The influence of legislation and regulations on strategy in public entities
- Authors: Govender, Kasavan
- Date: 2018
- Subjects: Government business enterprises -- Law and legislation -- South Africa -- Eastern Cape , Government corporations -- Law and legislation -- South Africa -- Eastern Cape Industrial development projects -- South Africa -- Eastern Cape
- Language: English
- Type: Thesis , Doctoral , DPhil
- Identifier: http://hdl.handle.net/10948/22178 , vital:29866
- Description: While citizens require products and services to meet their needs, government goes about designing systems and processes to meet that need through the setting of goals and objectives. Many methods are adopted for that to happen. However, one of the ways that this occurs is through legislation and regulations and the formation of public entities. On the other hand, strategy is needed to devise techniques and plans to meet needs, goals and aspirations of government in the most efficient manner. At face value it would seem that the enactment of certain legislation and regulations seems to make the need for strategy obsolete especially since there is proliferation of national, provincial and local strategies that only need implementation. The purpose of this research is to determine the influence of legislation and regulations on strategy in public entities focusing on the Eastern Cape Province and using the Eastern Cape Development Corporation as a case study. The study focused on the assessment of the relationship between the public entities and the shareholder through the use of legislation and regulations. The context for the research is prefixed on creating an understanding of the public administrative system and especially the components of the New Public Management approach that deal with the principal-agent and public choice theory. The study assessed the public administrative system and its relationships in order to locate the use of legislation and regulations and public entities to deliver products and services to citizens. Likewise the concept of strategy was examined from three perspectives namely that strategy is about goal consciousness, strategy involves leadership and strategy is multifaceted in its nature. In order to undertake the study a document review was conducted on the legislation and regulations, semi-structured interviews were held with the principal or shareholder and a questionnaire was administered to executives and senior managers in public entities in the Eastern Cape Province. The findings revealed that there is a relationship between legislation and regulations and strategy on the one hand and on the other strategy appears to be ineffective due to a lack of planning, key role players’ involvement in the process, leadership, inflexible compliance and restrictive conditions. The research further found that strategy involves implementation of legislation and regulations which support the rise of the regulatory state. The study proposes a normative model that is built around defining the nature of strategy and predetermining the definition of roles in the system.
- Full Text:
- Date Issued: 2018
- Authors: Govender, Kasavan
- Date: 2018
- Subjects: Government business enterprises -- Law and legislation -- South Africa -- Eastern Cape , Government corporations -- Law and legislation -- South Africa -- Eastern Cape Industrial development projects -- South Africa -- Eastern Cape
- Language: English
- Type: Thesis , Doctoral , DPhil
- Identifier: http://hdl.handle.net/10948/22178 , vital:29866
- Description: While citizens require products and services to meet their needs, government goes about designing systems and processes to meet that need through the setting of goals and objectives. Many methods are adopted for that to happen. However, one of the ways that this occurs is through legislation and regulations and the formation of public entities. On the other hand, strategy is needed to devise techniques and plans to meet needs, goals and aspirations of government in the most efficient manner. At face value it would seem that the enactment of certain legislation and regulations seems to make the need for strategy obsolete especially since there is proliferation of national, provincial and local strategies that only need implementation. The purpose of this research is to determine the influence of legislation and regulations on strategy in public entities focusing on the Eastern Cape Province and using the Eastern Cape Development Corporation as a case study. The study focused on the assessment of the relationship between the public entities and the shareholder through the use of legislation and regulations. The context for the research is prefixed on creating an understanding of the public administrative system and especially the components of the New Public Management approach that deal with the principal-agent and public choice theory. The study assessed the public administrative system and its relationships in order to locate the use of legislation and regulations and public entities to deliver products and services to citizens. Likewise the concept of strategy was examined from three perspectives namely that strategy is about goal consciousness, strategy involves leadership and strategy is multifaceted in its nature. In order to undertake the study a document review was conducted on the legislation and regulations, semi-structured interviews were held with the principal or shareholder and a questionnaire was administered to executives and senior managers in public entities in the Eastern Cape Province. The findings revealed that there is a relationship between legislation and regulations and strategy on the one hand and on the other strategy appears to be ineffective due to a lack of planning, key role players’ involvement in the process, leadership, inflexible compliance and restrictive conditions. The research further found that strategy involves implementation of legislation and regulations which support the rise of the regulatory state. The study proposes a normative model that is built around defining the nature of strategy and predetermining the definition of roles in the system.
- Full Text:
- Date Issued: 2018
Roads and their effects in fynbos of the south-eastern Cape: implications for conservation and management of road verge vegetation
- Authors: Grobler, Barend Adriaan
- Date: 2018
- Subjects: Plant ecology -- South Africa , Ecology -- South Africa Ecology -- Research -- South Africa Conservation biology -- South Africa
- Language: English
- Type: Thesis , Doctoral , DPhil
- Identifier: http://hdl.handle.net/10948/30105 , vital:30825
- Description: Roads are some of the most conspicuous and pervasive conduits of human influence in modern landscapes. Over the past three decades, there has been a growing interest in the ecological effects of roads. These effects are numerous and generally deleterious, but much of our current knowledge on the matter stems from research conducted in North America, Britain, and Europe, where the focus has been on animal components of ecosystems. There is, however, a need for a plant dimension in road ecology, especially in those areas where plant biodiversity, and threats to this biodiversity, are concentrated. The research presented in this thesis aimed to further our understanding of road effects on the plant component of fynbos ecosystems in the megadiverse Cape Floristic Region (CFR). The exceptional plant diversity of the Cape and the presence of an extensive road network in the region present an ideal system for studying the interactions of roads and plants. Road verges have been emphasised as valuable habitats for plants. However, to assess the viability of road verges as habitats for fynbos plants, we first need to understand how these communities are influenced by the disturbances that exist in these environments. To this end, I investigated fynbos plant communities along roads and showed that road-mediated changes in the soil environment can bring about subtle changes in their composition while key components of the communities persist in road verges. Even though fynbos community patterns remain intact in road verges, the ecological processes that facilitate the persistence of plant species may be disrupted in these environments. As such, I studied the pollination of an ornithophilous plant in road verges and fynbos fragments of a highly transformed landscape. Here, landscape context was an important determining factor in the visitation rate of birds to plants in verges, with those occurring next to transformed land experiencing reduced visitation rates. Furthermore, I studied the pollination and fecundity of a highly threatened entomophilous plant and showed that, while there were no impacts on reproductive output of plants, road effects bolstered the reproductive growth of plants near the road. ii Finally, I implement the road-effect distances identified in the above studies to estimate the proportion of extant fynbos vegetation that may be impacted by roads. While the proportion of vegetation affected by roads is small, a substantial proportion is in close proximity to roads, potentially rendering large areas vulnerable to road-mediated human impacts. I further highlight the fact that several plant species of conservation concern in the Cape are affected by roads, and that many of these constitute a significant proportion of South Africa’s threatened flora. A case study from the N2 national road in the south-eastern Cape, where vegetation in road verges is in a better condition than that of adjacent, demonstrates the potential conservation value of road verges for fynbos vegetation in the region.
- Full Text:
- Date Issued: 2018
- Authors: Grobler, Barend Adriaan
- Date: 2018
- Subjects: Plant ecology -- South Africa , Ecology -- South Africa Ecology -- Research -- South Africa Conservation biology -- South Africa
- Language: English
- Type: Thesis , Doctoral , DPhil
- Identifier: http://hdl.handle.net/10948/30105 , vital:30825
- Description: Roads are some of the most conspicuous and pervasive conduits of human influence in modern landscapes. Over the past three decades, there has been a growing interest in the ecological effects of roads. These effects are numerous and generally deleterious, but much of our current knowledge on the matter stems from research conducted in North America, Britain, and Europe, where the focus has been on animal components of ecosystems. There is, however, a need for a plant dimension in road ecology, especially in those areas where plant biodiversity, and threats to this biodiversity, are concentrated. The research presented in this thesis aimed to further our understanding of road effects on the plant component of fynbos ecosystems in the megadiverse Cape Floristic Region (CFR). The exceptional plant diversity of the Cape and the presence of an extensive road network in the region present an ideal system for studying the interactions of roads and plants. Road verges have been emphasised as valuable habitats for plants. However, to assess the viability of road verges as habitats for fynbos plants, we first need to understand how these communities are influenced by the disturbances that exist in these environments. To this end, I investigated fynbos plant communities along roads and showed that road-mediated changes in the soil environment can bring about subtle changes in their composition while key components of the communities persist in road verges. Even though fynbos community patterns remain intact in road verges, the ecological processes that facilitate the persistence of plant species may be disrupted in these environments. As such, I studied the pollination of an ornithophilous plant in road verges and fynbos fragments of a highly transformed landscape. Here, landscape context was an important determining factor in the visitation rate of birds to plants in verges, with those occurring next to transformed land experiencing reduced visitation rates. Furthermore, I studied the pollination and fecundity of a highly threatened entomophilous plant and showed that, while there were no impacts on reproductive output of plants, road effects bolstered the reproductive growth of plants near the road. ii Finally, I implement the road-effect distances identified in the above studies to estimate the proportion of extant fynbos vegetation that may be impacted by roads. While the proportion of vegetation affected by roads is small, a substantial proportion is in close proximity to roads, potentially rendering large areas vulnerable to road-mediated human impacts. I further highlight the fact that several plant species of conservation concern in the Cape are affected by roads, and that many of these constitute a significant proportion of South Africa’s threatened flora. A case study from the N2 national road in the south-eastern Cape, where vegetation in road verges is in a better condition than that of adjacent, demonstrates the potential conservation value of road verges for fynbos vegetation in the region.
- Full Text:
- Date Issued: 2018
Motivation for landscape stewardship as a driver of change-Garden Route, South Africa
- Authors: Heider, Lisa
- Date: 2018
- Subjects: Social ecology , Environmental psychology Conservation (Psychology)
- Language: English
- Type: Thesis , Doctoral , DPhil
- Identifier: http://hdl.handle.net/10948/30116 , vital:30826
- Description: Stewardship, as portrayed in much of contemporary literature is considered as a key to the sustainability challenges of the biosphere. In disciplines which regard sustainability in the context of Social Ecological Systems (SES), stewardship is associated with the goal of building resilience through the informal governance structures that dictate how the landscape is utilized. These disciplines lack a better integration of individual roles and responsibilities as they relate to their daily interactions with the environment. Formally initiated stewardship can evoke maladaptation, in other words the attempts to conserve a specific natural assets in one particular locality can shift the problem of degradation or exploitation to another place or point in time. This is because the individual, as an inevitable driver of unsustainability, has not been addressed. What is needed is the knowledge of strategies which resolve human disconnection from nature and the biosphere, through a greater focus on the individual motivational scale. In Chapter 2, which consists of a literature review of recent stewardship discourses, I extract alternative theories which consider individual motivation and subjectivity as the underlying drivers of resilience. These include knowledge about Sense of Place, and theories from Conservation Psychology. Basic Human Value theory is also presented as a possible entry point for societal transformation through individual motivation. These ought to inform conservation interventions with mechanisms which truly grasp unsustainability at its roots. This is a place-based, qualitative study where the results assist in interrogating the question: How does individual motivation for stewardship mediate socialecological trajectories of change? The context of the study and the methods used to generate my research findings are presented in Chapter 3 and 4. The Garden Route provides the place-based context for this research and is situated in the Western Cape Province of South Africa. The region is home to diverse cultures representative of Western and indigenous regions who meet and negotiate what it means to care for the environment. The area is biologically rich and ecologically highly sensitive to current trajectories of development, fragmentation and global change. Mixed methods and a qualitative approach was used to answer three sub-questions: (1) Which theories facilitate greater understanding of transformative stewardship pathways? (2) How can a transformative pathway be recognized? and (3) How can transformative pathways be pursued? One method used in this study is a photo-voice technique, which is coupled with self-directed journaling and in-depth interviews. Other sources of data include communication and engagement, observations iii and focus groups. I apply a content analysis to the transcribed qualitative data to resolve the research questions. Research results are presented in Chapter 5. In this empirical chapter I present three competing meanings of stewardship and visions for change held by individuals in the Garden Route. The three meanings are described as: protect nature from human influence (Nature despite People); work together and communicate (Nature for People/Nature and People); and be the change you want to see in this world (People in Nature). The variable which best describes the differences in visions is Critical Connectivity. Resilience in a SES is critically dependent on three levels of connectivity in stewardship. Firstly, individuals’ consciousness of being interrelated and interdependent within a community of life; Secondly, expressions in the physical landscape which promote the connectivity of ecological systems as well as the connectivity between people and nature. Thirdly, Connectedness with the Biosphere, which means that the boundaries of the planet and the functioning of the life-supporting earth system are considered in behaviours. I use Basic Human Value theory to test whether it can explain how the differences between and commonalities within the three groups arise. The results support the theory, suggesting that Basic Human Values underlie individual motivation for stewardship. However, inconsistencies and shortcomings of Basic Human Value theory became evident. I identified new values and value combinations which were not made explicit in the framework. These emerged due to my in-depth qualitative approach, as opposed to the common quantitative uses of the framework. The qualitative approach allows for values to emerge inductively and it elicits nuances of individual value interpretations that the definitions of Basic Human Values do not depict. In the second part of the empirical chapter, I present evidence of maladaptive and transformative stewardship pathways in the Garden Route. A maladaptive pathway is one in which individuals’ expression of care for the environment undermines Critical Connectivity and transfers vulnerabilities in the SES. A transformative pathway is one in which individuals pro-actively invest into Critical Connectivity and enhance resilience. The differences in these pathways are directly related to the differences in motivation. iv The findings of this research reveal that stewardship is the act of ‘place creation’ which is motivated by unique and nuanced differences in basic values and individual consciousness. Recognizable features of transformative and maladaptive stewardship pathways are discussed in Chapter 6. I present a conceptual model that critically evaluates stewardship. This model firstly assists researchers and practitioners to become alert to early warning signs of maladaptive pathways. Secondly, it informs them of potential leverage points for interventions which can induce sustainability transformations. I then apply this model to discuss transformative and maladaptive pathways against the backdrop of my findings and the literature. The elements which emerged as critical in this assessment are risk perceptions, stewardship meaning, connectivity with nature, connectedness with the biosphere, relationship with place, sustenance and identity. Different configurations of each indicator help explain the different pathways. Lastly, I discuss the role of Basic Human Values in each of the pathways. I compare how the motivational orientation towards self-enhancement and self-transcendence, or towards openness to change and conservation, play roles in SES resilience. This discussion brings to the surface the fact that transformative stewardship rests on a combination of these four value categories. In contrast, the absence of self-transcendent values and the presence of power, security and conformity underlie the motivation for maladaptation. I leave the reader with suggestions for interventions which have become relevant as a result of my study. Policy, media, conservation agencies and science shape meanings of stewardship, portray social norms and hence must motivate Critical Connectivity. Transformations can be achieved by targeting changes in values which must include autonomy, universalism, benevolence and spirituality. I discuss how policy and planning, communication, marketing and education can lever transformation through mechanisms identified in my research. Chapter 7 concludes this research with a reflective summary of the academic and practical contributions my study has made for stewardship discourses and for the management of SES resilience in local landscapes. I provide recommendations for further research, as they apply to socio-political change in Post-Apartheid South Africa. I end the concluding chapter by encapsulating my research finding in future scenarios for the Garden Route in the face of change, which namely relate to abrupt and uncertain environmental change, immigration, population growth and implications for spatial planning, and the Garden Route Biosphere Reserve. v In Chapter 8, I provide a reflection of this research. This entails foremost a reflection of how I have accounted for four quality criteria in social research, which are namely dependability, credibility, conformability and transferability. I end the chapter with the limitations and outline of scope of my study..
