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An exploration of knowledge sharing as a means of improving municipal governance in selected Limpopo municipalities

  • Authors: Dikotla, Maoka Andries https://orcid.org/0000-0002-6699-6782
  • Date: 2016-08
  • Subjects: Knowledge management , Information services , Organizational learning
  • Language: English
  • Type: Doctoral theses , text
  • Identifier: http://hdl.handle.net/10353/24750 , vital:63548
  • Description: The aim of this study was to underscore the role of knowledge sharing in improving the municipal governance in the local government sector of South Africa. The objectives of the study were to find out the kind of knowledge management programmes which are in place in the municipalities of Limpopo Province; establish the extent to which municipalities in Limpopo encourage knowledge sharing for improvement of municipal governance; determine factors which affect knowledge sharing among employees of municipalities of Limpopo Province, and propose recommendations and strategies on how to optimally share knowledge in Limpopo municipalities. The nature of this study warranted the use of two research paradigms, namely positivist and interpretivist approaches. The study employed an integrated research method which covered both the qualitative and quantitative approach. In collecting data, data instruments were triangulated. In this regard, the researcher mostly used a questionnaire with little employment of interviews and observation. The researcher sampled 438 employees and 21 managers from the selected municipalities. Quantitative data was analysed using IBM Statistical Package for Social Science (SPSS) version 23. Qualitative data was analysed using thematic analysis. The major findings of the study are the following: poor knowledge management programmes in Limpopo municipalities, knowledge sharing among the employees and across the municipalities is not encouraged, knowledge sharing in Limpopo municipalities is affected by both individual and organisational barriers and under-utilisation of information communication technology tools to support knowledge management programmes and practices. Comparatively, the findings of this study to a large extent support what has been recorded in literature. However, the study contradicts a typical mind set of many people that “knowledge is power” and cannot be shared freely. The study recommended to Limpopo municipalities to develop Knowledge sharing strategies that need to be linked to municipal strategic plans; involvement of top management in knowledge management activities; development of knowledge-friendly culture and utilisation of information communication technology tools in support of knowledge sharing. Some recommendations for further study were also provided. Among others, the study recommended that a study on the use of incentive systems as a means of encouraging knowledge sharing be conducted in selected municipalities. This was because studies on the use of incentive systems for motivating knowledge sharing yielded contradictory findings in many organisations. , Thesis (PhD) -- Faculty of Social Sciences and Humanities, 2016
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  • Date Issued: 2016-08

The protection of Company Capital in Contemporary Company Law: South Africa and Selected Commonwealth Jurisdictions

  • Authors: Bidie, Simphiwe Sincere https://orcid.org/0000-0002-5022-2715
  • Date: 2016-12
  • Subjects: Corporation law -- South Africa , Stock repurchasing -- Law and legislation , Commonwealth countries
  • Language: English
  • Type: Doctoral theses , text
  • Identifier: http://hdl.handle.net/10353/29141 , vital:77057
  • Description: Rules regulating how the affairs of a company are expected to be conducted have existed since time immemorial changing from one form to another with the advent of time. Common law as espoused by courts played the leading role. In recent years legislation has taken the centre stage informed by a desire for fundamental policy change. The policy change expressed in such legislation suggests that some commonwealth nations are prepared to embrace progressive contemporary measures which may better cater for the relationship of all stakeholders interested in the affairs of the company. The statutory regulation of distributions of company money or property became firmly entrenched in South Africa since 2011. In that year the Companies Act 71 of 2008 formally replaced the Companies Act 61 of 1973. Specifically the Act set out an elaborate list of rules which companies are required to comply with when they wish to distribute some of their money or property. Historically the challenge with the practical application of the capital maintenance principle was that it favoured the interests of creditors above other stakeholders. Even so this principle was not a completely secure mechanism for the protection of creditor interests as the funds they looked to for the satisfaction of their claims continued to be used for the operational requirements of the company or could be far less than the credit they would provide to companies. From that context its replacement by a more secure mechanism was inevitable. The solvency and liquidity test has become the preferred mechanism adopted by many countries across the world to replace the capital maintenance principle. This is the test which must now be observed by companies before directors distribute the company’s capital. In addition a number of prescribed procedural requirements must also be observed. For the purposes of this study the 2008 Companies Act defines distribution of company money or property in four ways. The purpose of this thesis is to critically examine these forms of distributing company money or property. It also seeks to examine the procedural rules by which these forms of distribution may be carried out. Subsequently, rules pertaining to non-compliance with distribution requirements will be analysed to determine when directors may be held personally liable for corporate contraventions or individual misconduct. , Thesis (LLD) -- Faculty of Law, 2016
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  • Date Issued: 2016-12

The impact of motivational and business orientations of owner-managers on the performance of immigrant-owned SMMEs in South Africa

  • Authors: Chimucheka, Tendai https://orcid.org/0000-0003-1445-6351
  • Date: 2017-01
  • Subjects: Social responsibility of business -- South Africa , Industrial management -- Moral and ethical aspects -- South Africa , Business ethics -- South Africa
  • Language: English
  • Type: Doctoral theses , text
  • Identifier: http://hdl.handle.net/10353/29321 , vital:77943
  • Description: Researchers and policy makers agree that entrepreneurship is essential for the growth of any economy, and hence it is seen as the economic engine of many countries. Most entrepreneurs operate as small, micro and medium enterprises (SMMEs) and they contribute significantly to the gross domestic product (GDP), employment creation, poverty reduction and equitable distribution of income in developing countries. This study investigated the motivational and business orientation factors that affect the performance of immigrant-owned SMMEs operating in South Africa. The secondary objectives of this study were to investigate the extent to which individual motivational pull and push factors influence the performance of immigrant-owned SMMEs operating in South Africa; determine the impact of the use of social networks on the performance of immigrant-owned SMMEs in South Africa; determine the impact of the use of technology on the performance of immigrant-owned SMMEs in South Africa; and to ascertain the extent to which entrepreneurial orientation affects the performance of immigrant-owned SMMEs in South Africa. A positivistic paradigm was adopted and quantitative research design was followed in conducting this research. Snowball and purposive sampling, which are non-probability sampling techniques, were used to select a sample of 400 from immigrants operating SMMEs in the Eastern Cape Province of South Africa. The survey method, by way of a self-administered questionnaire was used to collect primary data. The Statistical Package for Social Sciences (SPSS) was used to analyse data. Factor analysis, descriptive statistics, t-test, analysis of variance (ANOVA), Pearson Product Moment Correlation, simple linear regression and multiple regression were used to analyse data. It was found that individual motivational factors (pull and push), the use of social networks (social network orientation), the use of technology (technology orientation), and entrepreneurial orientation explain and have an impact on the performance of immigrant-owned SMMEs in South Africa. These results are useful for the development of the SMME sector, which is important to South Africa. Some recommendations, including the ‘MSTRIP analysis’ were provided to immigrant entrepreneurs, aspiring entrepreneurs, government, native entrepreneurs and also to the financial institutions. , Thesis (PhD) -- Faculty of Management and Commerce, 2017
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  • Date Issued: 2017-01

