A systematic risk management model for construction project management: a case study of the new infrastructure project in the University of Mpumalanga
- Authors: Lukhele, Themba Mfanafuthi
- Date: 2023-04
- Subjects: Risk management , Construction industry -- Management , Infrastructure -- University of Mpumalanga
- Language: English
- Type: Doctoral's theses , Thesis
- Identifier: http://hdl.handle.net/10948/60479 , vital:65609
- Description: The construction industry has become the significant player in the economy of many developed and developing countries in the world. The industry contributes to the Gross Domestic Product (GDP) and employment rate of many nations. As such, the industry is the engine for the economic development and growth across the world. Recently, African countries have received global attention due to its calls for massive infrastructure development and maintenance thereof. Accordingly, the South African government has adopted a National Infrastructure Development Plan (NIDP), which seeks not only to transform the economic landscape of the country, but also to support the integration of the African economies through infrastructure development. To ensure that the execution of these infrastructure projects is successfully delivered in terms of time, cost, and scope; project risk management in the construction industry has become an important area of interest in the execution and delivery of the infrastructure projects. However, the constantly increasing complexity and dynamics in the delivery of construction projects have serious effects on the risk management processes during the execution of the project. In practice, risk methods and techniques have proven to be unrealistic when using the traditional risk management approach in the context of the complexity and dynamic environments wherein construction projects are delivered. Worryingly, project management practitioners in engineering and construction projects still lack the holistic and systematic insight and understanding of construction projects when applying the risk management procedures in the complex and dynamic projects environments. As a result, there are growing reports of unsatisfactory delivery of construction projects in terms of time, cost, quality, and environmental objectives. In this regard, the call for embracing the systems thinking paradigm as the alternative approach that will provide more clarity in dealing with the complex management challenges and which will gradually substitute the traditional theoretical approach of dealing with construction project management, is becoming prominent. Against this background, this study uses a multiple case study approach to explore how a systematic risk management approach could be developed and applied towards successful delivery of construction projects, and subsequently to propose a systematic risk management model that is designed to depict and grasp the underlying complexities and dynamics embedded ix | P a g e in construction projects. The choice of the case study design is founded on its utility and appropriateness for in-depth investigations into phenomena in its context as well as its usefulness for exploratory studies. Therefore, to explore the risk management phenomenon in real-life settings, the unit of analysis in this study was based on three construction projects built in one of the new Institutions of Higher Learning in South Africa during the period between 2017 and 2019. Notwithstanding the unique characteristics of these projects, the complexity and dynamic environments of these projects also emanated from the facts that i) the successful delivery of the projects was a predecessor activity to the academic schedule and activities; ii) this was one of the first universities to be built by the democratic Republic of South Africa; and, iii) the construction contract used for the delivery of the construction projects is relatively new to the professionals in the country’s construction industry. This qualitative case study design has its backbone in the constructivism philosophical paradigm which is underpinned by the ontology that there are multiple realities as conceptualized, experienced, and perceived by the people in their real-life situations or natural settings. Accordingly, the construction professionals, projects’ documents as well as field work observations were purposively chosen as the essential and reliable methods of data collection for this case study. For analysis, a conventional content data analysis methodology was applied on the empirical data that was obtained from the multiple data sources to provide a clearer understanding of the contexts in which the risk management for construction projects is performed. Accordingly, a qualitative data analysis software system called MAXQDA was used to enable the performance of data coding, managing coding, and eventually the retrieving of the coded segments in a form of visual models and summary tables. Ultimately, the qualitative content analysis approach in this thesis was performed in terms of a ‘critical filter of thick description’ which involved a balanced approach between the deductive analysis and the inductive analysis processes. With the assistance of the MAXQDA, performing the multiple levels coding and analysis processes in this thesis has not only been efficient, but also more reliable. To shed insight into the empirical findings of the study, a hybrid theoretical framework has been applied in the discussion and interpretation of the findings. The theoretical framework of this study is underpinned by the complexity theory and the theory of systems engineering. The applicability of these theories in this study is essential in providing a x | P a g e systematic and logical explanation of the practices of risk management in construction projects and further helps to explain why particular events occurred in the processes of risk management. Eventually, the theoretical framework has enabled the designing and developing of a systematic risk management model that will assist in depicting and grasping the underlying complexities while supporting proactive decision making in the delivery of construction projects. To this end, this study has made several major contributions in three multiple folds in the body of knowledge. Firstly, this study makes theoretical contributions by developing an empirically underpinned systematic risk management model which provide more clarity on comprehending the multifaceted and complex risk factors embedded in construction projects. Secondly, the qualitative case study approach and the associated analysis methods thereof in this thesis provides novelty and lays the groundwork for future research and methodological replicability in another similar phenomenon elsewhere in the world. Thirdly, this study has gone some way towards expanding the understanding and the basis for managerial decision making in relation to front-end planning and proactive approach for risk management, and eventually to improve projects’ performances on cost, time, scope, and environmental sustainability. In this regard, the key practical implication for project management practitioners is that the adoption and embracing of the systematic and holistic thinking approach in the risk management processes could enhance the successful delivery of construction projects. In the literature, there is paucity and need for more research into the exploration and analysis of the integration and interplay between the systems engineering and complexity perspectives and the other knowledge areas in the PMBOK. In conclusion, this thesis therefore argues that to address the deficiencies in risk management practices during construction projects’ delivery, the solution requires a paradigm shift from the traditional linear approach which, by design, overlooks the complexities, non-linearity and interdependences of the elements that are underpinning and characterizing the nature of the contemporary construction projects. Therefore, this thesis supports the increasingly emerging debate on the discourse that the superior traditional and linear approaches do not solve the current problems, and as such they should be replaced with the systems and holistic thinking approach that will provide more clarity in dealing with the complex management challenges in contemporary construction projects. , Thesis (PhD) -- Faculty of Engineering, Built environment and Information Technology, School of the built Environment 2023
- Full Text:
- Date Issued: 2023-04
- Authors: Lukhele, Themba Mfanafuthi
- Date: 2023-04
- Subjects: Risk management , Construction industry -- Management , Infrastructure -- University of Mpumalanga
- Language: English
- Type: Doctoral's theses , Thesis
- Identifier: http://hdl.handle.net/10948/60479 , vital:65609
- Description: The construction industry has become the significant player in the economy of many developed and developing countries in the world. The industry contributes to the Gross Domestic Product (GDP) and employment rate of many nations. As such, the industry is the engine for the economic development and growth across the world. Recently, African countries have received global attention due to its calls for massive infrastructure development and maintenance thereof. Accordingly, the South African government has adopted a National Infrastructure Development Plan (NIDP), which seeks not only to transform the economic landscape of the country, but also to support the integration of the African economies through infrastructure development. To ensure that the execution of these infrastructure projects is successfully delivered in terms of time, cost, and scope; project risk management in the construction industry has become an important area of interest in the execution and delivery of the infrastructure projects. However, the constantly increasing complexity and dynamics in the delivery of construction projects have serious effects on the risk management processes during the execution of the project. In practice, risk methods and techniques have proven to be unrealistic when using the traditional risk management approach in the context of the complexity and dynamic environments wherein construction projects are delivered. Worryingly, project management practitioners in engineering and construction projects still lack the holistic and systematic insight and understanding of construction projects when applying the risk management procedures in the complex and dynamic projects environments. As a result, there are growing reports of unsatisfactory delivery of construction projects in terms of time, cost, quality, and environmental objectives. In this regard, the call for embracing the systems thinking paradigm as the alternative approach that will provide more clarity in dealing with the complex management challenges and which will gradually substitute the traditional theoretical approach of dealing with construction project management, is becoming prominent. Against this background, this study uses a multiple case study approach to explore how a systematic risk management approach could be developed and applied towards successful delivery of construction projects, and subsequently to propose a systematic risk management model that is designed to depict and grasp the underlying complexities and dynamics embedded ix | P a g e in construction projects. The choice of the case study design is founded on its utility and appropriateness for in-depth investigations into phenomena in its context as well as its usefulness for exploratory studies. Therefore, to explore the risk management phenomenon in real-life settings, the unit of analysis in this study was based on three construction projects built in one of the new Institutions of Higher Learning in South Africa during the period between 2017 and 2019. Notwithstanding the unique characteristics of these projects, the complexity and dynamic environments of these projects also emanated from the facts that i) the successful delivery of the projects was a predecessor activity to the academic schedule and activities; ii) this was one of the first universities to be built by the democratic Republic of South Africa; and, iii) the construction contract used for the delivery of the construction projects is relatively new to the professionals in the country’s construction industry. This qualitative case study design has its backbone in the constructivism philosophical paradigm which is underpinned by the ontology that there are multiple realities as conceptualized, experienced, and perceived by the people in their real-life situations or natural settings. Accordingly, the construction professionals, projects’ documents as well as field work observations were purposively chosen as the essential and reliable methods of data collection for this case study. For analysis, a conventional content data analysis methodology was applied on the empirical data that was obtained from the multiple data sources to provide a clearer understanding of the contexts in which the risk management for construction projects is performed. Accordingly, a qualitative data analysis software system called MAXQDA was used to enable the performance of data coding, managing coding, and eventually the retrieving of the coded segments in a form of visual models and summary tables. Ultimately, the qualitative content analysis approach in this thesis was performed in terms of a ‘critical filter of thick description’ which involved a balanced approach between the deductive analysis and the inductive analysis processes. With the assistance of the MAXQDA, performing the multiple levels coding and analysis processes in this thesis has not only been efficient, but also more reliable. To shed insight into the empirical findings of the study, a hybrid theoretical framework has been applied in the discussion and interpretation of the findings. The theoretical framework of this study is underpinned by the complexity theory and the theory of systems engineering. The applicability of these theories in this study is essential in providing a x | P a g e systematic and logical explanation of the practices of risk management in construction projects and further helps to explain why particular events occurred in the processes of risk management. Eventually, the theoretical framework has enabled the designing and developing of a systematic risk management model that will assist in depicting and grasping the underlying complexities while supporting proactive decision making in the delivery of construction projects. To this end, this study has made several major contributions in three multiple folds in the body of knowledge. Firstly, this study makes theoretical contributions by developing an empirically underpinned systematic risk management model which provide more clarity on comprehending the multifaceted and complex risk factors embedded in construction projects. Secondly, the qualitative case study approach and the associated analysis methods thereof in this thesis provides novelty and lays the groundwork for future research and methodological replicability in another similar phenomenon elsewhere in the world. Thirdly, this study has gone some way towards expanding the understanding and the basis for managerial decision making in relation to front-end planning and proactive approach for risk management, and eventually to improve projects’ performances on cost, time, scope, and environmental sustainability. In this regard, the key practical implication for project management practitioners is that the adoption and embracing of the systematic and holistic thinking approach in the risk management processes could enhance the successful delivery of construction projects. In the literature, there is paucity and need for more research into the exploration and analysis of the integration and interplay between the systems engineering and complexity perspectives and the other knowledge areas in the PMBOK. In conclusion, this thesis therefore argues that to address the deficiencies in risk management practices during construction projects’ delivery, the solution requires a paradigm shift from the traditional linear approach which, by design, overlooks the complexities, non-linearity and interdependences of the elements that are underpinning and characterizing the nature of the contemporary construction projects. Therefore, this thesis supports the increasingly emerging debate on the discourse that the superior traditional and linear approaches do not solve the current problems, and as such they should be replaced with the systems and holistic thinking approach that will provide more clarity in dealing with the complex management challenges in contemporary construction projects. , Thesis (PhD) -- Faculty of Engineering, Built environment and Information Technology, School of the built Environment 2023
- Full Text:
- Date Issued: 2023-04
Re-industrialisation of the Nelson Mandela Metropole regional economy
- Authors: Sipuka, Msingathi
- Date: 2022-04
- Subjects: Economic growth , Economic development -- Nelson Mandela
- Language: English
- Type: Doctoral's theses , text
- Identifier: http://hdl.handle.net/10948/58190 , vital:58675