- Full Text:
- Date Issued: 2018
- Authors: Heider, Lisa
- Date: 2018
- Subjects: Social ecology , Environmental psychology Conservation (Psychology)
- Language: English
- Type: Thesis , Doctoral , DPhil
- Identifier: http://hdl.handle.net/10948/30116 , vital:30826
- Description: Stewardship, as portrayed in much of contemporary literature is considered as a key to the sustainability challenges of the biosphere. In disciplines which regard sustainability in the context of Social Ecological Systems (SES), stewardship is associated with the goal of building resilience through the informal governance structures that dictate how the landscape is utilized. These disciplines lack a better integration of individual roles and responsibilities as they relate to their daily interactions with the environment. Formally initiated stewardship can evoke maladaptation, in other words the attempts to conserve a specific natural assets in one particular locality can shift the problem of degradation or exploitation to another place or point in time. This is because the individual, as an inevitable driver of unsustainability, has not been addressed. What is needed is the knowledge of strategies which resolve human disconnection from nature and the biosphere, through a greater focus on the individual motivational scale. In Chapter 2, which consists of a literature review of recent stewardship discourses, I extract alternative theories which consider individual motivation and subjectivity as the underlying drivers of resilience. These include knowledge about Sense of Place, and theories from Conservation Psychology. Basic Human Value theory is also presented as a possible entry point for societal transformation through individual motivation. These ought to inform conservation interventions with mechanisms which truly grasp unsustainability at its roots. This is a place-based, qualitative study where the results assist in interrogating the question: How does individual motivation for stewardship mediate socialecological trajectories of change? The context of the study and the methods used to generate my research findings are presented in Chapter 3 and 4. The Garden Route provides the place-based context for this research and is situated in the Western Cape Province of South Africa. The region is home to diverse cultures representative of Western and indigenous regions who meet and negotiate what it means to care for the environment. The area is biologically rich and ecologically highly sensitive to current trajectories of development, fragmentation and global change. Mixed methods and a qualitative approach was used to answer three sub-questions: (1) Which theories facilitate greater understanding of transformative stewardship pathways? (2) How can a transformative pathway be recognized? and (3) How can transformative pathways be pursued? One method used in this study is a photo-voice technique, which is coupled with self-directed journaling and in-depth interviews. Other sources of data include communication and engagement, observations iii and focus groups. I apply a content analysis to the transcribed qualitative data to resolve the research questions. Research results are presented in Chapter 5. In this empirical chapter I present three competing meanings of stewardship and visions for change held by individuals in the Garden Route. The three meanings are described as: protect nature from human influence (Nature despite People); work together and communicate (Nature for People/Nature and People); and be the change you want to see in this world (People in Nature). The variable which best describes the differences in visions is Critical Connectivity. Resilience in a SES is critically dependent on three levels of connectivity in stewardship. Firstly, individuals’ consciousness of being interrelated and interdependent within a community of life; Secondly, expressions in the physical landscape which promote the connectivity of ecological systems as well as the connectivity between people and nature. Thirdly, Connectedness with the Biosphere, which means that the boundaries of the planet and the functioning of the life-supporting earth system are considered in behaviours. I use Basic Human Value theory to test whether it can explain how the differences between and commonalities within the three groups arise. The results support the theory, suggesting that Basic Human Values underlie individual motivation for stewardship. However, inconsistencies and shortcomings of Basic Human Value theory became evident. I identified new values and value combinations which were not made explicit in the framework. These emerged due to my in-depth qualitative approach, as opposed to the common quantitative uses of the framework. The qualitative approach allows for values to emerge inductively and it elicits nuances of individual value interpretations that the definitions of Basic Human Values do not depict. In the second part of the empirical chapter, I present evidence of maladaptive and transformative stewardship pathways in the Garden Route. A maladaptive pathway is one in which individuals’ expression of care for the environment undermines Critical Connectivity and transfers vulnerabilities in the SES. A transformative pathway is one in which individuals pro-actively invest into Critical Connectivity and enhance resilience. The differences in these pathways are directly related to the differences in motivation. iv The findings of this research reveal that stewardship is the act of ‘place creation’ which is motivated by unique and nuanced differences in basic values and individual consciousness. Recognizable features of transformative and maladaptive stewardship pathways are discussed in Chapter 6. I present a conceptual model that critically evaluates stewardship. This model firstly assists researchers and practitioners to become alert to early warning signs of maladaptive pathways. Secondly, it informs them of potential leverage points for interventions which can induce sustainability transformations. I then apply this model to discuss transformative and maladaptive pathways against the backdrop of my findings and the literature. The elements which emerged as critical in this assessment are risk perceptions, stewardship meaning, connectivity with nature, connectedness with the biosphere, relationship with place, sustenance and identity. Different configurations of each indicator help explain the different pathways. Lastly, I discuss the role of Basic Human Values in each of the pathways. I compare how the motivational orientation towards self-enhancement and self-transcendence, or towards openness to change and conservation, play roles in SES resilience. This discussion brings to the surface the fact that transformative stewardship rests on a combination of these four value categories. In contrast, the absence of self-transcendent values and the presence of power, security and conformity underlie the motivation for maladaptation. I leave the reader with suggestions for interventions which have become relevant as a result of my study. Policy, media, conservation agencies and science shape meanings of stewardship, portray social norms and hence must motivate Critical Connectivity. Transformations can be achieved by targeting changes in values which must include autonomy, universalism, benevolence and spirituality. I discuss how policy and planning, communication, marketing and education can lever transformation through mechanisms identified in my research. Chapter 7 concludes this research with a reflective summary of the academic and practical contributions my study has made for stewardship discourses and for the management of SES resilience in local landscapes. I provide recommendations for further research, as they apply to socio-political change in Post-Apartheid South Africa. I end the concluding chapter by encapsulating my research finding in future scenarios for the Garden Route in the face of change, which namely relate to abrupt and uncertain environmental change, immigration, population growth and implications for spatial planning, and the Garden Route Biosphere Reserve. v In Chapter 8, I provide a reflection of this research. This entails foremost a reflection of how I have accounted for four quality criteria in social research, which are namely dependability, credibility, conformability and transferability. I end the chapter with the limitations and outline of scope of my study..
- Full Text:
- Date Issued: 2018
Design of a dedicated IFT microcontroller
- Authors: Himunzowa, Grayson
- Date: 2018
- Subjects: Feedback control systems , Automatic control , Engineering design -- Data processing
- Language: English
- Type: Thesis , Doctoral , DPhil
- Identifier: http://hdl.handle.net/10948/30017 , vital:30809
- Description: The design of a Dedicated IFT Microcontroller originated from the successful implementation of the Iterative Feedback Tuning (IFT) technique into the Digital Signal Processor microcontroller (DSP56F807C) at the University of Cape Town in 2006. However, implementation of the IFT technique on a general-purpose microcontroller is neither optimal, nor a cost-effective exercise, as most of the microcontroller peripherals remain unused, and drain energy for doing nothing. In addition, microcontrollers and DSPs are software-driven devices whose nature is sequential in executing algorithms, and hence have a significant effect on the bandwidth of the closed-loop control. To mitigate the said problem, the design of a Dedicated IFT Microcontroller is proposed in this thesis. To accomplish this goal, the preliminary task was to explore the IFT theory and its applications, followed by a review of the literature on FPGA design methodology for industrial control systems, Microcontroller design principles, and FPGA theory and trends. Furthermore, a survey of electronic design automation (EDA) tools and other application software was also conducted. After the literature review, the IFT was investigated exhaustively by applying it to three types of plants, namely: a DC motor, an oscillatory plant, and an unstable plant. Each of these plants were tested using three types of initial controllers, namely heavilydamped, critically damped and under-damped initial controllers. The plants were also tested by varying the amplitude of the reference signal, followed by using a single-step signal of constant amplitude of one volt. The intention of exploring all of these possibilities was meant to firmly expose the IFT boundaries of applicability, so that the final product would not be vulnerable to unnecessary post-production discoveries. The design methodology adopted in this research was a popular hierarchical and modular top-down procedure, which is an array of abstraction levels that are detailed as: system level, behavioural level, Register-Transfer Level (RTL) and Gate level. At system level, the Dedicated IFT Microcontroller was defined. Thereafter, at behavioural level, the design was simulated using VHDL, created by porting the LabView IFT code to the Xilinx EDA tool. At the RTL, the synthesisable VHDL code utilising fixed-point number representation was written. The compiled bit file was downloaded onto National Instruments (NI) Digital Electronics FPGA Board featuring iii the Spartan 3 series FPGA. This was tested, using a method known as simulation in the hardware. The key contribution of this thesis is the experimental validation of the IFT technique on FPGA hardware as it has never been published before, the work described in chapter four and five. The other contribution is the analysis of 1DOF IFT technique in terms of limitations of applicability for correct implementation, which is the main work of chapter three. This work could be used to explore other computational methods, like the use of floating-point number representation for high resolution and accuracy in numerical computations. Another avenue that could be exploited is Xilinx's recent Vivado methodology, which has the capacity for traditional programming languages like C or C++, as these have in-built floating-point number capability. Finally, out of this work, two papers have already been published by Springer and IEEE Xplore Publishers, and a journal paper has also been written for publication in the Control Systems Technology journal.
- Full Text:
- Date Issued: 2018
- Authors: Himunzowa, Grayson
- Date: 2018
- Subjects: Feedback control systems , Automatic control , Engineering design -- Data processing
- Language: English
- Type: Thesis , Doctoral , DPhil
- Identifier: http://hdl.handle.net/10948/30017 , vital:30809
- Description: The design of a Dedicated IFT Microcontroller originated from the successful implementation of the Iterative Feedback Tuning (IFT) technique into the Digital Signal Processor microcontroller (DSP56F807C) at the University of Cape Town in 2006. However, implementation of the IFT technique on a general-purpose microcontroller is neither optimal, nor a cost-effective exercise, as most of the microcontroller peripherals remain unused, and drain energy for doing nothing. In addition, microcontrollers and DSPs are software-driven devices whose nature is sequential in executing algorithms, and hence have a significant effect on the bandwidth of the closed-loop control. To mitigate the said problem, the design of a Dedicated IFT Microcontroller is proposed in this thesis. To accomplish this goal, the preliminary task was to explore the IFT theory and its applications, followed by a review of the literature on FPGA design methodology for industrial control systems, Microcontroller design principles, and FPGA theory and trends. Furthermore, a survey of electronic design automation (EDA) tools and other application software was also conducted. After the literature review, the IFT was investigated exhaustively by applying it to three types of plants, namely: a DC motor, an oscillatory plant, and an unstable plant. Each of these plants were tested using three types of initial controllers, namely heavilydamped, critically damped and under-damped initial controllers. The plants were also tested by varying the amplitude of the reference signal, followed by using a single-step signal of constant amplitude of one volt. The intention of exploring all of these possibilities was meant to firmly expose the IFT boundaries of applicability, so that the final product would not be vulnerable to unnecessary post-production discoveries. The design methodology adopted in this research was a popular hierarchical and modular top-down procedure, which is an array of abstraction levels that are detailed as: system level, behavioural level, Register-Transfer Level (RTL) and Gate level. At system level, the Dedicated IFT Microcontroller was defined. Thereafter, at behavioural level, the design was simulated using VHDL, created by porting the LabView IFT code to the Xilinx EDA tool. At the RTL, the synthesisable VHDL code utilising fixed-point number representation was written. The compiled bit file was downloaded onto National Instruments (NI) Digital Electronics FPGA Board featuring iii the Spartan 3 series FPGA. This was tested, using a method known as simulation in the hardware. The key contribution of this thesis is the experimental validation of the IFT technique on FPGA hardware as it has never been published before, the work described in chapter four and five. The other contribution is the analysis of 1DOF IFT technique in terms of limitations of applicability for correct implementation, which is the main work of chapter three. This work could be used to explore other computational methods, like the use of floating-point number representation for high resolution and accuracy in numerical computations. Another avenue that could be exploited is Xilinx's recent Vivado methodology, which has the capacity for traditional programming languages like C or C++, as these have in-built floating-point number capability. Finally, out of this work, two papers have already been published by Springer and IEEE Xplore Publishers, and a journal paper has also been written for publication in the Control Systems Technology journal.
