An appraisal and critique of land redistribution approaches in South Africa
- Authors: Phiri, M C S
- Date: 2020
- Subjects: University of the Western Cape. Institute for Poverty, Land and Agrarian Studies , Land reform -- South Africa , Land reform -- Law and legislation -- South Africa , Agriculture and state -- South Africa , Reconstruction and Development Programme (South Africa) , Land reform beneficiaries -- South Africa , South Africa -- Economic conditions -- 1991- , South Africa -- Social conditions -- 1994- , South Africa -- Economic policy , Land tenure -- Law and legislation -- South Africa , Black people -- South Africa -- Economic conditions , Black people -- South Africa -- Social conditions
- Language: English
- Type: Thesis , Masters , MA
- Identifier: http://hdl.handle.net/10962/149161 , vital:38810
- Description: This paper is in response to the PLAAS Land Conference held in February 2019 which aimed at discovering an alternative to how to solve the land question. The conference came at a time where land and agrarian reform re-emerged in South African socio-policy discussion. After twenty-five years of democracy the three land reform programmes have failed to restructure apartheid’s economic segregation, exclusionary land ownership patterns and to restore dignity to poor black South Africans. This study offers a detailed examination of the discourse of South African land reform, specifically the redistribution component with a focus on the land redistribution approaches presented at the PLAAS conference. Ultimately, the study puts forward a synthesized land redistribution approach as a hybrid solution to the land and agrarian crisis.
- Full Text:
- Date Issued: 2020
- Authors: Phiri, M C S
- Date: 2020
- Subjects: University of the Western Cape. Institute for Poverty, Land and Agrarian Studies , Land reform -- South Africa , Land reform -- Law and legislation -- South Africa , Agriculture and state -- South Africa , Reconstruction and Development Programme (South Africa) , Land reform beneficiaries -- South Africa , South Africa -- Economic conditions -- 1991- , South Africa -- Social conditions -- 1994- , South Africa -- Economic policy , Land tenure -- Law and legislation -- South Africa , Black people -- South Africa -- Economic conditions , Black people -- South Africa -- Social conditions
- Language: English
- Type: Thesis , Masters , MA
- Identifier: http://hdl.handle.net/10962/149161 , vital:38810
- Description: This paper is in response to the PLAAS Land Conference held in February 2019 which aimed at discovering an alternative to how to solve the land question. The conference came at a time where land and agrarian reform re-emerged in South African socio-policy discussion. After twenty-five years of democracy the three land reform programmes have failed to restructure apartheid’s economic segregation, exclusionary land ownership patterns and to restore dignity to poor black South Africans. This study offers a detailed examination of the discourse of South African land reform, specifically the redistribution component with a focus on the land redistribution approaches presented at the PLAAS conference. Ultimately, the study puts forward a synthesized land redistribution approach as a hybrid solution to the land and agrarian crisis.
- Full Text:
- Date Issued: 2020
An archetypical analysis of chief executive officers in the mining sector according to their remuneration and company performance: a resource based view
- Authors: King, Matthew Sebastian
- Date: 2020
- Subjects: Executives -- Salaries, etc. -- South Africa , Directors of corporations -- Salaries, etc. -- South Africa , Mining corporations -- Salaries, etc. -- South Africa , Mines and mineral resources -- Management
- Language: English
- Type: text , Thesis , Masters , MBA
- Identifier: http://hdl.handle.net/10962/168503 , vital:41589
- Description: The growth in the mining sector post 1994 saw many CEO s enjoy exorbitant levels of financial prosperity particularly in relation to th e mining workforce . The pay disparity between the remuneration of CEO s and the average worker contributed to instability and labour unrest. While there has been extensive research conducted on the relationship between CEO remuneration and company performance, questions around the justification of exorbitant CEO remuneration levels have persisted. One of the shortcomings of these studies have been understanding company performance as limited to financial indicators. For this reason, Resource - Based theory was used in this study to focus on CEOs as tangible, heterogeneous and immobile assets, who could influence company performance by creating a firm’s competitive advantage. In order to investigate this, a mixed - method research design was utilised to ascertain the relationship between CEO remune ration and company performance. The data for the quantitative study was collected using an archival method by sourcing secondary data obtained from the sampled companie s’ annual integrated reports. Statistical tests were performed to test the relationsh ip between CEO remuneration and company performance of mining companies listed on the JSE over the period of 2014 to 2018. This was followed by the qualitative thematic analysis which utilised online information published about four CEOs sampled according to their pay/performance relationships (namely high earning/high performing; high earning/low performing; low earning/high performing and low earning/low performing). The VRIO framework was utilised in conjunction with the thematic analysis to assess the extent to which each of the selected CEOs could be identified as valuable, rare, inimitable and organised. Finally, t he demographic characteristics and leadership attributes of these CEOs were collectiv ely aligned to particular l eadership archetype s. This study found that despite company performance levels experiencing negative growth and volatility, CEO remuneration remained stable and experienced positive growth throughout the period . The qualitative analysis and the application of the VRIO framework wa s conducted in order to explor e reasons why this disparity may continue to exist. The analysis of the differences in demographic characteristics and leadership attributes between these four CEOs provided a possible j ustification for the disparity in t he levels of remuneration. It was found that some CEOs high levels of remuneration could be justified by virtue of their well - developed leadership skills. In particular CEOs need softer skills (such as communication, openness, relationship - building and stakeholder engagement) and to draw on the communicator, builder and coach archetypes in order to create a sustained competitive advantage within companies.
