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The relationship between leadership styles and work engagement within the workplace

  • Authors: Soares, Michelle
  • Date: 2018
  • Subjects: Leadership -- South Africa , Management -- Employee participation Employee motivation Work environment Organizational behavior
  • Language: English
  • Type: Thesis , Masters , MCom
  • Identifier: http://hdl.handle.net/10948/35480 , vital:33738
  • Description: The proposed research was designed to investigate the relationship between leadership styles and work engagement within the workplace. The introduction provided the background to the research study, a brief theoretical overview of the leadership styles and work engagement as well as the relationship between the two variables was discussed. An overview of the motivation of the study, problem statements, research objectives and the propositions were also considered. A literature review provided a background to the origins, definitions, approaches, characteristics, styles, benefits, consequences, theories and models of leadership and work engagement. Thereafter, the relationship between the two variables were discussed and the propositions were revisited. The type of research conducted was an empirical study which utilised correlational and crosssectional design. The research methodology dealt with the population and sample, the measuring instruments, procedure, validity, reliability and ended off with the ethical standards that were considered whilst the research study was conducted. The findings attempted to answer whether a relationship existed between perceptions of leadership styles with the primary aim to either accept or reject the propositions posed in the preceding chapters. The research study concluded in discussing the results and attempted to link it to the literature that was presented in Chapter Two. The main aim was to identify whether relationships existed between the two variables. The study then concluded in discussing the limitations that were found in the study and discussed possible recommendations for the organisation and for potential future researchers who display an interest in pursuing this study further. In conclusion, the findings posed significant implications for leaders within the workplace who aspire to increase their employees’ work engagement levels for purposes of improving the effectiveness and efficiency of their employees’ overall performance towards achieving the business objectives.
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  • Date Issued: 2018

The relationship between leadership, group identity and intention to attend: the case of Buffalo City Metropolitan Municipality in Eastern Cape Province of South Africa

The relationship between operational risk management and business continuity management: a case study of a selected financial institution in South Africa

  • Authors: Mkhize, Gelvas Bhekabambo Senzoesihe
  • Date: 2018
  • Subjects: Risk management -- South Africa , Risk assessment -- South Africa Operations research -- South Africa
  • Language: English
  • Type: Thesis , Masters , MBA
  • Identifier: http://hdl.handle.net/10948/22769 , vital:30076
  • Description: The disruption of a leading financial services company because of internal or external risks has huge negative impact on the business bottom-line and the South African Financial Services industry at large. The Basel Accord defined operational risk as one of the key risk to manage in an attempt to minimise risk within a bank. Business Continuity Management (BCM) is a key component of enabling a business to prepare for disruptions and yet BCM remains poorly integrated with Operational Risk Management (ORM) in most financial institutions. Qualitative research focuses on gathering and interpreting data through quotation, description and narration was undertaken to explore opportunities for integration of tools and methodologies used by these two risk types. This type of research is concerned with capturing conversations, experiences, perspectives, voices and meanings typically from small samples purposively selected. The study findings are based on a sample of 9 respondents. Most of the respondents indicated that the bank is guided by the Basel, Advanced Measurement Approach (AMA) accreditation to the South African Reserve Bank (SARB) and the three lines of defense. There were many integration points identified by respondent and three recommendations were made to address the research objectives.
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  • Date Issued: 2018

The relationship between personal branding and career success: a study of female managers in South Africa

  • Authors: Foli, Edem Nompumelelo Akoswa
  • Date: 2018
  • Subjects: Branding (Marketing) -- South Africa -- Management , Success in business -- Women -- South Africa Career development -- Women -- South Africa Women executives -- South Africa
  • Language: English
  • Type: Thesis , Masters , MBA
  • Identifier: http://hdl.handle.net/10948/21907 , vital:29800
  • Description: The research objective of this study was to determine the relationship between personal branding and career success of female managers in South Africa. Personal branding is a technique used by individuals to enhance their careers. Women are still struggling to be recognised as equals to men in the workplace and do not hold as many key decision-making positions as their male counterparts. Women can use personal branding as a tool to help them progress faster in the workplace and enhance their career success. A questionnaire survey based on a conceptual framework – which consisted of the personal branding tactics of self-promotion, ingratiation, exemplification, intimidation, supplication and career success – was used to conduct this study. The research questions were: (1) Do female managers in South Africa think that personal branding is important; (2) What personal branding tactics for career success do female managers in South Africa use; (3) Do female managers think that online personal branding is important; and (4) How many female managers brand themselves online. The research questions were answered using descriptive statistics, one-sample tests, Analysis of Variance, and multiple linear aggression analysis. The research had 105 respondents and showed that female managers who participated in the study perceived personal branding as important; the results were statistically significant. The study also showed that the female managers were engaging in self-promotion as a way of advancing their career success. The majority of the female managers were also branding themselves online through media such as Facebook, LinkedIn, Twitter, websites and blogs. The main limitation of this study was that the non-probability sampling technique was used and this meant that the findings could not be generalised to the entire female manager population in South Africa. Suggestions for further research include collaborating with a women’s organisation with access to a database of female managers in South Africa and conducting the same research from the perspective of how others view female managers’ personal branding tactics and career successes.
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  • Date Issued: 2018

