List of Titles

Catchment and River Management in Graduate Teacher Education: A Case Study of Student Teacher Learning and Teaching in the Upper uThukela Valley, KwaZulu-Natal

- Heath, Gavin Edward Craig

Authors: Heath, Gavin Edward Craig
Date: 2021-10-29
Subjects: Geography Study and teaching (Higher) South Africa KwaZulu-Natal , Watershed management Study and teaching (Higher) South Africa KwaZulu-Natal , Pedagogical content knowledge , Environmental education South Africa KwaZulu-Natal , Teacher effectiveness South Africa KwaZulu-Natal , Curriculum and Assessment Policy Statement (CAPS)
Language: English
Type: Doctoral theses , text
Identifier: http://hdl.handle.net/10962/190635 , vital:45012 , 10.21504/10962/190635
Description: This study developed as a progressive focus on a design research process towards the inclusion of new environmental knowledge in teacher education. It is centred on the clarification of pedagogical content knowledge for the teaching of catchment and river management in Geography teacher education. The study was developed as a design research case study with three phases or iterations of experiential engagement and data collection during the teaching of Postgraduate Certificate in Education students at the University of KwaZulu-Natal where I lecture Geography Education. The study’s iterative design was developed around pedagogical content knowledge refinement with curriculum knowledge analysis (phase 1) that was followed by lecture delivery and analysis (phase 2) and analysis of student engagement during fieldwork, and on teaching practice in rural classroom contexts (phase 3). Data and insights were generated across the successive stages of knowledge differentiation and teaching and learning interactions over time, and included reflection with students involved in the lectures, fieldwork and teaching practice programme. The analytical work covered a review of trajectories in new environmental knowledge, social-ecological systems, sustainability competencies, practice architecture and fieldwork pedagogy. This was done using three research lenses, namely social-ecological systems, social learning and practice architectures. All the design research and review processes served to develop, clarify and refine pedagogical content knowledge for sustainability-oriented teacher education. Thus the study conformed to the tenets of design-based research that was centred on clarification and review of pedagogical content knowledge that was carried into phases two and three. Research was focused at the nexus of pedagogical content knowledge and sustainability concerns that is necessary for the teaching of catchment and river basin management within a social-ecological systems perspective for integrated water resources management in South Africa and globally. The findings informed an illustrative model on how the research was carried out. Six design research insights and principles conclude the study and encapsulate the contribution it makes to new knowledge on how teacher education practice can be progressively aligned with new content knowledge teaching and the teaching of sustainability concerns. Specific findings in the form of six research insights indicated that the fieldworkbased teaching practice experience proved a successful learning crucible to develop sustainability competences. The cohort of student teachers passed their fieldwork teaching practice despite inadequate covering of foundational concepts in school and university. The teaching of a catchment management strategy case study was valuable in all three phases of research. A multi-contextual teaching and learning environment was successfully negotiated and navigated by the student teachers. The present Curriculum and Assessment Policy Statement does not speak to the reality on the ground, particularly in deep rural environments. A compulsory virtual Geography teacher training experience is recommended. Lastly, varied and broad responses to the noted multi-contextual challenges are needed in order to prepare and equip student teachers for the demands of the new environmental knowledge in the curriculum. Based on the groundwork provided by this study, there is scope for further research especially regarding the varied and broad responses to this new environmental knowledge in the curriculum. , Thesis (PhD) -- Faculty of Education, Education, 2021
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Date Issued: 2021-10-29

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Baseline description of the Benthic Biotopes for two Long-Term Ecological Research (LTER) stations in Algoa Bay, Agulhas ecoregion, South Africa