- Full Text:
- Date Issued: 2020
- Authors: King, Matthew Sebastian
- Date: 2020
- Subjects: Executives -- Salaries, etc. -- South Africa , Directors of corporations -- Salaries, etc. -- South Africa , Mining corporations -- Salaries, etc. -- South Africa , Mines and mineral resources -- Management
- Language: English
- Type: text , Thesis , Masters , MBA
- Identifier: http://hdl.handle.net/10962/168503 , vital:41589
- Description: The growth in the mining sector post 1994 saw many CEO s enjoy exorbitant levels of financial prosperity particularly in relation to th e mining workforce . The pay disparity between the remuneration of CEO s and the average worker contributed to instability and labour unrest. While there has been extensive research conducted on the relationship between CEO remuneration and company performance, questions around the justification of exorbitant CEO remuneration levels have persisted. One of the shortcomings of these studies have been understanding company performance as limited to financial indicators. For this reason, Resource - Based theory was used in this study to focus on CEOs as tangible, heterogeneous and immobile assets, who could influence company performance by creating a firm’s competitive advantage. In order to investigate this, a mixed - method research design was utilised to ascertain the relationship between CEO remune ration and company performance. The data for the quantitative study was collected using an archival method by sourcing secondary data obtained from the sampled companie s’ annual integrated reports. Statistical tests were performed to test the relationsh ip between CEO remuneration and company performance of mining companies listed on the JSE over the period of 2014 to 2018. This was followed by the qualitative thematic analysis which utilised online information published about four CEOs sampled according to their pay/performance relationships (namely high earning/high performing; high earning/low performing; low earning/high performing and low earning/low performing). The VRIO framework was utilised in conjunction with the thematic analysis to assess the extent to which each of the selected CEOs could be identified as valuable, rare, inimitable and organised. Finally, t he demographic characteristics and leadership attributes of these CEOs were collectiv ely aligned to particular l eadership archetype s. This study found that despite company performance levels experiencing negative growth and volatility, CEO remuneration remained stable and experienced positive growth throughout the period . The qualitative analysis and the application of the VRIO framework wa s conducted in order to explor e reasons why this disparity may continue to exist. The analysis of the differences in demographic characteristics and leadership attributes between these four CEOs provided a possible j ustification for the disparity in t he levels of remuneration. It was found that some CEOs high levels of remuneration could be justified by virtue of their well - developed leadership skills. In particular CEOs need softer skills (such as communication, openness, relationship - building and stakeholder engagement) and to draw on the communicator, builder and coach archetypes in order to create a sustained competitive advantage within companies.
- Full Text:
- Date Issued: 2020
An assessment of temporal changes in selective biological characteristics of chokka squid (Loligo reynaudii d’Órbigny, 1845)
- Authors: Mmethi, Mpho Audrey
- Date: 2020
- Subjects: Loligo reynaudii , Squids -- Morphology , Squids -- South Africa , Squid fisheries -- South Africa
- Language: English
- Type: text , Thesis , Masters , MSc
- Identifier: http://hdl.handle.net/10962/143516 , vital:38253
- Description: The biological characteristics of chokka squid, Loligo reynaudii, sampled off the south coast of South Africa, were compared between 1994 and 2017 to ascertain any temporal changes using analysis of length frequency (LF) data over 15 years (1996–2017), and mantle length (ML) and total weight (TW) relationships over 9 years (1994–2016). To investigate feeding, two caecum colours were chosen for analysis (white: no food ingested, and yellow: six to seven hours after food ingestion). Other factors were kept constant throughout: similar sampling period of 60 days in spring-summer, similar depths and areas sampled, and identical maturity stage. Anecdotal evidence from fishers suggested that the length frequency and ML_TW relationship of chokka have changed over years, with possibilities to be linked to fishing activities and environmental conditions. Also, there is evidence in the published literature that both fisheries and environment may influence length distributions in populations of fish and cephalopods over time. The results from this study showed no significant differences between length frequencies over the time series. However, a significant decrease in length frequencies between 2014 and 2016 was noted when paired data was analysed by Anova (2014:2015, 2014:2016 and 2015:2016), which was initially noted in kernel density, Figure 2, hence an additional analysis was done. These changes were not linked to sea temperature (at 9 m, 14 m, 18 m, and 21 m depth strata), with not significant (P>0.05) results when temperature was analysed by t-test between 2002 and 2015. There was also a weak correlation between length frequency and the total squid catch in a given year (F Statistic (df = 1; 13) is 3.686 and 5.394 for males and females respectively, R² is 0.221 for males and 0.293 for females), but too weak to interpret, given the lack of other supporting data and the short time series. The ML_TW relationship showed no significant trends between the years for either sex. There was also no correlation between the ML_TW and total squid catch or temperature. A white caecum occurred significantly more often in males than in females (dof = 1; p < 0.05) from General Linear Model (GLM), indicating that the presence of non-feeding males in the spawning grounds may be linked to the behaviour of spawning squid.
- Full Text:
- Date Issued: 2020
- Authors: Mmethi, Mpho Audrey
- Date: 2020
- Subjects: Loligo reynaudii , Squids -- Morphology , Squids -- South Africa , Squid fisheries -- South Africa
- Language: English
- Type: text , Thesis , Masters , MSc
- Identifier: http://hdl.handle.net/10962/143516 , vital:38253
- Description: The biological characteristics of chokka squid, Loligo reynaudii, sampled off the south coast of South Africa, were compared between 1994 and 2017 to ascertain any temporal changes using analysis of length frequency (LF) data over 15 years (1996–2017), and mantle length (ML) and total weight (TW) relationships over 9 years (1994–2016). To investigate feeding, two caecum colours were chosen for analysis (white: no food ingested, and yellow: six to seven hours after food ingestion). Other factors were kept constant throughout: similar sampling period of 60 days in spring-summer, similar depths and areas sampled, and identical maturity stage. Anecdotal evidence from fishers suggested that the length frequency and ML_TW relationship of chokka have changed over years, with possibilities to be linked to fishing activities and environmental conditions. Also, there is evidence in the published literature that both fisheries and environment may influence length distributions in populations of fish and cephalopods over time. The results from this study showed no significant differences between length frequencies over the time series. However, a significant decrease in length frequencies between 2014 and 2016 was noted when paired data was analysed by Anova (2014:2015, 2014:2016 and 2015:2016), which was initially noted in kernel density, Figure 2, hence an additional analysis was done. These changes were not linked to sea temperature (at 9 m, 14 m, 18 m, and 21 m depth strata), with not significant (P>0.05) results when temperature was analysed by t-test between 2002 and 2015. There was also a weak correlation between length frequency and the total squid catch in a given year (F Statistic (df = 1; 13) is 3.686 and 5.394 for males and females respectively, R² is 0.221 for males and 0.293 for females), but too weak to interpret, given the lack of other supporting data and the short time series. The ML_TW relationship showed no significant trends between the years for either sex. There was also no correlation between the ML_TW and total squid catch or temperature. A white caecum occurred significantly more often in males than in females (dof = 1; p < 0.05) from General Linear Model (GLM), indicating that the presence of non-feeding males in the spawning grounds may be linked to the behaviour of spawning squid.