A systems thinking approach to e-government strategy formulation for water service delivery in South African local municipalities

  • Authors: Osah, Umeoniso Joshua
  • Date: 2017
  • Subjects: Internet in public administration South Africa , Electronic government information South Africa , Communication in public administration South Africa , Municipal services South Africa , Municipal services Information technology , System theory
  • Language: English
  • Type: Doctoral theses , text
  • Identifier: http://hdl.handle.net/10962/64471 , vital:28547 , DOI 10.21504/10962/64471
  • Description: E-Government deployments by stakeholders within the South African water service sector, provide certain benefits for the sector. While deemed beneficial and of considerable value, e-Government deployments and implementations in the water sector of local governments of South Africa have not always been successful. One important reason for e-Government failures, among several others, is the lack of coherent strategies, informed by key representing stakeholder views, to guide implementation and deployment of e-Government tools. Without strategies, it is highly likely that ICT integration will be conducted haphazardly. As a point of note, more than the deliverable (strategy document) that represents the output of the strategy development process, it serves more purpose to understand the process that results in the strategy. Importantly, understanding the process helps to account for the formed relationships between the various stakeholders that need to buy into the strategy. The research study develops an e-Government strategy formulation framework based on a systems thinking approach, intended to support the strategy formulation process of e-Government strategies – to underpin the effective integration, deployment and sustained use of ICT solutions for water service delivery at the local government level. A systems thinking approach is considered due to its emphasis on the strategy being informed by a holistic assessment. Where there is some knowledge about the processes by which a strategy is formulated – over time ideas may be derived on the types of processes that may produce efficient e-Government strategies. The research is conducted using the Design Science research paradigm. The Design Science paradigm is comprised of two processes – build and evaluate (Hevner et al., 2004). The build process, as related to this research concentrates on the progression through which the theoretical e-Government strategy formulation framework is derived. Weick’s (1989) theorizing approach is ascribed, supporting the design of the theoretical framework. In applying Weick’s theorizing approach, firstly, the lack of knowledge on how e-Government strategies should be formulated in South African local municipalities – is explicated in an intelligible manner. Once the problem is properly articulated, a trial and error selection process is undertaken of existing approaches on strategy formulation – thought to possess the potential to contribute to the development of an e-Government strategy formulation framework, suited to local governments in South Africa. With good reason, 10 (ten) strategy approaches are selected from, e-Government programmes in developed countries, Non-Governmental organizational strategy approaches, and business related strategy formulation approaches. Lastly, as all possible approaches that may contribute to the framework development process cannot be selected, criteria is specified to limit the number of possible selections. Furthermore, in deriving the framework, foundations for systematically dealing with unstructured problems, such as, strategy formulation are consulted. This foundation along with the research goals, informs the development of a template used to comparatively analyse the 10 selected approaches on strategy formulation. This analysis aids in revealing the components of an e-Government strategy formulation process. With the developed framework, the evaluation process of the design science research commences, seeking to determine the utility of the framework (suitability and shortcomings). The framework is applied to the procedural formulation of a strategy for a tentative e-Government project called MobiSAM, which aims to enhance citizen engagement with local government through the use of mobile phones. The strategy formulation application process in the project environment and local government reveals lessons that inform revisions to the framework. The e-Government strategy formulation framework, therefore represents a fundamental tool for e-Government strategy development in local municipalities, and may be customized to fit the requirements of varying local municipalities. , Thesis (PhD) -- Faculty of Commerce, Information Systems, 2017
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  • Date Issued: 2017

Assessing pre-service teachers' preparation for technology integration in teaching and learning in selected colleges of education in Ghana

  • Authors: Akaadom, Bernard Wiafe
  • Date: 2017
  • Subjects: Educational technology -- Ghana , Internet in higher education , Teaching -- Aids and devices
  • Language: English
  • Type: Doctoral theses , text
  • Identifier: http://hdl.handle.net/10353/29342 , vital:77948
  • Description: Most pre-service teachers fail to integrate technology into teaching and learning after graduating from college even though they take technology courses before the completion of their professional training. Thus, the aim of this study was to ascertain how pre-service teachers were prepared to incorporate technology into their teaching and learning by assessing their technology, pedagogy and content knowledge as well as their challenges in using technology for instruction in selected colleges of education in Ghana in the context of Mishra and Koehler (2006) TPACK framework. The study used the post-positivist paradigm and adopted the mixed method research approach using a concurrent triangulation design. The research sample of 417 respondents and four tutors as well as four student focus groups was drawn from eight colleges of education in Ghana. The study used semi-structured interview guides and a research questionnaire to collect data. The qualitative data collected were analyzed manually for content using thematic analysis once it had been coded. The quantitative data was coded and cleaned before being analyzed using SPSS version 19. In an attempt to confirm the trustworthiness and credibility of the study, the appropriateness of subjects was evaluated and measures such as member checking were engaged to make sure that the results of the study were trustworthy and could be established. Furthermore, the trustworthiness of the findings was also established by the use of two different methods for gathering data, namely; in-depth interviews augmented by questionnaires for collecting quantitative data. A significant finding of the study was that pre-service teachers‟ professional training was beset with many overawing challenges. These included the lack of technology tools and resources, lack of technology knowledge and skills to use technology for teaching purposes, inadequate time to learn and practice technology at college, and the absence of technicians to support and carry out maintenance of technology tools and equipment. It was also found that teacher educators failed to model technology for pre-service teachers. However, pre-service teachers endorsed good use of the internet for teaching and learning whiles rating their general use of computers and social media platforms as poor. There was the need for the college education curriculum and stakeholders such as the Ministry of Education, National Council for Tertiary Education, the Curriculum Research and Development Division of the Ghana Education Service to redevelop policy guidelines for the proper implementation of technology aspects of teacher training programmes in colleges to mitigate the challenges colleges face in technology training of pre-service teachers. It was recommended that technology courses should not be taught in isolation and a model was proposed to improve the effective implementation of the training programme of pre-service to help them integrate technology into instruction. , Thesis (PhD) -- Faculty of Education, 2017
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  • Date Issued: 2017

Assessing the potential role of microorganisms in the production of seedlings for the restoration of Albany Thicket