The relationship between poor governance and housing delivery in Nelson Mandela Bay

  • Authors: George, Mandla
  • Date: 2018
  • Subjects: Housing development -- South Africa , Low-income housing -- South Africa -- Nelson Mandela Bay Municipality Public housing -- South Africa
  • Language: English
  • Type: Thesis , Masters , MA
  • Identifier: http://hdl.handle.net/10948/30183 , vital:30857
  • Description: In this study, the relationship between poor governance and housing delivery in the Nelson Mandela Bay Metro (NMBM) is investigated. The focus is on a case study in Motherwell NU29 that demonstrated poor planning, approvals and implementation resulting in communities being allocated houses that were structurally damaged and unsuitable for habitation. Reports that support the Metro, particularly from the Human Settlements Department, constituted the data for the case study. The study reveals how party political problems in the ruling African National Congress led to instability in the administrative and political leadership of the NMBM and resulted in poor leadership that compromised the relationship between communities and those in positions of authority. Poor governance further compromised relationships between the Metro and the Provincial and National spheres of government. The study further reveals how corruption and maladministration of the Motherwell NU29 Project affected the delivery of what could have potentially been a great model for densification in the Metro.
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  • Date Issued: 2018

The relationship between psychological capital and burnout in secondary school teachers

  • Authors: Lokotsch, Leila Valerie
  • Date: 2018
  • Subjects: Psychology, Industrial , Personnel management High school teachers -- Psychological aspects
  • Language: English
  • Type: Thesis , Masters , MA
  • Identifier: http://hdl.handle.net/10948/30940 , vital:31227
  • Description: Psychological capital (Psycap) emerged from positive psychology and the recently developed positive organisational behaviour (POB) which focuses on the positive. The core construct of Psycap is made up of hope, self-efficacy, optimism and resilience. Job burnout is a persistent reaction to on-going emotional and interpersonal difficulties. Burnout is considered to be more of a dominant problem among teachers compared to other professions. Considerable research on Psycap has shown that Psycap is negatively linked to stress and burnout. To provide an overview, a quantitative approach was adopted by means of survey research and the type of study conducted was a correlational study. The purpose of this research was to first investigate the relationship between Psycap and burnout in secondary school teachers. The secondary objective was to provide recommendations related to Psycap and burnout based on the findings. In summary, the results of the study found that there are mostly negative relationships between PsyCap and burnout and their dimensions. The instruments ustilised were the Psychological Capital Questionnaire (PCQ-24) and the Oldenburg Burnout Inventory (OLBI). These are self-report questionnaires and were completed by way of paper-and-pencil tests. Cronbach’s alpha was used to determine the reliability on the measures used in the study, descriptive statistics was utilised to describe the sample, ANOVA and t-tests was used in order to determine if there were some noteworthy variances in the means of various demographic groupings for PsyCap and burnout. In order to determine the relationship between PsyCap and burnout, Pearson Product Moment Correlation was used. The study provides recommendations for schools and teachers, as well as, recommendations for future research.
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  • Date Issued: 2018

The relationship between psychological capital, life satisfaction and employee retention

  • Authors: Van Greuning, Hester
  • Date: 2018
  • Subjects: Employee Retention Work -- Psychological aspects Job satisfaction
  • Language: English
  • Type: Thesis , Masters , MA
  • Identifier: http://hdl.handle.net/10948/23847 , vital:30625
  • Description: In order to achieve sustainable employer environments, South African organisations are faced with the challenge of retaining key and critical employee cohorts. Externally focused methods and models of turnover and retention fail to comprehensively explain the lack of highly skilled employees and the inability of organisations to successfully retain these employee groupings. This non experimental correlational study investigated the relationship and interaction between the positive psychological constructs of psychological capital and life satisfaction and employee turnover intention of a South African sample of specialist and management level employees (n=150). The survey method was utilised to gather data for the study with a biographical questionnaire, the Psychological Capital Questionnaire-12 (PCQ-12), the Satisfaction with Life Scale (SWLS) and the Turnover Intention Scale-6 (TIS-6). Data analysis was conducted in the form of descriptive and inferential statistics including frequency tables, Cronbach’s Alpha testing, exploratory factory analysis, correlation analysis, t-tests, analysis of variance and structural equation modelling. The results indicated that significant relationships exist between psychological capital, life satisfaction and employee turnover intention. A substantial negative relationship was found between psychological capital and employee turnover intention, as well as a small, yet definite negative relationship between life satisfaction and turnover intention. Even though the results indicated a substantial positive relationship between psychological capital and life satisfaction, the relationship with employee turnover intention was insignificant when the two variables were correlated. This study adds to the current body of knowledge regarding employee retention in South Africa, and allows for a number of future research avenues to be explored.
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  • Date Issued: 2018