- Parker-Nance, Shirley

Authors: Parker-Nance, Shirley
Date: 2021-10-29
Subjects: Benthic ecology South Africa Algoa Bay , Long-Term Ecological Research Program , Marine invertebrates South Africa Algoa Bay , Reef ecology South Africa Algoa Bay , Coastal zone management South Africa Algoa Bay , Reef fishes South Africa Algoa Bay , Ecological mapping South Africa Algoa Bay
Language: English
Type: Doctoral theses , text
Identifier: http://hdl.handle.net/10962/191680 , vital:45147 , 10.21504/10962/191680
Description: Shallow coastal marine ecosystems provide important resources to society but are increasingly under threat from anthropogenic impacts. These systems form an interface between land and sea, providing valuable resources. Global environmental change, overexploitation, habitat transformation, pollution and policies aimed at short-term socio-economic gains are driving the loss of natural resources, productivity and biodiversity. Consequently, a comprehensive and holistic understanding of the current and future states of marine ecosystems is essential. This requires insight into the processes involved in maintaining genetic, species, habitat, community and biotope diversity at an ecosystem level. An understanding of ecosystem processes and the ability to detect changes in biodiversity, biotopes, seascape composition and ecosystem functioning require observation made over time and space. In response to this need, Long-Term Ecological Research (LTER) programmes such as those established by the South African Environmental Observation Network (SAEON) supported by the Department of Science and Innovation’s (DSI) Shallow Marine and Coastal Research Infrastructure (SMCRI) collect long–term observational data from different environments and systems. This study aimed to evaluate data collected as part of the developmental phase of a newly established benthic research platform. The datasets constructed are used to develop a baseline description of the benthic biotopes of two study areas within Algoa Bay. It aimed to gain insight into the feasibility of the methods used and the value of the data and derived essential biological variables (EVB). Assessing the sustainability of the programme over time was done through a practical evaluation of the methodology to be used and the technical feasibility of data collection and analysis. It furthermore aimed to assess the data usefulness in describing biodiversity at various scales and its sensitivity in reporting change. This pilot study provides valuable insight into data collection methodologies and introduces new sampling platforms. The baseline dataset consisted of data collected during the first 18 months of the SAEON Benthic Ecosystem Long-Term Ecological Research (BELTER) platform in Algoa Bay, Agulhas ecoregion, Western Indian Ocean, South Africa. This comprised of the collection of images for 150 m2 of the researched benthic seascape and 306 stereo video data streams. The 77 760 point dataset allowed the identification of 12 substrate types, 7 biotopes, 44 sub-biotope units, 377 sessile and sedentary benthic species and 51 ichthyofauna species. The described habitat and benthic communities and the defined benthic biotopes allowed for the assessment of biotope heterogeneity and the construction of a provisional distribution map for the broader biotopes. This work includes a study into the infra- and supra-benthic ichthyofauna associated with the defined biotopes and investigates the role habitat and benthic communities play in the distribution of these fish 3 assemblages. Lastly, it assesses the value of morphological traits and diversity indices for describing and comparing abiotic and biotic components of observed systems within the shallow coastal marine seascape. This study shows that species composition differs significantly between biotopes with habitat type playing a key role in the composition of the benthos. Substrate type, consolidated or unconsolidated, depth and the composition of the soft sediment is the most important determining factors. The White Sands Reef station has a higher species diversity than the St Croix Island Complex station with a higher percentage cover associated with the hard substrate. The dissimilarity between biotopes and communities are generally high although similarity within the biotopes or communities was found to be relatively low. This was considered indicative of high heterogeneity within the biotopes and a patch or mosaic-like distribution of communities within the broader biotope. A fine-scale a posteriori analysis of the data collected confirmed the high heterogeneous nature of both habitat and communities within the broader biotope. The description of the abiotic and biotic variables resulted in the identification of a diverse suite of biotope subunits. The character of the biotope hinges not only on the composition of the substrate and biota present but the contribution of smaller distinct biotopes subunits, their distribution and representation within broader biotopes and the degree these are shared with other broader biotopes. The distribution of these biotope units at different scales is believed to be important in understanding inherent diversity, niche partitioning and connectivity within a highly heterogeneous seascape. Ichthyofauna associated with the broader biotopes were indicative of the substrate type. Low profile reef systems with interspaced sandy stretches supported both reef fish and those typically associated with sandy substrates. Benthic biotopes associated characteristically with higher profile reef systems and less sand or soft sediment were mainly utilized by reef-associated fish species. Substrate type, depth and seasonality were found to be important factors in the observed composition and distribution of ichthyofauna over the seascape. Although fish species were found to have a wide distribution and made use of multiple biotopes the average abundance of the species within the observed assemblages differed. Analysis of ichthyofauna species composition indicated that observed fish assemblages were homogeneous within five of the seven biotopes. Broader biotopes that were found to be significantly different between sample locations are characterised by a diverse complement of biotope subunits and are highly heterogeneous. Traits and diversity indices are important tools for assessing and comparing different systems within the seascape, both spatially and temporally. The classification of the biota into broader phylogenetic groups indicated a significant difference between biotopes. This is especially useful when detailed 4 analysis or species identification is not possible or the skill set is not available. Morphological traits included in this study informed on the physical structure of the communities present and in combination with substrate type provided insight into the three-dimensional structure of the biotope. Species diversity, abundance, density estimates and the Shannon-Weiner diversity index were found to be the most useful diversity indices characterising and comparing biotopes. This was less so for ichthyofauna. Significant differences in the number of species observed were evident only between consolidated and unconsolidated dominated substrates. Although there was no significant difference in the number of individuals observed, both the Shannon-Weiner and Simpson Diversity indices were able to highlight differences in the fish assemblages observed for the different biotopes. The data collected, although permitting a comprehensive baseline assessment of the benthic environment for two research stations within the SAEON Algoa Bay LTER Sentinel Site, is temporally limited. The ichthyofauna dataset used was small and it is understood that the addition of length-frequency analysis of observed ichthyofauna will benefit our understanding of the biotope use by infra- and supra-benthic fish species over their life history within the larger seascape. Seasonal differences were evident and it is expected that datasets spanning several years, including LTER stations within different marine ecosystems types, will provide valuable insights on system dynamics in the short and long term both spatially and temporally. This study is the first attempt to evaluate the methodology developed and data collected in the South African Environmental Observation Network’s, Elwandle Coastal Node as part of the Shallow Marine and Coastal Research Infrastructure Benthic Ecosystem Long-Term Ecological Research (BELTER) platform. Newly designed and developed sample equipment and a sampling regime allowed for the collection of data on a long-term basis. The study was successful in the description of the biotope and biotope subunits for two research stations in Algoa Bay. It permitted the construction of comprehensive species lists for both benthic sessile and sedentary biota and the associated ichthyofauna. The subset of data used was successful in reporting on both spatial and temporal change. This work demonstrates that in the absence of detailed species identifications, traits may be used to describe habitat and community structure and report on abiotic and biotic biotope characteristics. This study furthermore allowed for the comparison of a comprehensive suite of diversity indices highlighting indices that may be especially useful in routine BELTER reporting. , Thesis (PhD) -- Faculty of Science, Ichthyology and Fisheries Science, 2021
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Date Issued: 2021-10-29

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Financing tools, firm life cycle and growth of small, medium and micro enterprises in selected sub-Sahara African economies

- Ngonisa, Phillip https://orcid.org/0000-0002-0145-9062

Authors: Ngonisa, Phillip https://orcid.org/0000-0002-0145-9062
Date: 2022-03
Subjects: Small business -- Finance , Small business -- Africa
Language: English
Type: Doctoral theses , text
Identifier: http://hdl.handle.net/10353/21794 , vital:51754
Description: Finance is of paramount importance for small, medium and micro enterprises’ (SMMEs) growth, without which many firms fail to move along their growth continuum. Against this background, the study sought to examine the growth effects of financing tools across the different phases of SMMEs' life cycle in Sub Sahara Africa (SSA) economies for the period spanning from 2003 to 2019. Firstly, due to the inherent heterogeneity nature of the SMMEs' financing landscapes across the world, the study starts by identifying the commonly used financing tools in the context of Sub-Saharan Africa. These were found to be internal finance, bank debt, trade credit, non-bank finance and informal finance, with internal finance being the most prevalent financing tool. The second aspect of the study was to examine the growth effects of the identified financing tools on SMMEs' performance in Sub Sahara Africa. In achieving this objective, several panel estimation techniques were employed, which are the feasible generalised least squares (FGLS), cross-sectional dependence (SCC), random effects model (REM) and pooled ordinary least squares (POLS). The empirical results show that internal finance or savings, bank financing, trade credit, non-bank financing and informal financing are positive and statistically significant in explaining SMMEs growth in the region, with stronger evidence for a positive relationship between external finance (trade credit and bank finance) on SMMEs growth in Sub-Saharan African region. The third objective of the study was to investigate the growth effects of SMMEs’ financing tools across different phases of the firm life cycle. The same panel techniques as used in achieving the previous objective were utilized again. The empirical findings show that the growth effects of SMME financing tools evolve as SMMEs move along their growth continuum, and only bank finance proved to be a fundamental variable for SMMEs growth throughout the different phases of firm growth. Finally, motivated by SMMEs’ high dependence on internal finance or savings, the study explored the saving practices of SMMEs in Sub Saharan Africa using thematic analysis. The study findings show that SMMEs in Sub Sahara African economies systematically save through formal and informal financial systems. These findings are contrary to conventional wisdom, which suggests that SMMEs are a financial basket case. Basing on the study findings, policies aimed at reducing or lessening the burden of accessing finance are important to stimulate the growth of SMMEs. Most importantly, there is a need for lenders and sponsors to understand the firm life cycle-financing tool nexus to ensure SMMEs growth. Moreover, SMMEs in Sub Sahara African economies need to cultivate a spirit of thrift to minimize firm attrition rate, thereby promoting SMMEs' growth in the region. , Thesis (PhD) -- Faculty of Management and Commerce, 2022
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Date Issued: 2022-03

