“Munhu wese ihama yako (everyone is your relative)”: Ubuntu and the social inclusion of students with disabilities at South African universities
- Authors: Chiwandire, Desire
- Date: 2021
- Subjects: College students with disabilities -- Education -- South Africa , Inclusive education -- South Africa
- Language: English
- Type: text , Thesis , Doctoral , PhD
- Identifier: http://hdl.handle.net/10962/170578 , vital:41938 , 10.21504/10962/170578
- Description: Background: During apartheid, South African students with disabilities (SWDs) were educated in special schools and taught an inferior curriculum. Black learners with disabilities were discriminated against on grounds of both race and disability. Following South Africa’s first democratic election in 1994, the African National Congress (ANC) government put in place arrange of new laws to address the educational and other needs of those disadvantaged under apartheid, including persons with disabilities (PWDs). The South African government is a signatory of the 2006 United Nations Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities (UNCRPD) which has resulted in the country assuming obligations to promote inclusive education for ASWDs. However, research (see, for instance, Chiwandire & Vincent 2019; Chiwandire 2019; Mutanga 2019; Majoko & Phasha 2018; Mutanga et al. 2018; Mutanga 2017a; Chiwandire 2017; Israel 2017) has shown that SWDs continue to fare differently in comparison to their non-disabled peers in terms of participation in education with the likelihood of success. Higher education institutions (HEIs) have thus been urged to create conducive environments for the academic inclusion of SWDs with particular attention being paid to lecturers employing inclusive instructional strategies as well as flexible curricula, if they are to ensure the equal opportunity for academic success of SWDs in the regular classroom setting. The focus, to date, on academic inclusion, while important, has meant that issues relating to the social inclusion of SWDs have received minimal attention. Purpose: To date, there is a dearth of South African studies which have investigated the social inclusion needs of SWDs on South African campuses. Although a number of studies have given voice to the perspectives of SWDs and lecturers, with respect to their experiences in relation to matters of academic inclusion in South African higher education (HE), few have focused on Disability Unit Staff Members(DUSMs) who are pivotal to ensuring fair and equitable policies and practices for SWDs in HEIs. Disability Studies (DS) as a field has been criticised for being dominated by voices from the Global North, which fail to consider or effectively theorise Global South disability experiences in a contextually relevant way. The thesis argues that the failure to recognise the value of diversity and to treat SWDs as valued and welcomed participants in South African HEIs partly stems from policy, practice and relationships being informed by the Western individualist paradigm that prizes individual achievement and success rather than cooperation and mutuality. The African philosophy of Ubuntu, which stresses values of communalism, hospitality and respect for human dignity is offered here as an alternative starting point for achieving genuinely inclusive campuses. Methods: In-depth face-to-face qualitative interviews were conducted with 40 participants, most of whom were, at the time of being interviewed, Heads of Disability Units and DUSMs based at 10 different universities in four of South Africa’s nine provinces. Data were coded and analysed using Braun & Clarke’s (2006) method of inductive and deductive thematic analysis. Results: The findings of this study indicate that South African campuses are ableist spaces in which the social needs of SWDs are not prioritised. The thesis argues that in order for campuses to become genuinely inclusive, South African campuses ought to seek to inculcate in their members the values of the African worldview Ubuntu, in contrast to the dominant Western individualist orthodoxy. SWDs are being excluded and denied a sense of belonging and equal participation despite universities giving lip service to embracing such inclusive education-oriented values as co-operative learning. Non-disabled students steeped in Western individualism, which affirms the solitary pursuit of individual success rather than the value of interdependence and diversity, end up marginalising SWDs who are seen as less capable. DUSMs addressing the needs of SWDs through an ableist/Western individualist lens are not challenging unfair practices which are impairing the dignity of SWDs, particularly students with physical disabilities who are being forced to “fit into” oppressive inaccessible built environments on campuses. These DUSMs may unwittingly re-inscribe ableist assumptions that normalise discrimination against SWDs. Conclusions and Recommendations: Ubuntu values offer a starting point for building mutual respect and interdependence between SWDs and their non-disabled peers. The thesis finds however that as was the case in traditional African communities, which embraced the values of Ubuntu, acts of leadership are required if Ubuntu’s values of human dignity, mutual respect and acceptance are to be fostered on campuses. In a range of important ways, the dignity of SWDs is not respected at HEIs in South Africa. This includes, for example, such practical matters as the inaccessibility of toilets to wheelchair users and the lack of appropriate signage for blind students. Disrespectful attitudes and assumptions about SWDs on the part of non-disabled university members also result in SWDs’ human dignity being impaired. Ubuntu’s value of hospitality stresses the importance of promoting relations of group solidarity and interdependence between SWDs and their non-disabled peers. Both academic inclusion-oriented programmes and the promotion of a wide range of social activities, involving both SWDs and non-disabled students, can play an important role in cultivating the formation of long-term fruitful and respectful friendships between SWDs and non-disabled students. An enabling classroom environment alone is not enough to holistically address the social inclusion needs of SWDs. South African HEIs that embrace the Ubuntu values of communalism, human dignity and hospitality will be in a position to respect the needs of SWDs as “whole persons”. Amongst other things, this requires DUSMs to be fully empowered to make important decisions regarding vital matters such as disability inclusion, and it necessitates university management to relinquish their power, so that they may work collaboratively with DUSMs and SWDs, all on equal footing, to ensure that HE funding allocation, policy and planning also prioritises the social needs of SWDs.
- Full Text:
- Date Issued: 2021
- Authors: Chiwandire, Desire
- Date: 2021
- Subjects: College students with disabilities -- Education -- South Africa , Inclusive education -- South Africa
- Language: English
- Type: text , Thesis , Doctoral , PhD
- Identifier: http://hdl.handle.net/10962/170578 , vital:41938 , 10.21504/10962/170578
- Description: Background: During apartheid, South African students with disabilities (SWDs) were educated in special schools and taught an inferior curriculum. Black learners with disabilities were discriminated against on grounds of both race and disability. Following South Africa’s first democratic election in 1994, the African National Congress (ANC) government put in place arrange of new laws to address the educational and other needs of those disadvantaged under apartheid, including persons with disabilities (PWDs). The South African government is a signatory of the 2006 United Nations Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities (UNCRPD) which has resulted in the country assuming obligations to promote inclusive education for ASWDs. However, research (see, for instance, Chiwandire & Vincent 2019; Chiwandire 2019; Mutanga 2019; Majoko & Phasha 2018; Mutanga et al. 2018; Mutanga 2017a; Chiwandire 2017; Israel 2017) has shown that SWDs continue to fare differently in comparison to their non-disabled peers in terms of participation in education with the likelihood of success. Higher education institutions (HEIs) have thus been urged to create conducive environments for the academic inclusion of SWDs with particular attention being paid to lecturers employing inclusive instructional strategies as well as flexible curricula, if they are to ensure the equal opportunity for academic success of SWDs in the regular classroom setting. The focus, to date, on academic inclusion, while important, has meant that issues relating to the social inclusion of SWDs have received minimal attention. Purpose: To date, there is a dearth of South African studies which have investigated the social inclusion needs of SWDs on South African campuses. Although a number of studies have given voice to the perspectives of SWDs and lecturers, with respect to their experiences in relation to matters of academic inclusion in South African higher education (HE), few have focused on Disability Unit Staff Members(DUSMs) who are pivotal to ensuring fair and equitable policies and practices for SWDs in HEIs. Disability Studies (DS) as a field has been criticised for being dominated by voices from the Global North, which fail to consider or effectively theorise Global South disability experiences in a contextually relevant way. The thesis argues that the failure to recognise the value of diversity and to treat SWDs as valued and welcomed participants in South African HEIs partly stems from policy, practice and relationships being informed by the Western individualist paradigm that prizes individual achievement and success rather than cooperation and mutuality. The African philosophy of Ubuntu, which stresses values of communalism, hospitality and respect for human dignity is offered here as an alternative starting point for achieving genuinely inclusive campuses. Methods: In-depth face-to-face qualitative interviews were conducted with 40 participants, most of whom were, at the time of being interviewed, Heads of Disability Units and DUSMs based at 10 different universities in four of South Africa’s nine provinces. Data were coded and analysed using Braun & Clarke’s (2006) method of inductive and deductive thematic analysis. Results: The findings of this study indicate that South African campuses are ableist spaces in which the social needs of SWDs are not prioritised. The thesis argues that in order for campuses to become genuinely inclusive, South African campuses ought to seek to inculcate in their members the values of the African worldview Ubuntu, in contrast to the dominant Western individualist orthodoxy. SWDs are being excluded and denied a sense of belonging and equal participation despite universities giving lip service to embracing such inclusive education-oriented values as co-operative learning. Non-disabled students steeped in Western individualism, which affirms the solitary pursuit of individual success rather than the value of interdependence and diversity, end up marginalising SWDs who are seen as less capable. DUSMs addressing the needs of SWDs through an ableist/Western individualist lens are not challenging unfair practices which are impairing the dignity of SWDs, particularly students with physical disabilities who are being forced to “fit into” oppressive inaccessible built environments on campuses. These DUSMs may unwittingly re-inscribe ableist assumptions that normalise discrimination against SWDs. Conclusions and Recommendations: Ubuntu values offer a starting point for building mutual respect and interdependence between SWDs and their non-disabled peers. The thesis finds however that as was the case in traditional African communities, which embraced the values of Ubuntu, acts of leadership are required if Ubuntu’s values of human dignity, mutual respect and acceptance are to be fostered on campuses. In a range of important ways, the dignity of SWDs is not respected at HEIs in South Africa. This includes, for example, such practical matters as the inaccessibility of toilets to wheelchair users and the lack of appropriate signage for blind students. Disrespectful attitudes and assumptions about SWDs on the part of non-disabled university members also result in SWDs’ human dignity being impaired. Ubuntu’s value of hospitality stresses the importance of promoting relations of group solidarity and interdependence between SWDs and their non-disabled peers. Both academic inclusion-oriented programmes and the promotion of a wide range of social activities, involving both SWDs and non-disabled students, can play an important role in cultivating the formation of long-term fruitful and respectful friendships between SWDs and non-disabled students. An enabling classroom environment alone is not enough to holistically address the social inclusion needs of SWDs. South African HEIs that embrace the Ubuntu values of communalism, human dignity and hospitality will be in a position to respect the needs of SWDs as “whole persons”. Amongst other things, this requires DUSMs to be fully empowered to make important decisions regarding vital matters such as disability inclusion, and it necessitates university management to relinquish their power, so that they may work collaboratively with DUSMs and SWDs, all on equal footing, to ensure that HE funding allocation, policy and planning also prioritises the social needs of SWDs.