- Full Text:
- Date Issued: 2018
Dimensions of a memorable experience within a marine tourism context
- Authors: Jonas, Altouise Glowdean
- Date: 2018
- Subjects: Customer relations -- Management , Customer relations Relationship marketing Tourism -- Environmental aspects Coastal zone management -- Environmental aspects
- Language: English
- Type: Thesis , Doctoral , DPhil
- Identifier: http://hdl.handle.net/10948/30540 , vital:30958
- Description: Worldwide, businesses are operating in an environment which is continuously changing, forcing them to adapt their strategies in order to remain competitive. Two changes were of particular importance to this study. Firstly, businesses are faced with an increasing demand from consumers for experiences as opposed to products and services. Secondly, consumers are demanding experiences that are not just ordinary, but are unique and memorable. As one of the largest and most diverse industries globally, tourism offers a multitude of tourist activities. Marine tourism is one of the oldest, most popular and fastest developing types of tourism globally. Marine tourism has also become popular in South Africa. This popularity might be attributed to the country’s expansive coastline and to it being home to one of the most diverse marine systems in the world. Marine tourism makes significant contributions to South Africa’s economy. More benefits can be derived from this lucrative type of tourism if attention is given to the design and provision of marine tourism experiences that go beyond average experiences, and become memorable experiences. The reason for conducting this research was to provide the South African tourism industry, and marine tourism operators in particular, with information which might assist them in designing and staging memorable experiences. Such memorable experiences could result in a competitive advantage and enable the operators to attract more customers, which in turn, will benefit the individual operators, the industry as a whole, and ultimately, the South African economy. The study focused on three marine tourism activities, namely; shark-diving, visits to marine protected areas and whale-watching. Eight dimensions, namely; Delight, Hedonism, Involvement, Knowledge, Meaningfulness, Novelty, Refreshment and Social-Interaction were identified as prospective dimensions of a memorable experience within a marine tourism context. v The study employed purposive, convenience and snowball sampling to identify potential respondents. Primary data was collected by means of an online survey and paper-based self-administered questionnaires. Four hundred and forty-four useable responses were received. The results of the empirical study showed a positive correlation between all the dimensions and memorable experience for each of the three activities and for all the activities combined. A second order factor analysis showed that the eight dimensions loaded onto two factors. The resulting factors were named as the Affective Domain (consisting of Hedonism, Refreshment, Delight and Involvement) and the Cognitive Domain (consisting of Knowledge, Social- Interaction, Meaningfulness and Novelty). A positive relationship was found between the Affective Domain and Memorable Experience and also between the Cognitive Domain and Memorable Experience. The Cognitive domain showed a stronger relationship with Memorable Experience than what the Affective Domain did, for all the activities combined. The memorability of an experience in the case of all three activities combined can, firstly, be improved by Involvement. This is closely followed by the following dimensions in the Affective Domain; Delight, Hedonism and Refreshment. Under the Cognitive Domain the factor which is most important for improving memorability of all the activities combined is Meaningfulness, followed by Knowledge, Novelty and Social-Interaction. Finally, structural equation modelling confirmed a model representing the eight experience dimensions (Delight, Hedonism, Involvement, Knowledge, Meaningfulness, Novelty, Refreshment and Social-Interaction) and identified the relationships between the dimensions and Memorable Experience. This study makes four important contributions. Firstly, it contributes to the under-researched topic of marine tourism in South Africa. Secondly, it adds to the literature on memorable tourism experiences, specifically memorable marine tourism experiences and provides a measurement instrument and framework for further research. Thirdly, the study identifies and confirms that ‘delight’ is an important dimension of a memorable marine tourism experience. vi Lastly, a model was developed which can be used by marine tourism operators to enhance their strategies, operations and facilities which will enable operators to achieve a sustainable competitive advantage.
- Full Text:
- Date Issued: 2018
- Authors: Jonas, Altouise Glowdean
- Date: 2018
- Subjects: Customer relations -- Management , Customer relations Relationship marketing Tourism -- Environmental aspects Coastal zone management -- Environmental aspects
- Language: English
- Type: Thesis , Doctoral , DPhil
- Identifier: http://hdl.handle.net/10948/30540 , vital:30958
- Description: Worldwide, businesses are operating in an environment which is continuously changing, forcing them to adapt their strategies in order to remain competitive. Two changes were of particular importance to this study. Firstly, businesses are faced with an increasing demand from consumers for experiences as opposed to products and services. Secondly, consumers are demanding experiences that are not just ordinary, but are unique and memorable. As one of the largest and most diverse industries globally, tourism offers a multitude of tourist activities. Marine tourism is one of the oldest, most popular and fastest developing types of tourism globally. Marine tourism has also become popular in South Africa. This popularity might be attributed to the country’s expansive coastline and to it being home to one of the most diverse marine systems in the world. Marine tourism makes significant contributions to South Africa’s economy. More benefits can be derived from this lucrative type of tourism if attention is given to the design and provision of marine tourism experiences that go beyond average experiences, and become memorable experiences. The reason for conducting this research was to provide the South African tourism industry, and marine tourism operators in particular, with information which might assist them in designing and staging memorable experiences. Such memorable experiences could result in a competitive advantage and enable the operators to attract more customers, which in turn, will benefit the individual operators, the industry as a whole, and ultimately, the South African economy. The study focused on three marine tourism activities, namely; shark-diving, visits to marine protected areas and whale-watching. Eight dimensions, namely; Delight, Hedonism, Involvement, Knowledge, Meaningfulness, Novelty, Refreshment and Social-Interaction were identified as prospective dimensions of a memorable experience within a marine tourism context. v The study employed purposive, convenience and snowball sampling to identify potential respondents. Primary data was collected by means of an online survey and paper-based self-administered questionnaires. Four hundred and forty-four useable responses were received. The results of the empirical study showed a positive correlation between all the dimensions and memorable experience for each of the three activities and for all the activities combined. A second order factor analysis showed that the eight dimensions loaded onto two factors. The resulting factors were named as the Affective Domain (consisting of Hedonism, Refreshment, Delight and Involvement) and the Cognitive Domain (consisting of Knowledge, Social- Interaction, Meaningfulness and Novelty). A positive relationship was found between the Affective Domain and Memorable Experience and also between the Cognitive Domain and Memorable Experience. The Cognitive domain showed a stronger relationship with Memorable Experience than what the Affective Domain did, for all the activities combined. The memorability of an experience in the case of all three activities combined can, firstly, be improved by Involvement. This is closely followed by the following dimensions in the Affective Domain; Delight, Hedonism and Refreshment. Under the Cognitive Domain the factor which is most important for improving memorability of all the activities combined is Meaningfulness, followed by Knowledge, Novelty and Social-Interaction. Finally, structural equation modelling confirmed a model representing the eight experience dimensions (Delight, Hedonism, Involvement, Knowledge, Meaningfulness, Novelty, Refreshment and Social-Interaction) and identified the relationships between the dimensions and Memorable Experience. This study makes four important contributions. Firstly, it contributes to the under-researched topic of marine tourism in South Africa. Secondly, it adds to the literature on memorable tourism experiences, specifically memorable marine tourism experiences and provides a measurement instrument and framework for further research. Thirdly, the study identifies and confirms that ‘delight’ is an important dimension of a memorable marine tourism experience. vi Lastly, a model was developed which can be used by marine tourism operators to enhance their strategies, operations and facilities which will enable operators to achieve a sustainable competitive advantage.
- Full Text:
- Date Issued: 2018
Evaluating the impact of energy policies on sustainable development in South Africa
- Authors: Julius, Ibitoye Oyebanji
- Date: 2018
- Subjects: Energy policy -- South Africa , Sustainable development -- South Africa Renewable energy sources -- South Africa Sustainable living -- South Africa
- Language: English
- Type: Thesis , Doctoral , DPhil
- Identifier: http://hdl.handle.net/10948/30440 , vital:30944
- Description: The unachieved targets of the Millennium Development Goals (MDGs) at the end of 2015 by some developing countries including South Africa, lead to the evolution of the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). Ensuring access to sustainable, affordable, and modern energy is one of the 17 SDGs that the countries are expected to achieve before the end of 2030. Green growth is an important strategy for attaining this goal and a pathway to achieving the other goals. Therefore, an empirical study of the impact of energy policies on sustainable development is pertinent. Despite the importance of such research, there exists a gap in the literature relating to green growth and sustainable development from the SDGs point of view. This study fills the existing lacuna by developing an intertemporal holistic model which allows a study of the impact of energy policies on sustainable development in relation to the SDGs. Specifically, this thesis employs the Autoregressive Distributed Lag (ARDL) and Toda-Yamamoto approaches to analyse the long-run relationship and direction of causality respectively between green growth policies and sustainable development in South Africa from 1984 to 2016. This research provides insights into the importance of green growth for factors such as deforestation, fuel exports, energy imports and agricultural development, thus adding to the existing literature on the impact of renewable energy on a country’s social, environmental and economic conditions. Results from the analysis of the long-run relationship between green growth and macroeconomic variables, indicate a positive unidirectional relationship between changes in green growth policies and gross capital formation. This finding suggests that adopting green growth policies leads to increased investments. In contrast, green growth was found to have a negative effect on national income (gross domestic product). However, the Granger causality tests do not establish causality between these variables. Although green growth policies stimulate investments, high start-up costs associated with the implementation of these policies may mean that the resultant higher investments are yet to be translated to higher income levels in the South African economy. The findings indicate a boost in the South African balance of payment within the study period iv iv as evidenced by the positive long-run relationship between green growth policies and fuel exports. Additionally, the results indicate that green growth energy policies have assisted in improving the resilience to international oil price shocks as shown in the negative and significant long-run relationship between green growth and energy imports. With regard to environmental variables, results suggest a substitutability effect between green growth policies and the consumption of non-renewable energy. However, no evidence is found on the impact of green growth policies on the levels of deforestation and carbon dioxide(CO2) emissions, as well as natural resource depletion. In relation to the social variables, adoption of green growth policies was found to lead to improved educational quality, with causality running in both directions. This finding supports the feedback hypothesis. Similarly, green growth policies had a positive impact on agricultural development, again with causality established in both directions. The outcome of the long-run relationship between green energy consumption and unemployment shows that the green growth policies is yet to have a significant impact on unemployment reduction in South Africa. Green growth also has an insignificant and indirect relationship with GDP per capita; this result was affirmed by the absence of causality between GDP per capita and green energy consumption. This research not only makes contributions to the literature on the relevance of green growth policies for achieving economic, social and environmental sustainability, it also suggests possible policy implications which highlight the need for adoption and continued implementation of green growth policies in developing countries such as South Africa.
- Full Text:
- Date Issued: 2018
- Authors: Julius, Ibitoye Oyebanji
- Date: 2018
- Subjects: Energy policy -- South Africa , Sustainable development -- South Africa Renewable energy sources -- South Africa Sustainable living -- South Africa
- Language: English
- Type: Thesis , Doctoral , DPhil
- Identifier: http://hdl.handle.net/10948/30440 , vital:30944
- Description: The unachieved targets of the Millennium Development Goals (MDGs) at the end of 2015 by some developing countries including South Africa, lead to the evolution of the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). Ensuring access to sustainable, affordable, and modern energy is one of the 17 SDGs that the countries are expected to achieve before the end of 2030. Green growth is an important strategy for attaining this goal and a pathway to achieving the other goals. Therefore, an empirical study of the impact of energy policies on sustainable development is pertinent. Despite the importance of such research, there exists a gap in the literature relating to green growth and sustainable development from the SDGs point of view. This study fills the existing lacuna by developing an intertemporal holistic model which allows a study of the impact of energy policies on sustainable development in relation to the SDGs. Specifically, this thesis employs the Autoregressive Distributed Lag (ARDL) and Toda-Yamamoto approaches to analyse the long-run relationship and direction of causality respectively between green growth policies and sustainable development in South Africa from 1984 to 2016. This research provides insights into the importance of green growth for factors such as deforestation, fuel exports, energy imports and agricultural development, thus adding to the existing literature on the impact of renewable energy on a country’s social, environmental and economic conditions. Results from the analysis of the long-run relationship between green growth and macroeconomic variables, indicate a positive unidirectional relationship between changes in green growth policies and gross capital formation. This finding suggests that adopting green growth policies leads to increased investments. In contrast, green growth was found to have a negative effect on national income (gross domestic product). However, the Granger causality tests do not establish causality between these variables. Although green growth policies stimulate investments, high start-up costs associated with the implementation of these policies may mean that the resultant higher investments are yet to be translated to higher income levels in the South African economy. The findings indicate a boost in the South African balance of payment within the study period iv iv as evidenced by the positive long-run relationship between green growth policies and fuel exports. Additionally, the results indicate that green growth energy policies have assisted in improving the resilience to international oil price shocks as shown in the negative and significant long-run relationship between green growth and energy imports. With regard to environmental variables, results suggest a substitutability effect between green growth policies and the consumption of non-renewable energy. However, no evidence is found on the impact of green growth policies on the levels of deforestation and carbon dioxide(CO2) emissions, as well as natural resource depletion. In relation to the social variables, adoption of green growth policies was found to lead to improved educational quality, with causality running in both directions. This finding supports the feedback hypothesis. Similarly, green growth policies had a positive impact on agricultural development, again with causality established in both directions. The outcome of the long-run relationship between green energy consumption and unemployment shows that the green growth policies is yet to have a significant impact on unemployment reduction in South Africa. Green growth also has an insignificant and indirect relationship with GDP per capita; this result was affirmed by the absence of causality between GDP per capita and green energy consumption. This research not only makes contributions to the literature on the relevance of green growth policies for achieving economic, social and environmental sustainability, it also suggests possible policy implications which highlight the need for adoption and continued implementation of green growth policies in developing countries such as South Africa.
- Full Text:
- Date Issued: 2018
Tanzania’s mediation process in the conflict between the Hutu and Tutsi parties in Burundi 1993 -2005: a mediation perspective
- Authors: Kanuwa, Juma Mabasa
- Date: 2018
- Subjects: Mediation -- Tanzania , Mediation -- Burundi Conflict management -- Tanzania Conflict management -- Burundi Hutu (African people) -- Burundi
- Language: English
- Type: Thesis , Doctoral , DPhil
- Identifier: http://hdl.handle.net/10948/30671 , vital:31011
- Description: The goal of this research was to examine Tanzania’s mediation process in the conflict between the Hutu and Tutsi parties in Burundi from 1993 to 2005, from a mediation theoretical perspective. To achieve this, a critical paradigm was used as the way to view the mediation process in the Great Lakes Region. The study also aimed at attaining a grounded theoretical understanding of the topic under study, including an in depth understanding of Tanzania’s history in conflict resolution, the historical causes of Burundi’s deep-rooted social conflict, theories of conflict and conflict resolution, third party intervention and mediation theories and perspectives. This study is underpinned by Bercovitch’s Mediation Framework and its quest for problem-solving. It is a qualitative study that used documentary review, individual interviews and focus group interviews as data-gathering instruments. The selection of the study sample was carried out according to a purposive approach. The data was collected from minutes of meetings, verbatim reports, letters, journals, books, individual interviews and focus group interviews. The findings of the study culminated in three major findings which are: the finding of the first research question on Tanzania’s mediation process that Tanzania’s motivation for mediating stemmed from its traditional foreign policy, the effectiveness of the intervention stemmed from its sound understanding of the root causes of the conflict between the Hutu and Tutsi and because the parties retained ownership of the mediation process. Other success factors were due to the third-party collaboration with International Organizations, and the use of a transformative mediation approach. The finding in respect of the second research question comparing Tanzania’s mediation process with the mediation perspectives of Bercovitch and Burton was that there were similarities which were based on their assumptions in respect of social conflict, responses to conflict, the objectives of mediation, the role of mediator, the mediation action itself, the focus of mediator, timing of mediation and the success of mediation. With regards to the third question, the findings proposed improvements in respect of vii professionalism of the mediator, a change of mediation culture and attitude, the personality of mediators, diplomatic support for mediation and the institutionalisation and consolidation of conflict management. The study concluded by proposing a Professional Integration Mediation Practice (PIMP) framework. The PIMP framework was developed, based on the findings of the study, and anticipates the provision of guidance to mediators and facilitators on the use of a more Professional Integration Mediation Practice approach to facilitate a positive mediation process. The PIMP framework further provides a range of advantages in the process of conflict resolution with respect to deep–rooted social conflict. However, there is a need for agreement of international organizations on the use of professional mediators and facilitators in a mediation process. The PIMP framework can go a long way to effectively resolve deep–rooted social conflicts with the appropriate support of international organisations, and the international community as a whole.