- Full Text:
- Date Issued: 2020
An assessment of the effectiveness of the Crossways Farm Village constructed wetland in the treatment of domestic wastewater
- Authors: Silbernagl, Ryan
- Date: 2020
- Subjects: Crossways Farm Village FWS wetland (South Africa)-- Management , Sewage -- Purification -- South Africa , Wetland management -- South Africa
- Language: English
- Type: text , Thesis , Masters , MSc
- Identifier: http://hdl.handle.net/10962/145011 , vital:38400
- Description: A mass balance study was conducted comparing inflowing and outflowing solute loads in order to calculate the treatment efficiency of a free water surface (FWS) constructed wetland used to treat domestic wastewater following primary treatment in an anaerobic reactor and oxidation in a rotating biological contractor. Water samples were taken at six locations down the length of the treatment system and analysed for nitrate nitrogen (NO3-N), nitrite nitrogen (NO2-N), ammonia nitrogen (NH4-N) and phosphorus as phosphate (PO4-P). Flow was determined using two V notch weirs combined with pressure transducers based on an empirically derived stage-discharge relationship. The concentration of each solute (g.m-3) multiplied by flow (m3.day-1) provides a measurement of the mass of each solute entering and leaving the treatment wetland such that the difference (inflow – outflow) indicates the nett storage in, or loss from, the wetland. In order to determine the water balance, apart from measuring surface inflows and outflows, rainfall was measured using an onsite rain gauge. Evapotranspirational losses were determined using the Penman-Monteith equation based on weather data collected at an onsite weather station. Other than water that entered the wetland via the primary water treatment works, surface inflows could be ignored as the wetland was sealed with a plastic liner, which also prevented groundwater inflow and outflow. Wetland outputs via surface outflow and evapotranspiration were then subtracted from wetland inputs to determine the water balance over the study period. Approximately 10.5% of water inputs into the hydrological mass balance calculation was not accounted for, which is considered to be accounted for by inaccuracy associated with the estimation of evapotranspiration and possibly by differences in water levels in the wetland at the start and end of the experiment. Total input, output and storage of NO3-N, NO2-N, NH4-N and PO4-P was calculated from April 2016 to September 2016 to give the treatment efficiency of the FWS wetland system. Results showed a 91.5% reduction in NO3-N, 76.6% reduction in NH4-N, and 88.8% reduction in PO4P between the inflow and outflow. Wetland sediment and vegetation (Typha capensis) samples were also analysed for nitrogen and phosphorus content to give an estimate of nutrient stocks/storage accumulated in plant tissues and sediments over the lifespan of the wetland. Standing stock calculations showed that a total of 450.1kg of nitrogen is stored in the wetlands, of which 69.3kg is stored in wetland sediments. Wetland phosphorus retention was found to be significantly lower with a total of 57.1kg of phosphorus, of which 77.4% was stored in sediments, indicating that wetland sediments comprise the largest store and therefore removal pathway of nutrients in the Crossways Farm Village FWS wetland.
- Full Text:
- Date Issued: 2020
- Authors: Silbernagl, Ryan
- Date: 2020
- Subjects: Crossways Farm Village FWS wetland (South Africa)-- Management , Sewage -- Purification -- South Africa , Wetland management -- South Africa
- Language: English
- Type: text , Thesis , Masters , MSc
- Identifier: http://hdl.handle.net/10962/145011 , vital:38400
- Description: A mass balance study was conducted comparing inflowing and outflowing solute loads in order to calculate the treatment efficiency of a free water surface (FWS) constructed wetland used to treat domestic wastewater following primary treatment in an anaerobic reactor and oxidation in a rotating biological contractor. Water samples were taken at six locations down the length of the treatment system and analysed for nitrate nitrogen (NO3-N), nitrite nitrogen (NO2-N), ammonia nitrogen (NH4-N) and phosphorus as phosphate (PO4-P). Flow was determined using two V notch weirs combined with pressure transducers based on an empirically derived stage-discharge relationship. The concentration of each solute (g.m-3) multiplied by flow (m3.day-1) provides a measurement of the mass of each solute entering and leaving the treatment wetland such that the difference (inflow – outflow) indicates the nett storage in, or loss from, the wetland. In order to determine the water balance, apart from measuring surface inflows and outflows, rainfall was measured using an onsite rain gauge. Evapotranspirational losses were determined using the Penman-Monteith equation based on weather data collected at an onsite weather station. Other than water that entered the wetland via the primary water treatment works, surface inflows could be ignored as the wetland was sealed with a plastic liner, which also prevented groundwater inflow and outflow. Wetland outputs via surface outflow and evapotranspiration were then subtracted from wetland inputs to determine the water balance over the study period. Approximately 10.5% of water inputs into the hydrological mass balance calculation was not accounted for, which is considered to be accounted for by inaccuracy associated with the estimation of evapotranspiration and possibly by differences in water levels in the wetland at the start and end of the experiment. Total input, output and storage of NO3-N, NO2-N, NH4-N and PO4-P was calculated from April 2016 to September 2016 to give the treatment efficiency of the FWS wetland system. Results showed a 91.5% reduction in NO3-N, 76.6% reduction in NH4-N, and 88.8% reduction in PO4P between the inflow and outflow. Wetland sediment and vegetation (Typha capensis) samples were also analysed for nitrogen and phosphorus content to give an estimate of nutrient stocks/storage accumulated in plant tissues and sediments over the lifespan of the wetland. Standing stock calculations showed that a total of 450.1kg of nitrogen is stored in the wetlands, of which 69.3kg is stored in wetland sediments. Wetland phosphorus retention was found to be significantly lower with a total of 57.1kg of phosphorus, of which 77.4% was stored in sediments, indicating that wetland sediments comprise the largest store and therefore removal pathway of nutrients in the Crossways Farm Village FWS wetland.