  • Authors: Mpama, Nelisa
  • Date: 2017
  • Subjects: Vesicular-arbuscular mycorrhizas , Rhizobacteria , Restoration ecology South Africa Albany , Microorganisms
  • Language: English
  • Type: Doctoral theses , text
  • Identifier: http://hdl.handle.net/10962/64555 , vital:28558
  • Description: The role of microorganisms in restoration of the Albany Thicket has not been well documented, although the benefits to plants of these various interactions has been well documented. Microorganisms are chief ecological engineers and assist in resolving environmental problems and act to restore degraded ecosystem function by forming mutual relationships with the roots of the plants. The aim of this study was to assess the potential of microorganisms for the improved biomass production of selected woody and succulent seedlings used in mesic thicket restoration. Three tree species were selected for propagation in this study namely; Mystroxylon aethiopicum Scutia myrtina and Aloe ferox. Soil samples were collected from a degraded and intact thicket site from Bathurst, South Africa. Soils were evaluated for number of arbuscular mycorrhizal (AM) spores, mycorrhizal infectivity potential and nutrient availability both before and after seedling propagation. Pasteurized soil from the degraded site was used in a pot trial. Ten replicates seedling for plant species were planted and subjected to four treatments which included inoculation with AM fungi and the rhizobacterium, Enterobacter sp., alone and in combination; the fourth treatment was an un-inouclated control. Plant growth parameters were recorded at regular intervals where appropriate and seedlings were harvested after 24 weeks for biomass measurements and AM colonisation assessments. Although generally low (< 1 spore per gram) the density of AM fungal spores was significantly higher in soils from the intact site when compared with soils from the degraded site. The mycorrhizal potential of the soils was however not significantly different. Mystroxylon aethiopicum seedling shoot height, canopy diameter and shoot biomass showed a significant increase when inoculated with AM fungi while S. myrtina seedlings showed increased shoot height when inoculated with both AM fungi and Enterobacter sp. Aloe ferox seedlings did not respond to microbial inoculation. The concentration of soil P and Na increased in treatments with Enterobacter sp. alone and in combination with AM fungi. Mystroxylon aethiopicum and S. myrtina seedlings showed a dependency on microbial inoculants indicating the importance of inoculation in the nursery before planting out into the field. Overall AM fungal inoculants applied to seedlings can be used to compensate for nutrient deficiency in soils. Although the Enterobacter isolate used was known to have various plant growth promoting capabilities. It is recommended that other rhizobacterial isolates be investigated. , Thesis (MSc) -- Faculty of Science, Environmental Science, 2017
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  • Date Issued: 2017

Assessment of the implementation of state-led continuing professional teacher development (CPTD) in the Gert Sibande education district of Mpumalanga province of South Africa

  • Authors: Mthethwa, Nokuthula Varsity , Mammen KJ
  • Date: 2017
  • Subjects: Teachers -- Training of , Mentoring in education , Action research in education
  • Language: English
  • Type: Doctoral theses , text
  • Identifier: http://hdl.handle.net/10353/29171 , vital:77529
  • Description: The study sought to assess the implementation of state-led Continuing Professional Teacher Development CPTD in Gert Sibande District in Mpumalanga Province. The factors that triggered the interest in this study were the absence of reported research on the assessment of state-led CPTD in Gert Sibande as well as personal observations of teachers inadequacies in quality teaching competences despite having attended a series of CPTD activities. The pragmatism paradigm, a mixed method research approach, and concurrent triangulation design were adopted. Senge 's Learning Organisation and Wenger’s Social Learning theories informed the study. For quantitative data collection, the two samples were: 200 teachers from 100 randomly selected schools with grade 6 (one Maths and one English teacher per school) and 200 relevant SMT members (one Principal and one Head of Department per school). The return rates of questionnaires were 59.5 percent for teachers and 61.5 percent for SMT representatives. For qualitative data collection, the sample consisted of one principal and one teacher of Mathematics or English from one randomly selected school out of the selected 100 schools; four Curriculum Managers and four subject advisors from the district office. Different interview schedules were used for samples from each of the interviewee cohorts. The quantitative and qualitative data were analysed descriptively and thematically, respectively. The study found that teachers were not consulted at the design stage of CPTD programmes and consequently, it did not address teachers needs and never earned their buy-in. The study also found that the traditional in-service training using transmission mode was predominant as opposed to the contemporary job-embedded approach. This resulted in teachers failing to gain job-embedded knowledge and confidence despite attendance of several CPTD sessions. Teachers expressed unhappiness with the short duration and bad timing of CPTD activities such as the 2-hour quarterly workshops and the use of weekends and holidays for CPTD. The majority of teachers recommended the use of in-school CPTD to facilitate job-embedded activities. As a way forward, the thesis presents a framework for the productive use of CPTD which focuses on the use of job-embedded professional development. , Thesis ( Ph. D.) -- Faculty of Education, 2017
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  • Date Issued: 2017

Comparative fish ecology in three periodically connected rivers in the upper Zambezi and Okavango ecoregions

  • Authors: Taylor, Geraldine Claire
  • Date: 2017
  • Subjects: Fishes Ecology Zambia Zambezi District , Floodplain ecology Zambia Zambezi District , Stable isotopes , Fishes Food Zambia Zambezi District , Fishes Mortality Zambia Zambezi District , Fish populations Zambia Zambezi District , Fishes Growth
  • Language: English
  • Type: Doctoral theses , text
  • Identifier: http://hdl.handle.net/10962/65055 , vital:28660 , DOI https://doi.org/10.21504/10962/65055
  • Description: The Upper Zambezi, Kavango and Kwando rivers are three periodically interlinked floodplain rivers which share the same Upper Zambezian floodplain ichthyofauna. The aim of this thesis was to compare the biology and ecology of the fish communities in these three rivers. The objective was to test the hypothesis that fish community composition and assemblage structure, fish diets, food web structure and trophic dynamics, fish growth rates and total mortality are influenced by the differing flood magnitudes of the three rivers, in support of the flood pulse concept. To understand the abiotic characteristics of each river, water temperature, flood regime, total dissolved inorganic nitrogen concentrations and water quality parameters were measured and compared between rivers. Water temperatures varied seasonally, and seven day moving averages peaked above 30 °C in January, and fell to between 16 and 19 °C in June. The Zambezi River had the largest flood (6.14 m), followed by the Kavango River (3.80 m), while the Kwando River had the smallest flood (0.65 m). Total dissolved inorganic nitrogen concentrations were low in the Kavango and Zambezi Rivers (0.2 - 0.6 mg/l), and slightly higher in the Kwando River (<1 mg/l). Conductivity, total dissolved solids and total dissolved inorganic nitrogen concentrations decreased with the flood (dilution effect). Using biomass catch per unit effort data from experimental gillnets, fish community composition and assemblage structure was described, and differed between rivers in all hydrological seasons. In the Zambezi and Kavango rivers, fish assemblages varied with hydrological season as a result of the homogenising influence of the flood pulse, while in the Kwando River fish assemblages did not differ seasonally as flood pulses were small and often irregular. Differences in community composition were attributed to the abundance of Hydrocynus vittatus, a large bodied open water predator, in the Zambezi and Kavango rivers, and its relative absence in the Kwando River. Based on the results of the community composition, six focus species were chosen that were abundant and representative of the various feeding modes and life history strategies of the fish community. These were the striped robber Brycinus lateralis, sharptooth catfish Clarias gariepinus, blunttooth catfish Clarias ngamensis, African pike Hepsetus cuvieri, silver catfish Schilbe intermedius and purpleface largemouth Serranochromis macrocephalus. Stomach contents analysis was then used to compare the feeding ecology of the six example species between rivers. Clarias gariepinus, C. ngamensis and S. intermedius were piscivorous in the Zambezi and Kavango rivers, and preyed upon more invertebrates in the Kwando River, while Hepsetus cuvieri and S. macrocephalus were piscivorous in all three rivers. Differences in diets were attributed to seasonal prey abundance, with prey fishes abundant during falling and low water when the Zambezi and Kavango rivers were sampled, while invertebrates were abundant during rising and high water when the Kwando River was sampled. Prey mastication by B. lateralis made prey identification difficult. For other predators, the usefulness of stomach contents analysis for dietary descriptions was restricted by the high proportion of empty stomachs. As a result, whole ecosystem stable isotope analysis was used to gain a holistic understanding of the food web structure and fish feeding ecology of the three rivers. The Zambezi and Kavango river food webs were supported by C enriched resources such as C4 and C3 riparian vegetation from the floodplain, while the Kwando River food web was based on C depleted resources such as filamentous algae and aquatic macrophytes. The Zambezi River food web had a restricted nitrogen range, with reduced food chain length and the predators in this river did not occupy such elevated trophic positions compared to in the Kavango and Kwando river food webs. This was attributed to the overfishing of the primary and tertiary consumers in the Zambezi River, a phenomenon known to reduce food chain length. Focussing on predator communities, in the Zambezi and Kavango rivers, H. vittatus isotopic niche width was large and overlapped significantly with most other predators, while in the Kwando River predator niches were more distinct. This supported previously proposed hypotheses by describing H. vittatus as a dominant predator which excludes all other fishes by predation or competition. Despite the dominance of H. vittatus, C. gariepinus occupied the position of top predator in all three rivers, and information on the habitat use, feeding habits and trophic niches of the serranochromine cichlids added understanding of their ecology. Lastly, age was determined using sectioned sagittal otoliths for C. gariepinus, C. ngamensis, S. intermedius and S. macrocephalus and using whole asteriscus otoliths for B. lateralis and H. cuvieri, and growth was modelled using the von Bertalanffy growth equation. Growth performance was high in the Zambezi and Kavango rivers, and lower in the Kwando River, most likely in response to the varying flood magnitudes. Total mortality rates, estimated using Hoenig’s maximum-age based equation, were high in the Zambezi River as a result of the high fishing pressure on this river. Overall floodplain fish ecology in the Zambezi, Kavango and Kwando rivers was influenced by the flood pulse, as was predicted by the flood pulse concept. Periodic and equilibrium life history strategists were found to adapt either to the pulsing environments of the Zambezi and Kavango rivers, or to the more stable environment of the Kwando River, and large bodied, long lived periodic strategists such as C. gariepinus tended to be highly plastic and able to thrive in most conditions. Data also suggested that Zambezi River food web structure and fish mortality rates have been impacted by overfishing, for which more information is needed to conserve and manage this system. , Thesis (PhD) -- Faculty of Science, Ichthyology and Fisheries Science, 2018
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  • Date Issued: 2017