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A multiple case study exploration into community members’ ecopsychological responses to environmental degradation in South Africa

- Barnwell, Garret

Authors: Barnwell, Garret
Date: 2021-03
Subjects: Environmental psychology -- South Africa , Environmental degradation -- South Africa
Language: English
Type: Doctoral theses , text
Identifier: http://hdl.handle.net/10948/54892 , vital:48377
Description: The psychological impact of environmental degradation in South Africa and its impact on communities’ relationships to the natural world is an understudied area. This study’s main aim was to explore community members’ reactions and responses to different forms of environmental degradation in South Africa by analysing two case studies: Rustenburg in the North West province and Limpopo province’s Vhembe District. The qualitative case studies relied on emplaced individual and focus group interviews. The findings from this study are presented in this doctoral thesis by publication. The first case study of Rustenburg in the North West’s platinum mining belt was selected due to the extractive industry’s historical impact on the natural environment, which is interlinked with the identity and heritage of host mining communities who could be considered land and environmental defenders. Two publications have been published on this case study. The first article, Critical reflections from South Africa: Using the Power Threat Meaning Framework to place climate-related distress in its socio-political context, was published in the British Psychology Society’s Clinical Psychology Forum Special Issue: Psychology and the Climate and Environmental Crisis in August 2020 and provides a critical reflection on psychological distress in Rustenburg, and questions whether popular terms used, such as “climate anxieties”, are useful for communities confronted by ecological crises. The paper concludes that there is danger in the dehistoricisation and medicalisation of distress that is rooted in climate, land and environmental injustices. The paper sets the scene for papers to follow that examine the interrelationship between place attachments and psychological responses to environmental degradation associated with slow violence. The second article, ’Nothing green can grow without being on the land’: Mine-affected communities’ psychological experiences of ecological degradation and resistance in Rustenburg, South Africa, was published in Community Psychology in Global Perspective Special Issue: Communities reclaiming power and social justice in the face of climate change and presents a broad overview of psychological responses to ecological degradation associated with environmental injustices. The paper suggests that psychological distress is attributed to environmental injustices. Furthermore, the process of place severing – the psychological threats, harms and disruptions to place-based dialogues – contributes to distress experienced in extractive settings. The two articles in this case study concluded by demonstrating how community resistance plays a part in addressing cumulative ecological harms and restoring the ancestral relationship with place. The second case study in the Vhembe District was selected due to the community’s psycho-spiritual connection to the sacred sites in the area and the histories of environmental degradation in the area. Article three, ‘Mupo is life’: Intergenerational community identity and safeguarding of sacred natural sites is in press in the journal Ecopsychology. The paper found that place plays a role in shaping and transferring intergenerational community identities. Furthermore, Zwifho shape worldviews about Mupo, i.e. all of existence, that underpin land and environmental defenders’ responses to environmental degradation and place severing. The fourth article, “Restoring roots”: Lived experiences of place severing and dialogical resurgence associated with deforestation and land dispossession in Limpopo province, South Africa, is under review by AWRY: Journal of Critical Psychology. The article demonstrates that place severing is rooted in histories of colonialism and that distress is related to losses and cumulative ecological harm. Furthermore, the article shows how decolonial dialogical resurgence responds to the mechanisms that drive place severing. The fifth and final publication, Grounding community psychology in ecopsychosocial accompaniment, is a chapter that explores opportunities for community psychologists to accompany others, specifically in relationship with people who have experienced displacement and environmental justice struggles. Collectively, these four articles and book chapter present the first publications of a larger research study that spans two South African case studies and that should yield several more publications. These publications draw on critical psychologies, including decolonial theory, liberation psychology, critical community psychology and radical ecopsychology. Within this thesis, the journal articles and book chapter are consolidated by an overarching discussion chapter that situates these five publications within the context of existing literature, and describes how existing theory and methodology have been advanced. The study demonstrates the interconnectedness between histories of colonialism, land injustices and environmental degradation that contribute to intergenerational psychological distress. Grassroots community organising groups play a critical role in addressing the resulting cumulative environmental harms through place-based resistance and dialogical resurgence. Moreover, the study suggests that critical psychologies have important roles to play in supporting land and environmental justice struggles through critical research, evaluations and assessments, and litigation. , Thesis (PhD) -- Faculty of Business and Economic Sciences, 2021
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Date Issued: 2021-03

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A study of the selected wild edible plants utilized by indigenous people of the Amathole District in the Eastern Cape Province of South Africa

