A sociological analysis of intermediary non-governmental organizations and land reform in contemporary Zimbabwe
- Authors: Helliker, Kirk David
- Date: 2007
- Subjects: Non-governmental organizations -- Zimbabwe Land reform -- Zimbabwe Land use -- Zimbabwe Sociology -- Philosophy
- Language: English
- Type: Thesis , Doctoral , PhD
- Identifier: vital:3303 , http://hdl.handle.net/10962/d1003091
- Description: The thesis offers an original sociological understanding of intermediary Non-Governmental Organizations (NGOs) in the modern world. This is pursued through a study of NGOs and land reform in contemporary Zimbabwe. The prevailing literature on NGOs is marked by a sociological behaviourism that analyses NGOs in terms of external relations and the object-subject dualism. This behaviourism has both ‘structuralist’ and ‘empiricist’ trends that lead to instrumentalist and functionalist forms of argumentation. The thesis details an alternative conceptual corpus that draws upon the epistemological and theoretical insights of Marx and Weber. The epistemological reasoning of Marx involves processes of deconstruction and reconstruction. This entails conceptualizing NGOs as social forms that embody contradictory relations and, for analytical purposes, the thesis privileges the contradiction between ‘the global’ and ‘the local’. In this regard, it speaks about processes of ‘glocalization’ and ‘glocal modernities’ in which NGOs become immersed. The social field of NGOs is marked by ambiguities and tensions, and NGOs seek to ‘negotiate’ and manoeuvre their way through this field by a variety of organizational practices. Understanding these practices necessitates studying NGOs ‘from within’ and drawing specifically on Weber’s notion of ‘meaning’. These practices often entail activities that stabilize and simplify the world and work of NGOs, and this involves NGOs in prioritizing their own organizational sustainability. In handling the tension between ‘the global’ and ‘the local’, NGOs also tend to privilege global trajectories over local initiatives. The thesis illustrates these points in relation to the work of intermediary NGOs in Zimbabwe over the past ten years. Since the year 2000, a radical restructuring of agrarian relations has occurred, and this has been based upon the massive redistribution of land. In this respect, local empowering initiatives have dramatically asserted themselves against globalizing trajectories. These changes have posed serious challenges to ‘land’ NGOs, that is, NGOs involved in land reform either as advocates for reform or as rural development NGOs. The thesis shows how a range of diverse ‘land’ NGOs has ‘handled’ the heightened contradictions in their social field in ways that maintain their organizational coherence and integrity.
- Full Text:
- Date Issued: 2007
- Authors: Helliker, Kirk David
- Date: 2007
- Subjects: Non-governmental organizations -- Zimbabwe Land reform -- Zimbabwe Land use -- Zimbabwe Sociology -- Philosophy
- Language: English
- Type: Thesis , Doctoral , PhD
- Identifier: vital:3303 , http://hdl.handle.net/10962/d1003091
- Description: The thesis offers an original sociological understanding of intermediary Non-Governmental Organizations (NGOs) in the modern world. This is pursued through a study of NGOs and land reform in contemporary Zimbabwe. The prevailing literature on NGOs is marked by a sociological behaviourism that analyses NGOs in terms of external relations and the object-subject dualism. This behaviourism has both ‘structuralist’ and ‘empiricist’ trends that lead to instrumentalist and functionalist forms of argumentation. The thesis details an alternative conceptual corpus that draws upon the epistemological and theoretical insights of Marx and Weber. The epistemological reasoning of Marx involves processes of deconstruction and reconstruction. This entails conceptualizing NGOs as social forms that embody contradictory relations and, for analytical purposes, the thesis privileges the contradiction between ‘the global’ and ‘the local’. In this regard, it speaks about processes of ‘glocalization’ and ‘glocal modernities’ in which NGOs become immersed. The social field of NGOs is marked by ambiguities and tensions, and NGOs seek to ‘negotiate’ and manoeuvre their way through this field by a variety of organizational practices. Understanding these practices necessitates studying NGOs ‘from within’ and drawing specifically on Weber’s notion of ‘meaning’. These practices often entail activities that stabilize and simplify the world and work of NGOs, and this involves NGOs in prioritizing their own organizational sustainability. In handling the tension between ‘the global’ and ‘the local’, NGOs also tend to privilege global trajectories over local initiatives. The thesis illustrates these points in relation to the work of intermediary NGOs in Zimbabwe over the past ten years. Since the year 2000, a radical restructuring of agrarian relations has occurred, and this has been based upon the massive redistribution of land. In this respect, local empowering initiatives have dramatically asserted themselves against globalizing trajectories. These changes have posed serious challenges to ‘land’ NGOs, that is, NGOs involved in land reform either as advocates for reform or as rural development NGOs. The thesis shows how a range of diverse ‘land’ NGOs has ‘handled’ the heightened contradictions in their social field in ways that maintain their organizational coherence and integrity.
- Full Text:
- Date Issued: 2007
A study of the conflict between maintenance and production functions in a manufacturing organisation in Port Elizabeth
- Authors: Petronio, Riccardo Vinicio
- Date: 2007
- Subjects: Conflict management -- South Africa -- Port Elizabeth , Organizational behavior -- South Africa -- Port Elizabeth , Supervision of employees -- South AFrica -- Port Elizabeth
- Language: English
- Type: Thesis , Masters , MBA
- Identifier: vital:8737 , http://hdl.handle.net/10948/794 , Conflict management -- South Africa -- Port Elizabeth , Organizational behavior -- South Africa -- Port Elizabeth , Supervision of employees -- South AFrica -- Port Elizabeth
- Description: If manufacturing organisations are to improve their competitive positions in the global arena and increase profitability, their operations strategies need to be focused on: reducing cost, improving quality, increasing efficiency, improving the speed of delivery, developing and improving process flexibility, and ensuring that higher service levels are achieved and maintained. One of the critical success factors in implementing these strategies, within manufacturing organisations, is the relationship that exists between the maintenance and production functions. There is sufficient evidence to suggest that in many manufacturing organisations, the relationship that exists between these two functions is usually one of conflict, which if left unmanaged or unresolved has the potential to severely hamper effectiveness, productivity, creativity, and profitability of the organisation. The overall purpose of this research was to identify the interventions that manufacturing organisations can pursue, to effectively manage and resolve the conflict between the production and maintenance functions, in order to improve their competitive position in the global economy. The study was conducted in one particular manufacturing organisation in Port Elizabeth in the Eastern Cape. A research questionnaire was used as a means for collecting empirical data. The research questionnaire included various instruments used by previous conflict researchers, to identify and analyse the following dimensions of conflict within the organisation: conflict management styles used, the types of conflict perceived, and the amount of conflict perceived. The questionnaire was also designed to identify the sources of conflict, collect demographic information, identify issues relating to diversity, and indicate the respondents’ preferences to various organisational reporting structures. The results of the survey revealed key findings, which enabled the researcher to draw meaningful conclusions, and make recommendations as to how organisations can effectively manage and resolve the conflict that exists between maintenance and production functions.
- Full Text:
- Date Issued: 2007
- Authors: Petronio, Riccardo Vinicio
- Date: 2007
- Subjects: Conflict management -- South Africa -- Port Elizabeth , Organizational behavior -- South Africa -- Port Elizabeth , Supervision of employees -- South AFrica -- Port Elizabeth
- Language: English
- Type: Thesis , Masters , MBA
- Identifier: vital:8737 , http://hdl.handle.net/10948/794 , Conflict management -- South Africa -- Port Elizabeth , Organizational behavior -- South Africa -- Port Elizabeth , Supervision of employees -- South AFrica -- Port Elizabeth
- Description: If manufacturing organisations are to improve their competitive positions in the global arena and increase profitability, their operations strategies need to be focused on: reducing cost, improving quality, increasing efficiency, improving the speed of delivery, developing and improving process flexibility, and ensuring that higher service levels are achieved and maintained. One of the critical success factors in implementing these strategies, within manufacturing organisations, is the relationship that exists between the maintenance and production functions. There is sufficient evidence to suggest that in many manufacturing organisations, the relationship that exists between these two functions is usually one of conflict, which if left unmanaged or unresolved has the potential to severely hamper effectiveness, productivity, creativity, and profitability of the organisation. The overall purpose of this research was to identify the interventions that manufacturing organisations can pursue, to effectively manage and resolve the conflict between the production and maintenance functions, in order to improve their competitive position in the global economy. The study was conducted in one particular manufacturing organisation in Port Elizabeth in the Eastern Cape. A research questionnaire was used as a means for collecting empirical data. The research questionnaire included various instruments used by previous conflict researchers, to identify and analyse the following dimensions of conflict within the organisation: conflict management styles used, the types of conflict perceived, and the amount of conflict perceived. The questionnaire was also designed to identify the sources of conflict, collect demographic information, identify issues relating to diversity, and indicate the respondents’ preferences to various organisational reporting structures. The results of the survey revealed key findings, which enabled the researcher to draw meaningful conclusions, and make recommendations as to how organisations can effectively manage and resolve the conflict that exists between maintenance and production functions.
- Full Text:
- Date Issued: 2007
A study of the summarizing strategies used by ESL first year science students at the University of Botswana
- Authors: Chimbganda, Ambrose Bruce
- Date: 2007
- Subjects: English language -- Study and teaching (Foreign speakers) -- Botswana English language -- Study and teaching (Higher) -- Botswana Science -- Study and teaching (Higher) -- Botswana Language and education -- Botswana College students -- Botswana -- Language
- Language: English
- Type: Thesis , Doctoral , PhD
- Identifier: vital:2341 , http://hdl.handle.net/10962/d1002623
- Description: One of the major problems faced by speakers of English as a second language (ESL) or non-native speakers of English (NNS) is that when they go to college or university, they find themselves without sufficient academic literacy skills to enable them to navigate their learning successfully, such as the ability to summarize textual material. This thesis examines the summarizing strategies used by ESL first year science students at the University of Botswana. Using multiple data collection methods, otherwise known as triangulation or pluralistic research, which is a combination of quantitative and qualitative methods, one hundred and twenty randomly sampled students completed questionnaires and summarized a scientific text. In order to observe the students more closely, nine students (3 high-, 3 average- and 3 low-proficiency) were purposively selected from the sample and wrote a further summary. The nine students were later interviewed in order to find out from them the kinds of strategies they had used in summarizing the texts. To obtain systematic data, the summaries and the taped interview were coded and analyzed using a hybrid scoring classification previously used by other researchers. The results from the Likert type of questionnaire suggest that the ESL first year science students are 'aware' of the appropriate reading, production and self-assessment strategies to use when summarizing. However, when the data from the questionnaire were cross-checked against the strategies they had used in the actual summarization of the text, most of their claims, especially those of the low-proficiency students, were not sustained. As a whole, the results show that high-proficiency students produce more accurate idea units and are more capable of generalizing ideas than low-proficiency students who prefer to "cut and paste" ideas. There are also significant differences between high- and low proficiency students in the manner in which they decode the text: low-proficiency students produce more distortions in their summaries than high-proficiency students who generally give accurate information. Similarly, high-proficiency students are able to sort out global ideas from a labyrinth of localized ideas, unlike average- and low-proficiency students who include trivial information. The same trend is observed with paraphrasing and sentence combinations: high-proficiency students are generally able to recast and coordinate their ideas, unlike low-proficiency students who produce run-on ideas. In terms of the discrete cognitive and meta-cognitive skills preferred by students, low proficiency students are noticeably unable to exploit pre-summarizing cognitive strategies such as discriminating, selecting, note-making, grouping, inferring meanings of new words and using synonyms to convey the intended meanings. There are also greater differences between high- and low-proficiency students when it comes to the use of meta-cognitive strategies. Unlike high-proficiency students who use their reservoir of meta-cognitive skills such as self-judgment, low-proficiency students ostensibly find it difficult to direct their summaries to the demands of the task and are unable to check the accuracy of their summaries. The findings also show that some of the high-proficiency students and many average- and low-proficiency students distort idea units, find it difficult to use their own words and cannot distinguish between main and supporting details. This resulted in the production of circuitous summaries that often failed to capture the gist of the argument. The way the students processed the main ideas also reveals an inherent weakness: most students of different proficiency levels were unable to combine ideas from different paragraphs to produce a coherent text. Not surprising, then, there were too many long summaries produced by both high- and low-proficiency students. To tackle some of the problems related to summarization, pre-reading strategies can be taught, which activate relevant prior knowledge, so that the learning of new knowledge can be facilitated. During the reading process students can become more meta-cognitively aware by monitoring their level of understanding of the text by using, for example, the strategy suggested by Schraw (1998) of "stop, read and think". Text analysis can also be used to help the students identify the main themes or macro-propositions in a text, and hence gain a more global perspective of the content, which is important for selecting the main ideas in a text. A particularly useful approach to fostering a deeper understanding of content is to use a form of reciprocal or peer-mediated teaching, in which students in pairs can articulate to each other their understanding of the main ideas expressed in the text. As part of the solution to the problems faced by students when processing information, we need to take Sewlall's (2000: 170) advice that there should be "a paradigm shift in the learning philosophy from content-based to an emphasis on the acquisition of skills". In this regard, both content and ESL teachers need to train their students in the explicit use of summarizing strategies, and to plan interwoven lessons and learning activities that develop the learners' intellectual ways of dealing with different learning problems so that they can make learning quicker, easier, more effective and exciting.