- Full Text:
- Date Issued: 2018
- Authors: Kanuwa, Juma Mabasa
- Date: 2018
- Subjects: Mediation -- Tanzania , Mediation -- Burundi Conflict management -- Tanzania Conflict management -- Burundi Hutu (African people) -- Burundi
- Language: English
- Type: Thesis , Doctoral , DPhil
- Identifier: http://hdl.handle.net/10948/30671 , vital:31011
- Description: The goal of this research was to examine Tanzania’s mediation process in the conflict between the Hutu and Tutsi parties in Burundi from 1993 to 2005, from a mediation theoretical perspective. To achieve this, a critical paradigm was used as the way to view the mediation process in the Great Lakes Region. The study also aimed at attaining a grounded theoretical understanding of the topic under study, including an in depth understanding of Tanzania’s history in conflict resolution, the historical causes of Burundi’s deep-rooted social conflict, theories of conflict and conflict resolution, third party intervention and mediation theories and perspectives. This study is underpinned by Bercovitch’s Mediation Framework and its quest for problem-solving. It is a qualitative study that used documentary review, individual interviews and focus group interviews as data-gathering instruments. The selection of the study sample was carried out according to a purposive approach. The data was collected from minutes of meetings, verbatim reports, letters, journals, books, individual interviews and focus group interviews. The findings of the study culminated in three major findings which are: the finding of the first research question on Tanzania’s mediation process that Tanzania’s motivation for mediating stemmed from its traditional foreign policy, the effectiveness of the intervention stemmed from its sound understanding of the root causes of the conflict between the Hutu and Tutsi and because the parties retained ownership of the mediation process. Other success factors were due to the third-party collaboration with International Organizations, and the use of a transformative mediation approach. The finding in respect of the second research question comparing Tanzania’s mediation process with the mediation perspectives of Bercovitch and Burton was that there were similarities which were based on their assumptions in respect of social conflict, responses to conflict, the objectives of mediation, the role of mediator, the mediation action itself, the focus of mediator, timing of mediation and the success of mediation. With regards to the third question, the findings proposed improvements in respect of vii professionalism of the mediator, a change of mediation culture and attitude, the personality of mediators, diplomatic support for mediation and the institutionalisation and consolidation of conflict management. The study concluded by proposing a Professional Integration Mediation Practice (PIMP) framework. The PIMP framework was developed, based on the findings of the study, and anticipates the provision of guidance to mediators and facilitators on the use of a more Professional Integration Mediation Practice approach to facilitate a positive mediation process. The PIMP framework further provides a range of advantages in the process of conflict resolution with respect to deep–rooted social conflict. However, there is a need for agreement of international organizations on the use of professional mediators and facilitators in a mediation process. The PIMP framework can go a long way to effectively resolve deep–rooted social conflicts with the appropriate support of international organisations, and the international community as a whole.
- Full Text:
- Date Issued: 2018
Uphononongo lwemiba yentlalo inkcubeko noburharha ephembelela ababhali kuthiyo lwabalinganiswa kwiincwadi zedrama zesiXhosa ezichongiweyo
- Authors: Kapa, Nompumelelo
- Date: 2018
- Subjects: Characters and characteristics in literature Xhosa drama
- Language: English
- Type: Thesis , Doctoral , DPhil
- Identifier: http://hdl.handle.net/10353/8440 , vital:32795
- Description: Olu phando luzakuqwalasela iimeko abathi bazilandele ababhali xa bathiya abalinganiswa phantsi kweemeko zenkcubeko noburharha, kwakunye nokubaluleka kwalo gabalala. Oku kuzakwenziwa kuboniswa nenxaxheba elithi liyidlale ebomini. Kuza kuhlalutywa ezi ncwadi zilandelayo:Amaza ngokubhalwe ngu-Z.S. Qangule, Buzani kuBawo ngu-W.K.Tamsanqa Akwaba ng-T.Ntwana, Iziphumo Zodendo ngu-L.E.Menze, Emgxobhozweni ngu-B.B.Mkonto, Yeha Mfazi Obulala Indoda ngu-L.L.Ngewu, Hay’Ukuzenza ngu-C.F.Jaji. Kwezi ncwadi kuzakuhlalutywa iimeko ezilandelwa ngababhali xa bethiya abalinganiswa kunye nendima edlalwa ligama lo mlinganiswa ngamnye ebalini, oku kuza kubonisa indlela ekuthiywa ngayo ekuhlaleni kwakunye nokubaluleka kwegama kumnini lo. Isahluko sokuqala sizakunika amagqabantshintshi ngolu phando. Esi sahlukosiqulathe oku kulandelayo:Ingabula zigcawu ngophando• Imvelaphi ngentsusa yokuthiywa kwegama• Iinjongo zolu phando• Okunye okufunyenweyo kolu phando• Indlela oluza kuqhutywa ngayo olu phando• Iingxaki zolu phando• Imibuzo yolu phando• Amagqabantshintshi ngezahluko zoluphando Isahluko sesibini siqwalasele ithiyori ezakuthi isetyenziswe kolu phando . Oku kwenziwa ngokuthi kuqwalaselwe ukuba bathini abanye ababhali ngothiyo. Isahluko sesithathu luphononongo lwabalinganiswa kwincwadi nganye kwezichongiweyo, kulandelwa inkcubeko neemeko zasekuhlaleni . Isahluko sesine sijonge ubugcisa boburharha obulandelwe ngababhali xa bathiya abalinganiswa, kwiincwadi ezichongiweyo, kwakunye nendima ethi edlalwe ngabalinganiswa ebalini. Isahluko sesihlanu nesisesokugqibela, siveza ulwazi oluthe lwafumaneka kuthiyo ngqo, luthelekisa nothiyo ezincwadini,sishwankathela iziphumo zophando.
- Full Text:
- Date Issued: 2018
- Authors: Kapa, Nompumelelo
- Date: 2018
- Subjects: Characters and characteristics in literature Xhosa drama
- Language: English
- Type: Thesis , Doctoral , DPhil
- Identifier: http://hdl.handle.net/10353/8440 , vital:32795
- Description: Olu phando luzakuqwalasela iimeko abathi bazilandele ababhali xa bathiya abalinganiswa phantsi kweemeko zenkcubeko noburharha, kwakunye nokubaluleka kwalo gabalala. Oku kuzakwenziwa kuboniswa nenxaxheba elithi liyidlale ebomini. Kuza kuhlalutywa ezi ncwadi zilandelayo:Amaza ngokubhalwe ngu-Z.S. Qangule, Buzani kuBawo ngu-W.K.Tamsanqa Akwaba ng-T.Ntwana, Iziphumo Zodendo ngu-L.E.Menze, Emgxobhozweni ngu-B.B.Mkonto, Yeha Mfazi Obulala Indoda ngu-L.L.Ngewu, Hay’Ukuzenza ngu-C.F.Jaji. Kwezi ncwadi kuzakuhlalutywa iimeko ezilandelwa ngababhali xa bethiya abalinganiswa kunye nendima edlalwa ligama lo mlinganiswa ngamnye ebalini, oku kuza kubonisa indlela ekuthiywa ngayo ekuhlaleni kwakunye nokubaluleka kwegama kumnini lo. Isahluko sokuqala sizakunika amagqabantshintshi ngolu phando. Esi sahlukosiqulathe oku kulandelayo:Ingabula zigcawu ngophando• Imvelaphi ngentsusa yokuthiywa kwegama• Iinjongo zolu phando• Okunye okufunyenweyo kolu phando• Indlela oluza kuqhutywa ngayo olu phando• Iingxaki zolu phando• Imibuzo yolu phando• Amagqabantshintshi ngezahluko zoluphando Isahluko sesibini siqwalasele ithiyori ezakuthi isetyenziswe kolu phando . Oku kwenziwa ngokuthi kuqwalaselwe ukuba bathini abanye ababhali ngothiyo. Isahluko sesithathu luphononongo lwabalinganiswa kwincwadi nganye kwezichongiweyo, kulandelwa inkcubeko neemeko zasekuhlaleni . Isahluko sesine sijonge ubugcisa boburharha obulandelwe ngababhali xa bathiya abalinganiswa, kwiincwadi ezichongiweyo, kwakunye nendima ethi edlalwe ngabalinganiswa ebalini. Isahluko sesihlanu nesisesokugqibela, siveza ulwazi oluthe lwafumaneka kuthiyo ngqo, luthelekisa nothiyo ezincwadini,sishwankathela iziphumo zophando.
- Full Text:
- Date Issued: 2018
The effects of environmental variability on the physiology and ecology of Cape stumpnose Rhabdosargus holubi (Steindachner, 1881) (Sparidae)
- Authors: Kisten, Yanasivan
- Date: 2018
- Subjects: Freshwater fishes -- South Africa , Fishes -- Ecology Freshwater fishes -- Ecology Estuarine ecology -- South Africa Estuaries -- South Africa
- Language: English
- Type: Thesis , Doctoral , DPhil
- Identifier: http://hdl.handle.net/10948/31424 , vital:31374
- Description: Estuaries are important nursery areas for early stages of marine estuarine-dependent fishes, such as the sparid Rhabdosargus holubi. Estuaries provide food, shelter from predators and optimal habitats and environmental conditions for growth and development. However, estuaries are environmentally dynamic and resident organisms must be able to adapt to rapid changes. Such changes are potentially further exacerbated anthropogenically by water and land use practices such as freshwater abstraction, impoundment, pollution and anthropogenically driven climatic change. An effective approach to better understanding the current and future impacts of these kinds of changes, is by assessing the environmental adaptability of organisms, especially to extreme conditions such as droughts and resulting water shortages, which are prevalent in some parts of southern Africa. This thesis examines the effect of various environmental changes such as salinity, turbidity and temperature on the ecology and physiology of a South African common endemic fish species, the Cape stumpnose, R. holubi. Previous work on the species have investigated short term impacts on physiology while this study investigates medium to short term impacts. The specie’s wide distribution in South Africa and tolerance enabled a range of environmental, ecological and physiological relationships to be tested in the context of a changing world. These included: 1) determining the relationship between environmental variability and the distribution and abundance of R. holubi larvae in 25 estuaries along the temperate coast of South Africa; 2) determining the relationship between environmental variability and the movement of larvae and juveniles within two permanently open estuaries; 3) determining the impact of shock and acclimatization on R. holubi salinity tolerance ranges under hypersaline conditions; 4) II determining the impact of hypersalinity on the potential long term impacts growth and skeletal deformities of juvenile R. holubi in aquaria. The findings of these studies suggest that larval occurrence and density within estuaries is a function of salinity and turbidity, by proxy indicating a preference for high freshwater inflow especially in estuary types such as permanently open estuaries. The movement of larvae and juveniles within these estuaries is also mediated by salinity, turbidity and temperature, indicating the importance of seasonality along with environmental conditions and potential olfactory recruitment cues driven by freshwater flow. Tolerance experiments showed that slower acclimation to higher salinities can expand the previously reported tolerance range indicating the potential for adaptation. Physiological experiments showed negative impacts on respiration at salinities exceeding 45, indicating potential long-term physiological effects in hypersaline conditions. Further, living at high salinities for extended periods may have potentially negative effects on long term physiology, particularly growth and skeletal development. The overall results indicate that low salinity (5–18), high turbidity (20–30 NTU) and high temperature (5–22°C) are integral to the distribution and abundance of the species in permanently open estuaries. This conforms to the general rule that estuarine-associated marine fish have higher growth rates in salinities of 12-19. However, juveniles are also adapted to survive at higher salinities for long periods (2 months in the current thesis). This explains why R. holubi is one of the few species in the estuarine fish community that may persist during droughts. The predicted future changes in coastal temperatures and rainfall by climate change investigators, are likely to result in range shifts and changes in recruitment times of estuarine fish communities. The current work addresses novel aspects of the ecology and physiology of R. holubi and indicates that this species will play an increasingly important role within the estuaries of South Africa.
- Full Text:
- Date Issued: 2018
- Authors: Kisten, Yanasivan
- Date: 2018
- Subjects: Freshwater fishes -- South Africa , Fishes -- Ecology Freshwater fishes -- Ecology Estuarine ecology -- South Africa Estuaries -- South Africa
- Language: English
- Type: Thesis , Doctoral , DPhil
- Identifier: http://hdl.handle.net/10948/31424 , vital:31374
- Description: Estuaries are important nursery areas for early stages of marine estuarine-dependent fishes, such as the sparid Rhabdosargus holubi. Estuaries provide food, shelter from predators and optimal habitats and environmental conditions for growth and development. However, estuaries are environmentally dynamic and resident organisms must be able to adapt to rapid changes. Such changes are potentially further exacerbated anthropogenically by water and land use practices such as freshwater abstraction, impoundment, pollution and anthropogenically driven climatic change. An effective approach to better understanding the current and future impacts of these kinds of changes, is by assessing the environmental adaptability of organisms, especially to extreme conditions such as droughts and resulting water shortages, which are prevalent in some parts of southern Africa. This thesis examines the effect of various environmental changes such as salinity, turbidity and temperature on the ecology and physiology of a South African common endemic fish species, the Cape stumpnose, R. holubi. Previous work on the species have investigated short term impacts on physiology while this study investigates medium to short term impacts. The specie’s wide distribution in South Africa and tolerance enabled a range of environmental, ecological and physiological relationships to be tested in the context of a changing world. These included: 1) determining the relationship between environmental variability and the distribution and abundance of R. holubi larvae in 25 estuaries along the temperate coast of South Africa; 2) determining the relationship between environmental variability and the movement of larvae and juveniles within two permanently open estuaries; 3) determining the impact of shock and acclimatization on R. holubi salinity tolerance ranges under hypersaline conditions; 4) II determining the impact of hypersalinity on the potential long term impacts growth and skeletal deformities of juvenile R. holubi in aquaria. The findings of these studies suggest that larval occurrence and density within estuaries is a function of salinity and turbidity, by proxy indicating a preference for high freshwater inflow especially in estuary types such as permanently open estuaries. The movement of larvae and juveniles within these estuaries is also mediated by salinity, turbidity and temperature, indicating the importance of seasonality along with environmental conditions and potential olfactory recruitment cues driven by freshwater flow. Tolerance experiments showed that slower acclimation to higher salinities can expand the previously reported tolerance range indicating the potential for adaptation. Physiological experiments showed negative impacts on respiration at salinities exceeding 45, indicating potential long-term physiological effects in hypersaline conditions. Further, living at high salinities for extended periods may have potentially negative effects on long term physiology, particularly growth and skeletal development. The overall results indicate that low salinity (5–18), high turbidity (20–30 NTU) and high temperature (5–22°C) are integral to the distribution and abundance of the species in permanently open estuaries. This conforms to the general rule that estuarine-associated marine fish have higher growth rates in salinities of 12-19. However, juveniles are also adapted to survive at higher salinities for long periods (2 months in the current thesis). This explains why R. holubi is one of the few species in the estuarine fish community that may persist during droughts. The predicted future changes in coastal temperatures and rainfall by climate change investigators, are likely to result in range shifts and changes in recruitment times of estuarine fish communities. The current work addresses novel aspects of the ecology and physiology of R. holubi and indicates that this species will play an increasingly important role within the estuaries of South Africa.