The relationship between psychological capital,life satisfaction and employee retention

  • Authors: Van Greuning, Hester
  • Date: 2018
  • Subjects: Employee Retention , Work -- Psychological aspects , Job satisfaction
  • Language: English
  • Type: Thesis , Masters , MA
  • Identifier: http://hdl.handle.net/10948/45712 , vital:38957
  • Description: South African organisations are faced with the challenge of retaining key and critical employee cohorts. externally focused methods and models of turnover and retention fail to comprehensively explain the lack of highly skilled employees and the inability of organisations to successfully retain these employee groupings. This nonexperimental correlational study investigated the relationship and interaction between the positive psychological constructs of psychological capital and life satisfaction and employee turnover intention of a South African sample of specialist and management level employees (n=150). The survey method was utilised to gather data for the study with a biographical questionnaire, the Psychological Capital Questionnaire-12 (PCQ-12), the Satisfaction with Life Scale (SWLS) and the Turnover Intention Scale-6 (TIS-6). Data analysis was conducted in the form of descriptive and inferential statistics including frequency tables, Cronbach’s Alpha testing, exploratory factory analysis, correlation analysis, t-tests, analysis of variance and structural equation modelling. The results indicated that significant relationships exist between psychological capital, life satisfaction and employee turnover intention. A substantial negative relationship was found between psychological capital and employee turnover intention, as well as a small, yet definite negative relationship between life satisfaction and turnover intention. Even though the results indicated a substantial positive relationship between psychological capital and life satisfaction, the relationship with employee turnover intention was insignificant when the two variables were correlated. This study adds to the current body of knowledge regarding employee retention in South Africa, and allows for a number of future research avenues to be explored.
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  • Date Issued: 2018

The relationships between perceived competence, goal orientation and mind sets on the motivation to participate in sport at university

  • Authors: Nel, Marcus Craig
  • Date: 2018
  • Subjects: College sports -- South Africa -- Makhanda , College students -- Attitudes , Sports -- Psychological aspects , Motivation (Psychology) , Competition (Psychology)
  • Language: English
  • Type: text , Thesis , Masters , MA
  • Identifier: http://hdl.handle.net/10962/61592 , vital:28040
  • Description: The research sought to uncover the links that exist between perceived competence, goal orientations and mind sets with the motivation to participate in sports. The research was conducted in a South African university context and was comprised of 212 participants. Data was collected through the use of Sports Motivation Scale 6, Intrinsic Motivation Inventory: Perceived Competence Subscale, Task and Ego Orientation in Sport Questionnaire and the Self-Theory Questionnaire. The participants completed the questionnaires using a pen and paper technique at their various sports practices. Data was collected and analysed using Pearson’s correlation coefficient in order to demonstrate the strength and nature of the relationships that existed between the variables. Findings generally supported previous findings. Using a deductive approach, the main findings found that various types of motivation based on Self-Determination Theory demonstrated a proportional relationship with task orientation and little to no relationship was found between motivation and ego orientation. The relationships between motivation and perceived competence were mixed, with the most significant relationship occurring between integrated regulation and perceived competence. Fixed mind sets also showed little to no relationship with motivation, whereas growth mind sets showed proportional relationships with the various kinds of motivation. Further relationships between these variables were also explained. It is recommended that data collection techniques are improved in future research. This research may be useful in indicating what factors are related to motivation to play sport at university.
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  • Date Issued: 2018

The relevance of conflict management in response to gangsterism: a case study of a community – based organisation in Gelvandale

  • Authors: Hiles, Ronel Bernadette
  • Date: 2018
  • Subjects: Conflict management -- South Africa -- Port Elizabeth , Gangs -- South Africa -- Port Elizabeth Community organization -- South Africa -- Port Elizabeth Port Elizabeth (South Africa) -- Social conditions
  • Language: English
  • Type: Thesis , Masters , MPhil
  • Identifier: http://hdl.handle.net/10948/22189 , vital:29869
  • Description: This research study sought to provide a primary base from which key strategies can be developed to address the gangsterism, drug and violence challenges in Gelvandale, in an effort to bring about peace and stability in this community and the surrounding areas. It also examined at the relevance of conflict management in response to gangsterism and the daily struggles of NGOs and the community. Gangsterism and violence in the Northern Areas have evolved in the last decade to an extent where the police sometimes fear to go and investigate. This problem stems from decades of socio-economic difficulties and a struggle for a better life in the Coloured community. The Group Areas Act of the 1960s still affects people of colour and marginalises them greatly. It is important that Gelvandale and the surrounding areas be recognised as the heart of the gang problem in the EC and that it demands the urgent attention of policy makers, law enforcement and civil society. Many organisations like ES are doing their best to bring about peace in the Northern Areas but it is difficult without the full support and cooperation of the community and especially the police. It is recommended that NMU work together with NGOs and NPOs to give them guidance and training sessions on negotiations, mediations and facilitation. The Northern Areas has a protracted political and social history which deserves more attention, acknowledgement and direction from authorities, policy makers and researchers.
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  • Date Issued: 2018

