctrine of vicarious liability should also be subjected to transformation. Uncertainty reigned in relation to whether the judiciary or the legislature carried the burden to develop the doctrine of vicarious liability in order to accommodate the needs of a modern society. The doctrine of vicarious liability is a universal concept and the transformation that the doctrine has undergone in other common-law countries could prove to be useful guidelines to assist with the development of the doctrine within the South African legal context. The doctrine places a tremendous burden on employers by providing that employers can be held accountable for the unlawful and delictual actions of its employees. One of the stumbling blocks that the South African judiciary had to overcome was to determine in which instances the liability of employers should be restricted in relation to the conduct of their employees. It is common cause that the doctrine, due to its onerous nature, cannot be regarded as absolute. Perhaps one of the most significant restrictions that has been placed on the application of the doctrine has been the fact that employers may only be held accountable for the wrongful conduct of its employees in instances where the employee has acted within the scope of his or her employment. The dividing line between acts committed within the scope of employment and acts committed outside of the scope of employment is a very fine line and the judiciary tend to tread carefully upon pronouncing on such matters. The Constitution of the Republic of South Africa, 1996 reiterates the importance of ensuring that the constitutional values of reasonableness and fairness are adhered to. An aggrieved party would be left with deep scars in the event that the individual is prohibited from instituting an action against an employer for harm or loss suffered as a result of a wrongful action of an employee of that employer. The employer would suffer prejudice in the event that the employer is held accountable for the wrongful conduct of an employee which is unrelated to the business of the employer. The answer to the conundrum lies in striking a balance between the prejudice suffered by the aggrieved party and the prejudice suffered by the employer. The aim of the judiciary should be to ensure that restrictions made to the application and interpretation of the doctrine of vicarious liability would be justifiable and reasonable in terms of the Constitution. The balancing of the interests of the employer and the balancing of the interests of the aggrieved parties are essential to ensure that justice prevails. It is common cause that no general test exist in the South African legal sphere in order to determine the liability of an employer for the wrongful conduct of its employees. Due to the complex nature of the doctrine of vicarious liability it can be averred that a general test would not address the technicalities of the doctrine. An important consideration to determine the liability of an employer is to establish whether a sufficiently close connection existed between the duties of the employee and the wrongful conduct of the employee. This factor can be considered as the “golden thread” that must be present to determine the liability of the employer. The doctrine of vicarious liability is a concept which has proved to be imperative in the South African legal sphere. Employers should be held accountable for the wrongful conduct of its employees, but simultaneously the constitutional values of reasonableness and fairness should be adhered to. Even though vicarious liability is an onerous concept for employers, justice would prevail if the values of the Constitution are applied religiously.
- Full Text:
- Date Issued: 2016
Comparing the perfomance of 3 to 6 year old children on the performance and practical reasoning subscales of the Griffiths mental development scales: extended revised with the foundations of learning subscale of the Griffiths III
- Authors: Kolver, Christél
- Date: 2016
- Subjects: Child psychology
- Language: English
- Type: Thesis , Masters , MA
- Identifier: http://hdl.handle.net/10948/13293 , vital:27172
- Description: The developmental assessment of children is very important so that adequate resources and intervention programmes can be initiated. Updating psychometric assessments is mandatory for different reasons, which include to update norms and to add new psychometric information. It is important for psychometric assessments that measure child development to ensure that they continue to accurately reflect stages of development in a modern context. The Association for Research in Infant and Child Development (ARICD) is currently in the process of revising the Griffiths Scales. One of the many unique changes includes the newly formed Foundations of Learning Subscale. This Subscale was constructed from definition, sub-constructs and items, which encompassed the critical sub-constructs from the previous Performance and Practical Reasoning Subscales, while providing greater depth to the overarching construct. This study therefore, forms part of a larger study of developing the Griffiths III and aims to compare the performance of three to six-year-old children on these three Subscales. The study employed a mixed method approach, which included 259 children matched on the Griffiths Mental Development Scales – Extended Revised and the Griffith III. The quantitative aspect of the research included descriptive statistics, independent sample t-tests as well as pearson correlations. Differences and similarities were found from the results. The relationships varied from high correlation, strong relationships to low correlation, definite but small relationships. This was further explored through a qualitative analysis between the constructs assessed on each of the Subscales, as well as a qualitative analysis on the items of Subscale A, brought from Subscale E and F and the new items.
- Full Text:
- Date Issued: 2016
- Authors: Kolver, Christél
- Date: 2016
- Subjects: Child psychology
- Language: English
- Type: Thesis , Masters , MA
- Identifier: http://hdl.handle.net/10948/13293 , vital:27172
- Description: The developmental assessment of children is very important so that adequate resources and intervention programmes can be initiated. Updating psychometric assessments is mandatory for different reasons, which include to update norms and to add new psychometric information. It is important for psychometric assessments that measure child development to ensure that they continue to accurately reflect stages of development in a modern context. The Association for Research in Infant and Child Development (ARICD) is currently in the process of revising the Griffiths Scales. One of the many unique changes includes the newly formed Foundations of Learning Subscale. This Subscale was constructed from definition, sub-constructs and items, which encompassed the critical sub-constructs from the previous Performance and Practical Reasoning Subscales, while providing greater depth to the overarching construct. This study therefore, forms part of a larger study of developing the Griffiths III and aims to compare the performance of three to six-year-old children on these three Subscales. The study employed a mixed method approach, which included 259 children matched on the Griffiths Mental Development Scales – Extended Revised and the Griffith III. The quantitative aspect of the research included descriptive statistics, independent sample t-tests as well as pearson correlations. Differences and similarities were found from the results. The relationships varied from high correlation, strong relationships to low correlation, definite but small relationships. This was further explored through a qualitative analysis between the constructs assessed on each of the Subscales, as well as a qualitative analysis on the items of Subscale A, brought from Subscale E and F and the new items.
