The growing South African municipal water service delivery problem
- Authors: Jacoby, Kevin Terence
- Date: 2012
- Subjects: Municipal water supply -- South Africa , Municipal services -- South Africa
- Language: English
- Type: Thesis , Masters , MA
- Identifier: vital:9011 , http://hdl.handle.net/10948/d1016270
- Description: The sustainability of South Africa municipal water services provision is being challenged by the desire of government to extend high quality services from a relatively small portion of the population to the whole. Evidence of failures in delivery are mounting and many reasons for this have been identified, including a lack of political will at local government levels, low budget priority, insufficient capital, lack of capacity and skill and flawed tariff and accounting structures. This study generates new perspectives by surveying selected but representative, South African municipalities in their capacities as water service authorities (WSAs) on a range of financial sustainability issues – including cost burden on users, cross sub-subsidisation and cost calculations to set tariffs. The study is part of a wider investigation into the setting of tariffs that cover costs and satisfy demand, funded and advised by the Water Research Commission (WRC). The conclusions and recommendations of WRC Project K3/2087 (Hosking, 2011b) are to address: 1. The choice of water service provider, including the private utility option; 2. Market vulnerabilities in water service provision under alternate models of supply; 3. The determination and realisation of full cost recovery; 4. Demand responsiveness/sensitivity of local government supply; 5. The increasing block tariff (IBT) tariff structure; and 6. Abuse of dominance in the market process. Given the limited perspective (i.e. a focus on WSAs), some important national water sustainability issues are given less prominence, e.g. raw water availability and national government capacity to subsidise water service delivery. The key water service sustainability elements on which attention was focused in this study are: • Backlogs in the water service coverage and infrastructure rehabilitation and maintenance. • Standard of water service indicators. • Relative importance of the provision of water services in water service authorities’ strategy and implementation (including budget and risk). • Adequacy of skills to provide a sustainable water service. • Budgeting and planning for the sustainability of the water service. • Adequacy of the costing and tariff setting nexus, with particular attention paid to method and principle. A survey was used to elicit information from selected municipalities (Chapter Four). The municipalities which formed part of the sample and were surveyed were: 1. Nelson Mandela Bay Metropolitan Municipality; 2. Ekurhuleni Metropolitan Municipality; 3. eThekwini Metropolitan Municipality; 4. Cape Town Metropolitan Municipality; 5. Buffalo City Metropolitan Municipality; 6. George Municipality; 7. uMhlathuze (Richards Bay) Municipality; 8. Steve Tshwete (Middleburg) Municipality; 9. Kouga Municipality; 10. Sol Plaatjie (Kimberley) Municipality; 11. Polokwane Municipality; 12. Stellenbosch Municipality; 13. Overstrand Municipality; 14. Midvaal Municipality; and 15. Amathole District Municipality.
- Full Text:
- Date Issued: 2012
- Authors: Jacoby, Kevin Terence
- Date: 2012
- Subjects: Municipal water supply -- South Africa , Municipal services -- South Africa
- Language: English
- Type: Thesis , Masters , MA
- Identifier: vital:9011 , http://hdl.handle.net/10948/d1016270
- Description: The sustainability of South Africa municipal water services provision is being challenged by the desire of government to extend high quality services from a relatively small portion of the population to the whole. Evidence of failures in delivery are mounting and many reasons for this have been identified, including a lack of political will at local government levels, low budget priority, insufficient capital, lack of capacity and skill and flawed tariff and accounting structures. This study generates new perspectives by surveying selected but representative, South African municipalities in their capacities as water service authorities (WSAs) on a range of financial sustainability issues – including cost burden on users, cross sub-subsidisation and cost calculations to set tariffs. The study is part of a wider investigation into the setting of tariffs that cover costs and satisfy demand, funded and advised by the Water Research Commission (WRC). The conclusions and recommendations of WRC Project K3/2087 (Hosking, 2011b) are to address: 1. The choice of water service provider, including the private utility option; 2. Market vulnerabilities in water service provision under alternate models of supply; 3. The determination and realisation of full cost recovery; 4. Demand responsiveness/sensitivity of local government supply; 5. The increasing block tariff (IBT) tariff structure; and 6. Abuse of dominance in the market process. Given the limited perspective (i.e. a focus on WSAs), some important national water sustainability issues are given less prominence, e.g. raw water availability and national government capacity to subsidise water service delivery. The key water service sustainability elements on which attention was focused in this study are: • Backlogs in the water service coverage and infrastructure rehabilitation and maintenance. • Standard of water service indicators. • Relative importance of the provision of water services in water service authorities’ strategy and implementation (including budget and risk). • Adequacy of skills to provide a sustainable water service. • Budgeting and planning for the sustainability of the water service. • Adequacy of the costing and tariff setting nexus, with particular attention paid to method and principle. A survey was used to elicit information from selected municipalities (Chapter Four). The municipalities which formed part of the sample and were surveyed were: 1. Nelson Mandela Bay Metropolitan Municipality; 2. Ekurhuleni Metropolitan Municipality; 3. eThekwini Metropolitan Municipality; 4. Cape Town Metropolitan Municipality; 5. Buffalo City Metropolitan Municipality; 6. George Municipality; 7. uMhlathuze (Richards Bay) Municipality; 8. Steve Tshwete (Middleburg) Municipality; 9. Kouga Municipality; 10. Sol Plaatjie (Kimberley) Municipality; 11. Polokwane Municipality; 12. Stellenbosch Municipality; 13. Overstrand Municipality; 14. Midvaal Municipality; and 15. Amathole District Municipality.
- Full Text:
- Date Issued: 2012
Causes and consequences of early marriage in Lusikisiki: a research paper
- Authors: Jongizulu, Siziwe
- Date: 2012
- Subjects: Teenage marriage -- South Africa -- Eastern Cape , Forced marriage -- South Africa , Children's rights -- South Africa -- Eastern Cape
- Language: English
- Type: Thesis , Masters , MA
- Identifier: vital:9074 , http://hdl.handle.net/10948/d1008414 , Teenage marriage -- South Africa -- Eastern Cape , Forced marriage -- South Africa , Children's rights -- South Africa -- Eastern Cape
- Description: The purpose of the study was to identify causes and consequences of early marriages in Lusikisiki. The population of this study is a convenience sample from Lusikisiki. The researcher thought that this was appropriate because these subjects would be sharing their personal experiences in the form of case studies. The ages of subjects that were interviewed were 40 years & 47 years old (both married early) and those that married late were both 50 years old. The idea that guided the study was an exploratory one aimed at understanding the phenomenon of early marriage. The aim was to explore the following ideas: Young girls are being given into marriage at their early age by their parents because of the bride price (ilobola)Women that are given into marriage early feel victimized by this process early marriage disrupts the school pattern of young girls Men are the main beneficiaries of early marriage.
- Full Text:
- Date Issued: 2012
- Authors: Jongizulu, Siziwe
- Date: 2012
- Subjects: Teenage marriage -- South Africa -- Eastern Cape , Forced marriage -- South Africa , Children's rights -- South Africa -- Eastern Cape
- Language: English
- Type: Thesis , Masters , MA
- Identifier: vital:9074 , http://hdl.handle.net/10948/d1008414 , Teenage marriage -- South Africa -- Eastern Cape , Forced marriage -- South Africa , Children's rights -- South Africa -- Eastern Cape
- Description: The purpose of the study was to identify causes and consequences of early marriages in Lusikisiki. The population of this study is a convenience sample from Lusikisiki. The researcher thought that this was appropriate because these subjects would be sharing their personal experiences in the form of case studies. The ages of subjects that were interviewed were 40 years & 47 years old (both married early) and those that married late were both 50 years old. The idea that guided the study was an exploratory one aimed at understanding the phenomenon of early marriage. The aim was to explore the following ideas: Young girls are being given into marriage at their early age by their parents because of the bride price (ilobola)Women that are given into marriage early feel victimized by this process early marriage disrupts the school pattern of young girls Men are the main beneficiaries of early marriage.
- Full Text:
- Date Issued: 2012
Prevention of mother to child transmission (PMTCT) of HIV/AIDS: a review of using PMTCT services in South Africa
- Authors: Jumare, Fadila
- Date: 2012
- Subjects: AIDS (Disease) in pregnancy -- South Africa -- Prevention , AIDS (Disease) -- South Africa -- Prevention , HIV infections -- Transmission -- South Africa , Antiretroviral agents
- Language: English
- Type: Thesis , Masters , MA
- Identifier: vital:9091 , http://hdl.handle.net/10948/d1011508 , AIDS (Disease) in pregnancy -- South Africa -- Prevention , AIDS (Disease) -- South Africa -- Prevention , HIV infections -- Transmission -- South Africa , Antiretroviral agents
- Description: Despite good intentions and commitment from health providers, it is difficult for HIV positive pregnant women to access Prevention of Mother to Child Transmission of HIV (PMTCT) services (Skinner et al 2005:115). The aim of this research was to find out the extent to which socio-economic and cultural factors influence access to and utilization of PMTCT services. It appeared that despite having a legal plan and framework to ensure that PMTCT services are available and free, the realities confronting HIV positive women in South Africa as suggested by the literature contradicted this objective. Inevitably, these contradictions were identified as some of the main factors contributing to lack of access and inadequate utilization of PMTCT services. These factors were identified through a review of fifteen studies selected based on their relevance to the research aim. The findings were presented according to the following themes: Functioning of clinics, adherence to ART, uptake of VCT and infant feeding practices. According to research evidence, the major socio-cultural factors influencing access and utilization of PMTCT services include fear of stigma and discrimination which are related to cultural norms and practices. The socio-economic factors include transport costs, lack of food, medicines and formula milk which are all related to poverty and unemployment. The research also found that health system constraints such as long waiting times in clinics, stock-outs of formula milk, medicines and test kits influenced the utilization of PMTCT services by HIV positive women.
- Full Text:
- Date Issued: 2012
- Authors: Jumare, Fadila
- Date: 2012
- Subjects: AIDS (Disease) in pregnancy -- South Africa -- Prevention , AIDS (Disease) -- South Africa -- Prevention , HIV infections -- Transmission -- South Africa , Antiretroviral agents
- Language: English
- Type: Thesis , Masters , MA
- Identifier: vital:9091 , http://hdl.handle.net/10948/d1011508 , AIDS (Disease) in pregnancy -- South Africa -- Prevention , AIDS (Disease) -- South Africa -- Prevention , HIV infections -- Transmission -- South Africa , Antiretroviral agents
- Description: Despite good intentions and commitment from health providers, it is difficult for HIV positive pregnant women to access Prevention of Mother to Child Transmission of HIV (PMTCT) services (Skinner et al 2005:115). The aim of this research was to find out the extent to which socio-economic and cultural factors influence access to and utilization of PMTCT services. It appeared that despite having a legal plan and framework to ensure that PMTCT services are available and free, the realities confronting HIV positive women in South Africa as suggested by the literature contradicted this objective. Inevitably, these contradictions were identified as some of the main factors contributing to lack of access and inadequate utilization of PMTCT services. These factors were identified through a review of fifteen studies selected based on their relevance to the research aim. The findings were presented according to the following themes: Functioning of clinics, adherence to ART, uptake of VCT and infant feeding practices. According to research evidence, the major socio-cultural factors influencing access and utilization of PMTCT services include fear of stigma and discrimination which are related to cultural norms and practices. The socio-economic factors include transport costs, lack of food, medicines and formula milk which are all related to poverty and unemployment. The research also found that health system constraints such as long waiting times in clinics, stock-outs of formula milk, medicines and test kits influenced the utilization of PMTCT services by HIV positive women.