- Full Text:
- Date Issued: 2021
The design of a modal interchange in Korsten, Port Elizabeth: santuary for the urban nomad
- Authors: Magwabeni, Mpho
- Date: 202015
- Subjects: Transportation buildings -- South Africa -- Port Elizabeth -- Designs and plans Terminals (Transportation) -- South Africa -- Port Elizabeth -- Designs and plans , Commuting -- South Africa -- Port Elizabeth
- Language: English
- Type: Thesis , Masters , MArch
- Identifier: http://hdl.handle.net/10948/41258 , vital:36424
- Description: The inception of this treatise is derived simply from the identification of the current inefficient public transportation facilities in Nelson Mandela Bay. This is especially experienced in the Korsten precinct as there is a scattering of transport nodes and none of them can be particularly identified as the key transport node in the fabric. With the 2010 World Cup behind us and many infrastructures such as the Nelson Mandela Bay Stadium working as urban anchor of activity, the question still at hand is how the issue of integration between commuters and transportation can be addressed. This sets the scene for the application of an architectural resolution through the design of a transport interchange of the Korsten region. At present there are two functional informal taxi ranks that service the commuters of Korsten; the primary informal taxi node located on Attwell Street and the secondary informal taxi node on Cottrell Street. Currently they operate independently providing a service to people from different destinations, for instance Kleiner and Kempton Park. The first concern that arises is the proximity of the two taxi ranks in respect of the surrounding urban landscape. For these taxi nodes to be of service to the urban nomad they must be positioned in a more concentrated location to integrate efficiently with the urban fabric. Secondly, a thorough investigation into the informal trade is necessary to ascertain how it can enhance the street life and keep the edges activated and integrated. This treatise proposes the integration of the two independent taxi nodes with the proposed BRT system that has been implemented by the NMBM. This amalgamation would strengthen the urban landscape and create a place for the urban nomad. According to an article by Ian Ollis (2013) there is a dire need for accessible, affordable mass transport across South Africa .The bus rapid transit system was supposed to cure this woe, but implementation has been slow and mismanaged, especially in municipalities like Nelson Mandela Bay.
- Full Text:
- Date Issued: 202015
- Authors: Magwabeni, Mpho
- Date: 202015
- Subjects: Transportation buildings -- South Africa -- Port Elizabeth -- Designs and plans Terminals (Transportation) -- South Africa -- Port Elizabeth -- Designs and plans , Commuting -- South Africa -- Port Elizabeth
- Language: English
- Type: Thesis , Masters , MArch
- Identifier: http://hdl.handle.net/10948/41258 , vital:36424
- Description: The inception of this treatise is derived simply from the identification of the current inefficient public transportation facilities in Nelson Mandela Bay. This is especially experienced in the Korsten precinct as there is a scattering of transport nodes and none of them can be particularly identified as the key transport node in the fabric. With the 2010 World Cup behind us and many infrastructures such as the Nelson Mandela Bay Stadium working as urban anchor of activity, the question still at hand is how the issue of integration between commuters and transportation can be addressed. This sets the scene for the application of an architectural resolution through the design of a transport interchange of the Korsten region. At present there are two functional informal taxi ranks that service the commuters of Korsten; the primary informal taxi node located on Attwell Street and the secondary informal taxi node on Cottrell Street. Currently they operate independently providing a service to people from different destinations, for instance Kleiner and Kempton Park. The first concern that arises is the proximity of the two taxi ranks in respect of the surrounding urban landscape. For these taxi nodes to be of service to the urban nomad they must be positioned in a more concentrated location to integrate efficiently with the urban fabric. Secondly, a thorough investigation into the informal trade is necessary to ascertain how it can enhance the street life and keep the edges activated and integrated. This treatise proposes the integration of the two independent taxi nodes with the proposed BRT system that has been implemented by the NMBM. This amalgamation would strengthen the urban landscape and create a place for the urban nomad. According to an article by Ian Ollis (2013) there is a dire need for accessible, affordable mass transport across South Africa .The bus rapid transit system was supposed to cure this woe, but implementation has been slow and mismanaged, especially in municipalities like Nelson Mandela Bay.
- Full Text:
- Date Issued: 202015
The State of Social Media Policy Awareness and Compliance at the Nelson Mandela University
- Authors: Ngcama, Lwando
- Date: 2020-12
- Subjects: Social Media , Awareness , Compliance -- Nelson Mandela University
- Language: English
- Type: Master's theses , Thesis
- Identifier: http://hdl.handle.net/10948/49550 , vital:41735
- Description: The use of social media in higher education has both benefits and pitfalls. Higher education institutions are concerned about their staff and students’ use of social media and have thus resorted to implementing social media policies and guidelines. The Nelson Mandela University has implemented a social media policy and guidelines to inform and enforce the acceptable use of social media by its staff and students. In order to know whether staff and students of the Nelson Mandela University are aware of and compliant with its policy and guidelines, it is necessary to measure their level of awareness and compliance. Within this context, the primary objective of this study is to describe the state of awareness and compliance of staff and students at the Nelson Mandela University towards its social media policy and social media guidelines. In order to address the primary objective, the uses, benefits and risks of social media in higher education were identified through a literature review. The literature review revealed that social media is used in higher education to support and manage teaching and learning, marketing and crisis management, and for other purposes which may be specific to higher education stakeholders (both staff and students). The risks of social media use in higher education were revealed to be associated with institutional reputation, online content, privacy, intellectual property and the types of media shared by the stakeholders. The role of social media policies and guidelines in higher education was then described, based on a preliminary literature study which reviewed social media policies and guidelines implemented in higher education. Furthermore, the aspects of awareness and compliance towards social media policies and ii guidelines in higher education were also discussed. A general guide for the creation of social media policies and guidelines was identified and used to compare the nature and content of South African public universities’ social media policies and guidelines. Through comparative content analysis, the content of the universities’ social media policy and guidelines was compared, similarities and variances between were drawn, and the role of social media policies and guidelines was further explored. Finally, the knowledge of staff and students at the Nelson Mandela University in respect to the university’s social media policy and guidelines was measured and described through the use of a survey questionnaire and statistical analysis of the data collected. The results of the analysis indicated an overall medium level of awareness for both staff and students, with a mean average score of 3.2; while both groups demonstrated an overall high level of compliance towards the social media policy and guidelines, with a mean average score of 4.3. By addressing the primary objective, the contribution made by this study thus informs the Nelson Mandela University of the extent to which its social media policy and guidelines align with those of other South African public universities, and it indicates where the Nelson Mandela University should look to improve its staff and students’ awareness of and compliance with its social media policy and guidelines. , Thesis (MSc) -- Faculty of Engineering, the Built Environment and Technology, 2020
- Full Text:
- Date Issued: 2020-12
- Authors: Ngcama, Lwando
- Date: 2020-12
- Subjects: Social Media , Awareness , Compliance -- Nelson Mandela University
- Language: English
- Type: Master's theses , Thesis
- Identifier: http://hdl.handle.net/10948/49550 , vital:41735
- Description: The use of social media in higher education has both benefits and pitfalls. Higher education institutions are concerned about their staff and students’ use of social media and have thus resorted to implementing social media policies and guidelines. The Nelson Mandela University has implemented a social media policy and guidelines to inform and enforce the acceptable use of social media by its staff and students. In order to know whether staff and students of the Nelson Mandela University are aware of and compliant with its policy and guidelines, it is necessary to measure their level of awareness and compliance. Within this context, the primary objective of this study is to describe the state of awareness and compliance of staff and students at the Nelson Mandela University towards its social media policy and social media guidelines. In order to address the primary objective, the uses, benefits and risks of social media in higher education were identified through a literature review. The literature review revealed that social media is used in higher education to support and manage teaching and learning, marketing and crisis management, and for other purposes which may be specific to higher education stakeholders (both staff and students). The risks of social media use in higher education were revealed to be associated with institutional reputation, online content, privacy, intellectual property and the types of media shared by the stakeholders. The role of social media policies and guidelines in higher education was then described, based on a preliminary literature study which reviewed social media policies and guidelines implemented in higher education. Furthermore, the aspects of awareness and compliance towards social media policies and ii guidelines in higher education were also discussed. A general guide for the creation of social media policies and guidelines was identified and used to compare the nature and content of South African public universities’ social media policies and guidelines. Through comparative content analysis, the content of the universities’ social media policy and guidelines was compared, similarities and variances between were drawn, and the role of social media policies and guidelines was further explored. Finally, the knowledge of staff and students at the Nelson Mandela University in respect to the university’s social media policy and guidelines was measured and described through the use of a survey questionnaire and statistical analysis of the data collected. The results of the analysis indicated an overall medium level of awareness for both staff and students, with a mean average score of 3.2; while both groups demonstrated an overall high level of compliance towards the social media policy and guidelines, with a mean average score of 4.3. By addressing the primary objective, the contribution made by this study thus informs the Nelson Mandela University of the extent to which its social media policy and guidelines align with those of other South African public universities, and it indicates where the Nelson Mandela University should look to improve its staff and students’ awareness of and compliance with its social media policy and guidelines. , Thesis (MSc) -- Faculty of Engineering, the Built Environment and Technology, 2020
- Full Text:
- Date Issued: 2020-12
Inclusivity and access to amenity in the urban environment: the design of a student resource centre in central, Port Elizabeth
- Authors: Tshelametsi, Gorata
- Date: 2020-09
- Subjects: Urban ecology (Sociology) , Students -- Education
- Language: English
- Type: Master's theses , Thesis
- Identifier: http://hdl.handle.net/10948/58639 , vital:59976
- Description: The increasing concern for sustainability in the 21st century has brought about new meanings for city processes, relations and the built environment. Typically, the environmental and economic aspects of the issue have received the most attention, leaving social sustainability largely neglected within the discourse. It could be argued however, that social sustainability is the key to many of the challenges faced by the South African post-apartheid cities. Using primary and secondary research method composed of a qualitative approach, involving site visits, photography and closed interviews, this study examines the nature of spatial segregation in the South African post-apartheid city in relation to Lefevbre’s ideas. Focusing on segregation, this investigation will discuss the forced removals that occurred in South Africa from the mid-1800s, through to the Apartheid Era in the late 1900s, and seek to gain insight into the manner in which these events have shaped the urban landscape of the South African cities. Port Elizabeth, known during apartheid as the Cradle of Black Resistance, was at the forefront of the political struggle in South Africa. For this reason, Port Elizabeth has been chosen for analysis. The site for intervention is the cities’ primary public transport interchange; the gateway into the wealthy southern suburbs from the northern township settlements. This is the point of connection between the divides of the city but is itself a highly disconnected environment. The findings indicate the integration of the existing on-site activities with the new proposed Student Resource Centre functions creates a mixed-use ribbon of activity. These connections facilitate the interaction between students living in the inner city. Through a holistic approach, the intervention seeks to bridge both physical and social barriers, towards a more integrated lived experience and socially sustainable future for Port Elizabeth. , Thesis (MA) -- Faculty - School of Architecture, 2020