The reliability of firearm identification in South Africa : a comparative perspective

  • Authors: Mutsavi, Tanyarara
  • Date: 2018
  • Subjects: Forensic sciences Firearms -- Identification
  • Language: English
  • Type: Thesis , Masters , Law
  • Identifier: http://hdl.handle.net/10353/10850 , vital:35860
  • Description: Crime has become a well-known and worrying fact of life in South Africa. It constrains the ability of citizens to participate actively and meaningfully in all spheres of social and economic life. In many cases where a crime is committed, a firearm is involved. In order to fight gun crime there is a need for the perpetrators to be prosecuted. For prosecution to take place, there must be evidence to link the suspects to the committed crime. This is when firearm identification as a form of expert scientific evidence comes into play. This type of evidence links the bullets and cartridges recovered from the crime scene to the suspect.s firearms through the process of matching which is done by using a comparison microscope. Expert scientific evidence like firearm identification evidence, needs to be scientifically reliable because unreliable evidence may lead to the conviction of the innocent and exoneration of the guilty. Case law, authoritative reports and other literature have shown that firearm identification is not scientific and therefore it is not reliable. This is a disturbing position, considering the fact that this type of evidence is still being used in courts and no alternative has been found thus far to replace it. This study therefore proposes some reforms and recommendations which have been registered in authoritative reports which assist South Africa in dealing with firearm identification evidence. To achieve reliability, some writers have suggested that South Africa should adopt the US approach with regard to admissibility where judges play a .gate keeping. role by making sure that expert evidence is reliable before it enters the court. However, this study argues that scientific reliability, in South Africa, should not be a criterion for admissibility, but should rather be a central factor in deciding what weight should be attached to the expert evidence given in a particular case. The reason for this is that, in South Africa, the jury system is not used and therefore the judge does not have to exercise a .gate keeping. role, as he or she will be the final arbiter as to whether the evidence is reliable. In this context, reliability is considered during cross-examination. Cross-examination by the defence is crucial and this study proposes some possible cross-examination questions that can be helpful in testing the reliability of firearm identification evidence.
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  • Date Issued: 2018

The representation of christian ministers in South African media : a study of Uzalo on South African Broadcasting Corporation (SABC 1)

  • Authors: Mbilase, Khanyisa
  • Date: 2018
  • Subjects: Television programs -- South Africa Mass media -- Moral and ethical aspects -- South Africa Mass media -- South Africa
  • Language: English
  • Type: Thesis , Masters , Communication
  • Identifier: http://hdl.handle.net/10353/9745 , vital:34909
  • Description: This study aimed to evaluate the manner in which Christian Ministers are represented in South African media, a study of Uzalo a South African telenovela airing on SABC1, from Monday to Friday at 20:30 pm. According to the 2017 prime time statistics, the telenovela has attracted more than 9.1 million viewers and with that said the telenovela is assumed to have an extensive impact on the society. The study was conducted at Ntselamanzi village near Alice Town in Raymond Mhlaba Municipality. The study adopted a qualitative method and primary data was collected through focus groups and semi-structured interviews. Thematic analysis was employed to analyse the selected episodes from the drama. The finding of this study revealed that, Christian Ministers in the telenovela are portrayed to be actively involved in criminal activities which then qualifies them to be associated with crime or be called criminals. The study further revealed that, Christian Ministers have commercialised churches as seen by the continuous mushrooming of churches in society. The study concluded that, the media representations of Christian Ministers were biased and focusing only on portraying Christian Ministers negatively. Lastly, framing and cultivation theories were used to explain how the role of Christian Ministers is crafted and presented to the audiences.
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  • Date Issued: 2018