- Full Text:
- Date Issued: 2020
An ergonomics approach to understanding perceived barriers to the provision of high-quality healthcare: a Sarah Baartman District clinics case study
- Authors: Card, Jason
- Date: 2020
- Subjects: Medical care -- South Africa -- Eastern Cape , Public health -- South Africa -- Eastern Cape
- Language: English
- Type: text , Thesis , Masters , MSc
- Identifier: http://hdl.handle.net/10962/170536 , vital:41933
- Description: Background:The complex nature of healthcare systemsoftenresultsinthe emergence of context-specific barriers that limit the ability for healthcare stakeholders to ensure safe and effective care delivery. In low-to middle-income (LMIC) countries, such as South Africa (SA), limited financial, material and human resources coupled withpoor infrastructure and poor public health determinants, includingpoverty andpoor education, affectthe ability to maintain andimprove on quality care outcomes.Understanding what different stakeholders perceive as barriers, and if these barriers are understood at different levels, is therefore important when attempting to mitigate the risk for unsafe or inefficient care delivery. Human Factors and Ergonomics (HFE) adoptssystems and participatory approaches for the exploration, analysis, and design of socio-technical systems to optimize both human wellbeing and system performance.The barriers to safe and effective healthcare delivery, from an HFE perspective, are not known in the South African context, particularly in parts of the Eastern Cape Province. Elucidatingthesebarriers, even if self-reported,may guidefuture efforts aimed at mitigating risks.The purpose of this study, therefore,wasto explore and highlight the perceived systemic barriers to local and national healthcare delivery, within the Sarah Baartman District in the Eastern Cape Province of South Africa.Methods: Ashort discussion aimed at introducing HFE and components of the Work Systems Model, followed by a survey that captured participant demographics, job characteristics, the perceived national and local systemic barriers, and proposed solutions, was administered withhealthcare stakeholders from 14 primary healthcare facilities and 1 department office within the Sarah Baartman District.Participants (n=120) included management, pharmacy, administration, maintenance, community-and home-based care and nursing staff.Data from the surveys were thematically analysed and categorised according to components of the work system model (Carayon, 2009) and respective workgroup.Results: The findings revealed many overlapping,systemic barriersthat includedshortages of staff, poor management and leadership, a lack of equipmentand basic necessities, poor infrastructure, patient complexity,and high workloads. The results further indicate that the way in which the reported barriers affect worksystem interactionsand performance are unique to different workgroups. Stakeholders iiproposedthat,among others, the absorption of contract workers, the provision of training and adequate human and medical resources and the maintenance of facilities may mitigate the barriers and improve healthcare delivery.Conclusion: The findings highlight a myriad of perceived systemic barriers perceived in the Sarah Baartman district, some of which were fundamental for the effective function of any healthcare system. These barriers may have wide-spread implications for stakeholders at all levels, ultimately affecting the performance, satisfaction and safety and the quality of care. It is especially important to consider these barriers in light of the COVID-19 epidemic, which emerged throughout this study and the major threat it presents to South African healthcare systems. Future research should aim to explore how these barriers interact to contribute to processes and outcomes, as well as explore the perceptions at provincial and national levels in order to better identify areas and strategies for improvement.
- Full Text:
- Date Issued: 2020
- Authors: Card, Jason
- Date: 2020
- Subjects: Medical care -- South Africa -- Eastern Cape , Public health -- South Africa -- Eastern Cape
- Language: English
- Type: text , Thesis , Masters , MSc
- Identifier: http://hdl.handle.net/10962/170536 , vital:41933
- Description: Background:The complex nature of healthcare systemsoftenresultsinthe emergence of context-specific barriers that limit the ability for healthcare stakeholders to ensure safe and effective care delivery. In low-to middle-income (LMIC) countries, such as South Africa (SA), limited financial, material and human resources coupled withpoor infrastructure and poor public health determinants, includingpoverty andpoor education, affectthe ability to maintain andimprove on quality care outcomes.Understanding what different stakeholders perceive as barriers, and if these barriers are understood at different levels, is therefore important when attempting to mitigate the risk for unsafe or inefficient care delivery. Human Factors and Ergonomics (HFE) adoptssystems and participatory approaches for the exploration, analysis, and design of socio-technical systems to optimize both human wellbeing and system performance.The barriers to safe and effective healthcare delivery, from an HFE perspective, are not known in the South African context, particularly in parts of the Eastern Cape Province. Elucidatingthesebarriers, even if self-reported,may guidefuture efforts aimed at mitigating risks.The purpose of this study, therefore,wasto explore and highlight the perceived systemic barriers to local and national healthcare delivery, within the Sarah Baartman District in the Eastern Cape Province of South Africa.Methods: Ashort discussion aimed at introducing HFE and components of the Work Systems Model, followed by a survey that captured participant demographics, job characteristics, the perceived national and local systemic barriers, and proposed solutions, was administered withhealthcare stakeholders from 14 primary healthcare facilities and 1 department office within the Sarah Baartman District.Participants (n=120) included management, pharmacy, administration, maintenance, community-and home-based care and nursing staff.Data from the surveys were thematically analysed and categorised according to components of the work system model (Carayon, 2009) and respective workgroup.Results: The findings revealed many overlapping,systemic barriersthat includedshortages of staff, poor management and leadership, a lack of equipmentand basic necessities, poor infrastructure, patient complexity,and high workloads. The results further indicate that the way in which the reported barriers affect worksystem interactionsand performance are unique to different workgroups. Stakeholders iiproposedthat,among others, the absorption of contract workers, the provision of training and adequate human and medical resources and the maintenance of facilities may mitigate the barriers and improve healthcare delivery.Conclusion: The findings highlight a myriad of perceived systemic barriers perceived in the Sarah Baartman district, some of which were fundamental for the effective function of any healthcare system. These barriers may have wide-spread implications for stakeholders at all levels, ultimately affecting the performance, satisfaction and safety and the quality of care. It is especially important to consider these barriers in light of the COVID-19 epidemic, which emerged throughout this study and the major threat it presents to South African healthcare systems. Future research should aim to explore how these barriers interact to contribute to processes and outcomes, as well as explore the perceptions at provincial and national levels in order to better identify areas and strategies for improvement.