- Full Text:
- Date Issued: 2016
Complexities of accessing finance from government institutions and its agencies
- Mbundwini, Gracious Nomfuneko
- Authors: Mbundwini, Gracious Nomfuneko
- Date: 2016
- Subjects: Business enterprises -- South Africa -- Finance Small business -- South Africa
- Language: English
- Type: Thesis , Masters , MA
- Identifier: http://hdl.handle.net/10948/11772 , vital:26967
- Description: Purpose: with the recent establishment of Small Business Development department, the ministry is tasked and will be responsible for ensuring that the business environment is enabling for new Small to Medium businesses. The real issue and the point of interest in researching this particular dissertation is the available literature around the issue of the SME sector which indicates that new SMEs in South Africa do not move from the first stage (existence) to other stages such as survival, success, take off and resource maturity. The study seeks to inaugurate two specific challenges (difficulties in accessing finance and to examine if there is sufficient non-financial SME incubators and mentorship programs post funding allocation). The area of study focused on SMEs that are concentrated in highly populated areas of Gauteng. Methodology: The study was conducted using qualitative research and a questionnaire was used as a data collection tool. The researcher was able to get valuable information on stakeholders in the SMME sector. This was done through the use of questionnaires to businesses, government funders and incubators. Results: when posed with a question of the start-up capital, a mere 17% responded to having obtained financial assistance from government institutions, 20% from friends and family while a massive 60% indicated they have used own capital to start businesses. When the researcher posed the question of the reasons that often leads to failure, approximately 23% of businesses mentioned lack of working equipment as the core reasons for the business failure while 17% indicated that lack of business opportunities or rather contracts of supply from government departments as the main impeding factor which resulted to failure. In terms of the availability of incubators, approximately 67% of respondents indicated that there were no business incubators available in their areas of business. Approximately 57% of businesses mentioned the inability to obtain loans from government funding institutions was the major business constraint that often leads to failure. The researcher posed a question to business incubators personnel that participated in the study to gain perspective as to why do they think SMEs fail within the first year of operation. Approximately 40% of respondents alluded that, barriers to entry by big corporates in South Africa force Small and Medium Enterprises out of businesses. Other participants added that the South African government procurement system does not provide opportunities to small businesses due to lack of experience. All government funding institutions participants mentioned that in most cases SMEs finance applications are rejected due to the fact that businesses fail to present viable business proposals that show the ability for business to remain operating for a long time Implications: The above analysed study findings indicate that there is a huge gap between small businesses and government funding institutions in terms of the awareness of the available financial support to SMEs. From the government perspective, it was indicated that businesses submit business plans that are not viable. There needs to be the middle ground where business plans compilation support currently provided by SEDA awareness should be spread across SMEs operating in the highly populated areas of Gauteng. Recommendations: Access to finance is a major constraint hindering the growth and success of small enterprises. The South African government has established a number of financial support programmes aimed to assist SMEs. With these financial support programmes, most of the SMEs are unsuccessful due to the fact that they cannot easily access those funds and as a result they remain stagnant for a very long time or end up shutting down. Conclusion: The effect of credit rationing is the potential loss of opportunity and or reduction in the scale of a business, neither of which is a desirable outcome. At the most fundamental level, there are lost opportunities for the borrower and the lender. There are implications for the wider economy also. SMEs are a key source of innovation, competition and choice.
- Full Text:
- Date Issued: 2016
- Authors: Mbundwini, Gracious Nomfuneko
- Date: 2016
- Subjects: Business enterprises -- South Africa -- Finance Small business -- South Africa
- Language: English
- Type: Thesis , Masters , MA
- Identifier: http://hdl.handle.net/10948/11772 , vital:26967
- Description: Purpose: with the recent establishment of Small Business Development department, the ministry is tasked and will be responsible for ensuring that the business environment is enabling for new Small to Medium businesses. The real issue and the point of interest in researching this particular dissertation is the available literature around the issue of the SME sector which indicates that new SMEs in South Africa do not move from the first stage (existence) to other stages such as survival, success, take off and resource maturity. The study seeks to inaugurate two specific challenges (difficulties in accessing finance and to examine if there is sufficient non-financial SME incubators and mentorship programs post funding allocation). The area of study focused on SMEs that are concentrated in highly populated areas of Gauteng. Methodology: The study was conducted using qualitative research and a questionnaire was used as a data collection tool. The researcher was able to get valuable information on stakeholders in the SMME sector. This was done through the use of questionnaires to businesses, government funders and incubators. Results: when posed with a question of the start-up capital, a mere 17% responded to having obtained financial assistance from government institutions, 20% from friends and family while a massive 60% indicated they have used own capital to start businesses. When the researcher posed the question of the reasons that often leads to failure, approximately 23% of businesses mentioned lack of working equipment as the core reasons for the business failure while 17% indicated that lack of business opportunities or rather contracts of supply from government departments as the main impeding factor which resulted to failure. In terms of the availability of incubators, approximately 67% of respondents indicated that there were no business incubators available in their areas of business. Approximately 57% of businesses mentioned the inability to obtain loans from government funding institutions was the major business constraint that often leads to failure. The researcher posed a question to business incubators personnel that participated in the study to gain perspective as to why do they think SMEs fail within the first year of operation. Approximately 40% of respondents alluded that, barriers to entry by big corporates in South Africa force Small and Medium Enterprises out of businesses. Other participants added that the South African government procurement system does not provide opportunities to small businesses due to lack of experience. All government funding institutions participants mentioned that in most cases SMEs finance applications are rejected due to the fact that businesses fail to present viable business proposals that show the ability for business to remain operating for a long time Implications: The above analysed study findings indicate that there is a huge gap between small businesses and government funding institutions in terms of the awareness of the available financial support to SMEs. From the government perspective, it was indicated that businesses submit business plans that are not viable. There needs to be the middle ground where business plans compilation support currently provided by SEDA awareness should be spread across SMEs operating in the highly populated areas of Gauteng. Recommendations: Access to finance is a major constraint hindering the growth and success of small enterprises. The South African government has established a number of financial support programmes aimed to assist SMEs. With these financial support programmes, most of the SMEs are unsuccessful due to the fact that they cannot easily access those funds and as a result they remain stagnant for a very long time or end up shutting down. Conclusion: The effect of credit rationing is the potential loss of opportunity and or reduction in the scale of a business, neither of which is a desirable outcome. At the most fundamental level, there are lost opportunities for the borrower and the lender. There are implications for the wider economy also. SMEs are a key source of innovation, competition and choice.