- Full Text:
- Date Issued: 2007
- Authors: Chimbganda, Ambrose Bruce
- Date: 2007
- Subjects: English language -- Study and teaching (Foreign speakers) -- Botswana English language -- Study and teaching (Higher) -- Botswana Science -- Study and teaching (Higher) -- Botswana Language and education -- Botswana College students -- Botswana -- Language
- Language: English
- Type: Thesis , Doctoral , PhD
- Identifier: vital:2341 , http://hdl.handle.net/10962/d1002623
- Description: One of the major problems faced by speakers of English as a second language (ESL) or non-native speakers of English (NNS) is that when they go to college or university, they find themselves without sufficient academic literacy skills to enable them to navigate their learning successfully, such as the ability to summarize textual material. This thesis examines the summarizing strategies used by ESL first year science students at the University of Botswana. Using multiple data collection methods, otherwise known as triangulation or pluralistic research, which is a combination of quantitative and qualitative methods, one hundred and twenty randomly sampled students completed questionnaires and summarized a scientific text. In order to observe the students more closely, nine students (3 high-, 3 average- and 3 low-proficiency) were purposively selected from the sample and wrote a further summary. The nine students were later interviewed in order to find out from them the kinds of strategies they had used in summarizing the texts. To obtain systematic data, the summaries and the taped interview were coded and analyzed using a hybrid scoring classification previously used by other researchers. The results from the Likert type of questionnaire suggest that the ESL first year science students are 'aware' of the appropriate reading, production and self-assessment strategies to use when summarizing. However, when the data from the questionnaire were cross-checked against the strategies they had used in the actual summarization of the text, most of their claims, especially those of the low-proficiency students, were not sustained. As a whole, the results show that high-proficiency students produce more accurate idea units and are more capable of generalizing ideas than low-proficiency students who prefer to "cut and paste" ideas. There are also significant differences between high- and low proficiency students in the manner in which they decode the text: low-proficiency students produce more distortions in their summaries than high-proficiency students who generally give accurate information. Similarly, high-proficiency students are able to sort out global ideas from a labyrinth of localized ideas, unlike average- and low-proficiency students who include trivial information. The same trend is observed with paraphrasing and sentence combinations: high-proficiency students are generally able to recast and coordinate their ideas, unlike low-proficiency students who produce run-on ideas. In terms of the discrete cognitive and meta-cognitive skills preferred by students, low proficiency students are noticeably unable to exploit pre-summarizing cognitive strategies such as discriminating, selecting, note-making, grouping, inferring meanings of new words and using synonyms to convey the intended meanings. There are also greater differences between high- and low-proficiency students when it comes to the use of meta-cognitive strategies. Unlike high-proficiency students who use their reservoir of meta-cognitive skills such as self-judgment, low-proficiency students ostensibly find it difficult to direct their summaries to the demands of the task and are unable to check the accuracy of their summaries. The findings also show that some of the high-proficiency students and many average- and low-proficiency students distort idea units, find it difficult to use their own words and cannot distinguish between main and supporting details. This resulted in the production of circuitous summaries that often failed to capture the gist of the argument. The way the students processed the main ideas also reveals an inherent weakness: most students of different proficiency levels were unable to combine ideas from different paragraphs to produce a coherent text. Not surprising, then, there were too many long summaries produced by both high- and low-proficiency students. To tackle some of the problems related to summarization, pre-reading strategies can be taught, which activate relevant prior knowledge, so that the learning of new knowledge can be facilitated. During the reading process students can become more meta-cognitively aware by monitoring their level of understanding of the text by using, for example, the strategy suggested by Schraw (1998) of "stop, read and think". Text analysis can also be used to help the students identify the main themes or macro-propositions in a text, and hence gain a more global perspective of the content, which is important for selecting the main ideas in a text. A particularly useful approach to fostering a deeper understanding of content is to use a form of reciprocal or peer-mediated teaching, in which students in pairs can articulate to each other their understanding of the main ideas expressed in the text. As part of the solution to the problems faced by students when processing information, we need to take Sewlall's (2000: 170) advice that there should be "a paradigm shift in the learning philosophy from content-based to an emphasis on the acquisition of skills". In this regard, both content and ESL teachers need to train their students in the explicit use of summarizing strategies, and to plan interwoven lessons and learning activities that develop the learners' intellectual ways of dealing with different learning problems so that they can make learning quicker, easier, more effective and exciting.
- Full Text:
- Date Issued: 2007
A study of the teaching of reading in Grade 1 in the Caprivi region, Namibia
- Authors: Nzwala, Kenneth
- Date: 2007
- Subjects: Reading (Primary) -- Namibia Teachers -- Attitudes -- Namibia Teaching -- Namibia
- Language: English
- Type: Thesis , Masters , MEd
- Identifier: vital:1785 , http://hdl.handle.net/10962/d1003670
- Description: This study was conducted in order to understand how Grade 1 teachers teach reading in mother tongue with a focus, firstly, on teacher beliefs and how such beliefs influence teachers’ practice, and secondly, on the methods they use to teach reading. The study was carried out in the Caprivi Region of Namibia. It took the form of an interpretive case study. Three schools were selected for study: one urban, one peri-urban and one rural. The purpose of this sampling was to consider the influence of context on teachers’ practice. The data was gathered by using semi-structured interviews with open ended questions, as well as lesson observations and stimulated recall with the individual teachers after every lesson. This was important in order to have clarity on areas that were not clear during lesson presentations. The key findings are that the teachers I studied taught reading without using books, and there was an absence of shared reading with the learners. Other key findings are: teachers had great love for stories; they had a problem of language, and had no proper understanding of the concept ‘literacy’.
- Full Text:
- Date Issued: 2007
- Authors: Nzwala, Kenneth
- Date: 2007
- Subjects: Reading (Primary) -- Namibia Teachers -- Attitudes -- Namibia Teaching -- Namibia
- Language: English
- Type: Thesis , Masters , MEd
- Identifier: vital:1785 , http://hdl.handle.net/10962/d1003670
- Description: This study was conducted in order to understand how Grade 1 teachers teach reading in mother tongue with a focus, firstly, on teacher beliefs and how such beliefs influence teachers’ practice, and secondly, on the methods they use to teach reading. The study was carried out in the Caprivi Region of Namibia. It took the form of an interpretive case study. Three schools were selected for study: one urban, one peri-urban and one rural. The purpose of this sampling was to consider the influence of context on teachers’ practice. The data was gathered by using semi-structured interviews with open ended questions, as well as lesson observations and stimulated recall with the individual teachers after every lesson. This was important in order to have clarity on areas that were not clear during lesson presentations. The key findings are that the teachers I studied taught reading without using books, and there was an absence of shared reading with the learners. Other key findings are: teachers had great love for stories; they had a problem of language, and had no proper understanding of the concept ‘literacy’.
- Full Text:
- Date Issued: 2007
A taxonomic revision of the southern African endemic genus Gazania (Asteraceae) based on morphometric, genetic and phylogeographic data
- Authors: Howis, Seranne
- Date: 2007
- Subjects: Compositae Plant genetics DNA Endemic plants -- South Africa Plant ecology -- South Africa
- Language: English
- Type: Thesis , Doctoral , PhD
- Identifier: vital:4200 , http://hdl.handle.net/10962/d1003769
- Description: Gazania is a small genus of the subtribe Gorteriinae, tribe Arctoteae, that is endemic to southern Africa. The genus was last revised in 1959 by Roessler, who noted that delimitation of the species of Gazania can be “extraordinarily difficult”. Morphometric data was collected to test the reality of the 16 species as delimited by Roessler, who based species boundaries on morphological characters. Only six taxa were found to be morphologically distinct, while the remaining samples showed no species cohesion. DNA sequence data from two nuclear spacer regions (ITS and ETS) and four chloroplast noncoding regions (the trnL and rpS16 introns, and the psbA-trnH and trnL-F spacers) of 43 samples were utilised to create a species level phylogeny and to investigate correlations between genetically delimited units and morphologically defined taxa. DNA sequence data reveal that seven species (as delimited by Roessler) are morphologically and genetically distinct. The remaining nine of Roessler’s species fall into a morphologically and genetically overlapping continuum that forms an ochlospecies. Phylogeographic methods (based on an expanded ITS and ETS DNA sequence data set from 169 samples) were employed to further resolve the limits of species, with special focus on the clades within the ochlospecies. These genetically defined clades were correlated with their geographical distributions, and in combination with molecular dating techniques, used to elucidate the recent climatic or environmental factors that may have shaped the phylogeographic structure of the genus. Phylogeographic patterns and molecular dating reveals that the genus Gazania is an example of a South African endemic clade that has undergone episodic cladogenesis in response to fluctuating climatic conditions over the last seven million years. The ochlospecies within Gazania is a result of repeated cycles of climate driven isolation in refugia and subsequent expansion and hybridization events during the Pliocene and Pleistocene. Comparisons with phylogeographic studies on other organisms reveal a common pattern indicative of the presence and evolutionary importance of an ancestral refugium in the arid Richtersveld / Namib region of southern Africa.