- Full Text:
- Date Issued: 2012
An exploration of managed land settlement as a mechanism for the provision of sustainable settlements : a case study of Icwili Location in Great Kei Local Municipality
- Authors: Kabane, Noxolo
- Date: 2012
- Subjects: Human settlements -- South Africa -- Eastern Cape , Land settlement -- South Africa -- Eastern Cape , Rural development -- South Africa -- Eastern Cape , Communities -- South Africa -- Eastern Cape
- Language: English
- Type: Thesis , Masters , MA
- Identifier: vital:9155 , http://hdl.handle.net/10948/d1019794
- Description: The Constitution of South Africa guarantees the right of citizens to access to adequate housing and land. The Universal Declaration of Human Rights of 1948 also recognises the right to adequate housing as an important component of the right to an adequate standard of living. However, vast numbers of citizens have been unable to access adequate housing due to regulatory frameworks operating in the cities and towns that they live in. Using the case study research methodology, the study shows how an alternative approach to housing delivery can be implemented. The study looks at a community in iCwili Location which is in the Great Kei Local municipality which piloted the managed land settlement (MLS) approach to housing delivery. MLS seeks to promote an incremental approach to site, service and housing delivery. It emphasizes the need for the provision of planned, secure land with access to basic services as a first step towards housing delivery and settlement upgrading. The study documented the process involved in the implementation of the pilot project and how the community was involved with project. The findings revealed that the community appreciated being involved with each phase of the project and being part of the decision-making process. The respondents cited the delight they shared with having occupation rights to the land and they could finally be in position to be able to build their homes with no fear of eviction.
- Full Text:
- Date Issued: 2012
- Authors: Kabane, Noxolo
- Date: 2012
- Subjects: Human settlements -- South Africa -- Eastern Cape , Land settlement -- South Africa -- Eastern Cape , Rural development -- South Africa -- Eastern Cape , Communities -- South Africa -- Eastern Cape
- Language: English
- Type: Thesis , Masters , MA
- Identifier: vital:9155 , http://hdl.handle.net/10948/d1019794
- Description: The Constitution of South Africa guarantees the right of citizens to access to adequate housing and land. The Universal Declaration of Human Rights of 1948 also recognises the right to adequate housing as an important component of the right to an adequate standard of living. However, vast numbers of citizens have been unable to access adequate housing due to regulatory frameworks operating in the cities and towns that they live in. Using the case study research methodology, the study shows how an alternative approach to housing delivery can be implemented. The study looks at a community in iCwili Location which is in the Great Kei Local municipality which piloted the managed land settlement (MLS) approach to housing delivery. MLS seeks to promote an incremental approach to site, service and housing delivery. It emphasizes the need for the provision of planned, secure land with access to basic services as a first step towards housing delivery and settlement upgrading. The study documented the process involved in the implementation of the pilot project and how the community was involved with project. The findings revealed that the community appreciated being involved with each phase of the project and being part of the decision-making process. The respondents cited the delight they shared with having occupation rights to the land and they could finally be in position to be able to build their homes with no fear of eviction.
- Full Text:
- Date Issued: 2012
Social capital and fisheries co-management in South Africa: the East Coast Rock Lobster Fishery in Tshani Mankozi, Wild Coast, Eastern Cape
- Authors: Kaminsky, Alexander
- Date: 2012
- Subjects: Social capital (Sociology) -- Economic aspects Human capital -- South Africa Fishery management -- South Africa Natural resources -- Co-management -- South Africa Rural poor -- South Africa Sustainable development -- South Africa
- Language: English
- Type: Thesis , Masters , MA
- Identifier: vital:3322 , http://hdl.handle.net/10962/d1003110
- Description: It is evident that natural fish stocks are in rapid decline and that millions of people around the world rely on these resources for food and for securing a livelihood. This has brought many social scientists, biologists and fisheries experts to acknowledge that communities need to take more control in managing their natural resources. The paradigm shift in fisheries management from a top-down resource orientated control to a participatory people-centred control is now being advocated in many maritime nations in facilitating community-based natural resource management. At the heart of these projects is the establishment of institutions and social networks that allow for clear communication and information sharing, based on scientific data and traditional knowledge which ultimately allow empowered communities to collectively manage their resources in partnership with government, market actors and many other stakeholders. Central to the problem is the issue of access rights. In many situations where co-management of natural resources through community-government partnerships is advocated, the failure of coastal states to provide adequate legislature and regulatory frameworks has jeopardised such projects. A second issue is the failure of many states to provide adequate investments in social and human capital which will enable communities to become the primary stakeholder in the co-management of their natural resources. Whilst investments like capacity building, education, skills training and development, communications and institution building can initially require high financial investments, the regulatory costs for monitoring, controlling and surveying fish stocks along the coastline will go down as communities take ownership of their resources under sustainable awareness. The main unit of investment therefore is social capital which allows for the increase in trust, cooperativeness, assertiveness, collective action and general capabilities of natural resource governance. High levels of social capital require good social relations and interactions which ultimately create a social network of fishers, community members and leaders, government officials, market players, researchers and various other stakeholders. Co-management thus has an inherent network structure made up of social relations on a horizontal scale amongst community members as well as on a vertical scale with government and fisheries authorities. These bonding relations between people and the bridging relations with institutions provide the social capital currency that allows for a successful co-management solution to community-based natural resource governance. The South African coastline is home to thousands of people who harvest the marine resources for food security and securing a basic income. Fishing is a major cultural and historical component of the livelihoods of many people along the coastline, particularly along the Wild Coast of South Africa located on its South-eastern shoreline. Due to the geopolitical nature of South Africa’s apartheid past many people were located in former tribal lands called Bantustans. The Transkei, one of the biggest homelands, is home to some of South Africa’s poorest people, many of whom rely on the marine resources. By 1998 the government sought to acknowledge the previously unrecognised subsistence sector that lived along the South African coastline with the promulgation of the Marine Living Resources Act. The act sought to legalise access rights for fishers and provide opportunities for the development of commercial fisheries. The act and many subsequent policies largely called for co-management as a solution to the management of the subsistence sector. This thesis largely explains the administrative and legislative difficulties in transporting the participatory components of co-management to the ground level. As such co-management has largely remained in rhetoric whilst the government provides a contradictory policy regarding the management of subsistence and small-scale fishers. This thesis attempts to provide qualitative ethnographic research of the East Coast Rock Lobster fishery located in a small fishing village in the Transkei. The fishery falls somewhere on the spectrum between the small-scale and subsistence sector as there are a basket of high and low value resources being harvested. It will be argued that in order to economically and socially develop the fishery the social capital and social networks of the community and various stakeholders needs to be analysed in order to effectively create a co-management network that can create a successful collective management of natural resources thereby sustaining these communities in the future.
- Full Text:
- Date Issued: 2012
- Authors: Kaminsky, Alexander
- Date: 2012
- Subjects: Social capital (Sociology) -- Economic aspects Human capital -- South Africa Fishery management -- South Africa Natural resources -- Co-management -- South Africa Rural poor -- South Africa Sustainable development -- South Africa
- Language: English
- Type: Thesis , Masters , MA
- Identifier: vital:3322 , http://hdl.handle.net/10962/d1003110
- Description: It is evident that natural fish stocks are in rapid decline and that millions of people around the world rely on these resources for food and for securing a livelihood. This has brought many social scientists, biologists and fisheries experts to acknowledge that communities need to take more control in managing their natural resources. The paradigm shift in fisheries management from a top-down resource orientated control to a participatory people-centred control is now being advocated in many maritime nations in facilitating community-based natural resource management. At the heart of these projects is the establishment of institutions and social networks that allow for clear communication and information sharing, based on scientific data and traditional knowledge which ultimately allow empowered communities to collectively manage their resources in partnership with government, market actors and many other stakeholders. Central to the problem is the issue of access rights. In many situations where co-management of natural resources through community-government partnerships is advocated, the failure of coastal states to provide adequate legislature and regulatory frameworks has jeopardised such projects. A second issue is the failure of many states to provide adequate investments in social and human capital which will enable communities to become the primary stakeholder in the co-management of their natural resources. Whilst investments like capacity building, education, skills training and development, communications and institution building can initially require high financial investments, the regulatory costs for monitoring, controlling and surveying fish stocks along the coastline will go down as communities take ownership of their resources under sustainable awareness. The main unit of investment therefore is social capital which allows for the increase in trust, cooperativeness, assertiveness, collective action and general capabilities of natural resource governance. High levels of social capital require good social relations and interactions which ultimately create a social network of fishers, community members and leaders, government officials, market players, researchers and various other stakeholders. Co-management thus has an inherent network structure made up of social relations on a horizontal scale amongst community members as well as on a vertical scale with government and fisheries authorities. These bonding relations between people and the bridging relations with institutions provide the social capital currency that allows for a successful co-management solution to community-based natural resource governance. The South African coastline is home to thousands of people who harvest the marine resources for food security and securing a basic income. Fishing is a major cultural and historical component of the livelihoods of many people along the coastline, particularly along the Wild Coast of South Africa located on its South-eastern shoreline. Due to the geopolitical nature of South Africa’s apartheid past many people were located in former tribal lands called Bantustans. The Transkei, one of the biggest homelands, is home to some of South Africa’s poorest people, many of whom rely on the marine resources. By 1998 the government sought to acknowledge the previously unrecognised subsistence sector that lived along the South African coastline with the promulgation of the Marine Living Resources Act. The act sought to legalise access rights for fishers and provide opportunities for the development of commercial fisheries. The act and many subsequent policies largely called for co-management as a solution to the management of the subsistence sector. This thesis largely explains the administrative and legislative difficulties in transporting the participatory components of co-management to the ground level. As such co-management has largely remained in rhetoric whilst the government provides a contradictory policy regarding the management of subsistence and small-scale fishers. This thesis attempts to provide qualitative ethnographic research of the East Coast Rock Lobster fishery located in a small fishing village in the Transkei. The fishery falls somewhere on the spectrum between the small-scale and subsistence sector as there are a basket of high and low value resources being harvested. It will be argued that in order to economically and socially develop the fishery the social capital and social networks of the community and various stakeholders needs to be analysed in order to effectively create a co-management network that can create a successful collective management of natural resources thereby sustaining these communities in the future.