- Full Text:
- Date Issued: 2020
An evaluation of social sustainability practices in an agri-based private company in the Eastern Cape
- Authors: Ferreira, Anton William
- Date: 2020
- Subjects: Social responsibility of business -- South Africa -- Eastern Cape , Food law and legislation -- South Africa -- Eastern Cape , Agriculture -- South Africa -- Eastern Cape , Private plot agriculture -- South Africa -- Eastern Cape , Employee rights -- South Africa -- Eastern Cape , Employee attitude surveys -- South Africa -- Eastern Cape , Communication in personnel management -- South Africa -- Eastern Cape
- Language: English
- Type: text , Thesis , Masters , MBA
- Identifier: http://hdl.handle.net/10962/122920 , vital:35371
- Description: The concept of sustainability has received considerable attention over the last few decades (Scoones, 2007). International awareness and demands for sustainable development have pushed the sustainable narrative into the forefront of developmental goals. The Brundtland Report of 1987, released by the United Nations entitled “Our Common Future” resulted in the classic modern definition of sustainable development. Agriculture is the primary source of food, shelter and fibre for the world and therefore has a leading role to play in the realisation of a sustainable future (Van Calker, Berentsen, Giesen and Huirne, 2005). Most sustainability research in agriculture has adopted a particular scale and dimension, leading to a host of definitions and methodologies for its assessment (Hayati, 2017, Janker and Mann, 2018, Latruffe, Diazabakana, Bockstaller, Desjeux and Finn, 2016, Smith and McDonald, 1998). Different approaches to assessing sustainable agriculture have developed in hand with various conceptual methods resulting in a lack of a common understanding of what sustainable agriculture means (Janker and Mann, 2018, Smith and McDonald, 1998). Agriculture has a leading role to play in sustainable development in the South African context; however, commercial agriculture in South Africa has been associated with human rights violations as well as unsustainable social practices and exploitation of employees (Mather, 2007, Muller, Vermeulen and Glasbergen, 2012b). This research was conducted in an agri-processing company that had expanded rapidly and been experiencing high absenteeism and increased conflict in the work environment in an attempt to identify how many of the chosen indicators of on-farm internal social sustainability were present in the company. The literature review helped to contextualise the subject of sustainability, agricultural sustainability, agricultural social sustainability and various methods for assessing agricultural sustainability. The subject of agriculture social sustainability within the South African context was expanded upon, and a framework was selected from the literature to develop the aims of this research. The Barrientos and Visser (2013) framework had been utilised in evaluating social sustainability in the South African agricultural context before, and when compared with relevant literature was deemed appropriate for this research. Through the use of a case study approach, thirty employees were interviewed on a one on one basis with close ended questions. Data was collected through the use of an odd-numbered Likert scale and simple descriptive statistics were used to answer questions regarding which socially sustainable on-farm internal indicators, identified in the literature and in the chosen framework, occurred in the company in question. The research looked to further critically evaluate the aspects of social sustainability that were implemented by the company and discuss the challenges relating to those identified indicators that were not implemented. Finally, the research made recommendations to improve the on-farm internal social sustainability of the company in question. The results of this research showed that out of the ten indicators of on-farm internal social sustainability that were relevant in the framework, five were present in the company in question and five were absent. Those indicators that were present were: contracts, wages, benefits, communication with management and adequate representation. Indicators that were not present included health and safety, employee wellbeing, the level of discrimination, the level of harsh treatment and employee decision making. It was apparent from the results that there are many challenges to implementing on-farm internal socially sustainable policies and practices in the company. Chief amongst these challenges was communication with employees concerning policies that have been implemented and the information that is available to the employees regarding these policies. The company at the centre of this research should ensure that policies are put in place that helps to convey information to employees and ensure that the policies are implemented efficiently and effectively. It was recommended that the company initiate a Human Resources division that would be responsible for communication and the implementation of policies to increase on-farm internal social sustainability. By increasing social sustainability in the workplace, the company should be able to increase its efficiencies and effectiveness in a competitive global market. The researcher is aware that the findings of this research are not generalizable and are specific to the company in question both in terms of scale and location. Further research is needed to determine the impact of individual indicators and the weighting of each indicator in a specific environment. Further research should be conducted in a company that is in a similar industry and has similar staff demographics to the company at the centre of this research, as the scale of measure will influence the results.
- Full Text:
- Date Issued: 2020
- Authors: Ferreira, Anton William
- Date: 2020
- Subjects: Social responsibility of business -- South Africa -- Eastern Cape , Food law and legislation -- South Africa -- Eastern Cape , Agriculture -- South Africa -- Eastern Cape , Private plot agriculture -- South Africa -- Eastern Cape , Employee rights -- South Africa -- Eastern Cape , Employee attitude surveys -- South Africa -- Eastern Cape , Communication in personnel management -- South Africa -- Eastern Cape
- Language: English
- Type: text , Thesis , Masters , MBA
- Identifier: http://hdl.handle.net/10962/122920 , vital:35371
- Description: The concept of sustainability has received considerable attention over the last few decades (Scoones, 2007). International awareness and demands for sustainable development have pushed the sustainable narrative into the forefront of developmental goals. The Brundtland Report of 1987, released by the United Nations entitled “Our Common Future” resulted in the classic modern definition of sustainable development. Agriculture is the primary source of food, shelter and fibre for the world and therefore has a leading role to play in the realisation of a sustainable future (Van Calker, Berentsen, Giesen and Huirne, 2005). Most sustainability research in agriculture has adopted a particular scale and dimension, leading to a host of definitions and methodologies for its assessment (Hayati, 2017, Janker and Mann, 2018, Latruffe, Diazabakana, Bockstaller, Desjeux and Finn, 2016, Smith and McDonald, 1998). Different approaches to assessing sustainable agriculture have developed in hand with various conceptual methods resulting in a lack of a common understanding of what sustainable agriculture means (Janker and Mann, 2018, Smith and McDonald, 1998). Agriculture has a leading role to play in sustainable development in the South African context; however, commercial agriculture in South Africa has been associated with human rights violations as well as unsustainable social practices and exploitation of employees (Mather, 2007, Muller, Vermeulen and Glasbergen, 2012b). This research was conducted in an agri-processing company that had expanded rapidly and been experiencing high absenteeism and increased conflict in the work environment in an attempt to identify how many of the chosen indicators of on-farm internal social sustainability were present in the company. The literature review helped to contextualise the subject of sustainability, agricultural sustainability, agricultural social sustainability and various methods for assessing agricultural sustainability. The subject of agriculture social sustainability within the South African context was expanded upon, and a framework was selected from the literature to develop the aims of this research. The Barrientos and Visser (2013) framework had been utilised in evaluating social sustainability in the South African agricultural context before, and when compared with relevant literature was deemed appropriate for