Contributions to the study of nonholonomic Riemannian manifolds

  • Authors: Barrett, Dennis Ian
  • Date: 2017
  • Subjects: Riemannian manifolds , Curvature , Lie groups , Geometry, Riemannian , Tensor fields
  • Language: English
  • Type: Doctoral theses , text
  • Identifier: http://hdl.handle.net/10962/7554 , vital:21272 , DOI https://doi.org/10.21504/10962/7554
  • Description: In this thesis we consider nonholonomic Riemannian manifolds, and in particular, left- invariant nonholonomic Riemannian structures on Lie groups. These structures are closely related to mechanical systems with (positive definite) quadratic Lagrangians and nonholo- nomic constraints linear in velocities. In the first chapter, we review basic concepts of non- holonomic Riemannian geometry, including the left-invariant structures. We also examine the class of left-invariant structures with so-called Cartan-Schouten connections. The second chapter investigates the curvature of nonholonomic Riemannian manifolds and the Schouten and Wagner curvature tensors. The Schouten tensor is canonically associated to every non- holonomic Riemannian structure (in particular, we use it to define isometric invariants for structures on three-dimensional manifolds). By contrast, the Wagner tensor is not generally intrinsic, but can be used to characterise flat structures (i.e., those whose associated parallel transport is path-independent). The third chapter considers equivalence of nonholonomic Rie- mannian manifolds, particularly up to nonholonomic isometry. We also introduce the notion of a nonholonomic Riemannian submanifold, and investigate the conditions under which such a submanifold inherits its geometry from the enveloping space. The latter problem involves the concept of a geodesically invariant distribution, and we show it is also related to the curvature. In the last chapter we specialise to three-dimensional nonholonomic Riemannian manifolds. We consider the equivalence of such structures up to nonholonomic isometry and rescaling, and classify the left-invariant structures on the (three-dimensional) simply connected Lie groups. We also characterise the flat structures in three dimensions, and then classify the flat structures on the simply connected Lie groups. Lastly, we consider three typical examples of (left-invariant) nonholonomic Riemannian structures on three-dimensional Lie groups, two of which arise from problems in classical mechanics (viz., the Chaplygin problem and the Suslov problem). , Thesis (PhD) -- Faculty of Science, Mathematics (Pure and Applied), 2017
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  • Date Issued: 2017

Forest resources income, poverty and income inequality: evidence from rural households in South-western Nigeria.

  • Authors: Azeez, Fatai Abiola
  • Date: 2017
  • Subjects: Poverty--Nigeria http://id.loc.gov/authorities/subjects/sh2010107919 , Rural poor--Nigeria , Income distribution--Nigeria
  • Language: English
  • Type: Doctoral theses , text
  • Identifier: http://hdl.handle.net/10353/19454 , vital:43119
  • Description: This thesis explores economic contributions of forest resources in relation to rural households’ welfare and inequality as well as forest resources management. The thesis consists of an introductory chapter, study locations, literature review on major concepts of the study and findings on different forest extraction activities impacts on rural households livelihood in South-western region Nigeria, which make up the rest of the thesis chapters. , Thesis (PhD) (Agric Econs) -- University of Fort Hare, 2017
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  • Date Issued: 2017

Outcome and impact assessment in the comprehensive evaluation of rural ICT projects in developing countries