- Full Text:
- Date Issued: 2016
Composing affect: reflection on configurations of body, sound and technology in contemporary South African performance
- Authors: Cilliers, Ilana
- Date: 2016
- Language: English
- Type: Thesis , Masters , MA
- Identifier: http://hdl.handle.net/10962/3377 , vital:20478
- Description: This thesis engages with experiential performance modes through the lenses of phenomenology and affect theory. Because experiential performance relies per definition on personal, subjective ‘experience’, specific responses cannot be anticipated. However, by attempting to compose ‘affect’, a performance has the potential to ‘move’ an attendant towards response. Deleuze and Guattari define ‘affect’ as “an ability to affect and be affected….a prepersonal intensity corresponding to the passage from one experiential state of the body to another and implying an augmentation or diminution in that body’s capacity to act” (1987: xvi). One current strategy for manifesting affect in performance seems to be the ways in which different configurations of body, sound and technology are employed. The body is the means through which sound is received or ‘experienced’ in the phenomenological sense, but it can also act as a source for sonic material. The body is furthermore the means by which sonic technology is manipulated. It is the complex, reverberating relationships between body, sound and technology, and their potential for eliciting affective transformation, which is the focus of my enquiry. In the first chapter I unpack the roles of the natural phenomena, body and sound, and their complex relationships to affect. The chapter serves as philosophical basis for the rest of the investigation, and draws largely on works by philosophers Susan Kozel, Maurice Merleau-Ponty, Brian Massumi, Gille Deleuze and Félix Guatarri and sound theorists Don Ihde, Marshall McLuhan, Brandon LaBelle and Frances Dyson.In the remaining three chapters I discuss current South African theatre works that employ the strategy of placing emphasis on sound, sonic technology, and its relationship to the human body. These works are my own piece herTz (2014), Jaco Bouwer’s pieces Samsa-masjien (2014) and Na-aap (2013), and First Physical Theatre Company’s Everyday Falling (2010). While they range from being plays to physical theatre performances to performative experiments, they all place specific emphasis on sonic devices, drawing attention to sound by revealing microphones, speakers, midi boards, etc. to the attendants, and including the generation and manipulation of sound in the action of the performance.
- Full Text:
- Date Issued: 2016
- Authors: Cilliers, Ilana
- Date: 2016
- Language: English
- Type: Thesis , Masters , MA
- Identifier: http://hdl.handle.net/10962/3377 , vital:20478
- Description: This thesis engages with experiential performance modes through the lenses of phenomenology and affect theory. Because experiential performance relies per definition on personal, subjective ‘experience’, specific responses cannot be anticipated. However, by attempting to compose ‘affect’, a performance has the potential to ‘move’ an attendant towards response. Deleuze and Guattari define ‘affect’ as “an ability to affect and be affected….a prepersonal intensity corresponding to the passage from one experiential state of the body to another and implying an augmentation or diminution in that body’s capacity to act” (1987: xvi). One current strategy for manifesting affect in performance seems to be the ways in which different configurations of body, sound and technology are employed. The body is the means through which sound is received or ‘experienced’ in the phenomenological sense, but it can also act as a source for sonic material. The body is furthermore the means by which sonic technology is manipulated. It is the complex, reverberating relationships between body, sound and technology, and their potential for eliciting affective transformation, which is the focus of my enquiry. In the first chapter I unpack the roles of the natural phenomena, body and sound, and their complex relationships to affect. The chapter serves as philosophical basis for the rest of the investigation, and draws largely on works by philosophers Susan Kozel, Maurice Merleau-Ponty, Brian Massumi, Gille Deleuze and Félix Guatarri and sound theorists Don Ihde, Marshall McLuhan, Brandon LaBelle and Frances Dyson.In the remaining three chapters I discuss current South African theatre works that employ the strategy of placing emphasis on sound, sonic technology, and its relationship to the human body. These works are my own piece herTz (2014), Jaco Bouwer’s pieces Samsa-masjien (2014) and Na-aap (2013), and First Physical Theatre Company’s Everyday Falling (2010). While they range from being plays to physical theatre performances to performative experiments, they all place specific emphasis on sonic devices, drawing attention to sound by revealing microphones, speakers, midi boards, etc. to the attendants, and including the generation and manipulation of sound in the action of the performance.
