A case study of the internal branding process at Kagiso Media
- Authors: Mchunu, Bonisiwe Purity
- Date: 2025-04-04
- Subjects: Product management , Internal branding , Kagiso Media , Performance management , Organizational change South Africa , Senior leadership teams
- Language: English
- Type: Academic theses , Master's theses , text
- Identifier: http://hdl.handle.net/10962/479449 , vital:78314
- Description: This research took the form of a case study of a media company, Kagiso Media (KM), that had been through a process of change. The company adopted a branding approach and used internal branding activities to implement a change intervention, which was unconventional and a unique approach, making it worthy of investigation. The primary aim of the study was, therefore, to analyse how a change in brand ideology (i.e. encompassing the business mission, vision, goals and shared values) shaped the senior leadership behaviour at KM and also led to the development of an improved performance management system. A case study research method was used. Data was collected through face-to-face and online interviews with the leadership team and combined with relevant company documents. A deductive thematic approach was used to analyse the data. The study revealed that brand ideology can impact leadership behaviour and performance if implemented deliberately. When the new CEO was appointed, his starting point was to change the KM brand ideology. The study revealed that, because of greater clarity in brand ideology, leadership behaviour improved. There were shifts in the manner in which leadership behaved and how they handled performance as a result of entrenching the new brand ideology. The study also revealed that the development of brand ideology necessitated changes in the performance management system. Brand-centred performance management systems contributed towards building a performance culture. In essence, developing a clear brand ideology was central to changing leadership behaviour and the revision of the performance management performance system. While limitations of the study are acknowledged, it has contributed by offering a unique perspective of an internal branding driven change and demonstrates how a change in brand ideology can impact leadership behaviour and performance management. Furthermore, the study recommended that further research could be done to include the perspectives of staff beyond the leadership team. , Thesis (MBA) -- Faculty of Commerce, Rhodes Business School, 2025
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A critical exploration of the personal experiences of the shifting womanhoods practices and values between the traditional and contemporary contexts of the Basotho cultural group
- Authors: Zondi, Babazile Jessica
- Date: 2025-04-04
- Subjects: Rites and ceremonies Lesotho , Rite of passage Lesotho , Gender ideology , Women, Sotho Lesotho Rites and ceremonies , Womanism Lesotho
- Language: English
- Type: Academic theses , Master's theses , text
- Identifier: http://hdl.handle.net/10962/480172 , vital:78403
- Description: Womanhood rites of passage fulfill the purpose of integrating young girls into accepted womanhood roles, ideals, definitions, and expectations. Traditional Basotho womanhood rites of passage have become less popular in the modern context, with alternative womanhood practices and spaces populating the contemporary Basotho context. Through a qualitative methodology, this study explores three Basotho womanhood spaces insofar as they define and construct womanhood for the participants. Additionally, this thesis critically explores the personal experiences of the shifting womanhoods practices and values between the traditional and contemporary contexts of the Basotho women. It draws on the in-depth accounts of nine women of different ages and backgrounds and participating or having participated in one of three womanhood spaces: Lebollo la basali, Pitiki ea bomme, and Makoti. This study leans on African Feminist theory to engage these experiences and further relies on the qualitative methodology, using semi-structured interviews to collect data. , Thesis (MSocSci) -- Faculty of Humanities, Sociology, 2025
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Alcohol-related harm in relation to demographic factors: a longitudinal analysis of South African university students
- Authors: Chakabuda, Tatenda
- Date: 2025-04-04
- Subjects: College students Alcohol use South Africa , College students Social conditions , Alcoholism Age factors , Alcoholism Sex differences , Drinking of alcoholic beverages Social aspects South Africa , Alcohol Use Disorders Identification Test
- Language: English
- Type: Academic theses , Master's theses , text
- Identifier: http://hdl.handle.net/10962/480139 , vital:78400
- Description: Introduction: Substance abuse, particularly alcohol abuse, has been widely studied. Due to its nature as a legal substance, the negative effects of alcohol are seemingly undermined. However, studies over time have constantly shown that despite being legal, alcohol has detrimental effects that should not be ignored. The consequences of alcohol can be divided into two broad categories: short-term and long-term. Short-term effects include blackouts, poor decision-making, engaging in unsafe sexual practices, and vandalism. On the other end, long-term effects include physiological harm and declining neurocognitive capacity. These and many other forms of harm have been studied, mainly in diagnosed alcoholic populations. Overtime, the population of interest in terms of alcohol-related harm broadened and it increasingly became evident that university students are susceptible to alcohol-related harm and alcohol use disorders due to their drinking patterns. Student drinking patterns involving binge drinking, pre-drinking, and drinking games are common due to the fact that in university, young adults have less supervision and more freedom. University students are also in an environment where excessive alcohol use is normalised, which makes them prone to alcohol-harm. However, it is important to note that different demographics are predisposed to alcohol-harm differently. Gender, age, racial and socio-economic differences are some factors that have been proven to differentiate individuals’ likelihood of experiencing alcohol-related harm. Unfortunately, the differences across these different demographics within a South African university population are yet to be adequately explored. A large percentage of existing literature on demographic differences in the experience of alcohol harm in university cohorts has been largely amongst Western student populations. Methods: The present longitudinal study aimed to rectify this research gap by providing an evidence-based outcome analysis of demographic differences in the experience of alcohol-related harm in a South African student population. Data were collected using the Alcohol Use Disorders Identification Test (AUDIT) over a three-year period (2015, 2016 & 2017) from the same Rhodes University student cohort. Demographic data in the form of age, race, gender, and socio-economic status was analysed to study alcohol-related harm. Results: Data indicated that male students did not significantly experience greater alcohol-related harm compared to female students (p > 0.05). Similarly, white students did not experience significantly more alcohol-related harm compared to non-white students (p > 0.05). Findings further indicated that younger students experienced significantly greater alcohol-related harm in comparison to older students (p < 0.05). Lastly, students from a higher socio-economic background did not experience significantly greater alcohol-induced harm when compared to those from a lower socioeconomic status background (p > 0.05). Conclusion: Differences by age could be related to early brain development being linked to greater risk-taking, resulting in greater alcohol-related harm. Moreover, the absence of guardians may place younger student populations at greater risk for unhealthy drinking patterns, which may result in alcohol-related harm. Findings from the study suggest a greater need for interventions to target younger student populations. Future studies should explore why younger students are at greater risk for alcohol-related harm and seek to develop interventions that are more effective for this population. , Thesis (MSocSci) -- Faculty of Humanities, Psychology, 2025
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An analysis of business incubation: case study of Chemin business incubator in East London
- Authors: Mnqokoyi, Zoliswa
- Date: 2025-04-04
- Subjects: Entrepreneurship , Intangible asset , Resource , Business incubators South Africa East London , New business enterprises South Africa
- Language: English
- Type: Academic theses , Master's theses , text
- Identifier: http://hdl.handle.net/10962/479473 , vital:78316