- Kwinana-Mandindi, Thozama Ndileka

Authors: Kwinana-Mandindi, Thozama Ndileka
Date: 2012
Subjects: Wild plants, Edible http://id.loc.gov/authorities/subjects/sh85146686
Language: English
Type: Doctoral theses , text
Identifier: http://hdl.handle.net/10353/19598 , vital:43147
Description: Wild edible plants are an indispensible part of diets in some of the poor resourced rural societies. In many less resourced households a main meal comprises of a starch staple which is accompanied by a supplement of vegetables that provide the other nutritional elements as well as flavour to the meals. The vegetable relish (isishebo) thus, becomes an important component of the diet. The sustenance of many such resource poor indigenous societies over many generations has been as a result of their reliance on a readily available supply of their nutritional requirements, where edible wild plants formed the major food source. Wild edible plants provided the most important source of nutritional supply even during times of drought and famine. However, lifestyle changes have caused a serious reduction of the gathering and use of the wild edible vegetables, knowledge about them and the local culture are also lost with them. Unfortunately, others have come to regard their traditional food resource base as primitive and inferior and have come to rely on new exotic food plant whose supply is unstable and narrow compared to the wide variety of wild edible plants. Even when drought challenges play destruction with food availability, resulting in food shortages due to the reliance on cultivated crops that are poorly adapted to local conditions, communities cannot go back to the unknown food plants. However, detailed scientific investigations are needed to understand and preserve wild food uses. This study was undertaken to add to that body of knowledge. It started with an ethnobotanic survey of the use of wild food plants in 10 selected rural villages and peri-urban dwellings in the Amathole District of the Eastern Cape. These rural areas were chosen because of the belief that there are still individuals who possess the wealth of traditional knowledge within those remote areas in addition to that the villages are surrounded by indigenous vegetation from which they could be harvesting some indigenous food plants. Furthermore, the relationship between people and plants are often clearer in indigenous/traditional societies since the link between production and consumption is more direct. Besides the survey, this research employed various methods including Inductively Coupled Argon (ICP) analyses of minerals and vitamins, determination of phytochemicals and antioxidant/bio-activity that of, higher performance liquid chromatography (HPLC) determination of other vitamins, assessment of proximate and anti-nutrient compositions of raw and cooked samples of plants, scanning electron microscopy (SEM) and energy dispersive x-ray spectroscopy (EDXS) to look into the micro-morphology of leaves for details that might have a bearing in the nutrient composition of the wild edible vegetables. This was done with the aim to explore and highlight the wild-food-plant base of indigenous people, to investigate the nutritional value of the selected frequently consumed wild vegetables and to recommend ways of educating people on the value of such plants and the need to promote their continued sustainable use as well as preservation of them for the benefit of people who cannot afford a continuous nutritious meal particularly among rural communities. Twenty-five (25) indigenous wild food plants which included leafy vegetables, nuts and fruits species were identified as being arbitrarily gathered and utilised as food, of which seven wild leafy vegetable species were often mentioned as common among the 15 dwellings surveyed and most frequently consumed by the respondents. Two additional plants were also frequently used as flavoring and in their raw state respectively. Wild edible vegetables were mainly eaten boiled as ‘laxa’, mixed with maize meal as ‘imifino’, fried as relish ‘isishebo’ or raw for both snacking purposes and medicinal functions. Wild edible plant species in the Amathole District of the Eastern Cape-South Africa were documented with respect to their uses and knowledge or identification. Four indigenous wild vegetables (Chenopodium album, Solanum nigrum/nodiflorum, Amaranthus dubius and Urtica lobulata) frequently consumed by the indigenous communities in the study region were selected. All the plant species had a remarkably high content of pro-anthocyanidins (between 58.42 and 65.18 mg/g) and also exhibited high radical scavenging activity in vitro. S. nigrum and C. album were found to be rich sources of ascorbic acid, having 1.05mg/100g and 1.01mg/100g, respectively. The entire wild, traditionally edible plants contain reasonably good concentrations of riboflavin while U. lobulata was found to contain maximum amount of thiamine. All plant species were rich sources of minerals and vitamins (both water soluble and fat soluble). Appropriate cooking methods are to be used to enhance the bio-availability of vitamins and nutrients in general. Cooking generally improved the nutritive value in certain wild vegetables. However, some nutrients were drained away. For example micro-nutrient and anti-nutrient component in the ash were reduced in cooking. The EDXS analysis has shown that the indigenous, wild vegetables in the Amathole District of South Africa are excellent sources of minerals, while the mineral crystals present at the level of the mesophyll of the indigenous wild vegetables were probably mixtures of calcium oxalate, calcium sulphate and silica. Saponin, tannins, oxalates, phytates and alkaloids are present in all the indigenous wild vegetables, but in minimal safe quantities. Nutritional analysis of some wild food plants demonstrates that in many cases the nutritional quality of the plants is comparable and in some cases even superior to domesticated exotic varieties. Knowledge about gathering and use of some wild food species is common among the rural dwellers. However, most uses are known by few elderly informants only. Education, awareness campaigns and revival of use of wild edible plants directed at the youth particularly is essential and this can be done through all forms of media. , Thesis (PhD) (Ethnobotany) -- University of Fort Hare, 2012
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Date Issued: 2012

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A corporate strategy framework to increase financial performance in Zimbabwean firms

- Matanhire, Farai

Authors: Matanhire, Farai
Date: 2021-12
Subjects: Business enterprises -- Zimbabwe -- Finance -- Management
Language: English
Type: Doctoral theses , text
Identifier: http://hdl.handle.net/10948/54047 , vital:46206
Description: The world over, contrasting company performance by firms in the same operating environment and industry has been a conundrum. Firms do not operate in a vacuum, but within spheres where various factors around them affect their performances. To that end, heterogeneous firm performance is a common phenomenon that is influenced by a number of factors, including how management develops appropriate selections, trade-offs and calculated choices to be dissimilar from other players in the market in order to gain a competitive advantage that will lead to superior financial performance. A collection of actions that management puts in place to out-perform competing firms in order to achieve greater profitability is called corporate strategy. These plans of action include the effective management of the socio-political and cultural institutions in a manner beneficial to the organisation. This plan of action on the socio-political and cultural institutions gives rise to institutional strategic management. The formulation of corporate strategies is done through a process that involves a set of rules, ideas or beliefs called frameworks, which include the Resource Based Strategy Framework, Business Models, Innovation and Institutionalism. Research has shown that the financial performance of firms is driven by a number of factors, namely corporate strategy, industry competitiveness, operating environment and core competencies amongst other factors. There is a plethora of determinants for the performance of firms and the complexity in the current business environment that has contributed to some models becoming obsolete while others remain relevant. It is against this background that the primary research objective of establishing a corporate strategy framework used by Zimbabwean firms to increase financial performance was developed. To answer this primary research objective, secondary objectives to (a) determine the impact of the Resource-Based Strategy Framework on the financial performance of firms in Zimbabwe; (b) ascertain the impact of business models using Porter’s Generic Strategies Framework on the financial performance of firms in Zimbabwe; (c) determine the impact of the Institutional Strategy Framework on the financial performance of firms in Zimbabwe; (d) determine the impact of the Innovation Strategy Framework on the financial performance of firms in Zimbabwe; (e) establish the joint impact of the Resource-Based Strategy framework, Business Models, Institutional Strategies and Innovation Strategies on the financial performance of firms in Zimbabwe; and (f) establish other corporate strategy frameworks used by Zimbabwean firms to increase financial performance, were developed. The study population was the Zimbabwe Stock Exchange (ZSE) listed firms that fairly represented all the major operating sectors and firms in Zimbabwe. The researcher adopted a mixed research design incorporating both qualitative and quantitative methods in order to best reflect the critical strategy elements that were increasing financial performance in Zimbabwean firms. Qualitative data was collected through interviews conducted with executive managers of ZSE firms. Triangulation was achieved by comparing and contrasting data collected from interviews to secondary data extracted from websites, reports and audited financial statements. Both qualitative and quantitative data analysis was done using RQDA, an open-source computer-aided data software. ZSE listed firms were categorised into the five sectors of basic materials, consumer goods, consumer services, financial services and industrials. These firms were further categorised into excellent, medium, poor and very poor performers. Collected data was analysed to establish strategies that were used by excellent, medium, poor and very poor firms to see if they were using the same and figure out the impact of the various strategy frameworks on the financial performance on Zimbabwean firms. Data was analysed using univariate, ordinal and binomial logistics regression analysis. These data analysis models confirmed that RBS was a significant driver of financial performance for ZSE listed firms when all the strategy frameworks were combined. However, evaluating the impact of each strategy framework separately showed that all the frameworks were significant in driving financial performance, with the exception of the Institutional Strategy Framework. All the firms were doing more or less the same on Institutional Strategy Framework (ISF), hence it could not be a predictor of financial performance under the regression models. However, the ISF had a high score on univariate evaluation method. It is against this background that the study recommended the use of the Resource Based Strategy Framework (RBS) in pursuit of increasing financial performance of firms as this has been empirically found to have a significant impact on the financial performance of firms in Zimbabwe. , Thesis (DBA) -- Faculty of Business and Economic Sciences, 2021
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Date Issued: 2021-12