- Full Text:
- Date Issued: 2007
- Authors: Howis, Seranne
- Date: 2007
- Subjects: Compositae Plant genetics DNA Endemic plants -- South Africa Plant ecology -- South Africa
- Language: English
- Type: Thesis , Doctoral , PhD
- Identifier: vital:4200 , http://hdl.handle.net/10962/d1003769
- Description: Gazania is a small genus of the subtribe Gorteriinae, tribe Arctoteae, that is endemic to southern Africa. The genus was last revised in 1959 by Roessler, who noted that delimitation of the species of Gazania can be “extraordinarily difficult”. Morphometric data was collected to test the reality of the 16 species as delimited by Roessler, who based species boundaries on morphological characters. Only six taxa were found to be morphologically distinct, while the remaining samples showed no species cohesion. DNA sequence data from two nuclear spacer regions (ITS and ETS) and four chloroplast noncoding regions (the trnL and rpS16 introns, and the psbA-trnH and trnL-F spacers) of 43 samples were utilised to create a species level phylogeny and to investigate correlations between genetically delimited units and morphologically defined taxa. DNA sequence data reveal that seven species (as delimited by Roessler) are morphologically and genetically distinct. The remaining nine of Roessler’s species fall into a morphologically and genetically overlapping continuum that forms an ochlospecies. Phylogeographic methods (based on an expanded ITS and ETS DNA sequence data set from 169 samples) were employed to further resolve the limits of species, with special focus on the clades within the ochlospecies. These genetically defined clades were correlated with their geographical distributions, and in combination with molecular dating techniques, used to elucidate the recent climatic or environmental factors that may have shaped the phylogeographic structure of the genus. Phylogeographic patterns and molecular dating reveals that the genus Gazania is an example of a South African endemic clade that has undergone episodic cladogenesis in response to fluctuating climatic conditions over the last seven million years. The ochlospecies within Gazania is a result of repeated cycles of climate driven isolation in refugia and subsequent expansion and hybridization events during the Pliocene and Pleistocene. Comparisons with phylogeographic studies on other organisms reveal a common pattern indicative of the presence and evolutionary importance of an ancestral refugium in the arid Richtersveld / Namib region of southern Africa.
- Full Text:
- Date Issued: 2007
A transdisciplinary explanatory critique of environmental education
- Authors: Price, Leigh
- Date: 2007
- Subjects: Environmental education Business enterprises -- Environmental aspects Corporations -- Environmental aspects Social responsibility of business Social responsibility of business -- Study and teaching Environmental education -- Philosophy Environmental ethics -- Study and teaching
- Language: English
- Type: Thesis , Doctoral , PhD
- Identifier: vital:1804 , http://hdl.handle.net/10962/d1003689
- Description: This study originates out of my experience as an environmental educator working within business and industry in Zimbabwe and South Africa. It is motivated by my observation that, despite much environmental rhetoric and training, environmental education in industry rarely leads to significant advances towards environmental protection. I assume that the problem of the mismatch between rhetoric and action involves both semiotic and non-semiotic components and therefore, after a thorough exploration of my methodological options, I adopt a qualitative transdisciplinary textual analysis of relevant documents using Fairclough’s Critical Discourse Analysis and Bhaskar’s Dialectical Critical Realism, with some insights taken from Bhaskar’s more recent concept of Meta-Reality. My main conclusions from the study indicate that causally efficacious philosophical mistakes, relating to theories of structure/agency and theories of epistemology, are an important aspect of the problem being considered. Specifically, I demonstrate that these mistakes function to buttress ideology and its attendant contradictions which in turn function to provide the preconditions that maintain inequalities and poor environmental practice in business and industry. Prior and current events, such as climate change and the trend towards globalisation, the ‘free market economy’ and psychological characteristics of the author, relevant to the problem, are also important. In line with Bhaskar’s emancipatory aim for explanatory critique, I end with tentative recommendations for a re-imagined environmental education for business and industry which require (un)action. Consistent with my methodological choices, my recommendations have a (qualified) universal application, despite my focus on texts from South Africa and Zimbabwe. My recommendations are summarised below: • there should be consistency between theory and practice such that performance contradictions are avoided; • we should not act from a fear of survival based on past, no longer relevant experiences (e.g. from childhood) as this is unlikely to be an adequate base for present actions; • we should avoid voluntarism by acting with the resources at our disposal, based on a true understanding of our strengths and weaknesses and our own specificities; • we should avoid assuming the stance of the ‘victim’ by refusing to blame other agents or circumstances, without distorting or underestimating the causal efficacy of those agents or circumstances (related to avoiding voluntarism, whilst nevertheless not resorting to determinism either); • we should direct our action towards the abolition of inequalities and master-slave relationships (related to the avoidance of performance contradictions); • we should act from the position of epistemological humility, rather than from the position of epistemological privilege; • we should consider action as ‘shedding’ based on an understanding of the Transformational Model of Social Activity (TMSA); and • we should consider learning to be ‘shedding’ based on the necessity of (un)knowledge, or ignorance, as a requirement of arriving at relatively new knowledge. This study is also a contribution to contemporary methodological discussions relevant to Critical Discourse Analysis in that it extends these discussions to include psychoanalytical (as well as the more familiar phenomenological and ideological) depth explanations of lived illusion. Furthermore, this study is an experimental attempt to apply the concept of ‘meta-reflexivity’ in Critical Discourse Analysis.
- Full Text:
- Date Issued: 2007
- Authors: Price, Leigh
- Date: 2007
- Subjects: Environmental education Business enterprises -- Environmental aspects Corporations -- Environmental aspects Social responsibility of business Social responsibility of business -- Study and teaching Environmental education -- Philosophy Environmental ethics -- Study and teaching
- Language: English
- Type: Thesis , Doctoral , PhD
- Identifier: vital:1804 , http://hdl.handle.net/10962/d1003689
- Description: This study originates out of my experience as an environmental educator working within business and industry in Zimbabwe and South Africa. It is motivated by my observation that, despite much environmental rhetoric and training, environmental education in industry rarely leads to significant advances towards environmental protection. I assume that the problem of the mismatch between rhetoric and action involves both semiotic and non-semiotic components and therefore, after a thorough exploration of my methodological options, I adopt a qualitative transdisciplinary textual analysis of relevant documents using Fairclough’s Critical Discourse Analysis and Bhaskar’s Dialectical Critical Realism, with some insights taken from Bhaskar’s more recent concept of Meta-Reality. My main conclusions from the study indicate that causally efficacious philosophical mistakes, relating to theories of structure/agency and theories of epistemology, are an important aspect of the problem being considered. Specifically, I demonstrate that these mistakes function to buttress ideology and its attendant contradictions which in turn function to provide the preconditions that maintain inequalities and poor environmental practice in business and industry. Prior and current events, such as climate change and the trend towards globalisation, the ‘free market economy’ and psychological characteristics of the author, relevant to the problem, are also important. In line with Bhaskar’s emancipatory aim for explanatory critique, I end with tentative recommendations for a re-imagined environmental education for business and industry which require (un)action. Consistent with my methodological choices, my recommendations have a (qualified) universal application, despite my focus on texts from South Africa and Zimbabwe. My recommendations are summarised below: • there should be consistency between theory and practice such that performance contradictions are avoided; • we should not act from a fear of survival based on past, no longer relevant experiences (e.g. from childhood) as this is unlikely to be an adequate base for present actions; • we should avoid voluntarism by acting with the resources at our disposal, based on a true understanding of our strengths and weaknesses and our own specificities; • we should avoid assuming the stance of the ‘victim’ by refusing to blame other agents or circumstances, without distorting or underestimating the causal efficacy of those agents or circumstances (related to avoiding voluntarism, whilst nevertheless not resorting to determinism either); • we should direct our action towards the abolition of inequalities and master-slave relationships (related to the avoidance of performance contradictions); • we should act from the position of epistemological humility, rather than from the position of epistemological privilege; • we should consider action as ‘shedding’ based on an understanding of the Transformational Model of Social Activity (TMSA); and • we should consider learning to be ‘shedding’ based on the necessity of (un)knowledge, or ignorance, as a requirement of arriving at relatively new knowledge. This study is also a contribution to contemporary methodological discussions relevant to Critical Discourse Analysis in that it extends these discussions to include psychoanalytical (as well as the more familiar phenomenological and ideological) depth explanations of lived illusion. Furthermore, this study is an experimental attempt to apply the concept of ‘meta-reflexivity’ in Critical Discourse Analysis.
- Full Text:
- Date Issued: 2007
Academic literacy right from the start?: a critical realist study of the way university literacy is constructed at a Gulf university
- Authors: Picard, Michelle Yvette
- Date: 2007
- Subjects: Gulf University Education, Higher -- Persian Gulf Literacy -- Persian Gulf Academic writing -- Study and teaching -- Persian Gulf English language -- Study and teaching -- Persian Gulf
- Language: English
- Type: Thesis , Doctoral , PhD
- Identifier: vital:1323 , http://hdl.handle.net/10962/d1004121
- Description: The aim of this research was to examine how university literacy is constructed at a university in the Arabian Gulf and to evaluate the appropriateness of this construction where students of a low level of English are exposed to academic English (Right from the Start). Unpacking this construction is a complex task and to gain even a limited insight into the numerous Discourses, epistemologies and pedagogies constituting the construction of university literacy at Gulf universities, a stratified approach that probes the layers of ‘reality’ is necessary. Therefore, a critical realist approach is engaged, along with a variety of methods to probe the layers of the phenomenon. In terms of thesis organization, the traditional empirical structure common to the Social Sciences and the argumentative structure common to the Humanities are integrated. While the information obtained by a variety of methods is analysed and conclusions are reached, this material is also used along with additional literature to support the central contention that university literacy and academic English are possible ‘right from the start’, if the students’ literacy is examined from a certain perspective and if there is an appropriate pedagogy which promotes the desired literacies. This combination of thesis structures would be deemed appropriate in the critical realist ontological framework since the rigour of the thesis lies both in its “reliability” resulting from the empirical data and its focus on the ‘real’; and its “reflexivity” and “persuasivness” arising from the transparently ‘critical’ argument of the thesis (Cadman 2002). In order to conduct the empirical research, the lenses suggested by each of the major views of literacy as outlined by Lea and Street (1998) - namely the “study skills” view, the narrow “academic socialization view” and the “academic literacies view” are utilized in succession. However, the central argument is revealed as the manifestations of each ‘view’ of literacy in the specific context are examined, the research outcomes obtained by utilizing each view in succession are outlined and both are critiqued from the perspective of the “academic literacies” view. Corpus research is undertaken from a “study skills” perspective and the effect of the vocabulary taught to the students on their use of vocabulary in their writing is examined. Also, using the “study skills” lens, the students’ “global language development” in terms of changes or fluctuations in “fluency, accuracy and complexity” (Wolfe-Quintero, Inagaki et al. 1998) over a period of at least three semesters is examined. Utilizing a narrow “academic socialization lens”, studies conducted at the University on learning strategies and motivation and the comments made by respondents in interviews and on an electronic discussion board are compared to comments made by teachers and lecturers. Major flaws in these views of academic literacy are acknowledged and the way each view manifests itself in the Discourse(s) prevalent at this particular university is demonstrated. Finally, Discourses evidenced in the student interviews in particular, are unpacked and then compared and contrasted with those in the lecturer interviews as well as the curriculum and other university documents. The limitations of the study are examined and suggestions for further research and ways to address ‘problems’ associated with university literacy are given.