- Description: This study delves into an in-depth analysis of business incubation practices, focusing on the case study of Chemin Business Incubator located in East London. The primary aim of this research is to explore how Chemin utilizes both tangible and intangible resources to support incubates throughout the incubation process. Through a meticulous examination of resource allocation strategies, this study seeks to uncover the impact of these resources on the success of incubated ventures. Adopting a qualitative research design, the study employed a single case study approach, which enabled the researcher to explore in depth the resource utilization and allocation processes at Chemin. The research was conducted within the interpretivist paradigm, focusing on understanding the experiences of incubates and the management team. Data were collected through semi-structured interviews with 15 participants, including five entrepreneurs who successfully completed the incubation process, five entrepreneurs currently undergoing incubation, and five members of the management team. Additionally, document analysis of official Chemin documents provided secondary data to supplement the primary data collected through interviews. The research objectives included analyzing the allocation of resources to meet enterprise development goals, exploring the role of resources in determining incubate success at different stages of incubation, and identifying instances where resource allocation posed challenges to incubate success. Thematic analysis was used to analyze the collected data, identifying key themes and patterns related to resource allocation and its impact on incubate success. The findings of this study shed light on the multifaceted nature of resource utilization within the business incubation context. Tangible resources, including physical assets and financial support, were found to be instrumental in providing startups with essential infrastructure and funding networks. Additionally, intangible resources such as mentorship, networking opportunities, and business advisory services emerged as critical factors in nurturing entrepreneurial talent and fostering innovation. Moreover, the study identified key areas where resource allocation strategies could be optimized to enhance incubate success. By addressing these challenges, business incubators like Chemin can further bolster their support for startups, contributing to economic development and entrepreneurial growth. Lastly, this research adds valuable insights to the field of business incubation, offering practical recommendations for enhancing the effectiveness of resource allocation strategies. Through a nuanced understanding of how tangible and intangible resources impact incubate success, this study aims to inform policymakers, incubator managers, and entrepreneurs alike, fostering a conducive ecosystem for startup growth and innovation. , Thesis (MBA) -- Faculty of Commerce, Rhodes Business School, 2025
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An analysis of the impact of financialisation on commodity futures and spot prices
- Authors: Calitz, Geoffrey George
- Date: 2025-04-04
- Subjects: Commodity price , Commodity futures Prices , Spot prices , Financialization , Commodities exchange , Commodity supercycle
- Language: English
- Type: Academic theses , Master's theses , text
- Identifier: http://hdl.handle.net/10962/479528 , vital:78321
- Description: The debate on the commodity financialisation phenomenon was triggered in response to the steep rise in commodity futures and spot prices during the 2000-2011 super cycle. The two schools of thought regarding the underlying causes of such dramatic price increases are divided between those attributing the super cycle to fundamental drivers, and those who suggest that fundamental drivers alone are an insufficient explanation, and that other non-fundamental drivers are important. Fundamental drivers commonly cited in the literature include the sustained growth in demand for commodities throughout the early 2000s from emerging economies, such as China and India, and shocks to supply chains such as crop failures, export bans, and other factors such as macroeconomic dynamics. However, an alternative school of thought found empirical evidence which suggested that in addition to fundamental drivers, non-fundamental drivers such as key regulatory changes in commodity and financial markets in 1999/2000, and the subsequent changes to the trading activities in commodity derivative markets and the resultant historic growth in the participation of purely financial investors, significantly impacted the structure and price dynamics in commodity markets, in a phenomenon known as the financialisation of commodity markets. This study contributes to the empirical literature by expanding compared with previous studies the time period under investigation, as well as expanding the range of commodities examined. The most recent 2020-2024 period of rising prices is included, and the behavior of both cross-sector and same-sector pairwise return correlations of futures and spot prices in this period is compared to the pre-financialisation period. The study contributes to the literature by examining how the cross market and cross asset return correlation structure has behaved throughout the entire post-financialisation era. The study makes a further contribution by establishing the statistical significance of futures market returns as a predictor of spot market returns. It is found that the financialisation phenomenon impacted both commodity futures and spot markets. Pairwise return correlation is substantially greater throughout Period 2 (post-financialisation) compared to Period 1 (pre-financialisation) for same-sector and cross-sector pairs of futures and spot prices. The structural change in return correlation between these two periods was found to be especially pronounced for cross-sector pairs of futures and spot prices. The financialisation hypothesis is further supported by the findings of persistent structural changes in cross market and cross asset return correlation, which has become even more pronounced in the later stages of financialisation. The most recent period of rising commodity prices, Period 2(c) (2020-2024), is found to show elevated pairwise return correlation for futures and spot prices levels when compared to Period 1 (pre-financialisation), but the increase in correlations is less than in earlier financialisation periods such as Period 2(a) (2000-2011) and Period 2(b) (2012-2019). These findings suggest that index buying may be less important in the later stages of commodity financialisation. It was found that futures market returns are statistically significant predictors of spot market returns. Furthermore, the causal effect of futures market returns on spot market returns under the effect of financialisation (2000-2024) is found to be statistically significant in all five examples (WTI crude oil, gold, silver, LME copper and aluminium) examined in the study. The study finds that a clear structural change occurred in commodity spot and futures markets in the post-financialisation period. The consistency of this structural change is evident when analysing both cross sector and same sector pairwise return correlation behavior of commodity spot and futures prices, and when analysing cross market and cross asset return correlation between commodity markets and financial market benchmarks. The implication for investors is that commodity markets no longer offer certain portfolio diversification benefits and downside protection to drops in equity markets previously found in the empirical literature, and investors need to recalibrate strategies to account for these structural changes. The study concludes that the commodity market financialisation hypothesis is sound, and this implies that further research is required to better understand the impact of such structural changes on commodity futures and spot markets. In addition, because futures market returns are found to be a statistically significant predictor of spot market returns, it is imperative that further research be undertaken which investigates the explicit relationship between futures and spot markets so that policy makers and market regulators better understand the links between these two markets so that policy decisions are better informed. Furthermore, it is necessary that future research investigates how the transmission of information occurs between futures and spot markets, and how this matters for consumers, and addresses what welfare implications may be associated with this. Lastly, the author has advocated for increased transparency and restrictions in commodity markets, suggesting that all trading occurs on open regulated exchanges and that position limits are implemented, so as to prevent any market distortion which may come from institutional speculators taking excessively powerful and large positions. , Thesis (MEcon) -- Faculty of Commerce, Economics and Economic History, 2025
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An analysis of the role of tax legislation in promoting sustainability in the mining industry: a South African, Australian and United Kingdom perspective
- Authors: Murahwi, Tadiwanashe Don
- Date: 2025-04-04
- Subjects: Mineral industries Taxation Law and legislation South Africa , Mineral industries Taxation Law and legislation Australia , Mineral industries Taxation Law and legislation United Kingdom , Mineral industries Sustainable methods , Abandoned mined lands reclamation , Environmental impact charges