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An exploratory analysis of the challenges faced by police in combating mob justice: a case study of Gqeberha

- Loqani Anelisa https://orcid.org/0000-0001-9944-5947

Authors: Loqani Anelisa https://orcid.org/0000-0001-9944-5947
Date: 2021-02
Subjects: Vigilance committees , Criminal justice, Administration of
Language: English
Type: Doctoral theses , text
Identifier: http://hdl.handle.net/10353/22000 , vital:51928
Description: Mob justice is a major issue that will continue to occur as long as criminal activities exist. In South Africa, mob justice has become a major challenge for the government, particularly the South African Police Service as well as the society at large. The South African Police Service (SAPS) has partnered with all relevant role-players in the fight against mob justice and other community problems which threaten the safety of inhabitants. However, concerted efforts have also been made by the government to assist the SAPS to address the occurrence and re-occurrence of mob justice by introducing strategies such as visible policing but the problem seems to persist. The study, thus, analyzed the challenges faced by the police that lead to their ineffectiveness in eliminating mob justice. This thesis draws from two theories, namely Structural Violence theory pioneered by Galtung (1969) and Just World Theory (JWT) by Adelstein (1999) to explore the challenges faced by the police in Gqeberha. This study was conducted in the Eastern Cape Province, in Gqeberha within four townships, namely Kwadwesi, Kwazakhele, Motherwell, and New Brighton. The findings gathered by utilizing Focus Group Interviews (FGIs) and semi-structured interviews with a total number of forty-eight (48) respondents comprising of sixteen (16) SAPS members, eight (08) Community Policing Forum (CPF) representatives, four (04) community leaders and twenty (20) community members. This is a qualitative research project in which participants were chosen using purposive sampling. Participants were chosen based on their knowledge and experiences relating to the phenomena being explored. The aim was to gain an in-depth understanding of the challenges encountered by the police in combating mob justice to discover some techniques to improve and strengthen the police service to make communities safer. To analyse the data thematic analysis was utilized. The results of the study indicate that an increase in mob justice in Gqeberha has been reported to be a result of the high rate of crime. However, the fact that people know they will not get arrested for participating in mob justice is one of the concerns that have led to an escalation in mob justice. The study demonstrates that in most incidents the community members have once witnessed in their respective areas, the victims were killed while few survived and in all those incidents only a few arrests were made and in those few arrests, no convictions were made. Based on this issue of arrests, results indicate that the SAPS members are confronting some difficulties in identifying and arresting the perpetrators of mob justice. The reluctance of community members to report mob justice cases and to provide information was found to be the main challenge faced by the police in combating mob justice in Motherwell Cluster precincts. These challenges have been reported to negatively affect police work performance. Further analysis revealed that CPF, community members and community leaders as part of stakeholders who are working together with SAPS are also facing some challenges in addressing this issue of mob justice. The results also indicate that mob justice does not only harm members of the community who are subjected to these occurrences, but also the police, the victims and the perpetrators themselves. Evidence-based techniques to help eradicate mob justice incidents were developed in response to this problem of mob justice. The participants suggested that the police must be provided with adequate manpower, more community patrols and vehicles. It is believed that if the police could act in time and arrest the suspected criminals, a large number of people would be rescued from being killed in mob justice. The respondents also indicated that the police must build good relations with the communities by being visible and transparent in communities. Furthermore, the SAPS participants alluded that when people are sentenced, a community engagement needs to be conducted before those people are released outside as parolees. Other respondents mentioned the issue of education, proposing that the Criminal Justice System (CJS) should frequently conduct awareness campaigns, imbizos and public meetings to teach and inform people about its operations. , Thesis (PhD) -- Faculty of Social Sciences and Humanities, 2021
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Date Issued: 2021-02

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Inbound tourist experience in south africa

- Twumasi, Gabriel Kwadwo

Authors: Twumasi, Gabriel Kwadwo
Date: 2021-12
Subjects: Tourism -- Economic aspects -- South Africa
Language: English
Type: Doctoral theses , text
Identifier: http://hdl.handle.net/10948/54641 , vital:46877
Description: The tourism industry contributes significantly to the economic growth of South Africa. Although international tourism is noted for a great contribution to customer experience beyond their borders, few studies exist in respect of tourist experience in South Africa. An individual experience to a tourism destination impact on his/her satisfaction and behavioural intentions. Tourist experience has been identified as a possible strategy for building and improving the relationship between tourism businesses and their clients in order to improve customer retention and recommending and revisiting of destination. Thus, the primary objective of this study was to identify, investigate and empirically test the factors influencing customer (inbound tourists) experience in South Africa. The study also seeks to determine how these experiences influence customer satisfaction, recommendation of the destination and the likelihood of a return visit. Tourist experience is of performance value to tourism businesses as these businesses need to identify the factors they should focus on to increase the value of products and services they are delivering to their customers. A quantitative methodology was chosen for this study and data was collected through a self-administered questionnaire. The study population included all inbound tourist who had visited South Africa between the years 2018 and 2020. The research design consisted of causal and descriptive research. The study followed a quantitative research method to obtain the set objectives of the study. A measuring instrument in the form of a structured questionnaire was designed from secondary sources to source for the needed data. A web-based online questionnaire and convenience sampling technique was chosen to identify inbound tourist to South Africa. Of the 320 inbound tourists to South Africa reached and completed the questionnaire, 319 were included in the analysis. Both descriptive and inferential statistics were employed in the data analysis. The main empirical results of the study found that statistically significant relationships exist between the independent variables: Quality accommodation, Tidiness of attractions, Ancillary services, Safety of destination, Convenience retention, Quality of attractions, Transport and the dependent variables, Customer satisfaction and Recommending and revisiting of destination. The outcome of the results of the structural equation modelling revealed an acceptable model fit of the study. The results suggest that customer satisfaction, recommending and revisiting of destination are of strategic importance in promoting tourism destinations for inbound tourists. It is imperative to provide memorable experiences to tourist. Tourism destinations must always provide an excellent service in order to enhance efficient competitive services to their customers. Furthermore, it is recommended that tourism business provide products and services that will cater for the needs of inbound tourists based on the specific factors influencing customer satisfaction and the recommendation and revisiting of destinations. This study makes a significant contribution to the body of knowledge and practitioners as it has established the factors influencing inbound tourists’ experience and, how these factors influence customer satisfaction, recommending and revisiting of international tourists to South Africa. Furthermore, the study presents recommendations and practical strategies that could help tourism businesses improve inbound tourists’ experiences in South Africa. , Thesis (PhD) -- Faculty of Business and Economic Sciences, 2021
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Date Issued: 2021-12