this research. Through the use of a case study approach, thirty employees were interviewed on a one on one basis with close ended questions. Data was collected through the use of an odd-numbered Likert scale and simple descriptive statistics were used to answer questions regarding which socially sustainable on-farm internal indicators, identified in the literature and in the chosen framework, occurred in the company in question. The research looked to further critically evaluate the aspects of social sustainability that were implemented by the company and discuss the challenges relating to those identified indicators that were not implemented. Finally, the research made recommendations to improve the on-farm internal social sustainability of the company in question. The results of this research showed that out of the ten indicators of on-farm internal social sustainability that were relevant in the framework, five were present in the company in question and five were absent. Those indicators that were present were: contracts, wages, benefits, communication with management and adequate representation. Indicators that were not present included health and safety, employee wellbeing, the level of discrimination, the level of harsh treatment and employee decision making. It was apparent from the results that there are many challenges to implementing on-farm internal socially sustainable policies and practices in the company. Chief amongst these challenges was communication with employees concerning policies that have been implemented and the information that is available to the employees regarding these policies. The company at the centre of this research should ensure that policies are put in place that helps to convey information to employees and ensure that the policies are implemented efficiently and effectively. It was recommended that the company initiate a Human Resources division that would be responsible for communication and the implementation of policies to increase on-farm internal social sustainability. By increasing social sustainability in the workplace, the company should be able to increase its efficiencies and effectiveness in a competitive global market. The researcher is aware that the findings of this research are not generalizable and are specific to the company in question both in terms of scale and location. Further research is needed to determine the impact of individual indicators and the weighting of each indicator in a specific environment. Further research should be conducted in a company that is in a similar industry and has similar staff demographics to the company at the centre of this research, as the scale of measure will influence the results.
- Full Text:
- Date Issued: 2020
An evaluation of the cytotoxic activities of novel artemisinin derivatives: towards targeted therapies for triple-negative breast cancers (TNBC)
- Authors: Kajewole, Deborah Ifeoluwa
- Date: 2020
- Subjects: Uncatalogued
- Language: English
- Type: thesis , text , Doctoral , PhD
- Identifier: http://hdl.handle.net/10962/163329 , vital:41029 , doi:10.21504/10962/163329
- Description: Thesis (PhD)--Rhodes University, Faculty of Science, Biochemistry and Microbiology, 2020.
- Full Text:
- Date Issued: 2020
- Authors: Kajewole, Deborah Ifeoluwa
- Date: 2020
- Subjects: Uncatalogued
- Language: English
- Type: thesis , text , Doctoral , PhD
- Identifier: http://hdl.handle.net/10962/163329 , vital:41029 , doi:10.21504/10962/163329
- Description: Thesis (PhD)--Rhodes University, Faculty of Science, Biochemistry and Microbiology, 2020.
- Full Text:
- Date Issued: 2020
An exploration of formative assessment in primary school Natural Sciences classrooms
- Authors: Mgoqi, Nomvuyo
- Date: 2020
- Subjects: Education, Elementary -- South Africa , Science -- Study and teaching (Elementary) -- South Africa , Competency-based education -- South Africa , Curriculum-based education -- South Africa , Science teachers -- Training of -- South Africa , Educational tests and measurements -- South Africa
- Language: English
- Type: text , Thesis , Masters , MEd
- Identifier: http://hdl.handle.net/10962/124167 , vital:35572
- Description: This research investigated formative assessment in primary school Natural Sciences classrooms. The intention was to explore how teachers use formative assessment strategies to raise classroom standards and to foster higher order cognitive development of learners. My interest in the study was influenced by constant poor achievement of South African learners in literacy and specifically in scientific literacy reported in various international and national benchmark tests. Vygotskian theory of the zone of proximal development was used to provide critical insight into formative assessment processes. Further theoretical lenses included Wylie and Lyons’ (2013) ‘Ten dimensions of formative assessment’ work for reviewing formative assessment strategies and Dalton’s (2003) ‘New Bloom’s Taxonomy’ for insight into cognitive development in classroom contexts. Influenced by the above mentioned reports, a qualitative case study of seven primary school teachers in Cape Town, Western Cape, South Africa was conducted. Underpinned by an interpretive paradigm and driven by the desire to achieve an in-depth understanding of the case under study, three techniques for data generation were employed. The first technique was semi-structured interviews. The second technique of data generation was through lesson observations including pre-lesson discussions and stimulated recall interviews. Observations were conducted to record teachers’ formative assessment practices and report how they use the formative assessment strategies to support student learning or ‘shifting’ their zone of proximal development through formative assessment practices. The third technique was document analysis of lesson plans, teaching and learning activities and assessment tasks worksheets of the two teachers observed. Documents were analysed to gain insights and understanding of how teachers prepared teaching and learning activities and assessments to support learner cognitive development. There were four data analysis phases. Phase I was an analysis of the semi-structured interviews. These were analysed to get a sense of teachers’ perspectives, experiences and challenges regarding formative assessment practices. In order to get a better sense of the quality of formative assessment, classroom observations were analysed using the lens of Wylie and Lyon (2013). This was analysis Phase II. Phase III made use of Dalton’s ‘New Bloom’s Taxonomy’ to gain insight into the role of formative assessment in supporting low, medium and higher order cognitive development. This phase was the document analysis and involved a review of the lesson plans, teaching and learning activities and formative assessment tasks. Phase IV further explored teachers’ experiences regarding implementation of formative assessment. Phase IV is different from Phase I in that it was not only looking at what teachers highlighted as challenges but also at challenges experienced during the lesson observations. This analysis was done across data sources, that is, semi-structured interviews, lesson observations and stimulated recall interviews. Findings from the first set of data showed that teachers viewed formative assessment implementation as a useful practice in the teaching and learning process. However, the diverse views showed lack of clarity of the purpose and definition of formative assessment. The results also revealed some effective attributes of formative assessment were observed during lesson observations at the time of the investigation. However, the results showed that clarifying goals, feedback and classroom collaborations were weakly implemented. These seem to be strategic entry points to begin strengthening the effective implementation of formative assessment classrooms. Supporting teachers regarding use of formative assessment techniques could be one of the means of helping teachers in collecting evidence of student learning. The teachers highlighted some challenges they experienced when implementing formative assessments. Hindrances to implementing effective formative assessment practice reflected structural, technical and attitudinal challenges. The study recommends that since formative assessment is a fundamental part of teaching and learning, teachers need more support and time for reflection to improve their implementation of effective formative assessment. The study also revealed that teachers need enough time to be able to implement effective formative assessment practices. This requires curriculum developers and administrators to revisit curriculum coverage in terms of breadth and depth and to give more time for the implementation of effective formative assessment practices.