  • Authors: Mtkoko, Hafeni Tulimewawa Wilhelmina Lyatenda
  • Date: 2017
  • Subjects: Uncatalogued
  • Language: English
  • Type: Doctoral theses , text
  • Identifier: http://hdl.handle.net/10962/64483 , vital:28548 , DOI 10.21504/10962/64483
  • Description: Despite existing literature that indicates that Information and communication technologies (ICTs) act as tools for social change and development, there is still limited empirical evidence that demonstrates this. An outcome and impact assessment based on a comprehensive (holistic) evaluation is deemed appropriate at a time when many ICT4D programmes fail to effectively demonstrate their impact towards rural development. A comprehensive evaluation is one that incorporates the evaluation of the need, design, implementation, outcome and impact, efficiency, and scalability of a programme. These stages make up the different domains of an evaluation lifecycle. The following study aims to develop an outcome and impact assessment framework for ICT4D programmes. It forms part of continuous research associated with the development of a rural ICT Comprehensive Evaluation framework. A theoretical approach, using Design Science and Weick’s theorizing process, was applied to investigate the development of a framework (design artefact) for outcome and impact assessment of ICT4D programmes. The theorizing process analysed existing outcome and impact assessment frameworks from social programmes, information systems/technology programmes, and ICT4D programmes. The output of the theorizing process proposes five critical themes of outcome and impact assessment of rural ICT4D programmes that should be assessed. These themes include: Strategic Value, Most Significant Change, Empowerment, Livelihoods, and Sustainability. To assess its utility, the framework was implemented in the Siyakhula Living Lab and Information and Communication Technology for Rural Education (ICT4RED) projects in South Africa. Through the application of the framework in real life ICT4D contexts, the lessons learned contributed to its revision and enhancement. The proposed framework aims to guide evaluators through the assessment of outcomes and impacts in ICT4D programmes. It provides a foundation and justification for the selected outcome and impact assessment themes that contribute to a comprehensive evaluation. An outcome and impact assessment that is informed by: baseline; needs assessment; programme theory assessment; and process assessment data, provides ICT4D evaluators and project stakeholders with meaningful outcome and impact feedback. Having such an approach to outcome and impact assessment ensures that the evaluation process is seen more holistically as part of the ICT4D project as a whole. , Thesis (PhD) -- Faculty of Commerce, Information Systems, 2017
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  • Date Issued: 2017

The impact of preventive family-strengthening programmes on family cohesion in the Buffalo City Metropolitan Municipality

  • Authors: Nyanhoto, Rumbidzai https://orcid.org/0000-0002-8505-9890
  • Date: 2017
  • Subjects: Family social work http://id.loc.gov/authorities/subjects/sh85047068 , Social service http://id.loc.gov/authorities/subjects/sh85124049 , Social problems http://id.loc.gov/authorities/subjects/sh85123988
  • Language: English
  • Type: Doctoral theses , text
  • Identifier: http://hdl.handle.net/10353/19487 , vital:43132
  • Description: This study focused on the impact which specific selected preventive family-strengthening programmes in the Buffalo City Metropolitan Municipality in the Eastern Cape province of South Africa have on improving family cohesion. A mixed methods approach was used to collect and analyse the data. The quantitative approach was the dominant one, while a qualitative approach was used to corroborate the quantitative findings. The quantitative data was collected through a survey. One hundred questionnaires were distributed among the beneficiaries of selected preventive family-strengthening programmes, which were parenting and marriage enrichment programmes. The beneficiaries of the programmes were selected through simple random sampling from the databases of the NGOs which had agreed to participate in the study. The qualitative component of the study produced results which supported the quantitative findings. This data was collected through in-depth interviews which were conducted with fifteen purposively selected social workers who were involved in the implementation of the selected preventive family-strengthening programmes. The findings of the study indicated that although both of the parenting and marriage enrichment programmes do cater for the common problems which affect families, in many cases they do not appear to meet the expectations of their intended beneficiaries. The study found that of the 10 objectives of the parenting programme, only 6 were being met. The programme was found to have achieved its objective of helping parents to understand the behaviour of their children, to be sensitive to their feelings, to develop their self-esteem, to communicate effectively with them, to build the family and to understand their rights with respect to grants. However, the beneficiaries who attended the programme were still unable to encourage self-discipline, to talk to their children about sexuality, to prevent instances of violence in their families or to deal with problems pertaining to child abuse, which represents a failure to meet four of the specific objectives of the programme. The marriage enrichment programme was found to have met its objectives to help couples to assess strength and growth areas, to strengthen their communication skills and to develop personal goals, goals for themselves as couples and goals for their families. The objectives of helping couples to resolve conflicts constructively, to resolve problems pertaining to their families of origin and develop workable budgets or financial plans between spouses were not being met, as the findings indicated that most of the beneficiaries were still struggling to meet these three specific objectives. Their failures in these domains could be attributed to the perceptions which their African culture had instilled in the beneficiaries. The results of the study also indicated that attending the preventive family-strengthening programmes had strengthened the cohesion of families. The discernible evidence of cohesion in the families of most of the beneficiaries who had attended the programmes was expressed through shared affection, a sense of loyalty, reciprocity, solidarity within families and shared decision making. On the basis of the findings, it is recommended that the government should provide adequate means to facilitate the implementation of the programmes, to facilitate partnerships among stakeholders and to ensure the continuous monitoring and evaluation of the programmes. It is also recommended that in order to meet the vii expectations of the beneficiaries of the programmes, needs assessments which engage the communities in the reviewing of the content of the programmes should be performed. In social work practice, the indigenisation of the programmes and the incorporation of the spill over hypothesis will promote their effective implementation. , Thesis (PhD) (Social Work) -- University of Fort Hare, 2017
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  • Date Issued: 2017

The Role of HOP in Emerin-Mediated Nuclear Structure

  • Authors: Kituyi, Sarah Naulikha
  • Date: 2017
  • Subjects: Heat shock proteins , Nuclear structure , Nuclear membranes , Cancer Treatment , Molecular chaperones , Cytoskeleton , Cytoplasm
  • Language: English
  • Type: Doctoral theses , text
  • Identifier: http://hdl.handle.net/10962/59230 , vital:27485 , DOI 10.21504/10962/59230
  • Description: A vital component of the integral nuclear membrane is emerin, a Lamin Emerin and Man1 (LEM) domain protein whose concentration determines the levels of partner proteins that together constitute the structure of the nuclear envelope. Deficiencies in any of these proteins causes the failure of the structure and assembly and disassembly of the nuclear envelope, which disrupts chromosome segregation and nuclear compartmentalization that are both associated with disease. Emerin also localizes in the cytoplasm where it is implicated in the structure of the cytoskeleton via interaction with tubulin and actin and thus its deficiency may equally contribute to the collapse of the cytoskeleton. The Hsp70-Hsp90 organising protein (Hop) functions as a cochaperone for entry of client proteins into the Hsp90 folding cycle. Hop is upregulated in cancer and regulates a number of cell biology processes via interactions with proteins independently of Hsp90. In a previous study using global whole cell mass spectrometry, emerin was shown to be the most significantly down regulated protein in Hop depleted cell lysates. In this current study, it was postulated that emerin interacts with Hop, and this interaction regulates the stability, and level of emerin in the nucleus which impacts on the structure of the nuclear envelope. We used HEK293T cell lines stably expressing shRNA against Hop, emerin and a non-targeting control alongside the over expression of Hop in HEK293 cells to determine the effect of Hop levels on emerin expression and vice versa via Western blotting. The effect of Hop on the localization of emerin was assessed via subcellullar fractionation and confocal microscopy, while the impact on the structure of the nucleus was determined by transmission electron microscopy (TEM). We established that the depletion of Hop using shRNA and the over expression of Hop both result in the proteasomal and lysosomal degradation of emerin. Co-immunoprecipitation assays confirmed that Hop and emerin are in a common complex, which was not dependent on the presence of Hsp90. Loss of Hop or emerin led to a deformation of nuclear structure and a statistically significant decrease in nuclear size compared to control cells and was associated with an increase in the levels of nuclear protein, lamin A-C. Loss of emerin and Hop resulted in increased long term cell survival, but only after restriction of the nucleus when the cells had migrated across a transwell membrane. Taken together, the results obtained suggest that Hop acts as a scaffold for the stabilization of emerin and that the effects of Hop depletion on the structure of the nucleus and long term survival are mediated via the depletion of emerin. , Thesis (PhD) -- Faculty of Science, Biochemistry and Microbiology, 2017
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  • Date Issued: 2017