- Full Text:
- Date Issued: 2007
- Authors: Picard, Michelle Yvette
- Date: 2007
- Subjects: Gulf University Education, Higher -- Persian Gulf Literacy -- Persian Gulf Academic writing -- Study and teaching -- Persian Gulf English language -- Study and teaching -- Persian Gulf
- Language: English
- Type: Thesis , Doctoral , PhD
- Identifier: vital:1323 , http://hdl.handle.net/10962/d1004121
- Description: The aim of this research was to examine how university literacy is constructed at a university in the Arabian Gulf and to evaluate the appropriateness of this construction where students of a low level of English are exposed to academic English (Right from the Start). Unpacking this construction is a complex task and to gain even a limited insight into the numerous Discourses, epistemologies and pedagogies constituting the construction of university literacy at Gulf universities, a stratified approach that probes the layers of ‘reality’ is necessary. Therefore, a critical realist approach is engaged, along with a variety of methods to probe the layers of the phenomenon. In terms of thesis organization, the traditional empirical structure common to the Social Sciences and the argumentative structure common to the Humanities are integrated. While the information obtained by a variety of methods is analysed and conclusions are reached, this material is also used along with additional literature to support the central contention that university literacy and academic English are possible ‘right from the start’, if the students’ literacy is examined from a certain perspective and if there is an appropriate pedagogy which promotes the desired literacies. This combination of thesis structures would be deemed appropriate in the critical realist ontological framework since the rigour of the thesis lies both in its “reliability” resulting from the empirical data and its focus on the ‘real’; and its “reflexivity” and “persuasivness” arising from the transparently ‘critical’ argument of the thesis (Cadman 2002). In order to conduct the empirical research, the lenses suggested by each of the major views of literacy as outlined by Lea and Street (1998) - namely the “study skills” view, the narrow “academic socialization view” and the “academic literacies view” are utilized in succession. However, the central argument is revealed as the manifestations of each ‘view’ of literacy in the specific context are examined, the research outcomes obtained by utilizing each view in succession are outlined and both are critiqued from the perspective of the “academic literacies” view. Corpus research is undertaken from a “study skills” perspective and the effect of the vocabulary taught to the students on their use of vocabulary in their writing is examined. Also, using the “study skills” lens, the students’ “global language development” in terms of changes or fluctuations in “fluency, accuracy and complexity” (Wolfe-Quintero, Inagaki et al. 1998) over a period of at least three semesters is examined. Utilizing a narrow “academic socialization lens”, studies conducted at the University on learning strategies and motivation and the comments made by respondents in interviews and on an electronic discussion board are compared to comments made by teachers and lecturers. Major flaws in these views of academic literacy are acknowledged and the way each view manifests itself in the Discourse(s) prevalent at this particular university is demonstrated. Finally, Discourses evidenced in the student interviews in particular, are unpacked and then compared and contrasted with those in the lecturer interviews as well as the curriculum and other university documents. The limitations of the study are examined and suggestions for further research and ways to address ‘problems’ associated with university literacy are given.
- Full Text:
- Date Issued: 2007
Accelerated staff turnover among professional nurses at a district hospital
- Authors: Toni, Gladys Nosisana
- Date: 2007
- Subjects: Labor turnover -- South Africa -- Eastern Cape , Nurses -- Employment -- South Africa -- Eastern Cape , Hospitals -- South Africa -- Eastern Cape -- Personnel management
- Language: English
- Type: Thesis , Masters , MA
- Identifier: vital:10039 , http://hdl.handle.net/10948/620 , Labor turnover -- South Africa -- Eastern Cape , Nurses -- Employment -- South Africa -- Eastern Cape , Hospitals -- South Africa -- Eastern Cape -- Personnel management
- Description: The study emanated from the researcher’s experience and involvement in clinical nursing and nursing management. The researcher noted how heavy losses of recruited professional nurses might have had an influence on the quality of service delivery. It is a costly and time-consuming task to recruit enough nurses into the profession and retention of staff is especially difficult. There had been a significant increase in the number of professional nurses leaving the district hospitals either to primary health care service, private hospitals or other countries. Before the commencement of the study the turnover rate at the district hospital where the study was conducted, almost doubled the accepted norm, which was ten percent of the staff. For those reasons the researcher decided to conduct a study named, “Accelerated staff turnover among professional nurses at a district hospital.” The constant heavy losses of qualified nurses from the profession constitute one of the serious challenges for nursing managers. The researcher wanted answers to the following question: “What were your experiences of your job as a professional nurse at the district hospital?” The objectives of the study were: · to explore and describe factors leading to high staff turnover of professional nurses at a district hospital · to develop guidelines to help retain professional nurses. The design of this study, which was conducted in one of the district hospitals in the Makana Local Service Area in the Eastern Cape, is qualitative, descriptive and contextual. Informed permission for conducting the research was obtained from relevant authorities and participants were asked to sign a consent form before the researcher proceeded with the study. Participants that met the selection criteria were selected by means of purposive sampling. Data was obtained by means of semi-structured telephonic interviews that were audio-taped and later transcribed verbatim. To ensure trustworthiness of the study, the researcher applied the four strategies as proposed by Lincoln and Guba (De Vos, 2002:351) namely, credibility, transferability, dependability and confirmability. Collected data was analysed according to the descriptive method proposed by Tesch (in Creswell, 1994:154). The services of an independent coder, who was provided with transcripts and a protocol to guide data analysis, were utilised. A consensus meeting was held between the researcher and the independent coder to discuss the identified themes and sub-themes. Following the data analysis, a literature control was undertaken to highlight the similarities to and differences in comparison between this and previous studies. Four major themes and sub-themes were identified through analysis.
- Full Text:
- Date Issued: 2007
- Authors: Toni, Gladys Nosisana
- Date: 2007
- Subjects: Labor turnover -- South Africa -- Eastern Cape , Nurses -- Employment -- South Africa -- Eastern Cape , Hospitals -- South Africa -- Eastern Cape -- Personnel management
- Language: English
- Type: Thesis , Masters , MA
- Identifier: vital:10039 , http://hdl.handle.net/10948/620 , Labor turnover -- South Africa -- Eastern Cape , Nurses -- Employment -- South Africa -- Eastern Cape , Hospitals -- South Africa -- Eastern Cape -- Personnel management
- Description: The study emanated from the researcher’s experience and involvement in clinical nursing and nursing management. The researcher noted how heavy losses of recruited professional nurses might have had an influence on the quality of service delivery. It is a costly and time-consuming task to recruit enough nurses into the profession and retention of staff is especially difficult. There had been a significant increase in the number of professional nurses leaving the district hospitals either to primary health care service, private hospitals or other countries. Before the commencement of the study the turnover rate at the district hospital where the study was conducted, almost doubled the accepted norm, which was ten percent of the staff. For those reasons the researcher decided to conduct a study named, “Accelerated staff turnover among professional nurses at a district hospital.” The constant heavy losses of qualified nurses from the profession constitute one of the serious challenges for nursing managers. The researcher wanted answers to the following question: “What were your experiences of your job as a professional nurse at the district hospital?” The objectives of the study were: · to explore and describe factors leading to high staff turnover of professional nurses at a district hospital · to develop guidelines to help retain professional nurses. The design of this study, which was conducted in one of the district hospitals in the Makana Local Service Area in the Eastern Cape, is qualitative, descriptive and contextual. Informed permission for conducting the research was obtained from relevant authorities and participants were asked to sign a consent form before the researcher proceeded with the study. Participants that met the selection criteria were selected by means of purposive sampling. Data was obtained by means of semi-structured telephonic interviews that were audio-taped and later transcribed verbatim. To ensure trustworthiness of the study, the researcher applied the four strategies as proposed by Lincoln and Guba (De Vos, 2002:351) namely, credibility, transferability, dependability and confirmability. Collected data was analysed according to the descriptive method proposed by Tesch (in Creswell, 1994:154). The services of an independent coder, who was provided with transcripts and a protocol to guide data analysis, were utilised. A consensus meeting was held between the researcher and the independent coder to discuss the identified themes and sub-themes. Following the data analysis, a literature control was undertaken to highlight the similarities to and differences in comparison between this and previous studies. Four major themes and sub-themes were identified through analysis.
- Full Text:
- Date Issued: 2007
African customary law and gender justice in a progressive democracy
- Authors: Ozoemena, Rita Nkiruka
- Date: 2007
- Subjects: Customary law -- Africa , Women's rights -- Africa , Human rights -- Africa , Sex discrimination against women -- Africa , Women and democracy -- Africa , Culture and law -- Africa
- Language: English
- Type: Thesis , Masters , LLM
- Identifier: vital:3692 , http://hdl.handle.net/10962/d1003207 , Customary law -- Africa , Women's rights -- Africa , Human rights -- Africa , Sex discrimination against women -- Africa , Women and democracy -- Africa , Culture and law -- Africa
- Description: The constant clash of African culture and traditions with human rights continue to militate against the adequate protection of women’s rights. Thus, African women constantly face challenges resulting from restrictions under customary laws of succession and inheritance, witchcraft violence, degrading treatment to widows, domestic violence; women killed by their partners, rape of women and children under all kinds of circumstances. This thesis was prompted by the issues raised in the Bhe case of the Constitutional Court of South Africa. In this landmark judgment, Ngcobo J dealt with the development of customary law, and how it must be approached by the courts in a manner that would have due regard to the rights of women on one hand and, on the other, would also accord customary law of its proper place, purpose and values within the African context. Against this background, the thesis focused on South Africa, Nigeria and Lesotho as excellent models of the broader challenges for women as well as governments; despite certain legislative measures put in place by the latter, the battle continues unabated for the balance of traditions and culture with women’s rights issues. Although South Africa is more progressive in terms of Constitution and practice than Nigeria and Lesotho, a lot still needs to be done particularly in the area of harmonization of laws. Regrettably, in Nigeria and Lesotho respect for the Constitution is superficial and lacks substantive policies that would promote women’s rights. To this extent, the balance of democratic values and promotion of women’s rights issues within the continent lie in women being partners in development rather than unduly suffering under intense burden of culture, tradition and societal stereotypes.
- Full Text:
- Date Issued: 2007
- Authors: Ozoemena, Rita Nkiruka
- Date: 2007
- Subjects: Customary law -- Africa , Women's rights -- Africa , Human rights -- Africa , Sex discrimination against women -- Africa , Women and democracy -- Africa , Culture and law -- Africa
- Language: English
- Type: Thesis , Masters , LLM
- Identifier: vital:3692 , http://hdl.handle.net/10962/d1003207 , Customary law -- Africa , Women's rights -- Africa , Human rights -- Africa , Sex discrimination against women -- Africa , Women and democracy -- Africa , Culture and law -- Africa
- Description: The constant clash of African culture and traditions with human rights continue to militate against the adequate protection of women’s rights. Thus, African women constantly face challenges resulting from restrictions under customary laws of succession and inheritance, witchcraft violence, degrading treatment to widows, domestic violence; women killed by their partners, rape of women and children under all kinds of circumstances. This thesis was prompted by the issues raised in the Bhe case of the Constitutional Court of South Africa. In this landmark judgment, Ngcobo J dealt with the development of customary law, and how it must be approached by the courts in a manner that would have due regard to the rights of women on one hand and, on the other, would also accord customary law of its proper place, purpose and values within the African context. Against this background, the thesis focused on South Africa, Nigeria and Lesotho as excellent models of the broader challenges for women as well as governments; despite certain legislative measures put in place by the latter, the battle continues unabated for the balance of traditions and culture with women’s rights issues. Although South Africa is more progressive in terms of Constitution and practice than Nigeria and Lesotho, a lot still needs to be done particularly in the area of harmonization of laws. Regrettably, in Nigeria and Lesotho respect for the Constitution is superficial and lacks substantive policies that would promote women’s rights. To this extent, the balance of democratic values and promotion of women’s rights issues within the continent lie in women being partners in development rather than unduly suffering under intense burden of culture, tradition and societal stereotypes.