- Full Text:
- Date Issued: 2016
Constructing a local approach to journalism education: a study of Zambian educators’ conceptualisation of the ideal journalism curriculum
- Authors: Milupi, Mulako
- Date: 2016
- Language: English
- Type: Thesis , Masters , MA
- Identifier: vital:3552 , http://hdl.handle.net/10962/d1021228
- Description: This research is an investigation of Zambian journalism educators’ conception of the knowledge, competencies and values that should inform their teaching practice. The study establishes how such educators conceptualise of the purpose of journalism education within the Zambian context. As part of this examination, it identifies characteristics of this context that educators regard to be of relevance to their conceptualisation of such purpose. It then identifies what they understand as the implications for the design of the ideal journalism education curriculum. The study assesses the relevance of these perspectives to the teaching of journalism in Zambia, as an example of an African country with a ‘developing’ economy. The study draws for its theoretical framework on journalism studies generally and scholarship about journalism education more specifically. It is argued that a review of the global history of journalism education points to the existence of three main traditions of teaching that have developed internationally. The first of these traditions is described as being dedicated to the project of ‘professionalisation’; the second to the production of ‘critical practitioners’, and the third to the project of ‘social development’. These traditions are based on different understandings with regard to the principles on which journalism education programmes should be based and the kind of knowledge that they should draw on. It is noted that this body of literature does not include extensive research of the way in which particular groups of African journalism educators respond to these traditions. In order to contribute to such research, the empirical component of this study sets out to explore Zambian journalism educators’ conceptualisation of journalism education within their own social context. It does so by means of an exploration of journalism educators based, respectively, at the Evelyn Hone College of Applied Arts (EHC) and the University of Zambia (UNZA)’s Mass Communication Department. The foremost conclusion of the research is that both the professionalising and developmental tradition can be observed to influence the participants’ discussion.
- Full Text:
- Date Issued: 2016
- Authors: Milupi, Mulako
- Date: 2016
- Language: English
- Type: Thesis , Masters , MA
- Identifier: vital:3552 , http://hdl.handle.net/10962/d1021228
- Description: This research is an investigation of Zambian journalism educators’ conception of the knowledge, competencies and values that should inform their teaching practice. The study establishes how such educators conceptualise of the purpose of journalism education within the Zambian context. As part of this examination, it identifies characteristics of this context that educators regard to be of relevance to their conceptualisation of such purpose. It then identifies what they understand as the implications for the design of the ideal journalism education curriculum. The study assesses the relevance of these perspectives to the teaching of journalism in Zambia, as an example of an African country with a ‘developing’ economy. The study draws for its theoretical framework on journalism studies generally and scholarship about journalism education more specifically. It is argued that a review of the global history of journalism education points to the existence of three main traditions of teaching that have developed internationally. The first of these traditions is described as being dedicated to the project of ‘professionalisation’; the second to the production of ‘critical practitioners’, and the third to the project of ‘social development’. These traditions are based on different understandings with regard to the principles on which journalism education programmes should be based and the kind of knowledge that they should draw on. It is noted that this body of literature does not include extensive research of the way in which particular groups of African journalism educators respond to these traditions. In order to contribute to such research, the empirical component of this study sets out to explore Zambian journalism educators’ conceptualisation of journalism education within their own social context. It does so by means of an exploration of journalism educators based, respectively, at the Evelyn Hone College of Applied Arts (EHC) and the University of Zambia (UNZA)’s Mass Communication Department. The foremost conclusion of the research is that both the professionalising and developmental tradition can be observed to influence the participants’ discussion.
- Full Text:
- Date Issued: 2016
Construction project manager health and safety interventions towards improving workers' performance
- Authors: Ayessaki, Winn-Yam Houdou
- Date: 2016
- Subjects: Construction industry -- Management -- Health aspects Construction workers -- Health aspects -- South Africa Construction workers -- Safety measures
- Language: English
- Type: Thesis , Masters , MSc
- Identifier: http://hdl.handle.net/10948/12275 , vital:27050
- Description: Optimum construction worker (CW) performance is required to achieve project delivery within project parameters. It is not always the case as CWs are regularly exposed to hazards, involved in accidents, their productivity is poor, they suffer from ill health, suffer from work-related musculoskeletal disorders (WMSDs) and contractors lack resources to allocate towards H&S. However, the lack or the absence of health and safety (H&S) measures, which the aforementioned depend on, has a negative impact on workers’ performance. Two descriptive surveys were conducted among professional construction project managers (CPMs) registered with the South African Council for Project and Construction Management Professions (SACPCMP) and general contractors (GCs) registered with the East Cape Master Builders Association (ECMBA). Interviews were also conducted with CPMs registered with the SACPCMP residing in the Nelson Mandela Bay metropolitan area. The salient findings include: • Accidents, which occur on construction sites, impact workers’ performance; • Inadequate H&S implementation affects both CW skills and motivation, which in turn affects their performance; • Poor constructability is relevant to H&S and CWs’ skills; • Provision and maintenance of welfare facilities are commonly inadequate and affect workers’ performance, and • Projects do not benefit from the adequate financial provision for H&S. It was concluded that exposure to hazards, poor site conditions, inadequate provision of welfare facilities, WMSDs, and insufficient financial provision for H&S affect workers’ performance by either incapacitating or demotivating them. Recommendations include : CPMs should make better use of their influence on clients; they should improve communication channels between project stakeholders; legislators need to raise awareness regarding H&S and worker welfare, and training and education institutions need to empower workers and professionals with H&S knowledge.
- Full Text:
- Date Issued: 2016
- Authors: Ayessaki, Winn-Yam Houdou
- Date: 2016
- Subjects: Construction industry -- Management -- Health aspects Construction workers -- Health aspects -- South Africa Construction workers -- Safety measures
- Language: English
- Type: Thesis , Masters , MSc
- Identifier: http://hdl.handle.net/10948/12275 , vital:27050
- Description: Optimum construction worker (CW) performance is required to achieve project delivery within project parameters. It is not always the case as CWs are regularly exposed to hazards, involved in accidents, their productivity is poor, they suffer from ill health, suffer from work-related musculoskeletal disorders (WMSDs) and contractors lack resources to allocate towards H&S. However, the lack or the absence of health and safety (H&S) measures, which the aforementioned depend on, has a negative impact on workers’ performance. Two descriptive surveys were conducted among professional construction project managers (CPMs) registered with the South African Council for Project and Construction Management Professions (SACPCMP) and general contractors (GCs) registered with the East Cape Master Builders Association (ECMBA). Interviews were also conducted with CPMs registered with the SACPCMP residing in the Nelson Mandela Bay metropolitan area. The salient findings include: • Accidents, which occur on construction sites, impact workers’ performance; • Inadequate H&S implementation affects both CW skills and motivation, which in turn affects their performance; • Poor constructability is relevant to H&S and CWs’ skills; • Provision and maintenance of welfare facilities are commonly inadequate and affect workers’ performance, and • Projects do not benefit from the adequate financial provision for H&S. It was concluded that exposure to hazards, poor site conditions, inadequate provision of welfare facilities, WMSDs, and insufficient financial provision for H&S affect workers’ performance by either incapacitating or demotivating them. Recommendations include : CPMs should make better use of their influence on clients; they should improve communication channels between project stakeholders; legislators need to raise awareness regarding H&S and worker welfare, and training and education institutions need to empower workers and professionals with H&S knowledge.