- Full Text:
- Date Issued: 2018
Black women’s narratives of womanhood: before and after hysterectomy
- Kota-Nyati, Phumeza Patricia
- Authors: Kota-Nyati, Phumeza Patricia
- Date: 2018
- Subjects: Hysterectomy -- psychological aspects , Women -- psychological aspects Gender identity Intersectionality (Sociology)
- Language: English
- Type: Thesis , Doctoral , DPhil
- Identifier: http://hdl.handle.net/10948/29995 , vital:30807
- Description: The removal of the uterus, medically referred to as a hysterectomy, is a permanent and irreversible procedure that potentially results in a number of immediate and significant effects. Performing a hysterectomy is at times the only medical option to a long and traumatic history of pelvic pains and surgeries. The decision to undergo this very costly, painful, and life-changing procedure can have an influence on the way women view themselves. Women’s narratives of womanhood before and after hysterectomy need to be understood within the context of women’s socially constructed identities. Gendered identity has been closely linked to genital and/or reproductive organs and the removal of these organs may influence the way women and societies define womanhood.The interpretive paradigm of constructionism with a narrative inquiry design was used as the lens to examine the women’s experiences. In-depth interviews were analysed through thematic analysis. The findings of this research revealed negative experiences resulting from severe symptoms before hysterectomy, exposed multi-layered structures of power and dominance during treatment, and indicated positive outcomes of hysterectomy. The findings should inform medical and allied practitioners regarding hysterectomy as a treatment option and add to the theoretical debate on the relationships between hysterectomy, womanhood, and identity.
- Full Text:
- Date Issued: 2018
- Authors: Kota-Nyati, Phumeza Patricia
- Date: 2018
- Subjects: Hysterectomy -- psychological aspects , Women -- psychological aspects Gender identity Intersectionality (Sociology)
- Language: English
- Type: Thesis , Doctoral , DPhil
- Identifier: http://hdl.handle.net/10948/29995 , vital:30807
- Description: The removal of the uterus, medically referred to as a hysterectomy, is a permanent and irreversible procedure that potentially results in a number of immediate and significant effects. Performing a hysterectomy is at times the only medical option to a long and traumatic history of pelvic pains and surgeries. The decision to undergo this very costly, painful, and life-changing procedure can have an influence on the way women view themselves. Women’s narratives of womanhood before and after hysterectomy need to be understood within the context of women’s socially constructed identities. Gendered identity has been closely linked to genital and/or reproductive organs and the removal of these organs may influence the way women and societies define womanhood.The interpretive paradigm of constructionism with a narrative inquiry design was used as the lens to examine the women’s experiences. In-depth interviews were analysed through thematic analysis. The findings of this research revealed negative experiences resulting from severe symptoms before hysterectomy, exposed multi-layered structures of power and dominance during treatment, and indicated positive outcomes of hysterectomy. The findings should inform medical and allied practitioners regarding hysterectomy as a treatment option and add to the theoretical debate on the relationships between hysterectomy, womanhood, and identity.
- Full Text:
- Date Issued: 2018
Development of a community pharmacy experiential learning programme in a South African context: a design research approach
- Kritiotis, Lia Costas, Thesis Advisor
- Authors: Kritiotis, Lia Costas , Thesis Advisor
- Date: 2018
- Subjects: Pharmacists -- Training of , Experintial training , Community development -- South Africa
- Language: English
- Type: Thesis , Doctoral , DPhil
- Identifier: http://hdl.handle.net/10948/17481 , vital:28353
- Description: Application of the design research approach to devise, develop and optimise an experiential learning programme and adaptation of the Volunteer Functions Inventory (VFI) to understand community pharmacists’ motives, are unique contributions to the global pharmacy education setting. This study generated new theory, in the form of substantive and procedural claims (design principles) regarding experiential learning programmes and preceptor and student motivation in a South African pharmacy educational context, which can be added to the existing international landscape and more importantly, plant the foundational seeds of insight that can be utilised as guiding tools by other South African pharmacy faculties.
- Full Text:
- Date Issued: 2018
- Authors: Kritiotis, Lia Costas , Thesis Advisor
- Date: 2018
- Subjects: Pharmacists -- Training of , Experintial training , Community development -- South Africa
- Language: English
- Type: Thesis , Doctoral , DPhil
- Identifier: http://hdl.handle.net/10948/17481 , vital:28353
- Description: Application of the design research approach to devise, develop and optimise an experiential learning programme and adaptation of the Volunteer Functions Inventory (VFI) to understand community pharmacists’ motives, are unique contributions to the global pharmacy education setting. This study generated new theory, in the form of substantive and procedural claims (design principles) regarding experiential learning programmes and preceptor and student motivation in a South African pharmacy educational context, which can be added to the existing international landscape and more importantly, plant the foundational seeds of insight that can be utilised as guiding tools by other South African pharmacy faculties.
- Full Text:
- Date Issued: 2018
Development and evaluation of the coach-athlete relationship enhancement intervention
- Authors: Kuit, Wim
- Date: 2018
- Subjects: Interpersonal relations , Coaching (Athletics) -- Psychological aspects Sports -- Psychological aspects
- Language: English
- Type: Thesis , Doctoral , DPhil
- Identifier: http://hdl.handle.net/10948/22508 , vital:29989
- Description: An expanding body of sport psychology theory and research has highlighted the central role of the coach-athlete relationship (CAR) in the performance, satisfaction and well-being of coaches as well as athletes. Models have been developed that identify the key dimensions of CAR quality and the interpersonal behaviour that maintains it, but there remains a need for interventions that support coaches and athletes to optimise their interpersonal skills. This can be done by harnessing recent advances in personality theory which emphasise a more holistic and developmental view of the person and provide a basis for greater mutual understanding and adaptive interpersonal behaviour change in the CAR. The aims of this study were to develop the Coach-Athlete Relationship Enhancement (CARE) intervention through an integration of the Enneagram personality typology with current models of the CAR, and then to evaluate the impact of the CARE intervention on CAR quality. Sixty-two university-level athletes and their nine coaches participated in the study. Quantitative and qualitative results indicate that the CARE intervention significantly enhanced CAR quality, including direct and meta-perceptions of closeness, commitment and complementarity, as well as co-orientation. Intervention outcomes included enhanced mutual understanding in the CAR, enhanced self-awareness, enhanced team relationships, and adaptive interpersonal behaviour change. These outcomes were associated with a shared awareness between coaches and athletes of their Enneagram personality type traits and motivations. Coach-athlete relationship quality was further enhanced by re-constructing coaches’ and athletes’ personal narratives based on self-descriptions of Enneagram type strengths, and a redefinition of individuals’ core motivations to incorporate adaptive interpersonal behaviour change.
- Full Text:
- Date Issued: 2018
- Authors: Kuit, Wim
- Date: 2018
- Subjects: Interpersonal relations , Coaching (Athletics) -- Psychological aspects Sports -- Psychological aspects
- Language: English
- Type: Thesis , Doctoral , DPhil
- Identifier: http://hdl.handle.net/10948/22508 , vital:29989
- Description: An expanding body of sport psychology theory and research has highlighted the central role of the coach-athlete relationship (CAR) in the performance, satisfaction and well-being of coaches as well as athletes. Models have been developed that identify the key dimensions of CAR quality and the interpersonal behaviour that maintains it, but there remains a need for interventions that support coaches and athletes to optimise their interpersonal skills. This can be done by harnessing recent advances in personality theory which emphasise a more holistic and developmental view of the person and provide a basis for greater mutual understanding and adaptive interpersonal behaviour change in the CAR. The aims of this study were to develop the Coach-Athlete Relationship Enhancement (CARE) intervention through an integration of the Enneagram personality typology with current models of the CAR, and then to evaluate the impact of the CARE intervention on CAR quality. Sixty-two university-level athletes and their nine coaches participated in the study. Quantitative and qualitative results indicate that the CARE intervention significantly enhanced CAR quality, including direct and meta-perceptions of closeness, commitment and complementarity, as well as co-orientation. Intervention outcomes included enhanced mutual understanding in the CAR, enhanced self-awareness, enhanced team relationships, and adaptive interpersonal behaviour change. These outcomes were associated with a shared awareness between coaches and athletes of their Enneagram personality type traits and motivations. Coach-athlete relationship quality was further enhanced by re-constructing coaches’ and athletes’ personal narratives based on self-descriptions of Enneagram type strengths, and a redefinition of individuals’ core motivations to incorporate adaptive interpersonal behaviour change.
- Full Text:
- Date Issued: 2018
A framework for improving construction workers’ health and safety practices in Lagos, Nigeria
- Authors: Kukoyi, Patricia Omega
- Date: 2018
- Subjects: Construction industry -- Health aspects -- Lagos -- Nigeria , Industrial safety -- Lagos -- Nigeria Sustainable construction -- Lagos -- Nigeria
- Language: English
- Type: Thesis , Doctoral , DPhil
- Identifier: http://hdl.handle.net/10948/30962 , vital:31235
- Description: The construction sector is known for its poor health and safety (H&S) record. This situation contributes to the poor performance of construction projects and poor worker productivity. In view of this, the research was undertaken to improve workers’ H&S practices. This study determined how the systems thinking approach will mitigate unhealthy and unsafe construction practices in Lagos, Nigeria by developing interventions, and proposing a model for improved H&S practices. The study utilised a mixed research method approach. Both quantitative and qualitative methods were used specifically the concurrent embedded method to obtain and analyse the data. The sample size for the quantitative study was 375 respondents and a total of 40 respondents were engaged in the qualitative study. The sample consisted of designers, contractors, clients, quantity surveyors, project managers, construction managers, supervisors, and construction workers (masons, carpenters, painters, roofers, electricians) based in Lagos, Nigeria. The findings reveal that there is inadequate consideration for H&S during the procurement of construction projects. Furthermore, the absence of H&S regulations relating to the construction sector was observed. Unsafe practices at construction sites in Nigeria can be attributed to this discovery. The study reveals that the regulatory system, the organisation, the individual and the work environment all have an impact on H&S work practices. Although the contractors are mainly responsible for H&S at construction sites, other construction stakeholders (such as clients, consultants, etc.) influence H&S practices. The findings highlight the need for the adoption of a holistic approach to facilitate improvement in H&S practices on construction sites. The research has contributed to the body of knowledge by developing a framework for improving workers’ H&S performance on construction sites.
- Full Text:
- Date Issued: 2018
- Authors: Kukoyi, Patricia Omega
- Date: 2018
- Subjects: Construction industry -- Health aspects -- Lagos -- Nigeria , Industrial safety -- Lagos -- Nigeria Sustainable construction -- Lagos -- Nigeria
- Language: English
- Type: Thesis , Doctoral , DPhil
- Identifier: http://hdl.handle.net/10948/30962 , vital:31235
- Description: The construction sector is known for its poor health and safety (H&S) record. This situation contributes to the poor performance of construction projects and poor worker productivity. In view of this, the research was undertaken to improve workers’ H&S practices. This study determined how the systems thinking approach will mitigate unhealthy and unsafe construction practices in Lagos, Nigeria by developing interventions, and proposing a model for improved H&S practices. The study utilised a mixed research method approach. Both quantitative and qualitative methods were used specifically the concurrent embedded method to obtain and analyse the data. The sample size for the quantitative study was 375 respondents and a total of 40 respondents were engaged in the qualitative study. The sample consisted of designers, contractors, clients, quantity surveyors, project managers, construction managers, supervisors, and construction workers (masons, carpenters, painters, roofers, electricians) based in Lagos, Nigeria. The findings reveal that there is inadequate consideration for H&S during the procurement of construction projects. Furthermore, the absence of H&S regulations relating to the construction sector was observed. Unsafe practices at construction sites in Nigeria can be attributed to this discovery. The study reveals that the regulatory system, the organisation, the individual and the work environment all have an impact on H&S work practices. Although the contractors are mainly responsible for H&S at construction sites, other construction stakeholders (such as clients, consultants, etc.) influence H&S practices. The findings highlight the need for the adoption of a holistic approach to facilitate improvement in H&S practices on construction sites. The research has contributed to the body of knowledge by developing a framework for improving workers’ H&S performance on construction sites.