- Full Text:
- Date Issued: 2020-09
- Authors: Tshelametsi, Gorata
- Date: 2020-09
- Subjects: Urban ecology (Sociology) , Students -- Education
- Language: English
- Type: Master's theses , Thesis
- Identifier: http://hdl.handle.net/10948/58639 , vital:59976
- Description: The increasing concern for sustainability in the 21st century has brought about new meanings for city processes, relations and the built environment. Typically, the environmental and economic aspects of the issue have received the most attention, leaving social sustainability largely neglected within the discourse. It could be argued however, that social sustainability is the key to many of the challenges faced by the South African post-apartheid cities. Using primary and secondary research method composed of a qualitative approach, involving site visits, photography and closed interviews, this study examines the nature of spatial segregation in the South African post-apartheid city in relation to Lefevbre’s ideas. Focusing on segregation, this investigation will discuss the forced removals that occurred in South Africa from the mid-1800s, through to the Apartheid Era in the late 1900s, and seek to gain insight into the manner in which these events have shaped the urban landscape of the South African cities. Port Elizabeth, known during apartheid as the Cradle of Black Resistance, was at the forefront of the political struggle in South Africa. For this reason, Port Elizabeth has been chosen for analysis. The site for intervention is the cities’ primary public transport interchange; the gateway into the wealthy southern suburbs from the northern township settlements. This is the point of connection between the divides of the city but is itself a highly disconnected environment. The findings indicate the integration of the existing on-site activities with the new proposed Student Resource Centre functions creates a mixed-use ribbon of activity. These connections facilitate the interaction between students living in the inner city. Through a holistic approach, the intervention seeks to bridge both physical and social barriers, towards a more integrated lived experience and socially sustainable future for Port Elizabeth. , Thesis (MA) -- Faculty - School of Architecture, 2020
- Full Text:
- Date Issued: 2020-09
A drug utilisation review of lithium at a public sector psychiatric hospital
- Authors: Mapfumo, Charlotte
- Date: 2020-04
- Subjects: Lithium -- Therapeutic use , Psychiatric hospitals -- South Africa -- Grahamstown , Drug utilization , Psychiatric hospital care , Manic-depressive illness , Lithium -- Toxicology , Drug monitoring
- Language: English
- Type: text , Thesis , Masters , M.Pharm
- Identifier: http://hdl.handle.net/10962/150541 , vital:38983
- Description: Bipolar disorder (BD) is a common mental condition that affects about 60 million people globally. Lithium is among the drugs of choice used to treat BD and other affective disorders such as schizoaffective disorder (SD). Lithium is a mood stabiliser with antimanic, antidepressant and anti-suicidal properties. Lithium has complex mechanisms of action and a narrow therapeutic index (NTI). Therapeutic drug monitoring (TDM) is a vital component of lithium therapy due to its NTI. Lithium toxicity can occur at therapeutic levels and is characterised by symptoms such as blurred vision and convulsions. Lithium interacts with a number of drugs resulting in lithium toxicity or diminished effects of lithium. Symptoms of lithium toxicity range from abdominal pain, convulsions and death. Lithium use is associated with serious adverse effects on renal and thyroid function. Other adverse effects include tremor and weight gain. Monitoring of lithium serum levels, renal and thyroid function are therefore recommended for patients on lithium therapy. Monitoring of these parameters assists in the early detection of any problems associated with lithium use. The metabolic monitoring of lithium is vital due to the adverse effect profile of lithium and the current South African Standard Treatment Guidelines Hospital level: Adults, do not have any recommendations for the monitoring of metabolic parameters. The National Institute for Health and Care Excellence (NICE) may be used and adapted for the South African setting. Aim and Objectives: The general aim of the study was to conduct a drug utilisation review (DUR) on lithium through investigating its prescribing and monitoring patterns in both inpatients and outpatients at Fort England Hospital. Methodology: The study was in the form of a retrospective DUR. Data was collected from 40 files (n=40) of patients who were on treatment with lithium between 1 January 2017-31 December 2017 at Fort England Hospital. The data was collected retrospectively for both in- and outpatients. Compliance of the monitoring requirements with both South African and international guidelines was analysed. Results and Discussion: In 87.50% (n=37) of the cases, patients had been on lithium therapy before 2017 with most patients (n=13; 37.50%) being maintained on 500 mg of lithium. Non-compliance with the South African and NICE guidelines for renal baseline monitoring was 65.00% (n=26) in both guidelines. Non-compliance for baseline thyroid monitoring was 70.00% (n=28) for both guidelines. There was non-compliance in 45.00% (n=18) of the cases for lithium serum level monitoring for both guidelines. Non-compliance with follow-up renal monitoring was 47.50% (n=19) for both guidelines. Compliance with the NICE guidelines for follow-up metabolic monitoring was 67.50% (n=27). Conclusion: There was non-compliance in most cases leaving room for clinical improvement in the monitoring of lithium. Healthcare professionals should be educated on the recommended monitoring guidelines to promote the rational use of lithium in South Africa. Pharmacists should be more involved in the TDM of lithium to promote its safe and effective use.
- Full Text:
- Date Issued: 2020-04
- Authors: Mapfumo, Charlotte
- Date: 2020-04
- Subjects: Lithium -- Therapeutic use , Psychiatric hospitals -- South Africa -- Grahamstown , Drug utilization , Psychiatric hospital care , Manic-depressive illness , Lithium -- Toxicology , Drug monitoring
- Language: English
- Type: text , Thesis , Masters , M.Pharm
- Identifier: http://hdl.handle.net/10962/150541 , vital:38983
- Description: Bipolar disorder (BD) is a common mental condition that affects about 60 million people globally. Lithium is among the drugs of choice used to treat BD and other affective disorders such as schizoaffective disorder (SD). Lithium is a mood stabiliser with antimanic, antidepressant and anti-suicidal properties. Lithium has complex mechanisms of action and a narrow therapeutic index (NTI). Therapeutic drug monitoring (TDM) is a vital component of lithium therapy due to its NTI. Lithium toxicity can occur at therapeutic levels and is characterised by symptoms such as blurred vision and convulsions. Lithium interacts with a number of drugs resulting in lithium toxicity or diminished effects of lithium. Symptoms of lithium toxicity range from abdominal pain, convulsions and death. Lithium use is associated with serious adverse effects on renal and thyroid function. Other adverse effects include tremor and weight gain. Monitoring of lithium serum levels, renal and thyroid function are therefore recommended for patients on lithium therapy. Monitoring of these parameters assists in the early detection of any problems associated with lithium use. The metabolic monitoring of lithium is vital due to the adverse effect profile of lithium and the current South African Standard Treatment Guidelines Hospital level: Adults, do not have any recommendations for the monitoring of metabolic parameters. The National Institute for Health and Care Excellence (NICE) may be used and adapted for the South African setting. Aim and Objectives: The general aim of the study was to conduct a drug utilisation review (DUR) on lithium through investigating its prescribing and monitoring patterns in both inpatients and outpatients at Fort England Hospital. Methodology: The study was in the form of a retrospective DUR. Data was collected from 40 files (n=40) of patients who were on treatment with lithium between 1 January 2017-31 December 2017 at Fort England Hospital. The data was collected retrospectively for both in- and outpatients. Compliance of the monitoring requirements with both South African and international guidelines was analysed. Results and Discussion: In 87.50% (n=37) of the cases, patients had been on lithium therapy before 2017 with most patients (n=13; 37.50%) being maintained on 500 mg of lithium. Non-compliance with the South African and NICE guidelines for renal baseline monitoring was 65.00% (n=26) in both guidelines. Non-compliance for baseline thyroid monitoring was 70.00% (n=28) for both guidelines. There was non-compliance in 45.00% (n=18) of the cases for lithium serum level monitoring for both guidelines. Non-compliance with follow-up renal monitoring was 47.50% (n=19) for both guidelines. Compliance with the NICE guidelines for follow-up metabolic monitoring was 67.50% (n=27). Conclusion: There was non-compliance in most cases leaving room for clinical improvement in the monitoring of lithium. Healthcare professionals should be educated on the recommended monitoring guidelines to promote the rational use of lithium in South Africa. Pharmacists should be more involved in the TDM of lithium to promote its safe and effective use.
- Full Text:
- Date Issued: 2020-04
Application of quality by design to the manufacture of a multiparticulate prednisone dosage form
- Authors: Manda, Arthur
- Date: 2020-04
- Subjects: Drugs -- Quality control , Drugs -- Design -- Quality control , Drugs -- Dosage forms , Drug development -- Quality control , Pharmaceutical industry -- Quality control , Prednisone , High throughput screening (Drug development)
- Language: English
- Type: text , Thesis , Masters , MSc (Pharmacy)
- Identifier: http://hdl.handle.net/10962/117986 , vital:34583
- Description: For many years, quality by testing was the only approach to guarantee quality of drug products before the Food and Drug Administration launched the concept of current Good Manufacturing Practice. In order to gain more knowledge of the manufacturing process, a new system known as Quality by Design was introduced into the pharmaceutical industry. Quality by Design is based on thorough understanding of how materials, process parameters and interaction thereof impact final product quality. Quality by Design is a systematic approach to product development which ensures that quality is built into a product during product development and not just tested into it. The aim of Quality by Design is to achieve optimum product quality with consistent dosage form performance and minimal risk of failure in patients. The objective of these studies was to implement a Quality by Design approach to establish a design space for the development and manufacture of a safe, effective and stable multi-partite solid oral dosage form for prednisone as an alternative to currently marketed prednisone formulations. Multi-particulate dosage forms offer significant advantages over conventional technologies. In addition to lowering the incidence of gastrointestinal irritation they exhibit a reduced risk of dose dumping and a large surface area which favours dissolution. Furthermore, their free flowing nature facilitates reproducible capsule filling and consequently uniformity of dosing. Different multi-particulate dosage forms exist however a multiple-unit pellet system was investigated during these studies. Quality by Design principles were used to develop and establish a reversed-phase high performance liquid chromatographic method for quantifying prednisone from solid oral dosage forms. A Central Composite Design was used to generate multivariate experiments and to investigate the impact of input variables on the quality and performance of the analytical method. The optimized method was validated according to International Council for Harmonization guidelines and was found to be linear, precise, accurate and specific for the quantitation of prednisone. Pre-formulation studies were conducted and included the assessment of particle size, particle shape, powder flow properties and compatibility studies. Carr’s index, Hausner ratio and the Angle of Repose were used to evaluate powder flow properties and results generated from all studies suggest the need for adding a glidant and lubricant to improve pellet flow. The images generated from Scanning Electron Microscopy were used to analyze particle shape and size. Differential Scanning Calorimetry and Fourier Transform Infrared Spectroscopy were used to evaluate API-excipient compatibility. All excipients investigated were found to be compatible with prednisone and suitable for formulation development studies. Extrusion-spheronization was used to manufacture prednisone pellets. Extrusion-spheronization is a multi-step process involving many factors. Quality risk management tools particularly an Ishikawa Fishbone (cause and effect) diagram and failure mode and effects analysis were used to narrow down potentially significant factors to a reasonable number that could be investigated experimentally. Risk priority numbers were used to quantify risk and factors above a set threshold value were considered to be of high risk. A total of eleven risk factors were identified as high. A Plackett-Burman study was conducted to narrow down the eleven high risk factors to identify the most impactful factors viz., microcrystalline cellulose content, sodium starch glycolate content, extrusion speed and spheronization time. Evaluation of four factors was carried over to optimization studies using a Box-Behnken Design and following identifaction of the optimum process settings and excipient content a design space for the manufacture of a multi-partite dosage form containing prednisone was established.