- Language: English
- Type: Academic theses , Master's theses , text
- Identifier: http://hdl.handle.net/10962/479506 , vital:78319
- Description: The mining industry contributes significantly to South Africa’s economy, but is fraught with controversies due to its negative environmental, economic, and social impacts. Although tax measures are established to offset these negative externalities, the role of tax provisions in promoting sustainability within South Africa’s mining sector remains underexplored. The goal of this study is to analyse the tax provisions aimed at promoting sustainability in the mining industry in South Africa, Australia and the United Kingdom, in order to identify tax provisions applying in Australia and the United Kingdom that could be introduced into South African tax legislation to strengthen the sustainability of the mining industry. In addressing the goal of the research, the thesis outlines the socio-economic and environmental impacts of mining in South Africa, discusses the sustainability discourse surrounding the industry, and analyses and compares tax provisions promoting sustainability in South Africa, Australia and the United Kingdom. An interpretative qualitative research methodology was applied in the study. The research highlighted the significant environmental degradation caused by mining, including air and water pollution, biodiversity loss, and land degradation, while also noting the socio-economic consequences, particularly for local communities and vulnerable groups. South African tax legislation, such as the Income Tax Act, Mineral and Petroleum Resources Royalty Act, and the Carbon Tax Act, aim to promote mine rehabilitation, fair taxation, contribution to the fiscus, and a reduction in emissions. What is evident from the analysis of tax provisions in Australia and the United Kingdom is that tax measures go beyond mine rehabilitation, and address issues such as tax transparency, energy consumption, and community investments, promoting sustainability by balancing economic growth with environmental stewardship. The study concludes that current tax interventions primarily address environmental degradation while neglecting the social impacts of mining. Optimizing tax policies to enhance sustainability requires a comprehensive, balanced approach that addresses environmental, economic, and social aspects, including adopting practices from Australia and the United Kingdom to promote tax transparency, community investment, and environmental protection. , Thesis (MCom) -- Faculty of Commerce, Accounting, 2025
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Composition portfolio
- Authors: Jera, Tinashe Donaldson
- Date: 2025-04-04
- Subjects: Composition (Music) , Indigenous arts Zimbabwe , Art music , Music Africa History and criticism , Dance music Zimbabwe , Serialism (Music) , Post-tonal music theory
- Language: English
- Type: Academic theses , Master's theses , text
- Identifier: http://hdl.handle.net/10962/479548 , vital:78323
- Description: Completing this portfolio has been an incredibly enlightening musical journey for me. From the beginning of my composition studies as an undergraduate student, I found myself captivated by a multitude of musical styles, which fostered a desire to compose in various genres and for a range of voices. However, upon embarking on postgraduate studies, it became apparent to me that I yearned to cultivate a distinctly personal compositional voice that resonated with my own artistic sensibilities, one that I, as a composer, could wholeheartedly embrace and call my own. Upon delving into the depths of my culture and embracing my identity as a Zimbabwean classical musician, I came to the realisation of just how profoundly rich and culturally diverse my background and musical heritage truly is. Kofi Agawu (2023) comments that African composers possess “multiple and eclectic heritages.” He explains that these heritages stem from “community-based traditional music (music with the strongest claims to being of pre-European origin […]), modifications of this tradition into neo-traditional forms; the ubiquitous, popular music of Cuban, American and British origins; and […] selected European repertories”. So, along with other African composers who compose in the African art music tradition, my multiple heritages are reflected in my creativity, and this is evident in this portfolio. This portfolio has provided me with a remarkable opportunity to immerse myself in the intricacies of Zimbabwean music, exploring the nuances of its rhythms and dances as practised by our elders. Gerhard Kubik (1994) stated that in an expansive sense, "African music" encompasses "dance" as well, given that the two are inextricably connected facets of the same cultural complex. Studying the dances shown in this portfolio enabled me to develop a deep admiration for my own culture and the aesthetic appeal of our indigenous musical rhythms and dances. The process has also allowed me to embark on a comprehensive study of these elements, meticulously translating them into original musical compositions. Moreover, I have been fortunate enough to engage in meaningful conversations with some of the most noted musicians of Zimbabwean traditional music, something that has afforded me a profound understanding of the intricacies and subtleties that permeate our musical culture. A fundamental aesthetic element of this portfolio is its deep connection to Zimbabwean dance cultures. For example, the rhythmic ideas located in the Zimbabwean Dance Suite are intimately tied to the original dances of Zimbabwe, reflecting a genuine engagement with my cultural heritage, delineated further through the creation of original melodies and harmonies that replicate those located in Indigenous music-making. My music is, thus, imbued with traditional Zimbabwean artistic practices, though they are placed in a different cultural milieu, one where traditional roots are respected while new creative territories are explored, as Zimbabwean cultural elements are synthesised with Western music techniques. The Western aspects of my musical heritage are explored in-depth in the Clarinet Trio, Ndangariro, where the broad ideas of the twentieth century’s modernist tendencies largely located in post-tonalism are featured in my harmonic stance. Here, dissonant constructions with sometimes merciless, rasping dissonances colour the harmonic landscape. This follows the general trend of that era, which is frequently referred to as “the emancipation of dissonance” (Hinton 2010), where chord construction and treatment of dissonances is antithetical to the norms followed through the common-practice period with the boundaries between consonance and dissonance being blurred (Kostka and Santa 2018). Here, my primary influence is that of Arnold Schoenberg (1874-1951), especially his development of twelve-tone serialism, and my reflexive commentary will outline this impact on my music. Further, the piquant sound world frequently associated with Olivier Messiaen (1908-1992) is also apparent in Ndangariro. While the piano part frequently shows the influence of post-tonalism the melodic lines played by the violin and clarinet often (though not always) display the influence of Romanticism, especially Romantic-styled gestures. It is the merging of these two expressive domains that goes towards the emergence of this piece’s uniquely hued sound world. These composers' approaches to modernism and their departure from traditional harmony and chord progressions inspired my approach to exploring new musical soundscapes and conveying deep, meaningful ideas. This engagement with twentieth-century Western music opens up new avenues for expressing complex emotional landscapes and philosophical concepts. In this work, I continued to create my own range of ideas to develop unique chord structures and personalised sonic spaces. This portfolio is a deep, introspective look into my personal journey, mirroring significant life events and the evolution of my musical identity; it not only offers a glimpse into my own soul but also showcases the evolving nature of my own creative expression. At its core, this portfolio expresses life in all its manifestations from joy and happiness to the pain of loss and mourning as experienced through my African heritage. It speaks to the universal experiences of hardship and overcoming such hardship through resilience; therefore, the overarching message is one of hope, which, in this case, is expressed through musical and artistic innovation as African and Western elements are merged in musical composition. It is this blending which lies at the core of Tenzi Tinzwireyi Tsitsi, a setting of the Kyrie Eleison using Zimbabwean musical and linguistic features merged with Western choralism. , Thesis (MMus) -- Faculty of Humanities, Music and Musicology, 2025
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Creating a home away from home: examining the working conditions of housemothers employed in a public all-girls boarding school in the Eastern Cape of South Africa
- Authors: Mashamba, Nyaradzo Faith
- Date: 2025-04-04