- Full Text:
- Date Issued: 2012
'Becoming citizens': young people making sense of citizenship on a South African community radio station youth show
- Karamagi, Sharon Benna Kyakyo
- Authors: Karamagi, Sharon Benna Kyakyo
- Date: 2012
- Subjects: Citizenship -- Study and teaching -- South Africa Youth -- Social conditions Community radio -- South Africa -- Grahamstown Grahamstown (South Africa) -- Economic conditions
- Language: English
- Type: Thesis , Masters , MA
- Identifier: vital:3444 , http://hdl.handle.net/10962/d1002898
- Description: This research set out to investigate the role that community radio can potentially play as a space in which young people engage with their own role as citizens and, in so doing, participate in discussions that seek to address social problems in a community divided by class, income, gender and race. The study examines how a local community radio station - Radio Grahamstown - developed a youth programme Y4Yin which the producers of the show and its audience came together to negotiate the meaning of citizenship. The study examines whether this interactive programme was able to function as something like a public sphere where in young people were able to develop a greater sense of agency, at least in the realm of citizenship. Using evidence gathered through focus group discussions with a group of young school-going leamers, interviews conducted with the producers of the show Y4Y, and drawing on Dahlgren's elaboration of a functional public sphere, the research concludes that the show provided a useful platform for Grahamstown high school students to develop their own notions of citizenship and to, at least partially and tentatively, build some 'bridges' across the vectors of socio-economic division in the town. However, the research also concludes that the Y4Y producers often failed to use a mode of address contemporary to the youth and often did not use production techniques congruent with young people's cultural tastes. This limited the programme's appeal and its potential as an enabler of discussion about notions of citizenship and as a platform for social bridging. In addition, because of the producers' control over the choice of topics put up for discussion, open interaction was more limited than could have been expected. In addition, the study also concludes that various limitations to the leamers' freedom of expression (including their fear that teachers might be listening in to the shows) inhibited the programme's role as a deliberative public sphere where issues could be aired, common ground found, and solutions discussed.
- Full Text:
- Date Issued: 2012
- Authors: Karamagi, Sharon Benna Kyakyo
- Date: 2012
- Subjects: Citizenship -- Study and teaching -- South Africa Youth -- Social conditions Community radio -- South Africa -- Grahamstown Grahamstown (South Africa) -- Economic conditions
- Language: English
- Type: Thesis , Masters , MA
- Identifier: vital:3444 , http://hdl.handle.net/10962/d1002898
- Description: This research set out to investigate the role that community radio can potentially play as a space in which young people engage with their own role as citizens and, in so doing, participate in discussions that seek to address social problems in a community divided by class, income, gender and race. The study examines how a local community radio station - Radio Grahamstown - developed a youth programme Y4Yin which the producers of the show and its audience came together to negotiate the meaning of citizenship. The study examines whether this interactive programme was able to function as something like a public sphere where in young people were able to develop a greater sense of agency, at least in the realm of citizenship. Using evidence gathered through focus group discussions with a group of young school-going leamers, interviews conducted with the producers of the show Y4Y, and drawing on Dahlgren's elaboration of a functional public sphere, the research concludes that the show provided a useful platform for Grahamstown high school students to develop their own notions of citizenship and to, at least partially and tentatively, build some 'bridges' across the vectors of socio-economic division in the town. However, the research also concludes that the Y4Y producers often failed to use a mode of address contemporary to the youth and often did not use production techniques congruent with young people's cultural tastes. This limited the programme's appeal and its potential as an enabler of discussion about notions of citizenship and as a platform for social bridging. In addition, because of the producers' control over the choice of topics put up for discussion, open interaction was more limited than could have been expected. In addition, the study also concludes that various limitations to the leamers' freedom of expression (including their fear that teachers might be listening in to the shows) inhibited the programme's role as a deliberative public sphere where issues could be aired, common ground found, and solutions discussed.
- Full Text:
- Date Issued: 2012
An investigation into the low pass rate in science and mathematics in selected schools in the northern areas, Port Elizabeth
- Authors: Keble, Jo-Anne
- Date: 2012
- Subjects: Secondary education - South Africa - Eastern Cape , School failure , Secondary education , Educational accountability
- Language: English
- Type: Thesis , Masters , MA
- Identifier: vital:8156 , http://hdl.handle.net/10948/1658 , Secondary education - South Africa - Eastern Cape
- Description: Mathematics and science are key areas of knowledge and competence for the development of an individual, and the social and economic development of South Africa in a globalising world. Since 1994, the new democratic government in South Africa has emphasised the centrality of mathematics and science as part of the human development strategy for South Africa. Performance in this area is one of the indicators of the health of the South African educational system. It makes an important contribution to the economy and has been a contributor to inequalities of access and income. The twenty-first century is characterised by exponential growth and rapid change, which will be mainly based on information technology. The major asset in any successful country as its inventiveness in science and technology, rather than its abundance of labour or its natural resources. Therefore, it is important that school education should prepare the youth in scientific and technological fields to cope with, and contribute to, the well-being of their country.athematics and science are key areas of knowledge and competence for the development of an individual, and the social and economic development of South Africa in a globalising world. Since 1994, the new democratic government in South Africa has emphasised the centrality of mathematics and science as part of the human development strategy for South Africa. Performance in this area is one of the indicators of the health of the South African educational system. It makes an important contribution to the economy and has been a contributor to inequalities of access and income. The twenty-first century is characterised by exponential growth and rapid change, which will be mainly based on information technology. The major asset in any successful country as its inventiveness in science and technology, rather than its abundance of labour or its natural resources. Therefore, it is important that school education should prepare the youth in scientific and technological fields to cope with, and contribute to, the well-being of their country.
- Full Text:
- Date Issued: 2012
- Authors: Keble, Jo-Anne
- Date: 2012
- Subjects: Secondary education - South Africa - Eastern Cape , School failure , Secondary education , Educational accountability
- Language: English
- Type: Thesis , Masters , MA
- Identifier: vital:8156 , http://hdl.handle.net/10948/1658 , Secondary education - South Africa - Eastern Cape
- Description: Mathematics and science are key areas of knowledge and competence for the development of an individual, and the social and economic development of South Africa in a globalising world. Since 1994, the new democratic government in South Africa has emphasised the centrality of mathematics and science as part of the human development strategy for South Africa. Performance in this area is one of the indicators of the health of the South African educational system. It makes an important contribution to the economy and has been a contributor to inequalities of access and income. The twenty-first century is characterised by exponential growth and rapid change, which will be mainly based on information technology. The major asset in any successful country as its inventiveness in science and technology, rather than its abundance of labour or its natural resources. Therefore, it is important that school education should prepare the youth in scientific and technological fields to cope with, and contribute to, the well-being of their country.athematics and science are key areas of knowledge and competence for the development of an individual, and the social and economic development of South Africa in a globalising world. Since 1994, the new democratic government in South Africa has emphasised the centrality of mathematics and science as part of the human development strategy for South Africa. Performance in this area is one of the indicators of the health of the South African educational system. It makes an important contribution to the economy and has been a contributor to inequalities of access and income. The twenty-first century is characterised by exponential growth and rapid change, which will be mainly based on information technology. The major asset in any successful country as its inventiveness in science and technology, rather than its abundance of labour or its natural resources. Therefore, it is important that school education should prepare the youth in scientific and technological fields to cope with, and contribute to, the well-being of their country.
- Full Text:
- Date Issued: 2012
Francis Bacon: a psychobiographical study
- Authors: Kerr, Natalie
- Date: 2012
- Subjects: Bacon, Francis, 1909-1992 , Psychology
- Language: English
- Type: Thesis , Masters , MA
- Identifier: vital:9871 , http://hdl.handle.net/10948/1774 , Bacon, Francis, 1909-1992 , Psychology
- Description: The study consists of a psychobiography of the British artist, Francis Bacon (1909-1992). Psychobiography employs a qualitative approach to understanding the life story of an individual through the lens of psychological theory. It is typically dedicated to the lives of well-known or enigmatic people and covers the person’s entire lifespan. For this study the analytical theory of Carl Gustav Jung (1875-1961) is used to explore and describe Bacon’s life and personality through concepts relating to personality functioning, history, mythology, anthropology, symbology and religion. Francis Bacon has captured the imagination of the art world for many years - especially where it is felt that the figure-subject is still the highest form of art - and his reputation among the foremost of English painters is assured. Coupled with his artistic output is a life full of curiosity, eccentricity and controversy. This alone would qualify him as a suitable subject for a study such as this, but his extraordinary oeuvre of painting hugely adds to his attractiveness to the psychological researcher. To ensure an accurate description of Bacon’s life, extensive data is examined using Alexander’s (1988) model of identifying salient themes. The study considers the nature and methodology of psychobiography, the theories of Jung, the life of Francis Bacon and then sythesises relevant material in a psychological profile. The findings of this study indicate that Bacon’s intense, creative and unorthodox life of genius fully justifies the research and provides an example of how a theory that is flexible can be an appropriate means of understanding complicated personalities. Jung’s description of the evolution of the personality allows for applicability and coherence, while at the same time accomodating even the most maverick of non-conventional lives.
- Full Text:
- Date Issued: 2012
- Authors: Kerr, Natalie
- Date: 2012
- Subjects: Bacon, Francis, 1909-1992 , Psychology
- Language: English
- Type: Thesis , Masters , MA
- Identifier: vital:9871 , http://hdl.handle.net/10948/1774 , Bacon, Francis, 1909-1992 , Psychology
- Description: The study consists of a psychobiography of the British artist, Francis Bacon (1909-1992). Psychobiography employs a qualitative approach to understanding the life story of an individual through the lens of psychological theory. It is typically dedicated to the lives of well-known or enigmatic people and covers the person’s entire lifespan. For this study the analytical theory of Carl Gustav Jung (1875-1961) is used to explore and describe Bacon’s life and personality through concepts relating to personality functioning, history, mythology, anthropology, symbology and religion. Francis Bacon has captured the imagination of the art world for many years - especially where it is felt that the figure-subject is still the highest form of art - and his reputation among the foremost of English painters is assured. Coupled with his artistic output is a life full of curiosity, eccentricity and controversy. This alone would qualify him as a suitable subject for a study such as this, but his extraordinary oeuvre of painting hugely adds to his attractiveness to the psychological researcher. To ensure an accurate description of Bacon’s life, extensive data is examined using Alexander’s (1988) model of identifying salient themes. The study considers the nature and methodology of psychobiography, the theories of Jung, the life of Francis Bacon and then sythesises relevant material in a psychological profile. The findings of this study indicate that Bacon’s intense, creative and unorthodox life of genius fully justifies the research and provides an example of how a theory that is flexible can be an appropriate means of understanding complicated personalities. Jung’s description of the evolution of the personality allows for applicability and coherence, while at the same time accomodating even the most maverick of non-conventional lives.