- Full Text:
- Date Issued: 2020-04
- Authors: Manda, Arthur
- Date: 2020-04
- Subjects: Drugs -- Quality control , Drugs -- Design -- Quality control , Drugs -- Dosage forms , Drug development -- Quality control , Pharmaceutical industry -- Quality control , Prednisone , High throughput screening (Drug development)
- Language: English
- Type: text , Thesis , Masters , MSc (Pharmacy)
- Identifier: http://hdl.handle.net/10962/117986 , vital:34583
- Description: For many years, quality by testing was the only approach to guarantee quality of drug products before the Food and Drug Administration launched the concept of current Good Manufacturing Practice. In order to gain more knowledge of the manufacturing process, a new system known as Quality by Design was introduced into the pharmaceutical industry. Quality by Design is based on thorough understanding of how materials, process parameters and interaction thereof impact final product quality. Quality by Design is a systematic approach to product development which ensures that quality is built into a product during product development and not just tested into it. The aim of Quality by Design is to achieve optimum product quality with consistent dosage form performance and minimal risk of failure in patients. The objective of these studies was to implement a Quality by Design approach to establish a design space for the development and manufacture of a safe, effective and stable multi-partite solid oral dosage form for prednisone as an alternative to currently marketed prednisone formulations. Multi-particulate dosage forms offer significant advantages over conventional technologies. In addition to lowering the incidence of gastrointestinal irritation they exhibit a reduced risk of dose dumping and a large surface area which favours dissolution. Furthermore, their free flowing nature facilitates reproducible capsule filling and consequently uniformity of dosing. Different multi-particulate dosage forms exist however a multiple-unit pellet system was investigated during these studies. Quality by Design principles were used to develop and establish a reversed-phase high performance liquid chromatographic method for quantifying prednisone from solid oral dosage forms. A Central Composite Design was used to generate multivariate experiments and to investigate the impact of input variables on the quality and performance of the analytical method. The optimized method was validated according to International Council for Harmonization guidelines and was found to be linear, precise, accurate and specific for the quantitation of prednisone. Pre-formulation studies were conducted and included the assessment of particle size, particle shape, powder flow properties and compatibility studies. Carr’s index, Hausner ratio and the Angle of Repose were used to evaluate powder flow properties and results generated from all studies suggest the need for adding a glidant and lubricant to improve pellet flow. The images generated from Scanning Electron Microscopy were used to analyze particle shape and size. Differential Scanning Calorimetry and Fourier Transform Infrared Spectroscopy were used to evaluate API-excipient compatibility. All excipients investigated were found to be compatible with prednisone and suitable for formulation development studies. Extrusion-spheronization was used to manufacture prednisone pellets. Extrusion-spheronization is a multi-step process involving many factors. Quality risk management tools particularly an Ishikawa Fishbone (cause and effect) diagram and failure mode and effects analysis were used to narrow down potentially significant factors to a reasonable number that could be investigated experimentally. Risk priority numbers were used to quantify risk and factors above a set threshold value were considered to be of high risk. A total of eleven risk factors were identified as high. A Plackett-Burman study was conducted to narrow down the eleven high risk factors to identify the most impactful factors viz., microcrystalline cellulose content, sodium starch glycolate content, extrusion speed and spheronization time. Evaluation of four factors was carried over to optimization studies using a Box-Behnken Design and following identifaction of the optimum process settings and excipient content a design space for the manufacture of a multi-partite dosage form containing prednisone was established.
- Full Text:
- Date Issued: 2020-04
Evaluating the prescribing and management practices of clozapine at a public sector psychiatric hospital
- Authors: Mukoko, Vimbisai Millicent
- Date: 2020-04
- Subjects: Clozapine , Schizophrenia -- Chemotherapy , Schizophrenia -- South Africa -- Treatment
- Language: English
- Type: text , Thesis , Masters , M.Pharm
- Identifier: http://hdl.handle.net/10962/123266 , vital:35422
- Description: Approximately one percent (1%) of the South African population suffers from schizophrenia. Clozapine has proven to be more effective than conventional antipsychotics in the treatment of schizophrenia, particularly in alleviating positive symptoms. Clozapine is primarily indicated for treatment-resistant schizophrenia due to its severe adverse effect profile. The prescribing guidelines recommend a trial of at least two different antipsychotic drugs before the initiation of clozapine. At least one should be a non-clozapine second generation antipsychotic. Compared to other atypical antipsychotics, clozapine poses the greatest risk of causing a haematological event, such as neutropenia and agranulocytosis. Agranulocytosis (estimated prevalence of 1.3%) is a life-threatening adverse effect. Common adverse effects include weight gain and metabolic syndrome, hypersalivation and constipation. These can also predispose the patient to co-morbid diseases which further complicate their current diagnosis. Haematological and metabolic monitoring is paramount throughout the duration of clozapine therapy. International (NICE guidelines, Clozapine REMS, and Maudsley prescribing guidelines) and national (South African STGs, SASOP treatment guidelines and the SAMF) guidelines recommend these monitoring patterns to assist with the prevention and management of the adverse effects of clozapine.
- Full Text:
- Date Issued: 2020-04
- Authors: Mukoko, Vimbisai Millicent
- Date: 2020-04
- Subjects: Clozapine , Schizophrenia -- Chemotherapy , Schizophrenia -- South Africa -- Treatment
- Language: English
- Type: text , Thesis , Masters , M.Pharm
- Identifier: http://hdl.handle.net/10962/123266 , vital:35422
- Description: Approximately one percent (1%) of the South African population suffers from schizophrenia. Clozapine has proven to be more effective than conventional antipsychotics in the treatment of schizophrenia, particularly in alleviating positive symptoms. Clozapine is primarily indicated for treatment-resistant schizophrenia due to its severe adverse effect profile. The prescribing guidelines recommend a trial of at least two different antipsychotic drugs before the initiation of clozapine. At least one should be a non-clozapine second generation antipsychotic. Compared to other atypical antipsychotics, clozapine poses the greatest risk of causing a haematological event, such as neutropenia and agranulocytosis. Agranulocytosis (estimated prevalence of 1.3%) is a life-threatening adverse effect. Common adverse effects include weight gain and metabolic syndrome, hypersalivation and constipation. These can also predispose the patient to co-morbid diseases which further complicate their current diagnosis. Haematological and metabolic monitoring is paramount throughout the duration of clozapine therapy. International (NICE guidelines, Clozapine REMS, and Maudsley prescribing guidelines) and national (South African STGs, SASOP treatment guidelines and the SAMF) guidelines recommend these monitoring patterns to assist with the prevention and management of the adverse effects of clozapine.
- Full Text:
- Date Issued: 2020-04
Evaluating the prescribing and management practices of venlafaxine at a public sector psychiatric hospital
- Authors: Naidu, Bavika
- Date: 2020-04
- Subjects: Venlafaxine , Anxiety disorcers -- Treatment , Depression, Mental -- Treatment
- Language: English
- Type: text , Thesis , Masters , M.Pharm
- Identifier: http://hdl.handle.net/10962/123200 , vital:35414
- Description: Neuropsychiatric conditions have been ranked third in South Africa according to some of the most recent reviews of disease burden, following human immunodeficiency virus/acquired immune deficiency syndrome and other infectious diseases (Bateman, 2012:70; South African Depression and Anxiety Group, 2018). For depressive disorders, the conventional selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors (e.g. fluoxetine), are common first-step treatments due to their relatively low toxicity and high tolerability (Rush et al., 2006:1231). The class of selective noradrenaline reuptake inhibitors (e.g. venlafaxine) is relatively new on the market. The first SNRI to be marketed in the United States was venlafaxine immediate-release (IR). It was approved by the United States FDA in 1993 (Sansone and Sansone, 2014:37) and was soon followed by the introduction of a micro-encapsulated extended-release (XR) formulation in 1997. Currently there is no published or readily available information concerning the prescribing and management patterns of venlafaxine as well as the incidence and types of adverse effects experienced by patients in the public health sector of South Africa besides the established increased in blood pressure.
- Full Text:
- Date Issued: 2020-04
- Authors: Naidu, Bavika
- Date: 2020-04
- Subjects: Venlafaxine , Anxiety disorcers -- Treatment , Depression, Mental -- Treatment
- Language: English
- Type: text , Thesis , Masters , M.Pharm
- Identifier: http://hdl.handle.net/10962/123200 , vital:35414
- Description: Neuropsychiatric conditions have been ranked third in South Africa according to some of the most recent reviews of disease burden, following human immunodeficiency virus/acquired immune deficiency syndrome and other infectious diseases (Bateman, 2012:70; South African Depression and Anxiety Group, 2018). For depressive disorders, the conventional selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors (e.g. fluoxetine), are common first-step treatments due to their relatively low toxicity and high tolerability (Rush et al., 2006:1231). The class of selective noradrenaline reuptake inhibitors (e.g. venlafaxine) is relatively new on the market. The first SNRI to be marketed in the United States was venlafaxine immediate-release (IR). It was approved by the United States FDA in 1993 (Sansone and Sansone, 2014:37) and was soon followed by the introduction of a micro-encapsulated extended-release (XR) formulation in 1997. Currently there is no published or readily available information concerning the prescribing and management patterns of venlafaxine as well as the incidence and types of adverse effects experienced by patients in the public health sector of South Africa besides the established increased in blood pressure.
- Full Text:
- Date Issued: 2020-04
Preparation, characterization and optimization of carbamazepine based pellets prepared by extrusion-spheronization technique
- Authors: Makoni, Kudzai Gabriella
- Date: 2020-04
- Subjects: Carbamazepine , Pharmacokinetics , Anticonvulsants , Drugs -- Controlled release , Drugs -- Dosage forms , Tablets (Medicine) , Drugs -- Administration , High performance liquid chromatography , International Conference on Harmonisation , Experimental design
- Language: English
- Type: Thesis , Masters , MSc (Pharmacy)
- Identifier: http://hdl.handle.net/10962/140478 , vital:37893
- Description: Carbamazepine (CBZ) is an oral antiepileptic drug (AED) that is prescribed as a first-line treatment for partial seizures. CBZ is a class II compound according to the Biopharmaceutical Classification System (BCS), hence it exhibits low aqueous solubility and high gastrointestinal tract (GIT) permeability...