- Full Text:
- Date Issued: 2016
Construction small and medium enterprise development
- Authors: Mbambe, Putumani
- Date: 2016
- Subjects: Construction industry -- Management Small business -- South Africa -- Port Elizabeth Building -- Development
- Language: English
- Type: Thesis , Masters , MSc
- Identifier: http://hdl.handle.net/10948/11681 , vital:26950
- Description: The objective of this treatise study was to determine the leading causes which limit the development of SMME contractors, to ascertain the accessibility of SMME incubators available to support SMME development and to identify the cause of poor management performance by SMME contractors based in the Nelson Mandela Bay Metropolitan Municipality. A qualitative method was adopted for this study. The primary data was collected using a structured interview guide which incorporated the sub problems and the research questions. The salient findings of this study are: SMME contractors are unaware of the available business information and government support programmes designed to assist them; SMME contractors do not receive capital from banks when they don‟t have collateral; Desperation to secure projects among SMME contractors is the leading cause for under-pricing; SMME contractors are still paid later than the 30 day period for completed work; SMME owners who had started their construction companies lacked training and do not have the relevant experience and knowledge required to manage a construction company. In summary the study concluded that SMME who have access to capital have high growth prospects than those that have not. Accessibility to information and awareness of available opportunities remains significant for the growth of SMMEs. Construction related knowledge and training for SMME owners contributes vastly to the success of SMME companies. The study recommended that; Government needs to promote the accessibility of SMME incubators and ensure institutions designed to assist SMMEs with finance are accessible; The effectiveness of current development programs for small enterprises and skills development programs should be reviewed; MMBM should setup a mentoring program to help train SMME contractors theoretically and practically; NMBM local government should promote women to own SMMEs in order to close the gap of inequality in the built environment; Banks must work with government institutions to ensure that they are able to fund SMMEs.
- Full Text:
- Date Issued: 2016
- Authors: Mbambe, Putumani
- Date: 2016
- Subjects: Construction industry -- Management Small business -- South Africa -- Port Elizabeth Building -- Development
- Language: English
- Type: Thesis , Masters , MSc
- Identifier: http://hdl.handle.net/10948/11681 , vital:26950
- Description: The objective of this treatise study was to determine the leading causes which limit the development of SMME contractors, to ascertain the accessibility of SMME incubators available to support SMME development and to identify the cause of poor management performance by SMME contractors based in the Nelson Mandela Bay Metropolitan Municipality. A qualitative method was adopted for this study. The primary data was collected using a structured interview guide which incorporated the sub problems and the research questions. The salient findings of this study are: SMME contractors are unaware of the available business information and government support programmes designed to assist them; SMME contractors do not receive capital from banks when they don‟t have collateral; Desperation to secure projects among SMME contractors is the leading cause for under-pricing; SMME contractors are still paid later than the 30 day period for completed work; SMME owners who had started their construction companies lacked training and do not have the relevant experience and knowledge required to manage a construction company. In summary the study concluded that SMME who have access to capital have high growth prospects than those that have not. Accessibility to information and awareness of available opportunities remains significant for the growth of SMMEs. Construction related knowledge and training for SMME owners contributes vastly to the success of SMME companies. The study recommended that; Government needs to promote the accessibility of SMME incubators and ensure institutions designed to assist SMMEs with finance are accessible; The effectiveness of current development programs for small enterprises and skills development programs should be reviewed; MMBM should setup a mentoring program to help train SMME contractors theoretically and practically; NMBM local government should promote women to own SMMEs in order to close the gap of inequality in the built environment; Banks must work with government institutions to ensure that they are able to fund SMMEs.
- Full Text:
- Date Issued: 2016
Consumer decision-making processes for scholar transportation in South African cities: the case of Johannesburg and Pretoria
- Authors: Letsholonyane, Nelly
- Date: 2016
- Subjects: Consumer behavior -- South Africa -- Johannesburg Consumer behavior -- South Africa -- Pretoria
- Language: English
- Type: Thesis , Masters , MBA
- Identifier: http://hdl.handle.net/10948/13283 , vital:27171
- Description: Scholar transport in South Africa remains an area that needs to be addressed in the interest of all communities, rich and poor alike. The National Development Plan 2030, provides a clarion call for nation building to develop highly knowledgeable South African citizens for building innovative capacity for the nation as a whole(NDP, 2014).
- Full Text: false
- Date Issued: 2016
- Authors: Letsholonyane, Nelly
- Date: 2016
- Subjects: Consumer behavior -- South Africa -- Johannesburg Consumer behavior -- South Africa -- Pretoria
- Language: English
- Type: Thesis , Masters , MBA
- Identifier: http://hdl.handle.net/10948/13283 , vital:27171
- Description: Scholar transport in South Africa remains an area that needs to be addressed in the interest of all communities, rich and poor alike. The National Development Plan 2030, provides a clarion call for nation building to develop highly knowledgeable South African citizens for building innovative capacity for the nation as a whole(NDP, 2014).