- Full Text:
- Date Issued: 2012
A study of a 2010 strike in a sub-directorate of the Nelson Mandela Bay Municipality
- Authors: Kigozi, Annet Nakimuli
- Date: 2012
- Subjects: Strikes and lockouts -- Municipal government -- South Africa -- Nelson Mandela Bay Municipality , Industrial relations -- South Africa -- Nelson Mandela Bay Municipality , Labor unions -- South Africa -- Nelson Mandela Bay Municipality
- Language: English
- Type: Thesis , Masters , MA
- Identifier: vital:9421 , http://hdl.handle.net/10948/d1021229
- Description: This research adds on to Chaulk & Brown (2008) research on the assessment of employees’ reaction towards management and the union in the pre-strike and post-strike period. Research problem: The study raised two aspects that form part of the statement of the problem. Firstly, strike action has been a major aspect describing the South African industrial relations climate. The high level of strike action prompts the question; “Are South Africans World Class Strikers?” (Anstey, 2006). Secondly, the analysis of strike action has focussed more on the economic and power testing impact analysis rather than psychological and affective impact analysis of the strike such as establishing the impact of the strike on job satisfaction, work climate satisfaction, organisational commitment, management satisfaction, and union commitment. Research objectives: To address the research problem, research objectives, research questions and hypotheses were established. The main objective of the study was to examine the causes, processes and the impact of the strike, thereby making a contribution to both theory and practice. Whereas the contribution to theory took a form of building on to the research carried out by Chaulk & Brown (2008), and exploring through the process analysis on how behaviour during the conflict impacts on the ongoing relationships within the organisation, the contribution to practice took a form of highlighting to management and unions the impact of the strike on employees so that necessary interventions to prevent the negative impact of the strike would be created. Research questions: Six research questions were established and these were; what were the causes of the strike; how did the strike unfold; what were the substantive outcomes of the strike; what were the procedural outcomes of the strike; what were the climate outcomes of the strike; is there a relationship between the demographic factors and the affective outcomes of the strike? Research hypotheses; Five research hypotheses were established for the research. These hypotheses were aimed at establishing the impact of the strike on the affective outcomes of the strike. These were; there was a significant change in the level of organizational commitment after the strike; there was a significant change in the level of job satisfaction after the strike; there was a significant change in the level of work climate satisfaction after the strike; there was a significant change in the level of management satisfaction after the strike; and there is was significant change in the level of union commitment after the strike. Research design and methodology: Both qualitative and quantitative methods were used to collect data. Qualitatively, interviews, media reports and the Municipality records were being used to collect data on the causes, processes and outcomes of the strike. Quantitatively a survey questionnaire was used to collect data. Data was collected from 105 Traffic Officers who had recently been on strike in the NMBM. Measures of organisational and union commitment, employee job satisfaction, and work climate satisfaction were assessed using the Chaulk & Brown (2008) questionnaire. A paired sample t-test, ANOVA test, and Scheffe test and Cronbach’s alpha, were some of the quantitative methods used in data analysis. Henning’s approach was used to analyze qualitative data. Major findings: The results from the questionnaire revealed that job satisfaction, work climate satisfaction and management satisfaction significantly changed in the post-strike period. In addition, impact of demographic factors on affective factors was evident for participation in the strike and the level of union commitment; age and job satisfaction; occupational level and job satisfaction; and service length and union commitment.
- Full Text:
- Date Issued: 2012
- Authors: Kigozi, Annet Nakimuli
- Date: 2012
- Subjects: Strikes and lockouts -- Municipal government -- South Africa -- Nelson Mandela Bay Municipality , Industrial relations -- South Africa -- Nelson Mandela Bay Municipality , Labor unions -- South Africa -- Nelson Mandela Bay Municipality
- Language: English
- Type: Thesis , Masters , MA
- Identifier: vital:9421 , http://hdl.handle.net/10948/d1021229
- Description: This research adds on to Chaulk & Brown (2008) research on the assessment of employees’ reaction towards management and the union in the pre-strike and post-strike period. Research problem: The study raised two aspects that form part of the statement of the problem. Firstly, strike action has been a major aspect describing the South African industrial relations climate. The high level of strike action prompts the question; “Are South Africans World Class Strikers?” (Anstey, 2006). Secondly, the analysis of strike action has focussed more on the economic and power testing impact analysis rather than psychological and affective impact analysis of the strike such as establishing the impact of the strike on job satisfaction, work climate satisfaction, organisational commitment, management satisfaction, and union commitment. Research objectives: To address the research problem, research objectives, research questions and hypotheses were established. The main objective of the study was to examine the causes, processes and the impact of the strike, thereby making a contribution to both theory and practice. Whereas the contribution to theory took a form of building on to the research carried out by Chaulk & Brown (2008), and exploring through the process analysis on how behaviour during the conflict impacts on the ongoing relationships within the organisation, the contribution to practice took a form of highlighting to management and unions the impact of the strike on employees so that necessary interventions to prevent the negative impact of the strike would be created. Research questions: Six research questions were established and these were; what were the causes of the strike; how did the strike unfold; what were the substantive outcomes of the strike; what were the procedural outcomes of the strike; what were the climate outcomes of the strike; is there a relationship between the demographic factors and the affective outcomes of the strike? Research hypotheses; Five research hypotheses were established for the research. These hypotheses were aimed at establishing the impact of the strike on the affective outcomes of the strike. These were; there was a significant change in the level of organizational commitment after the strike; there was a significant change in the level of job satisfaction after the strike; there was a significant change in the level of work climate satisfaction after the strike; there was a significant change in the level of management satisfaction after the strike; and there is was significant change in the level of union commitment after the strike. Research design and methodology: Both qualitative and quantitative methods were used to collect data. Qualitatively, interviews, media reports and the Municipality records were being used to collect data on the causes, processes and outcomes of the strike. Quantitatively a survey questionnaire was used to collect data. Data was collected from 105 Traffic Officers who had recently been on strike in the NMBM. Measures of organisational and union commitment, employee job satisfaction, and work climate satisfaction were assessed using the Chaulk & Brown (2008) questionnaire. A paired sample t-test, ANOVA test, and Scheffe test and Cronbach’s alpha, were some of the quantitative methods used in data analysis. Henning’s approach was used to analyze qualitative data. Major findings: The results from the questionnaire revealed that job satisfaction, work climate satisfaction and management satisfaction significantly changed in the post-strike period. In addition, impact of demographic factors on affective factors was evident for participation in the strike and the level of union commitment; age and job satisfaction; occupational level and job satisfaction; and service length and union commitment.
- Full Text:
- Date Issued: 2012
A psychobiographical study of John Winston Lennon
- Authors: Kitching, Philip Herman
- Date: 2012
- Subjects: Lennon, John, 1940-1980 , Psychology -- Biographical methods , Musicians
- Language: English
- Type: Thesis , Masters , MA
- Identifier: vital:9915 , http://hdl.handle.net/10948/d1010847 , Lennon, John, 1940-1980 , Psychology -- Biographical methods , Musicians
- Description: Psychobiography can be viewed as the re-writing of an individual’s life story previously undetected. In general it consists of a combination of two central elements: biography and psychological theory that aim to explain the particular individual’s psychological development. This particular study serves to explore the extraordinary life of renowned singer, songwriter, artist and activist, John Winston Lennon (1940-1980). The basis for this investigation will take the form of notable biographical accounts of the subject’s life, together with Austrian psychiatrist Alfred Adler’s (1938) theory of Individual Psychology, which recognizes the importance of human society for the development of individual character and the orientation of every single action and emotion in the life of a human being. Adler’s theory further explores that the main motives of human thought and behaviour are an individual’s striving for superiority and power, partly in compensation for his feeling of inferiority. The psychobiographical data collection and analysis for this research thesis will be guided by Yin’s (1994) theory of ‘analytic generalisation’, which uses a theoretical framework in selecting relevant data which develops a matrix as a descriptive framework for organizing and integrating that data, and Alexander’s (1988) analytical model which focuses on lifting out themes through principal identifiers of salience was used and applied. John Winston Lennon expressed his personal experiences and ideals through his songs and became the spokesman for his generation on modern day issues such as feminism and world peace. It is however, unfortunate that Lennon throughout his life remained a boy who felt rejected and unloved by his parents and strove to be superior in all aspects of his rich life in an attempt to acquire the love and acceptance that was not bestowed on him as a child.
- Full Text:
- Date Issued: 2012
- Authors: Kitching, Philip Herman
- Date: 2012
- Subjects: Lennon, John, 1940-1980 , Psychology -- Biographical methods , Musicians
- Language: English
- Type: Thesis , Masters , MA
- Identifier: vital:9915 , http://hdl.handle.net/10948/d1010847 , Lennon, John, 1940-1980 , Psychology -- Biographical methods , Musicians
- Description: Psychobiography can be viewed as the re-writing of an individual’s life story previously undetected. In general it consists of a combination of two central elements: biography and psychological theory that aim to explain the particular individual’s psychological development. This particular study serves to explore the extraordinary life of renowned singer, songwriter, artist and activist, John Winston Lennon (1940-1980). The basis for this investigation will take the form of notable biographical accounts of the subject’s life, together with Austrian psychiatrist Alfred Adler’s (1938) theory of Individual Psychology, which recognizes the importance of human society for the development of individual character and the orientation of every single action and emotion in the life of a human being. Adler’s theory further explores that the main motives of human thought and behaviour are an individual’s striving for superiority and power, partly in compensation for his feeling of inferiority. The psychobiographical data collection and analysis for this research thesis will be guided by Yin’s (1994) theory of ‘analytic generalisation’, which uses a theoretical framework in selecting relevant data which develops a matrix as a descriptive framework for organizing and integrating that data, and Alexander’s (1988) analytical model which focuses on lifting out themes through principal identifiers of salience was used and applied. John Winston Lennon expressed his personal experiences and ideals through his songs and became the spokesman for his generation on modern day issues such as feminism and world peace. It is however, unfortunate that Lennon throughout his life remained a boy who felt rejected and unloved by his parents and strove to be superior in all aspects of his rich life in an attempt to acquire the love and acceptance that was not bestowed on him as a child.
- Full Text:
- Date Issued: 2012
A conflict theory analysis of the 2007 South African public sector strike using a conflict model
- Authors: Knowles, Kelvin David
- Date: 2012
- Subjects: Collective bargaining -- South Africa , Dispute resolution (Law) -- South Africa , Strikes and lockouts -- Law and legislation -- South Africa , Industrial relations -- South Africa
- Language: English
- Type: Thesis , Masters , MA
- Identifier: vital:9407 , http://hdl.handle.net/10948/d1015033
- Description: Conflict is an inherent part of any service relationship, and is one of the important methods of effective organisational functioning. Depending on its management, it has both constructive and negative outcomes. The most extreme outcome of conflict in an industrial relationship is a strike. The South African Public Service strike of 2007 was the most protracted and united strike in the history of South Africa. In order to provide an insight into this strike, this treatise explores the following key aspects: • To present a short background of collective bargaining in the public sector through time. • To provide a short background to the public sector strike in 2007. • To develop a conflict model for analytic purposes based on a literature review and to use the conflict model to analyse the strike. A study of the strike was deemed essential because of its current nature and it being charged with political undertones. Moreover, conflict in the employment relationship has had an important influence on theories of industrial relations. The South African labour relations system is pluralist in nature, with a focus on the formal institutions of industrial relations. The focus should be on the motives and actions of parties in the employment relationship. Hence, one should look beyond conventional explanations in understanding conflict.