- Description: The main assumption underlying this study is that structural change brings about growth and in turn translates to poverty reduction through the expansion of labour absorbing economic sectors and employment in higher productivity non-primary sectors. Since labour productivity in non-primary sectors is higher, the large-scale migration of labour out of primary activity should raise labour incomes and result in poverty reducing growth. Economic growth driven by structural change in income and employment should therefore aid and promote poverty reduction. Notwithstanding the important role of the national sphere of government in setting the industrial policy framework in the country, this research places emphasis on the role and contribution of regional economies in translating active industrial policy into implementation and development results. In South Africa the rise in poverty can be partially attributed to an economy that is not growing at the required rates needed to, among others, create the necessary employment opportunities at scale. The ability to adequately respond to these national development challenges depends on key economic regions in the country unlocking growth in several economic sectors, in particular the manufacturing sector which is described as labour-intensive and with a high multiplier effect on the economy. To this end, the capacity of regional governments working with regional stakeholders to plan, coordinate, implement and provide oversight over integrated regional industrialisation strategies and implementation plans becomes pivotal. Equally, the Nelson Mandela Metropole, which is the geographic area of focus for this study, has identified and prioritised the growth of the manufacturing sector as one of its economic priorities, reflecting its ambition of driving a programme of re-industrialisation and positioning the region as one of the country’s industrial centres. The main proposition of this study is that the Nelson Mandela Metropole, like other regional economies in the country, is not able to drive the programme of re-industrialisation. The reason for this inability is that it does not have a coherent framework of levers that are at the disposal of regional governments and regional stakeholders to design and implement a programme of re-industrialisation within the ii context of a globalised economy but that takes into consideration national peculiarities of the manufacturing sector. The fact that the regions do not have an integrated regional implementation plan for reviving the manufacturing sector creates an eco-system where there is limited coordination of the actions of different role players, in turn limiting collaboration within the region. The research has identified a gap in the literature between the two areas that impact on this study, namely, industrial development and regional economic development. The study navigates the literature across these two areas to emerge with a synthesised framework of strategic enablers for industrialisation at a regional level. These strategic enablers can be used by regional governments to develop an integrated regional framework to drive the industrialisation programme at this level. With specific reference to the Nelson Mandela Metropole, the study used a mixed methods research approach to assess regional actors’ views on the strategic enablers identified through the literature. A survey was employed to extract data from manufacturing enterprises in the region on the perceived constraints to the growth of the manufacturing sector. The quantitative data were complemented by qualitative data collected through semi-structured interviews with key regional informants. The results of the study reveal some of the general weaknesses that confront the region as it pursues regional industrialisation. Importantly, the study uses the identified regional strategic enablers to develop a framework that can be used by regional actors to design an implementation plan. , Thesis (PhD) -- Faculty of Business and Economic science, 2022
- Full Text:
- Date Issued: 2022-04
- Authors: Sipuka, Msingathi
- Date: 2022-04
- Subjects: Economic growth , Economic development -- Nelson Mandela
- Language: English
- Type: Doctoral's theses , text
- Identifier: http://hdl.handle.net/10948/58190 , vital:58675
- Description: The main assumption underlying this study is that structural change brings about growth and in turn translates to poverty reduction through the expansion of labour absorbing economic sectors and employment in higher productivity non-primary sectors. Since labour productivity in non-primary sectors is higher, the large-scale migration of labour out of primary activity should raise labour incomes and result in poverty reducing growth. Economic growth driven by structural change in income and employment should therefore aid and promote poverty reduction. Notwithstanding the important role of the national sphere of government in setting the industrial policy framework in the country, this research places emphasis on the role and contribution of regional economies in translating active industrial policy into implementation and development results. In South Africa the rise in poverty can be partially attributed to an economy that is not growing at the required rates needed to, among others, create the necessary employment opportunities at scale. The ability to adequately respond to these national development challenges depends on key economic regions in the country unlocking growth in several economic sectors, in particular the manufacturing sector which is described as labour-intensive and with a high multiplier effect on the economy. To this end, the capacity of regional governments working with regional stakeholders to plan, coordinate, implement and provide oversight over integrated regional industrialisation strategies and implementation plans becomes pivotal. Equally, the Nelson Mandela Metropole, which is the geographic area of focus for this study, has identified and prioritised the growth of the manufacturing sector as one of its economic priorities, reflecting its ambition of driving a programme of re-industrialisation and positioning the region as one of the country’s industrial centres. The main proposition of this study is that the Nelson Mandela Metropole, like other regional economies in the country, is not able to drive the programme of re-industrialisation. The reason for this inability is that it does not have a coherent framework of levers that are at the disposal of regional governments and regional stakeholders to design and implement a programme of re-industrialisation within the ii context of a globalised economy but that takes into consideration national peculiarities of the manufacturing sector. The fact that the regions do not have an integrated regional implementation plan for reviving the manufacturing sector creates an eco-system where there is limited coordination of the actions of different role players, in turn limiting collaboration within the region. The research has identified a gap in the literature between the two areas that impact on this study, namely, industrial development and regional economic development. The study navigates the literature across these two areas to emerge with a synthesised framework of strategic enablers for industrialisation at a regional level. These strategic enablers can be used by regional governments to develop an integrated regional framework to drive the industrialisation programme at this level. With specific reference to the Nelson Mandela Metropole, the study used a mixed methods research approach to assess regional actors’ views on the strategic enablers identified through the literature. A survey was employed to extract data from manufacturing enterprises in the region on the perceived constraints to the growth of the manufacturing sector. The quantitative data were complemented by qualitative data collected through semi-structured interviews with key regional informants. The results of the study reveal some of the general weaknesses that confront the region as it pursues regional industrialisation. Importantly, the study uses the identified regional strategic enablers to develop a framework that can be used by regional actors to design an implementation plan. , Thesis (PhD) -- Faculty of Business and Economic science, 2022
- Full Text:
- Date Issued: 2022-04
A reconceptualised perspective of the six-step financial planning process
- Authors: Kinsman, Estonia Jasmine
- Date: 2023-04
- Subjects: Financial planning industry , Affluent consumers
- Language: English
- Type: Doctoral's theses , text
- Identifier: http://hdl.handle.net/10948/60786 , vital:67404
- Description: The globally applied six-step financial planning process which is used by CFP® professionals to provide financial advice is designed to ensure that the financial advice is suitable, based on the needs of the consumer. However, given the diverse cultures in South Africa, this study argues that the six-step financial planning process (as it is currently applied) may not be suitable, as it requires contextualisation based on the unique needs of South African consumers. The various population groups in South Africa have their own sets of beliefs, values and cultural practices, and thus view aspects such as wealth (the creation, preservation and transference thereof), marriage, death and retirement, differently. Thus, financial planners who are not knowledgeable about different cultures, diverse financial needs, or the provisions of customary law, may not be able to provide suitable advice. The primary objective of the study is thus to reconceptualise the six-step financial planning process to be more inclusive, in order to better serve the financial planning needs of South African consumers. A comprehensive literature review was undertaken to provide the context and framework within which the reconceptualisation of the six-step financial planning process could be approached. An investigation of the financial planning environment and the financial planning process was completed to determine how the six-step financial planning process is currently applied in the South African context. Further, an investigation of culture and the cultural dimensions – power distance, uncertainty avoidance, individualism, masculinity, timeorientation and indulgence – was conducted, as it was clear that these cultural dimensions cannot be generalised to all South African consumers, due to the large degree of diversity within the population. It was also determined that there are various factors that contribute towards the cultural diversity of South African consumers, which may influence their financial needs and the type of financial advice that is required. These factors include race and ethnicity, marital regimes, procreation and family structures. To further illustrate the diversity of financial needs of South African consumers, a discussion of Black households and the application of financial planning legislation and customary law was provided. Black households are considered to be under-serviced, historically financially excluded, have low levels of financial literacy, and are mostly collectivist in nature. It is for these reasons that Black households are the focus of the study. Some of the financial needs that vi are common among Black households include land and property ownership, family wealth, family homesteads, lobola capital and ‘black tax’ expenditure. Given that the literature review established how the six-step financial planning process is currently applied, an interpretivist research philosophy was adopted in order to gain a deeper understanding of how the six-step financial planning process should be applied in a South African context. Further, the research approach in the context of this study is an inductive one, as the six-step financial planning process is an existing theory that was reconceptualised by considering the perceptions and experiences of 16 CFP® professionals and 14 Black South African households. A mono-method qualitative research methodology was used, with a single qualitative method of data collection (semi-structured interviews), and a single qualitative method of data analysis (latent content analysis). The findings of the study were used to provide a reconceptualised perspective of the six-step financial planning process which takes into consideration the fact that the image of a financial planner plays an important role when trying to establish a professional relationship with a client. The findings reveal that Black consumers in particular, generally have a negative image of a financial planner, which is influenced not only by their perceptions of a financial planner, but also by their self-perception of their own financial situation. The reconceptualised perspective of the six-step financial planning process also incorporates the finding that discussions around personal finances are considered impolite and taboo among the Black African community, which influences their ability to talk about these topics, trust a financial planner, and establish a professional relationship with them. The findings also reveal that a racial and gender bias exists among Black consumers – they prefer interacting with a White male financial planner, as they perceive them to be more competent and have more experience with finances and wealth accumulation. It was also found that CFP® professionals believe that having cultural awareness and cultural intelligence can reduce bias in the way that questions are asked, so as not to offend the client. Thus, cultural awareness was also incorporated into the reconceptualised perspective of the six-step financial planning process. It was also noted that it is important to ascertain clients’ level of financial literacy during the information gathering stage. Black consumers opined that in this regard, it is the role of the financial planner to both ascertain and ensure their clients’ financial literacy, and to offer financial education to ensure client understanding. vii Although the premise of the study is that South African consumers have unique financial needs due to the high degree of diversity among the population, it was the opinion of CFP® professionals that Black consumers, in particular, do not have unique financial needs – instead, they define their needs differently, have different exposures to financial resources to address their financial needs, and also prioritise and satisfy their needs differently. The prioritised financial needs of Black households (sub-themes) that emerged from both participant groups include the need to make provision for black tax, estate planning, funerals, and property ownership. Black household participants mentioned (to a greater extent than CFP® professionals did) the need to make provision for lobola and initiation schools, as these form part of several traditional ceremonies. The need to make provision for a family home was mentioned by Black household participants but not by CFP® professionals. It was discovered from Black household participants that stokvels are the most common micro-finance tool used by Black consumers, for various reasons. In fact for some, stokvels are preferred over formal financial products because they perceive that they yield a higher return, and others use them successfully to supplement their current provisions. These findings (among others) were incorporated into the reconceptualised perspective of the six-step financial planning process which is presented in this study. This study has made a contribution to the financial planning body of knowledge by presenting a reconceptualised perspective of the six-step financial planning process, and providing new knowledge on each of the associated six steps and their suitability in a South African context. This study also provides justification and evidence for the inclusion of aspects within the sixstep financial planning process that enhance the understanding of cultural diversity and needs of Black households in particular. Justification has also been provided for the inclusion of cultural aspects and diverse needs of Black consumers the in the academic curriculum of FPI and FSCA recognised qualifications, as well as the facilitation and learning outcomes of business and product-specific training that FSPs are required to provide to their representatives. The study findings also have implications for the development of the academic curriculum and assessment materials for CFP® professionals by recognised education providers, the FSCA regulatory examination, and the FPI professional competency examination. In addition, the study has provided evidence for the need to develop financial products, or customise existing financial products, that address the viii needs of Black households – especially culture-specific financial needs such as black tax, lobola and funding for initiation schools. Key words: Black households; CFP® professionals; culture; diverse needs; reconceptualisation; six-step financial planning process. , Thesis (MSc) -- Faculty of Science, School of Environmental Sciences, 2022
- Full Text:
- Date Issued: 2023-04
- Authors: Kinsman, Estonia Jasmine
- Date: 2023-04
- Subjects: Financial planning industry , Affluent consumers
- Language: English
- Type: Doctoral's theses , text
- Identifier: http://hdl.handle.net/10948/60786 , vital:67404
- Description: The globally applied six-step financial planning process which is used by CFP® professionals to provide financial advice is designed to ensure that the financial advice is suitable, based on the needs of the consumer. However, given the diverse cultures in South Africa, this study argues that the six-step financial planning process (as it is currently applied) may not be suitable, as it requires contextualisation based on the unique needs of South African consumers. The various population groups in South Africa have their own sets of beliefs, values and cultural practices, and thus view aspects such as wealth (the creation, preservation and transference thereof), marriage, death and retirement, differently. Thus, financial planners who are not knowledgeable about different cultures, diverse financial needs, or the provisions of customary law, may not be able to provide suitable advice. The primary objective of the study is thus to reconceptualise the six-step financial planning process to be more inclusive, in order to better serve the financial planning needs of South African consumers. A comprehensive literature review was undertaken to provide the context and framework within which the reconceptualisation of the six-step financial planning process could be approached. An investigation of the financial planning environment and the financial planning process was completed to determine how the six-step financial planning process is currently applied in the South African context. Further, an investigation of culture and the cultural dimensions – power distance, uncertainty avoidance, individualism, masculinity, timeorientation and indulgence – was conducted, as it was clear that these cultural dimensions cannot be generalised to all South African consumers, due to the large degree of diversity within the population. It was also determined that there are various factors that contribute towards the cultural diversity of South African consumers, which may influence their financial needs and the type of financial advice that is required. These factors include race and ethnicity, marital regimes, procreation and family structures. To further illustrate the diversity of financial needs of South African consumers, a discussion of Black households and the application of financial planning legislation and customary law was provided. Black households are considered to be under-serviced, historically financially excluded, have low levels of financial literacy, and are mostly collectivist in nature. It is for these reasons that Black households are the focus of the study. Some of the financial needs that vi are common among Black households include land and property ownership, family wealth, family homesteads, lobola capital and ‘black tax’ expenditure. Given that the literature review established how the six-step financial planning process is currently applied, an interpretivist research philosophy was adopted in order to gain a deeper understanding of how the six-step financial planning process should be applied in a South African context. Further, the research approach in the context of this study is an inductive one, as the six-step financial planning process is an existing theory that was reconceptualised by considering the perceptions and experiences of 16 CFP® professionals and 14 Black South African households. A mono-method qualitative research methodology was used, with a single qualitative method of data collection (semi-structured