- Full Text: false
- Date Issued: 2016
Consumer perceptions and microbial quality of meat sold in the informal markets of Nkonkobe and Buffalo City municipalities in the Eastern province, South Africa
- Authors: Mazizi, Bulelani Elvis
- Date: 2016
- Subjects: Meat -- Quality -- South Africa --Eastern Cape
- Language: English
- Type: Thesis , Masters , MSc
- Identifier: http://hdl.handle.net/10353/15365 , vital:40401
- Description: The main objective of the study was to determine consumer perceptions and microbial quality of meat sold in the informal markets found in Nkonkobe and Buffalo City Municipalities in the Eastern Cape Province, South Africa. To determine consumer perceptions of the quality of the meat and meat products sold in the informal markets in Nkonkobe and Buffalo City Municipalities, a survey was conducted. A total of 160 consumers from two municipalities in the Eastern Cape (EC) Province of South Africa was randomly sampled and interviewed. A questionnaire was used to gather information about consumer perceptions of meat and meat products sold in the informal markets regarding their knowledge about safety, food-borne diseases, hygiene, and the quality of the meat among others. The study showed that Alice Town has a larger (66.25percent) proportion of consumers with knowledge about foodborne diseases while King Williams’s Town had a larger proportion (48.75percent) of respondents who had no knowledge about Food-borne diseases. However, a large proportion of consumers in King Williams’s Town considered vendor (82.5percent) and environmental hygiene (93.75percent) than in Alice Town. Consumers (83.75percent) in King Williams’s Town viewed the meat from street vendors to be of low quality while a small proportion (18.75percent) of consumers in Alice Town viewed it as the meat of good quality. Alice had a large proportion (61.25percent) of consumers, which had knowledge of the meat safety law than King Williams’s Town. More consumers from King Williams’s Town (31.25percent) agreed that government plays a role while Alice had a small proportion (26.25percent) which disagreed. The results also showed that consumer perceptions about the safety of meat and meat products are focused more on hygiene, neglecting other important aspects such as vending infrastructure. However, most consumers do not have enough knowledge concerning meat safety. The second study determined the microbial quality of meat sold by street vendors based in Alice and Kind Williams Town in the Eastern Cape Province South Africa. A total of 48 fresh and uncooked meat samples (beef, pork, and mutton), 48 surface contact plates and 40 water samples was collected from 4 street vendors from each town for microbial analysis (n=48). After collection, all samples were subjected to Aerobic plate count (APC), Salmonella spp, Staphylococcus aureus (Staph) and Escherichia coli (E. coli). The results revealed that Salmonella spp tested negative across all the meat samples used in the study. However, no significant differences were found in the microbial quality of meat sold by street vendors in Alice and King Williams town. Furthermore, there were no significant differences (P>0.05) between the APC of raw beef (4.8 Log CFU/g), mutton (3.7 Log CFU/g) and pork (2.8 Log CFU/g) and also the cooked beef (1.5 Log CFU/g), mutton (1.3 Log CFU/g) and pork (1.9 Log CFU/g) samples. A similar trend was observed in the values of Staphylococcus aureus (Staph) and Escherichia coli (E. coli) counts in raw and cooked meat samples. However, a positive correlation between Aerobic plate counts (APC) and Staphylococcus aureus (Staph) (P<0.001) and Escherichia coli (E. coli) (P<0.01) was found in the study. It can, therefore, be concluded that there were no differences in the microbial counts of raw and cooked meat sold in the informal markets of Nkonkobe and Buffalo City Municipalities in the Eastern Cape Province, South Africa.
- Full Text:
- Date Issued: 2016
- Authors: Mazizi, Bulelani Elvis
- Date: 2016
- Subjects: Meat -- Quality -- South Africa --Eastern Cape
- Language: English
- Type: Thesis , Masters , MSc
- Identifier: http://hdl.handle.net/10353/15365 , vital:40401
- Description: The main objective of the study was to determine consumer perceptions and microbial quality of meat sold in the informal markets found in Nkonkobe and Buffalo City Municipalities in the Eastern Cape Province, South Africa. To determine consumer perceptions of the quality of the meat and meat products sold in the informal markets in Nkonkobe and Buffalo City Municipalities, a survey was conducted. A total of 160 consumers from two municipalities in the Eastern Cape (EC) Province of South Africa was randomly sampled and interviewed. A questionnaire was used to gather information about consumer perceptions of meat and meat products sold in the informal markets regarding their knowledge about safety, food-borne diseases, hygiene, and the quality of the meat among others. The study showed that Alice Town has a larger (66.25percent) proportion of consumers with knowledge about foodborne diseases while King Williams’s Town had a larger proportion (48.75percent) of respondents who had no knowledge about Food-borne diseases. However, a large proportion of consumers in King Williams’s Town considered vendor (82.5percent) and environmental hygiene (93.75percent) than in Alice Town. Consumers (83.75percent) in King Williams’s Town viewed the meat from street vendors to be of low quality while a small proportion (18.75percent) of consumers in Alice Town viewed it as the meat of good quality. Alice had a large proportion (61.25percent) of consumers, which had knowledge of the meat safety law than King Williams’s Town. More consumers from King Williams’s Town (31.25percent) agreed that government plays a role while Alice had a small proportion (26.25percent) which disagreed. The results also showed that consumer perceptions about the safety of meat and meat products are focused more on hygiene, neglecting other important aspects such as vending infrastructure. However, most consumers do not have enough knowledge concerning meat safety. The second study determined the microbial quality of meat sold by street vendors based in Alice and Kind Williams Town in the Eastern Cape Province South Africa. A total of 48 fresh and uncooked meat samples (beef, pork, and mutton), 48 surface contact plates and 40 water samples was collected from 4 street vendors from each town for microbial analysis (n=48). After collection, all samples were subjected to Aerobic plate count (APC), Salmonella spp, Staphylococcus aureus (Staph) and Escherichia coli (E. coli). The results revealed that Salmonella spp tested negative across all the meat samples used in the study. However, no significant differences were found in the microbial quality of meat sold by street vendors in Alice and King Williams town. Furthermore, there were no significant differences (P>0.05) between the APC of raw beef (4.8 Log CFU/g), mutton (3.7 Log CFU/g) and pork (2.8 Log CFU/g) and also the cooked beef (1.5 Log CFU/g), mutton (1.3 Log CFU/g) and pork (1.9 Log CFU/g) samples. A similar trend was observed in the values of Staphylococcus aureus (Staph) and Escherichia coli (E. coli) counts in raw and cooked meat samples. However, a positive correlation between Aerobic plate counts (APC) and Staphylococcus aureus (Staph) (P<0.001) and Escherichia coli (E. coli) (P<0.01) was found in the study. It can, therefore, be concluded that there were no differences in the microbial counts of raw and cooked meat sold in the informal markets of Nkonkobe and Buffalo City Municipalities in the Eastern Cape Province, South Africa.