- Full Text:
- Date Issued: 2020-04
- Authors: Makoni, Kudzai Gabriella
- Date: 2020-04
- Subjects: Carbamazepine , Pharmacokinetics , Anticonvulsants , Drugs -- Controlled release , Drugs -- Dosage forms , Tablets (Medicine) , Drugs -- Administration , High performance liquid chromatography , International Conference on Harmonisation , Experimental design
- Language: English
- Type: Thesis , Masters , MSc (Pharmacy)
- Identifier: http://hdl.handle.net/10962/140478 , vital:37893
- Description: Carbamazepine (CBZ) is an oral antiepileptic drug (AED) that is prescribed as a first-line treatment for partial seizures. CBZ is a class II compound according to the Biopharmaceutical Classification System (BCS), hence it exhibits low aqueous solubility and high gastrointestinal tract (GIT) permeability...
- Full Text:
- Date Issued: 2020-04
Productive Heterotopias as a Conceptual Basis for the Design of Sustainable Low-Income Housing within the Cape Town Inner-City
- Authors: Van Niekerk, Neil
- Date: 2020-04
- Subjects: Productive life span , Low-income housing -- Cape town -- City
- Language: English
- Type: Master's theses , Thesis
- Identifier: http://hdl.handle.net/10948/58805 , vital:60123
- Description: Lasting colonial and patriarchal spatial strategies have resulted in South African cities characterised by vast inequalities and unsustainable patterns of development. These include explosive low-density sprawl, fragmentation, separation and a city-wide pattern of core and periphery. Housing justice for the urban poor is a critical component in addressing this, however, numerous studies have found that low-income housing projects have in the majority of cases ended up perpetuating these socially, economically and environmentally unsustainable patterns of development and reinforcing existing spatial injustices. For this reason, design research into more sustainable and productive architectural design strategies for low-income housing appropriate to the South African urban context is particularly important and forms the central concern of this treatise. To be more specific, this study questions how the theoretical idea of productive heterotopias and reimagining the role of the architect as that of a spatial agent could be used to generate a practical low-income housing strategy for a site in the Cape Town inner-city – one that is socially, economically and environmentally sustainable. To achieve this, a critical theoretical lens was adopted in conducting the research and a range of open-ended qualitative research methods were employed to gather, analyse and synthesise data. Because of its particular appropriateness to design research, data analysis primarily relied on abductive reasoning. This study is valuable in that it provides an exploration into the application of critical theory to low-income housing design in South African cities and demonstrates the architectural understandings gained within a set of design scenarios and architectural prototypes. This study argues that any low-income housing strategy in South Africa needs to recognise the complexities of the housing process, make use of time as an important building material and advance the right to the city of the urban poor, i.e. finding a balance between structure and agency that allows greater freedom for ordinary people to have a hand in co-creating the city through spontaneity, improvisation and incremental development, for that strategy to be truly sustainable and productive, as well as to assist in cultivating positively performing and equitable urban environments. In particular, this study rejects the top-down housing methods employed within mainstream development practice in favour of finding an alternative approach that will result in a more supportive housing project. Finding this new supportive approach involved investigating co-operative forms of organisation, methods for allowing community participation, sustainable building materials, simple construction methods and incorporating urban farming as a strategy for supplementing income. Additionally, this study argues that the chosen site for the design, namely Harrington Square, functions as a public urban square at the centre of a larger shared space while simultaneously supporting the proposed housing intervention. , Thesis (MA) -- Faculty - School of of Architecture, 2020
- Full Text:
- Date Issued: 2020-04
- Authors: Van Niekerk, Neil
- Date: 2020-04
- Subjects: Productive life span , Low-income housing -- Cape town -- City
- Language: English
- Type: Master's theses , Thesis
- Identifier: http://hdl.handle.net/10948/58805 , vital:60123
- Description: Lasting colonial and patriarchal spatial strategies have resulted in South African cities characterised by vast inequalities and unsustainable patterns of development. These include explosive low-density sprawl, fragmentation, separation and a city-wide pattern of core and periphery. Housing justice for the urban poor is a critical component in addressing this, however, numerous studies have found that low-income housing projects have in the majority of cases ended up perpetuating these socially, economically and environmentally unsustainable patterns of development and reinforcing existing spatial injustices. For this reason, design research into more sustainable and productive architectural design strategies for low-income housing appropriate to the South African urban context is particularly important and forms the central concern of this treatise. To be more specific, this study questions how the theoretical idea of productive heterotopias and reimagining the role of the architect as that of a spatial agent could be used to generate a practical low-income housing strategy for a site in the Cape Town inner-city – one that is socially, economically and environmentally sustainable. To achieve this, a critical theoretical lens was adopted in conducting the research and a range of open-ended qualitative research methods were employed to gather, analyse and synthesise data. Because of its particular appropriateness to design research, data analysis primarily relied on abductive reasoning. This study is valuable in that it provides an exploration into the application of critical theory to low-income housing design in South African cities and demonstrates the architectural understandings gained within a set of design scenarios and architectural prototypes. This study argues that any low-income housing strategy in South Africa needs to recognise the complexities of the housing process, make use of time as an important building material and advance the right to the city of the urban poor, i.e. finding a balance between structure and agency that allows greater freedom for ordinary people to have a hand in co-creating the city through spontaneity, improvisation and incremental development, for that strategy to be truly sustainable and productive, as well as to assist in cultivating positively performing and equitable urban environments. In particular, this study rejects the top-down housing methods employed within mainstream development practice in favour of finding an alternative approach that will result in a more supportive housing project. Finding this new supportive approach involved investigating co-operative forms of organisation, methods for allowing community participation, sustainable building materials, simple construction methods and incorporating urban farming as a strategy for supplementing income. Additionally, this study argues that the chosen site for the design, namely Harrington Square, functions as a public urban square at the centre of a larger shared space while simultaneously supporting the proposed housing intervention. , Thesis (MA) -- Faculty - School of of Architecture, 2020
- Full Text:
- Date Issued: 2020-04
Science engagement with school learners for microbial quality testing of water in Makhanda
- Authors: Nqowana, Thandiswa
- Date: 2020-04
- Language: English
- Type: text , Thesis , Masters , MSc (Pharmacy)
- Identifier: http://hdl.handle.net/10962/124754 , vital:35677
- Description: Expected release date-April 2022
- Full Text: false
- Date Issued: 2020-04
- Authors: Nqowana, Thandiswa
- Date: 2020-04
- Language: English
- Type: text , Thesis , Masters , MSc (Pharmacy)
- Identifier: http://hdl.handle.net/10962/124754 , vital:35677
- Description: Expected release date-April 2022
- Full Text: false
- Date Issued: 2020-04
The design of a hydrotherapy facility in Mangolds pool resort: biophilic principles in the design of therapeutic environments
- Authors: Vos, Charne’
- Date: 2020-04
- Subjects: Hydrotherapy , Therapeutic communities
- Language: English
- Type: Master's theses , Thesis
- Identifier: http://hdl.handle.net/10948/58761 , vital:60092
- Description: Abstract In the quest for achieving a modern civilization, the interconnected relationship between man and nature has changed to one of disconnection. This disconnection between built and natural environments leads to the deterioration of the physiological and psychological health and well-being of man. (Spaargaren & Mol, 1992) By analyzing healing environments over a lifetime, a better understanding can be formed as to what the ideal relationship should be for stimulating well-being in an ever changing modern society. Based on this, an attempt will be made to redefine this relationship. Since early antiquity water has been considered vital for both sustenance as well as the birth and development of civilizations. Man soon discovered its importance and beneficial properties in terms of healing and prevention. (Juuti et al. 2012). Such ancient wisdom can be adopted today and help improve our level of public health. For this reason, the proposed program is a hydrotherapy facility that focuses on the relation between the natural and built environment. The aim of this treatise is to examine how architecture can be a device that heals humans who have been compromised by their environment. The idea that a building can induce healing derives from the concept of Therapeutic Architecture, which explores various theories and principles such as Biophilic design, salutogenic design and Phenomenology. These concepts focus on the therapeutic qualities of the environment, which will be investigated to create a basis for the theoretical framework and play an integral part in design. , Thesis (MA) -- Faculty - School of Architecture, 2020
- Full Text:
- Date Issued: 2020-04
- Authors: Vos, Charne’
- Date: 2020-04
- Subjects: Hydrotherapy , Therapeutic communities
- Language: English
- Type: Master's theses , Thesis
- Identifier: http://hdl.handle.net/10948/58761 , vital:60092
- Description: Abstract In the quest for achieving a modern civilization, the interconnected relationship between man and nature has changed to one of disconnection. This disconnection between built and natural environments leads to the deterioration of the physiological and psychological health and well-being of man. (Spaargaren & Mol, 1992) By analyzing healing environments over a lifetime, a better understanding can be formed as to what the ideal relationship should be for stimulating well-being in an ever changing modern society. Based on this, an attempt will be made to redefine this relationship. Since early antiquity water has been considered vital for both sustenance as well as the birth and development of civilizations. Man soon discovered its importance and beneficial properties in terms of healing and prevention. (Juuti et al. 2012). Such ancient wisdom can be adopted today and help improve our level of public health. For this reason, the proposed program is a hydrotherapy facility that focuses on the relation between the natural and built environment. The aim of this treatise is to examine how architecture can be a device that heals humans who have been compromised by their environment. The idea that a building can induce healing derives from the concept of Therapeutic Architecture, which explores various theories and principles such as Biophilic design, salutogenic design and Phenomenology. These concepts focus on the therapeutic qualities of the environment, which will be investigated to create a basis for the theoretical framework and play an integral part in design. , Thesis (MA) -- Faculty - School of Architecture, 2020
- Full Text:
- Date Issued: 2020-04
The design of a waste recycling facility for the waste pickers of Arlington landfill, Port Elizabeth: recognising the needs of unacknowledged stakeholders in the circular waste economy
- Authors: Smit, Blake Sean
- Date: 2020-04
- Subjects: Recycling (Waste, etc.)--Arlington landfill -- Port Elizabeth , stakeholder management
- Language: English
- Type: Master's theses , Thesis
- Identifier: http://hdl.handle.net/10948/58609 , vital:59958