- Full Text:
- Date Issued: 2012
- Authors: Knowles, Kelvin David
- Date: 2012
- Subjects: Collective bargaining -- South Africa , Dispute resolution (Law) -- South Africa , Strikes and lockouts -- Law and legislation -- South Africa , Industrial relations -- South Africa
- Language: English
- Type: Thesis , Masters , MA
- Identifier: vital:9407 , http://hdl.handle.net/10948/d1015033
- Description: Conflict is an inherent part of any service relationship, and is one of the important methods of effective organisational functioning. Depending on its management, it has both constructive and negative outcomes. The most extreme outcome of conflict in an industrial relationship is a strike. The South African Public Service strike of 2007 was the most protracted and united strike in the history of South Africa. In order to provide an insight into this strike, this treatise explores the following key aspects: • To present a short background of collective bargaining in the public sector through time. • To provide a short background to the public sector strike in 2007. • To develop a conflict model for analytic purposes based on a literature review and to use the conflict model to analyse the strike. A study of the strike was deemed essential because of its current nature and it being charged with political undertones. Moreover, conflict in the employment relationship has had an important influence on theories of industrial relations. The South African labour relations system is pluralist in nature, with a focus on the formal institutions of industrial relations. The focus should be on the motives and actions of parties in the employment relationship. Hence, one should look beyond conventional explanations in understanding conflict.
- Full Text:
- Date Issued: 2012
Plantar pressure and impulse profiles of students from a South African university
- Authors: Kramer, Mark
- Date: 2012
- Subjects: Human mechanics , Foot -- Movements , Joints -- ange of motion , eng
- Language: English
- Type: Thesis , Masters , MA
- Identifier: vital:10095 , http://hdl.handle.net/10948/d1010606 , Human mechanics , Foot -- Movements , Joints -- ange of motion
- Description: Most activities of daily living and numerous modes of physical activity incorporate some form of ambulation, of which the foot and ankle constitute the first link in the kinetic chain. A change in foot or ankle structure may therefore have subsequent effects on the superincumbent joints of the human body such as the knee, hip and lower back. Plantar pressure and impulse measurements can therefore provide greater insight into the mechanics of the foot under load-bearing conditions with regards to the areas and regions of the foot that exhibit the largest pressure values and impulse figures. Hence, it is of importance to establish normative data so as to obtain a frame of reference to identify those individuals that fall outside these norms and may exhibit a larger probability of injury. Aim and Objectives: The primary aim was to identify and compare the plantar pressure distribution patterns and impulse values of students of a South African university of different gender and race groups. To realise this aim two specific objectives were set. The first was to determine whether height, weight, body mass index (BMI), gender, race, and the level of physical activity were related to the pressure and impulse values obtained, and the second was to generate reference tables from the normative data gathered. Method: The RS Footscan system was used to measure the pressure and impulse values of the foot. The characteristics that were analysed were height, weight, body mass index and the level of physical activity of the participant and their respective association with plantar pressure and impulse values obtained. This information was then used to establish normative data. A quasi-experimental study design utilising convenience sampling was implemented as the intention was to investigate as single instance in as natural a manner as possible. Convenience sampling was used with predefined inclusion and exclusion criteria. A total of 180 participants were utilised in this study and were subdivided as follows: Gender: Males (n = 90); Females (n = 90); Race: African black (n = 60); white (n = 60) and coloured (n = 60). Each race group therefore comprised of 30 males and 30 females respectively. The anthropometric profile of participants was as follows: Age (S.D.) = 22.21 (S.D. ± 2.93) years; Height (S.D.) = 169.69 (S.D. ± 8.91) cm; Weight (S.D.) = 66.97 (S.D. ± 12.01) kg; BMI (S.D.) = 23.16 (S.D. ± 3.15) kg/m2. Participants were asked to complete a questionnaire prior to testing that would identify all exclusion criteria consisting of: the presence of foot pain or deformity, acute lower extremity trauma, lower extremity surgery, exhibited problems of performance including eye, ear or cognitive impairment, diabetes mellitus or other neurological neuropathy, or the use of walking aids. Anthropometric measurements were then taken for those participants that qualified for the study. Participants were required to perform approximately five warm-up trials to familiarise themselves with the testing equipment before testing commenced. A total of ten successful trails were subsequently recorded for each participant, with three footprints being recorded per trial on the pressure platform, thereby comprising 30 footprints (15 left foot and 15 right foot) per participant that were analysed regarding pressure and impulse values. The two-step gait initiation protocol was implemented which was proven to be a valid and reliable means of assessing gait. Participants were instructed to walk at a comfortable walking speed between 1.19 – 1.60 m/s to ensure conformity between all participants as between-trial gait velocities were proven to be significantly variable. The foot was subdivided into ten anatomical areas focusing on the great toe, lesser toes, metatarsal 1, metatarsal 2, metatarsal 3, metatarsal 4, metatarsal 5, midfoot, medial heel and lateral heel. These ten areas were then grouped into one of three regions, namely the forefoot region (great toe, lesser toes, and all five metatarsal head areas), midfoot region (midfoot area), and rearfoot/heel region (medial and lateral heel areas). Once all relevant data was gathered, corrected and analysed it was used to establish normative data tables pertaining to the various gender and race groups. Results: Of the ten individual pressure and impulse areas, the second and third metatarsal heads demonstrated the highest mean peak pressure and impulse values. Once grouped into one of the three regions, the heel region was ascribed with the largest impulse and pressure values. It was established that statistically and practically significant racial pressure differences were apparent in the left and right forefoot and midfoot regions, with black and coloured individuals yielding the highest values, whereas white participants yielded the lowest. The same was true with regards to impulse figures in that both statistical and practical significant levels were established in the forefoot and midfoot regions. Black and coloured participants exhibited larger impulse values than the white participants. The level of physical activity was found to be associated with both pressure and impulse values over the various regions of the foot. Black individuals that were largely inactive as well as moderately active coloured participants yielded the highest pressure and impulse values, which were found to be statistically and practically significant over the forefoot regions. Conversely, white participants of all physical activity levels as well as coloured participants of both low and high physical activity levels exhibited the lowest pressure values over the forefoot region, which were also found to be statistically and practically significant. The anthropometric variables of height, weight and BMI were found to relate statistically to pressure and impulse values under the various regions of the foot, but none were found to be of any practical significance (r < .30). Conclusion: It was clearly established that both gender and race specific differences existed regarding plantar pressure and impulse values of the normal foot. Plantar pressure and impulse values were also associated with the level of physical activity of the individual, thereby indicating that the level of physical activity could be a contributing factor to altered pressure and impulse values. Anthropometric variables such as height, weight and BMI could not solely account for the variances observed in pressure and impulse. Further research is required to determine whether pressure or impulse values above or below those obtained predispose an individual to injury and to contrast between various activity or sporting codes and the effect of these on plantar pressure and impulse figures. Finally, from the collected data one was able to establish reference tables for the specific gender and race groups for both plantar pressure and impulse values. This enables one to classify individuals based on the pressure and impulse values generated.
- Full Text:
- Date Issued: 2012
- Authors: Kramer, Mark
- Date: 2012
- Subjects: Human mechanics , Foot -- Movements , Joints -- ange of motion , eng
- Language: English
- Type: Thesis , Masters , MA
- Identifier: vital:10095 , http://hdl.handle.net/10948/d1010606 , Human mechanics , Foot -- Movements , Joints -- ange of motion
- Description: Most activities of daily living and numerous modes of physical activity incorporate some form of ambulation, of which the foot and ankle constitute the first link in the kinetic chain. A change in foot or ankle structure may therefore have subsequent effects on the superincumbent joints of the human body such as the knee, hip and lower back. Plantar pressure and impulse measurements can therefore provide greater insight into the mechanics of the foot under load-bearing conditions with regards to the areas and regions of the foot that exhibit the largest pressure values and impulse figures. Hence, it is of importance to establish normative data so as to obtain a frame of reference to identify those individuals that fall outside these norms and may exhibit a larger probability of injury. Aim and Objectives: The primary aim was to identify and compare the plantar pressure distribution patterns and impulse values of students of a South African university of different gender and race groups. To realise this aim two specific objectives were set. The first was to determine whether height, weight, body mass index (BMI), gender, race, and the level of physical activity were related to the pressure and impulse values obtained, and the second was to generate reference tables from the normative data gathered. Method: The RS Footscan system was used to measure the pressure and impulse values of the foot. The characteristics that were analysed were height, weight, body mass index and the level of physical activity of the participant and their respective association with plantar pressure and impulse values obtained. This information was then used to establish normative data. A quasi-experimental study design utilising convenience sampling was implemented as the intention was to investigate as single instance in as natural a manner as possible. Convenience sampling was used with predefined inclusion and exclusion criteria. A total of 180 participants were utilised in this study and were subdivided as follows: Gender: Males (n = 90); Females (n = 90); Race: African black (n = 60); white (n = 60) and coloured (n = 60). Each race group therefore comprised of 30 males and 30 females respectively. The anthropometric profile of participants was as follows: Age (S.D.) = 22.21 (S.D. ± 2.93) years; Height (S.D.) = 169.69 (S.D. ± 8.91) cm; Weight (S.D.) = 66.97 (S.D. ± 12.01) kg; BMI (S.D.) = 23.16 (S.D. ± 3.15) kg/m2. Participants were asked to complete a questionnaire prior to testing that would identify all exclusion criteria consisting of: the presence of foot pain or deformity, acute lower extremity trauma, lower extremity surgery, exhibited problems of performance including eye, ear or cognitive impairment, diabetes mellitus or other neurological neuropathy, or the use of walking aids. Anthropometric measurements were then taken for those participants that qualified for the study. Participants were required to perform approximately five warm-up trials to familiarise themselves with the testing equipment before testing commenced. A total of ten successful trails were subsequently recorded for each participant, with three footprints being recorded per trial on the pressure platform, thereby comprising 30 footprints (15 left foot and 15 right foot) per participant that were analysed regarding pressure and impulse values. The two-step gait initiation protocol was implemented which was proven to be a valid and reliable means of assessing gait. Participants were instructed to walk at a comfortable walking speed between 1.19 – 1.60 m/s to ensure conformity between all participants as between-trial gait velocities were proven to be significantly variable. The foot was subdivided into ten anatomical areas focusing on the great toe, lesser toes, metatarsal 1, metatarsal 2, metatarsal 3, metatarsal 4, metatarsal 5, midfoot, medial heel and lateral heel. These ten areas were then grouped into one of three regions, namely the forefoot region (great toe, lesser toes, and all five metatarsal head areas), midfoot region (midfoot area), and rearfoot/heel region (medial and lateral heel areas). Once all relevant data was gathered, corrected and analysed it was used to establish normative data tables pertaining to the various gender and race groups. Results: Of the ten individual pressure and impulse areas, the second and third metatarsal heads demonstrated the highest mean peak pressure and impulse values. Once grouped into one of the three regions, the heel region was ascribed with the largest impulse and pressure values. It was established that statistically and practically significant racial pressure differences were apparent in the left and right forefoot and midfoot regions, with black and coloured individuals yielding the highest values, whereas white participants yielded the lowest. The same was true with regards to impulse figures in that both statistical and practical significant levels were established in the forefoot and midfoot regions. Black and coloured participants exhibited larger impulse values than the white participants. The level of physical activity was found to be associated with both pressure and impulse values over the various regions of the foot. Black individuals that were largely inactive as well as moderately active coloured participants yielded the highest pressure and impulse values, which were found to be statistically and practically significant over the forefoot regions. Conversely, white participants of all physical activity levels as well as coloured participants of both low and high physical activity levels exhibited the lowest pressure values over the forefoot region, which were also found to be statistically and practically significant. The anthropometric variables of height, weight and BMI were found to relate statistically to pressure and impulse values under the various regions of the foot, but none were found to be of any practical significance (r < .30). Conclusion: It was clearly established that both gender and race specific differences existed regarding plantar pressure and impulse values of the normal foot. Plantar pressure and impulse values were also associated with the level of physical activity of the individual, thereby indicating that the level of physical activity could be a contributing factor to altered pressure and impulse values. Anthropometric variables such as height, weight and BMI could not solely account for the variances observed in pressure and impulse. Further research is required to determine whether pressure or impulse values above or below those obtained predispose an individual to injury and to contrast between various activity or sporting codes and the effect of these on plantar pressure and impulse figures. Finally, from the collected data one was able to establish reference tables for the specific gender and race groups for both plantar pressure and impulse values. This enables one to classify individuals based on the pressure and impulse values generated.