- Subjects: Housemothers Employment South Africa Eastern Cape , Work environment , Industrial relations , Organizational behavior , Boarding schools South Africa Eastern Cape , Housemothers South Africa Eastern Cape Social conditions
- Language: English
- Type: Academic theses , Master's theses , text
- Identifier: http://hdl.handle.net/10962/480150 , vital:78401
- Description: This study analyses the working conditions of housemothers employed in a public all-girls boarding school in the Eastern Cape of South Africa. Most literature dedicated to the schooling system tends to prioritize the role of the teacher, whilst often side-lining or overlooking the role of housemothers who play a crucial role in schools with boarding facilities such as hostels. In addition to a good academic programme and great extracurricular activities, parents often choose schools according to how well their boarding facilities and hostels are run. Housemothers play a critical role in this regard, as they are responsible for creating a ‘home away from home’ for the students through the provision of guidance, care, and support amongst many other roles. Although public boarding schools do not run for profit, their hostels follow a strict capitalist-like regime that utilizes various methods to create a ‘home away from home’ for students. This study adopted a Labour Process Theory (LPT) to analyse the work processes and working conditions of housemothers employed in a public all-girls school in the Eastern Cape. Although traditionally applied in ‘for profit’ organizations, the LPT is ideal for this study because hostels in boarding schools use capitalist mechanisms to provide quality services to attract parents to send their children to these schools. This research adopted a qualitative research approach, as it seeks to unearth the subjective experiences of housemothers employed in a public all-girls boarding school in the Eastern Cape. The findings in this study indicated that housemothers do indeed play a central role in the governance of the girls’ hostels in the boarding school. The hostels are governed through diverse control mechanisms, which housemothers must adhere to. Housemothers are also divided into various categories to boost efficiency and save money. This is done through the division of labour amongst the housemothers who occupy three different roles, from matrons (at the top) to housemothers (regular), and student housemothers (who are not paid in monetary terms, but through accommodation and food). The findings also indicated that housemothers have limited agency in their work. The findings also showed that housemothers are required to display specific emotional characteristics to provide various forms of support to students at the expense of their own emotions. Lastly, housemothers are expected to dress in a certain way to present a sense of professionalism, as representatives of the school. Overall, this study showed that the capitalist-like methods applied by the school’s management team in the hostel system affect the labour outcomes and experiences of housemothers. , Thesis (MSocSci) -- Faculty of Humanities, Sociology, 2025
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Evaluating the effectiveness of Work Integrated Learning (WIL) from the perspective of its key stakeholders: a case study of a TVET college
- Authors: Madabane, Sandisiwe
- Date: 2025-04-04
- Subjects: Technical institutes South Africa , Vocational education South Africa , Work-integrated learning , Stakeholder management , Stakeholder theory
- Language: English
- Type: Academic theses , Master's theses , text
- Identifier: http://hdl.handle.net/10962/479437 , vital:78313
- Description: This research aims to evaluate the effectiveness of a Work Integrated Learning (WIL) programme from the perspective of its key stakeholders, using stakeholder theory as the framework. Stakeholder theory suggests that organisations should consider the interests and needs of various stakeholders who have a vested interest in or are affected by the organisation's activities (Freeman 1963;1984). In the context of WIL, stakeholders include students, the Technical and Vocational Education and Training College, and host employers. The study uncovers the experiences, perceptions, and recommendations of students, educators, employers, and institutions involved in the WIL programme by collecting data through interviews, focus groups, and documents. Through evaluation research, valuable insights emerge regarding the success and potential areas for improvement of WIL within TVET Colleges. The findings indicate issues like inadequate resources and uneven student readiness, and they offer helpful suggestions for better communication, resource distribution, and support systems. Additionally, this calls for more research on curriculum integration, industry collaborations, and long-term career outcomes evaluation. , Thesis (MBA) -- Faculty of Commerce, Rhodes Business School, 2025
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Investigating the factors influencing the resilience of medium-sized commercial fishing enterprises in the Eastern Cape province
- Authors: Mfono, Vuyisa Nomkhitha
- Date: 2025-04-04
- Subjects: Small business South Africa Eastern Cape , Fisheries Economic aspects South Africa Eastern Cape , Small and medium enterprises , Organizational resilience , Commercial fishing
- Language: English
- Type: Academic theses , Master's theses , text
- Identifier: http://hdl.handle.net/10962/479462 , vital:78315
- Description: This research took the form of a case study of a media company, Kagiso Media (KM), that had been through a process of change. The company adopted a branding approach and used internal branding activities to implement a change intervention, which was unconventional and a unique approach, making it worthy of investigation. The primary aim of the study was, therefore, to analyse how a change in brand ideology (i.e. encompassing the business mission, vision, goals and shared values) shaped the senior leadership behaviour at KM and also led to the development of an improved performance management system. A case study research method was used. Data was collected through face-to-face and online interviews with the leadership team and combined with relevant company documents. A deductive thematic approach was used to analyse the data. The study revealed that brand ideology can impact leadership behaviour and performance if implemented deliberately. When the new CEO was appointed, his starting point was to change the KM brand ideology. The study revealed that, because of greater clarity in brand ideology, leadership behaviour improved. There were shifts in the manner in which leadership behaved and how they handled performance as a result of entrenching the new brand ideology. The study also revealed that the development of brand ideology necessitated changes in the performance management system. Brand-centred performance management systems contributed towards building a performance culture. In essence, developing a clear brand ideology was central to changing leadership behaviour and the revision of the performance management performance system. While limitations of the study are acknowledged, it has contributed by offering a unique perspective of an internal branding driven change and demonstrates how a change in brand ideology can impact leadership behaviour and performance management. Furthermore, the study recommended that further research could be done to include the perspectives of staff beyond the leadership team. , Thesis (MBA) -- Faculty of Commerce, Rhodes Business School, 2025
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Labour in global value chains: the case of South African fish exporting companies
- Authors: Mufukari, Panashe
- Date: 2025-04-04
- Subjects: Global value chain , Migrant labor South Africa , Workforce casualisation , Casual labor South Africa , Precarious employment South Africa , Exploitation of labour
- Language: English
- Type: Academic theses , Master's theses , text
- Identifier: http://hdl.handle.net/10962/480155 , vital:78402
- Description: Global value chains have reconfigured the organization of production and distribution across the world. Such a transformation has led to production fragmentation across multiple locations and the specialization of firms some of which now produce only one component of a larger product. Transformation in international trade has enabled multinational corporations to outsource production and operations to low-cost locations, which are mainly found in the Global South. Global value chains research explores these dynamics. This research began with Hopkins and Wallerstein’s work on world-systems analysis, which was concerned with the likelihood that these chains are characterized by inequality. However, later approaches, focused on Global Commodity Chains (GCCs), Global Value Chains (GVCs) and Global Production Networks (GPNs), suggested that participation in global value chains could advance development for Global South nations and result in “social upgrading” and decent work for those employed by companies that participate in these chains. This thesis explores the lived experiences of workers in South African fish exporting companies in the city of Gqeberha, to assess whether participation in global value chains does indeed mean workers experience decent working conditions. The findings of the research suggest that global value chains research needs to pay increased attention to workers. The study also emphasizes the importance of migrant labour, both internal migrant labour and international migrant labour in global value chains. By giving attention to both internal and international migrant labour, the complexity of the workforce is highlighted. Accordingly, the study calls for a comprehensive approach to the labour issue in global chains because the diverse locations and contexts shape workers’ experiences with and outcomes from participation in global chains. The study concludes that the world-systems tradition remains relevant for understanding the contemporary issues of unequal exchange, hierarchy of occupational tasks and wages, and exploitation within these global chains, a stance that diverges from mainstream scholarship in which world-systems tradition is deemed as having limited contemporary applicability. , Thesis (MSocSci) -- Faculty of Humanities, Political and International Studies, 2025