Mediating teaching and learning in Foundation Phase Grade 3 Life Skills classrooms: role and use of learning and teaching support materials

  • Authors: Nqabeni, Pelokazi
  • Date: 2017-04
  • Subjects: teaching strategies
  • Language: English
  • Type: Doctoral theses , text
  • Identifier: http://hdl.handle.net/11260/9436 , vital:73535
  • Description: The study explored the role and use of learning and teaching support materials (LTSMs) to mediate teaching and learning in Life Skills Grade 3 classrooms of Dutywa District, in the province of the Eastern Cape, South Africa. It was prompted by a deep concern about the role and use of LTSMs to mediate teaching and learning in the Foundation Phase. While studies have been carried out on LTSMs in Foundation Phase, few studies have looked at the role and use of LTSMs to mediate teaching and learning in Life Skills Grade 3 classrooms. The study used a qualitative approach and is a multiple-case study of three purposively sampled schools from the rural areas. Teachers who participated in the study were Grade 3 teachers from the three schools. A pilot study was conducted in three schools with Foundation Phase, which were not used for the main study, for the purpose of validity and reliability. In this study, Cultural Historical Activity Theory (CHAT) was used as a framework to understand that actions are mediated by a complex network of socio-historical activities. I drew on the second generation of the activity theory, which has roots in Leontiev’s work on the Cultural Historical Activity Theory (CHAT), which provided both explanatory and analytical tools. I collected data using documents including journal entries, individual semi-structured interviews, and structured observations. The interviews were voice recorded with participant’s permission in order to present verbatim statements. In structured observations, I observed the role and use of LTSMs to mediate teaching and learning in Life Skills Grade 3 classrooms in the three selected schools. Content analysis guided the data analysis through themes derived from the subsidiary questions and coded for easy referencing. Data reporting took the form of thick description and verbatim quotations in line with the qualitative approach of the study. The study’s findings revealed non-availability of learning and teaching support materials in Life Skills subject. This suggests that intervention is needed by the Department of Education such as providing LTSMs which are essential in order to address the problem of not being used to mediate teaching and learning in classrooms. Language used in the role and use of learning and teaching support materials to mediate teaching and learning, lack of professional development, the effect of the non-examinable nature of Life Skills, and shortage and overcrowded classrooms were some of the aspects affecting the role and use of LTSMs to mediate teaching and learning in Life Skills Grade 3 classrooms. Based on the study findings, then I recommend that further research be conducted on strategies that could be employed to improve the role and use of LTSMs to mediate teaching and learning in Life Skills Grade 3 classrooms in a way that benefits learners. The Departmental officials including subject advisors, principals, teachers and learners should work together to improve the role and use of LTSMs to mediate teaching and learning in classrooms for quality education and to improve results in Foundation Phase. A model is proposed as the new knowledge for the existing literature on the role and use of LTSMs to mediate teaching and learning in classroom based on the theoretical framework and findings of this study. , Thesis (D.Ed) -- Faculty of Education Sciences, 2017
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  • Date Issued: 2017-04

Synthesis and biolgical screening of potential plasmodium falciparum DXR inhibitors

  • Authors: Adeyemi, Christiana Modupe
  • Date: 2017-04
  • Subjects: Plasmodium falciparum , Enzyme inhibitors , Malaria , Antimalarials , Drug development , Malaria -- Chemotherapy , Isopentenoids -- Synthesis , Fosmidomycin , 1-Deoxy-D-xylulose 5-phosphate
  • Language: English
  • Type: Doctoral theses , text
  • Identifier: http://hdl.handle.net/10962/61790 , vital:28060
  • Description: The non-mevalonate isoprenoid pathway, also known as the 1-deoxy-D-xylulose-5- phosphate DXP pathway, is absent in humans, but present in the anopheles mosquito responsible for the transmission of malaria. DXP reductoisomerase - a key enzyme in the DXP pathway in Plasmodium falciparum (PfDXR) has been identified as a target for the design of novel anti-malarial drugs. Fosmidomycin and its acetyl analogue (FR900098) are known to be inhibitors of PfDXR and, in this study, synthetic variations of the fosmidomycin scaffold have led to four series of novel analogues. Particular attention has been centred on the introduction of various substituted benzyl groups in each of these series in order to occupy a recently discovered vacant pocket in the PfDXR active-site and thus enhance ligand-enzyme binding. In the process 160 ligands and precursors have been prepared, no less than 119 of them novel. Fistly, a series of C-benzylated phosphonate esters and phosphonic acids were synthesised, in which the fosmidomycin hydroxamate Mg2+- coordinating moiety was replaced by an amide funtionality and the number of methylene groups in the “hydrophobic patch” between the phosphonate and the hydroxamate moiety was decreased from two to one. Several approaches were explored for this series, the most successful involving reaction of 3- substituted anilines with a-bromo propanoic acid in the presence of the coupling agent 1,1'- carbonyldiimidazole (CDI), followed by Michaelis-Arbuzov phosphonation using triethyl phosphite. Reaction of the resulting chiral phosphonate esters with bromotrimethylsilane gave the corresponding phosphonic acids in good yields. In order to obviate chirality issues, a second series of potential “reverse” fosmidomycin analogues was synthesised by replacing the methylene group adjacent to the the phosphonate moiety with a nitrogen atom. Deprotonation, alkylation and phosphorylation of various amines gave diethyl #-benzylphosphoramidate ester intermediate. Aza-Michael addition of these intermediates, followed by hydrolysis gave the corresponding carboxylic acids which could be reacted with different hydroxylamine hydrochloride derivatives to afford the novel hydroxamic acid derivatives in good yields. Thirdly, a series of a novel #-benzylated phosphoramidate derivatives were prepared as aza- FR900098 analogues. Alkylation of different amines using bromoacetalde-hyde diethylacetal gave a series of N-benzyl-2,2-diethoxyethylamine compounds, which were then elaborated via a futher six steps to afford novel #-benzylated phosphoramidate derivatives. Finally, in order to ensure syn-orientation of the donor atoms in the Mg - coordinating group and, at the same time, introduce conformational constraints in the ligand, the hydrophobic patch and the hydroxamate moiety were replaced by cyclic systems. Several approaches towards the synthesis of such conformationally constrained phosphoramidate analogues from maleic anhydride led to the unexpected isolation of an unprecedented acyclic furfuryl compound, and 1H NMR and DFT-level theoretical studies have been initiated to explore the reaction sequence. A series of #-benzylated phosphoramidate derivatives containing dihydroxy aromatic rings (as the conformationally constrained groups) to replace the hydroxamate moiety, were successfully obtained in six steps from the starting material, 3,4-dihydroxylbenzaldehyde. While in vitro assays have been conducted on all of the synthesised compounds, and some of the ligands show promising anti-malarial inhibitory activity - most especially the conformationally constrained cyclic #-benzylated phosphoramidate series. Interestingly, a number of these compounds has also shown activity against T.brucei - the causative agent of sleeping sickness. In silico docking studies of selected compounds has revealed the capacity of some of the ligands to bind effectively in the PfDXR active-site with the newly introduced benzyl group occupying the adjacent vacant pocket. The physico-chemical properties of these ligands were also explored in order to predict the oral-bioavailability. Most of the ligands obeyed the Lipinski rule of 5, while QSAR methods have been used in an attempt to correlate structural variations and calculated molecular properties with the bioassay data. , Thesis (PhD) -- Faculty of Science, Chemistry, 2017
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  • Date Issued: 2017-04