The return-to-work policy for injured and diseased workers

  • Authors: Keti, Nosicelo
  • Date: 2018
  • Subjects: Employees -- Rehabilitation -- South Africa , Labor laws and legislation -- South Africa Workers' compensation Industrial accidents
  • Language: English
  • Type: Thesis , Masters , LLM
  • Identifier: http://hdl.handle.net/10948/31064 , vital:31307
  • Description: Despite measures undertaken by employers in promoting safety in the workplace, employees become injured or diseased due to work related accidents. When an employee sustains a work related injury or disease that results in their short term or prolonged absence from work, it becomes crucial for the employer to return the injured or diseased employee back to work as quickly as possible. Returning employees back to work as early as possible becomes an important factor in reducing worker’s compensation costs. In South Africa, unlike developed countries like the United Kingdom, there is still a lack or absence of rehabilitation, reintegration and RTW programmes. The lack or absence of suitable rehabilitation, reintegration and RTW programmes that not only ensure that an injured or diseased employee is returned to work, but further enable such injured or diseased employee to attain, keep and progress in employment often results in employees becoming dependent on disability grants or social welfare payments. There is recognition that some effort is required to ensure that employees who have been affected by work related injuries or diseases are returned to gainful employment. The Committee of Inquiry into a Comprehensive System of Social Security for South Africa, in 2002, highlighted that “modern social protection policy making is no longer therapeutic but also pre-emptive and restorative or rehabilitative in nature”. The study investigated the need for the South African government and business to adopt and implement programmes or systems that are targeted at correcting or restoring the damage. This can be achieved through retraining, re-skilling and social integration of the injured or diseased employees. The findings indicate that despite recognition by the Compensation of Occupational Injuries and Disease Act (COIDA) of the need to establish and implement appropriate rehabilitation, reintegration and RTW programmes, such programmes have still not been established in South Africa. There are, however, initiatives directed towards the establishment and implementation of these programmes and these are found in the proposed COIDA amendment Bill which prioritises rehabilitation, reintegration and RTW. Proposed in the Bill, is the imposition of incentives for those employers who successfully implement rehabilitation, reintegration and RTW programmes within their workplaces and penalties against those who fail to comply with the provisions of the proposed Bill. Another relief can be seen in the form of the Road Accident Benefit Scheme (RABS) Bill, which will soon replace the Road Accident Fund (RAF). Unlike the RAF, which is primarily concerned about the compensation of road accident victims through lump sum payments, RABS will particularly focus on rehabilitation and vocational training and will offer payments in a structured manner to not only ensure the continual financial support of the accident victims, but further that the proposed scheme remains sustainable in the long term. Further findings are that although the Constitution of the v Republic of South Africa has adopted an international law friendly approach and the Bill of Rights is in support of the implementation of RTW measures, South African law is not aligned to international and regional standards. South Africa has still not ratified international instruments that promote the early return of injured or diseased employees back to work. In conclusion, South Africa needs to adopt and implement rehabilitation, reintegration and RTW measures or programmes for injured or diseased workers in order to address the high unemployment rate, poverty and dependence on State funded social assistance services.
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  • Date Issued: 2018

The right of access to information as a means to empower citizens to participate in democratic processes : a case study of Zwelitsha, King Williams Town

  • Authors: Ngcuka, Simtembile
  • Date: 2018
  • Subjects: Freedom of information Freedom of information -- South Africa
  • Language: English
  • Type: Thesis , Masters , (MPhil)Human Rights
  • Identifier: http://hdl.handle.net/10353/10839 , vital:35858
  • Description: The Republic of South Africa is embedded from a society that has been beleaguered. Apartheid laws were used to treat people unequally, based on race, gander, ethnic group, background, colour, belief, culture and language. These laws prohibited association of people from different races and groups. The education system was also used to instil inferiority to disadvantaged people. This system promoted a culture of secrecy and unresponsive government. The new Constitution of the Republic of South Africa was adopted in 1996. This Constitution promotes democracy and equality amongst citizens of this country. It was also adopted to bridge injustices of the past. Democracy is about allowing every citizen to participate in the processes which are meant for the development of the country. The new Constitution provided that every citizen is equal; this means every citizen must enjoy equal human Rights. This includes the Right to participate in democratic processes which are taking place. Studies show that the Right of Access to Information empowers people to participate in democratic processes. This study examines the exercise in section 32 of the Republic of South Africa Constitution (1996), by Zwelitsha community as means to empower people in participating in democratic processes taking place in their community. This Right is reinforced by Promotion of Access to Information Act No. 2 of 2000 (PAIA). The research reveals that the community of Zwelitsha is not exercising this Right which often leads to violation of other Rights. The exercise of the Right of Access to Information increases awareness and knowledge of other existing Rights, and how they can be realised and defended. The recommendations in the study underscore the need to promote the Right of Access to Information as a means to empower citizens to participate in the democratic processes in their community. This study will take the community a step closer to reaching equality. It will also educate the community of the need and importance of exercising the Right of Access to Information. It will assist the community to be able to protect other Rights. An informed community is an empowered community that can also hold the state to account.
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  • Date Issued: 2018

The rise and fall of rugby in a South African township : the case study of Mdantsane, Eastern Cape

  • Authors: Gaca, Ntobeko Wycliff
  • Date: 2018
  • Subjects: Community development -- South Africa -- Eastern Cape Rugby football -- South Africa
  • Language: English
  • Type: Thesis , Masters , African Studies
  • Identifier: http://hdl.handle.net/10353/10985 , vital:35972
  • Description: Rugby is one of the popular sports not only in South Africa but also internationally. Rugby plays a major role in the development of communities. However in the township of Mdantsane which is located in the Eastern Cape Province of South Africa, this sport has been declining over the past two decades, following an initial period of success and stability. In the past, Mdantsane Township was at the forefront in the development and progress of rugby in the country. Some of the prominent rugby players in the country were products of rugby clubs in Mdantsane. This study, therefore focuses on the rise and the fall of rugby in the township of Mdantsane in East London. The main objective of this study being to explore the factors responsible for its rise and fall in Mdantsane Township. This study adopts a qualitative approach to gather empirical data. Purposive sampling was used to select participants. Semi-structured interviews and focus group discussions were used for data collection. The findings of the study pointed to differences in the rugby sport between the period before and after the democratic dispensation in South Africa. The initial success story of rugby was eventually turned into a period of decline. The findings further show that governance, maladministration and transformation, were the main contributing factors of the decline. This study recommends more rugby studies in the township of Mdantsane in order to ascertain what the present role of rugby is in the township.
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  • Date Issued: 2018