- Full Text:
- Date Issued: 2020
- Authors: Mgoqi, Nomvuyo
- Date: 2020
- Subjects: Education, Elementary -- South Africa , Science -- Study and teaching (Elementary) -- South Africa , Competency-based education -- South Africa , Curriculum-based education -- South Africa , Science teachers -- Training of -- South Africa , Educational tests and measurements -- South Africa
- Language: English
- Type: text , Thesis , Masters , MEd
- Identifier: http://hdl.handle.net/10962/124167 , vital:35572
- Description: This research investigated formative assessment in primary school Natural Sciences classrooms. The intention was to explore how teachers use formative assessment strategies to raise classroom standards and to foster higher order cognitive development of learners. My interest in the study was influenced by constant poor achievement of South African learners in literacy and specifically in scientific literacy reported in various international and national benchmark tests. Vygotskian theory of the zone of proximal development was used to provide critical insight into formative assessment processes. Further theoretical lenses included Wylie and Lyons’ (2013) ‘Ten dimensions of formative assessment’ work for reviewing formative assessment strategies and Dalton’s (2003) ‘New Bloom’s Taxonomy’ for insight into cognitive development in classroom contexts. Influenced by the above mentioned reports, a qualitative case study of seven primary school teachers in Cape Town, Western Cape, South Africa was conducted. Underpinned by an interpretive paradigm and driven by the desire to achieve an in-depth understanding of the case under study, three techniques for data generation were employed. The first technique was semi-structured interviews. The second technique of data generation was through lesson observations including pre-lesson discussions and stimulated recall interviews. Observations were conducted to record teachers’ formative assessment practices and report how they use the formative assessment strategies to support student learning or ‘shifting’ their zone of proximal development through formative assessment practices. The third technique was document analysis of lesson plans, teaching and learning activities and assessment tasks worksheets of the two teachers observed. Documents were analysed to gain insights and understanding of how teachers prepared teaching and learning activities and assessments to support learner cognitive development. There were four data analysis phases. Phase I was an analysis of the semi-structured interviews. These were analysed to get a sense of teachers’ perspectives, experiences and challenges regarding formative assessment practices. In order to get a better sense of the quality of formative assessment, classroom observations were analysed using the lens of Wylie and Lyon (2013). This was analysis Phase II. Phase III made use of Dalton’s ‘New Bloom’s Taxonomy’ to gain insight into the role of formative assessment in supporting low, medium and higher order cognitive development. This phase was the document analysis and involved a review of the lesson plans, teaching and learning activities and formative assessment tasks. Phase IV further explored teachers’ experiences regarding implementation of formative assessment. Phase IV is different from Phase I in that it was not only looking at what teachers highlighted as challenges but also at challenges experienced during the lesson observations. This analysis was done across data sources, that is, semi-structured interviews, lesson observations and stimulated recall interviews. Findings from the first set of data showed that teachers viewed formative assessment implementation as a useful practice in the teaching and learning process. However, the diverse views showed lack of clarity of the purpose and definition of formative assessment. The results also revealed some effective attributes of formative assessment were observed during lesson observations at the time of the investigation. However, the results showed that clarifying goals, feedback and classroom collaborations were weakly implemented. These seem to be strategic entry points to begin strengthening the effective implementation of formative assessment classrooms. Supporting teachers regarding use of formative assessment techniques could be one of the means of helping teachers in collecting evidence of student learning. The teachers highlighted some challenges they experienced when implementing formative assessments. Hindrances to implementing effective formative assessment practice reflected structural, technical and attitudinal challenges. The study recommends that since formative assessment is a fundamental part of teaching and learning, teachers need more support and time for reflection to improve their implementation of effective formative assessment. The study also revealed that teachers need enough time to be able to implement effective formative assessment practices. This requires curriculum developers and administrators to revisit curriculum coverage in terms of breadth and depth and to give more time for the implementation of effective formative assessment practices.