- Full Text:
- Date Issued: 2007
An action learning based reflection on participative drama as a tool for transformation of identity in the spirals programme
- Authors: Edlmann, Tessa Margaret
- Date: 2007
- Subjects: Spirals Trust (South Africa) , Drama in education -- South Africa -- Grahamstown , Participatory theater -- South Africa -- Grahamstown , Active learning
- Language: English
- Type: Thesis , Masters , MA
- Identifier: vital:2159 , http://hdl.handle.net/10962/d1008202
- Description: This thesis is a reflection on both the conceptual frameworks and the personal narratives that have shaped the development of the Spirals Programme. The Programme is a participatory drama and creative arts based initiative established in 2000 in Grahamstown, South Africa, to explore issues of identity in the emerging democratic context of South African society - and support both personal and contextual processes of transformation. Working within a poststructuralist and social constructionist paradigm, Spirals works with groups and communities to facilitate and enable experiential links between the drama based and performative nature of identity construction - and the possibilities for transformation and healing provided by participative drama methodologies. The structure of the thesis follows the principles of the Freirian based Action Learning praxis within which Spirals works. It begins with an account of the contextual dynamics and events that gave rise to the development of the Programme, followed by a reflection on the conceptual frameworks regarding both identity construction and participative drama methodologies that informed Spirals' development. These paradigms are then analysed in relation to the articulated experiences of three workshop participants using critical discourse analysis. The thesis concludes with an assessment of the issues emerging from this analysis - the aspects of the Programme that need to be strengthened and sustained, those that need to be changed and possible new strategies that could be developed. , Also known as: Edlmann, Theresa
- Full Text:
- Date Issued: 2007
- Authors: Edlmann, Tessa Margaret
- Date: 2007
- Subjects: Spirals Trust (South Africa) , Drama in education -- South Africa -- Grahamstown , Participatory theater -- South Africa -- Grahamstown , Active learning
- Language: English
- Type: Thesis , Masters , MA
- Identifier: vital:2159 , http://hdl.handle.net/10962/d1008202
- Description: This thesis is a reflection on both the conceptual frameworks and the personal narratives that have shaped the development of the Spirals Programme. The Programme is a participatory drama and creative arts based initiative established in 2000 in Grahamstown, South Africa, to explore issues of identity in the emerging democratic context of South African society - and support both personal and contextual processes of transformation. Working within a poststructuralist and social constructionist paradigm, Spirals works with groups and communities to facilitate and enable experiential links between the drama based and performative nature of identity construction - and the possibilities for transformation and healing provided by participative drama methodologies. The structure of the thesis follows the principles of the Freirian based Action Learning praxis within which Spirals works. It begins with an account of the contextual dynamics and events that gave rise to the development of the Programme, followed by a reflection on the conceptual frameworks regarding both identity construction and participative drama methodologies that informed Spirals' development. These paradigms are then analysed in relation to the articulated experiences of three workshop participants using critical discourse analysis. The thesis concludes with an assessment of the issues emerging from this analysis - the aspects of the Programme that need to be strengthened and sustained, those that need to be changed and possible new strategies that could be developed. , Also known as: Edlmann, Theresa
- Full Text:
- Date Issued: 2007
An analysis of bank risk management and its relevance for the non-bank corporate sector
- Authors: Dietrich, David Roland
- Date: 2007
- Subjects: Bank management , Risk management , Corporations -- Finance , Financial institutions , Banks and banking
- Language: English
- Type: Thesis , Masters , MCom
- Identifier: vital:949 , http://hdl.handle.net/10962/d1002683 , Bank management , Risk management , Corporations -- Finance , Financial institutions , Banks and banking
- Description: This thesis, entitled “An analysis of bank risk management and its relevance for the non-bank corporate sector”, investigates the extent to which financial risk management by the banking sector can be applied to the non-bank corporate sector. As banks’ risk management techniques are more sophisticated than those of the non-bank corporate sector we have endeavoured to ascertain the applicability of these established risk management methods to the non-bank corporate sector. The main objectives of this study were to analyse the banking sectors’ risks and management thereof, and compare them to the risks faced by the nonbank corporate sector. This analysis was then used to present a theoretical financial risk management model for the corporate sector. This analysis was conducted using qualitative research. The thesis engaged in an in-depth investigation of financial risk management through a documentary, literature and media analysis. It was elucidated that not all companies face the same financial risks and therefore each company requires its own unique financial risk management model. Furthermore, it was established that there are several risks that both banks and non-bank corporates are subjected to. However, the management of these risks is not necessarily the same for these two types of institutes. This thesis concludes by putting forward a financial risk management model which presents all the possible financial risks that non-bank corporates may face.
- Full Text:
- Date Issued: 2007
- Authors: Dietrich, David Roland
- Date: 2007
- Subjects: Bank management , Risk management , Corporations -- Finance , Financial institutions , Banks and banking
- Language: English
- Type: Thesis , Masters , MCom
- Identifier: vital:949 , http://hdl.handle.net/10962/d1002683 , Bank management , Risk management , Corporations -- Finance , Financial institutions , Banks and banking
- Description: This thesis, entitled “An analysis of bank risk management and its relevance for the non-bank corporate sector”, investigates the extent to which financial risk management by the banking sector can be applied to the non-bank corporate sector. As banks’ risk management techniques are more sophisticated than those of the non-bank corporate sector we have endeavoured to ascertain the applicability of these established risk management methods to the non-bank corporate sector. The main objectives of this study were to analyse the banking sectors’ risks and management thereof, and compare them to the risks faced by the nonbank corporate sector. This analysis was then used to present a theoretical financial risk management model for the corporate sector. This analysis was conducted using qualitative research. The thesis engaged in an in-depth investigation of financial risk management through a documentary, literature and media analysis. It was elucidated that not all companies face the same financial risks and therefore each company requires its own unique financial risk management model. Furthermore, it was established that there are several risks that both banks and non-bank corporates are subjected to. However, the management of these risks is not necessarily the same for these two types of institutes. This thesis concludes by putting forward a financial risk management model which presents all the possible financial risks that non-bank corporates may face.
- Full Text:
- Date Issued: 2007
An analysis of community participation in local government integrated development planning with reference to King Sabata Dalindyebo local municipality
- Authors: Mfenguza, Nomvakaliso
- Date: 2007
- Subjects: Community development -- South Africa -- Eastern Cape , Political participation -- South Africa -- Eastern Cape
- Language: English
- Type: Thesis , Masters , MA
- Identifier: vital:8237 , http://hdl.handle.net/10948/788 , Community development -- South Africa -- Eastern Cape , Political participation -- South Africa -- Eastern Cape
- Description: This study is about the analysis of Community Participation in Local Government Integrated Development Planning with reference to Sabata Dalindyebo Local Municipality. The focus on the study was on full participation of community in the IDP processes. This report presents the findings of a study conducted to identify the strategies and consultation structures used in the development of IDP processes, together with the measures of effectiveness of these strategies. This study was triggered by the non attendance of the communities in the IDP road shows, the complaints of non service delivery and little understanding of the IDP concept. The results of this study show that the communities do not fully participate in their development planning processes. The communities do not understand the purpose and existence of IDP document. The researcher hopes that this study will sensitize the community to participate in the affairs of their development that will change the quality of their lives. King Sabata Dalindyebo Local Municipality should improve their strategies and consultation structures in their IDP processes.
- Full Text:
- Date Issued: 2007
- Authors: Mfenguza, Nomvakaliso
- Date: 2007
- Subjects: Community development -- South Africa -- Eastern Cape , Political participation -- South Africa -- Eastern Cape
- Language: English
- Type: Thesis , Masters , MA
- Identifier: vital:8237 , http://hdl.handle.net/10948/788 , Community development -- South Africa -- Eastern Cape , Political participation -- South Africa -- Eastern Cape
- Description: This study is about the analysis of Community Participation in Local Government Integrated Development Planning with reference to Sabata Dalindyebo Local Municipality. The focus on the study was on full participation of community in the IDP processes. This report presents the findings of a study conducted to identify the strategies and consultation structures used in the development of IDP processes, together with the measures of effectiveness of these strategies. This study was triggered by the non attendance of the communities in the IDP road shows, the complaints of non service delivery and little understanding of the IDP concept. The results of this study show that the communities do not fully participate in their development planning processes. The communities do not understand the purpose and existence of IDP document. The researcher hopes that this study will sensitize the community to participate in the affairs of their development that will change the quality of their lives. King Sabata Dalindyebo Local Municipality should improve their strategies and consultation structures in their IDP processes.
- Full Text:
- Date Issued: 2007
An analysis of neural networks and time series techniques for demand forecasting
- Authors: Winn, David
- Date: 2007
- Subjects: Time-series analysis , Neural networks (Computer science) , Artificial intelligence , Marketing -- Management , Marketing -- Data processing , Marketing -- Statistical methods , Consumer behaviour
- Language: English
- Type: Thesis , Masters , MCom
- Identifier: vital:5572 , http://hdl.handle.net/10962/d1004362 , Time-series analysis , Neural networks (Computer science) , Artificial intelligence , Marketing -- Management , Marketing -- Data processing , Marketing -- Statistical methods , Consumer behaviour
- Description: This research examines the plausibility of developing demand forecasting techniques which are consistently and accurately able to predict demand. Time Series Techniques and Artificial Neural Networks are both investigated. Deodorant sales in South Africa are specifically studied in this thesis. Marketing techniques which are used to influence consumer buyer behaviour are considered, and these factors are integrated into the forecasting models wherever possible. The results of this research suggest that Artificial Neural Networks can be developed which consistently outperform industry forecasting targets as well as Time Series forecasts, suggesting that producers could reduce costs by adopting this more effective method.
- Full Text:
- Date Issued: 2007
- Authors: Winn, David
- Date: 2007
- Subjects: Time-series analysis , Neural networks (Computer science) , Artificial intelligence , Marketing -- Management , Marketing -- Data processing , Marketing -- Statistical methods , Consumer behaviour
- Language: English
- Type: Thesis , Masters , MCom
- Identifier: vital:5572 , http://hdl.handle.net/10962/d1004362 , Time-series analysis , Neural networks (Computer science) , Artificial intelligence , Marketing -- Management , Marketing -- Data processing , Marketing -- Statistical methods , Consumer behaviour
- Description: This research examines the plausibility of developing demand forecasting techniques which are consistently and accurately able to predict demand. Time Series Techniques and Artificial Neural Networks are both investigated. Deodorant sales in South Africa are specifically studied in this thesis. Marketing techniques which are used to influence consumer buyer behaviour are considered, and these factors are integrated into the forecasting models wherever possible. The results of this research suggest that Artificial Neural Networks can be developed which consistently outperform industry forecasting targets as well as Time Series forecasts, suggesting that producers could reduce costs by adopting this more effective method.