The role of African languages in the South African legal system: towards a transformative agenda

  • Authors: Docrat, Zakeera
  • Date: 2018
  • Subjects: Forensic linguistics -- South Africa , Communication in law -- South Africa , Language policy -- South Africa , Linguistic rights -- South Africa , Court interpreting and translating -- South Africa , African languages -- South Africa
  • Language: English
  • Type: text , Thesis , Masters , MA
  • Identifier: http://hdl.handle.net/10962/60809 , vital:27833
  • Description: This interdisciplinary thesis, partly located in the emerging discipline of forensic linguistics, seeks to investigate the status and use of African languages in the South African legal system and how language can be used as a tool to transform the legal system. The research commences with an overview of the development of African languages in the legal system, pre and post Apartheid. The research proceeds to an overview of scholarly literature concerning the role of legislation, language policy and planning in regulating the use of African languages in the legal system, in order to give effect to South Africa’s constitutional provisions and enable linguistic transformation of the legal system. This research furthermore provides a critique of the constitutional language framework in relation to language rights of litigants in the legal system, when accessing justice through the medium of an African language. To this effect the research advances cases conducted in their entirety in an African language, illustrating that it is both possible and practicable. This research engages critically with the legislative and policy frameworks of the legal system, where issues concerning the equal recognition and use of African languages are highlighted. Language demographics in the form of statistics are provided, illustrative of the fact that the majority of South African’s speak an African language as their mother tongue. Additionally, the statistics provide that litigants in the legal system have poor proficiency in English, the language of record in courts. The research addresses the legislative and policy deficiencies of the non insertion of language requirements for legal practitioners and judicial officers that reflect the language demographics. Furthermore the need for linguistically competent legal practitioners and judicial officers is discussed in giving meaning to the constitutional language rights of litigants. A Canadian comparative jurisprudential case study is advanced, that can be emulated by the South African legal system. The Canadian model offers a precise and effective constitutional, legislative and policy framework where language rights are purposively interpreted in cases conducted in the official languages of the country. Furthermore the Canadian model provides that legal practitioners and judicial officers are linguistically competent in the official languages of the province in which they practice. This thesis highlights the issues hindering real transformation of the legal system, and concludes with recommendations which are both legally and linguistically sound.
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  • Date Issued: 2018

The role of assisted reproduction technologies in improving cattle production under communal and emerging farming systems in Limpopo, Mpumalanga and KwaZulu-Natal, South Africa