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Resource-based view of barriers and drivers to the survival of Small and Medium-sized Enterprises (SMEs) in rural areas of Centane in the Eastern Cape, South Africa
- Authors: Fadana-Dumani, Akhona Pumza
- Date: 2025-04-04
- Subjects: Small and medium enterprises , Small business South Africa Eastern Cape , Intangible property , Barriers to entry (Industrial organization) , Driver
- Language: English
- Type: Academic theses , Master's theses , text
- Identifier: http://hdl.handle.net/10962/479427 , vital:78312
- Description: This research study set out to analyse the barriers and drivers of small business survival in rural areas of Centane. Small and Medium sized Enterprises (SME’s) are considered a crucial element in achieving economic growth as well as job creation. These businesses play a pivotal role in the improvement of rural economy and livelihood and their existence is intricately linked to the survival of the local communities. Hence, the study seeks to analyse the barriers experienced by rural SME’s, resources and interventions required to be successful, was conducted in Centane, a rural town situated in Mnquma Local Municipality, Amathole District Municipality, Eastern Cape Province, The Resource based theory framework was employed to better understand the selected case study. A semi-structured questionnaire was developed in English then translated into isiXhosa the local vernacular to easy the information flow and ensures the respondent confidence during the face-to-face interview. The interviews were randomly conducted to fourteen (14) key informants (SME’s). The data was analysed using thematic analysis. Results indicated that the inadequate infrastructure, lack of skills and training as well as funding and support from the government are the key barriers experienced by the SME’s. Furthermore, results showed that critical skills such as business, records, financial management as well as marketing are required to ensure the sustainability of the SME’s in this area. Through the integration of Resource-Based-Framework, the study revealed the significance, and the availability of both the tangible and intangible resources in shaping the competitive-edge, survival and the sustainability of SME’s in Centane. The involvement of local government and other related development agencies is recommended to actively participate and play a more active role in ensuring the development, survival, sustainability and success of the SME’s in this area. Their intervention should be through facilitation of trainings and skills development initiatives with special focus on financial, marketing and business-related skills. , Thesis (MBA) -- Faculty of Commerce, Rhodes Business School, 2025
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Sustainable business models and organisational resilience: a case study of Spier Wine Farm in South Africa
- Authors: Van Staden, Kurt Martin
- Date: 2025-04-04
- Subjects: Sustainable business model , Organizational resilience South Africa , Spier (Firm) , Social responsibility of business South Africa Stellenbosch , Environmental responsibility South Africa Stellenbosch , Wine industry South Africa
- Language: English
- Type: Academic theses , Master's theses , text
- Identifier: http://hdl.handle.net/10962/479495 , vital:78318
- Description: The aim of the mini-thesis titled: “Sustainable Business Models and Organisational Resilience: A Case Study of Spier Wine Farm in South Africa” was to explore the relationship between sustainable business models and organisational resilience. Sustainability in wine makers extends beyond wine making techniques into other areas of the wine business to include hospitality, choice of glass and selecting suppliers of grapes. Spier Wine Farm, located outside the town of Stellenbosch in the Western Cape of South Africa, has been making wine since 1692. Spier has made a concerted effort in developing a sustainability strategy and introduction of sustainability into the business model. The South African wine industry is of importance to social and environmental sustainability in South Africa, creating over 270 000 jobs. Sustainability involves taking future generations into account when meeting the needs of the current generation, considering the triple bottom line of: environmental, social and economic value creation. The sustainable business model is thus an adaptation of a traditional business model to include creating and sustaining environmental and social value, in addition to traditional economic value. Resilience theory is centred around change in adaptive systems, focussing both on the role of change and the source of change. Making use of a deductive approach based on existing literature, a case study method allowed for an in-depth understanding of the relationship between sustainable business models and organisational resilience. Through semi-structured interviews and pattern matching data analysis, themes were identified. The research findings determined that a causal linkage between a sustainable business model and improved organisational resilience, in the South African context is likely to exist. The key themes that were considered to be contributing to this finding were: access to more sales markets, improved brand equity, reduced staff turnover and more efficient use of resources. An interdependence between sustainable business models and organisational resilience was found to likely not exist as a causal relationship between organisational resilience and sustainable business models was not found. The findings noted that sustainability was considered a contributing factor towards organisational resilience, but the relationship is not that of dependency as other ways to become resilient exist. Finally, it was recommended that adopting a sustainable business model is likely to lead to improved organisational resilience. , Thesis (MBA) -- Faculty of Commerce, Rhodes Business School, 2025
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The effect of organisational citizenship behaviour and unethical pro-organisational behaviour on the relationship between ethical leadership and organisational culture
- Authors: Nkosi, Nicholus Pontsho
- Date: 2025-04-04
- Subjects: Ethical leadership , Corporate culture , Organizational citizenship behavior , Social responsibility of business , Business ethics
- Language: English
- Type: Academic theses , Master's theses , text
- Identifier: http://hdl.handle.net/10962/479484 , vital:78317
- Description: Leaders have an impact on followers' ethical behaviour at lower levels by ingraining their standards and presumptions into the visible indicators of an ethical culture. Put differently, when a leader demonstrates ethical behaviour, it is reasonable to assume that followers will follow suit and create a shared understanding of what constitutes proper behaviour. This study investigates the relationship between ethical leadership and organisational culture, focusing on the mediating roles of organisational citizenship behaviour (OCB) and unethical pro-organisational behaviour (UPB) within the context of a financial services company in Africa. In this context, the research aims to address the significant gap in the literature. To this end, the literature review evidenced, amongst others, that no empirical study has been performed on how OCB and UPB mediate the relationship between ethical leadership and organisational culture. The study employs a quantitative research methodology, utilising a survey distributed electronically to a diverse sample of participants from a financial services company. To this end, the results of the research affirm that ethical leadership is positively and significantly related to organisational culture, where ethical leadership is posited to enhance organisational culture by fostering trust and collaboration among employees. Furthermore, OCB was found to mediate the relationship between ethical leadership and organisational culture. This indicates that promoting OCB is essential for fostering a favourable organisational culture. On the other hand, the study’s results show that UPB does not mediate the relationship between ethical leadership and organisational culture. This research contributes to the understanding of how ethical leadership influences organisational culture and highlights the importance of fostering OCB in organisational settings. , Thesis (MBA) -- Faculty of Commerce, Rhodes Business School, 2025