- Full Text:
- Date Issued: 2007
An analysis of oral literary music texts in isiXhosa
- Authors: Mpola, Mavis Noluthando
- Date: 2007
- Subjects: Xhosa (African people) -- Music , Xhosa (African people) -- Music -- History , Xhosa (African people) -- Folklore , Composers, Black -- South Africa , Hymns, Xhosa , Folk literature, Xhosa
- Language: English
- Type: Thesis , Doctoral , PhD
- Identifier: vital:3632 , http://hdl.handle.net/10962/d1012909
- Description: This study examines the relationship between composed songs in isiXhosa and the field of oral literature. In traditional Xhosa cultural settings, poetry and music are forms of communal activity enjoyed by that society. Music and poetry perform a special social role in African society in general, providing a critique of socio-economic and political issues. The research analyses the relationship that exists between traditional poetry, izibongo, and composed songs. It demonstrates that in the same way that izibongo can be analysed in order to appreciate the aesthetic value of an oral literary form, the same can be said of composed isiXhosa music. The art of transmitting oral literature is performance. The traditional izibongo are recited before audiences in the same way. Songs (iingoma) stories (amabali) and traditional poetry (izibongo) all comprise oral literature that is transmitted by word of mouth. Opland (1992: 17) says about this type of literature: “Living as it does in the performance is usually appreciated by crowds of people as sounds uttered by the performer who is present before his/her audience.” Opland (ibid 125) again gives an account of who is both reciter of poems and singer of songs. He gives Mthamo’s testimony thus: “He is a singer… with a reputation of being a poet as well.” The musical texts that will be analysed in this thesis will range from those produced as early as 1917, when Benjamin Tyamzashe wrote his first song, Isithandwa sam (My beloved), up to those produced in 1990 when Makhaya Mjana was commissioned by Lovedale on its 150th anniversary to write Qingqa Lovedale (Stand up Lovedale). The song texts total fifty, by twenty-one composers. The texts will be analysed according to different themes, ranging from themes that are metaphoric, themes about events, themes that depict the culture of the amaXhosa, themes with a message of protest, themes demonstrating the relationship between religion and nature, themes that call for unity among the amaXhosa, and themes that depict the personal circumstances of composers and lullabies. The number of texts from each category will vary depending on the composers’ socio-cultural background when they composed the songs. Comparison will be made with some izibongo to show that composers and writers of izibongo are similar artists and, in the words of Mtuze in Izibongo Zomthonyama (1993) “bathwase ngethongo elinye” (They are spiritually gifted in the same way).
- Full Text:
- Date Issued: 2007
- Authors: Mpola, Mavis Noluthando
- Date: 2007
- Subjects: Xhosa (African people) -- Music , Xhosa (African people) -- Music -- History , Xhosa (African people) -- Folklore , Composers, Black -- South Africa , Hymns, Xhosa , Folk literature, Xhosa
- Language: English
- Type: Thesis , Doctoral , PhD
- Identifier: vital:3632 , http://hdl.handle.net/10962/d1012909
- Description: This study examines the relationship between composed songs in isiXhosa and the field of oral literature. In traditional Xhosa cultural settings, poetry and music are forms of communal activity enjoyed by that society. Music and poetry perform a special social role in African society in general, providing a critique of socio-economic and political issues. The research analyses the relationship that exists between traditional poetry, izibongo, and composed songs. It demonstrates that in the same way that izibongo can be analysed in order to appreciate the aesthetic value of an oral literary form, the same can be said of composed isiXhosa music. The art of transmitting oral literature is performance. The traditional izibongo are recited before audiences in the same way. Songs (iingoma) stories (amabali) and traditional poetry (izibongo) all comprise oral literature that is transmitted by word of mouth. Opland (1992: 17) says about this type of literature: “Living as it does in the performance is usually appreciated by crowds of people as sounds uttered by the performer who is present before his/her audience.” Opland (ibid 125) again gives an account of who is both reciter of poems and singer of songs. He gives Mthamo’s testimony thus: “He is a singer… with a reputation of being a poet as well.” The musical texts that will be analysed in this thesis will range from those produced as early as 1917, when Benjamin Tyamzashe wrote his first song, Isithandwa sam (My beloved), up to those produced in 1990 when Makhaya Mjana was commissioned by Lovedale on its 150th anniversary to write Qingqa Lovedale (Stand up Lovedale). The song texts total fifty, by twenty-one composers. The texts will be analysed according to different themes, ranging from themes that are metaphoric, themes about events, themes that depict the culture of the amaXhosa, themes with a message of protest, themes demonstrating the relationship between religion and nature, themes that call for unity among the amaXhosa, and themes that depict the personal circumstances of composers and lullabies. The number of texts from each category will vary depending on the composers’ socio-cultural background when they composed the songs. Comparison will be made with some izibongo to show that composers and writers of izibongo are similar artists and, in the words of Mtuze in Izibongo Zomthonyama (1993) “bathwase ngethongo elinye” (They are spiritually gifted in the same way).
- Full Text:
- Date Issued: 2007
An analysis of the influence of phosphorus poisoning on the exhaust emission after treatement systems of light-duty diesel vehicles
- Authors: Toral del Rio, Maria Isabel
- Date: 2007
- Subjects: Diesel motor -- Alternative fuels , Automobiles -- Pollution control devices , Automobiles -- Motors -- Exhaust gas , Motor fuels
- Language: English
- Type: Thesis , Masters , MTech
- Identifier: vital:10405 , http://hdl.handle.net/10948/697 , Diesel motor -- Alternative fuels , Automobiles -- Pollution control devices , Automobiles -- Motors -- Exhaust gas , Motor fuels
- Description: Climate change has become a discussion topic of exponentially increasing urgency and importance amoung world leaders of all disciplines. These changes are brought about by the emission of so-called Greenhouse gases from various human activities. The primary cause of CO2 emissions is the burning of the Earth’s supply of nonrenewable natural fossil fuels like coal, oil and natural gas. The world first agreed on the prevention of “dangerous” climatic changes at the Earth Summit in 1992. The Kyoto Protocol of 1997 was the first step toward protection of the atmosphere and prescribes restrictions on emission pollutants. Since then the vehicle gas emissions are being controlled by means of different gas emissions norms, like the European Union Norm in Europe. The automotive manufacturers and suppliers are collectively working on reducing overall vehicle emissions. They are focusing on several different emission limiting possibilities, for example improved engine design, special fuel development and exhaust gas treatment systems. The exhaust gas treatment process requires continuous controlling and management of the exhaust gas emissions while driving a vehicle. Certain factors such as high emission temperatures have a negative influence on the life span of these systems. Their functionality and durability is also known to be reduced by the presence of chemical poisoning species like sulphur, phosphorus, zinc and calcium. The chemical poisoning species are produced during combustion of fuel and engine oil. They are therefore contained in the exhaust emissions and can poison the catalyst when passing over it. Phosphorous poisoning is particularly problematic and should be reduced considerably. This study involves the investigation of the phosphorous poisoning process and aims to provide clarity regarding the influences of different fuel and oil compositions on the severity of the process. Engine oil and biodiesel are two major sources of phosphorous poisoning. The phosphorus contained in biodiesel fuel is a natural component and can be minimized during the refining procedure. In contrast to others studies, the biodiesel fuel used during this project was SME (Soya Methyl Ester) with a 20% biodiesel content. This choice of fuel was made because of the increasingly important role that this type of biodiesel is playing in the European market and the future tendency to increase the percentage of biodiesel in the mixture with standard diesel fuel. The phosphorus contained in engine oil is a necessary additive to retain the antioxidant and anti-wear properties of the oil. This study examined the poisoning influences from the most commonly used phosphorus containing oil additive, Zinc Dithiophosphates (ZDDP), as well as a Zn-free, phosphorus containing anti-wear oil additive. This formulation provides information about the phosphorus poisoning process as caused by the engine oil in the absence of Zn in the oil additives. The results show how the phosphorus content in biodiesel fuel affects the functionality of the exhaust gas treatment systems and the importance of reducing the permitted content of phosphorus contained in the fuel. Reducing the phosphorus content in the fuel will conserve the functionality of the exhaust gas treatment systems during their operational life and thereby protect the environmental from emission pollutants. It also provides insight into the differences in the poisoning processes when the phosphorus deposited on the catalyst comes from biodiesel fuel and when it comes from the engine oil. Finally the results also illustrate the influence of different phosphorous forms contained in engine oil additives on the catalyst poisoning process. This information could be used for the development of new oil additive formulations.
- Full Text:
- Date Issued: 2007
- Authors: Toral del Rio, Maria Isabel
- Date: 2007
- Subjects: Diesel motor -- Alternative fuels , Automobiles -- Pollution control devices , Automobiles -- Motors -- Exhaust gas , Motor fuels
- Language: English
- Type: Thesis , Masters , MTech
- Identifier: vital:10405 , http://hdl.handle.net/10948/697 , Diesel motor -- Alternative fuels , Automobiles -- Pollution control devices , Automobiles -- Motors -- Exhaust gas , Motor fuels
- Description: Climate change has become a discussion topic of exponentially increasing urgency and importance amoung world leaders of all disciplines. These changes are brought about by the emission of so-called Greenhouse gases from various human activities. The primary cause of CO2 emissions is the burning of the Earth’s supply of nonrenewable natural fossil fuels like coal, oil and natural gas. The world first agreed on the prevention of “dangerous” climatic changes at the Earth Summit in 1992. The Kyoto Protocol of 1997 was the first step toward protection of the atmosphere and prescribes restrictions on emission pollutants. Since then the vehicle gas emissions are being controlled by means of different gas emissions norms, like the European Union Norm in Europe. The automotive manufacturers and suppliers are collectively working on reducing overall vehicle emissions. They are focusing on several different emission limiting possibilities, for example improved engine design, special fuel development and exhaust gas treatment systems. The exhaust gas treatment process requires continuous controlling and management of the exhaust gas emissions while driving a vehicle. Certain factors such as high emission temperatures have a negative influence on the life span of these systems. Their functionality and durability is also known to be reduced by the presence of chemical poisoning species like sulphur, phosphorus, zinc and calcium. The chemical poisoning species are produced during combustion of fuel and engine oil. They are therefore contained in the exhaust emissions and can poison the catalyst when passing over it. Phosphorous poisoning is particularly problematic and should be reduced considerably. This study involves the investigation of the phosphorous poisoning process and aims to provide clarity regarding the influences of different fuel and oil compositions on the severity of the process. Engine oil and biodiesel are two major sources of phosphorous poisoning. The phosphorus contained in biodiesel fuel is a natural component and can be minimized during the refining procedure. In contrast to others studies, the biodiesel fuel used during this project was SME (Soya Methyl Ester) with a 20% biodiesel content. This choice of fuel was made because of the increasingly important role that this type of biodiesel is playing in the European market and the future tendency to increase the percentage of biodiesel in the mixture with standard diesel fuel. The phosphorus contained in engine oil is a necessary additive to retain the antioxidant and anti-wear properties of the oil. This study examined the poisoning influences from the most commonly used phosphorus containing oil additive, Zinc Dithiophosphates (ZDDP), as well as a Zn-free, phosphorus containing anti-wear oil additive. This formulation provides information about the phosphorus poisoning process as caused by the engine oil in the absence of Zn in the oil additives. The results show how the phosphorus content in biodiesel fuel affects the functionality of the exhaust gas treatment systems and the importance of reducing the permitted content of phosphorus contained in the fuel. Reducing the phosphorus content in the fuel will conserve the functionality of the exhaust gas treatment systems during their operational life and thereby protect the environmental from emission pollutants. It also provides insight into the differences in the poisoning processes when the phosphorus deposited on the catalyst comes from biodiesel fuel and when it comes from the engine oil. Finally the results also illustrate the influence of different phosphorous forms contained in engine oil additives on the catalyst poisoning process. This information could be used for the development of new oil additive formulations.