- Full Text:
- Date Issued: 2016
Controls on the distribution of manganese in banded iron-formations (BIF) of the palaeoproterozoic transvaal supergroup, South Africa
- Authors: Fryer, Lindi
- Date: 2016
- Language: English
- Type: Thesis , Masters , MSc
- Identifier: http://hdl.handle.net/10962/2926 , vital:20343
- Description: The 2.65 to 2.05 Ga Transvaal Supergroup comprises one of the best-preserved and largely continuous successions in the world of Banded Iron-Formation (BIF), a chemical sedimentary rock composed of fine (mm to cm scale) interbanded iron-rich and iron-poor bands, developed atop the Archaean Kaapvaal Craton of southern Africa. The Transvaal BIF sequence contains at its upper stratigraphic part, an intriguing interlayered BIF-Mn association, namely the Hotazel Formation in the Kalahari Manganese Field, which constitutes the largest land-based manganese deposit on record. The genesis of the Hotazel deposits, and their exact significance in terms of atmosphere-hydrosphere-biosphere evolution, remain as elusive as they are challenging. In this thesis, an attempt is made to illuminate the origin and diagenesis of the Hotazel Formation and its post-depositional hydrothermal modification, through a highresolution geochemical study of the narrowest of the three BIF-Mn sedimentary cycles present in the Hotazel stratigraphy. This approach is coupled with a preliminary geochemical study of the distribution of Mn in older BIF of the Transvaal Supergroup as well (Kuruman and Griquatown Formations), so as to test recent models that causally link all BIFs in the Transvaal Supergroup under a common and evolving palaeo-environment of deposition. The results indicate that the cyclic deposition of the Hotazel BIF and enveloped Mn-rich sediments would have taken place in a stratified basin with a well-developed chemocline in terms of the vertical distributions of Mn and Fe, much like recent anoxic stratified basins such as the Orca Basin in the Gulf of Mexico. The increased Mn abundances as Mn-bearing ferrous carbonates in the upper part of the Griquatown BIF predating the Hotazel strata, also seems to lend support to the notion that the two BIFs are temporally interlinked as part of a broader sedimentary continuum. Finally, the largely conservative behaviour of Mn and associated elements during hydrothermal alteration of the Hotazel rocks is re-assessed, and renewed emphasis is placed on the possibility that brine metasomatism may have been a key factor in Mn redistribution and residual enrichment.
- Full Text:
- Date Issued: 2016
- Authors: Fryer, Lindi
- Date: 2016
- Language: English
- Type: Thesis , Masters , MSc
- Identifier: http://hdl.handle.net/10962/2926 , vital:20343
- Description: The 2.65 to 2.05 Ga Transvaal Supergroup comprises one of the best-preserved and largely continuous successions in the world of Banded Iron-Formation (BIF), a chemical sedimentary rock composed of fine (mm to cm scale) interbanded iron-rich and iron-poor bands, developed atop the Archaean Kaapvaal Craton of southern Africa. The Transvaal BIF sequence contains at its upper stratigraphic part, an intriguing interlayered BIF-Mn association, namely the Hotazel Formation in the Kalahari Manganese Field, which constitutes the largest land-based manganese deposit on record. The genesis of the Hotazel deposits, and their exact significance in terms of atmosphere-hydrosphere-biosphere evolution, remain as elusive as they are challenging. In this thesis, an attempt is made to illuminate the origin and diagenesis of the Hotazel Formation and its post-depositional hydrothermal modification, through a highresolution geochemical study of the narrowest of the three BIF-Mn sedimentary cycles present in the Hotazel stratigraphy. This approach is coupled with a preliminary geochemical study of the distribution of Mn in older BIF of the Transvaal Supergroup as well (Kuruman and Griquatown Formations), so as to test recent models that causally link all BIFs in the Transvaal Supergroup under a common and evolving palaeo-environment of deposition. The results indicate that the cyclic deposition of the Hotazel BIF and enveloped Mn-rich sediments would have taken place in a stratified basin with a well-developed chemocline in terms of the vertical distributions of Mn and Fe, much like recent anoxic stratified basins such as the Orca Basin in the Gulf of Mexico. The increased Mn abundances as Mn-bearing ferrous carbonates in the upper part of the Griquatown BIF predating the Hotazel strata, also seems to lend support to the notion that the two BIFs are temporally interlinked as part of a broader sedimentary continuum. Finally, the largely conservative behaviour of Mn and associated elements during hydrothermal alteration of the Hotazel rocks is re-assessed, and renewed emphasis is placed on the possibility that brine metasomatism may have been a key factor in Mn redistribution and residual enrichment.