interviews), and a single qualitative method of data analysis (latent content analysis). The findings of the study were used to provide a reconceptualised perspective of the six-step financial planning process which takes into consideration the fact that the image of a financial planner plays an important role when trying to establish a professional relationship with a client. The findings reveal that Black consumers in particular, generally have a negative image of a financial planner, which is influenced not only by their perceptions of a financial planner, but also by their self-perception of their own financial situation. The reconceptualised perspective of the six-step financial planning process also incorporates the finding that discussions around personal finances are considered impolite and taboo among the Black African community, which influences their ability to talk about these topics, trust a financial planner, and establish a professional relationship with them. The findings also reveal that a racial and gender bias exists among Black consumers – they prefer interacting with a White male financial planner, as they perceive them to be more competent and have more experience with finances and wealth accumulation. It was also found that CFP® professionals believe that having cultural awareness and cultural intelligence can reduce bias in the way that questions are asked, so as not to offend the client. Thus, cultural awareness was also incorporated into the reconceptualised perspective of the six-step financial planning process. It was also noted that it is important to ascertain clients’ level of financial literacy during the information gathering stage. Black consumers opined that in this regard, it is the role of the financial planner to both ascertain and ensure their clients’ financial literacy, and to offer financial education to ensure client understanding. vii Although the premise of the study is that South African consumers have unique financial needs due to the high degree of diversity among the population, it was the opinion of CFP® professionals that Black consumers, in particular, do not have unique financial needs – instead, they define their needs differently, have different exposures to financial resources to address their financial needs, and also prioritise and satisfy their needs differently. The prioritised financial needs of Black households (sub-themes) that emerged from both participant groups include the need to make provision for black tax, estate planning, funerals, and property ownership. Black household participants mentioned (to a greater extent than CFP® professionals did) the need to make provision for lobola and initiation schools, as these form part of several traditional ceremonies. The need to make provision for a family home was mentioned by Black household participants but not by CFP® professionals. It was discovered from Black household participants that stokvels are the most common micro-finance tool used by Black consumers, for various reasons. In fact for some, stokvels are preferred over formal financial products because they perceive that they yield a higher return, and others use them successfully to supplement their current provisions. These findings (among others) were incorporated into the reconceptualised perspective of the six-step financial planning process which is presented in this study. This study has made a contribution to the financial planning body of knowledge by presenting a reconceptualised perspective of the six-step financial planning process, and providing new knowledge on each of the associated six steps and their suitability in a South African context. This study also provides justification and evidence for the inclusion of aspects within the sixstep financial planning process that enhance the understanding of cultural diversity and needs of Black households in particular. Justification has also been provided for the inclusion of cultural aspects and diverse needs of Black consumers the in the academic curriculum of FPI and FSCA recognised qualifications, as well as the facilitation and learning outcomes of business and product-specific training that FSPs are required to provide to their representatives. The study findings also have implications for the development of the academic curriculum and assessment materials for CFP® professionals by recognised education providers, the FSCA regulatory examination, and the FPI professional competency examination. In addition, the study has provided evidence for the need to develop financial products, or customise existing financial products, that address the viii needs of Black households – especially culture-specific financial needs such as black tax, lobola and funding for initiation schools. Key words: Black households; CFP® professionals; culture; diverse needs; reconceptualisation; six-step financial planning process. , Thesis (MSc) -- Faculty of Science, School of Environmental Sciences, 2022
- Full Text:
- Date Issued: 2023-04
The regulation of communications surveillance in Nigeria
- Authors: Osuntogun, Tope Adefemi
- Date: 2022-08
- Subjects: Social Communication , Electronic surveillance --Nigeria
- Language: English
- Type: Doctoral's theses , Thesis
- Identifier: http://hdl.handle.net/10948/60885 , vital:69011
- Description: This study examines the manner in which communications surveillance is regulated in Nigeria, with the aim of providing recommendations to ensure a new surveillance regime that provides adequate safeguards for human rights, particularly the right to privacy. The rapid innovation in ICT has brought new challenges to the right to privacy, among which is communications surveillance. Communications surveillance is an important tool of law enforcement as it enables remote gathering of evidence through interception of communication and acquisition of the metadata of electronic communications. Communications surveillance could therefore be an egregious intrusion on a person’s intimate private sphere and should only be permitted only when necessary. The clandestine nature of communications surveillance, however, increases the risk of unlawfulness as a person under surveillance will be unable to challenge the process unless they are notified. The benchmark in international law is that laws regulating communications surveillance must be lawful, non-arbitrary and provide adequate safeguards for the right to privacy. This study establishes that the legal framework on communications surveillance in Nigeria does not meet this standard. Using the South African legal framework as a comparator and drawing on relevant international and regional law on the right to privacy and communications surveillance, this study recommends reforms for the current legal framework on communications surveillance in Nigeria. , Thesis (LLD) -- Faculty of Law, School of Private Law, 2022
- Full Text:
- Date Issued: 2022-08
- Authors: Osuntogun, Tope Adefemi
- Date: 2022-08
- Subjects: Social Communication , Electronic surveillance --Nigeria
- Language: English
- Type: Doctoral's theses , Thesis
- Identifier: http://hdl.handle.net/10948/60885 , vital:69011
- Description: This study examines the manner in which communications surveillance is regulated in Nigeria, with the aim of providing recommendations to ensure a new surveillance regime that provides adequate safeguards for human rights, particularly the right to privacy. The rapid innovation in ICT has brought new challenges to the right to privacy, among which is communications surveillance. Communications surveillance is an important tool of law enforcement as it enables remote gathering of evidence through interception of communication and acquisition of the metadata of electronic communications. Communications surveillance could therefore be an egregious intrusion on a person’s intimate private sphere and should only be permitted only when necessary. The clandestine nature of communications surveillance, however, increases the risk of unlawfulness as a person under surveillance will be unable to challenge the process unless they are notified. The benchmark in international law is that laws regulating communications surveillance must be lawful, non-arbitrary and provide adequate safeguards for the right to privacy. This study establishes that the legal framework on communications surveillance in Nigeria does not meet this standard. Using the South African legal framework as a comparator and drawing on relevant international and regional law on the right to privacy and communications surveillance, this study recommends reforms for the current legal framework on communications surveillance in Nigeria. , Thesis (LLD) -- Faculty of Law, School of Private Law, 2022
- Full Text:
- Date Issued: 2022-08
Credit risk management impact on loan performance in development finance institutions in South Africa
- Lekhelebana, Letlatsa George
- Authors: Lekhelebana, Letlatsa George
- Date: 2022-04
- Subjects: Development finance institutions , Credit -- Management -- South Africa
- Language: English
- Type: Doctoral's theses , text
- Identifier: http://hdl.handle.net/10948/57698 , vital:58217
- Description: Development Finance Institutions ( play an important role in being a catalyst for economic development and growth where they operate. TUHF Group operates as a niche commercial property D FI funding entrepreneurs that seek to bring to market properties that deliver multi let housing units. This also deals with the pro blem of the lack of housing that South Africa has. For DFIs to operate optimally and be financially sustainable , they need to source funding from either shareholders or the financial markets. Financial markets require that the DFIs operate in a profitable manner to qualify for funding and this is also driven by the way the DFI manages the loan book’s integrity. This study examines the relationship between credit risk management policy, processes and procedures in practice and the TUHF Group and their impa ct on the performance of the loan book. In order that the research aim and objectives are fulfilled, and the research question answered, the study undertook an extensive review of existing literature on DFIs, the impact on economic development and growt h, the impact of badly performing loan books on the performance of companies and how this is impacted on by credit management structures, policies and procedures. An empirical study was conducted through the collection of primary data from the internal doc uments at TUHF Group and among some of the staff members at TUHF through a structured interviews based on open ended questions. The research revealed that there is indeed a link between the credit risk management processes and procedures at TUHF and the performance of the loan book, the findings indicated that the current policy and procedures is not sufficient for a well performing loan book and the pr imary data showed worsening performance of the loan book over time. These findings further indicate a requirement for TUHF to improve the credit policies and architecture for a sustainable financial performance in future. , Thesis (MA) -- Faculty of Business and Economic science, 2022
- Full Text:
- Date Issued: 2022-04
- Authors: Lekhelebana, Letlatsa George
- Date: 2022-04
- Subjects: Development finance institutions , Credit -- Management -- South Africa
- Language: English
- Type: Doctoral's theses , text
- Identifier: http://hdl.handle.net/10948/57698 , vital:58217
- Description: Development Finance Institutions ( play an important role in being a catalyst for economic development and growth where they operate. TUHF Group operates as a niche commercial property D FI funding entrepreneurs that seek to bring to market properties that deliver multi let housing units. This also deals with the pro blem of the lack of housing that South Africa has. For DFIs to operate optimally and be financially sustainable , they need to source funding from either shareholders or the financial markets. Financial markets require that the DFIs operate in a profitable manner to qualify for funding and this is also driven by the way the DFI manages the loan book’s integrity. This study examines the relationship between credit risk management policy, processes and procedures in practice and the TUHF Group and their impa ct on the performance of the loan book. In order that the research aim and objectives are fulfilled, and the research question answered, the study undertook an extensive review of existing literature on DFIs, the impact on economic development and growt h, the impact of badly performing loan books on the performance of companies and how this is impacted on by credit management structures, policies and procedures. An empirical study was conducted through the collection of primary data from the internal doc uments at TUHF Group and among some of the staff members at TUHF through a structured interviews based on open ended questions. The research revealed that there is indeed a link between the credit risk management processes and procedures at TUHF and the performance of the loan book, the findings indicated that the current policy and procedures is not sufficient for a well performing loan book and the pr imary data showed worsening performance of the loan book over time. These findings further indicate a requirement for TUHF to improve the credit policies and architecture for a sustainable financial performance in future. , Thesis (MA) -- Faculty of Business and Economic science, 2022
- Full Text:
- Date Issued: 2022-04
Validation and adaptation of statistical models based on the SAPS III score to predict in-hospital mortality in a South African ICU
- Authors: Pazi, Sisa
- Date: 2023-04
- Subjects: Police -- South Africa -- Eastern Cape , Statistics – South Africa , Mortality – South Africa
- Language: English
- Type: Doctoral's theses , text
- Identifier: http://hdl.handle.net/10948/61360 , vital:70602
- Description: In-hospital mortality prediction remains an important task in Intensive Care Units (ICUs). In particular, the estimated in-hospital mortality risk is essential to describe case-mix, for research and clinical auditing purposes. Furthermore, in settings with limited hospital resources (e.g beds) such as the South African public health care system, the estimated in-hospital mortality risk is essential for resource allocation and to inform local patient triage guidelines. Commonly used models for prediction of in-hospital mortality in ICU patients includes, but not limited to, the Simplified Acute Physiology Score III (SAPS III). The SAPS III model was developed in 2005. Notably, the SAPS III model was developed without data collected from African based hospitals. Given the general application of the SAPS III model, including benchmarking and quality control, the development of such a model based on local data is of paramount importance. To this end, this study developed a model for prediction of in-hospital mortality based on data collected in a hospital in South Africa. Logistic regression modelling was used to develop the proposed mortality risk assessment model. The results indicated that the proposed model exhibited superior discrimination and classification abilities compared to the SAPS III model. Future research includes the external validation of the proposed model in different hospitals in South Africa. , Thesis (PhD) -- Faculty of Science, School of Computer Science, Mathematics, Physics and Statistics, 2023
- Full Text:
- Date Issued: 2023-04
- Authors: Pazi, Sisa
- Date: 2023-04
- Subjects: Police -- South Africa -- Eastern Cape , Statistics – South Africa , Mortality – South Africa
- Language: English
- Type: Doctoral's theses , text
- Identifier: http://hdl.handle.net/10948/61360 , vital:70602
- Description: In-hospital mortality prediction remains an important task in Intensive Care Units (ICUs). In particular, the estimated in-hospital mortality risk is essential to describe case-mix, for research and clinical auditing purposes. Furthermore, in settings with limited hospital resources (e.g beds) such as the South African public health care system, the estimated in-hospital mortality risk is essential for resource allocation and to inform local patient triage guidelines. Commonly used models for prediction of in-hospital mortality in ICU patients includes, but not limited to, the Simplified Acute Physiology Score III (SAPS III). The SAPS III model was developed in 2005. Notably, the SAPS III model was developed without data collected from African based hospitals. Given the general application of the SAPS III model, including benchmarking and quality control, the development of such a model based on local data is of paramount importance. To this end, this study developed a model for prediction of in-hospital mortality based on data collected in a hospital in South Africa. Logistic regression modelling was used to develop the proposed mortality risk assessment model. The results indicated that the proposed model exhibited superior discrimination and classification abilities compared to the SAPS III model. Future research includes the external validation of the proposed model in different hospitals in South Africa. , Thesis (PhD) -- Faculty of Science, School of Computer Science, Mathematics, Physics and Statistics, 2023
- Full Text:
- Date Issued: 2023-04
A strategic turnaround model for distressed properties
- Authors: Pitsiladi, Lesvokli N
- Date: 2023-04
- Subjects: Reorganization , Distressed properties
- Language: English
- Type: Doctoral's theses , Thesis
- Identifier: http://hdl.handle.net/10948/60467 , vital:65603