- Full Text:
- Date Issued: 2007
An analysis of the representation of female athletes in selected South African print media from February 2006 to June 2006
- Authors: Jooste, Carlien
- Date: 2007
- Subjects: Women athletes -- South Africa , Athletes in mass media -- South Africa , Mass media and sports -- South Africa
- Language: English
- Type: Thesis , Masters , MA
- Identifier: vital:8374 , http://hdl.handle.net/10948/528 , Women athletes -- South Africa , Athletes in mass media -- South Africa , Mass media and sports -- South Africa
- Description: This thesis attempts to analyse the representation of professional female sport persons in selected South African media. The field of study is located within the ambit of gender and media studies with specific attention to the power of the latter to not only reflect, but actually shape realities and attitudes. Carolyn Byerly and Karen Ross (2004) comment that “the media have the potential not only to reinforce the status quo in power arrangements in society, but also to contribute to new, more egalitarian ones” (2004:24). The core question, then, is to determine whether traditional gender roles are confirmed, or positively shaped, by the way in which the selected media reported on professional women athletes in various sporting codes. As this is a neglected topic in South Africa, the study relied heavily on the research done by various American and European academics. Academics such as Pamela Creedon (1994) and Susan Birrell and Cheryl Cole (1994), found that female athletes are marginalised and stereotyped by the media. Their research also denotes that female athletes are objectified and judged on their looks and dress code instead of their sporting abilities. Female athletes are continuously stereotyped according to societal induced feminine traits. These representations alienate women who do not possess feminine qualities as “the other”, namely falling outside the desirability as determined by sponsorship and an assumed male viewing / reading public. The media further focus more on beautiful, glamorous athletes than female athletes that are less feminine, but with no less achievement and ability. Extensive examples are provided in the treatise of how the selected South African print media misrepresented women in the six month period that was studied. The conclusion is unambiguous: The South African media unfortunately follow the international trend of objectifying women according to male stereotypes. The media that were studied therefore missed an opportunity to shape gender attitudes as they collude with the powerful forces of sponsorship and viewer-ship to reinforce the status quo.
- Full Text:
- Date Issued: 2007
- Authors: Jooste, Carlien
- Date: 2007
- Subjects: Women athletes -- South Africa , Athletes in mass media -- South Africa , Mass media and sports -- South Africa
- Language: English
- Type: Thesis , Masters , MA
- Identifier: vital:8374 , http://hdl.handle.net/10948/528 , Women athletes -- South Africa , Athletes in mass media -- South Africa , Mass media and sports -- South Africa
- Description: This thesis attempts to analyse the representation of professional female sport persons in selected South African media. The field of study is located within the ambit of gender and media studies with specific attention to the power of the latter to not only reflect, but actually shape realities and attitudes. Carolyn Byerly and Karen Ross (2004) comment that “the media have the potential not only to reinforce the status quo in power arrangements in society, but also to contribute to new, more egalitarian ones” (2004:24). The core question, then, is to determine whether traditional gender roles are confirmed, or positively shaped, by the way in which the selected media reported on professional women athletes in various sporting codes. As this is a neglected topic in South Africa, the study relied heavily on the research done by various American and European academics. Academics such as Pamela Creedon (1994) and Susan Birrell and Cheryl Cole (1994), found that female athletes are marginalised and stereotyped by the media. Their research also denotes that female athletes are objectified and judged on their looks and dress code instead of their sporting abilities. Female athletes are continuously stereotyped according to societal induced feminine traits. These representations alienate women who do not possess feminine qualities as “the other”, namely falling outside the desirability as determined by sponsorship and an assumed male viewing / reading public. The media further focus more on beautiful, glamorous athletes than female athletes that are less feminine, but with no less achievement and ability. Extensive examples are provided in the treatise of how the selected South African print media misrepresented women in the six month period that was studied. The conclusion is unambiguous: The South African media unfortunately follow the international trend of objectifying women according to male stereotypes. The media that were studied therefore missed an opportunity to shape gender attitudes as they collude with the powerful forces of sponsorship and viewer-ship to reinforce the status quo.
- Full Text:
- Date Issued: 2007
An analysis of the representation of Winnie Madikizela-Mandela in Antjie Krog's Country of my skull and Njabulo Ndebele's The cry of Winnie Mandela
- Authors: Van Rooyen, Janine
- Date: 2007
- Subjects: Mandela, Winnie , Political activists -- South Africa , Women, Black -- South Africa
- Language: English
- Type: Thesis , Masters , MA
- Identifier: vital:8466 , http://hdl.handle.net/10948/632 , Mandela, Winnie , Political activists -- South Africa , Women, Black -- South Africa
- Description: Winnie Madikizela-Mandela is arguably one of the most widely represented female figures in South Africa. The images presented of her are not static. Indeed, they are shot through with contradictions which include Mama Africa, Warrior, and Abhorrent Mother. The figure of Madikizela-Mandela is a nexus for different opinions and interpretations; she is a focal point for and of the divisions in South African consciousnesses. Therefore the depictions of this persona provide the reader with a means to analyse the discourses through which she is represented. Such an exploration might also provide South Africans with insight into some of the biases and beliefs generally held more than a decade after the advent of democracy. The South African texts Country of My Skull by Antjie Krog, and The Cry of Winnie Mandela by Njabulo Ndebele, extensively represent Madikizela-Mandela and (re-)mythologise her, and as such each provides interesting comparative material for a discussion of the ideological implications imbricated in each. These texts are also particularly appropriate to use in such a study because the writers, a white woman, and black man respectively, could not be further apart on the continuum of South African cultural identification. The politics of the representations of Madikizela-Mandela can thus be interpreted from opposing social extremes. The Mandela name is a powerful signifier, and often constitutes much of Madikizela-Mandela’s public identity. The power of naming is thus the focus of Chapter One of this dissertation. The romantic ideal of Nelson Mandela and Madikizela-Mandela’s relationship constitutes a major focal point in Ndebele’s work. On the other hand, Krog’s text denigrates Madikizela-Mandela’s refusal to toe the peaceful democratic line. As such, the needs of the public in relation to Madikizela-Mandela are illuminated through the impositions of the authors and characters in these texts.
- Full Text:
- Date Issued: 2007
- Authors: Van Rooyen, Janine
- Date: 2007
- Subjects: Mandela, Winnie , Political activists -- South Africa , Women, Black -- South Africa
- Language: English
- Type: Thesis , Masters , MA
- Identifier: vital:8466 , http://hdl.handle.net/10948/632 , Mandela, Winnie , Political activists -- South Africa , Women, Black -- South Africa
- Description: Winnie Madikizela-Mandela is arguably one of the most widely represented female figures in South Africa. The images presented of her are not static. Indeed, they are shot through with contradictions which include Mama Africa, Warrior, and Abhorrent Mother. The figure of Madikizela-Mandela is a nexus for different opinions and interpretations; she is a focal point for and of the divisions in South African consciousnesses. Therefore the depictions of this persona provide the reader with a means to analyse the discourses through which she is represented. Such an exploration might also provide South Africans with insight into some of the biases and beliefs generally held more than a decade after the advent of democracy. The South African texts Country of My Skull by Antjie Krog, and The Cry of Winnie Mandela by Njabulo Ndebele, extensively represent Madikizela-Mandela and (re-)mythologise her, and as such each provides interesting comparative material for a discussion of the ideological implications imbricated in each. These texts are also particularly appropriate to use in such a study because the writers, a white woman, and black man respectively, could not be further apart on the continuum of South African cultural identification. The politics of the representations of Madikizela-Mandela can thus be interpreted from opposing social extremes. The Mandela name is a powerful signifier, and often constitutes much of Madikizela-Mandela’s public identity. The power of naming is thus the focus of Chapter One of this dissertation. The romantic ideal of Nelson Mandela and Madikizela-Mandela’s relationship constitutes a major focal point in Ndebele’s work. On the other hand, Krog’s text denigrates Madikizela-Mandela’s refusal to toe the peaceful democratic line. As such, the needs of the public in relation to Madikizela-Mandela are illuminated through the impositions of the authors and characters in these texts.
- Full Text:
- Date Issued: 2007
An analysis of the turn-of-the-year effect in South African equity returns
- Authors: Potgieter, Damien
- Date: 2007
- Subjects: Johannesburg Stock Exchange , FTSE International , Stock exchanges -- South Africa , Stock price indexes -- South Africa
- Language: English
- Type: Thesis , Masters , MCom
- Identifier: vital:1063 , http://hdl.handle.net/10962/d1007605 , Johannesburg Stock Exchange , FTSE International , Stock exchanges -- South Africa , Stock price indexes -- South Africa
- Description: This study investigates FTSE/JSE All Share index monthly and daily equity returns for evidence of the January and TY effect. Four different measures of monthly return are analysed for the 1995-2006 period, whilst daily returns are analysed during the 1995-2005 period. In addition to this, analysis is conducted on monthly Fama-MacBeth risk premium estimates tor the FTSE/JSE All Share Index. Descriptive statistics are first analysed, followed by ANOV A or Kruskai-Wallis tests, the paired t-test and finally dummy variable regression analysis in investigating the seasonality of FTSE/JSE All Share Index returns and risk premia. Analysis on monthly returns reveals an absence of the January effect, however a positive slightly statistically significant December effect is found. Thus, investors earn abnormal returns on equity during the month of December. The results from the Fama-MacBeth risk premia estimates reveals highly statistically significant negative risk premia seasonal patterns during March, July and September. Thus, investors are in fact penalised for investing in equities during these months. In addition, the analysis reveals an absence of a December effect in risk premia, which contradicts the risk-return trade-off central to modem finance. The daily return analysis reveals a highly significant Turn-of-the-Year effect (TY), which suggests that investors earn abnormal returns on days at the turn of the year. Therefore, it is concluded that a December effect is apparent in South African equity monthly returns, whilst a March, July and September effect is apparent in South African equity risk premia contradicting the risk-return trade-off central to modem finance. In addition to this, a TY effect is present in South African equity daily returns.