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The use of psychology in roman catholic seminary admissions in Southern Africa

- Mitchell, Gregory Paul

Authors: Mitchell, Gregory Paul
Date: 2021-04
Subjects: Catholic Church -- Africa, Southern -- Psychological aspects -- Congresses
Language: English
Type: Doctoral theses , text
Identifier: http://hdl.handle.net/10948/51344 , vital:43266
Description: Psychological assessment forms part of Roman Catholic seminary admissions in Southern Africa. The present study sought to explore and describe the perceptions and experiences of the role, purpose, and nature of the use of psychology in Roman Catholic seminary admissions in the territory of the Southern African Catholic Bishops’ Conference. A qualitative research design was selected, which utilised the grounded theory method. Church authorities and clinicians, recruited by means of purposive snowball sampling, were interviewed in individual semi-structured interviews. The findings were interpreted in relation to the narrative of a vocation to the Roman Catholic priesthood, international practice guidelines, as well as literature regarding the context of the Southern African Roman Catholic Church. Proposed guidelines for this process in Southern Africa were generated based on the experiences of the participants and this iterative process of thematic analysis. Potential guidelines, grounded in the research data, emerged in the following focus areas: the vocation to the priesthood, contextual and systemic factors, the clinician, the assessment process, factors to be assessed, the psychological report, the decision to admit to seminary, feedback, and psychology in formation. These are recommended to the Southern African Catholic Bishops’ Conference in draft form to be implemented in a participatory manner. , Thesis (PhD) -- Faculty of Health Sciences, 2021
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Date Issued: 2021-04

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Colonial power and the transformation of feudal relations in Buganda 1900-1962

- Sekiswa, Peter

Authors: Sekiswa, Peter
Date: 2020-12
Subjects: Uganda , Uganda (South Africa) , South Africa
Language: English
Type: Doctoral theses , text
Identifier: http://hdl.handle.net/10948/55218 , vital:49670
Description: This thesis has engaged in a debate that the establishment of colonial administration in Buganda in the 19th century more than anything else saw the transformation the Buganda state into an African feudal state. Basic explanation for this state of affairs was the need by the colonial authority to establish a dependent commodity producing economy in Buganda. The African feudal state contextually referred to is the transformation of power, labour and economic relations in this period to suit circumstances that favoured the process of commodity production in the Buganda state; a process that involved the strengthening of the political power base, by creating a landed oligarchy, thus destroying the traditional patron–client relations and creating out of such a relation a class of civil servants, yet also extracting land rent from siting tenant in an agrarian economic system. This period saw an interplay of numerous actors like the Christian missionaries and their Buganda collaborators, the Christian elite (Abasomi), the Learners. The second phase of this study examines the creation of a colonial economic system based on commodity production and the colonial authority creating a frame work of operation, as to how the economy-based commodity production was to operate as to either allow a settler plantation or a peasant mode of production. Coupled with the effects of the wars of nations the deteriorating economic conditions and the age of the rise of the spirit of nationalism in the 1950s, created a class of agitators against the colonial authority. Using the historical methodology, the study employed the use of oral interviews, archives, primary printed journals, and secondary sources, to trace the evolution of labour, political and economic relations in the Buganda state. This was in order to understand the process leading to the creation of the modern Buganda colonial state by 1962. The study puts it that the intercourse between the British colonial administrators and the Buganda state leaders was responsible for the resultant state of affairs. Intentionally or unintentionally, the British colonial authority created a new nation state dominated by a landed class elite. It is this elite class that led the independence struggle not for the whole nation but for one region of the country - their kingdom Buganda - the cause of conflict between the British colonial authority and the Buganda Kingdom, but also a source of economic and political competition between Buganda and other regions of Uganda. , Thesis (PhD) -- Faculty of Humanities, School of Governmental and Social Sciences, 2020
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Date Issued: 2020-12

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Competing policy imperatives in Post-Apartheid South Africa: An analysis of the effects and larger significance of ESKOM restructuring on the South African automotive industry, 2005-2014

- Sibuyi, Lucas Nkosana

Authors: Sibuyi, Lucas Nkosana
Date: 2021-10-29
Subjects: Eskom (Firm) , South Africa Colonial influence , Electric power Conservation South Africa , Electric utilities Government ownership South Africa , Electric utilities Privatization South Africa , Import substitution South Africa , Government business enterprises South Africa
Language: English
Type: Doctoral theses , text
Identifier: http://hdl.handle.net/10962/192911 , vital:45278 , 10.21504/10962/192911
Description: The state has played an indispensable, major role in the industrialisation of South Africa, and its transformation from an economy of agriculture and mining to one based on manufacturing and services by the 1970s. Large state-owned corporations in communications and transportation, finance, industry and power have been key to this process, which also involved an extensive (and racist form of) import substitution industrialisation (ISI) from the 1920s. The 1970s saw a shift towards neoliberal policies, first under the National-Party-led apartheid government and then under the African-National-Congress-led democratic government formed in 1994. Since the 1980s, this restructuring has profoundly affected state-owned enterprises (SOEs), including the monopoly electricity utility ESKOM, and manufacturing industries, such as the automotive sector. This thesis examines the evolution of and interaction between different areas of neoliberal policy, and their evolution over time through a consideration of the relationship between the restructuring of SOEs and manufacturing, with a focus on ESKOM and autotomotives respectively. Relying on interviews with senior officials, policymakers, union leaders and industrialists, as well as primary documents, the study examines the responses of OEMs in South Africa (BMW, Ford, General Motors, Mercedes Benz/Daimler, Nissan, Toyota and Volkswagen) to ESKOM’s actions, and analyses the root of these actions. It argues that while restructuring has been framed by a common framework, policy development and implementation is not coordinated or cohesive. ESKOM, for example, gutted investment in electricity and maintenance generation capacity to become profitable and create space for Independent Power Providers (IPPs) – neoliberal measures for which it was rewarded and lauded. This took place at a time when national policy emphasised the need to grow manufacturing and attract direct investment by creating an investor-friendly climate resting on infrastructure. It also took place when the Department of Trade and Industry (DTI) rolled out highly successful plans – also praised and rewarded – to help adjust automotives to open markets; the sector grew much larger than under ISI, while other sectors like textiles collapsed. ESKOM’s measures, however, led to a rapid decline in the capacity and stability of the power system, and directly contradicted the drive to expand and globalise manufacturing, in which automotives was now the leading edge. Corruption in the utility worsened, much of it through subcontracting measures rooted in neoliberal reforms, but this did not cause the basic problems. It is argued that this situation of competing policy imperatives reflects deeper, long-term problems in the South African state, including contradictory policies, uneven capacity and a lack of coordination. For example, there was no coordination between the DTI and stakeholder departments that regulate ESKOM, being the shareholder ministry, the Department of Public Enterprises (DPE) and its policy ministry, and the Department of Mineral Resources and Energy (DMRE). These types of problems did not start postapartheid, and post-1994 reforms have not adequately addressed them. What exists is not a “developmental” state, as policymakers hope, but a fractured state of an intermediate type that combines “developmental” and “predatory” features in a oneparty dominant system in which lines between ruling party and state blur, and state resources are leveraged for elite class formation. Such was the case under apartheid skippered by the NP, with Afrikanerisation, and it continues today post-apartheid under the ANC with BEE. Major reforms are needed, but not just in SOE governance or budgets, as many have suggested. If we are to take the nation forward, the basic design of the state must be reformed. The state needs professionalised, coherent policy-making and implementation, proper coordination of state entities and hard decisions. It should manage high levels of public infrastructure, guarantee political stability and credit ratings, and provide policy certainty and predictability. Without big reforms it will remain a chronic underperformer. , Thesis (PhD) -- Faculty of Humanities, Sociology, 2021
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Date Issued: 2021-10-29