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The relationship between student satisfaction and online learning interaction at a South African Institution of Higher Learning (IHL)
- Authors: Zindove, Problem
- Date: 2025-04-04
- Subjects: Education, Higher South Africa , Web-based instruction South Africa , E-learning , Interaction analysis in education , Student satisfaction
- Language: English
- Type: Academic theses , Master's theses , text
- Identifier: http://hdl.handle.net/10962/479517 , vital:78320
- Description: Institutions of Higher Learning (IHLs) are key providers of skilled labour that drive economic growth. Therefore, it is crucial to ensure that students are satisfied with their interaction in the learning environment, including interaction with peers, instructors, and course content. This satisfaction is vital for positive learning outcomes. The COVID-19 pandemic prompted a shift from traditional face-to-face to online learning, significantly affecting student interaction. This research aimed to explore the relationship between online learning interaction and student satisfaction at a selected South African IHL. A comprehensive review of the South African higher education landscape, online learning interaction, and student satisfaction literature was conducted. Based on this review, a hypothesised model was proposed, identifying the independent variable (and its constructs namely, learner-to-learner interaction, learner-to-instructor interaction, and learner-to-content interaction) that may influence the dependent variable- student satisfaction (encompassing both expectations and experience). The research employed a positivistic approach using a deductive reasoning and quantitative methodology. A survey strategy, consisting of self-administered online and paper-based questionnaires, was used to gather data from a convenience sample of students registered at an IHL in South Africa. A total of 268 usable responses were analysed statistically. The validity and reliability of the measurement instrument were confirmed. Descriptive and inferential statistics, including standard deviation, Pearson`s correlation coefficients, regression analysis, and Analysis of Variance (ANOVA) were applied in the data analysis. The results revealed a statistically significant relationship between online learning interaction (independent variable) and student satisfaction (dependent variable), leading to the acceptance of the hypotheses. No modifications were necessary, as the hypothesised model provided a good fit. This research contributes to the body of knowledge on student satisfaction in online learning interaction within South African IHLs. Its use of the Community of Inquiry (CoI) framework has provided a comprehensive perspective of the online learning interaction variable. Also, this research is among the few that juxtaposed student expectations and student experience in student satisfaction discourse. Furthermore, it was found that the constructs of learner-to-learner interaction and learner-to-instructor interaction have an equally strong and statistically significant relationship with student satisfaction, compared to the learner-to-content interaction construct. It also offers practical, methodological recommendations for IHLs to adopt and implement online learning courses effectively. Among others, the adoption of online learning at IHLs should be encouraged as it leads to student satisfaction. Tangent to this is the need for instructor training programmes on online pedagogy. Future research should also consider qualitative research design to get rich insight into Why and How the relationship between online learning interaction and student satisfaction exists. , Thesis (MCom) -- Faculty of Commerce, Management, 2025
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Use of social media by parents raising autistic children in East London, Eastern Cape, South Africa
- Authors: Bikitsha, Tina Sisanda
- Date: 2025-04-04
- Subjects: Autism spectrum disorders South Africa , Autism spectrum disorders in children South Africa , Mothers of children with disabilities South Africa , Social media South Africa East London , Digital divide South Africa East London , Digital literacy
- Language: English
- Type: Academic theses , Master's theses , text
- Identifier: http://hdl.handle.net/10962/480128 , vital:78399
- Description: This study investigates how local parents use social media platforms, focusing on the platforms they use, how they access them, the barriers they face, and the effectiveness of social media in supporting them. Using a qualitative approach and informed by the theoretical frameworks of digital divide and digital literacy, semi- structured interviews were conducted with 10 participants (parents and caregivers), the majority of whom resided in an urban area with one from a township. The findings reveal that social media, especially WhatsApp, Facebook, and YouTube, play an important role in providing emotional support, connecting parents with similar challenges, and information sharing. However, the effectiveness of these platforms is restricted by factors such as high data costs, frequent power outages (loadshedding), limited digital literacy, disinformation, and a lack of South Africa-based online autism support groups. Additionally, the research reveals a gender disparity in social media engagement, with fewer fathers joining online support groups. Recommendations include developing relationships with policymakers to reduce data costs and enhance digital access, creating locally appropriate resources and digital literacy initiatives to improve social media accessibility for South African parents and caregivers of autistic children and, addressing the under-representation of male participants. Future research should include recruiting more fathers and caregivers, particularly in low socioeconomic regions like the Eastern Cape, and parents who lack access to social media due to financial and digital literacy challenges, to better understand their use of social media as parents or caregivers raising children with autism. The researcher’s own experience as a parent of an autistic child provides a unique perspective, which allows a more empathic and authentic understanding of the experiences of the interviewed parents. , Thesis (MSocSci) -- Faculty of Humanities, Journalism and Media Studies, 2025
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Bayesian inference for Cronbach's alpha
- Authors: Izally, Sharkay Ruwade
- Date: 2025-04-03
- Subjects: Bayesian inference , Bayesian statistical decision theory , Cronbach's alpha , Confidence distribution , Probability matching , Jeffreys prior , Random effects model
- Language: English
- Type: Academic theses , Doctoral theses , text
- Identifier: http://hdl.handle.net/10962/479919 , vital:78380 , DOI 10.21504/10962/479919
- Description: Cronbach’s alpha is used as a measure of reliability in fields like education, psychology and sociology. The reason for the popularity of Cronbach’s alpha is that it is computationally simple. Only the sample size and the variance components are needed and it can be computed for continuous as well as binary data. Cronbach’s alpha has been studied extensively using maximum likelihood estimation. Since Cronbach’s alpha is a function of the variance components, this often results in negative estimates of the variance components when the maximum likelihood method is considered as a method of estimation. In the field of Bayesian statistics, the parameters are random variables, and this can alleviate some of the problems of estimating negative variance estimates that often occur when the frequentist approach is used. The Bayesian approach also incorporates loss functions that considers the symmetry of the distribution of the parameters being estimated and adds some flexibility in obtaining better estimates of the unknown parameters. The Bayesian approach often results in better coverage probabilities than the frequentist approach especially for smaller sample sizes and it is therefore important to consider a Bayesian analysis in the estimation of Cronbach’s alpha. The reference and probability matching priors for Cronbach’s alpha will be derived using a one-way random effects model. The performance of these two priors will be compared to that of the well-known Jeffreys prior and a divergence prior. A simulation study will be considered to compare the performance of the priors, where the coverage rates, average interval lengths and standard deviations of the interval lengths will be computed. A second simulation study will be considered where the mean relative error will be compared for the various priors using the squared error, the absolute error and the linear in exponential (LINEX) loss functions. An illustrative example will also be considered. The combined Bayesian estimation of more