- Description: The importance of commercial real estate is clearly shown by the role it plays, worldwide, in the sustainability of economic activities, with a substantial global impact when measured in monetary terms. This study responds to an important gap in the built environment and turnaround literature relating to the likelihood of a successful distressed commercial property financial recovery. The present research effort addressed the absence of empirical evidence by identifying a number of important factors that influence the likelihood of a successful distressed, commercial property financial recovery. Once the important factors that increase the likelihood of recovery have been determined, the results can be used as a basis for turnaround strategies concerning property investors who invest in distressed opportunities. A theoretical turnaround model concerning properties in distress, would be of interest to ‘opportunistic investing’ yield-hungry investors targeting real estate transactions involving ‘turnaround’ potential. Against this background, the main research problem investigated in the present research effort was as follows: Determine the important factors that would increase the likelihood of a successful distressed commercial property financial recovery. A proposed theoretical model was constructed and empirically tested through a questionnaire distributed physically and electronically to a sample of real estate practitioners from across the globe, and who had all been involved, directly or indirectly, with reviving distressed properties. An explanation was provided to respondents of how the questionnaire was developed and how it would be administered. The demographic information pertaining to the 391 respondents was analysed and summarised. The statistical analysis performed to ensure the validity and reliability of the results, was explained to respondents, together with a detailed description of the covariance structural equation modelling method used to verify the proposed theoretical conceptual model. vi The independent variables of the present research effort comprised; Obsolescence Identification, Capital Improvements Feasibility, Tenant Mix, Triple Net Leases, Concessions, Property Management, Contracts, Business Analysis, Debt Renegotiation, Cost-Cutting, Market Analysis, Strategic Planning and Demography, while the dependent variable was The Perceived Likelihood of a Distressed Commercial Property Financial Recovery. After analysis of the findings, a revised model was then proposed and assessed. Both validity and reliability were assessed and resulted in the following factors that potentially influence the dependent variables; Strategy, Concessions, Tenant Mix, Debt Restructuring, Demography, Analyse Alternatives, Capital Improvements Feasibility, Property Management and Net Leases while, after analysis, the dependent variable was replaced by two dependent variables; The Likelihood of a Distressed Property Turnaround and The Likelihood of a Distressed Property Financial Recovery. The results showed that Strategy (comprising of items from Strategic Planning, Business Analysis, Obsolescence Identification and Property Management) and Concessions (comprising of items from Concessions and Triple Net Leases) had a positive influence on both the dependent variables. Property Management (comprising of items from Business Analysis, Property Management, Capital Improvements Feasibility and Tenant Mix) had a positive influence on Financial Turnaround variable while Capital Improvements Feasibility (comprising of items from Capital Improvements Feasibility, Obsolescence Identification and Property Management) had a negative influence on both. Demography (comprising of items only from Demography) had a negative influence on the Financial Recovery variable. The balance of the relationships were depicted as non-significant. The present research effort presents important actions that can be used to influence the turnaround and recovery of distressed real estate. The literature had indicated reasons to recover distressed properties as having wide-ranging economic consequences for the broader communities and the countries in which they reside. The turnaround of distressed properties will not only present financial rewards for opportunistic investors but will have positive effects on the greater community and economy and, thus, social and economic stability. Vii With the emergence of the COVID-19 pandemic crisis, issues with climate change and sustainability, global demographic shifts, changing user requirements, shifts in technology, the threat of obsolescence, urbanisation, globalisation, geo-political tensions, shifting global order, new trends and different generational expectations, it is becoming more apparent that the threat of distressed, abandoned and derelict properties is here to stay, and which will present future opportunities for turnaround, distressed property owners, as well as future worries for urban authorities and municipalities dealing with urban decay. The study concluded with an examination of the perceived limitations of the study as well as presenting a comprehensive range of suggestions for further research. , Thesis (PhD) -- Faculty of Engineering, Built Environment and Information Technology, School of the built Environment, 2023
- Full Text:
- Date Issued: 2023-04
- Authors: Pitsiladi, Lesvokli N
- Date: 2023-04
- Subjects: Reorganization , Distressed properties
- Language: English
- Type: Doctoral's theses , Thesis
- Identifier: http://hdl.handle.net/10948/60467 , vital:65603
- Description: The importance of commercial real estate is clearly shown by the role it plays, worldwide, in the sustainability of economic activities, with a substantial global impact when measured in monetary terms. This study responds to an important gap in the built environment and turnaround literature relating to the likelihood of a successful distressed commercial property financial recovery. The present research effort addressed the absence of empirical evidence by identifying a number of important factors that influence the likelihood of a successful distressed, commercial property financial recovery. Once the important factors that increase the likelihood of recovery have been determined, the results can be used as a basis for turnaround strategies concerning property investors who invest in distressed opportunities. A theoretical turnaround model concerning properties in distress, would be of interest to ‘opportunistic investing’ yield-hungry investors targeting real estate transactions involving ‘turnaround’ potential. Against this background, the main research problem investigated in the present research effort was as follows: Determine the important factors that would increase the likelihood of a successful distressed commercial property financial recovery. A proposed theoretical model was constructed and empirically tested through a questionnaire distributed physically and electronically to a sample of real estate practitioners from across the globe, and who had all been involved, directly or indirectly, with reviving distressed properties. An explanation was provided to respondents of how the questionnaire was developed and how it would be administered. The demographic information pertaining to the 391 respondents was analysed and summarised. The statistical analysis performed to ensure the validity and reliability of the results, was explained to respondents, together with a detailed description of the covariance structural equation modelling method used to verify the proposed theoretical conceptual model. vi The independent variables of the present research effort comprised; Obsolescence Identification, Capital Improvements Feasibility, Tenant Mix, Triple Net Leases, Concessions, Property Management, Contracts, Business Analysis, Debt Renegotiation, Cost-Cutting, Market Analysis, Strategic Planning and Demography, while the dependent variable was The Perceived Likelihood of a Distressed Commercial Property Financial Recovery. After analysis of the findings, a revised model was then proposed and assessed. Both validity and reliability were assessed and resulted in the following factors that potentially influence the dependent variables; Strategy, Concessions, Tenant Mix, Debt Restructuring, Demography, Analyse Alternatives, Capital Improvements Feasibility, Property Management and Net Leases while, after analysis, the dependent variable was replaced by two dependent variables; The Likelihood of a Distressed Property Turnaround and The Likelihood of a Distressed Property Financial Recovery. The results showed that Strategy (comprising of items from Strategic Planning, Business Analysis, Obsolescence Identification and Property Management) and Concessions (comprising of items from Concessions and Triple Net Leases) had a positive influence on both the dependent variables. Property Management (comprising of items from Business Analysis, Property Management, Capital Improvements Feasibility and Tenant Mix) had a positive influence on Financial Turnaround variable while Capital Improvements Feasibility (comprising of items from Capital Improvements Feasibility, Obsolescence Identification and Property Management) had a negative influence on both. Demography (comprising of items only from Demography) had a negative influence on the Financial Recovery variable. The balance of the relationships were depicted as non-significant. The present research effort presents important actions that can be used to influence the turnaround and recovery of distressed real estate. The literature had indicated reasons to recover distressed properties as having wide-ranging economic consequences for the broader communities and the countries in which they reside. The turnaround of distressed properties will not only present financial rewards for opportunistic investors but will have positive effects on the greater community and economy and, thus, social and economic stability. Vii With the emergence of the COVID-19 pandemic crisis, issues with climate change and sustainability, global demographic shifts, changing user requirements, shifts in technology, the threat of obsolescence, urbanisation, globalisation, geo-political tensions, shifting global order, new trends and different generational expectations, it is becoming more apparent that the threat of distressed, abandoned and derelict properties is here to stay, and which will present future opportunities for turnaround, distressed property owners, as well as future worries for urban authorities and municipalities dealing with urban decay. The study concluded with an examination of the perceived limitations of the study as well as presenting a comprehensive range of suggestions for further research. , Thesis (PhD) -- Faculty of Engineering, Built Environment and Information Technology, School of the built Environment, 2023
- Full Text:
- Date Issued: 2023-04
A risk management model for commercial property development and investment in Ghana
- Authors: Asianoah, Rexford Kofi
- Date: 2023-04
- Subjects: Risk management , Commercial real estate , Investment -- Ghana
- Language: English
- Type: Doctoral's theses , Thesis
- Identifier: http://hdl.handle.net/10948/60493 , vital:65633
- Description: Commercial property development and investment provide many benefits to individuals and governments around the globe; these include the generation of income for investors, employment, tax revenues, and contributions to a country‘s GDP. Yet commercial property development and investment projects involve construction, economic and management risks. A lack of effective risk assessment and management tools may lead to developers and investors incurring losses. To curtail such losses, this study sought to create a credible management model that can be used to assess and manage risks in Ghana‘s commercial property development and investment industry. An extensive literature review was done, covering all 12 identified study constructs: real estate trends and cycle, construction project management, outside advice/mentorship, spatial development, strategic factors, business management skills, PMBOK, PESTEL analysis, general management skills, governance structures, financial feasibility, professional feasibility, and risk management. Each construct was defined and operationalised. A positivistic philosophical approach was used, and quantitative approach was used to solicit data from the main respondents through the distribution of questionnaires to the target population sample. CB-SEM and SPSS version 24 were used to analyse data, SEM to test the positive relationships hypothesised between the identified variables and SPSS to analyse the demographic data. The major findings are that there is a lack of financial and professional feasibility analysis among respondents along the following factors: the PMBOK, real estate trends and cycles, general management, business management, strategic factors, spatial development, and PESTEL analysis. It was found that these factors have positive and favourable influences on CPDI projects. The study recommends that developers and investors do financial and professional feasibility studies before they embark on projects. This could improve project viability in commercial property development and investment. The study has contributed to the body of knowledge in CPDI sector by developing a new risk assessment/risk management model. , Thesis (PhD) -- Faculty of Engineering Built Environment and Technology, School of the built Environment, 2023
- Full Text:
- Date Issued: 2023-04
- Authors: Asianoah, Rexford Kofi
- Date: 2023-04
- Subjects: Risk management , Commercial real estate , Investment -- Ghana
- Language: English
- Type: Doctoral's theses , Thesis
- Identifier: http://hdl.handle.net/10948/60493 , vital:65633
- Description: Commercial property development and investment provide many benefits to individuals and governments around the globe; these include the generation of income for investors, employment, tax revenues, and contributions to a country‘s GDP. Yet commercial property development and investment projects involve construction, economic and management risks. A lack of effective risk assessment and management tools may lead to developers and investors incurring losses. To curtail such losses, this study sought to create a credible management model that can be used to assess and manage risks in Ghana‘s commercial property development and investment industry. An extensive literature review was done, covering all 12 identified study constructs: real estate trends and cycle, construction project management, outside advice/mentorship, spatial development, strategic factors, business management skills, PMBOK, PESTEL analysis, general management skills, governance structures, financial feasibility, professional feasibility, and risk management. Each construct was defined and operationalised. A positivistic philosophical approach was used, and quantitative approach was used to solicit data from the main respondents through the distribution of questionnaires to the target population sample. CB-SEM and SPSS version 24 were used to analyse data, SEM to test the positive relationships hypothesised between the identified variables and SPSS to analyse the demographic data. The major findings are that there is a lack of financial and professional feasibility analysis among respondents along the following factors: the PMBOK, real estate trends and cycles, general management, business management, strategic factors, spatial development, and PESTEL analysis. It was found that these factors have positive and favourable influences on CPDI projects. The study recommends that developers and investors do financial and professional feasibility studies before they embark on projects. This could improve project viability in commercial property development and investment. The study has contributed to the body of knowledge in CPDI sector by developing a new risk assessment/risk management model. , Thesis (PhD) -- Faculty of Engineering Built Environment and Technology, School of the built Environment, 2023
- Full Text:
- Date Issued: 2023-04
Marine spatial planning by the state as trustee of coastal public property
- Authors: Chasakara, Rachael Sharon
- Date: 2023-04
- Subjects: Marine spatial planning , State committee , Coastal Public Property
- Language: English
- Type: Doctoral's theses , Thesis
- Identifier: http://hdl.handle.net/10948/60818 , vital:67845
- Description: The world is facing an unprecedented biodiversity crisis, endangering human wellbeing, human rights, and the future of life on Earth. This is because the state of the ocean is deteriorating due to increased human activities, which have resulted in the destruction of limited marine resources in terms of space, time, and quantity. Marine spatial planning (MSP) and the public trust doctrine are two concepts that have been proposed to address this ecological crisis. The relatively new notion of MSP has emerged as a comprehensive way to allocate ocean use in space and time to improve coordination and deliver a more sustainable use of the ocean space. While different States have utilised the public trust doctrine to manage trust resources for the exclusive benefit of their current and future citizens. The thesis examines the MSP process and the public trust doctrine in international law to determine international obligations that can be relied on to ensure State compliance at a domestic level. It was determined that MSP and the public trust doctrine are only implicit in certain international law instruments. The thesis further sets out to examine whether both approaches must be explicitly mentioned in binding international law instruments. The thesis is expected to determine whether the South African environmental law regime includes the public trust doctrine – expressly or impliedly. The public trust doctrine is not expressly provided for in the Constitution since section 24 contains an implicit duty. The implicit duty is a constitutional human rights imperative applicable to all environmental management statutes. The picture in South Africa’s environmental legislation differs because the public trust doctrine is expressly mentioned, albeit in different terminology in several environmental law statutes dealing with specific natural resources. However, the legislature failed to include an express public trust provision in the Marine Spatial Planning Act (MSPA). 1 The thesis then embarks on a journey of statutory interpretation. It examines the applicable canons of interpretation to determine whether the MSPA supports or contradicts the public trust doctrine. An implicit public trust duty was found in the MSPA. This exercise also led to the conclusion that the trusteeship clause in National Environmental Management: Integrated Coastal Management Act (NEM: ICMA) also applies in the same geographical area as the MSP Act. Moreover, there is no provision in NEM: ICMA requiring its provisions to be applied or read in accordance with MSP regulation. However, a thorough examination of the NEM: ICMA and MSPA provisions leads to the conclusion that there will be no conflict if both instruments are read together. The most significant finding of this thesis is that, due to the provisions of both statutes, the State, a trustee in NEM: ICMA, is also a trustee in the MSPA. Finally, the combination of MSP and the public trust doctrine in MSP regulation may have several positive impacts, which include useful intervention for the existential crisis that underpins South Africa’s maritime domain and the promotion of sustainable development of the ocean space for both current and future generations. MSP and the public trust doctrine should be used in tandem to ensure that the ocean space is developed sustainably for current and future generations. This thesis demonstrated that the ultimate impact of the State’s implementation of MSP on the relevant State actors is that they must constantly remind themselves of the full implications of their role as trustees of coastal public property to avoid violating their public trust duties. , Thesis (LLD) -- Faculty of Law, School of School of Public Law, 2023
- Full Text:
- Date Issued: 2023-04
- Authors: Chasakara, Rachael Sharon
- Date: 2023-04
- Subjects: Marine spatial planning , State committee , Coastal Public Property
- Language: English
- Type: Doctoral's theses , Thesis
- Identifier: http://hdl.handle.net/10948/60818 , vital:67845