- Full Text:
- Date Issued: 2012
Exploring the conflict narratives of youth at risk: the Umzi Wethu Programme, Port Elizabeth
- Authors: Lamb-du Plessis, Shena
- Date: 2012
- Subjects: Youth -- South Africa -- Social conditions , Economic development projects -- South Africa , Aggressiveness in youth -- South Africa , Conflict management -- South Africa
- Language: English
- Type: Thesis , Masters , MA
- Identifier: vital:8348 , http://hdl.handle.net/10948/d1020813
- Description: Years of political unrest, forced removals, migrant labour and overly rapid urbanisation have had a negative effect on the lives of many South Africans and poverty, unemployment and the HIV/AIDS pandemic have increased the challenges facing young people in South Africa. With 54 per cent of South Africa’s population younger than 24 years and two-thirds of South Africans between the ages of 18 and 35 years unemployed, youth development is an urgent and critical social investment. Current research stresses the importance of an integrated and developmental approach that recognises young people’s optimism and resilience and builds on their strengths. Of the various youth developmental interventions being implemented in African countries, including South Africa, an initiative that is being used increasingly, is the international broad-base programme known as the Alternatives to Violence Project (AVP). Using an experiential approach honed by over 35 years’ of working mostly in prisons in more than 35 countries, AVP teaches the attitudes and strategies (such as self-awareness, empathy and community-building) needed to transform conflict nonviolently and addresses the important psychological need for intimate connection with others. This study investigates how the experience of an AVP workshop can influence so-called ‘at-risk’1 young South African adults’ perceptions of personally-experienced conflict situations. The study was conducted in partnership with a local youth development project and used a narrative analysis approach to explore the pre- and post-AVP workshop conflict narratives of a group of Xhosa-speakers from the Eastern Cape. To support the analysis of the conflict narratives, focus groups were conducted three months later and again after six months with a selected sample of volunteers. Participation in the study was wholly voluntary and by informed consent.
- Full Text:
- Date Issued: 2012
- Authors: Lamb-du Plessis, Shena
- Date: 2012
- Subjects: Youth -- South Africa -- Social conditions , Economic development projects -- South Africa , Aggressiveness in youth -- South Africa , Conflict management -- South Africa
- Language: English
- Type: Thesis , Masters , MA
- Identifier: vital:8348 , http://hdl.handle.net/10948/d1020813
- Description: Years of political unrest, forced removals, migrant labour and overly rapid urbanisation have had a negative effect on the lives of many South Africans and poverty, unemployment and the HIV/AIDS pandemic have increased the challenges facing young people in South Africa. With 54 per cent of South Africa’s population younger than 24 years and two-thirds of South Africans between the ages of 18 and 35 years unemployed, youth development is an urgent and critical social investment. Current research stresses the importance of an integrated and developmental approach that recognises young people’s optimism and resilience and builds on their strengths. Of the various youth developmental interventions being implemented in African countries, including South Africa, an initiative that is being used increasingly, is the international broad-base programme known as the Alternatives to Violence Project (AVP). Using an experiential approach honed by over 35 years’ of working mostly in prisons in more than 35 countries, AVP teaches the attitudes and strategies (such as self-awareness, empathy and community-building) needed to transform conflict nonviolently and addresses the important psychological need for intimate connection with others. This study investigates how the experience of an AVP workshop can influence so-called ‘at-risk’1 young South African adults’ perceptions of personally-experienced conflict situations. The study was conducted in partnership with a local youth development project and used a narrative analysis approach to explore the pre- and post-AVP workshop conflict narratives of a group of Xhosa-speakers from the Eastern Cape. To support the analysis of the conflict narratives, focus groups were conducted three months later and again after six months with a selected sample of volunteers. Participation in the study was wholly voluntary and by informed consent.
- Full Text:
- Date Issued: 2012
An exploration of entrepreneurship within established family businesses in Grahamstown
- Authors: Lancaster, Talia Grace Palm
- Date: 2012
- Subjects: Family-owned business enterprises -- Research -- South Africa -- Grahamstown Entrepreneurship -- Research -- South Africa -- Grahamstown Small business -- Research -- South Africa -- Grahamstown
- Language: English
- Type: Thesis , Masters , MA
- Identifier: vital:3006 , http://hdl.handle.net/10962/d1002515
- Description: Family businesses make up a large number of businesses in South Africa, although they are not often researched. Many of these family businesses are SME (Small and Medium Enterprises), however they contribute substantially to the local economy, as well as job creation. Despite their extensive presence there is a very poor success rate of family businesses. One of the reasons for their low success rate could be the seemingly increased conservative nature of family businesses over time. Thus, a look into entrepreneurial processes, which promote adaptation, innovation and learning, may give family businesses a competitive advantage. An Abbreviated Grounded Theory approach was used to explore the presence, if any, of entrepreneurial processes within established family businesses in Grahamstown. Two generations of family owners as well as a non-family employee across four local businesses were interviewed. The results show that all four business show signs of entrepreneurship within their business, these include: risk taking, creativity, active competition, opportunity grasping and change. Previous generations within the business also showed signs of learning new technology, in turn the new generations learnt from the experience that their parents have had in the businesses. The results show that family businesses are capable of change, adaptation and learning, thus it may enable consultants and future researchers to strengthen family businesses across generations.
- Full Text:
- Date Issued: 2012
- Authors: Lancaster, Talia Grace Palm
- Date: 2012
- Subjects: Family-owned business enterprises -- Research -- South Africa -- Grahamstown Entrepreneurship -- Research -- South Africa -- Grahamstown Small business -- Research -- South Africa -- Grahamstown
- Language: English
- Type: Thesis , Masters , MA
- Identifier: vital:3006 , http://hdl.handle.net/10962/d1002515
- Description: Family businesses make up a large number of businesses in South Africa, although they are not often researched. Many of these family businesses are SME (Small and Medium Enterprises), however they contribute substantially to the local economy, as well as job creation. Despite their extensive presence there is a very poor success rate of family businesses. One of the reasons for their low success rate could be the seemingly increased conservative nature of family businesses over time. Thus, a look into entrepreneurial processes, which promote adaptation, innovation and learning, may give family businesses a competitive advantage. An Abbreviated Grounded Theory approach was used to explore the presence, if any, of entrepreneurial processes within established family businesses in Grahamstown. Two generations of family owners as well as a non-family employee across four local businesses were interviewed. The results show that all four business show signs of entrepreneurship within their business, these include: risk taking, creativity, active competition, opportunity grasping and change. Previous generations within the business also showed signs of learning new technology, in turn the new generations learnt from the experience that their parents have had in the businesses. The results show that family businesses are capable of change, adaptation and learning, thus it may enable consultants and future researchers to strengthen family businesses across generations.
- Full Text:
- Date Issued: 2012
An exploratory study of music education in the FET bands (Grades 10-12) in selected secondary schools
- Authors: Leqela, Moeletse Armstrong
- Date: 2012
- Subjects: Music -- Instruction and study -- South Africa , Education, Secondary -- Curricula -- South Africa
- Language: English
- Type: Thesis , Masters , MA
- Identifier: vital:8521 , http://hdl.handle.net/10948/d1017226
- Description: South African education has been heavily influenced by British rule since 1806 and “the legacy of apartheid continues to be felt in the education system of South Africa” (Herbst, 2005:4). This legacy stems largely from the introduction of English as a language of transmission to the legislation and regulations, such as the Bantu Education Act (1953), the Correspondence College Act (1965) and the Technical College Act (1981, amended in 1989 regulating technical colleges) (DoE, 2003:1-2; Herbst, 2005:4). The African National Congress (ANC), which became the new government in 1994, felt that the syllabus prior to 1994 was overly prescriptive and fragmented. The system had already been declared, in a review in 1980, as inferior, biased towards Western European ideals, and that the content and the examinations “did not provide an appropriate school leaving certificate for the majority of learners” (Department of Education (c), 2003:1-2). The current government felt the need for the system to be phased out and for the phasing in of a system of outcomes-based education which was to be put into operation from 1997 and finalized in 2008 (Department of Education (c), 2003:1; Hauptfleisch, 1993:1; Herbst, 2005:4). The National Curriculum Statement Grades 10-12 was aimed at replacing Report 550, A Résumé of Instructional Programmes in Schools (hereafter referred to as Report 550), as the document that stipulated policy on curriculum and qualifications in Grades 10-12 (Department of Education (c), 2003:viii). The 1997 National Curriculum statement was revised in 2002 and was thereafter referred to as the Revised National Curriculum Statement (RNCS) (Herbst, 2005:4). By the early 2000‟s the need for a revision of the South African education system had gained momentum. The criticism was fuelled by children‟s inability to read, write and count, their lack of general knowledge, and the shift away from explicit teaching and learning to facilitation and group work. Furthermore, teachers did not know what to teach (Dada et al., 2009:13). In July 2009 the then Minister of Basic Education appointed a panel of experts to investigate the nature of the challenges and problems experienced in the implementation of the National Curriculum Statement and to develop a set of recommendations designed to improve the implementation thereof (Dada et al., 2009:5). The panel of 2009, amongst other things, designed a document called Curriculum Assessment Policy Statement (CAPS). CAPS aims to improve, inter alia, the implementation of Music as a subject in the National Curriculum Statement. CAPS is the single comprehensive Curriculum and Assessment Policy document developed to replace the old Subject Statements, Learning Programme Guidelines and Subject Assessment Guidelines in Grades R – 12, the amended National Curriculum Statement Grades R - 12: Curriculum and Assessment Policy (January 2011), the National Curriculum Statement Grades R - 9 (2002) and the National Curriculum Statement Grades 10 - 12 (2004). Within the changing context of South African education the purpose of the current research is to explore the perceptions of NMMU second year fulltime students on music education at selected senior secondary schools in South Africa. It is proposed that respondents of this study are university music students who were admitted in 2011 for all qualifications in the music department of the Nelson Mandela Metropolitan University.