- Description: At this very moment, this very second, in the backstreets and upon high, vast wastelands, something is in motion. Often on the periphery of our daily thoughts, or not at all, this very motion never ceases to exist- it simply cannot afford to. Waste, our modern-day global issue, has reached a critical point, causing us to now venture into uncharted territories. We produce unspeakable amounts of waste per annum creating compounding social and environmental problems, and in the process we create a partic - ular physical object, an altered landscape known as a landfill. The landfill environment is where this treatise chooses to position itself but looks further into the existing community of individuals who perform the task of recycling. Waste pickers, an unmatched motion and dynamic within our broad waste landscape, remain largely unacknowledged in the role they play in the circular waste economy, subsequently creating the core concern for this treatise. Hence, the building type responsible, a waste recycling facility, that looks to identify and address the needs that these individuals require to safely carry out their pivotal role within the setting of Arlington Landfill in Port Elizabeth. Therefore, this treatise looks to uncover and bring to light a day in the life of a waste picker, through an architectural intervention seeking to become more than an object on the landscape. The treatise looks to break away from a static architectural object by applying the overall lens guided by ‘Anti-Object’ writ - ten by Kengo Kuma, therefore concerning itself with an overarching process of creating an emerging anti-object architecture, embodying the subtitles and characteristics of the waste pickers of Arlington Landfill. , Thesis (MA) -- Faculty - School of Architecture, 2020
- Full Text:
- Date Issued: 2020-04
- Authors: Smit, Blake Sean
- Date: 2020-04
- Subjects: Recycling (Waste, etc.)--Arlington landfill -- Port Elizabeth , stakeholder management
- Language: English
- Type: Master's theses , Thesis
- Identifier: http://hdl.handle.net/10948/58609 , vital:59958
- Description: At this very moment, this very second, in the backstreets and upon high, vast wastelands, something is in motion. Often on the periphery of our daily thoughts, or not at all, this very motion never ceases to exist- it simply cannot afford to. Waste, our modern-day global issue, has reached a critical point, causing us to now venture into uncharted territories. We produce unspeakable amounts of waste per annum creating compounding social and environmental problems, and in the process we create a partic - ular physical object, an altered landscape known as a landfill. The landfill environment is where this treatise chooses to position itself but looks further into the existing community of individuals who perform the task of recycling. Waste pickers, an unmatched motion and dynamic within our broad waste landscape, remain largely unacknowledged in the role they play in the circular waste economy, subsequently creating the core concern for this treatise. Hence, the building type responsible, a waste recycling facility, that looks to identify and address the needs that these individuals require to safely carry out their pivotal role within the setting of Arlington Landfill in Port Elizabeth. Therefore, this treatise looks to uncover and bring to light a day in the life of a waste picker, through an architectural intervention seeking to become more than an object on the landscape. The treatise looks to break away from a static architectural object by applying the overall lens guided by ‘Anti-Object’ writ - ten by Kengo Kuma, therefore concerning itself with an overarching process of creating an emerging anti-object architecture, embodying the subtitles and characteristics of the waste pickers of Arlington Landfill. , Thesis (MA) -- Faculty - School of Architecture, 2020
- Full Text:
- Date Issued: 2020-04
'n Ondersoek na genderpolitieke kwessies in die kortverhale van Rachelle Greeff
- Authors: Gelderblom, Zel-Marí Kato
- Date: 2020
- Subjects: Women -- Political activity
- Language: Afrikaans
- Type: Thesis , Masters , MA
- Identifier: http://hdl.handle.net/10948/50756 , vital:42666
- Description: Hierdie verhandeling fokus op die genderpolitieke kwessies in die volgende geselekteerde kortverhale van Rachelle Greeff; “Borste en bandiet”, en “Snaaks watter simpel goed mens onthou”, uit die bundel Die rugkant van die bruid (1990), sowel as “Eters anoniem”, uit die bundel Onwaarskynlike Engele (1993). Die hoofdoel van die studie was om die essensies van genderpolitiek soos deur Greeff aangetoon, te bepaal ten einde die geslagsposisie van die hedendaagse vrou te belig. Daar is gekyk na die manier waarop Rachelle Greeff die fokus op die liggaamlikheid en spesifiek die uiterlike van die vrou plaas, sowel as die manier waarop Greeff stereotipes en taboes rondom die vrou afbreek. Judith Butler se genderteorie is gebruik om hierdie genderpolitieke kwessies te ondersoek, te bespreek en te analiseer. Hierdie is volgens my kennis die eerste verhandeling wat oor Rachelle Greeff se werk handel.
- Full Text:
- Date Issued: 2020
- Authors: Gelderblom, Zel-Marí Kato
- Date: 2020
- Subjects: Women -- Political activity
- Language: Afrikaans
- Type: Thesis , Masters , MA
- Identifier: http://hdl.handle.net/10948/50756 , vital:42666
- Description: Hierdie verhandeling fokus op die genderpolitieke kwessies in die volgende geselekteerde kortverhale van Rachelle Greeff; “Borste en bandiet”, en “Snaaks watter simpel goed mens onthou”, uit die bundel Die rugkant van die bruid (1990), sowel as “Eters anoniem”, uit die bundel Onwaarskynlike Engele (1993). Die hoofdoel van die studie was om die essensies van genderpolitiek soos deur Greeff aangetoon, te bepaal ten einde die geslagsposisie van die hedendaagse vrou te belig. Daar is gekyk na die manier waarop Rachelle Greeff die fokus op die liggaamlikheid en spesifiek die uiterlike van die vrou plaas, sowel as die manier waarop Greeff stereotipes en taboes rondom die vrou afbreek. Judith Butler se genderteorie is gebruik om hierdie genderpolitieke kwessies te ondersoek, te bespreek en te analiseer. Hierdie is volgens my kennis die eerste verhandeling wat oor Rachelle Greeff se werk handel.
- Full Text:
- Date Issued: 2020
300 grams
- Authors: Ainslie, Michelle
- Date: 2020
- Subjects: South African fiction (English) -- 21st century
- Language: English
- Type: text , Thesis , Masters , MA
- Identifier: http://hdl.handle.net/10962/140597 , vital:37903
- Description: This document consists of two (2) parts:Part A: Thesis (Creative Work)Part B: Portfolio.
- Full Text:
- Date Issued: 2020
- Authors: Ainslie, Michelle
- Date: 2020
- Subjects: South African fiction (English) -- 21st century
- Language: English
- Type: text , Thesis , Masters , MA
- Identifier: http://hdl.handle.net/10962/140597 , vital:37903
- Description: This document consists of two (2) parts:Part A: Thesis (Creative Work)Part B: Portfolio.
- Full Text:
- Date Issued: 2020
A 150 MHz all sky survey with the Precision Array to Probe the Epoch of Reionization
- Authors: Chege, James Kariuki
- Date: 2020
- Subjects: Epoch of reionization -- Research , Astronomy -- Observations , Radio interferometers
- Language: English
- Type: text , Thesis , Masters , MSc
- Identifier: http://hdl.handle.net/10962/117733 , vital:34556
- Description: The Precision Array to Probe the Epoch of Reionization (PAPER) was built to measure the redshifted 21 cm line of hydrogen from cosmic reionization. Such low frequency observations promise to be the best means of understanding the cosmic dawn; when the first galaxies in the universe formed, and also the Epoch of Reionization; when the intergalactic medium changed from neutral to ionized. The major challenges to these observations is the presence of astrophysical foregrounds that are much brighter than the cosmological signal. Here, I present an all-sky survey at 150 MHz obtained from the analysis of 300 hours of PAPER observations. Particular focus is given to the calibration and imaging techniques that need to deal with the wide field of view of a non-tracking instrument. The survey covers ~ 7000 square degrees of the southern sky. From a sky area of 4400 square degrees out of the total survey area, I extract a catalogue of sources brighter than 4 Jy whose accuracy was tested against the published GLEAM catalogue, leading to a fractional difference rms better than 20%. The catalogue provides an all-sky accurate model of the extragalactic foreground to be used for the calibration of future Epoch of Reionization observations and to be subtracted from the PAPER observations themselves in order to mitigate the foreground contamination.
- Full Text:
- Date Issued: 2020
- Authors: Chege, James Kariuki
- Date: 2020
- Subjects: Epoch of reionization -- Research , Astronomy -- Observations , Radio interferometers
- Language: English
- Type: text , Thesis , Masters , MSc
- Identifier: http://hdl.handle.net/10962/117733 , vital:34556
- Description: The Precision Array to Probe the Epoch of Reionization (PAPER) was built to measure the redshifted 21 cm line of hydrogen from cosmic reionization. Such low frequency observations promise to be the best means of understanding the cosmic dawn; when the first galaxies in the universe formed, and also the Epoch of Reionization; when the intergalactic medium changed from neutral to ionized. The major challenges to these observations is the presence of astrophysical foregrounds that are much brighter than the cosmological signal. Here, I present an all-sky survey at 150 MHz obtained from the analysis of 300 hours of PAPER observations. Particular focus is given to the calibration and imaging techniques that need to deal with the wide field of view of a non-tracking instrument. The survey covers ~ 7000 square degrees of the southern sky. From a sky area of 4400 square degrees out of the total survey area, I extract a catalogue of sources brighter than 4 Jy whose accuracy was tested against the published GLEAM catalogue, leading to a fractional difference rms better than 20%. The catalogue provides an all-sky accurate model of the extragalactic foreground to be used for the calibration of future Epoch of Reionization observations and to be subtracted from the PAPER observations themselves in order to mitigate the foreground contamination.
- Full Text:
- Date Issued: 2020
A Bayesian approach to tilted-ring modelling of galaxies
- Authors: Maina, Eric Kamau
- Date: 2020
- Subjects: Bayesian statistical decision theory , Galaxies , Radio astronomy , TiRiFiC (Tilted Ring Fitting Code) , Neutral hydrogen , Spectroscopic data cubes , Galaxy parametrisation
- Language: English
- Type: text , Thesis , Masters , MSc
- Identifier: http://hdl.handle.net/10962/145783 , vital:38466
- Description: The orbits of neutral hydrogen (H I) gas found in most disk galaxies are circular and also exhibit long-lived warps at large radii where the restoring gravitational forces of the inner disk become weak (Spekkens and Giovanelli 2006). These warps make the tilted-ring model an ideal choice for galaxy parametrisation. Analysis software utilizing the tilted-ring-model can be grouped into two and three-dimensional based software. Józsa et al. (2007b) demonstrated that three dimensional based software is better suited for galaxy parametrisation because it is affected by the effect of beam smearing only by increasing the uncertainty of parameters but not with the notorious systematic effects observed for two-dimensional fitting techniques. TiRiFiC, The Tilted Ring Fitting Code (Józsa et al. 2007b), is a software to construct parameterised models of high-resolution data cubes of rotating galaxies. It uses the tilted-ring model, and with that, a combination of some parameters such as surface brightness, position angle, rotation velocity and inclination, to describe galaxies. TiRiFiC works by directly fitting tilted-ring models to spectroscopic data cubes and hence is not affected by beam smearing or line-of-site-effects, e.g. strong warps. Because of that, the method is unavoidable as an analytic method in future Hi surveys. In the current implementation, though, there are several drawbacks. The implemented optimisers search for local solutions in parameter space only, do not quantify correlations between parameters and cannot find errors of single parameters. In theory, these drawbacks can be overcome by using Bayesian statistics, implemented in Multinest (Feroz et al. 2008), as it allows for sampling a posterior distribution irrespective of its multimodal nature resulting in parameter samples that correspond to the maximum in the posterior distribution. These parameter samples can be used as well to quantify correlations and find errors of single parameters. Since this method employs Bayesian statistics, it also allows the user to leverage any prior information they may have on parameter values.