- Full Text:
- Date Issued: 2018
A strategy to enhance the role of the church as a social service delivery agent in fighting poverty in contemporary South Africa
- Lujabe, Busisiwe Tando Tabiso
- Authors: Lujabe, Busisiwe Tando Tabiso
- Date: 2018
- Subjects: Community-based social services Community development
- Language: English
- Type: Thesis , Doctoral , DPhil
- Identifier: http://hdl.handle.net/10948/17876 , vital:28477
- Description: The possible role and involvement of the Church in social development has reemerged as an important focus of contemporary academic and religious development discourse in South Africa. There are strong voices arguing for churches and other Faith-Based Organisations to be regarded as strategic in contributing to addressing the challenge of poverty as agents of social development. Yet, as church congregations multiply throughout South Africa, they appear to be less responsive to the challenge of poverty facing South African communities, contrary to the rich history of churches in the past. The need for churches to be involved in sustainable community-driven development initiatives to fight poverty in their local communities cannot be denied nor be met with just rhetoric and scholarly dissertations by theologians and academics. The vicious cycle of poverty in our communities must be eradicated as it represents a social injustice in terms of South Africa‘s Constitution and speaks to deep structural inequalities inherent in our society. Whilst researchers have made several proposals for churches to move from social welfare and relief, there appears to be little research with a clear practical strategy which congregations can implement to enhance their social service delivery role from social relief to sustainable community development. This has left a considerable gap which the current research sought to address. This study thus responds to the call by previous research for churches to implement strategies other than mere relief. Hence, this study contributes to the religious development discourse in South Africa, by developing a strategy to enhance Church-based social service delivery initiatives from social relief efforts which are not sustainable, to community development efforts which are sustainable and which will be consistent with the current social development policy context and contextually relevant to the socio-economic challenges of poverty and its consequences in South Africa. The study was conducted in two phases. During phase one, the main purpose was to gain a deeper understanding of the historical and current involvement of the Church in providing social services which address poverty in communities, to enhance understanding of the factors which influence the provision of social services by churches, as well as to understand participants views of how church-based social service delivery can be improved in order to fight poverty. For phase two, the goal was to develop a strategy to enhance church-based social service delivery from being social relief to being community development oriented. The following objectives guided the research process: To review selected and applicable literature to gain a deeper understanding of the historical and current involvement of the Church in the delivery of social services in order to fight poverty; To explore and describe the perceptions of church leaders and congregation members of the historical and current involvement of the Church in the delivery of social services in order to fight poverty; To explore and describe the factors which influence Church-based social service delivery in fighting poverty; To explore the views of church leaders and congregation members on how church-based social service delivery can be improved in their churches to inform the development of a strategy to enhance church-based social service delivery in fighting poverty. This study employed a qualitative research approach grounded in the interpretivist social science paradigm. The qualitative research approach necessitated an exploratory, descriptive and contextual method of inquiry. A descriptive case study method was also used, with the Methodist Church of Southern Africa selected as the main case of focus. The target population in this research comprised of Christian churches with a historical involvement in social service delivery in pre-apartheid South Africa. Purposeful sampling of 5 churches was undertaken, namely; Roman Catholic Church (RCC), Anglican Church (AC), Dutch Reformed Church (DRC), KwaSizabantu Mission (KSB) and Methodist Church of Southern Africa (MCSA). Data collection was conducted in two phases. Phase one comprised a literature review; Phase two comprised gathering empirical evidence by conducting face to face semi-structured interviews with clergy and from conducting one focus group interview with congregants. The information obtained from participants was transcribed, coded and analysed using content analysis and by a computer-assisted qualitative data analysis software (CAQDAS), namely ATLAS.ti. Findings revealed a marked difference between the historical and current churchbased social service delivery suggestive of decline, accompanied by the lack of empowerment opportunities for current church leaders and congregation members in community development facilitation. Further evidence suggest the lack of cooperation between church leaders and congregation members; as well as the lack of sustainability of interventions owing to an absence of resources and the lack of capacity to create sustainable economic opportunities. Findings also revealed that church congregations are rich with people with various assets - skills, strengths, capabilities, passions, gifts, talents in various fields, which they can share with one another as congregations and communities. The discussion of findings reflected that historically, Church-based social service provision involved holistic intervention mechanisms, empowerment, collaborations and sustainability of interventions suggestive of second generation strategies of community development, while currently, Church-based social service provision involves mostly social relief and social welfare efforts suggestive of first generation strategies. The findings suggest a holistic strategy for ―reawakening the co-operativeness‖ of congregations to facilitate sustainable Church-based social service delivery towards fighting poverty in local communities. The strategy which was then developed and described with its sub-strategies, namely: Establishment of collaborative relationships Creation of empowerment opportunities Facilitation of holistic interventions The goal of the strategy is to guide church leaders and congregation members in facilitating sustainable Church-based social service programmes to fight poverty.
- Full Text:
- Date Issued: 2018
- Authors: Lujabe, Busisiwe Tando Tabiso
- Date: 2018
- Subjects: Community-based social services Community development
- Language: English
- Type: Thesis , Doctoral , DPhil
- Identifier: http://hdl.handle.net/10948/17876 , vital:28477
- Description: The possible role and involvement of the Church in social development has reemerged as an important focus of contemporary academic and religious development discourse in South Africa. There are strong voices arguing for churches and other Faith-Based Organisations to be regarded as strategic in contributing to addressing the challenge of poverty as agents of social development. Yet, as church congregations multiply throughout South Africa, they appear to be less responsive to the challenge of poverty facing South African communities, contrary to the rich history of churches in the past. The need for churches to be involved in sustainable community-driven development initiatives to fight poverty in their local communities cannot be denied nor be met with just rhetoric and scholarly dissertations by theologians and academics. The vicious cycle of poverty in our communities must be eradicated as it represents a social injustice in terms of South Africa‘s Constitution and speaks to deep structural inequalities inherent in our society. Whilst researchers have made several proposals for churches to move from social welfare and relief, there appears to be little research with a clear practical strategy which congregations can implement to enhance their social service delivery role from social relief to sustainable community development. This has left a considerable gap which the current research sought to address. This study thus responds to the call by previous research for churches to implement strategies other than mere relief. Hence, this study contributes to the religious development discourse in South Africa, by developing a strategy to enhance Church-based social service delivery initiatives from social relief efforts which are not sustainable, to community development efforts which are sustainable and which will be consistent with the current social development policy context and contextually relevant to the socio-economic challenges of poverty and its consequences in South Africa. The study was conducted in two phases. During phase one, the main purpose was to gain a deeper understanding of the historical and current involvement of the Church in providing social services which address poverty in communities, to enhance understanding of the factors which influence the provision of social services by churches, as well as to understand participants views of how church-based social service delivery can be improved in order to fight poverty. For phase two, the goal was to develop a strategy to enhance church-based social service delivery from being social relief to being community development oriented. The following objectives guided the research process: To review selected and applicable literature to gain a deeper understanding of the historical and current involvement of the Church in the delivery of social services in order to fight poverty; To explore and describe the perceptions of church leaders and congregation members of the historical and current involvement of the Church in the delivery of social services in order to fight poverty; To explore and describe the factors which influence Church-based social service delivery in fighting poverty; To explore the views of church leaders and congregation members on how church-based social service delivery can be improved in their churches to inform the development of a strategy to enhance church-based social service delivery in fighting poverty. This study employed a qualitative research approach grounded in the interpretivist social science paradigm. The qualitative research approach necessitated an exploratory, descriptive and contextual method of inquiry. A descriptive case study method was also used, with the Methodist Church of Southern Africa selected as the main case of focus. The target population in this research comprised of Christian churches with a historical involvement in social service delivery in pre-apartheid South Africa. Purposeful sampling of 5 churches was undertaken, namely; Roman Catholic Church (RCC), Anglican Church (AC), Dutch Reformed Church (DRC), KwaSizabantu Mission (KSB) and Methodist Church of Southern Africa (MCSA). Data collection was conducted in two phases. Phase one comprised a literature review; Phase two comprised gathering empirical evidence by conducting face to face semi-structured interviews with clergy and from conducting one focus group interview with congregants. The information obtained from participants was transcribed, coded and analysed using content analysis and by a computer-assisted qualitative data analysis software (CAQDAS), namely ATLAS.ti. Findings revealed a marked difference between the historical and current churchbased social service delivery suggestive of decline, accompanied by the lack of empowerment opportunities for current church leaders and congregation members in community development facilitation. Further evidence suggest the lack of cooperation between church leaders and congregation members; as well as the lack of sustainability of interventions owing to an absence of resources and the lack of capacity to create sustainable economic opportunities. Findings also revealed that church congregations are rich with people with various assets - skills, strengths, capabilities, passions, gifts, talents in various fields, which they can share with one another as congregations and communities. The discussion of findings reflected that historically, Church-based social service provision involved holistic intervention mechanisms, empowerment, collaborations and sustainability of interventions suggestive of second generation strategies of community development, while currently, Church-based social service provision involves mostly social relief and social welfare efforts suggestive of first generation strategies. The findings suggest a holistic strategy for ―reawakening the co-operativeness‖ of congregations to facilitate sustainable Church-based social service delivery towards fighting poverty in local communities. The strategy which was then developed and described with its sub-strategies, namely: Establishment of collaborative relationships Creation of empowerment opportunities Facilitation of holistic interventions The goal of the strategy is to guide church leaders and congregation members in facilitating sustainable Church-based social service programmes to fight poverty.
- Full Text:
- Date Issued: 2018
Characterization and ecology of selected micro-estuaries and micro-outlets in the Eastern Cape province, South Africa
- Authors: Magoro, Mandla Leon
- Date: 2018
- Subjects: Estuarine ecology -- South Africa -- Eastern Cape , Estuaries -- Management Estuaries -- South Africa -- Eastern Cape
- Language: English
- Type: Thesis , Doctoral , DPhil
- Identifier: http://hdl.handle.net/10948/31644 , vital:31640
- Description: South Africa has more than 200 Temporarily Open/Closed Estuaries (TOCEs) along its approximately 3000 km coastline. In addition, there are approximately 200 micro-estuaries and micro-outlets on the subcontinent, many of which share some of the characteristics with TOCEs but differ in that they are supplied by localised coastal stream catchments with a more limited supply of freshwater and less connectivity to the marine environment. Between 2015 and 2016, this study endeavoured to investigate the physico-chemical properties, microalgal dynamics as well as the seasonal species abundance and composition of aquatic invertebrates and fishes in four micro-estuaries and four micro-outlets along the warm-temperate section of the Eastern Cape coast. The micro-outlets were dominated by oligohaline or freshwater conditions, while the micro-estuaries were mostly mesohaline. Microalgal biomass in these systems was influenced by temperature, nutrient conditions and light availability. Chironomidae and Ephemeroptera dominated benthic macro-invertebrate communities in the micro-outlets, while Amphipoda and Mysida were most dominant in micro-estuaries. Copepoda and Amphipoda dominated the zooplankton assemblages in both system types. Nekton communities in micro-outlets were dominated by juvenile Myxus capensis and tadpoles (mostly Xenopus laevis), while Oreochromis mossambicus, Gilchristella aestuaria, M. capensis and Mugil cephalus were the four most common species in the micro-estuaries. Seasonal variations in physico-chemical parameters and community composition of both the nekton and invertebrates were recorded during this study. Micro-estuaries and micro-outlets exhibited relatively lower diversity and abundances of biota than TOCEs. Furthermore, the micro-estuaries have a low estuarine function when compared to TOCEs, while the micro-outlets have very limited estuarine characteristics and were dominated by freshwater biota. The micro-systems are smaller in size and contain lower proportions of estuary-associated taxa when compared to larger estuarine systems such as TOCEs and permanently open estuaries. The results of this study confirm that there are distinctions between the biota of iv the two micro-system types, thus making biotic assemblages, together with physico-chemical parameters, a viable tool for differentiating between micro-estuaries and micro-outlets. This study represents the first investigation into the ecological functioning of micro-estuaries and micro-outlets. As a whole, micro-systems serve as nursery areas for freshwater-associated invertebrate taxa. Due to their limited periods of stability, micro-estuaries serve as intermediate nursery areas for 0+ juveniles of estuary-associated marine fish which, after less than a year, then migrate to larger estuarine systems located nearby. The small catchment size and short period of stability in these systems heightens their level of sensitivity to water flow alterations through dams, direct water abstraction, afforestation and watercourse diversion, while their lower buffering capacity makes them more susceptible to pollution and nutrient inputs from intensive agricultural activities and urban expansion.
- Full Text:
- Date Issued: 2018
- Authors: Magoro, Mandla Leon
- Date: 2018
- Subjects: Estuarine ecology -- South Africa -- Eastern Cape , Estuaries -- Management Estuaries -- South Africa -- Eastern Cape
- Language: English
- Type: Thesis , Doctoral , DPhil
- Identifier: http://hdl.handle.net/10948/31644 , vital:31640
- Description: South Africa has more than 200 Temporarily Open/Closed Estuaries (TOCEs) along its approximately 3000 km coastline. In addition, there are approximately 200 micro-estuaries and micro-outlets on the subcontinent, many of which share some of the characteristics with TOCEs but differ in that they are supplied by localised coastal stream catchments with a more limited supply of freshwater and less connectivity to the marine environment. Between 2015 and 2016, this study endeavoured to investigate the physico-chemical properties, microalgal dynamics as well as the seasonal species abundance and composition of aquatic invertebrates and fishes in four micro-estuaries and four micro-outlets along the warm-temperate section of the Eastern Cape coast. The micro-outlets were dominated by oligohaline or freshwater conditions, while the micro-estuaries were mostly mesohaline. Microalgal biomass in these systems was influenced by temperature, nutrient conditions and light availability. Chironomidae and Ephemeroptera dominated benthic macro-invertebrate communities in the micro-outlets, while Amphipoda and Mysida were most dominant in micro-estuaries. Copepoda and Amphipoda dominated the zooplankton assemblages in both system types. Nekton communities in micro-outlets were dominated by juvenile Myxus capensis and tadpoles (mostly Xenopus laevis), while Oreochromis mossambicus, Gilchristella aestuaria, M. capensis and Mugil cephalus were the four most common species in the micro-estuaries. Seasonal variations in physico-chemical parameters and community composition of both the nekton and invertebrates were recorded during this study. Micro-estuaries and micro-outlets exhibited relatively lower diversity and abundances of biota than TOCEs. Furthermore, the micro-estuaries have a low estuarine function when compared to TOCEs, while the micro-outlets have very limited estuarine characteristics and were dominated by freshwater biota. The micro-systems are smaller in size and contain lower proportions of estuary-associated taxa when compared to larger estuarine systems such as TOCEs and permanently open estuaries. The results of this study confirm that there are distinctions between the biota of iv the two micro-system types, thus making biotic assemblages, together with physico-chemical parameters, a viable tool for differentiating between micro-estuaries and micro-outlets. This study represents the first investigation into the ecological functioning of micro-estuaries and micro-outlets. As a whole, micro-systems serve as nursery areas for freshwater-associated invertebrate taxa. Due to their limited periods of stability, micro-estuaries serve as intermediate nursery areas for 0+ juveniles of estuary-associated marine fish which, after less than a year, then migrate to larger estuarine systems located nearby. The small catchment size and short period of stability in these systems heightens their level of sensitivity to water flow alterations through dams, direct water abstraction, afforestation and watercourse diversion, while their lower buffering capacity makes them more susceptible to pollution and nutrient inputs from intensive agricultural activities and urban expansion.
- Full Text:
- Date Issued: 2018
Understanding factors that influence the acceptance of electronic medical records by nurses in hospitals: a framework
- Authors: Makalima, Melissa
- Date: 2018
- Subjects: Electronic records -- Management , Information storage and retrieval systems -- Management Medical records -- South Africa Medical records -- Data processing
- Language: English
- Type: Thesis , Doctoral , DPhil
- Identifier: http://hdl.handle.net/10948/31488 , vital:31495
- Description: Globally, unlike in the past, it is rare for a patient to consult the same healthcare provider throughout his or her lifetime. However, this makes it difficult to maintain informational continuity of care. Researchers have confirmed that paper-based methods of record keeping do not meet the needs of informational continuity of care. As a result, the popularity of electronic means of recordkeeping, specifically, electronic medical records (EMRs), is growing. However, the implementation of EMRs in hospitals is not without challenges with these challenges playing a significant role in the failure of EMRs. One such challenge is a lack of user acceptance. Research reveals that nurses comprise the largest user group of EMRs in the hospital setting. However, there is inadequate literature that focuses on the factors contributing to EMR acceptance with nurses as the user group. Hence, the main problem addressed in this research study relates to the inadequate understanding of the factors that influence the acceptance of EMRs by nurses. In order to address this problem, a literature review and a case study were conducted to ascertain and investigate the factors that influence the acceptance of EMRs by nurses. A total of 39 factors were formulated. Subsequent to the formulation of these factors, knowledge on the impact of each factor on EMR acceptance was collected. Socio-technical Systems Theory (STS) was used as a theoretical lens through which to view the resulting factors. The STS dimension from which each factor originates as well as the STS dimension influenced by the factor were identified. The analysis of the different stages of acceptance as well as the STS analysis resulted in a framework that could play an important role in providing a better understanding of EMR acceptance by nurses in hospitals. It was anticipated that this study would contribute to a better understanding of the factors that hospitals should address in order to create a conducive environment for EMR acceptance by nurses within the hospitals.