The role of the liberation movements’ archives in shaping history writing in a post-apartheid South Africa

  • Authors: Maamoe, Mosoabuli
  • Date: 2017-07
  • Subjects: Archives , Apartheid , National liberation movements--South Africa
  • Language: English
  • Type: Doctoral theses , text
  • Identifier: http://hdl.handle.net/10353/23045 , vital:55287
  • Description: This study offers a comprehensive examination of the Role of the Liberation Movements’ Archives in Shaping History Writing in a Post-Apartheid South Africa. It is based on the Liberation Archives housed at the National Heritage and Cultural Studies (NAHECS) at the University of Fort Hare, near the town of Alice in the Eastern Cape Province. A new narrative, grounded in the exploration and advantages of the use of these materials in their totality, given the new environment of research created under the new dispensation, has now become possible. The first chapter begins with an overview of the nature of archives in general and proceeds from there to consider the unique circumstances under which the different liberation movements of South Africa constructed their archives, and how these circumstances affected the nature of the materials preserved therein. One key point made here is that the liberation movement, as it spearheaded the struggle against apartheid, had already positioned itself as a “Government in Waiting,” convinced of the justness of its cause, and of the ultimate defeat of apartheid leading to he political seizure of power by the people. Hence, it created struggle materials seen as vehicles for the realisation and attainment of this objective. For this purpose, the appropriate housekeeping, viewing, consultation and access is absolutely relevant. The second chapter looks at the changing environment in which the repatriation of the struggle archives was implemented, and the decision to place them specifically at the University of Fort Hare and challenges. The third chapter narrates the difficulties encountered following the location of documents at Fort Hare, contestations, and contradictions between the stakeholders and the ultimate resolutions. The fourth and longest chapter goes to the heart of this thesis which dispel the myths created by the colonists and their historians intended to obscure the oppressed into embracing a historiography of South Africa that crossly flawed and distorted, silent and ignorant of reflecting early African societal developments which were evolving undisturbed at their own rate under socio-cultural and geographical conditions prior the advent of colonialism and the consequences. Therefore, based on these circumstances one can see that the installation of the new dispensation was not the end of the struggle, but the opening of a new chapter, the struggle against the conceptual legacy of apartheid and its vestiges. An evaluation of the consultation and exploitation of the archival collections comprises this subject in the last chapter of this study. Perusing them, one learns and realizes that the objective of the liberation movements was immense, to reconnect the marginalised of their once trampled and vilified history in order to inspire and empower them to reclaim their lost sense of belonging, identity, pride and to restore their humanity. This has been vindicated by the wide range of researchers and viewers from home and afar who have turned out to consult the archives in order to unpack the complexities of the South African history and that of the struggle. The information they contain serve as guides of addressing such complexities to arrest current transitional challenges, and offer solutions for some in articulating a need of building a new cohesive nation in a post-apartheid era. This is precisely what the liberation movement had in mind when it took a decision to gather together the struggle materials and have them repatriated for preservation and access purposes. It was not just generosity on its part, but also a display of the patriotic and passionate responsibility to the oppressed in particular and humanity in general to fathom and unpack the complexities of the South African historiography. , Thesis (PhD) -- Faculty of Social Science and Humanities,2021
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  • Date Issued: 2017-07

Perceptions Of School Based Support Teams About Providing Support To Foundation Phase Teachers In Two Butterworth Primary Schools, Eastern Cape

  • Authors: Luningo, Mziwonke
  • Date: 2017-11
  • Subjects: School support teams
  • Language: English
  • Type: Doctoral theses , text
  • Identifier: http://hdl.handle.net/11260/6668 , vital:47202
  • Description: The Policy on Inclusive Education acknowledges that all children can learn if they are given the necessary support. In order to achieve this goal, the Department of Education (DoE) introduced the establishment of School-Based Support Teams (SBSTs) whose main function is to support teaching and learning in schools. Nonetheless, there seems to be challenges on how to support learners experiencing barriers to learning among the members of the SBST. The aim of this study is to explore the perceptions of the SBSTs about providing support to the Foundation Phase (FP) teachers in two Butterworth Primary Schools in the Eastern Cape. This study used the qualitative mode of inquiry and a case study as a research design. Face-to face semi-structured interviews, observations and document analysis were used to collect the data from the SBSTs about their perceptions in providing support to the FP teachers. Data was analysed by identifying common themes. The findings revealed that the SBSTs do not have enough knowledge and skills on how to support the FP teachers. Some of the challenges they cited include inadequate training, lack of communication, overcrowding in classrooms, lack of support from the parents and from the Department of Education. In an attempt to alleviate the above raised challenges, a model has been proposed. , Thesis (D.Ed) -- Faculty of Education Sciences, 2020
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  • Date Issued: 2017-11

Perceptions of School Based Support Teams about Providing Support to Foundation Phase Teachers in Two Butterworth Primary Schools, Eastern Cape

  • Authors: Luningo, Mziwonke
  • Date: 2017-11
  • Subjects: School Support Teams
  • Language: English
  • Type: Doctoral theses , text
  • Identifier: http://hdl.handle.net/11260/6653 , vital:47204
  • Description: The Policy on Inclusive Education acknowledges that all children can learn if they are given the necessary support. In order to achieve this goal, the Department of Education (DoE) introduced the establishment of School-Based Support Teams (SBSTs) whose main function is to support teaching and learning in schools. Nonetheless, there seems to be challenges on how to support learners experiencing barriers to learning among the members of the SBST. The aim of this study is to explore the perceptions of the SBSTs about providing support to the Foundation Phase (FP) teachers in two Butterworth Primary Schools in the Eastern Cape. This study used the qualitative mode of inquiry and a case study as a research design. Face-to face semi-structured interviews, observations and document analysis were used to collect the data from the SBSTs about their perceptions in providing support to the FP teachers. Data was analysed by identifying common themes. The findings revealed that the SBSTs do not have enough knowledge and skills on how to support the FP teachers. Some of the challenges they cited include inadequate training, lack of communication, overcrowding in classrooms, lack of support from the parents and from the Department of Education. In an attempt to alleviate the above raised challenges, a model has been proposed. , Thesis (D.Ed) -- Faculty of Education Sciences, 2017
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  • Date Issued: 2017-11