- Full Text:
- Date Issued: 2012
- Authors: Leqela, Moeletse Armstrong
- Date: 2012
- Subjects: Music -- Instruction and study -- South Africa , Education, Secondary -- Curricula -- South Africa
- Language: English
- Type: Thesis , Masters , MA
- Identifier: vital:8521 , http://hdl.handle.net/10948/d1017226
- Description: South African education has been heavily influenced by British rule since 1806 and “the legacy of apartheid continues to be felt in the education system of South Africa” (Herbst, 2005:4). This legacy stems largely from the introduction of English as a language of transmission to the legislation and regulations, such as the Bantu Education Act (1953), the Correspondence College Act (1965) and the Technical College Act (1981, amended in 1989 regulating technical colleges) (DoE, 2003:1-2; Herbst, 2005:4). The African National Congress (ANC), which became the new government in 1994, felt that the syllabus prior to 1994 was overly prescriptive and fragmented. The system had already been declared, in a review in 1980, as inferior, biased towards Western European ideals, and that the content and the examinations “did not provide an appropriate school leaving certificate for the majority of learners” (Department of Education (c), 2003:1-2). The current government felt the need for the system to be phased out and for the phasing in of a system of outcomes-based education which was to be put into operation from 1997 and finalized in 2008 (Department of Education (c), 2003:1; Hauptfleisch, 1993:1; Herbst, 2005:4). The National Curriculum Statement Grades 10-12 was aimed at replacing Report 550, A Résumé of Instructional Programmes in Schools (hereafter referred to as Report 550), as the document that stipulated policy on curriculum and qualifications in Grades 10-12 (Department of Education (c), 2003:viii). The 1997 National Curriculum statement was revised in 2002 and was thereafter referred to as the Revised National Curriculum Statement (RNCS) (Herbst, 2005:4). By the early 2000‟s the need for a revision of the South African education system had gained momentum. The criticism was fuelled by children‟s inability to read, write and count, their lack of general knowledge, and the shift away from explicit teaching and learning to facilitation and group work. Furthermore, teachers did not know what to teach (Dada et al., 2009:13). In July 2009 the then Minister of Basic Education appointed a panel of experts to investigate the nature of the challenges and problems experienced in the implementation of the National Curriculum Statement and to develop a set of recommendations designed to improve the implementation thereof (Dada et al., 2009:5). The panel of 2009, amongst other things, designed a document called Curriculum Assessment Policy Statement (CAPS). CAPS aims to improve, inter alia, the implementation of Music as a subject in the National Curriculum Statement. CAPS is the single comprehensive Curriculum and Assessment Policy document developed to replace the old Subject Statements, Learning Programme Guidelines and Subject Assessment Guidelines in Grades R – 12, the amended National Curriculum Statement Grades R - 12: Curriculum and Assessment Policy (January 2011), the National Curriculum Statement Grades R - 9 (2002) and the National Curriculum Statement Grades 10 - 12 (2004). Within the changing context of South African education the purpose of the current research is to explore the perceptions of NMMU second year fulltime students on music education at selected senior secondary schools in South Africa. It is proposed that respondents of this study are university music students who were admitted in 2011 for all qualifications in the music department of the Nelson Mandela Metropolitan University.
- Full Text:
- Date Issued: 2012
The impact of poverty reduction programmes in King Sabata Dalindyebo Municipality
- Authors: Lujabe, Busisiwe
- Date: 2012
- Subjects: Poverty -- Government policy -- South Africa -- Mthatha , Economic assistance -- South Africa -- Mthatha , Rural poor -- South Africa -- Mthatha
- Language: English
- Type: Thesis , Masters , MA
- Identifier: vital:9152 , http://hdl.handle.net/10948/d1019721
- Description: This study focuses on investigating the impact of poverty reduction programmes in improving the quality of lives of the people in the King Sabata Dalindyebo Local Municipality, in relation to interventions that have been implemented by the South African government to address poverty. The purpose of the study is to understand the situation in King Sabata Dalindyebo Municipality and come up with recommendations that will assist government to enhance delivery of poverty reduction programmes in order to improve the quality of life of the rural poor in King Sabata Dalindyebo Local Municipality. The research methodology for this study is descriptive, sourced from available literature. Due to the restricted extent of the research, no empirical survey is conducted. A number of normative criteria that deal with the research problem are identified from the available literature from which findings are drawn and recommendations made. The findings of the study show that; whilst significant progress has been made to address poverty through policy and legal frameworks and through implementation of poverty reduction strategies and programmes, there is a general consensus in literature that poverty is still widespread in South Africa and that activities put in place to reduce and eradicate it are not sufficiently translating into required outputs necessary for desired outcomes which ultimately impact on poverty. The study has identified the gaps that exist in service delivery as well as the challenges faced by government in effectively impacting on poverty through its poverty reduction programmes. Based on the findings the study has made recommendations that will assist government to enhance service delivery so that poverty reduction programmes are conducted in an effective and efficient, integrated and coordinated manner which will cause government to achieve its desired outcomes.
- Full Text:
- Date Issued: 2012
- Authors: Lujabe, Busisiwe
- Date: 2012
- Subjects: Poverty -- Government policy -- South Africa -- Mthatha , Economic assistance -- South Africa -- Mthatha , Rural poor -- South Africa -- Mthatha
- Language: English
- Type: Thesis , Masters , MA
- Identifier: vital:9152 , http://hdl.handle.net/10948/d1019721
- Description: This study focuses on investigating the impact of poverty reduction programmes in improving the quality of lives of the people in the King Sabata Dalindyebo Local Municipality, in relation to interventions that have been implemented by the South African government to address poverty. The purpose of the study is to understand the situation in King Sabata Dalindyebo Municipality and come up with recommendations that will assist government to enhance delivery of poverty reduction programmes in order to improve the quality of life of the rural poor in King Sabata Dalindyebo Local Municipality. The research methodology for this study is descriptive, sourced from available literature. Due to the restricted extent of the research, no empirical survey is conducted. A number of normative criteria that deal with the research problem are identified from the available literature from which findings are drawn and recommendations made. The findings of the study show that; whilst significant progress has been made to address poverty through policy and legal frameworks and through implementation of poverty reduction strategies and programmes, there is a general consensus in literature that poverty is still widespread in South Africa and that activities put in place to reduce and eradicate it are not sufficiently translating into required outputs necessary for desired outcomes which ultimately impact on poverty. The study has identified the gaps that exist in service delivery as well as the challenges faced by government in effectively impacting on poverty through its poverty reduction programmes. Based on the findings the study has made recommendations that will assist government to enhance service delivery so that poverty reduction programmes are conducted in an effective and efficient, integrated and coordinated manner which will cause government to achieve its desired outcomes.
- Full Text:
- Date Issued: 2012
The role of the Nelson Mandela Bay municipality in allevaiting poverty in the Walmer Township
- Authors: Lutshaba, Unathi Mercy
- Date: 2012
- Subjects: Poverty -- South Africa -- Port Elizabeth , Economic development projects -- South Africa -- Port Elizabeth , Economic assistance, Domestic -- South Africa -- Port Elizabeth , Poverty -- Economic aspects -- South Africa -- Port Elizabeth
- Language: English
- Type: Thesis , Masters , MA
- Identifier: vital:9051 , http://hdl.handle.net/10948/1598 , Poverty -- South Africa -- Port Elizabeth , Economic development projects -- South Africa -- Port Elizabeth , Economic assistance, Domestic -- South Africa -- Port Elizabeth , Poverty -- Economic aspects -- South Africa -- Port Elizabeth
- Description: After 17 years of democratic freedom, South Africa is faced with a variety of challenges. Such challenges include crime, which is driving South African professionals of all ethnic groups to emigrate, discourages foreign investments and hampers growth; the spread of HIV/AIDS and unemployment which is steadily increasing. The country also inherited vast inequalities in education, health and basic infrastructure such as access for safe water, sanitation and housing (Hoogeveen and Ozler 2006, p.2). According to the Education and Training Unit for Democracy and Development (ETU), South Africa has a small wealthy population and a medium sized middle income and poor populations. There is a big difference between the wealthy and the poor people and if one looks at it, it looks like we have two nations, developed and developing living side by side in one country. This report will look at the role of the Nelson Mandela Bay Municipality in alleviating poverty in one of its critically distressed wards, the Walmer Township near the Port Elizabeth Airport. Even though welfare is national and provincial government’s role, municipalities are expected by the government to play a developmental role. The findings of this report revealed that the problem of poverty is still a challenge in the metro and a review of the current policies was advised and involving the people living in poverty in the processes.
- Full Text:
- Date Issued: 2012
- Authors: Lutshaba, Unathi Mercy
- Date: 2012
- Subjects: Poverty -- South Africa -- Port Elizabeth , Economic development projects -- South Africa -- Port Elizabeth , Economic assistance, Domestic -- South Africa -- Port Elizabeth , Poverty -- Economic aspects -- South Africa -- Port Elizabeth
- Language: English
- Type: Thesis , Masters , MA
- Identifier: vital:9051 , http://hdl.handle.net/10948/1598 , Poverty -- South Africa -- Port Elizabeth , Economic development projects -- South Africa -- Port Elizabeth , Economic assistance, Domestic -- South Africa -- Port Elizabeth , Poverty -- Economic aspects -- South Africa -- Port Elizabeth
- Description: After 17 years of democratic freedom, South Africa is faced with a variety of challenges. Such challenges include crime, which is driving South African professionals of all ethnic groups to emigrate, discourages foreign investments and hampers growth; the spread of HIV/AIDS and unemployment which is steadily increasing. The country also inherited vast inequalities in education, health and basic infrastructure such as access for safe water, sanitation and housing (Hoogeveen and Ozler 2006, p.2). According to the Education and Training Unit for Democracy and Development (ETU), South Africa has a small wealthy population and a medium sized middle income and poor populations. There is a big difference between the wealthy and the poor people and if one looks at it, it looks like we have two nations, developed and developing living side by side in one country. This report will look at the role of the Nelson Mandela Bay Municipality in alleviating poverty in one of its critically distressed wards, the Walmer Township near the Port Elizabeth Airport. Even though welfare is national and provincial government’s role, municipalities are expected by the government to play a developmental role. The findings of this report revealed that the problem of poverty is still a challenge in the metro and a review of the current policies was advised and involving the people living in poverty in the processes.