- Full Text:
- Date Issued: 2020
- Authors: Maina, Eric Kamau
- Date: 2020
- Subjects: Bayesian statistical decision theory , Galaxies , Radio astronomy , TiRiFiC (Tilted Ring Fitting Code) , Neutral hydrogen , Spectroscopic data cubes , Galaxy parametrisation
- Language: English
- Type: text , Thesis , Masters , MSc
- Identifier: http://hdl.handle.net/10962/145783 , vital:38466
- Description: The orbits of neutral hydrogen (H I) gas found in most disk galaxies are circular and also exhibit long-lived warps at large radii where the restoring gravitational forces of the inner disk become weak (Spekkens and Giovanelli 2006). These warps make the tilted-ring model an ideal choice for galaxy parametrisation. Analysis software utilizing the tilted-ring-model can be grouped into two and three-dimensional based software. Józsa et al. (2007b) demonstrated that three dimensional based software is better suited for galaxy parametrisation because it is affected by the effect of beam smearing only by increasing the uncertainty of parameters but not with the notorious systematic effects observed for two-dimensional fitting techniques. TiRiFiC, The Tilted Ring Fitting Code (Józsa et al. 2007b), is a software to construct parameterised models of high-resolution data cubes of rotating galaxies. It uses the tilted-ring model, and with that, a combination of some parameters such as surface brightness, position angle, rotation velocity and inclination, to describe galaxies. TiRiFiC works by directly fitting tilted-ring models to spectroscopic data cubes and hence is not affected by beam smearing or line-of-site-effects, e.g. strong warps. Because of that, the method is unavoidable as an analytic method in future Hi surveys. In the current implementation, though, there are several drawbacks. The implemented optimisers search for local solutions in parameter space only, do not quantify correlations between parameters and cannot find errors of single parameters. In theory, these drawbacks can be overcome by using Bayesian statistics, implemented in Multinest (Feroz et al. 2008), as it allows for sampling a posterior distribution irrespective of its multimodal nature resulting in parameter samples that correspond to the maximum in the posterior distribution. These parameter samples can be used as well to quantify correlations and find errors of single parameters. Since this method employs Bayesian statistics, it also allows the user to leverage any prior information they may have on parameter values.
- Full Text:
- Date Issued: 2020
A best practice guideline for screening and managing chorioamnionitis
- Authors: Du Plessis, Allison Herlene
- Date: 2020
- Subjects: Bacterial diseases
- Language: English
- Type: Thesis , Doctoral , PhD
- Identifier: http://hdl.handle.net/10948/46374 , vital:39575
- Description: Due to the complex nature of chorioamnionitis, women are often misdiagnosed, undiagnosed or only diagnosed after birth when it is too late to prevent maternal and neonatal complications. A lack of a comprehensive best practice guidelinefor screening and managing women withchorioamnionitis resultsin delayed treatment and management that could minimise maternal and neonatal complications. Saving Babiesreported that unexplained intra-uterine deathsremained the main primary (obstetric) cause of death for babies with a weight above 1000g (24.4%of all deaths). Of these unexplained uterine deaths, 33% are of normal birth weight (>2500g), and,therefore,most likely term gestation. Saving Babies further reported that 22.9% of all live births in South Africa was premature and 22.8% of birthswere unexplained intra-uterine deaths. Prematurity is one major complication of chorioamnionitis. When susceptibility for chorioamnionitis is considered during early pregnancy, it is possible to intervene and prevent or even reduce the incidences and complications of chorioamnionitis.A qualitative research study was conducted in three phases. In Phase One(Part One), a theoretically constructed patient scenario of chorioamnionitis was presented to ten midwives,and semi-structured individual interviews were done to elicit information regarding how they screen for and manage chorioamnionitis. In Phase One(Part Two), experienced medical practitioners in the field of obstetrics and gynaecology were individually interviewed, also using semi-structured individual interviewsto gain their views regarding chorioamnionitis as a contributing factor to maternal morbidity and mortality. Qualitative findings in Phase Oneindicated that there is a general lack of knowledge regarding chorioamnionitis among midwives, resulting ininadequate screening, misdiagnosis and mismanagement of the condition. Experienced medical practitioners confirmed that chorioamnionitis is underdiagnosed, misdiagnosed or undiagnosed and underreported,and they hold views that it is difficult to treat and control pregnancy-related infections according to current practice.An integrative literature review was conductedin Phase Twoand literature regarding diagnostic biomarkers, screening options to diagnose chorioamnionitis and management of chorioamnionitis were extracted. After evidence synthesisofPhase Oneand Phase Twodata, a best practice guidelinefor screening and managing viiwomen withchorioamnionitiswas developed usingthe National Institute for Health and Clinical Excellence guideline development approach in Phase Three. The purpose of the best practice guideline for screening and managing women with chorioamnionitis was to provide a guideline onhow to manage women who are at risk and those who present with signs and symptoms of chorioamnionitis at any stage during their pregnancy. Five recommendations were made that involve screening for chorioamnionitisand causative factors, biomarkers to diagnose chorioamnionitis, management of chorioamnionitis that includes pharmacological and non-pharmacological management, and health education to women.Ethics for this research study were guided by the ethical principles and guidelines of the Belmont Report. The trustworthiness of this research study was adopted from Ravitch and Carl,and was based on criticality, reflexivity, collaboration, and rigour. An independent coder and reviewer wereto verify the data that were included in the best practice guideline. Expert reviewersappraised the best practice guidelineusing Appraisal of Guidelines for Research and Evaluation II tools.
- Full Text:
- Date Issued: 2020
- Authors: Du Plessis, Allison Herlene
- Date: 2020
- Subjects: Bacterial diseases
- Language: English
- Type: Thesis , Doctoral , PhD
- Identifier: http://hdl.handle.net/10948/46374 , vital:39575
- Description: Due to the complex nature of chorioamnionitis, women are often misdiagnosed, undiagnosed or only diagnosed after birth when it is too late to prevent maternal and neonatal complications. A lack of a comprehensive best practice guidelinefor screening and managing women withchorioamnionitis resultsin delayed treatment and management that could minimise maternal and neonatal complications. Saving Babiesreported that unexplained intra-uterine deathsremained the main primary (obstetric) cause of death for babies with a weight above 1000g (24.4%of all deaths). Of these unexplained uterine deaths, 33% are of normal birth weight (>2500g), and,therefore,most likely term gestation. Saving Babies further reported that 22.9% of all live births in South Africa was premature and 22.8% of birthswere unexplained intra-uterine deaths. Prematurity is one major complication of chorioamnionitis. When susceptibility for chorioamnionitis is considered during early pregnancy, it is possible to intervene and prevent or even reduce the incidences and complications of chorioamnionitis.A qualitative research study was conducted in three phases. In Phase One(Part One), a theoretically constructed patient scenario of chorioamnionitis was presented to ten midwives,and semi-structured individual interviews were done to elicit information regarding how they screen for and manage chorioamnionitis. In Phase One(Part Two), experienced medical practitioners in the field of obstetrics and gynaecology were individually interviewed, also using semi-structured individual interviewsto gain their views regarding chorioamnionitis as a contributing factor to maternal morbidity and mortality. Qualitative findings in Phase Oneindicated that there is a general lack of knowledge regarding chorioamnionitis among midwives, resulting ininadequate screening, misdiagnosis and mismanagement of the condition. Experienced medical practitioners confirmed that chorioamnionitis is underdiagnosed, misdiagnosed or undiagnosed and underreported,and they hold views that it is difficult to treat and control pregnancy-related infections according to current practice.An integrative literature review was conductedin Phase Twoand literature regarding diagnostic biomarkers, screening options to diagnose chorioamnionitis and management of chorioamnionitis were extracted. After evidence synthesisofPhase Oneand Phase Twodata, a best practice guidelinefor screening and managing viiwomen withchorioamnionitiswas developed usingthe National Institute for Health and Clinical Excellence guideline development approach in Phase Three. The purpose of the best practice guideline for screening and managing women with chorioamnionitis was to provide a guideline onhow to manage women who are at risk and those who present with signs and symptoms of chorioamnionitis at any stage during their pregnancy. Five recommendations were made that involve screening for chorioamnionitisand causative factors, biomarkers to diagnose chorioamnionitis, management of chorioamnionitis that includes pharmacological and non-pharmacological management, and health education to women.Ethics for this research study were guided by the ethical principles and guidelines of the Belmont Report. The trustworthiness of this research study was adopted from Ravitch and Carl,and was based on criticality, reflexivity, collaboration, and rigour. An independent coder and reviewer wereto verify the data that were included in the best practice guideline. Expert reviewersappraised the best practice guidelineusing Appraisal of Guidelines for Research and Evaluation II tools.
- Full Text:
- Date Issued: 2020
A business process model for blockchain-based South African real estate transactions
- Authors: Tilbury, Jack Laurie
- Date: 2020
- Subjects: Blockchains (Databases) , Conveyancing -- Technological innovations , Real estate business -- Data processing , Real estate business -- South Africa -- Technological innovations
- Language: English
- Type: text , Thesis , Masters , MCom
- Identifier: http://hdl.handle.net/10962/148380 , vital:38734
- Description: The real estate transaction process has been described as inefficient and technologically outdated due to numerous stakeholders and predominantly paper-based operations. Despite the apparent bottlenecks in the current process, the implementation of new technology into the real estate sector has lagged. Several attempts have been made to modernise and digitise the business process but committed integration of assisting technology has lacked attention. This study examined the applicability and potential integration of blockchain technology into the business process of South African real estate transactions. Blockchain’s novelty means that research in this space, especially within South Africa, is limited. Of the research that has been conducted, no models of the business processes for South African or blockchain-based real estate transactions have been constructed. This study provides two business process models, illustrating the two different processes. The main contribution of this paper was an integrated business process model, illustrating how the various processes and stakeholder interactions for South African blockchain-based real estate transactions are conducted on one transaction platform, common to all participating stakeholders. This platform was named the South African Blockchain Land Exchange System (SABLES), which manages and facilitates these transactions in their entirety from start to finish. This model depicts an enhanced business process that provides increased security, transparency, and speed. These benefits will be realised by those who register, adopt, and transact on the platform. Through in-depth interviews, the integrated business process model was assessed. The findings produced a final and combined thematic map, representing the main themes of the analysed interview data, namely blockchain implementation strategies, business process applicability, information technology assimilation, current transaction context, and PropTech 3.0 success factors. The discussion revealed that the current transaction process lacks technological innovation, which increases pressure on the conveyancing role. It was also revealed that there is not only a need within the industry, but a desire, for newer technologies to assist the transaction process. In order to streamline and improve efficiency, business processes should leverage digital records and data, and strive for a solution beyond digitisation, achieving digitalisation. Digitalisation recognises digital documents as official and legal documents as opposed to simply being digital back-ups. This, coupled with the business process models, represent theoretical contributions.