- Full Text:
- Date Issued: 2016
Cosmological structure formation using spectral methods
- Authors: Funcke, Michelle
- Date: 2016
- Language: English
- Type: Thesis , Masters , MSc
- Identifier: http://hdl.handle.net/10962/2969 , vital:20348
- Description: Numerical simulations are becoming an increasingly important tool for understanding the growth and development of structure in the universe. Common practice is to discretize the space-time using physical variables. The discreteness is embodied by considering the dynamical variables as fields on a fixed spatial and time resolution, or by constructing the matter fields by a large number of particles which interact gravitationally (N-body methods). Recognizing that the physical quantities of interest are related to the spectrum of perturbations, we propose an alternate discretization in the frequency domain, using standard spectral methods. This approach is further aided by periodic boundary conditions which allows a straightforward decomposition of variables in a Fourier basis. Fixed resources require a high-frequency cut-off which lead to aliasing effects in non-linear equations, such as the ones considered here. This thesis describes the implementation of a 3D cosmological model based on Newtonian hydrodynamic equations in an expanding background. Initial data is constructed as a spectrum of perturbations, and evolved in the frequency domain using a pseudo-spectral evolution scheme and an explicit Runge-Kutta time integrator. The code is found to converge for both linear and non-linear evolutions, and the convergence rate is determined. The correct growth rates expected from analytical calculations are recovered in the linear case. In the non-linear model, we observe close correspondence with linear growth and are able to monitor the growth on features associated with the non-linearity. High-frequency aliasing effects were evident in the non-linear evolutions, leading to a study of two potential resolutions to this problem: a boxcar filter which adheres to“Orszag’s two thirds rule” and an exponential window function, the exponential filter suggested by Hou and Li [1], and a shifted version of the exponential filter suggested, which has the potential to alleviate high frequency- ripples resulting from the Gibbs’ phenomenon. We found that the filters were somewhat successful at reducing aliasing effects but that the Gibbs’ phenomenon could not be entirely removed by the choice of filters.
- Full Text:
- Date Issued: 2016
- Authors: Funcke, Michelle
- Date: 2016
- Language: English
- Type: Thesis , Masters , MSc
- Identifier: http://hdl.handle.net/10962/2969 , vital:20348
- Description: Numerical simulations are becoming an increasingly important tool for understanding the growth and development of structure in the universe. Common practice is to discretize the space-time using physical variables. The discreteness is embodied by considering the dynamical variables as fields on a fixed spatial and time resolution, or by constructing the matter fields by a large number of particles which interact gravitationally (N-body methods). Recognizing that the physical quantities of interest are related to the spectrum of perturbations, we propose an alternate discretization in the frequency domain, using standard spectral methods. This approach is further aided by periodic boundary conditions which allows a straightforward decomposition of variables in a Fourier basis. Fixed resources require a high-frequency cut-off which lead to aliasing effects in non-linear equations, such as the ones considered here. This thesis describes the implementation of a 3D cosmological model based on Newtonian hydrodynamic equations in an expanding background. Initial data is constructed as a spectrum of perturbations, and evolved in the frequency domain using a pseudo-spectral evolution scheme and an explicit Runge-Kutta time integrator. The code is found to converge for both linear and non-linear evolutions, and the convergence rate is determined. The correct growth rates expected from analytical calculations are recovered in the linear case. In the non-linear model, we observe close correspondence with linear growth and are able to monitor the growth on features associated with the non-linearity. High-frequency aliasing effects were evident in the non-linear evolutions, leading to a study of two potential resolutions to this problem: a boxcar filter which adheres to“Orszag’s two thirds rule” and an exponential window function, the exponential filter suggested by Hou and Li [1], and a shifted version of the exponential filter suggested, which has the potential to alleviate high frequency- ripples resulting from the Gibbs’ phenomenon. We found that the filters were somewhat successful at reducing aliasing effects but that the Gibbs’ phenomenon could not be entirely removed by the choice of filters.
- Full Text:
- Date Issued: 2016
Creating evidence-based guidelines for healthy eating educational campaigns aimed at low-income South Africans: a case study of Grahamstown
- Authors: Booth, Christopher
- Date: 2016
- Language: English
- Type: Thesis , Masters , MA
- Identifier: http://hdl.handle.net/10962/3336 , vital:20485
- Description: Through a literature review and qualitative research, this study explores what a media-centric nutritional intervention needs to include in order to be effective amongst those whose health is most impacted by poor nutrition – poorer and mostly black South Africans. The study sketches the current nutritional landscape of South Africa, and draws on both Behaviour Change Communication and Media Effect theories to hypothesise how a campaign might be devised to change popular understandings of the relationship between health and nutrition, and inspire some change in food consumption behaviours and choices. The study explores the key factors that drive nutritional behaviours (including the environmental constraint of cost, the peer pressure and socialisation of food, and the desire for knowledge and change) and explores how media-based interventions could be more effective. To do this, this study creates three layers of an idealised and hypothetical “Super 7” fruit and vegetable consumption promotion campaign. From this data, and the insights developed, new guidelines for possible future nutritional education campaigns are suggested and developed.
- Full Text:
- Date Issued: 2016
- Authors: Booth, Christopher
- Date: 2016
- Language: English
- Type: Thesis , Masters , MA
- Identifier: http://hdl.handle.net/10962/3336 , vital:20485
- Description: Through a literature review and qualitative research, this study explores what a media-centric nutritional intervention needs to include in order to be effective amongst those whose health is most impacted by poor nutrition – poorer and mostly black South Africans. The study sketches the current nutritional landscape of South Africa, and draws on both Behaviour Change Communication and Media Effect theories to hypothesise how a campaign might be devised to change popular understandings of the relationship between health and nutrition, and inspire some change in food consumption behaviours and choices. The study explores the key factors that drive nutritional behaviours (including the environmental constraint of cost, the peer pressure and socialisation of food, and the desire for knowledge and change) and explores how media-based interventions could be more effective. To do this, this study creates three layers of an idealised and hypothetical “Super 7” fruit and vegetable consumption promotion campaign. From this data, and the insights developed, new guidelines for possible future nutritional education campaigns are suggested and developed.
- Full Text:
- Date Issued: 2016