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The implementation of national health strategy (2009-2013) in Vungu District clinics, Midlands Province in Zimbabwe

- Mangwanya, M G https://orcid.org/0000-0002-0362-5546

Authors: Mangwanya, M G https://orcid.org/0000-0002-0362-5546
Date: 2019-08
Subjects: Medical care -- Zimbabwe
Language: English
Type: Doctoral theses , text
Identifier: http://hdl.handle.net/10353/19914 , vital:44454
Description: The practice of strategy implementation is key to the public sector in Zimbabwe because it helps the government to be up to speed in providing services to the public. This research focused on the National Health Strategy 2009-2013 and its impact on health service delivery in Vungu Rural District Council Clinics. The research was based on qualitative desk study design which made use of existing data and semi structured interviews to understand the effect of the National Health Strategy on health service delivery in Vungu Rural Districts Council Clinics. From the literature reviewed and the data collected, it can be noted that lack of resources has had a huge effect on the execution of the strategy. The findings from the study show that the National Health Strategy was a good initiative. However, it lacked financial resources which posed challenges to the health workers in Vungu Rural District Council Clinics. The health workers were not very familiar with the National Health Strategy and this had a negative impact on its execution because they cannot execute a strategy that they are not familiar with. The study highlighted the importance of resources for the execution of the National Health Strategy. The study therefore sought to find ways the Zimbabwean Health System may formulate the health strategy with the limited resources in order to achieve desired goals. The Health Workers echoed the same sentiments that they needed resources for the implementation of the strategy. It is hoped that the findings would provide guidelines for the formulation and implementation of future health strategies. Recommendations given would ensure that there is utilisation of available resources, which would help in the execution of other health strategies to ensure efficient and effective health care service delivery. The recommendations are also intended to enhance the performance of health workers. Though the study was limited to Vungu Rural District Council Clinics the findings and recommendations would provide guidelines for other rural clinics as they use the National Health Strategy. , Thesis (PhD) -- Faculty of Management and Commerce, 2019
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Date Issued: 2019-08

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Effects of the use of manipulative materials on grade nine learners’ performance in fractions in public high schools in Chris Hani West Education District, South Africa

- Adom, George

Authors: Adom, George
Date: 2020-01
Subjects: Mathematics -- Study and teaching -- Activity programs.|0http://id.loc.gov/authorities/subjects/sh2010101041 , Acalculia in children.|0http://id.loc.gov/authorities/subjects/sh2002012422
Language: English
Type: Doctoral theses , text
Identifier: http://hdl.handle.net/10353/19371 , vital:43058
Description: The purpose of this study was to investigate the effects of the use of manipulative concrete materials on grade 9 learners’ performance in fractions in public high schools in Chris Hani west education district, in the Eastern Cape Province of the Republic of South Africa. Two hundred and fifty (250) grade nine (9) learners, whose ages ranged between 13-16 years, and ten (10) educators teaching grade nine mathematics, were selected from 40 public high schools with the use of stratified, systematic random sampling, convenience and purposive sampling methods. One hundred and twenty-five (125) learners were put into the experimental group, and another one hundred and twenty-five (125) learners were put into a control group through systematic random sampling method. Pre-test, Post-test, and Control group quasi-experimental design were used as research designs to collect data. Two research instruments were developed. These included: A Fractions Achievement Test (FAT), and Students Questionnaire on Manipulative Concrete Materials (SQMCM). The experimental group were taught with the Manipulative Concrete Materials (Cuisenaire rods, Fraction bar/Fraction title, Paper folding and Computer assisted manipulative), whilst the control group was taught through the lecture method. Four (4) null hypotheses were generated and tested at 0.05 level of significance. The data collected were analysed using Analysis of Covariance (ANCOVA) to find the Mean, Standard Deviation and t-test. The mean and standard deviation were used to compare the pre-test and post-test results between the Experimental group and the Control group. The analysed results of the means, standard deviations and t-tests were used to reject the null hypotheses. The analysed results were illustrated as followed: Cuisenaire rods pre-test (mean = 8.372, SD=1.770), post-test (mean = 12,428, SD=4.732), t=13,024 p< 0.05. Hypothesis (H01) was rejected : Fraction tiles/fraction bars pre-test (mean = 8.372, SD=1.770), post-test (mean = 11,42, SD=3.67), t=12,10 p< 0.05. Hypothesis (H02) was rejected : Paper folding pre-test (mean = 8.372, SD=1.770), post-test (mean = 11,792, SD=4.256), t=12,024 p< 0.05. Hypothesis (H03) was rejected : Computer assisted manipulative pre-test (mean = 8.372, SD=1.770), post-test (mean = 12,212, SD=4.569), t=12,801 p< 0.05. Hypothesis (H04) was also rejected. The comparison of the mean scores and iv standard deviation between the Experimental groups and Control groups indicated that there was no significant difference in the Pre-test in all cases. On the other hand, the mean scores and standard deviations between the Experimental group and Control group in the Post-test showed a vast difference in all cases. There were improvement in the mean scores, and slightly difference in the standard deviations in the Experimental groups, whilst there were drops in the mean scores and standard deviations of the Control groups in all cases. From the studies, there was an indication that manipulative concrete materials have significant effects on grade nine learner’s performance in fractions. It was therefore suggested that manipulative concrete materials should be incorporated into the instructions of fractions in mathematics. , Thesis (PhD) -- Faculty of Education, 2020
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Date Issued: 2020-01

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Application of environmental magnetism to trace sediment sources contributing to Kruger National Park reservoirs