  • Authors: Mugwabana, Thinawanga Joseph
  • Date: 2018
  • Subjects: Beef cattle -- Breeding -- South Africa Beef cattle breeds -- South Africa
  • Language: English
  • Type: Thesis , Doctoral , PhD
  • Identifier: http://hdl.handle.net/10353/9100 , vital:34262
  • Description: The aim of the study was to determine the effect of assisted reproductive technologies (ARTs) in improving cattle production with the purpose of providing policy directives for the successful implementation of the ART project among communal and emerging livestock systems. The study was conducted under communal and emerging cattle farming systems in Limpopo, Mpumalanga and KwaZulu-Natal provinces. The selected districts in Limpopo were Vhembe, Capricorn, Mopani and Waterberg, in Mpumalanga were Gert Sibande and Ehlanzeni while in KwaZulu-Natal the selected districts were Zululand and Harry Gwala. A total of 282 cows were selected for the study, 38 percent in Limpopo, 32 percent in Mpumalanga and 30 percent in KwaZuluNatal. The cow parameters evaluated were breed type, parity, age, body condition score, frame size and lactation status. An ovsynch protocol which allows for fixed-time artificial insemination (FTAI) was used during the oestrous synchronisation process. A heat mount detector (Karma®) was used to detect oestrous synchronisation response. The dominant cattle breed types were the Bonsmara, Brahman and Nguni. All experimental cows that responded positively to oestrous synchronisation protocol and were inseminated with semen from a Nguni bull. Chi-Square Test of Independence were computed to determine the association among factors. Data was further modelled using the logistic regression model of SAS, establishing the probability of success. Districts, breed type, parity, age, and lactation status did not significantly influence (P > 0.05) conception rate following oestrous synchronisation and timed artificial insemination. However, conception rate was not independent (P < 0.05) of provinces, body condition score and body frame size. Cows in KwaZulu-Natal (66 percent) had significantly higher (P < 0.05) conception rates than those in Limpopo (44 percent) and Mpumalanga (60 percent). Cows of body condition score of ≥ 3.5 (72 percent) had a significantly higher (P < 0.05) conception rate than those of body condition score of ≤ 2.5 (66 percent) and 3 (48 percent). Large (82 percent) framed cows had a significantly higher (P < 0.05) conception rate than small (49 percent) and medium (55 percent) framed cows. Cows in Mpumalanga had more chances to conceive than those of Limpopo and KwaZulu-Natal with odds ratio of 0.605 and 0.863, respectively. Cows in KwaZulu-Natal were in much better body conditions than those from the other two provinces. Cows of body condition score of ≥ 3.5 had more chances to conceive than those of body condition score of ≤ 2.5 and 3 with odds ratio of 0.592 and 0.388, respectively, and the difference was significant (P < 0.05). The study recorded a 100 percent calf survival rate following synchronisation and timed artificial insemination. The breed type, parity, age frame size and lactation status did not significantly influence calving response following oestrous synchronisation and timed artificial insemination (P > 0.05). However, calving rate was not independent of provinces, districts and body condition score (P < 0.05). Calving rate in Mpumalanga (58 percent) and KwaZulu-Natal (54 percent) was significantly higher (P < 0.05) than that recorded in Limpopo Province (36 percent). Calving rate of Gert Sibande (61 percent) and Ehlanzeni (50 percent) districts in Mpumalanga and Zululand (50 percent) and Harry Gwala (61 percent) in KwaZulu-Natal was significantly higher (P < 0.05) than that of the Capricorn (32 percent), Mopani (23 percent and Waterberg (30 percent) in Limpopo Province with the exception of Vhembe (44 percent). Cows with body condition score of ≤ 2.5 (60 percent) had a significantly higher (P < 0.05) calving rate than those with a body condition score of 3 (43 percent). Cows in Mpumalanga had more chances to calve than those in Limpopo and KwaZulu-Natal with odds ratio of 0.076 and 0.537, respectively. Additionally, quantitative data was collected through in-depth interviews using a semi-structured questionnaire. Data collected was managed and coded into themes using the Nvivo Version 11 software programme. Themes and issues that emerged were analysed and interpreted using critical social thinking and systems thinking. The results of the study revealed many factors that could compromise the implementation and adoption of ARTs in the study areas. The general feeling amongst cattle farmers interviewed was that government should address these challenges. A shortage of bulls was the main cause of the low cattle reproduction rate. The Nguni breed type cattle was perceived as the ideal cattle breed for rural areas by respondents. Oestrous synchronisation and artificial insemination can be applied under communal and emerging farming systems with success. From the study results, breeding with small framed animals such as the Nguni type breed under communal and emerging farming systems makes a lot of sense because the breed is known for its low feed maintenance requirement. Furthermore, cattle stakeholders should co-operate and work together to address many of the constraints facing cattle productivity and the implementation and adoption of ARTs in rural areas.
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  • Date Issued: 2018

The role of civil society organizations in the consolidation of democracy : cases from Cameroon and South Africa

  • Authors: Ayuk, Enu Rene
  • Date: 2018
  • Subjects: Civil Society Organization -- South Africa Social movements Democracy -- Africa
  • Language: English
  • Type: Thesis , Masters , M. Soc. Sc
  • Identifier: http://hdl.handle.net/10353/9319 , vital:34321
  • Description: This study investigates the role played by civil society organizations in the consolidation of democracy. It is a comparative study between South Africa and Cameroon. This study utilizes the Habermasian critical theory of civil society which emanates from the liberal ideology of democracy. The objectives of the study were to look at the legislations regulating the operation of NGOs, the activities carried out to consolidate democracy and the challenges faced by these organizations in both South Africa and Cameroon. The qualitative method was used for data collection for the study. Interviews were carried out with NGOs officials and the data was analyzed using thematic analyses. The research found out that there is a liberal legislative framework governing the activities of NGOs in South Africa. On the other hand, though Cameroon laws on association seem liberal, a careful study of these laws revealed a concerted effort from the state to constrain the operation of NGOs. NGOs in South Africa carryout activities such as picketing, publicity stunts, human rights awareness campaigns, anti-corruption campaigns, lobbying of parliament, protests, mass mobilization and public interest litigation to consolidate democracy.In Cameroon, NGOs are involved in activities like strike actions, public protest, human rights and anti-corruption campaign as well as public interest litigation to consolidate democracy. However, South African NGOs face challenges like administrative bottlenecks, legal draws backs, sporadic hostility from the state, inadequate funding and lack of staff capacity. In Cameroon, NGOs faced the following challenges; restrictive legal framework, arbitrary arrests and detention of activists, financial constraints, lack of staff capacity, lack of infrastructure, corruption and internal divisions.
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  • Date Issued: 2018

The role of ecological processes in structuring reef fish communities in the Agulhas Ecoregion, South Africa