- Description: The world is facing an unprecedented biodiversity crisis, endangering human wellbeing, human rights, and the future of life on Earth. This is because the state of the ocean is deteriorating due to increased human activities, which have resulted in the destruction of limited marine resources in terms of space, time, and quantity. Marine spatial planning (MSP) and the public trust doctrine are two concepts that have been proposed to address this ecological crisis. The relatively new notion of MSP has emerged as a comprehensive way to allocate ocean use in space and time to improve coordination and deliver a more sustainable use of the ocean space. While different States have utilised the public trust doctrine to manage trust resources for the exclusive benefit of their current and future citizens. The thesis examines the MSP process and the public trust doctrine in international law to determine international obligations that can be relied on to ensure State compliance at a domestic level. It was determined that MSP and the public trust doctrine are only implicit in certain international law instruments. The thesis further sets out to examine whether both approaches must be explicitly mentioned in binding international law instruments. The thesis is expected to determine whether the South African environmental law regime includes the public trust doctrine – expressly or impliedly. The public trust doctrine is not expressly provided for in the Constitution since section 24 contains an implicit duty. The implicit duty is a constitutional human rights imperative applicable to all environmental management statutes. The picture in South Africa’s environmental legislation differs because the public trust doctrine is expressly mentioned, albeit in different terminology in several environmental law statutes dealing with specific natural resources. However, the legislature failed to include an express public trust provision in the Marine Spatial Planning Act (MSPA). 1 The thesis then embarks on a journey of statutory interpretation. It examines the applicable canons of interpretation to determine whether the MSPA supports or contradicts the public trust doctrine. An implicit public trust duty was found in the MSPA. This exercise also led to the conclusion that the trusteeship clause in National Environmental Management: Integrated Coastal Management Act (NEM: ICMA) also applies in the same geographical area as the MSP Act. Moreover, there is no provision in NEM: ICMA requiring its provisions to be applied or read in accordance with MSP regulation. However, a thorough examination of the NEM: ICMA and MSPA provisions leads to the conclusion that there will be no conflict if both instruments are read together. The most significant finding of this thesis is that, due to the provisions of both statutes, the State, a trustee in NEM: ICMA, is also a trustee in the MSPA. Finally, the combination of MSP and the public trust doctrine in MSP regulation may have several positive impacts, which include useful intervention for the existential crisis that underpins South Africa’s maritime domain and the promotion of sustainable development of the ocean space for both current and future generations. MSP and the public trust doctrine should be used in tandem to ensure that the ocean space is developed sustainably for current and future generations. This thesis demonstrated that the ultimate impact of the State’s implementation of MSP on the relevant State actors is that they must constantly remind themselves of the full implications of their role as trustees of coastal public property to avoid violating their public trust duties. , Thesis (LLD) -- Faculty of Law, School of School of Public Law, 2023
- Full Text:
- Date Issued: 2023-04
Lived Experiences of Repeat Sex Offenders in a Zimbabwean Juvenile Prison Regarding Secondary Desistance
- Authors: Chingozho, Johnson
- Date: 2022-04
- Subjects: Sex Offender -- Zimbabwe , Prison violence
- Language: English
- Type: Doctoral's theses , text
- Identifier: http://hdl.handle.net/10948/58750 , vital:60084
- Description: Juvenile sex offending is a serious crime that represents a social dysfunction for the offender, an injury to the community and a traumatic experience for the victim. Sex offending is generally perceived to be a conscious and intentional decision. Adolescent sex offending may be attributed to emotional immaturity and faulty thinking patterns. While interventions have been developed in Western settings, it appears they have failed to reduce reoffending among juvenile sex offenders in Zimbabwe. This is attributed to a lack of a culturally responsive psychological programme developed for the Zimbabwean adolescent sex offender. The study employed a phenomenological qualitative research approach that is exploratory, descriptive and theory generative in design. The Integrated Theory of Desistance from Sex Offending (ITDSO) underpinned the research study. The ITDSO’s three temporal dimensions namely: decisive momentum, rehabilitation and reentry were instrumental in the framing of the interview questions used in fieldwork and the development of the Zimbabwe Adolescent Sex Offender Psychoeducational Programme (ZASOPP). The research study took place in four phases. Phase 1 of the study constituted an integrative literature review utilising Whittemore and Knafl’s framework. Synthesis of the literature was conducted and analysed in terms of the themes that emerged that were relevant to juvenile sex offending and desistance. Phase 2 employed a qualitative phenomenological approach to understand the lived experiences of repeat juvenile sex offenders regarding secondary desistance in a Zimbabwean juvenile prison. The data collection process involved in-depth semi-structured interviews with 11 male repeat juvenile sex offenders between the ages of 17 and 21 years. The interviews were conducted in the Shona language. The data collected from the semi-structured interviews were transcribed verbatim, coded, and analysed by the researcher vii utilising the Colaizzi method. Phase 2 revealed a lack of parental guidance, minimisation, poor social skills, poor academic achievement, alcohol, and drug misuse as perceived factors influencing sex reoffending among juvenile sex offenders. The fear of prison, hopelessness, and challenges in adapting to the new reality in prison contributed to pains of imprisonment. Predictably, the study findings further revealed a lack of an appropriate psychological rehabilitation programme targeted at intervention among juvenile sex offenders. Phase 3 of the research study involved the development of a conceptual framework from the synthesis of findings from the integrative literature review, fieldwork and six concepts of the survey list of the Dickoff, James and Wiedenbach theory. The conceptual framework was used as a basis for the development of a psychoeducational programme. Phase 4 of the research study involved the development of a Zimbabwe Adolescent Sex Offender Psychoeducational Programme as informed by the conceptual framework developed in Phase 3 for clinical assessment and intervention among juvenile sex offenders in prison. The formulated programme would be used to intervene among juvenile sex offenders in a Zimbabwean juvenile prison to assist them to have psychological, mental well-being and to enhance secondary desistance. , Thesis (PhD) -- Faculty of Health Sciences, 2022
- Full Text:
- Date Issued: 2022-04
- Authors: Chingozho, Johnson
- Date: 2022-04
- Subjects: Sex Offender -- Zimbabwe , Prison violence
- Language: English
- Type: Doctoral's theses , text
- Identifier: http://hdl.handle.net/10948/58750 , vital:60084
- Description: Juvenile sex offending is a serious crime that represents a social dysfunction for the offender, an injury to the community and a traumatic experience for the victim. Sex offending is generally perceived to be a conscious and intentional decision. Adolescent sex offending may be attributed to emotional immaturity and faulty thinking patterns. While interventions have been developed in Western settings, it appears they have failed to reduce reoffending among juvenile sex offenders in Zimbabwe. This is attributed to a lack of a culturally responsive psychological programme developed for the Zimbabwean adolescent sex offender. The study employed a phenomenological qualitative research approach that is exploratory, descriptive and theory generative in design. The Integrated Theory of Desistance from Sex Offending (ITDSO) underpinned the research study. The ITDSO’s three temporal dimensions namely: decisive momentum, rehabilitation and reentry were instrumental in the framing of the interview questions used in fieldwork and the development of the Zimbabwe Adolescent Sex Offender Psychoeducational Programme (ZASOPP). The research study took place in four phases. Phase 1 of the study constituted an integrative literature review utilising Whittemore and Knafl’s framework. Synthesis of the literature was conducted and analysed in terms of the themes that emerged that were relevant to juvenile sex offending and desistance. Phase 2 employed a qualitative phenomenological approach to understand the lived experiences of repeat juvenile sex offenders regarding secondary desistance in a Zimbabwean juvenile prison. The data collection process involved in-depth semi-structured interviews with 11 male repeat juvenile sex offenders between the ages of 17 and 21 years. The interviews were conducted in the Shona language. The data collected from the semi-structured interviews were transcribed verbatim, coded, and analysed by the researcher vii utilising the Colaizzi method. Phase 2 revealed a lack of parental guidance, minimisation, poor social skills, poor academic achievement, alcohol, and drug misuse as perceived factors influencing sex reoffending among juvenile sex offenders. The fear of prison, hopelessness, and challenges in adapting to the new reality in prison contributed to pains of imprisonment. Predictably, the study findings further revealed a lack of an appropriate psychological rehabilitation programme targeted at intervention among juvenile sex offenders. Phase 3 of the research study involved the development of a conceptual framework from the synthesis of findings from the integrative literature review, fieldwork and six concepts of the survey list of the Dickoff, James and Wiedenbach theory. The conceptual framework was used as a basis for the development of a psychoeducational programme. Phase 4 of the research study involved the development of a Zimbabwe Adolescent Sex Offender Psychoeducational Programme as informed by the conceptual framework developed in Phase 3 for clinical assessment and intervention among juvenile sex offenders in prison. The formulated programme would be used to intervene among juvenile sex offenders in a Zimbabwean juvenile prison to assist them to have psychological, mental well-being and to enhance secondary desistance. , Thesis (PhD) -- Faculty of Health Sciences, 2022
- Full Text:
- Date Issued: 2022-04
Human capital of financial planners and value creation in South African financial planning businesses
- Palframan, Jaqueline birgitta
- Authors: Palframan, Jaqueline birgitta
- Date: 2022-04
- Subjects: Human capital -- South Africa , Corporations--Finance
- Language: English
- Type: Doctoral's theses , text
- Identifier: http://hdl.handle.net/10948/58123 , vital:58582
- Description: Improved healthcare enables people to live longer and thus spend more time in retirement than ever before. In addition, South Africans have a low propensity to save and invest, resulting in the danger of them living longer than their finances permit. The financial planning industry is also experiencing the technological automation of many transactional services, which could make the “traditional” role of financial planners redundant. Furthermore, financial planning businesses are prone to failure, especially during the start-up phase. As such, appropriate business management strategies, especially those relating to human capital, are critical to facilitate the effective development of financial planning businesses and which will enable financial planners to better engage with existing and new clients, resulting in creating more value creation for their financial planning businesses and benefitting the South African economy at large. It is a well-known fact that people who engage with a financial planner report better outcomes in terms of financial and general well-being than those who approach financial planning with a “do-it-yourself” mindset, which further emphasises why the longevity of financial planning businesses in South Africa is important. To date, however, limited academic research has been conducted on the influence of financial planners’ human capital on value creation in their financial planning businesses. Furthermore, although research in the financial planning field is growing, previous research has mostly focused on areas pertaining to financial advice, the financial planning process and products used in financial planning, rather than on the creation of profitable businesses or on how to create value within these businesses. Against this background, the primary objective of this study is to investigate the influence of selected Human capitals of financial planners on value creation in South African financial planning businesses. More specifically, the study investigates the influence of the independent variables of Social capital (measured individually in terms of its sub-categories, Relational social capital, Network social capital and Cognitive social capital), Entrepreneurial capital and Psychological capital on the dependent variables (Perceived financial value creation and Perceived non-financial value creation). v Based on the primary objective and research questions of the study, as well as the assumptions of the researcher, this study was positioned in the positivistic research paradigm and a deductive approach to theory development was adopted. The purpose of the study was explanatory, and a mono-method, quantitative methodological approach was selected. A survey strategy using a cross-sectional approach was undertaken and a measuring instrument in the form of an online questionnaire was developed to gather the data required. After undertaking a pilot study, the electronic link to the covering letter and online questionnaire was sent to potential respondents identified through the convenience and snowball sampling techniques. The data collection yielded 360 usable responses from South African financial planners on which to undertake the statistical analysis. Data analysis ensued to investigate the hypothesised relationships between the independent and dependent variables. A confirmatory factor analysis (CFA) was performed on each of the factors that made up the measurement models. These CFAs were compared to the various goodness-of-fit indices and then validity and reliability assessments of the factors were conducted to confirm the suitability of the measuring instrument. Thereafter, Cronbach’s alpha coefficients, average variance extracted (AVE) estimates and squared correlations between the constructs were reported. The hypothesised model was confirmed based on these analyses. Descriptive statistics and correlation results on the dependent and independent variables were then reported. Structural equation modelling (SEM) was used as the statistical technique to test the significance of the hypothesised direct and moderating relationships. The results confirmed a direct, significant relationship between all the independent variables, namely, Social capital (measured individually in terms of its sub-categories, Relational social capital, Network social capital and Cognitive social capital), Entrepreneurial capital and Psychological capital, and the dependent variables (Perceived financial value creation and Perceived non-financial value creation). Regarding the hypothesised moderating influence of Social capital on the relationships between the independent variables Entrepreneurial capital and Psychological capital, and the dependent variables, it was found that only Relational social capital and Network social capital moderated the relationship between Psychological capital and Perceived financial value creation. vi This study has contributed to the body of knowledge of financial planning in general, as well as how the human capital of financial planners influences both financial and non-financial value creation in financial planning businesses. Practical recommendations were made that could enhance financial planners’ value creation in financial planning businesses, which, in turn, would influence the sustainability of these important businesses. , Thesis (PhD) -- Faculty of Business and Economic science, 2022
- Full Text:
- Date Issued: 2022-04
- Authors: Palframan, Jaqueline birgitta
- Date: 2022-04
- Subjects: Human capital -- South Africa , Corporations--Finance
- Language: English
- Type: Doctoral's theses , text
- Identifier: http://hdl.handle.net/10948/58123 , vital:58582