An evaluation of the implementation of alternative care as stipulated in the South African Children's Act

  • Authors: Herselman, Marinei https://orcid.org/0000-0002-6621-5392
  • Date: 2018-01
  • Subjects: Children's rights -- South Africa , Orphans -- Legal status, laws, etc. -- Africa , Foster home care
  • Language: English
  • Type: Doctoral theses , text
  • Identifier: http://hdl.handle.net/10353/29215 , vital:77613
  • Description: Each day, the safety and well-being of some children across South Africa are threatened by child abuse and neglect. While the developmental approach to social welfare services is widely endorsed by government policy in South Africa, there are significant gaps between these policies and the actual implementation thereof. The process of implementing alternative care and returning the child to the family in the shortest possible time is crucial for the child’s development. Social workers are responsible for providing children with safety in the form of a safe environment of care, foster care or Child and Youth Care Centres. In the absence of clear guidelines, social workers continue to experience chronic challenges in implementing this approach. As this research is undertaken within the social developmental approach to child welfare, the researcher elevated the implementation of alternative care and deemed it necessary to include Bronfenbrenner’s ecological systems approach as a conceptual theoretical framework as part of the study. This study intended to evaluate the implementation of alternative care in the Eastern Cape Province of South Africa and to make recommendations on how the system might be improved. In evaluating the implementation challenges of the social developmental welfare approach, the ecological systems theory of Bronfenbrenner assisted in developing a conceptual framework to understand the interrelatedness between the systems infused with the elements of the developmental approach. A qualitative approach was employed and three data collection methods a semi-structured interview schedule, a focus group discussion and in-depth interviews) were utilized. Data was collected from participants who were social workers, biological parents of children in alternative care, children in Child and Youth Care Centres and foster and temporary safe care parents. Rich answers to questions were provided enabling the researcher to understand the complexity of the phenomenon that was being studied. A thematic analysis was used to analyse the data. The study revealed that there appears to be a lack of understanding of what constitutes the child’s best interests; secondly, that there is a need to improve the current implementation of alternative care and to adjust and rethink current policy and implementation practices for improvement of services rendered. Thirdly, South Africa has embraced the developmental social welfare approach to service delivery for marginalised and vulnerable groups however, when its implementation is evaluated, as it has been in this research, it becomes evident that it is mired in infrastructural and resource problems and that the entire system is somewhat crippled. The study concluded that alternative care is not fully conducted within a developmental framework as envisaged and recommends that the lack of social worker involvement in the process need to be addressed by decreasing caseloads and providing mandated training on the roles and responsibilities of the social worker involved in the process. In any organisation, the newly employed staff should undergo intensive training to equip them with working skills to ensure effectiveness and efficiency in terms of the job required. Furthermore, it is recommended that foster care services be divided into a section for the orphan population and those who is in need of statutory interventions. Infrastructural and human resources call for better cooperation and networking between the Departments of Social Development, NGO’s and other service providers. Effective intervention strategies should be implemented that will educate and empower social workers in the field of child protection services. It is recommended that tailor-made approach be implemented specifically for children in alternative care, separating the statutory aspects of child placement from other aspects such as prevention and early intervention services. The study has ended with suggestions for areas of further research for the benefit of the social work profession and the clients it seeks to serve. , Thesis (Ph.D.) -- Faculty of Social Sciences and Humanities, 2018
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  • Date Issued: 2018-01

Assessment of the human health implications of climate variability in East London, Eastern Cape, South Africa

  • Authors: Orimoloye, Israel Ropo https://orcid.org/0000-0001-5058-2799
  • Date: 2018
  • Subjects: Climatic changes http://id.loc.gov/authorities/subjects/sh85027037
  • Language: English
  • Type: Doctoral theses , text
  • Identifier: http://hdl.handle.net/10353/19715 , vital:43171
  • Description: Impacts associated with climate variability and extreme heat are already obvious in varying degrees and expected to be disruptive in the near future across the globe especially in the urban regions. Urban areas have distinctive features that leave their residents and properties vulnerable to extreme climate events. Global temperatures continue to change, reaching new levels almost every year for the past two decades. However, even though the causes are debated it is evident that climate variability is real. Climate variability and disaster risk are threats to human health that adversely reinforce each other. Better knowledge on the association between climate change, variability and extreme weather-related illness is needed and can aid strategies to reduce vulnerabilities. The impacts of climate variability on the health of residents in East London (EL) area in the Eastern Cape Province, South Africa were explored through four interdependent research segments. The first section examined the climate variability and urban surface thermal characteristics implication on human health using Remote Sensing (RS) and Geographic Information System (GIS) techniques. Remote sensing was used to assess the Land Surface Temperature (LST) and estimated Radiation (R) of East London area from Landsat Thematic Mapper (TM) images for 1986, 1996, 2006 as well as from Operational Land Imager (OLI) and Thermal Infrared Sensor (TIRS) for 2016 spanning a period of 30 years. Rapid urbanization and land cover changes in this area have contributed significantly to this drastic change in the natural land surface characteristics (increased land surface temperature and surface solar radiation). For instance, vegetation cover declined by about 358.812km2 while built-up areas increased by 175.473km2 during this period which correlates with the area thermal characteristics changes. Radiation levels also increased over the years with values exceeding the global solar radiation index. Exposure to increased surface radiation poses risks of heat stroke, skin cancer and heart disease to the local population. Consequently, this study provides pertinent information on human health sustainability and epidemiological case management. The second part explored past temperature and humidity trends (1986-2016) and projects future trends (2017-2030). The historical data of meteorological variables were obtained from the archives of the South African Weather Service and analyzed using the ordinary least square regression model in GRETL (GNU Regression Econometric and Time-series Library) statistical software. This study discovered a local consistency between models and the observations add to existing knowledge and this is crucial in knowing the shifts in climatic change as well as recognizing variability and its conflicting effects on human health, environment, agriculture, ecological sustainability and socioeconomic status in the region. The third segment assessed the potential impacts of climate variability on health using existing heat indices during the study period. The results demonstrated that in East London from 1986 to 2016 during summer and autumn (December to May) of various years exceeded high heat index values. It is obvious that summer and autumn months are more vulnerable to heat extreme and humidex. The humidex and Heat Index (HI) increased annually by 0.03 percent and 0.9 percent respectively throughout the study period. The increment in the various indices showed highly significant ill-health and environmental impacts on humans especially with prolonged exposure. The last segment appraised the association between climatic elements and epidemiological incidences of the study area between 2012 and 2016. The epidemiology incidences data were obtained from the archives of the Cecilia Makiwane Hospital in East London area and National Tertiary Service Grant (NTSG) database for the period. The results have showed that there exists significant effects of climate variability on the health of East London residents and these have been identified to have negative impacts on health of the people in the area. This study also revealed noticeable impacts of extreme heat on human health and a positive correlation between meteorological components (HI and temperature) and epidemiological cases (cardiovascular, skin cancer and diarrhea) during the study period. , Thesis (PhD) (Geography) -- University of Fort Hare, 2018
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  • Date Issued: 2018
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