  • Authors: Dyer, Alexander
  • Date: 2018
  • Subjects: Reef fishes -- South Africa -- Agulhas, Cape (Cape) , Reef fishes -- Ecology -- South Africa -- Agulhas, Cape (Cape) , Marine biodiversity -- South Africa -- Agulhas, Cape (Cape) , Biotic communities -- South Africa -- Agulhas, Cape (Cape) , Sparidae -- South Africa -- Agulhas, Cape (Cape) , Reef fishes -- Size -- South Africa -- Agulhas, Cape (Cape) , Baited remote underwater stereo-video systems (stereo-BRUVs)
  • Language: English
  • Type: text , Thesis , Masters , MSc
  • Identifier: http://hdl.handle.net/10962/63899 , vital:28504
  • Description: Local, niche-based processes, which arise from the interplay between biotic interactions and abiotic constraints are considered to be important regulators of community structure. However, it is increasingly recognised that patterns of diversity can also be strongly influenced by dispersal-driven processes. While empirical research on the diversity of coral reef fishes on shallow tropical reefs has contributed greatly to the development of general concepts in ecology, there have been considerably fewer studies on the processes which shape the diversity of fish communities on shallow (10 - 30 m) and deep (30 - 75 m) rocky reefs. Consequently, it is less clear at which spatial scales niche partitioning and dispersal limitation contribute most strongly to the structure of reef-associated fish communities within rocky reef ecosystems. To address this caveat, research was conducted at four rocky reef complexes within the warm-temperate Agulhas Ecoregion, South Africa. The diversity of reef-associated fishes was sampled by baited remote underwater stereo-video systems (stereo-BRUVs) to incorporate the range of heterogeneous reef habitat in Tsitsikamma National Park Marine Protected Area (TNP MPA) and Algoa Bay (AB). To examine how niche-based and dispersal-driven processes influence patterns of diversity among species within the dominant family of resident fishes, the sparids (Sparidae), components of diversity were quantified at several spatial scales. Turnover in the number of species which locally co-occurred was found to be largely driven by the limited dispersal of species over hundreds of kilometres. When relative species abundances were taken into account, sparid communities were characterised by higher than expected rates of compositional turnover among local habitat patches separated by hundreds to thousands of metres of contiguous reef. Patterns of compositional turnover were associated with the spatial aggregation of conspecifics, particularly at scales which facilitate the post-settlement dispersal of fishes. Niche-based segregation of species along the depth gradient was found to be the primary driver of compositional turnover among both protected and exploited communities. However, spatial structuring within reefs, which was independent of variation in the environment, suggests that compositional differences among communities are also influenced by the limited post-settlement dispersal of resident fishes to adjacent areas during their ontogeny. Together, the results suggest that the diversity of reef-associated sparids is likely to depend both on an adequate diversity of suitable reef habitat and a sufficient degree of spatial connectivity to facilitate ontogenetic habitat shifts. Taxon-based descriptors of diversity do not adequately account for ecological difference among conspecifics within size-structured populations. To test whether differences in body size facilitated coexistence among sparid fishes, the number of species which coexisted at the local scale was related to variation in the size structure of communities. In communities which have been historically protected from fishing, local coexistence between a greater number of species was promoted by reduced levels of intraspecific variation in size of fishes. This suggests that, among species with similar trophic requirements, further niche segregation along a prey-size and body-size gradient is likely to mitigate the direct impacts of competition for shared food resources. Among exploited communities, size structure did not influence the number of species which coexisted at the local scale. This finding suggests that fishing-induced mortality of larger-bodied fishes is likely to remove some of the constraints to colonisation which arise from asymmetries in competitive fitness between small and large-bodied fishes. Together, these results highlight the importance of post-settlement processes and population size structure to the maintenance of reef-associated fish diversity within contiguous rocky reef habitats.
  • Full Text:
  • Date Issued: 2018

The role of empathy in emotionally intelligent leadership: an integrative review

  • Authors: Greyling, Candice , De Jager, Marina
  • Date: 2018
  • Subjects: Emotional intelligence -- Leadership
  • Language: English
  • Type: Thesis , Masters , MA
  • Identifier: http://hdl.handle.net/10948/22123 , vital:29842
  • Description: Empathy is regarded as a fundamental interpersonal skill. Interpersonal skills are the life skills that we make use of every day to communicate and interact with other people, both individually and in groups. In this study, empathy is given prominence as a component of emotional intelligence. The concept emotional intelligence has enjoyed great popularity in recent years. In this study leadership denotes any person in a leadership position within an organisation. Extensive research has been done on the impact of emotional intelligence on organisations and leadership. Therefore, the aim of this study is to critically analyse the available evidence and to provide a clear review and synthesis of the role that empathy plays in emotionally intelligent leadership. The methodology used in this study will be that of an integrative review. An integrative review summarises the best-quality empirical evidence of the benefits and limitations of a specific practice to provide recommendations for future research. Data to be reviewed include articles in scholarly journals, books, theses and computerised databases. International and national literature involving both quantitative and qualitative research studies will be reviewed. As both qualitative and quantitative research studies will be of focus in this integrative review, rigour in both research methods was considered. The reviewer also considered four ethical considerations, namely: quality, transparency, honesty and plagiarism.
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  • Date Issued: 2018
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