- Description: Improved healthcare enables people to live longer and thus spend more time in retirement than ever before. In addition, South Africans have a low propensity to save and invest, resulting in the danger of them living longer than their finances permit. The financial planning industry is also experiencing the technological automation of many transactional services, which could make the “traditional” role of financial planners redundant. Furthermore, financial planning businesses are prone to failure, especially during the start-up phase. As such, appropriate business management strategies, especially those relating to human capital, are critical to facilitate the effective development of financial planning businesses and which will enable financial planners to better engage with existing and new clients, resulting in creating more value creation for their financial planning businesses and benefitting the South African economy at large. It is a well-known fact that people who engage with a financial planner report better outcomes in terms of financial and general well-being than those who approach financial planning with a “do-it-yourself” mindset, which further emphasises why the longevity of financial planning businesses in South Africa is important. To date, however, limited academic research has been conducted on the influence of financial planners’ human capital on value creation in their financial planning businesses. Furthermore, although research in the financial planning field is growing, previous research has mostly focused on areas pertaining to financial advice, the financial planning process and products used in financial planning, rather than on the creation of profitable businesses or on how to create value within these businesses. Against this background, the primary objective of this study is to investigate the influence of selected Human capitals of financial planners on value creation in South African financial planning businesses. More specifically, the study investigates the influence of the independent variables of Social capital (measured individually in terms of its sub-categories, Relational social capital, Network social capital and Cognitive social capital), Entrepreneurial capital and Psychological capital on the dependent variables (Perceived financial value creation and Perceived non-financial value creation). v Based on the primary objective and research questions of the study, as well as the assumptions of the researcher, this study was positioned in the positivistic research paradigm and a deductive approach to theory development was adopted. The purpose of the study was explanatory, and a mono-method, quantitative methodological approach was selected. A survey strategy using a cross-sectional approach was undertaken and a measuring instrument in the form of an online questionnaire was developed to gather the data required. After undertaking a pilot study, the electronic link to the covering letter and online questionnaire was sent to potential respondents identified through the convenience and snowball sampling techniques. The data collection yielded 360 usable responses from South African financial planners on which to undertake the statistical analysis. Data analysis ensued to investigate the hypothesised relationships between the independent and dependent variables. A confirmatory factor analysis (CFA) was performed on each of the factors that made up the measurement models. These CFAs were compared to the various goodness-of-fit indices and then validity and reliability assessments of the factors were conducted to confirm the suitability of the measuring instrument. Thereafter, Cronbach’s alpha coefficients, average variance extracted (AVE) estimates and squared correlations between the constructs were reported. The hypothesised model was confirmed based on these analyses. Descriptive statistics and correlation results on the dependent and independent variables were then reported. Structural equation modelling (SEM) was used as the statistical technique to test the significance of the hypothesised direct and moderating relationships. The results confirmed a direct, significant relationship between all the independent variables, namely, Social capital (measured individually in terms of its sub-categories, Relational social capital, Network social capital and Cognitive social capital), Entrepreneurial capital and Psychological capital, and the dependent variables (Perceived financial value creation and Perceived non-financial value creation). Regarding the hypothesised moderating influence of Social capital on the relationships between the independent variables Entrepreneurial capital and Psychological capital, and the dependent variables, it was found that only Relational social capital and Network social capital moderated the relationship between Psychological capital and Perceived financial value creation. vi This study has contributed to the body of knowledge of financial planning in general, as well as how the human capital of financial planners influences both financial and non-financial value creation in financial planning businesses. Practical recommendations were made that could enhance financial planners’ value creation in financial planning businesses, which, in turn, would influence the sustainability of these important businesses. , Thesis (PhD) -- Faculty of Business and Economic science, 2022
- Full Text:
- Date Issued: 2022-04
Catatonia a manifestation of serious mental Illness: prevalence, presentation, management, and outcomes in a mental health unit
- Authors: Zingela, Zukiswa
- Date: 2022-07
- Subjects: Mental Health , Catatonia , Psychomotor disorders
- Language: English
- Type: Doctoral's theses , text
- Identifier: http://hdl.handle.net/10948/60400 , vital:64706
- Description: Catatonia is a psychomotor abnormality that may be caused by severe physical or mental illness or by substances. It has a wide-ranging prevalence from less than 10% to just over 60%, worldwide. This thesis investigated multiple aspects of catatonia in an acute mental health unit setting. Critical aspects examined include the psychological experience of catatonia and assessment, prevalence, presentation, management, and treatment outcomes of catatonia. The research design was a prospective descriptive triangulation study that used a mixed quantitative and qualitative approach. The theoretical framework applied in this thesis was a positivist paradigm approach to explore the quantitative data collected, with application of deductive reasoning, supported by statistical analysis to detect correlations between catatonia and demographic and clinical data. The research explored the experience of a person with catatonia from the beginning to the end of the catatonic episode, inclusive of neglected areas such as the patient’s psychological and experiences. Sources of information included participant reports, clinical notes, and assessments conducted using screening tools for catatonia. Key knowledge gaps on catatonia were identified as target areas for this thesis. These are the prevalence of catatonia in a South African setting; the use of assessment tools like the Bush Francis Catatonia Screening Instrument (BFCSI), the Bush Francis Catatonia Rating Scale (BFCRS), and the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual (5th Edition; DSM-5) in this setting; interventions for catatonia; treatment outcomes; and the subjective experiences of catatonia, as described by patients. To date, there have been five publications produced from this thesis. The first paper was on the protocol for the research and was published in the British Medical Journal (BMJ) Open and presented the literature review, research design, and methodology for the planned Abstract ii research on catatonia (which has ultimately been presented in this current thesis). This paper also identified the aforementioned critical knowledge gaps. The second paper was published in the Biomedicine Central (BMC) International Journal of Mental Health Systems. This paper described a 6-month prevalence rate of catatonia of 11.9%, and concluded that the BFCSI and BFCRS had the highest inter-rater reliability (IRR) and pick-up rate when screening for catatonia, while the DMS-5 had low IRR, and the lowest correlation with the BFCSI and BFCRS. The 12-month prevalence rate was found to be 18.3% and was described in the third paper which was published in the PLOS One Psychiatry. Both lorazepam and electroconvulsive therapy (ECT) were found to be the most widely used treatment at the study site, with good response rates and outcomes. The results were published in the 4th paper in SAGE Open. The fifth paper was on the subjective and psychological experience and published in the BMC Psychology journal. It described the psychological and subjective experience of catatonia as narrated by participants which is characterised by intense experiences of fear, anxiety, and sadness that manifested as extreme withdrawal, combined with obedience or submission. This research has yielded new knowledge with potential applications at a regional, national, and global level. New knowledge yielded includes the need for screening of patients for catatonia across all acute settings, the need for training of both medical and nursing personnel in the assessment of catatonia, the effectiveness of screening and assessment tools, effective interventions for catatonia and outcomes. The descriptions of catatonia at an emotional, cognitive, and behavioural level also highlight the need to develop psychological strategies and targeted psychological interventions to complement the current management strategies. , Thesis (PhD) -- Faculty of Health Sciences, 2022
- Full Text:
- Date Issued: 2022-07
- Authors: Zingela, Zukiswa
- Date: 2022-07
- Subjects: Mental Health , Catatonia , Psychomotor disorders
- Language: English
- Type: Doctoral's theses , text
- Identifier: http://hdl.handle.net/10948/60400 , vital:64706
- Description: Catatonia is a psychomotor abnormality that may be caused by severe physical or mental illness or by substances. It has a wide-ranging prevalence from less than 10% to just over 60%, worldwide. This thesis investigated multiple aspects of catatonia in an acute mental health unit setting. Critical aspects examined include the psychological experience of catatonia and assessment, prevalence, presentation, management, and treatment outcomes of catatonia. The research design was a prospective descriptive triangulation study that used a mixed quantitative and qualitative approach. The theoretical framework applied in this thesis was a positivist paradigm approach to explore the quantitative data collected, with application of deductive reasoning, supported by statistical analysis to detect correlations between catatonia and demographic and clinical data. The research explored the experience of a person with catatonia from the beginning to the end of the catatonic episode, inclusive of neglected areas such as the patient’s psychological and experiences. Sources of information included participant reports, clinical notes, and assessments conducted using screening tools for catatonia. Key knowledge gaps on catatonia were identified as target areas for this thesis. These are the prevalence of catatonia in a South African setting; the use of assessment tools like the Bush Francis Catatonia Screening Instrument (BFCSI), the Bush Francis Catatonia Rating Scale (BFCRS), and the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual (5th Edition; DSM-5) in this setting; interventions for catatonia; treatment outcomes; and the subjective experiences of catatonia, as described by patients. To date, there have been five publications produced from this thesis. The first paper was on the protocol for the research and was published in the British Medical Journal (BMJ) Open and presented the literature review, research design, and methodology for the planned Abstract ii research on catatonia (which has ultimately been presented in this current thesis). This paper also identified the aforementioned critical knowledge gaps. The second paper was published in the Biomedicine Central (BMC) International Journal of Mental Health Systems. This paper described a 6-month prevalence rate of catatonia of 11.9%, and concluded that the BFCSI and BFCRS had the highest inter-rater reliability (IRR) and pick-up rate when screening for catatonia, while the DMS-5 had low IRR, and the lowest correlation with the BFCSI and BFCRS. The 12-month prevalence rate was found to be 18.3% and was described in the third paper which was published in the PLOS One Psychiatry. Both lorazepam and electroconvulsive therapy (ECT) were found to be the most widely used treatment at the study site, with good response rates and outcomes. The results were published in the 4th paper in SAGE Open. The fifth paper was on the subjective and psychological experience and published in the BMC Psychology journal. It described the psychological and subjective experience of catatonia as narrated by participants which is characterised by intense experiences of fear, anxiety, and sadness that manifested as extreme withdrawal, combined with obedience or submission. This research has yielded new knowledge with potential applications at a regional, national, and global level. New knowledge yielded includes the need for screening of patients for catatonia across all acute settings, the need for training of both medical and nursing personnel in the assessment of catatonia, the effectiveness of screening and assessment tools, effective interventions for catatonia and outcomes. The descriptions of catatonia at an emotional, cognitive, and behavioural level also highlight the need to develop psychological strategies and targeted psychological interventions to complement the current management strategies. , Thesis (PhD) -- Faculty of Health Sciences, 2022
- Full Text:
- Date Issued: 2022-07
Academic resilience of engineering students: a case study
- Authors: Mapaling, Curwyn
- Date: 2023-04
- Subjects: Resilience (Personality trait) , Engineering students
- Language: English
- Type: Doctoral's theses , Thesis
- Identifier: http://hdl.handle.net/10948/60775 , vital:67337
- Description: Extensive research has been done and much knowledge exists about academic resilience among youth in school contexts, but there is a lack of data and literature on academic resilience at university level. This knowledge gap is especially critical in disciplines such as engineering, where student dropout rates have historically been high. In 2017, a redesigned engineering degree qualification, the Bachelor of Engineering Technology, was introduced at South African universities. This case study explored the academic resilience of the first cohort of final-year Bachelor of Engineering Technology students at Nelson Mandela University. Mixed methods and multiple theories were employed, which allowed for the generation of rich data for this exploratory case study. In the quantitative phase, 66 students from Industrial, Civil, Electrical, Marine and Mechanical Engineering courses participated by completing a series of standardised psychometric measurement tools. Descriptive and inferential statistical analysis was conducted on the quantitative data collected from the measurement items. In the qualitative phase, 13 engineering students, 6 engineering lecturers and 6 support staff members were interviewed individually, to explore their perceptions and experiences of academic resilience. Qualitative data generated through the semi-structured interviews were analysed using thematic analysis. The findings suggested that staff and students perceive academic resilience differently. It also seems that staff wellbeing impacts the academic resilience of students, and the relationship between staff wellness and student academic resilience is suggested as a next step for research on the topic of academic resilience at university level, especially among courses with high drop-out rates like engineering. Although not generalisable, it appears that a variety of extracurricular support structures and initiatives and strong relationships between the higher education sector and engineering industries can contribute significantly to students' academic resilience. , Thesis (PhD) -- Faculty of Education, School of Post Graduate Education, 2023
- Full Text:
- Date Issued: 2023-04
- Authors: Mapaling, Curwyn
- Date: 2023-04
- Subjects: Resilience (Personality trait) , Engineering students
- Language: English
- Type: Doctoral's theses , Thesis
- Identifier: http://hdl.handle.net/10948/60775 , vital:67337
- Description: Extensive research has been done and much knowledge exists about academic resilience among youth in school contexts, but there is a lack of data and literature on academic resilience at university level. This knowledge gap is especially critical in disciplines such as engineering, where student dropout rates have historically been high. In 2017, a redesigned engineering degree qualification, the Bachelor of Engineering Technology, was introduced at South African universities. This case study explored the academic resilience of the first cohort of final-year Bachelor of Engineering Technology students at Nelson Mandela University. Mixed methods and multiple theories were employed, which allowed for the generation of rich data for this exploratory case study. In the quantitative phase, 66 students from Industrial, Civil, Electrical, Marine and Mechanical Engineering courses participated by completing a series of standardised psychometric measurement tools. Descriptive and inferential statistical analysis was conducted on the quantitative data collected from the measurement items. In the qualitative phase, 13 engineering students, 6 engineering lecturers and 6 support staff members were interviewed individually, to explore their perceptions and experiences of academic resilience. Qualitative data generated through the semi-structured interviews were analysed using thematic analysis. The findings suggested that staff and students perceive academic resilience differently. It also seems that staff wellbeing impacts the academic resilience of students, and the relationship between staff wellness and student academic resilience is suggested as a next step for research on the topic of academic resilience at university level, especially among courses with high drop-out rates like engineering. Although not generalisable, it appears that a variety of extracurricular support structures and initiatives and strong relationships between the higher education sector and engineering industries can contribute significantly to students' academic resilience. , Thesis (PhD) -- Faculty of Education, School of Post Graduate Education, 2023
- Full Text:
- Date Issued: 2023-04
Enhancement of domestic solar photovoltaic unit productivity through the use of a cost effective tracking system
- Authors: Cawood, John Henry
- Date: 2021-04
- Subjects: Photovoltaic power systems , Tracking (Engineering)
- Language: English
- Type: Doctoral's theses , text
- Identifier: http://hdl.handle.net/10948/59215 , vital:60313
- Description: The majority of new and existing small photovoltaic (PV) installations in South Africa are fixed-panel systems, largely due to the cost of photovoltaic panel components having reduced steadily in recent years where an increased requirement is met with a larger number of panels, whilst tracking system costs remain prohibitively expensive. Fixed installations realise only a part of their energy potential as they are truly effective for only short periods of the day. The aim of this study is to investigate and build on the current technology of PV tracking systems with the aim of specifying a simple control and actuation system which performs the tracking function. The eventual purpose of this thesis is to reliably produce more energy from solar photovoltaic installations than similar installations using fixed panels. This would be achieved by the use of an effective and affordable tracking system which yields acceptable accuracy and reliability and opens the potential for the system to be further developed for other purposes. These alternative uses could be the control of sunlight into green buildings, control of dampers for building ventilation and cooling and Trombe wall air control. This study has investigated the potential of several passive and active methods to actuate a sun tracking system. A useful closed loop system, which uses low pressure hydraulics, was developed and tested. The prototype is detailed in the drawings, Appendix D. , Thesis (PhD) -- Faculty of Engineering, the Built Environment, and Technology, 2021
- Full Text:
- Date Issued: 2021-04
- Authors: Cawood, John Henry
- Date: 2021-04
- Subjects: Photovoltaic power systems , Tracking (Engineering)
- Language: English
- Type: Doctoral's theses , text
- Identifier: http://hdl.handle.net/10948/59215 , vital:60313