than one Cronbach’s alpha will also be considered for m experiments with equal α but possibly different variance components. It will be shown that the reference and the probability-matching priors are the same. The Bayesian theory and results will be applied to two examples. The intervals for the combined model are however much shorter than those of the individual models. Also, the point estimates of the combined model are more accurate than those of the individual models. It is further concluded that the posterior distribution of α for the combined model becomes more important as the number of samples and models increase. The reference and probability matching priors for Cronbach’s alpha will be derived using a three-component hierarchical model. The performance of these two priors will be compared to that of the well-known Jeffreys prior and a divergence prior. A simulation study will be v vi considered to compare the performance of the priors, where the coverage rates, average interval lengths and standard deviations of the interval lengths will be computed. Two illustrative examples will also be considered. Statistical control limits will be obtained for Cronbach’s alpha in the case of a balanced one-way random effects model. This will be achieved by deriving the predictive distribution of a future Cronbach’s alpha. The unconditional posterior predictive distribution will be determined using Monte Carlo simulation and the Rao-Blackwell procedure. The predictive distribution will be used to obtain control limits and to determine the run-length and average run-length. Cronbach’s alpha will be estimated for a general covariance matrix using a Bayesian approach and comparing these results to the asymptotic frequentist interval valid under a general covariance matrix framework. Most of the results used in the literature require the compound symmetry assumption for analyses of Cronbach’s alpha. Fiducial and posterior distributions will be derived for Cronbach’s alpha in the case of the bivariate normal distribution. Various objective priors will be considered for the variance components and the correlation coefficient. One of the priors considered corresponds to the fiducial distribution. The performance of these priors will be compared to an asymptotic frequentist interval often used in the literature. A simulation study will be considered to compare the performance of the priors and the asymptotic interval, where the coverage rates and average interval lengths will be computed. , Thesis (PhD) -- Faculty of Science, Statistics, 2025
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Bridging cultures in science education: leveraging lesson study approach for indigenous knowledge integration in a township school
- Authors: Mayana, Xolani Justice
- Date: 2025-04-03
- Subjects: Science Study and teaching (Secondary) South Africa , Traditional knowledge , Lesson study , Participatory action research , Professional learning communities , Sociocultural perspective , Pedagogical content knowledge
- Language: English
- Type: Academic theses , Doctoral theses , text
- Identifier: http://hdl.handle.net/10962/480084 , vital:78395 , DOI 10.21504/10962/480084
- Description: The South African Curriculum Assessment and Policy Statement (CAPS) encourages science teachers to use culturally responsive pedagogies in their teaching. This should be done by integrating Indigenous Knowledge (IK) in science teaching to make it accessible and relevant to learners. However, the policy falls short of giving clear details on how this ought to be done. For instance, the school textbooks hardly contain any IK and there are few or no readily available teaching resources either. To complicate matters, many science teachers have not been trained on how to integrate IK into science teaching. As a result, most of them do not integrate any IK during their science lessons. It is against this backdrop that this study aimed to leverage the use of a Lesson Study approach when working with science teachers on how to integrate IK to mediate learning of the topics of waves and sound and redox reactions in a township school. Underpinned by the indigenous research and transformative paradigms, a qualitative case study approach in a form of participatory action research was adopted. Six science teachers from a township school, five Indigenous Knowledge Custodians1 (IKCs), one critical friend (isiXhosa and English teacher from the same school) and three university lecturers and a school principal from Zambia who conducted various workshops, and I were the participants in this study. Qualitative data was generated using interviews (semi-structured and stimulated recall interviews), document analysis, workshop discussions, observations (participatory and classroom observations) and journal reflections. Vygotsky’s sociocultural theory, Shulman’s pedagogical content knowledge, specifically Topic-specific Pedagogical Content Knowledge (TSPCK) and Ogunniyi’s Contiguity Argumentation Theory (CAT) were used as complementary theoretical frameworks. A thematic approach to data analysis was employed to come up with sub-themes and themes. The main findings of the study revealed that through collaboration with Indigenous Knowledge Custodians and tapping into their cultural heritage the integration of IK into science lessons was possible. Thus, this study showed that leveraging the use of a Lesson Study approach when working with science teachers on how to integrate IK to mediate learning of the topics of waves and sound and redox reactions in a township school, shifted the science teachers’ Zone of Proximal Development and Pedagogical Content Knowledge positively. Also, this study revealed that the integration of IK promotes learner talk or argumentation. Moreover, the use of isiXhosa our home language proved to be an invaluable cultural tool for effective communication in this study. The study thus recommends that transformational professional learning communities (PLCs) be established in township schools and that teachers should work in collaboration with IKCs to learn about IK which could be integrated into other science topics. Furthermore, the study recommends that teachers should be trained in document analysis and how to use the TSPCK components to unpack the curriculum. This might help the teachers to understand the curriculum needs better, plan better, and hopefully teach better. Thus, the contention of this study is that teacher preparedness is inextricably linked to learner achievement. , Thesis (PhD) -- Faculty of Education, Secondary and Post School Education, 2025
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Bridging traditions: mobilising indigenous knowledge and marine biodiversity conservation to support learner talk and sense-making in Grade 11 Life Sciences
- Authors: Sibanda, Aswad
- Date: 2025-04-03
- Subjects: Life sciences Study and teaching (Secondary) South Africa , Marine biodiversity conservation South Africa , Ethnoscience South Africa , Pedagogical content knowledge , Cultural-historical activity theory , Sensemaking
- Language: English
- Type: Academic theses , Master's theses , text
- Identifier: http://hdl.handle.net/10962/480007 , vital:78388
- Description: The Curriculum Assessment Policy and Statement (CAPS) document mandates that science teachers should integrate learners’ Indigenous Knowledge (IK) into their classrooms. However, many South African teachers, like those in Namibia, seem to struggle with this integration due to insufficient pedagogical content knowledge, leading to minimal IK integration and hence poor science performance. This issue suggests that science curricula seem to lack clarity on integrating IK. It is against this backdrop that I was motivated to mobilise marine Indigenous Knowledge to support Grade 11 Life Sciences learners from a township school to talk and make sense of marine biodiversity conservation. A qualitative case study research design was used as it permits the grouping of detailed information essential to making sense of the anticipated responses of the participants. This study was informed by Vygotsky’s sociocultural theory and Cultural-Historical Activity Theory (CHAT). It was conducted at a township school in the Eastern Cape, South Africa. Forty-five Grade 11 Life Sciences learners, two Indigenous Knowledge Custodians (IKCs) who grew up in marine environments and a local fisherman were participants in this study. Additionally, I asked one science teacher to be a critical friend. Data sets were gathered using a group activity, focus group interviews (sharing circles), observations (participatory and lesson observations), stimulated recall interviews and learners’ reflections. The sociocultural theory was used as a lens to find out how learners learn through social interactions and how learning takes place in a sociocultural context. I augmented this theory with CHAT as an analytical framework. The CHAT provided an analytical lens to understand how community involvement and IKC interventions supported learner talk and sense making of the content and facilitated meaningful learning. The main findings of the study revealed that during the IKCs’ presentations, learners were able to identify science concepts embedded in the Indigenous Knowledge of marine biodiversity conservation. The findings further revealed that the presentations stimulated learner talk and improved sense making among learners regarding marine biodiversity conservation and related concepts. The study recommends that teachers should leverage IKCs’ cultural heritage by inviting them into classrooms to make science more relevant, accessible and meaningful for learners. , Thesis (MEd) -- Faculty of Education, Secondary and Post School Education, 2025