- Full Text:
- Date Issued: 2018
- Authors: Makalima, Melissa
- Date: 2018
- Subjects: Electronic records -- Management , Information storage and retrieval systems -- Management Medical records -- South Africa Medical records -- Data processing
- Language: English
- Type: Thesis , Doctoral , DPhil
- Identifier: http://hdl.handle.net/10948/31488 , vital:31495
- Description: Globally, unlike in the past, it is rare for a patient to consult the same healthcare provider throughout his or her lifetime. However, this makes it difficult to maintain informational continuity of care. Researchers have confirmed that paper-based methods of record keeping do not meet the needs of informational continuity of care. As a result, the popularity of electronic means of recordkeeping, specifically, electronic medical records (EMRs), is growing. However, the implementation of EMRs in hospitals is not without challenges with these challenges playing a significant role in the failure of EMRs. One such challenge is a lack of user acceptance. Research reveals that nurses comprise the largest user group of EMRs in the hospital setting. However, there is inadequate literature that focuses on the factors contributing to EMR acceptance with nurses as the user group. Hence, the main problem addressed in this research study relates to the inadequate understanding of the factors that influence the acceptance of EMRs by nurses. In order to address this problem, a literature review and a case study were conducted to ascertain and investigate the factors that influence the acceptance of EMRs by nurses. A total of 39 factors were formulated. Subsequent to the formulation of these factors, knowledge on the impact of each factor on EMR acceptance was collected. Socio-technical Systems Theory (STS) was used as a theoretical lens through which to view the resulting factors. The STS dimension from which each factor originates as well as the STS dimension influenced by the factor were identified. The analysis of the different stages of acceptance as well as the STS analysis resulted in a framework that could play an important role in providing a better understanding of EMR acceptance by nurses in hospitals. It was anticipated that this study would contribute to a better understanding of the factors that hospitals should address in order to create a conducive environment for EMR acceptance by nurses within the hospitals.
- Full Text:
- Date Issued: 2018
Potential eco-physiological and phytosociological impacts of fracking on the vegetation of the Karoo, Eastern Cape, South Africa
- Authors: Martin, Kristen
- Date: 2018
- Subjects: Hydraulic fracturing -- Environmental aspects -- South Africa -- Eastern Cape , Germination Plant ecology Plant communities
- Language: English
- Type: Thesis , Doctoral , DPhil
- Identifier: http://hdl.handle.net/10948/31852 , vital:31853
- Description: Hydraulic fracturing or fracking is a technique that is used to extract gas from low permeable rocks. Large volumes of fluids (typically water combined with chemicals and sand) are injected at high pressure into rock formations to fracture them, allowing the gas to be released. A number of criticisms have come to light regarding the potential environmental impacts of this process. One concern is that there will be contamination of groundwater due to the toxicity of the chemicals used in the fracking process. There have been limited studies on the effects of fracking fluid on vegetation and no studies on South African vegetation specifically. The effects of fracking chemicals on the germination success and photosynthetic efficiency of plants was investigated for species common in areas earmarked for possible future hydraulic fracturing in the Karoo, South Africa. Germination of seeds was unaffected by these fracking fluids at application concentration in most species, but dwarf shrub and grass seeds were found to be sensitive to contamination. A single application treatment of plants with fracking fluid resulted in mortality in 50% of the species with reduced photosynthetic efficiency and growth in some of the surviving species. Long term continual treatment with diluted fracking fluids had an even greater effect on mortality and photosynthetic efficiency than a single high dose. The major vegetation types of the proposed fracking footprint were surveyed and analyses of the species, communities and their physiognomy were used to predict the tolerance of the Karoo vegetation to degradation resulting from shale gas development. An understanding of the sensitivity of vegetation was obtained from impacts of livestock on the vegetation. The results indicated that Grassland communities are least tolerant to degradation, Albany Thicket communities more tolerant and Nama-Karoo communities most tolerant. Escarpment Thickets were shown to be Nama-Karoo rather than Albany Thicket elements, and should be grouped with the former when considering the impacts of fracking.
- Full Text:
- Date Issued: 2018
- Authors: Martin, Kristen
- Date: 2018
- Subjects: Hydraulic fracturing -- Environmental aspects -- South Africa -- Eastern Cape , Germination Plant ecology Plant communities
- Language: English
- Type: Thesis , Doctoral , DPhil
- Identifier: http://hdl.handle.net/10948/31852 , vital:31853
- Description: Hydraulic fracturing or fracking is a technique that is used to extract gas from low permeable rocks. Large volumes of fluids (typically water combined with chemicals and sand) are injected at high pressure into rock formations to fracture them, allowing the gas to be released. A number of criticisms have come to light regarding the potential environmental impacts of this process. One concern is that there will be contamination of groundwater due to the toxicity of the chemicals used in the fracking process. There have been limited studies on the effects of fracking fluid on vegetation and no studies on South African vegetation specifically. The effects of fracking chemicals on the germination success and photosynthetic efficiency of plants was investigated for species common in areas earmarked for possible future hydraulic fracturing in the Karoo, South Africa. Germination of seeds was unaffected by these fracking fluids at application concentration in most species, but dwarf shrub and grass seeds were found to be sensitive to contamination. A single application treatment of plants with fracking fluid resulted in mortality in 50% of the species with reduced photosynthetic efficiency and growth in some of the surviving species. Long term continual treatment with diluted fracking fluids had an even greater effect on mortality and photosynthetic efficiency than a single high dose. The major vegetation types of the proposed fracking footprint were surveyed and analyses of the species, communities and their physiognomy were used to predict the tolerance of the Karoo vegetation to degradation resulting from shale gas development. An understanding of the sensitivity of vegetation was obtained from impacts of livestock on the vegetation. The results indicated that Grassland communities are least tolerant to degradation, Albany Thicket communities more tolerant and Nama-Karoo communities most tolerant. Escarpment Thickets were shown to be Nama-Karoo rather than Albany Thicket elements, and should be grouped with the former when considering the impacts of fracking.
- Full Text:
- Date Issued: 2018
Biological activities of tulbaghia violacea against cryptococcus species
- Authors: Mitradev, Pattoo
- Date: 2018
- Subjects: Violaceae -- Therapeutic use -- South Africa , Anticoagulants (Medicine) , Medicinal plants -- South Africa
- Language: English
- Type: Thesis , Doctoral , DPhil
- Identifier: http://hdl.handle.net/10948/32772 , vital:32357
- Description: Cryptococcus neoformans and Cryptococcus gattii, which are environmental yeasts, are the etiological agents of cryptococcosis in both immunocompromised and immunocompetent individuals, and account for high mortality and morbidity rates in sub-Saharan Africa. The current antifungal agents used for treatment of cryptococcal infections either target the fungal cell wall (β-(1,3) glucan and chitin) or cell membrane directly or ergosterol biosynthetic pathways or fungal DNA and RNA. Gaps in antifungal therapy include the unavailability and exhorbitant costs of these drugs especially to patients in the developing world. Drug resistance to conventional drugs is also an ever-increasing problem. It is therefore essential to find alternative natural compounds from medicinal plants that are safer, cheaper and more widely available. Tulbaghia violacea, also known as wild garlic, has been used as a traditional remedy in South Africa for the treatment of several ailments. Aqueous and organic extracts of the plant have been demonstrated to have antimicrobial and antifungal activity against several pathogens. However, there is a huge gap in our current knowledge in that the mechanism/s of action/s of these extracts have not been fully investigated. The focus of the current study therefore was to determine whether T. violacea extracts from the roots, rhizome, leaves and tubers exhibited antifungal activity against C. neoformans and C. gattii and to evaluate the ability of the rhizome extract to induce changes in key fungal virulence factors. Three mechanisms (ergosterol, β-(1,3) glucan and chitin production) regulating the antifungal activity of the rhizome extract were also examined. In the current study, phytochemical analysis of aqueous extracts of the roots, leaves, rhizomes and tubers showed that the rhizomes had the highest phenolic, saponin and tannin content when compared to the other plant organs. Fingerprinting by GC-MS revealed identical compounds in the different plant parts with the detection of 4 H Pyran-4-one DDMP (known antifungal), previously unreported in studies on T. violacea. The bulk of the extract comprised of 40% sulphur-containing and 20% furan-containing compounds. The remaining minor compounds comprised of 2x alcohols (13.3%), 1x pyran (6.7%), 1x ketone (6.7%), 1x halogen (6.7%) and 1x acid (6.7%) compounds. The rhizomes also had highest content of 2 methyl methioacetic acid, benzophenone and chloromethyl methylsulfide compared to the other plant parts. The rhizomes were found to be more potent against both pathogenic fungi tested here with an MIC and MFC of 1.25 mg/ml. Nystatin was included as a positive control when determining the MIC’s and MFC’s of the different plant extracts. The antifungal nature of the T. violacea extracts in the current study may be due to the synergistic effects of the sulphide, furan, pyran and ketone compounds present in the extracts, but this still remains to be verified in future studies. An investigation of the effects of an aqueous rhizome extract of T. violacea on Cryptococcus virulence factors showed that phospholipase activity of C. neoformans and C. gattii remained unaffected with increasing sub-lethal doses of the plant extract. There was significant reduction in urease production in both fungi in a dose dependent manner relative to the untreated cultures after 24 hr exposure to the extract. However, urease production reverted to normal after 48 hr post exposure implying that the cultures were able to recover due to temporary inhibition of urease activity. A significant decrease in melanin production was observed in both C. neoformans and C. gattii with increasing sub-inhibitory concentrations of the rhizome extract. Investigation of the effect of the plant extract on the ultrastucture of the fungi via Transmission Electron Microscopy showed the induction of cytomorphological changes in C. neoformans and C. gattii. Changes included thickening of the cell wall, an increase in the number of vacuoles, mitochondrial swelling and occasional detachment of the membrane from the cell wall. These changes suggest the activation of possible defence mechanisms to compensate for the loss of cellular materials or an effort to sequester toxic T. violacea components or toxic intermediates generated from inhibited cellular pathways. The capsule size and architecture remained unaltered in the presence of sub-lethal doses of the rhizome extract. To study the mechanism of action of the rhizome extract on ergosterol biosynthesis, total sterols were extracted and ergosterol, squalene, 2,3-oxidosqualene and lanosterol were quantified using Reverse Phase High Performance Liquid Chromatography. Ergosterol concentration declined in a dose dependent manner for both pathogenic yeasts similar to the positive control terbinafine, while there was a slight accumulation of squalene in C. gattii only. 2,3-oxidosqualene levels accumulated in both fungi relative to the untreated control. Lanosterol production showed an oscillatory trend for the two microorganisms. Together, these findings indicate that the rhizome extract is capable of inhibiting squalene epoxidase and 2,3-oxidosqualene/ lanosterol cyclase causing a decrease in ergosterol production.
- Full Text:
- Date Issued: 2018
- Authors: Mitradev, Pattoo
- Date: 2018
- Subjects: Violaceae -- Therapeutic use -- South Africa , Anticoagulants (Medicine) , Medicinal plants -- South Africa
- Language: English
- Type: Thesis , Doctoral , DPhil
- Identifier: http://hdl.handle.net/10948/32772 , vital:32357
- Description: Cryptococcus neoformans and Cryptococcus gattii, which are environmental yeasts, are the etiological agents of cryptococcosis in both immunocompromised and immunocompetent individuals, and account for high mortality and morbidity rates in sub-Saharan Africa. The current antifungal agents used for treatment of cryptococcal infections either target the fungal cell wall (β-(1,3) glucan and chitin) or cell membrane directly or ergosterol biosynthetic pathways or fungal DNA and RNA. Gaps in antifungal therapy include the unavailability and exhorbitant costs of these drugs especially to patients in the developing world. Drug resistance to conventional drugs is also an ever-increasing problem. It is therefore essential to find alternative natural compounds from medicinal plants that are safer, cheaper and more widely available. Tulbaghia violacea, also known as wild garlic, has been used as a traditional remedy in South Africa for the treatment of several ailments. Aqueous and organic extracts of the plant have been demonstrated to have antimicrobial and antifungal activity against several pathogens. However, there is a huge gap in our current knowledge in that the mechanism/s of action/s of these extracts have not been fully investigated. The focus of the current study therefore was to determine whether T. violacea extracts from the roots, rhizome, leaves and tubers exhibited antifungal activity against C. neoformans and C. gattii and to evaluate the ability of the rhizome extract to induce changes in key fungal virulence factors. Three mechanisms (ergosterol, β-(1,3) glucan and chitin production) regulating the antifungal activity of the rhizome extract were also examined. In the current study, phytochemical analysis of aqueous extracts of the roots, leaves, rhizomes and tubers showed that the rhizomes had the highest phenolic, saponin and tannin content when compared to the other plant organs. Fingerprinting by GC-MS revealed identical compounds in the different plant parts with the detection of 4 H Pyran-4-one DDMP (known antifungal), previously unreported in studies on T. violacea. The bulk of the extract comprised of 40% sulphur-containing and 20% furan-containing compounds. The remaining minor compounds comprised of 2x alcohols (13.3%), 1x pyran (6.7%), 1x ketone (6.7%), 1x halogen (6.7%) and 1x acid (6.7%) compounds. The rhizomes also had highest content of 2 methyl methioacetic acid, benzophenone and chloromethyl methylsulfide compared to the other plant parts. The rhizomes were found to be more potent against both pathogenic fungi tested here with an MIC and MFC of 1.25 mg/ml. Nystatin was included as a positive control when determining the MIC’s and MFC’s of the different plant extracts. The antifungal nature of the T. violacea extracts in the current study may be due to the synergistic effects of the sulphide, furan, pyran and ketone compounds present in the extracts, but this still remains to be verified in future studies. An investigation of the effects of an aqueous rhizome extract of T. violacea on Cryptococcus virulence factors showed that phospholipase activity of C. neoformans and C. gattii remained unaffected with increasing sub-lethal doses of the plant extract. There was significant reduction in urease production in both fungi in a dose dependent manner relative to the untreated cultures after 24 hr exposure to the extract. However, urease production reverted to normal after 48 hr post exposure implying that the cultures were able to recover due to temporary inhibition of urease activity. A significant decrease in melanin production was observed in both C. neoformans and C. gattii with increasing sub-inhibitory concentrations of the rhizome extract. Investigation of the effect of the plant extract on the ultrastucture of the fungi via Transmission Electron Microscopy showed the induction of cytomorphological changes in C. neoformans and C. gattii. Changes included thickening of the cell wall, an increase in the number of vacuoles, mitochondrial swelling and occasional detachment of the membrane from the cell wall. These changes suggest the activation of possible defence mechanisms to compensate for the loss of cellular materials or an effort to sequester toxic T. violacea components or toxic intermediates generated from inhibited cellular pathways. The capsule size and architecture remained unaltered in the presence of sub-lethal doses of the rhizome extract. To study the mechanism of action of the rhizome extract on ergosterol biosynthesis, total sterols were extracted and ergosterol, squalene, 2,3-oxidosqualene and lanosterol were quantified using Reverse Phase High Performance Liquid Chromatography. Ergosterol concentration declined in a dose dependent manner for both pathogenic yeasts similar to the positive control terbinafine, while there was a slight accumulation of squalene in C. gattii only. 2,3-oxidosqualene levels accumulated in both fungi relative to the untreated control. Lanosterol production showed an oscillatory trend for the two microorganisms. Together, these findings indicate that the rhizome extract is capable of inhibiting squalene epoxidase and 2,3-oxidosqualene/ lanosterol cyclase causing a decrease in ergosterol production.