- Description: The majority of new and existing small photovoltaic (PV) installations in South Africa are fixed-panel systems, largely due to the cost of photovoltaic panel components having reduced steadily in recent years where an increased requirement is met with a larger number of panels, whilst tracking system costs remain prohibitively expensive. Fixed installations realise only a part of their energy potential as they are truly effective for only short periods of the day. The aim of this study is to investigate and build on the current technology of PV tracking systems with the aim of specifying a simple control and actuation system which performs the tracking function. The eventual purpose of this thesis is to reliably produce more energy from solar photovoltaic installations than similar installations using fixed panels. This would be achieved by the use of an effective and affordable tracking system which yields acceptable accuracy and reliability and opens the potential for the system to be further developed for other purposes. These alternative uses could be the control of sunlight into green buildings, control of dampers for building ventilation and cooling and Trombe wall air control. This study has investigated the potential of several passive and active methods to actuate a sun tracking system. A useful closed loop system, which uses low pressure hydraulics, was developed and tested. The prototype is detailed in the drawings, Appendix D. , Thesis (PhD) -- Faculty of Engineering, the Built Environment, and Technology, 2021
- Full Text:
- Date Issued: 2021-04
The development of South African secondary school teachers to adopt a STEAM approach: A mixed method study
- Authors: Steyn, Catherina
- Date: 2023-04
- Subjects: Professional Development , Social Cognitive Theory , Mathematics
- Language: English
- Type: Doctoral's theses , text
- Identifier: http://hdl.handle.net/10948/63218 , vital:73234
- Description: Creativity is seen as one of the most important skills required for success in the 21st century and therefore teachers should set the example and become creative and innovative when skilfully applying their knowledge to teach. In STEAM, art is included in the STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics) mix as a new innovative educational approach which is believed to increase creativity. The advantages of STEAM are widely accepted for a number of reasons and it has become very popular in countries that are known for their excellent mathematics performance, but it is unknown in most South African schools. Although a few studies have been done on STEAM in South Africa there is a lack of research on the professional development of mathematics teachers and the adoption of the STEAM approach in the mathematics classroom. This mixed methods study aims to determine the diffusion of the STEAM approach, and the influence of professional development on that diffusion and adoption in the South African Mathematics classroom. A convergent triangulation design was used in conjunction with a simultaneous quantitative and qualitative approach involving three different groups of participants. The quantitative approach concentrated on the hypothesis that secondary school mathematics teachers still embrace traditional teaching methods. The qualitative approach was directed towards answering the question on the knowledge and awareness of STEAM and the adoption of the innovation. The combination of two theories, namely Roger’s Diffusion of Innovations and Bandura’s Social Cognitive Theory were found to provide the most suitable framework to describe the process in the findings. The instrument used in the quantitative approach was an online questionnaire and in qualitative approach the data was collected using interviews, assignments and questionnaires. It was found that although Mathematics teachers are open to learning about innovations, they still rely on traditional teaching methods. Teachers recognise the advantages of STEAM and want to use it but feel constrained by the curriculum, the pressure to perform and a lack of resources. Short activities that are curriculum based are welcomed and used by the teachers. However, they struggle to set up their own iii activities and then abandon the idea. In addition, they are not comfortable with projects involving teachers from other disciplines or including art activities in a mathematics lesson. The adoption of STEAM becomes much easier if there is a strong professional learning community and support from school management. The positive reactions of the learners on the STEAM activities motivate the teachers to adopt the approach. The diffusion of STEAM into the mathematics classroom is not instant but takes an average of two to three years. This time factor should be taken into consideration when planning a professional development programme. The programme should include scaffolding to assist teachers to become confident in using STEAM activities but also in using technology which is the key to finding and using new activities. , Thesis (PhD) -- Faculty of Education, 2023
- Full Text:
- Date Issued: 2023-04
- Authors: Steyn, Catherina
- Date: 2023-04
- Subjects: Professional Development , Social Cognitive Theory , Mathematics
- Language: English
- Type: Doctoral's theses , text
- Identifier: http://hdl.handle.net/10948/63218 , vital:73234
- Description: Creativity is seen as one of the most important skills required for success in the 21st century and therefore teachers should set the example and become creative and innovative when skilfully applying their knowledge to teach. In STEAM, art is included in the STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics) mix as a new innovative educational approach which is believed to increase creativity. The advantages of STEAM are widely accepted for a number of reasons and it has become very popular in countries that are known for their excellent mathematics performance, but it is unknown in most South African schools. Although a few studies have been done on STEAM in South Africa there is a lack of research on the professional development of mathematics teachers and the adoption of the STEAM approach in the mathematics classroom. This mixed methods study aims to determine the diffusion of the STEAM approach, and the influence of professional development on that diffusion and adoption in the South African Mathematics classroom. A convergent triangulation design was used in conjunction with a simultaneous quantitative and qualitative approach involving three different groups of participants. The quantitative approach concentrated on the hypothesis that secondary school mathematics teachers still embrace traditional teaching methods. The qualitative approach was directed towards answering the question on the knowledge and awareness of STEAM and the adoption of the innovation. The combination of two theories, namely Roger’s Diffusion of Innovations and Bandura’s Social Cognitive Theory were found to provide the most suitable framework to describe the process in the findings. The instrument used in the quantitative approach was an online questionnaire and in qualitative approach the data was collected using interviews, assignments and questionnaires. It was found that although Mathematics teachers are open to learning about innovations, they still rely on traditional teaching methods. Teachers recognise the advantages of STEAM and want to use it but feel constrained by the curriculum, the pressure to perform and a lack of resources. Short activities that are curriculum based are welcomed and used by the teachers. However, they struggle to set up their own iii activities and then abandon the idea. In addition, they are not comfortable with projects involving teachers from other disciplines or including art activities in a mathematics lesson. The adoption of STEAM becomes much easier if there is a strong professional learning community and support from school management. The positive reactions of the learners on the STEAM activities motivate the teachers to adopt the approach. The diffusion of STEAM into the mathematics classroom is not instant but takes an average of two to three years. This time factor should be taken into consideration when planning a professional development programme. The programme should include scaffolding to assist teachers to become confident in using STEAM activities but also in using technology which is the key to finding and using new activities. , Thesis (PhD) -- Faculty of Education, 2023
- Full Text:
- Date Issued: 2023-04
Spousal experiences of living with a gambling disordered partner and intimate partner violence in South Africa: a grounded theory study
- Authors: Oppelt, Thelma
- Date: 20223-12
- Subjects: Gambling and crime -- South Africa , Gambling Disordered
- Language: English
- Type: Doctoral's theses , text
- Identifier: http://hdl.handle.net/10948/62980 , vital:73079
- Description: I have been motivated to conduct this research on a professional and personal level. As an only child, I grew up with individuals who gambled every day of their lives, and the spouses/partners who struggled with being labelled by society as weak to stay with them. Furthermore, I have personal insights into the Intimate Partner Violence (IPV) stories of the women, having been tagged along with my mother who worked at a women’s support centre in our community. I can appreciate the help that these women provide to each other and the perspectives they lend to this study. The insights I bring from my personal experiences have assisted me in making a personal connection with this research area. I became the first in my family to attend university, even though my father was a cleaner and never completed high school. I performed well as an undergraduate and completed my first degree, with Psychology as a major. My master’s degree challenged me to look at spouses’ experiences of the psychological and financial trauma of living with a male gambling disordered partner, and out of it the doctoral thesis of Intimate Partner Violence as a specific form of violence in a gambling disordered relationship was formed. I worked as a researcher for five years at the Human Sciences Research Council (HSRC). At the HSRC I had come to realise that I had to find a solution for my difficulty in working on projects far removed from Psychology or human interactions. I was always the first person to be nominated to do qualitative interviews and analyse the data, but all in fields far removed from my chosen field of study. However, I do appreciate that if I had not done all those projects, I would not have been ready to embark on my PhD journey. Upon leaving the HSRC, I started as the Senior Programmes and Safe House Manager at a not-for-profit organisation. I do not think that I would have been able to do justice to the stories that many of the individuals have described in this research study, without xvii working for an organisation that advocates for the safety of individuals who find themselves in such circumstances. On a personal level, even though I have never gambled in my life, I believe that gambling is a personal choice. I have volunteered at sober living homes and have seen some of the problems that spouses and their families experience. Because of my own experiences, I decided that the topic for my PhD thesis could explore the way Intimate Partner Violence is socially constructed and the implications of being the spouse of someone who is challenged by a gambling disorder. , Thesis (PHD) -- Faculty of Health Science, 2023
- Full Text:
- Date Issued: 20223-12
- Authors: Oppelt, Thelma
- Date: 20223-12
- Subjects: Gambling and crime -- South Africa , Gambling Disordered
- Language: English
- Type: Doctoral's theses , text
- Identifier: http://hdl.handle.net/10948/62980 , vital:73079
- Description: I have been motivated to conduct this research on a professional and personal level. As an only child, I grew up with individuals who gambled every day of their lives, and the spouses/partners who struggled with being labelled by society as weak to stay with them. Furthermore, I have personal insights into the Intimate Partner Violence (IPV) stories of the women, having been tagged along with my mother who worked at a women’s support centre in our community. I can appreciate the help that these women provide to each other and the perspectives they lend to this study. The insights I bring from my personal experiences have assisted me in making a personal connection with this research area. I became the first in my family to attend university, even though my father was a cleaner and never completed high school. I performed well as an undergraduate and completed my first degree, with Psychology as a major. My master’s degree challenged me to look at spouses’ experiences of the psychological and financial trauma of living with a male gambling disordered partner, and out of it the doctoral thesis of Intimate Partner Violence as a specific form of violence in a gambling disordered relationship was formed. I worked as a researcher for five years at the Human Sciences Research Council (HSRC). At the HSRC I had come to realise that I had to find a solution for my difficulty in working on projects far removed from Psychology or human interactions. I was always the first person to be nominated to do qualitative interviews and analyse the data, but all in fields far removed from my chosen field of study. However, I do appreciate that if I had not done all those projects, I would not have been ready to embark on my PhD journey. Upon leaving the HSRC, I started as the Senior Programmes and Safe House Manager at a not-for-profit organisation. I do not think that I would have been able to do justice to the stories that many of the individuals have described in this research study, without xvii working for an organisation that advocates for the safety of individuals who find themselves in such circumstances. On a personal level, even though I have never gambled in my life, I believe that gambling is a personal choice. I have volunteered at sober living homes and have seen some of the problems that spouses and their families experience. Because of my own experiences, I decided that the topic for my PhD thesis could explore the way Intimate Partner Violence is socially constructed and the implications of being the spouse of someone who is challenged by a gambling disorder. , Thesis (PHD) -- Faculty of Health Science, 2023
- Full Text:
- Date Issued: 20223-12
A feminist critical discourse analysis of male dominance and violence in Zakes Mda’s the Madonna of excelsior and Chimamanda Ngozi Adichie’s purple hibiscus
- Authors: Ibitoye, Antonia Folasade
- Date: 2023-12
- Subjects: Feminism and education , Feminism and literature
- Language: English
- Type: Doctoral's theses , text
- Identifier: http://hdl.handle.net/10948/63320 , vital:73249
- Description: This study critically explored male dominance and violence in Africa, through the lens of South African author, Zakes Mda, and Nigerian author, Chimamanda Ngozi Adichie, in their novels, The Madonna of Excelsior (2004) and Purple Hibiscus (2003), respectively. Women globally often continue to live with male dominance, and this unequal gender structure has propelled feminists to commence movements to counter all forms of discrimination against women. For the study, excerpts from the two novels were used as data, to investigate male dominance and violence in Africa. To achieve the goals of this research, the study used socialist feminist theory, post-colonial feminist theory, and black feminist theory as the theoretical framework. This combined framework explicates that there is not just one system of oppression at the core of unequal treatment of women by men. Rather, it is a combination of structures related to social class, gender, race, sexuality, culture and society. Feminist critical discourse analysis (FCDA) was employed to analyse the data with the aid of ATLAS.ti software. FCDA was selected as an analytical framework because of its concern for the emancipation of women and social justice with transformation.What prompted the area of concern and the research problem of this study was an awareness of the extensive gender inequality in Nigeria and South Africa, which tends to be rooted in male dominance and violence. As a result, this study contributes to creating awareness of gender inequality, suggesting ways of combating violence against women and female suppression as well as promoting new conceptualisations of masculinity, femininity, and inequality. This research study explored how language use constructed identity, gender, and power relations and how these have reflected male dominance, and violence in Africa in the novels chosen for this study. This study is significant because it did not only analysed the marginalisation and suppression of the female gender but further exposed the strategies that were adopted by women to confront patriarchal oppression and domination as well as the resultant effect on the perpetrators as depicted in the novels for this study. The distinctiveness of this study can be viewed from three different perspectives. Firstly, it is one of the first research works to use FCDA to address the social problems of male dominance and violence. Secondly, it is the first research work which recognises the use of the novel as an essential source of data for FCDA on male dominance and violence. Using the novel as a data source supports the fact that novels are relevant data sources because 5 they often reflect the happenings in society, such as the incidence of gender inequality. Lastly, this project is distinctive because of its ability to combine socialist feminist theory, black feminist theory, post-colonial feminist theory as the theoretical framework and FCDA as the methodological approach. The study is limited to two novels from two African writers because the novels are reflections of the challenges faced by women in Africa and because of the novelists’ unique use of language and the representation of male dominance, violence and female suppression in Africa. The choice to restrict the scope of the study to Africa, selecting Nigeria and South Africa was because, both novels are set in African context and also as a result of the gravity of the identified social and equity issues in Africa. For further research, the study could be extended beyond the African continent to other continents. By so doing, other feminist theories could be used while FCDA could still be used as an analytical framework. Furthermore, a comparative analysis of male dominance and violence between South Africa and Nigeria could also be explored or between Africa and the western world. This study, therefore, explored how language use constructed gender identity and how this reflected male dominance and violence in Africa through the novels, which provided the data for analysis. Following the principles of FCDA, the study sought to create social awareness and to build an understanding of the need not only to resist male dominance and violence but to extend understandings of gender differences with the intention of generating a collective change and transformation in society for gender equality. , Thesis (PhD) -- Faculty of Humanities, 2023