- Full Text:
- Date Issued: 2020
- Authors: Tilbury, Jack Laurie
- Date: 2020
- Subjects: Blockchains (Databases) , Conveyancing -- Technological innovations , Real estate business -- Data processing , Real estate business -- South Africa -- Technological innovations
- Language: English
- Type: text , Thesis , Masters , MCom
- Identifier: http://hdl.handle.net/10962/148380 , vital:38734
- Description: The real estate transaction process has been described as inefficient and technologically outdated due to numerous stakeholders and predominantly paper-based operations. Despite the apparent bottlenecks in the current process, the implementation of new technology into the real estate sector has lagged. Several attempts have been made to modernise and digitise the business process but committed integration of assisting technology has lacked attention. This study examined the applicability and potential integration of blockchain technology into the business process of South African real estate transactions. Blockchain’s novelty means that research in this space, especially within South Africa, is limited. Of the research that has been conducted, no models of the business processes for South African or blockchain-based real estate transactions have been constructed. This study provides two business process models, illustrating the two different processes. The main contribution of this paper was an integrated business process model, illustrating how the various processes and stakeholder interactions for South African blockchain-based real estate transactions are conducted on one transaction platform, common to all participating stakeholders. This platform was named the South African Blockchain Land Exchange System (SABLES), which manages and facilitates these transactions in their entirety from start to finish. This model depicts an enhanced business process that provides increased security, transparency, and speed. These benefits will be realised by those who register, adopt, and transact on the platform. Through in-depth interviews, the integrated business process model was assessed. The findings produced a final and combined thematic map, representing the main themes of the analysed interview data, namely blockchain implementation strategies, business process applicability, information technology assimilation, current transaction context, and PropTech 3.0 success factors. The discussion revealed that the current transaction process lacks technological innovation, which increases pressure on the conveyancing role. It was also revealed that there is not only a need within the industry, but a desire, for newer technologies to assist the transaction process. In order to streamline and improve efficiency, business processes should leverage digital records and data, and strive for a solution beyond digitisation, achieving digitalisation. Digitalisation recognises digital documents as official and legal documents as opposed to simply being digital back-ups. This, coupled with the business process models, represent theoretical contributions.
- Full Text:
- Date Issued: 2020
A case study of how a leader shaped the culture of an organisation during a post-merger integration
- Authors: Zozi, Vuyokazi
- Date: 2020
- Subjects: Corporate culture -- South Africa -- East London , Leadership -- South Africa -- East London , Organizational behavior -- South Africa -- East London , Strategic planning -- South Africa -- East London , Mission statements -- South Africa -- East London , Government accountability -- South Africa -- East London , Government corporations -- South Africa -- East London , Consolidation and merger of corporations -- South Africa -- East London , Consolidation and merger of corporations -- Management , Crisis management -- South Africa -- East London , Core competencies -- South Africa -- East London , Resource allocation -- South Africa -- East London , Personnel management -- South Africa -- East London , Communication in management -- South Africa -- East London , Qualitative research
- Language: English
- Type: Thesis , Masters , MBA
- Identifier: http://hdl.handle.net/10962/146643 , vital:38544
- Description: This research took the form of a case study of the post-merger integration of a government organisation. The study had four objectives, namely to: (1) describe the cultural value of accountability; (2) analyse how strategic leadership and relational leadership roles were exercised to address post-merger integration challenges; (3) analyse how a leader applied selected primary mechanisms to shape organisational culture; (4) analyse how strategic and relational leadership complemented each other in addressing the challenges of post-merger integration and thereby shaping a culture of accountability; and (5) describe how some of the secondary articulation and reinforcing mechanisms supported the culture that was created through primary mechanisms. The literature reviewed, identified some of the critical challenges that are experienced in a post-merger integration, and highlighted the role of leadership in culture formation. The critical challenges that were identified are as follows: What is the vision and organisational purpose? How does the leader structure the organisation? What kind of culture does the leader need to create? How does the leader maintain trust and keep communication with employees? How does a leader build new core competences and develop human capital? Two leadership approaches were adopted, namely strategic and relational leadership. These two leadership approaches were selected because, based on a review of the literature, they appeared to address these post-integration challenges. The roles associated with strategic leadership that were investigated, were creating a vision and purpose for the organisation, developing core competences and developing human capital. From the perspective of relational leadership, this study was concerned with how a leader communicated through regular formal and informal dialogues to keep employees abreast of things, and how the leader built trust. In reviewing the literature linking leadership and culture, the work of Schein (2010) featured prominently. Schein (2010) referred to primary embedding mechanisms that create culture and secondary articulation and reinforcing mechanisms that reinforce or support the culture being created through the primary mechanisms. This study looked at how that happens, and hence six propositions were crafted from the literature. These propositions are as follows: (1) Formal dialogues between the leader and employees demonstrate what the leader pays attention to, measures and controls, which then clarifies what the employees are accountable for. (2) What the leader pays attention to, measures and controls during regular informal interactions between the leader and employees, contributes to strong mutual relationships between them, which promotes ownership and accountability amongst employees for their actions. (3) A leader who behaves consistently when handling critical incidents and organisational crises, is trusted by employees, who then act responsibly and take full responsibility for their actions, and even their mistakes. (4) A leader creates a vision and sense of purpose for the organisation through what he pays attention to, measures and controls, thereby clarifying for employees what they are required to do. (5) A leader who pays attention to developing the organisational core competence and allocates resources to it, instils confidence in his employees with regards to carrying out their own responsibilities. (6) A leader who develops human capital through the allocation of additional resources, thereby instilling confidence in employees who are willing and able to realise or take up their responsibilities. This research adopted a qualitative approach. Data was collected through conducting interviews and the analysis of relevant documents. A deductive thematic analysis of the data was used for the purpose of identifying, analysing and reporting patterns, or themes within the data collected. The research confirmed these propositions as being relevant to the case study. It also confirmed that strategic and relational leadership as reflected in the propositions have complemented one another in the successful implementation of the post-merger integration, thereby shaping a particular culture. It was concluded that the challenges associated with a post-merger integration could not have been addressed through only one of the leadership approaches. The findings of the study also recognised that an architectural role was also required. That is, in a merger, the structure has to be carefully designed and not taken for granted. It was therefore recognised as a critical leadership role. The study considers the implications of the findings and makes recommendations for managers of this organisation, as well as for other organisations that are engaging in a post-merger integration. It further outlines the limitations, delimitations as well as the contribution that the study has made to the body of knowledge. Some of the recommendations made for further research were to analyse how other primary mechanisms that were not part of the propositions may shape the organisational culture; and to research how architectural leadership roles combine with strategic and relational leadership to address post-merger integration challenges. Lastly, this study has explained how leadership, through various mechanisms, shaped a culture of accountability. Other studies can be done using a similar design with different theories of leadership and other mechanisms that apply to shaping other kinds of cultural values.
- Full Text:
- Date Issued: 2020
- Authors: Zozi, Vuyokazi
- Date: 2020
- Subjects: Corporate culture -- South Africa -- East London , Leadership -- South Africa -- East London , Organizational behavior -- South Africa -- East London , Strategic planning -- South Africa -- East London , Mission statements -- South Africa -- East London , Government accountability -- South Africa -- East London , Government corporations -- South Africa -- East London , Consolidation and merger of corporations -- South Africa -- East London , Consolidation and merger of corporations -- Management , Crisis management -- South Africa -- East London , Core competencies -- South Africa -- East London , Resource allocation -- South Africa -- East London , Personnel management -- South Africa -- East London , Communication in management -- South Africa -- East London , Qualitative research
- Language: English
- Type: Thesis , Masters , MBA
- Identifier: http://hdl.handle.net/10962/146643 , vital:38544
- Description: This research took the form of a case study of the post-merger integration of a government organisation. The study had four objectives, namely to: (1) describe the cultural value of accountability; (2) analyse how strategic leadership and relational leadership roles were exercised to address post-merger integration challenges; (3) analyse how a leader applied selected primary mechanisms to shape organisational culture; (4) analyse how strategic and relational leadership complemented each other in addressing the challenges of post-merger integration and thereby shaping a culture of accountability; and (5) describe how some of the secondary articulation and reinforcing mechanisms supported the culture that was created through primary mechanisms. The literature reviewed, identified some of the critical challenges that are experienced in a post-merger integration, and highlighted the role of leadership in culture formation. The critical challenges that were identified are as follows: What is the vision and organisational purpose? How does the leader structure the organisation? What kind of culture does the leader need to create? How does the leader maintain trust and keep communication with employees? How does a leader build new core competences and develop human capital? Two leadership approaches were adopted, namely strategic and relational leadership. These two leadership approaches were selected because, based on a review of the literature, they appeared to address these post-integration challenges. The roles associated with strategic leadership that were investigated, were creating a vision and purpose for the organisation, developing core competences and developing human capital. From the perspective of relational leadership, this study was concerned with how a leader communicated through regular formal and informal dialogues to keep employees abreast of things, and how the leader built trust. In reviewing the literature linking leadership and culture, the work of Schein (2010) featured prominently. Schein (2010) referred to primary embedding mechanisms that create culture and secondary articulation and reinforcing mechanisms that reinforce or support the culture being created through the primary mechanisms. This study looked at how that happens, and hence six propositions were crafted from the literature. These propositions are as follows: (1) Formal dialogues between the leader and employees demonstrate what the leader pays attention to, measures and controls, which then clarifies what the employees are accountable for. (2) What the leader pays attention to, measures and controls during regular informal interactions between the leader and employees, contributes to strong mutual relationships between them, which promotes ownership and accountability amongst employees for their actions. (3) A leader who behaves consistently when handling critical incidents and organisational crises, is trusted by employees, who then act responsibly and take full responsibility for their actions, and even their mistakes. (4) A leader creates a vision and sense of purpose for the organisation through what he pays attention to, measures and controls, thereby clarifying for employees what they are required to do. (5) A leader who pays attention to developing the organisational core competence and allocates resources to it, instils confidence in his employees with regards to carrying out their own responsibilities. (6) A leader who develops human capital through the allocation of additional resources, thereby instilling confidence in employees who are willing and able to realise or take up their responsibilities. This research adopted a qualitative approach. Data was collected through conducting interviews and the analysis of relevant documents. A deductive thematic analysis of the data was used for the purpose of identifying, analysing and reporting patterns, or themes within the data collected. The research confirmed these propositions as being relevant to the case study. It also confirmed that strategic and relational leadership as reflected in the propositions have complemented one another in the successful implementation of the post-merger integration, thereby shaping a particular culture. It was concluded that the challenges associated with a post-merger integration could not have been addressed through only one of the leadership approaches. The findings of the study also recognised that an architectural role was also required. That is, in a merger, the structure has to be carefully designed and not taken for granted. It was therefore recognised as a critical leadership role. The study considers the implications of the findings and makes recommendations for managers of this organisation, as well as for other organisations that are engaging in a post-merger integration. It further outlines the limitations, delimitations as well as the contribution that the study has made to the body of knowledge. Some of the recommendations made for further research were to analyse how other primary mechanisms that were not part of the propositions may shape the organisational culture; and to research how architectural leadership roles combine with strategic and relational leadership to address post-merger integration challenges. Lastly, this study has explained how leadership, through various mechanisms, shaped a culture of accountability. Other studies can be done using a similar design with different theories of leadership and other mechanisms that apply to shaping other kinds of cultural values.
- Full Text:
- Date Issued: 2020