- Full Text:
- Date Issued: 2018
Interest rate liberalisation and economic growth in SADC countries
- Authors: Moyo, Clement Zibusiso
- Date: 2018
- Subjects: Southern African Development Community , Economic development -- Africa, Southern Developing countries -- Economic conditions
- Language: English
- Type: Thesis , Doctoral , DPhil
- Identifier: http://hdl.handle.net/10948/22791 , vital:30087
- Description: The pioneers of financial liberalisation, McKinnon (1973) and Shaw (1973) argue that inter-est rates determined by market forces have a positive effect on economic growth rates. Inter-est rates that are kept at low levels through the intervention of a central bank discourage sav-ings and capital accumulation, and distort the allocation of resources. Interest rate liberalisa-tion results in higher real interest rates which could have a positive effect on savings, invest-ments and economic growth (Ang & McKibbin 2007). Interest rate liberalisation also reduces capital flight and encourages capital inflows by increasing return for investors which supple-ments domestic investments. Shaw (1973) argued that interest rate liberalisation promotes financial development by encouraging savings and increasing the availability of funds for lending purposes. The study provides an empirical analysis of the channels through which interest rate liberalisation impacts on economic growth in SADC countries for the period 1990 to 2015. The study is motivated by the concerns on the impact of interest rate liberalisation on eco-nomic growth in the period after the 2008-’09 global financial crisis as well as concerns that interest rate liberalisation increases the likelihood of financial crises. Higher interest rates resulting from interest rate liberalisation may increase the likelihood of financial crises by encouraging risk-taking on the part of banks in an attempt to take advantage of higher returns. Authorities in most countries have reduced interest rates in an attempt to boost aggregate demand, which is expected to speed up the recovery from the crisis. However, the lowering of interest rates may result in a decrease in savings and investments, which are the main drivers of long-term economic growth. Real interest rates below equilibrium may encourage banks to take more risks in their lending practices in order to earn higher returns which may result in an increase in non-performing loans. The influence of interest rates on financial crises has thus received considerable attention since the onset of the 2008-’09 global financial crisis and this thesis contributes to the literature by determining how interest rates impact on economic growth in SADC countries and whether interest rate liberalisation increases the likelihood of financial crises. The study examines the relationship between interest rate liberalisation and economic growth through different channels. These include savings and investments, capital flows and finan-cial development. The study uses the Pooled Mean Group (PMG) estimator proposed by Pesaran et al (1999) to estimate the effect of interest rate liberalisation on economic growth through the abovementioned channels. The study also examines whether interest rate liberalisation increases the likelihood of financial crises. This is estimated using the logit model, due to the binary nature of the dependent variable. The results provide limited support for the McKinnon and Shaw hypothesis. Interest rate liberalisation has a positive effect on economic growth through higher savings and investments. Interest rate liberalisation has a positive outcome on capital inflows, which indicates that the prospect of earning higher returns encourages foreign investors to invest in the domestic economy. However, capital inflows do not enhance economic growth. This could be due to the low levels of human capital in SADC countries. Interest rate liberalisation boosts financial development through higher savings and invest-ments. However, financial development has a negative effect on economic growth because of the link between financial development and financial crises. The results show that interest rate liberalisation decreases the likelihood of financial crises directly, however, it increases the probability of financial crises indirectly through financial development. This suggests that the major cause of financial crises in the region is the low levels of institutional quality and lack of adequate supervisory frameworks to monitor the functioning of the financial system. Therefore, the results imply that the negative impact of interest rate liberalisation may outweigh the positive effect of higher savings and investments in SADC countries. A number of policy recommendations can be drawn from the study. Liberalisation of interest rates has a positive effect on economic growth through savings and investments. However improving the levels of institutional quality is vital for preventing financial crises. Interest rate liberalisation may not have a direct influence on financial crises, but higher levels of fi-nancial development emanating from higher interest rates increase the likelihood of financial crises. Therefore, a sound monitoring framework is necessary for the benefits of financial liberalisation to be realised. Also, investment in education, training and research and development is a necessity so as to increase levels of human capital, which in turn may allow the region to reap the benefits of capital inflows.
- Full Text:
- Date Issued: 2018
- Authors: Moyo, Clement Zibusiso
- Date: 2018
- Subjects: Southern African Development Community , Economic development -- Africa, Southern Developing countries -- Economic conditions
- Language: English
- Type: Thesis , Doctoral , DPhil
- Identifier: http://hdl.handle.net/10948/22791 , vital:30087
- Description: The pioneers of financial liberalisation, McKinnon (1973) and Shaw (1973) argue that inter-est rates determined by market forces have a positive effect on economic growth rates. Inter-est rates that are kept at low levels through the intervention of a central bank discourage sav-ings and capital accumulation, and distort the allocation of resources. Interest rate liberalisa-tion results in higher real interest rates which could have a positive effect on savings, invest-ments and economic growth (Ang & McKibbin 2007). Interest rate liberalisation also reduces capital flight and encourages capital inflows by increasing return for investors which supple-ments domestic investments. Shaw (1973) argued that interest rate liberalisation promotes financial development by encouraging savings and increasing the availability of funds for lending purposes. The study provides an empirical analysis of the channels through which interest rate liberalisation impacts on economic growth in SADC countries for the period 1990 to 2015. The study is motivated by the concerns on the impact of interest rate liberalisation on eco-nomic growth in the period after the 2008-’09 global financial crisis as well as concerns that interest rate liberalisation increases the likelihood of financial crises. Higher interest rates resulting from interest rate liberalisation may increase the likelihood of financial crises by encouraging risk-taking on the part of banks in an attempt to take advantage of higher returns. Authorities in most countries have reduced interest rates in an attempt to boost aggregate demand, which is expected to speed up the recovery from the crisis. However, the lowering of interest rates may result in a decrease in savings and investments, which are the main drivers of long-term economic growth. Real interest rates below equilibrium may encourage banks to take more risks in their lending practices in order to earn higher returns which may result in an increase in non-performing loans. The influence of interest rates on financial crises has thus received considerable attention since the onset of the 2008-’09 global financial crisis and this thesis contributes to the literature by determining how interest rates impact on economic growth in SADC countries and whether interest rate liberalisation increases the likelihood of financial crises. The study examines the relationship between interest rate liberalisation and economic growth through different channels. These include savings and investments, capital flows and finan-cial development. The study uses the Pooled Mean Group (PMG) estimator proposed by Pesaran et al (1999) to estimate the effect of interest rate liberalisation on economic growth through the abovementioned channels. The study also examines whether interest rate liberalisation increases the likelihood of financial crises. This is estimated using the logit model, due to the binary nature of the dependent variable. The results provide limited support for the McKinnon and Shaw hypothesis. Interest rate liberalisation has a positive effect on economic growth through higher savings and investments. Interest rate liberalisation has a positive outcome on capital inflows, which indicates that the prospect of earning higher returns encourages foreign investors to invest in the domestic economy. However, capital inflows do not enhance economic growth. This could be due to the low levels of human capital in SADC countries. Interest rate liberalisation boosts financial development through higher savings and invest-ments. However, financial development has a negative effect on economic growth because of the link between financial development and financial crises. The results show that interest rate liberalisation decreases the likelihood of financial crises directly, however, it increases the probability of financial crises indirectly through financial development. This suggests that the major cause of financial crises in the region is the low levels of institutional quality and lack of adequate supervisory frameworks to monitor the functioning of the financial system. Therefore, the results imply that the negative impact of interest rate liberalisation may outweigh the positive effect of higher savings and investments in SADC countries. A number of policy recommendations can be drawn from the study. Liberalisation of interest rates has a positive effect on economic growth through savings and investments. However improving the levels of institutional quality is vital for preventing financial crises. Interest rate liberalisation may not have a direct influence on financial crises, but higher levels of fi-nancial development emanating from higher interest rates increase the likelihood of financial crises. Therefore, a sound monitoring framework is necessary for the benefits of financial liberalisation to be realised. Also, investment in education, training and research and development is a necessity so as to increase levels of human capital, which in turn may allow the region to reap the benefits of capital inflows.
- Full Text:
- Date Issued: 2018
A critical analysis of organisational justice in the South African financial service industry
- Authors: Mrwebi, Viwe
- Date: 2018
- Subjects: Organizational behavior , Financial services industry -- South Africa -- Management Intrinsic motivation Employee retention Labor turnover
- Language: English
- Type: Thesis , Doctoral , DPhil
- Identifier: http://hdl.handle.net/10948/33065 , vital:32513
- Description: Organisational justice has captured the interest of scholars in recent years since it is associated with the perceptions and reactions of an individual, to the presence of fairness in an organisation. It thus captures what an individual feel or evaluates to be, morally correct rather than viewing it to be something prescriptive. This study was aimed at investigating the extent of organisational justice on organisational citizenship behaviour, ethical behaviour and employee retention in the South African financial services industry. A hypothetical model and measuring instrument was developed in order to investigate factors that may influence the organisational justice in the financial services industry. Six independent variables (trustworthiness of management, employee engagement, reward system, organisational transparency, two-way communication and organisational climate) were identified as variables that have the potential to influence organisational justice (mediating variable). It was also hypothesised that organisational justice) has the potential to affect the dependent variables (organisational citizenship behaviour, ethical behaviour and employee retention). Furthermore, nine null-hypotheses were developed to test the relationship between independent, mediating and dependent variables. All these variables were clearly defined and operationalised with various items that were obtained from other measuring instruments or self-developed items. A quantitative research approach followed. This study made use of the non-probability sampling technique, specifically convenient and judgemental sampling, as there is no data base of financial services firms available in South Africa. A purposive sample of 800 respondents was drawn from four provinces in South Africa. Factor and regression analyses were used to test the significance of the relationship between the various independent and dependent variables. The mediating variable of organisational justice was viewed by respondents as a two-dimensional construct, namely procedural-interactional justice and distributive justice. Consequently, intrinsic rewards, extrinsic rewards, organisational transparency and organisational climate were identified as independent variables that could have an impact on the procedural-interactional justice to predict organisational citizenship behaviour and reputable employee retention in the financial services industry. No relationships were identified between trustworthiness of management and employee engagement and procedural-interactional justice. The independent variables, trustworthiness of management, extrinsic rewards and organisational climate, could have an impact on distributive justice to predict organisational citizenship behaviour and reputable employee retention in the financial services industry. No relationships were identified between employee engagement, intrinsic rewards, organisational transparency and distributive justice. The findings of this study have contributed to the body of knowledge in the financial services literature in South Africa, by developing a theoretical model and a measuring instrument of organisational justice in the financial services industry. The antecedents of organisational justice in the financial services industry are not well documented in literature and findings of this study could thus contribute towards closing this gap in literature. The findings of this study could also inform policy formulation to assist with the implementation of organisational justice programmes in the financial services industry. This study provided useful and very practical guidelines to organisations in order to ensure the effective strategising and management of OJ that could enhance their local and global competitiveness and long-term survival.
- Full Text:
- Date Issued: 2018
- Authors: Mrwebi, Viwe
- Date: 2018
- Subjects: Organizational behavior , Financial services industry -- South Africa -- Management Intrinsic motivation Employee retention Labor turnover
- Language: English
- Type: Thesis , Doctoral , DPhil
- Identifier: http://hdl.handle.net/10948/33065 , vital:32513
- Description: Organisational justice has captured the interest of scholars in recent years since it is associated with the perceptions and reactions of an individual, to the presence of fairness in an organisation. It thus captures what an individual feel or evaluates to be, morally correct rather than viewing it to be something prescriptive. This study was aimed at investigating the extent of organisational justice on organisational citizenship behaviour, ethical behaviour and employee retention in the South African financial services industry. A hypothetical model and measuring instrument was developed in order to investigate factors that may influence the organisational justice in the financial services industry. Six independent variables (trustworthiness of management, employee engagement, reward system, organisational transparency, two-way communication and organisational climate) were identified as variables that have the potential to influence organisational justice (mediating variable). It was also hypothesised that organisational justice) has the potential to affect the dependent variables (organisational citizenship behaviour, ethical behaviour and employee retention). Furthermore, nine null-hypotheses were developed to test the relationship between independent, mediating and dependent variables. All these variables were clearly defined and operationalised with various items that were obtained from other measuring instruments or self-developed items. A quantitative research approach followed. This study made use of the non-probability sampling technique, specifically convenient and judgemental sampling, as there is no data base of financial services firms available in South Africa. A purposive sample of 800 respondents was drawn from four provinces in South Africa. Factor and regression analyses were used to test the significance of the relationship between the various independent and dependent variables. The mediating variable of organisational justice was viewed by respondents as a two-dimensional construct, namely procedural-interactional justice and distributive justice. Consequently, intrinsic rewards, extrinsic rewards, organisational transparency and organisational climate were identified as independent variables that could have an impact on the procedural-interactional justice to predict organisational citizenship behaviour and reputable employee retention in the financial services industry. No relationships were identified between trustworthiness of management and employee engagement and procedural-interactional justice. The independent variables, trustworthiness of management, extrinsic rewards and organisational climate, could have an impact on distributive justice to predict organisational citizenship behaviour and reputable employee retention in the financial services industry. No relationships were identified between employee engagement, intrinsic rewards, organisational transparency and distributive justice. The findings of this study have contributed to the body of knowledge in the financial services literature in South Africa, by developing a theoretical model and a measuring instrument of organisational justice in the financial services industry. The antecedents of organisational justice in the financial services industry are not well documented in literature and findings of this study could thus contribute towards closing this gap in literature. The findings of this study could also inform policy formulation to assist with the implementation of organisational justice programmes in the financial services industry. This study provided useful and very practical guidelines to organisations in order to ensure the effective strategising and management of OJ that could enhance their local and global competitiveness and long-term survival.
- Full Text:
- Date Issued: 2018