- Full Text:
- Date Issued: 2023-12
- Authors: Ibitoye, Antonia Folasade
- Date: 2023-12
- Subjects: Feminism and education , Feminism and literature
- Language: English
- Type: Doctoral's theses , text
- Identifier: http://hdl.handle.net/10948/63320 , vital:73249
- Description: This study critically explored male dominance and violence in Africa, through the lens of South African author, Zakes Mda, and Nigerian author, Chimamanda Ngozi Adichie, in their novels, The Madonna of Excelsior (2004) and Purple Hibiscus (2003), respectively. Women globally often continue to live with male dominance, and this unequal gender structure has propelled feminists to commence movements to counter all forms of discrimination against women. For the study, excerpts from the two novels were used as data, to investigate male dominance and violence in Africa. To achieve the goals of this research, the study used socialist feminist theory, post-colonial feminist theory, and black feminist theory as the theoretical framework. This combined framework explicates that there is not just one system of oppression at the core of unequal treatment of women by men. Rather, it is a combination of structures related to social class, gender, race, sexuality, culture and society. Feminist critical discourse analysis (FCDA) was employed to analyse the data with the aid of ATLAS.ti software. FCDA was selected as an analytical framework because of its concern for the emancipation of women and social justice with transformation.What prompted the area of concern and the research problem of this study was an awareness of the extensive gender inequality in Nigeria and South Africa, which tends to be rooted in male dominance and violence. As a result, this study contributes to creating awareness of gender inequality, suggesting ways of combating violence against women and female suppression as well as promoting new conceptualisations of masculinity, femininity, and inequality. This research study explored how language use constructed identity, gender, and power relations and how these have reflected male dominance, and violence in Africa in the novels chosen for this study. This study is significant because it did not only analysed the marginalisation and suppression of the female gender but further exposed the strategies that were adopted by women to confront patriarchal oppression and domination as well as the resultant effect on the perpetrators as depicted in the novels for this study. The distinctiveness of this study can be viewed from three different perspectives. Firstly, it is one of the first research works to use FCDA to address the social problems of male dominance and violence. Secondly, it is the first research work which recognises the use of the novel as an essential source of data for FCDA on male dominance and violence. Using the novel as a data source supports the fact that novels are relevant data sources because 5 they often reflect the happenings in society, such as the incidence of gender inequality. Lastly, this project is distinctive because of its ability to combine socialist feminist theory, black feminist theory, post-colonial feminist theory as the theoretical framework and FCDA as the methodological approach. The study is limited to two novels from two African writers because the novels are reflections of the challenges faced by women in Africa and because of the novelists’ unique use of language and the representation of male dominance, violence and female suppression in Africa. The choice to restrict the scope of the study to Africa, selecting Nigeria and South Africa was because, both novels are set in African context and also as a result of the gravity of the identified social and equity issues in Africa. For further research, the study could be extended beyond the African continent to other continents. By so doing, other feminist theories could be used while FCDA could still be used as an analytical framework. Furthermore, a comparative analysis of male dominance and violence between South Africa and Nigeria could also be explored or between Africa and the western world. This study, therefore, explored how language use constructed gender identity and how this reflected male dominance and violence in Africa through the novels, which provided the data for analysis. Following the principles of FCDA, the study sought to create social awareness and to build an understanding of the need not only to resist male dominance and violence but to extend understandings of gender differences with the intention of generating a collective change and transformation in society for gender equality. , Thesis (PhD) -- Faculty of Humanities, 2023
- Full Text:
- Date Issued: 2023-12
The co-construction of a sustainable process model for school-based support teams in community schools in the Nelson Mandela Bay Metropole
- Authors: Deysel, Sanet
- Date: 2023-04
- Subjects: Construction , Sustainable School-based management , Community schools, Nelson Mandela Bay Metropole -- Eastern Cape (South Africa)
- Language: English
- Type: Doctoral's theses , Thesis
- Identifier: http://hdl.handle.net/10948/63402 , vital:73348
- Description: Many factors contribute to the critical state of Schooling in South Africa. Challenges experienced by schools are socio-economic factors, overcrowded classrooms, lack of resources, dysfunctional schools and inequalities (Spaull, 2012). A grouping of community schools from a socio-economically marginalised area in the Nelson Mandela Bay Metropole in the Eastern Cape of South Africa organised itself into a formal network of schools called the Manyano Network. The Manyano schools approached the Centre for the Community School (CCS), which is affiliated with the Faculty of Education at Nelson Mandela University, for assistance in the establishment and support of School-based Support Teams to support learners who experience barriers to learning. To ensure the voice of all participants in the study were heard, the Participatory Action Learning and Action Research (PALAR) design and methodology were used. A multidimensional theoretical framework, Bronfenbrenner’s bio-ecological systems model, Kolb’s experiential learning, and Epstein’s model were employed in the study, providing insights into the multi-faceted nature of the Manyano community schools. Furthermore, multiple paradigms, participatory paradigm, critical paradigm, and interpretive paradigm were implemented as a lens through which to interpret and understand the data. The main research question of the thesis is What are the fundamental elements required towards the co-construction of a sustainable process model for School Based Support Teams in South African Community Schools? The three sub-questions are: • •What are the perceptions of School-based Support Team members in SouthAfrican community schools regarding the main barriers to learning? • •What support structures are available for School-based Support Teammembers who encounter learners presenting barriers to learning? • •How can the PALAR process enable the formulation of a sustainable processmodel for School Based Support Teams in South African community schools? The aim of the thesis is to explore the fundamental elements required toward the co-construction of a sustainable process model for School-based Support Teams in South African Community schools. , Thesis (PhD) -- Faculty of Education, School of Initial Teacher Education, 2023
- Full Text:
- Date Issued: 2023-04
- Authors: Deysel, Sanet
- Date: 2023-04
- Subjects: Construction , Sustainable School-based management , Community schools, Nelson Mandela Bay Metropole -- Eastern Cape (South Africa)
- Language: English
- Type: Doctoral's theses , Thesis
- Identifier: http://hdl.handle.net/10948/63402 , vital:73348
- Description: Many factors contribute to the critical state of Schooling in South Africa. Challenges experienced by schools are socio-economic factors, overcrowded classrooms, lack of resources, dysfunctional schools and inequalities (Spaull, 2012). A grouping of community schools from a socio-economically marginalised area in the Nelson Mandela Bay Metropole in the Eastern Cape of South Africa organised itself into a formal network of schools called the Manyano Network. The Manyano schools approached the Centre for the Community School (CCS), which is affiliated with the Faculty of Education at Nelson Mandela University, for assistance in the establishment and support of School-based Support Teams to support learners who experience barriers to learning. To ensure the voice of all participants in the study were heard, the Participatory Action Learning and Action Research (PALAR) design and methodology were used. A multidimensional theoretical framework, Bronfenbrenner’s bio-ecological systems model, Kolb’s experiential learning, and Epstein’s model were employed in the study, providing insights into the multi-faceted nature of the Manyano community schools. Furthermore, multiple paradigms, participatory paradigm, critical paradigm, and interpretive paradigm were implemented as a lens through which to interpret and understand the data. The main research question of the thesis is What are the fundamental elements required towards the co-construction of a sustainable process model for School Based Support Teams in South African Community Schools? The three sub-questions are: • •What are the perceptions of School-based Support Team members in SouthAfrican community schools regarding the main barriers to learning? • •What support structures are available for School-based Support Teammembers who encounter learners presenting barriers to learning? • •How can the PALAR process enable the formulation of a sustainable processmodel for School Based Support Teams in South African community schools? The aim of the thesis is to explore the fundamental elements required toward the co-construction of a sustainable process model for School-based Support Teams in South African Community schools. , Thesis (PhD) -- Faculty of Education, School of Initial Teacher Education, 2023
- Full Text:
- Date Issued: 2023-04
The relationship between savings and economic growth in Southern African customs union (sacu) countries
- Authors: Tala, Lavisa
- Date: 2023-04
- Subjects: Economic development--Southern Africa , Customs unions
- Language: English
- Type: Doctoral's theses , text
- Identifier: http://hdl.handle.net/10948/63111 , vital:73187
- Description: This study empirically investigates the nature of the relationship between savings and economic growth in SACU member countries, namely: South Africa, Botswana, Lesotho, Namibia, and Eswatini, using panel data for the period 1990-2021. A high savings rate is believed to be instrumental in stimulating economic growth, making it vital is for policy makers to understand the nature of the relationship existing between savings and economic growth in order to design and implement appropriate policies. To ensure robustness of the empirical results, this study applied different panel data estimation procedures. Using Pooled OLS, Random Effect, Fully Modified OLS, Dynamic OLS and Mean Group, Pool Mean Group and Dynamic Fixed Effect, the study discovered that gross domestic savings have a positive impact on economic growth among SACU member countries. Based on the results, gross domestic savings emerged with different coefficients indicating sensitivity to the estimation technique although statistically significant. Furthermore, the study dealt with the issue of linearity in the savings-growth nexus, by estimating the threshold level. Estimated results reveal evidence that gross domestic savings above 16 percent threshold have a negative effect on economic growth, while below the threshold, level savings impact economic growth positively. The study recommends, among other things, that policy makers design and implement policies that promote financial inclusion to mobilise domestic savings so as to increase economic growth. The major goal of economic policy should be to encourage households to save and ensure that domestic savings are invested in productive projects and sectors of the economy. , Thesis (PhD) -- Faculty of Faculty of Business and Economic Sciences, 2023
- Full Text:
- Date Issued: 2023-04
- Authors: Tala, Lavisa
- Date: 2023-04
- Subjects: Economic development--Southern Africa , Customs unions
- Language: English
- Type: Doctoral's theses , text
- Identifier: http://hdl.handle.net/10948/63111 , vital:73187
- Description: This study empirically investigates the nature of the relationship between savings and economic growth in SACU member countries, namely: South Africa, Botswana, Lesotho, Namibia, and Eswatini, using panel data for the period 1990-2021. A high savings rate is believed to be instrumental in stimulating economic growth, making it vital is for policy makers to understand the nature of the relationship existing between savings and economic growth in order to design and implement appropriate policies. To ensure robustness of the empirical results, this study applied different panel data estimation procedures. Using Pooled OLS, Random Effect, Fully Modified OLS, Dynamic OLS and Mean Group, Pool Mean Group and Dynamic Fixed Effect, the study discovered that gross domestic savings have a positive impact on economic growth among SACU member countries. Based on the results, gross domestic savings emerged with different coefficients indicating sensitivity to the estimation technique although statistically significant. Furthermore, the study dealt with the issue of linearity in the savings-growth nexus, by estimating the threshold level. Estimated results reveal evidence that gross domestic savings above 16 percent threshold have a negative effect on economic growth, while below the threshold, level savings impact economic growth positively. The study recommends, among other things, that policy makers design and implement policies that promote financial inclusion to mobilise domestic savings so as to increase economic growth. The major goal of economic policy should be to encourage households to save and ensure that domestic savings are invested in productive projects and sectors of the economy. , Thesis (PhD) -- Faculty of Faculty of Business and Economic Sciences, 2023
- Full Text:
- Date Issued: 2023-04
Investigating the first level pass-through effects of the SACU Region monetary transmission mechanism
- Authors: Mkhombo , Thando
- Date: 2022-04
- Subjects: Monetary transmission , Central bank -- South Africa
- Language: English
- Type: Doctoral's theses , text
- Identifier: http://hdl.handle.net/10948/57927 , vital:58428
- Description: The purpose of this thesis is to investigate the first-level pass-through effects of monetary policy transmission in SACU using the wavelet analysis methodology. The thesis comprises four empirical themes. 1. Investigating the time-frequency relationship in the Fisher’s effect for SACU countries. 2. Investigating the time-frequency relationship in the Purchasing Power Parity (PPP) for SACU countries. 3. Investigating the time-frequency relationship between the exchange rate and the stock returns for SACU countries. 4. Investigating the time-frequency relationship between interest rates, exchange rates, and stock returns for SACU countries. Whilst there exists a considerable amount of empirical works which have studied the four themes in SACU countries that are covered in this study, there is a need for more empirical investigation for several reasons. Firstly, a majority of the studies have focused on South Africa with very little empirical literature existing for Botswana and Lesotho. Secondly, the previous SACU based studies present contradicting findings. Thirdly, Most of these studies did not cover the themes comprehensively, as is the case in this study. Finally, to the best of my knowledge, this methodology has not been employed in any SACU related literature until now. Altogether, the thesis bridges the inconsistencies found in previous SACU-related literature and offers fresh implications for policymakers and market participants. From an empirical perspective, the wavelet coherence analysis proves to be a powerful tool in reconciling previous contradicting empirical evidence on the existence of the Fisher effect in SACU countries. From a policy perspective, more fined tuned implications are derived from the findings of the study as wavelets are able to depict a more accurate description of the different first-level monetary transmission relationships. , Thesis (PhD) -- Faculty of business and economic sciences, 2022
- Full Text:
- Date Issued: 2022-04
- Authors: Mkhombo , Thando
- Date: 2022-04
- Subjects: Monetary transmission , Central bank -- South Africa
- Language: English
- Type: Doctoral's theses , text
- Identifier: http://hdl.handle.net/10948/57927 , vital:58428
- Description: The purpose of this thesis is to investigate the first-level pass-through effects of monetary policy transmission in SACU using the wavelet analysis methodology. The thesis comprises four empirical themes. 1. Investigating the time-frequency relationship in the Fisher’s effect for SACU countries. 2. Investigating the time-frequency relationship in the Purchasing Power Parity (PPP) for SACU countries. 3. Investigating the time-frequency relationship between the exchange rate and the stock returns for SACU countries. 4. Investigating the time-frequency relationship between interest rates, exchange rates, and stock returns for SACU countries. Whilst there exists a considerable amount of empirical works which have studied the four themes in SACU countries that are covered in this study, there is a need for more empirical investigation for several reasons. Firstly, a majority of the studies have focused on South Africa with very little empirical literature existing for Botswana and Lesotho. Secondly, the previous SACU based studies present contradicting findings. Thirdly, Most of these studies did not cover the themes comprehensively, as is the case in this study. Finally, to the best of my knowledge, this methodology has not been employed in any SACU related literature until now. Altogether, the thesis bridges the inconsistencies found in previous SACU-related literature and offers fresh implications for policymakers and market participants. From an empirical perspective, the wavelet coherence analysis proves to be a powerful tool in reconciling previous contradicting empirical evidence on the existence of the Fisher effect in SACU countries. From a policy perspective, more fined tuned implications are derived from the findings of the study as wavelets are able to depict a more accurate description of the different first-level monetary transmission relationships. , Thesis (PhD) -- Faculty of business and economic sciences, 2022
- Full Text:
- Date Issued: 2022-04