- Miller, Jordan Katherine

Authors: Miller, Jordan Katherine
Date: 2021-10-29
Subjects: Geomagnetism South Africa Kruger National Park , Sediments (Geology) South Africa Kruger National Park , Sedimentation and deposition South Africa Kruger National Park , Petrology South Africa Kruger National Park , Sediments (Geology) Magnetic properties South Africa Kruger National Park
Language: English
Type: Doctoral theses , text
Identifier: http://hdl.handle.net/10962/192842 , vital:45269 , 10.21504/10962/192842
Description: Sediment source fingerprinting using environmental magnetism has successfully differentiated between sediment sources in different regions of South Africa. The method was applied in the natural landscape of the Kruger National Park to trace sediment sources delivered to four reservoirs (Hartbeesfontein, Marheya, Nhlanganzwani, Silolweni) whose contributing catchments were underlain by a range of igneous, metamorphic, and sedimentary rocks. This research attempted to evaluate the impact of vegetation, lithology, and particle size controls on the ability of magnetic signatures to discriminate between lithology-defined potential sources. Potential source samples were collected from each lithology present in all catchments, except for the Lugmag catchment where the lithology was uniform, but the vegetation type varied significantly between woodland and grassland. One sediment core was taken in each of the four catchment reservoirs where there was more than one lithology present in order to unmix and apportion contributing sediment sources. Sampling time in the field was often restricted to short periods, dependent on anti-poaching activities and movement of free-roaming wildlife across the Park. This occasionally led to the sub-optimal collection of enough source samples to capture source signature variability. Mineral magnetic parameters were unable to discriminate between vegetation-defined sediment sources in the Lugmag catchment (homogenous underlying lithology) but were able to discriminate between lithology-defined sediment sources (to varying degrees) in the other four catchments. The contributions of each lithology-defined sediment source were estimated using a straightforward statistical protocol frequently used in published literature that included a Mann-Whitney U or Kruskal-Wallis H test, mass conservation test, discriminant function analysis, and an (un)mixing model. A contribution from each lithology source to reservoir sediment was estimated. Connectivity was a significant factor in understanding erosion in each of the catchments. Both longitudinal (e.g., drainage density) and lateral connectivity (e.g., floodplain - river) were important. Travel distance of eroded sediment to reservoirs was also an essential element in two of the four catchments. There are no defined floodplains, so channel bank soils are very similar to the catchment soils. Therefore, channel bank storage potential would be similar to the storage potential within the catchment. Vegetation played a crucial role in protecting soils, by reducing ii erosion potential as well as trapping and storing sediment, thereby interrupting lateral connectivity. Underlying geology and soils are determining factors of vegetation type and density. A published study estimated catchment area-specific sediment yields for different KNP catchments, including the Hartbeesfontein, Marheya, Nhlanganzwani and Silolweni catchments. The published data was used in combination with the (un)mixing model source contribution estimates of this thesis to determine specific sediment yields by lithology, i.e., for each catchment source. The polymodal particle size characteristics of the sample material led to an investigation into particle size controls on the ability of magnetic signatures to discriminate between potential sources. Due to time constraints, only the Hartbeesfontein and Marheya catchments were tested for grain size differences. For each catchment, one bulk sample was created for each lithology source. This bulk sample was divided into 10 subsamples. The samples were then fractionated into four particle size fraction groups: coarse (250 – 500 μm), medium (125 – 250 μm), fine (63 – 125 μm), and very fine (<63 μm). Reservoir samples were also bulked to create 10 down-core samples for each reservoir, and the samples were also fractionated into the four fraction groups. The same statistical protocol was applied to the fractionated samples and contribution estimates were obtained by lithology for each particle size fraction group. The goodness of fit and uncertainty of the (un)mixing model varied in each catchment, with the two measures of accuracy often showing an inverse relationship. The fractionated modelling estimated the same primary source in the two catchments as in the unfractionated modelling. However, additional information on the secondary and tertiary sources was obtained. Connectivity remained a significant factor in interpreting the results of the fractionated analysis. Specific sediment yields were estimated for each catchment source per particle size fraction group. These sediment yields provided a deeper understanding of sediment transport through a catchment and which particle size groups are most important in catchment erosion. An original contribution to research was made by estimating source contribution estimates for the four reservoirs, quantifying sediment yields for each catchment lithology and then for each catchment lithology by particle size. Mineral magnetic tracing of the catchments was applied for the first time in this region of South Africa. , Thesis (PhD) -- Faculty of Science, Geography, 2021
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Date Issued: 2021-10-29

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Museums for the Planet: Critical Realist Philosophy and the Possibility of an Eco-decolonial Museology

- Jeffery, Thomas Carnegie

Authors: Jeffery, Thomas Carnegie
Date: 2021-10-29
Subjects: Museums Management , Critical realism , Ontology , Decolonization , Organizational change , Social ecology , Eco-decolonial
Language: English
Type: Doctoral theses , text
Identifier: http://hdl.handle.net/10962/192692 , vital:45251 , 10.21504/10962/192692
Description: This study introduces dialectical critical realism into museology as a philosophical underlabourer for the development of new theoretical potentials for the transformation of museum practice. The idea of the museum is in a moment of fluidity evident in emergent decolonial and ecological perspectives and in the International Council of Museum’s process of redefinition of the museum. The potential to reimagine the museum lacks a coherent philosophical and theoretical foundation. The persistence of museological dualism separates the social from the ecological and absents the emergence of relational modes of thinking and practice. This study conceives an ecological-decolonial or eco-decolonial mode of museology that is disruptive of dualism and generative of relationality, and is thus generative of agency for deeper, more effective and enduring social-ecological justice. The core of this thesis is the development of the eco-decolonial mode of museology through the DCR onto-axiological chain or ‘MELD’ schema. At 1M a depth ontological analysis augmented by interviews with key informants establishes a dialectic of society and ecology in the museological context. 1M surfaces capitalism and the implicit neoliberal ontology of museology as deep causal mechanisms of the 2E persistence of museological human-nature dualism. The paradox of ‘emancipatory neoliberalism’ is a policy-practice contradiction that absents potentials for transformation of the museum and that is held in place by the grounding ontological activity of museology, collection. The 2E perspective on absences enables the emergence of new transformative pathways towards the 3L vision of the eco-decolonial mode of museology as a (4D) new way of thinking and working to resolve neoliberal restrictions. The fundamental 4D change envisioned for museum philosophy, theory and practice is an ontological transformation from traditionalist human-nature dualism to a progressive human-nature dialectic. A case study considers instances where museum workers exercised the agency to expand practice in this way. Future work using the expansive learning methodology of Change Laboratories will develop and implement the potentials generated by the onto-axiological chain for the eco-decolonial mode to bring real change to traditional, dualist museum practice, in order to ensure the relevance and the agency of the museum as a social structure in and for a changing world. , Thesis (PhD) -- Faculty of Education, Education, 2021
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Date Issued: 2021-10-29

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