- Full Text:
- Date Issued: 2012
Implementation of procurement procedures in the education district of King William's Town
- Authors: Mabece, Victor Nkosabantu
- Date: 2012
- Subjects: Education -- Procurement , Government purchasing -- Education
- Language: English
- Type: Thesis , Masters , MA
- Identifier: vital:8290 , http://hdl.handle.net/10948/d1018670
- Description: The study investigated the implementation of procurement procedures in the King William’s Town Education District. In spite of the provisions of the Constitution of the Republic of South Africa, Act 108 of 1996 and Public Finance Management Act No 1 of 1999(PFMA), in respect of the provision of services, procurement in the King William’s Town Education District is flawed. The study explored the legislative framework governing procurement procedures in the District, the extent of compliance and non compliance with procurement procedures, and the causes of flawed procurement procedures. A descriptive case study was used to describe, analyse and interpret a particular phenomenon, in this case the procurement procedures in the King William’s Town Education District. Purposive sampling was chosen for this study to create an understanding of the research problem, and to complement the case study method in eliminating any potential bias in the data. Respondents included mainly the managers in the District, who are instrumental in the implementation of procurement processes in the District. Self administered interviewing schedules were used for respondents to answer without the assistance of the researcher. The study found out that the District was lagging behind in respect of compliance to procurement procedures, monitoring and evaluation, and accountability. Based on the above findings, the study recommended the following: (a) strengthening accountability in all managers and public servants, (b) professional training and education of personnel and managers in order to be able to implement procurement processes, (c) establishment of compliance office, (d) introduction of complaints mechanisms, and (e) effecting monitoring and control mechanisms.
- Full Text:
- Date Issued: 2012
- Authors: Mabece, Victor Nkosabantu
- Date: 2012
- Subjects: Education -- Procurement , Government purchasing -- Education
- Language: English
- Type: Thesis , Masters , MA
- Identifier: vital:8290 , http://hdl.handle.net/10948/d1018670
- Description: The study investigated the implementation of procurement procedures in the King William’s Town Education District. In spite of the provisions of the Constitution of the Republic of South Africa, Act 108 of 1996 and Public Finance Management Act No 1 of 1999(PFMA), in respect of the provision of services, procurement in the King William’s Town Education District is flawed. The study explored the legislative framework governing procurement procedures in the District, the extent of compliance and non compliance with procurement procedures, and the causes of flawed procurement procedures. A descriptive case study was used to describe, analyse and interpret a particular phenomenon, in this case the procurement procedures in the King William’s Town Education District. Purposive sampling was chosen for this study to create an understanding of the research problem, and to complement the case study method in eliminating any potential bias in the data. Respondents included mainly the managers in the District, who are instrumental in the implementation of procurement processes in the District. Self administered interviewing schedules were used for respondents to answer without the assistance of the researcher. The study found out that the District was lagging behind in respect of compliance to procurement procedures, monitoring and evaluation, and accountability. Based on the above findings, the study recommended the following: (a) strengthening accountability in all managers and public servants, (b) professional training and education of personnel and managers in order to be able to implement procurement processes, (c) establishment of compliance office, (d) introduction of complaints mechanisms, and (e) effecting monitoring and control mechanisms.
- Full Text:
- Date Issued: 2012
Factors influencing the advancement of women to senior management positions in the Provincial Treasury, Province of the Eastern Cape
- Authors: Madikiza, Nomvelwano Mavis
- Date: 2012
- Subjects: Women government executives -- South Africa , Women executives -- South Africa -- Eastern Cape
- Language: English
- Type: Thesis , Masters , MA
- Identifier: vital:8289 , http://hdl.handle.net/10948/d1018656
- Description: In 1998 the Department of Labour promulgated the Employment Equity Act, which aimed at ensuring that the designated groups were represented in the workplace at all levels. The designated groups that were to be given preference for appointments were women, disabled and Black people. The Department of Public Service and Administration issued a directive to all government Departments to ensure the achievement of 50/50 gender representation at Senior Management levels by 31 March 2009. However, the Provincial Treasury in the Eastern Cape did not achieve this target and is still lagging behind. There are barriers in the workplace, which pose challenges to the progression of women to management levels. These barriers are commonly referred to as ‘glass ceiling’ by some scholars.This study used a qualitative approach in gathering data. The study employed non- probability, which adopted the purposive sampling approach. Questionnaires were administered to middle management and Senior Managers were interviewed to gather empirical data. Questionnaires were administered to sixty Middle Managers, both males and female, and interviews were conducted with seven senior managers. The reason for targeting Middle Managers was that they are at a level that is next in line in the hierarchy to advance to senior management positions.The purpose of this study was to investigate factors inhibiting the advancement of women to senior management positions in the Provincial Treasury in the Province of the Eastern Cape. The problem identified was that there were numbers of females at middle management who had the required qualifications and experience, but were not considered when appointments were made to fill in vacant senior management posts. The other problem that was identified was that often senior management positions were filled by candidates who were not from within the Department. The performance of female internal candidates is not recognised, which may be indicative of the flaws with the performance management system. It emerged from the empirical survey that preference is given to men compared to their female counterparts. The study revealed that there were factors that contributed to non-advancement of females to senior management such as the existence of stereotypes and perceptions. The stereotypical beliefs view men as hard workers than their female counterparts. It was also revealed that women suffered from low self-esteem that impacted negatively on their confidence levels. This subsequently discouraged women to apply for advertised vacancies as they doubted their own capabilities. It also emerged that the Department did not empower newly appointed persons through the mentoring and coaching programmes. This study also revealed that no training was offered to newly appointed persons.
- Full Text:
- Date Issued: 2012
- Authors: Madikiza, Nomvelwano Mavis
- Date: 2012
- Subjects: Women government executives -- South Africa , Women executives -- South Africa -- Eastern Cape
- Language: English
- Type: Thesis , Masters , MA
- Identifier: vital:8289 , http://hdl.handle.net/10948/d1018656
- Description: In 1998 the Department of Labour promulgated the Employment Equity Act, which aimed at ensuring that the designated groups were represented in the workplace at all levels. The designated groups that were to be given preference for appointments were women, disabled and Black people. The Department of Public Service and Administration issued a directive to all government Departments to ensure the achievement of 50/50 gender representation at Senior Management levels by 31 March 2009. However, the Provincial Treasury in the Eastern Cape did not achieve this target and is still lagging behind. There are barriers in the workplace, which pose challenges to the progression of women to management levels. These barriers are commonly referred to as ‘glass ceiling’ by some scholars.This study used a qualitative approach in gathering data. The study employed non- probability, which adopted the purposive sampling approach. Questionnaires were administered to middle management and Senior Managers were interviewed to gather empirical data. Questionnaires were administered to sixty Middle Managers, both males and female, and interviews were conducted with seven senior managers. The reason for targeting Middle Managers was that they are at a level that is next in line in the hierarchy to advance to senior management positions.The purpose of this study was to investigate factors inhibiting the advancement of women to senior management positions in the Provincial Treasury in the Province of the Eastern Cape. The problem identified was that there were numbers of females at middle management who had the required qualifications and experience, but were not considered when appointments were made to fill in vacant senior management posts. The other problem that was identified was that often senior management positions were filled by candidates who were not from within the Department. The performance of female internal candidates is not recognised, which may be indicative of the flaws with the performance management system. It emerged from the empirical survey that preference is given to men compared to their female counterparts. The study revealed that there were factors that contributed to non-advancement of females to senior management such as the existence of stereotypes and perceptions. The stereotypical beliefs view men as hard workers than their female counterparts. It was also revealed that women suffered from low self-esteem that impacted negatively on their confidence levels. This subsequently discouraged women to apply for advertised vacancies as they doubted their own capabilities. It also emerged that the Department did not empower newly appointed persons through the mentoring and coaching programmes. This study also revealed that no training was offered to newly appointed persons.
- Full Text:
- Date Issued: 2012
Urban poverty and poverty alleviation in the Nelson Mandela Metro
- Authors: Mafuya, Mzukisi Theophilus
- Date: 2012
- Subjects: Poverty -- South Africa -- Nelson Mandela Bay Municipality -- Prevention , Nelson Mandela Bay Municipality (South Africa) -- Economic conditions
- Language: English
- Type: Thesis , Masters , MA
- Identifier: vital:9130 , http://hdl.handle.net/10948/d1018637
- Description: Poverty is generally acknowledged as one of the most serious problems facing post-apartheid South Africa. The biggest challenge facing South Africa localities today is their ability to cope with alarmingly high levels of unemployment that are severely retarding both economic growth and poverty. The growth of the poverty in South Africa increases the spread of poverty in communities in which the cycle of their poverty can be passed onto the next generation if not well addressed. South Africa is characterised by inequitable growth and development, a high degree of poverty, increasing demands and limited resources and challenge of integration. In order to fight poverty the South African government has introduced mechanisms and plans to alleviate poverty and to monitor and evaluate the impact of their policies and programmes on reduction of poverty, the government has prioritized poverty alleviation in its development agenda. To fight poverty the South African government introduced a well planned and coordinated programme known an Integrated and Development programme (IDP) with its main purpose that is to enhance service delivery and fight poverty through an integrated and aligned approach between different role players and stakeholders. The IDP seeks to promote integration by balancing the social, economic and ecological pillars of sustainability without compromising the institutional capacity required in the implementation.
- Full Text:
- Date Issued: 2012
- Authors: Mafuya, Mzukisi Theophilus
- Date: 2012
- Subjects: Poverty -- South Africa -- Nelson Mandela Bay Municipality -- Prevention , Nelson Mandela Bay Municipality (South Africa) -- Economic conditions
- Language: English
- Type: Thesis , Masters , MA
- Identifier: vital:9130 , http://hdl.handle.net/10948/d1018637
- Description: Poverty is generally acknowledged as one of the most serious problems facing post-apartheid South Africa. The biggest challenge facing South Africa localities today is their ability to cope with alarmingly high levels of unemployment that are severely retarding both economic growth and poverty. The growth of the poverty in South Africa increases the spread of poverty in communities in which the cycle of their poverty can be passed onto the next generation if not well addressed. South Africa is characterised by inequitable growth and development, a high degree of poverty, increasing demands and limited resources and challenge of integration. In order to fight poverty the South African government has introduced mechanisms and plans to alleviate poverty and to monitor and evaluate the impact of their policies and programmes on reduction of poverty, the government has prioritized poverty alleviation in its development agenda. To fight poverty the South African government introduced a well planned and coordinated programme known an Integrated and Development programme (IDP) with its main purpose that is to enhance service delivery and fight poverty through an integrated and aligned approach between different role players and stakeholders. The IDP seeks to promote integration by balancing the social, economic and ecological pillars of sustainability without compromising the institutional capacity required in the implementation.
- Full Text:
- Date Issued: 2012