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Bushmeat hunting and use by rural communities living adjacent to indigenous forests in the Eastern Cape
- Authors: Martins, Vusumzi
- Date: 2025-04-03
- Subjects: Wildlife as food South Africa Eastern Cape , Forests and forestry South Africa , Hunting South Africa , Local ecological knowledge , Forest management South Africa , Sustainability , Social ecology
- Language: English
- Type: Academic theses , Doctoral theses , text
- Identifier: http://hdl.handle.net/10962/479930 , vital:78381 , DOI 10.21504/10962/479930
- Description: The use of forest wild species directly contributes to the well-being of billions of people globally and is particularly important to people living in vulnerable situations. Rural, indigenous communities have harvested a variety of timber and non-timber forest products (NTFPs) for millennia and still do to date. For these people, forests provide many products and benefits such as food, medicine, fuelwood and a source of income from trade in these items. In South Africa, a large number of studies have investigated the harvesting and use of NTFPs, highlighting their importance to rural and urban communities. Additionaly, the hunting of wild mammals occurs throughout the Afro-temperate forests of South Africa. Yet, no comprehensive study has been conducted on the hunting and use of wild forest mammals in the region. I sought to investigate the motivations, extent and impact of local hunting in the indigenous forests of the Eastern Cape. I hypothesize that in the region hunting is not a primary source of nutrition or income, but it continues to hold cultural significance, reflecting deep-rooted traditions within these communities. Understanding bushmeat hunting and use in the region is key to guiding sustainable management and assessing the need for policy adjustments. The current study firstly provides a detailed evaluation of NTFPs harvesting and use, highlighting the livelihood benefits associated with bushmeat hunting by investigating bushmeat hunting patterns and consumption by rural communities surrounding forest patches in the Eastern Cape province, South Africa. Here bushmeat hunting refers to the informal hunting of wild mammals by rural communities, primarily for subsistence consumption. While often organised and small-scale, it is shaped by local ecological knowledge, cultural traditions, and resource availability. The practice occurs within a complex illegal and socio-economic landscape, where access to alternative protein sources, conservation regulations, and historical land-use patterns influence its prevalence and significance. To assess NTFP harvesting and bushmeat hunting, 12 villages at different proximities to forests were selected around the province. Using a quantitative approach in the form of guided, semi-structured interviews, data on the extraction and use of NTFPs, bushmeat hunting, frequency of bushmeat consumption, general protein consumption and food security of each household were solicited. Only 16% of the households attested to hunting in the 12 months prior to the survey, with all these households including an active hunter. Though 64% of the interviewed head of households mentioned that they had consumed bushmeat in the past year, these were mostly men, only 12% percent mentioned that the hunter in the household brought their catch home and consumed the meat with their families. Hunters mostly consumed their catch with other hunters, non-hunting males and young boys. Hence the study concluded that bushmeat consumption was not an important livelihood strategy nor food source of rural people but instead plays a significant social and cultural role in the region. I also provide comprehensive insights into bushmeat hunting practices in the province. Though conducting in-depth questionnaire surveys with self-identifying hunters from the 12 villages I was able to determine the motivations, methods and perceptions behind bushmeat hunting. A total of 147 hunter interviews were conducted. All the interviewees were male, with a mean age of 32 ± 9 years. The primary motivations behind bushmeat hunting were culture (40%), sport/competition (33%) and recreational purposes (20%). Contrary to hunting in the tropics, only 4% mentioned that they hunt for income. Most of the hunters (44%) used mixed hunting methods. This involved setting up or checking snares whilst hunting with dogs and sticks, 27% only used dogs and sticks and 17% only used snares. Hunters reported ten mammal species caught in forests of the Eastern Cape in the last 12 months. Bushbuck (Tragelaphus scriptus), Common duiker (Sylvicapra grimmia) and Cape porcupine (Hystrix africaeaustralis) were the most hunted species. All the hunters acknowledged that hunting was an illegal activity and if caught they could be arrested. The study further presents a thorough assessment of forest mammal species diversity under hunting pressure. Evidence suggests that higher hunting occurs in communal land forests compared to forests on protected or privately owned land. Hence, data on species richness and abundance within fenced protected forests and neighbouring unfenced communal forests was acquired using a mixed-methods approach in the form of ecological line transects and local ecological knowledge (LEK) surveys. The line transects revealed a mean mammal species richness of 7.6 ±1.3 in the protected forests, 5.3 ±1.4 in the Afromontane communal forests and 3.3 ±1.6 in the Coastal communal forests. The Afromontane and Coastal communal forests had a mean species abundance of 12.1 ± 5.4 and 6.5 ± 5.0, per forest respectively, whilst the protected forests had a mean species abundance of 18.0 ± 7.0. During the LEK surveys hunters from villages close to the forests reported more species (8.9 ±1.7) than those from far villages (7.3 ± 1.2). The regular forest users reported a mean species richness of 5.5 ± 1.2 and the local experts from the protected forests reporting a mean species richness of 13.4 ± 0.7. The study demonstrates the importance of mixed-methods approach in wildlife research and sustainable natural resource use. The current study clearly shows that protected areas support higher biodiversity and that local forest users’ knowledge aligns well with ecological data. Lastly, I present a social-ecological assessment of bushmeat hunting in the forests of the Eastern Cape. The use of traditional biological sustainability indices have proved inadequate for measuring the impact of bushmeat hunting because sustainability is treated as a static, binary question, thus ignoring stochastic processes, the inherent variability of natural systems, and the complexity of hunting systems. I hence used a combination of social and ecological methods to gain insights on how the offtake of forest mammal species affected species density in the communal forests of the Eastern Cape and also how this influenced hunting practices and behaviour. The density estimates of the hunted mammal fauna in the communal forests was significantly less (50%) than in the protected forests in the region. Also, the density estimates for the five most hunted mammal species in the communal forests were significantly lower (15%) than density estimates reported in the literature. Additionally, participatory hunter interviews revealed a decline in catch per unit effort and harvest rates over the past 10 years. This decline resulted in changes in the hunting strategies and patterns of many hunters. I argue that bushmeat hunting systems should be regarded as social-ecological systems in which the animal populations are not the only focus. Instead, understanding the complex and dynamic relationships between the hunting ground, its resources, the stakeholders, and the different exogenous drivers of change that affect these components yields a better interpretation of sustainability. The current study contributes to the growing knowledge of bushmeat hunting and use in the country and also provides novel findings on the sustainability of bushmeat hunting in the forests of the Eastern Cape. Here I provide an all-inclusive appraisal of bushmeat hunting and use by rural communities living adjacent to biodiversity-rich indigenous forests. The study provides in-depth insights on household bushmeat use, hunting practices and motivations of hunters and the effect of hunting on mammalian forest fauna. Furthermore, the study provides a novel approach to determining the sustainability of bushmeat hunting by using mixed social and ecological methods. The study can be used as a model for other studies assessing bushmeat hunting elsewhere in the country. , Thesis (PhD) -- Faculty of Science, Environmental Science, 2025
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