- Full Text:
- Date Issued: 2007
- Authors: Potgieter, Damien
- Date: 2007
- Subjects: Johannesburg Stock Exchange , FTSE International , Stock exchanges -- South Africa , Stock price indexes -- South Africa
- Language: English
- Type: Thesis , Masters , MCom
- Identifier: vital:1063 , http://hdl.handle.net/10962/d1007605 , Johannesburg Stock Exchange , FTSE International , Stock exchanges -- South Africa , Stock price indexes -- South Africa
- Description: This study investigates FTSE/JSE All Share index monthly and daily equity returns for evidence of the January and TY effect. Four different measures of monthly return are analysed for the 1995-2006 period, whilst daily returns are analysed during the 1995-2005 period. In addition to this, analysis is conducted on monthly Fama-MacBeth risk premium estimates tor the FTSE/JSE All Share Index. Descriptive statistics are first analysed, followed by ANOV A or Kruskai-Wallis tests, the paired t-test and finally dummy variable regression analysis in investigating the seasonality of FTSE/JSE All Share Index returns and risk premia. Analysis on monthly returns reveals an absence of the January effect, however a positive slightly statistically significant December effect is found. Thus, investors earn abnormal returns on equity during the month of December. The results from the Fama-MacBeth risk premia estimates reveals highly statistically significant negative risk premia seasonal patterns during March, July and September. Thus, investors are in fact penalised for investing in equities during these months. In addition, the analysis reveals an absence of a December effect in risk premia, which contradicts the risk-return trade-off central to modem finance. The daily return analysis reveals a highly significant Turn-of-the-Year effect (TY), which suggests that investors earn abnormal returns on days at the turn of the year. Therefore, it is concluded that a December effect is apparent in South African equity monthly returns, whilst a March, July and September effect is apparent in South African equity risk premia contradicting the risk-return trade-off central to modem finance. In addition to this, a TY effect is present in South African equity daily returns.
- Full Text:
- Date Issued: 2007
An appraisal of secure, wireless grid-enabled data warehousing
- Authors: Seelo, Gaolathe
- Date: 2007
- Subjects: Data warehousing , Computer security
- Language: English
- Type: Thesis , Masters , MTech
- Identifier: vital:9790 , http://hdl.handle.net/10948/602 , http://hdl.handle.net/10948/d1011700 , Data warehousing , Computer security
- Description: In most research, appropriate collections of data play a significant role in aiding decision-making processes. This is more critical if the data is being accessed across organisational barriers. Further, for the data to be mined and analysed efficiently, to aid decision-making processes, it must be harnessed in a suitably-structured fashion. There is, for example, a need to perform diverse data analyses and interpretation of structured (non-personal) HIV/AIDS patient-data from various quarters in South Africa. Although this data does exist, to some extent, it is autonomously owned and stored in disparate data storages, and not readily available to all interested parties. In order to put this data to meaningful use, it is imperative to integrate and store this data in a manner in which it can be better utilized by all those involved in the ontological field. This implies integration of (and hence, interoperability), and appropriate accessibility to, the information systems of the autonomous organizations providing data and data-processing. This is a typical problem-scenario for a Virtual Inter-Organisational Information System (VIOIS), proposed in this study. The VIOIS envisaged is a hypothetical, secure, Wireless Grid-enabled Data Warehouse (WGDW) that enables IOIS interaction, such as the storage and processing of HIV/AIDS patient-data to be utilized for HIV/AIDS-specific research. The proposed WDGW offers a methodical approach for arriving at such a collaborative (HIV/AIDS research) integrated system. The proposed WDGW is virtual community that consists mainly of data-providers, service-providers and information-consumers. The WGDW-basis resulted from systematic literaturesurvey that covered a variety of technologies and standards that support datastorage, data-management, computation and connectivity between virtual community members in Grid computing contexts. A Grid computing paradigm is proposed for data-storage, data management and computation in the WGDW. Informational or analytical processing will be enabled through data warehousing while connectivity will be attained wirelessly (for addressing the paucity of connectivity infrastructure in rural parts of developing countries, like South Africa).
- Full Text:
- Date Issued: 2007
- Authors: Seelo, Gaolathe
- Date: 2007
- Subjects: Data warehousing , Computer security
- Language: English
- Type: Thesis , Masters , MTech
- Identifier: vital:9790 , http://hdl.handle.net/10948/602 , http://hdl.handle.net/10948/d1011700 , Data warehousing , Computer security
- Description: In most research, appropriate collections of data play a significant role in aiding decision-making processes. This is more critical if the data is being accessed across organisational barriers. Further, for the data to be mined and analysed efficiently, to aid decision-making processes, it must be harnessed in a suitably-structured fashion. There is, for example, a need to perform diverse data analyses and interpretation of structured (non-personal) HIV/AIDS patient-data from various quarters in South Africa. Although this data does exist, to some extent, it is autonomously owned and stored in disparate data storages, and not readily available to all interested parties. In order to put this data to meaningful use, it is imperative to integrate and store this data in a manner in which it can be better utilized by all those involved in the ontological field. This implies integration of (and hence, interoperability), and appropriate accessibility to, the information systems of the autonomous organizations providing data and data-processing. This is a typical problem-scenario for a Virtual Inter-Organisational Information System (VIOIS), proposed in this study. The VIOIS envisaged is a hypothetical, secure, Wireless Grid-enabled Data Warehouse (WGDW) that enables IOIS interaction, such as the storage and processing of HIV/AIDS patient-data to be utilized for HIV/AIDS-specific research. The proposed WDGW offers a methodical approach for arriving at such a collaborative (HIV/AIDS research) integrated system. The proposed WDGW is virtual community that consists mainly of data-providers, service-providers and information-consumers. The WGDW-basis resulted from systematic literaturesurvey that covered a variety of technologies and standards that support datastorage, data-management, computation and connectivity between virtual community members in Grid computing contexts. A Grid computing paradigm is proposed for data-storage, data management and computation in the WGDW. Informational or analytical processing will be enabled through data warehousing while connectivity will be attained wirelessly (for addressing the paucity of connectivity infrastructure in rural parts of developing countries, like South Africa).
- Full Text:
- Date Issued: 2007
An assessment of habitat suitability of the proposed Tyefu community game reserve in Ngqushwa (fomerly Peddie) district, Eastern Cape
- Authors: Mamfengu, Phozisa Faith
- Date: 2007
- Subjects: Game farms -- South Africa -- Eastern Cape -- Management , Habitat (Ecology) , Eastern Cape (South Africa) -- Social conditions
- Language: English
- Type: Thesis , Masters , MSc
- Identifier: vital:10653 , http://hdl.handle.net/10948/736 , Game farms -- South Africa -- Eastern Cape -- Management , Habitat (Ecology) , Eastern Cape (South Africa) -- Social conditions
- Description: Land use forms such as cultivation and livestock farming have become less productive and unsustainable in the Tyefu communal villages of Ngqushwa (Formerly Peddie) district, Eastern Cape, South Africa. This is manifest in abandoned and severely degraded cultivation fields as well as transformed vegetation, making it difficult to earn a land based livelihood. Against the backdrop of severe land degradation and poverty levels in these communal villages, game farming has been recommended as an ecologically, economically and socially sustainable form of land use. Tyefu Community Reserve is a project, recommended by the Subtropical Thicket Ecosystem Project (STEP) backed by the Department of Environment Affairs and Tourism (DEAT), for hunting and venison selling. The proposed area has been fenced and animals to be stocked in the reserve have been requested on a loan basis. Such an undertaking requires an understanding of the abundance and condition of vegetation, terrain parameters, and an assessment of potential wildlife species, as well as the carrying capacity of the recommended reserve as a habitat. With the aid of orthophoto maps, Subtropical Thicket Ecosystem Planning (STEP) shapefiles, ASTER satellite imagery and a High Resolution Digital Camera Image, vegetation types were mapped and their condition was assessed. A Digital Elevation Model (DEM) of the area was used to extract terrain parameters such as slope and aspect. The carrying capacity of the proposed reserve was determined using a model originally developed by Boshoff et al. (2001) for estimating potential wildlife and abundance. The proposed reserve is predominantly covered by dense thicket as compared to the adjacent Tyefu communal villages where thicket has been severely degraded. The prominent topographic characteristics such as slope reveal an escarpment ringing the proposed reserve with gentle slopes towards the centre. Slope direction has also influenced the distribution of vegetation in the proposed reserve, as the moist south facing slopes tend to have a greater proportion of dense thicket as opposed to the warm north facing slopes. Vegetation types and topography of the reserve can provide suitable habitat to a variety of wildlife species and are likely to influence the distribution of mammals in the proposed reserve. The carrying capacity model developed has been useful in determining potential species that can be supported by the reserve, and estimating their abundance. Given the small size of the proposed community reserve (about 1800ha), it has been recommended that it should be stretched to link up with the existing Great Fish River Game Complex. It will then fit within the framework as envisaged by STEP (2004), in the form of Fish River Biodiversity Initiative, a conservation corridor bordering the Great Fish River.
- Full Text:
- Date Issued: 2007
- Authors: Mamfengu, Phozisa Faith
- Date: 2007
- Subjects: Game farms -- South Africa -- Eastern Cape -- Management , Habitat (Ecology) , Eastern Cape (South Africa) -- Social conditions
- Language: English
- Type: Thesis , Masters , MSc
- Identifier: vital:10653 , http://hdl.handle.net/10948/736 , Game farms -- South Africa -- Eastern Cape -- Management , Habitat (Ecology) , Eastern Cape (South Africa) -- Social conditions
- Description: Land use forms such as cultivation and livestock farming have become less productive and unsustainable in the Tyefu communal villages of Ngqushwa (Formerly Peddie) district, Eastern Cape, South Africa. This is manifest in abandoned and severely degraded cultivation fields as well as transformed vegetation, making it difficult to earn a land based livelihood. Against the backdrop of severe land degradation and poverty levels in these communal villages, game farming has been recommended as an ecologically, economically and socially sustainable form of land use. Tyefu Community Reserve is a project, recommended by the Subtropical Thicket Ecosystem Project (STEP) backed by the Department of Environment Affairs and Tourism (DEAT), for hunting and venison selling. The proposed area has been fenced and animals to be stocked in the reserve have been requested on a loan basis. Such an undertaking requires an understanding of the abundance and condition of vegetation, terrain parameters, and an assessment of potential wildlife species, as well as the carrying capacity of the recommended reserve as a habitat. With the aid of orthophoto maps, Subtropical Thicket Ecosystem Planning (STEP) shapefiles, ASTER satellite imagery and a High Resolution Digital Camera Image, vegetation types were mapped and their condition was assessed. A Digital Elevation Model (DEM) of the area was used to extract terrain parameters such as slope and aspect. The carrying capacity of the proposed reserve was determined using a model originally developed by Boshoff et al. (2001) for estimating potential wildlife and abundance. The proposed reserve is predominantly covered by dense thicket as compared to the adjacent Tyefu communal villages where thicket has been severely degraded. The prominent topographic characteristics such as slope reveal an escarpment ringing the proposed reserve with gentle slopes towards the centre. Slope direction has also influenced the distribution of vegetation in the proposed reserve, as the moist south facing slopes tend to have a greater proportion of dense thicket as opposed to the warm north facing slopes. Vegetation types and topography of the reserve can provide suitable habitat to a variety of wildlife species and are likely to influence the distribution of mammals in the proposed reserve. The carrying capacity model developed has been useful in determining potential species that can be supported by the reserve, and estimating their abundance. Given the small size of the proposed community reserve (about 1800ha), it has been recommended that it should be stretched to link up with the existing Great Fish River Game Complex. It will then fit within the framework as envisaged by STEP (2004), in the form of Fish River Biodiversity Initiative, a conservation corridor bordering the Great Fish River.
- Full Text:
- Date Issued: 2007