- Full Text:
- Date Issued: 2020
An exploration of how Grade 3 Foundation Phase teachers develop basic scientific process skills using an inquiry-based approach in their classrooms
- Authors: Nhase, Zukiswa
- Date: 2020
- Subjects: Elementary school teaching-- South Africa , Elementary school teachers -- South Africa , Elementary school teachers -- In-service training -- South Africa , Science -- Study and teaching (Elementary) -- South Africa , Learning, Psychology of , Cognition in children , Inquiry-based learning -- South Africa , Active learning -- South Africa , Pedagogical content knowledge -- South Africa , Educational change -- South Africa , Socio-cultural theory
- Language: English
- Type: Thesis , Doctoral , PhD
- Identifier: http://hdl.handle.net/10962/145181 , vital:38416
- Description: Some studies have looked at Foundation Phase teachers’ perspectives on the teaching of science in this phase. Such studies have highlighted various challenges on the teaching of science in the Foundation Phase. They pointed out issues such as large class numbers, lack of resources and lack of science knowledge from Foundation Phase teachers. However, none of these studies have looked at how Foundation Phase teachers are using an Inquiry-Based Approach in their classrooms instead few studies have looked at the Foundation Phase teachers’ perspectives about scientific inquiry in this phase. Even though many scholars have presented several challenges to the teaching of science both at secondary and primary level, the argument is strongly made that Foundation Phase learners should be exposed to the learning of science. Generally, children at the Foundation Phase level naturally enjoy observing and thinking about nature; exposing learners to science develops positive attitudes towards science; the use of scientifically informed language at an early age influences the eventual development of scientific concepts; children can understand scientific concepts and reason scientifically; and science is an efficient means for developing scientific thinking. It is within these arguments and discussions that this interpretive case study research sought to explore the Pedagogical Content Knowledge of four Foundation Phase teachers in developing the Scientific Process Skills using an Inquiry-Based Approach in their classrooms and subsequently, the significance of this research study. The socio-cultural theory, Topic Specific Pedagogical Content Knowledge, Zaretskii’s six conditions for development during mediation and the principles of an Inquiry-Based Approach were used as analytical lenses in this research. To use an Inquiry-Based Approach, generally teachers have to understand its principles and know how to develop basic Scientific Process Skills while teaching the science content. In the Foundation Phase, the Natural Sciences component or content is embedded in the Beginning Knowledge study area of the Life Skills subject and this can create difficulties for teachers to even recognise the scientific concepts in the Life Skills. The four IsiXhosa female teachers used the home language of learners as the language of instruction to implement an Inquiry-Based Approach in their classrooms. Data were generated in four phases. Phase one was baseline data through document analysis. Three of the phases were directed by the research question asked. Data were generated using questionnaires, interviews (semi-structured and stimulated recall), lesson observations (videotaped) and group reflections and discussions. From the work of Vygotsky, Zaretskii formulated six conditions that can be used to develop learners’ zone of proximal development in learning and these were used as analytical lenses to analyse data to understand how teachers mediated learning and development of Scientific Inquiry in their Grade 3 classrooms. In addition, the principles of an Inquiry-Based Approach were used as analytical lenses as to how teachers implemented the scientific inquiry approach. The categories or components of Topic Specific Pedagogical Content Knowledge were used as analytical lenses as to how these teachers dealt with science concepts or content when using an inquiry-based Approach in their classrooms. Using the home language of learners as an instructional tool, data showed that learners were afforded the opportunity to freely engage in activities and as a result, the context of learning was non-threatening for both teachers and learners. Although learning activities could be improved, teachers created social spaces for learners to take part in learning. In addition, the use of learners’ environments in the observed lessons made it comfortable for learners to act as young scientists. The new knowledge in this research was presented by the use of the adapted analytical tool, which combined diverse components of theory and literature that aligned with each other. The reflection space for the participants did not only afford the participants to discuss about each other’s lessons or experiences in this research, it allowed the participants to engage with the research objectives. The reflection space strengthened the research ethics if this study. Hence, the concept that says, ‘Absenting the absences’. In conclusion, the study thus recommends further professional development spaces that promote community of practice in using an Inquiry-Based Approach in the Foundation Phase.
- Full Text:
- Date Issued: 2020
- Authors: Nhase, Zukiswa
- Date: 2020
- Subjects: Elementary school teaching-- South Africa , Elementary school teachers -- South Africa , Elementary school teachers -- In-service training -- South Africa , Science -- Study and teaching (Elementary) -- South Africa , Learning, Psychology of , Cognition in children , Inquiry-based learning -- South Africa , Active learning -- South Africa , Pedagogical content knowledge -- South Africa , Educational change -- South Africa , Socio-cultural theory
- Language: English
- Type: Thesis , Doctoral , PhD
- Identifier: http://hdl.handle.net/10962/145181 , vital:38416
- Description: Some studies have looked at Foundation Phase teachers’ perspectives on the teaching of science in this phase. Such studies have highlighted various challenges on the teaching of science in the Foundation Phase. They pointed out issues such as large class numbers, lack of resources and lack of science knowledge from Foundation Phase teachers. However, none of these studies have looked at how Foundation Phase teachers are using an Inquiry-Based Approach in their classrooms instead few studies have looked at the Foundation Phase teachers’ perspectives about scientific inquiry in this phase. Even though many scholars have presented several challenges to the teaching of science both at secondary and primary level, the argument is strongly made that Foundation Phase learners should be exposed to the learning of science. Generally, children at the Foundation Phase level naturally enjoy observing and thinking about nature; exposing learners to science develops positive attitudes towards science; the use of scientifically informed language at an early age influences the eventual development of scientific concepts; children can understand scientific concepts and reason scientifically; and science is an efficient means for developing scientific thinking. It is within these arguments and discussions that this interpretive case study research sought to explore the Pedagogical Content Knowledge of four Foundation Phase teachers in developing the Scientific Process Skills using an Inquiry-Based Approach in their classrooms and subsequently, the significance of this research study. The socio-cultural theory, Topic Specific Pedagogical Content Knowledge, Zaretskii’s six conditions for development during mediation and the principles of an Inquiry-Based Approach were used as analytical lenses in this research. To use an Inquiry-Based Approach, generally teachers have to understand its principles and know how to develop basic Scientific Process Skills while teaching the science content. In the Foundation Phase, the Natural Sciences component or content is embedded in the Beginning Knowledge study area of the Life Skills subject and this can create difficulties for teachers to even recognise the scientific concepts in the Life Skills. The four IsiXhosa female teachers used the home language of learners as the language of instruction to implement an Inquiry-Based Approach in their classrooms. Data were generated in four phases. Phase one was baseline data through document analysis. Three of the phases were directed by the research question asked. Data were generated using questionnaires, interviews (semi-structured and stimulated recall), lesson observations (videotaped) and group reflections and discussions. From the work of Vygotsky, Zaretskii formulated six conditions that can be used to develop learners’ zone of proximal development in learning and these were used as analytical lenses to analyse data to understand how teachers mediated learning and development of Scientific Inquiry in their Grade 3 classrooms. In addition, the principles of an Inquiry-Based Approach were used as analytical lenses as to how teachers implemented the scientific inquiry approach. The categories or components of Topic Specific Pedagogical Content Knowledge were used as analytical lenses as to how these teachers dealt with science concepts or content when using an inquiry-based Approach in their classrooms. Using the home language of learners as an instructional tool, data showed that learners were afforded the opportunity to freely engage in activities and as a result, the context of learning was non-threatening for both teachers and learners. Although learning activities could be improved, teachers created social spaces for learners to take part in learning. In addition, the use of learners’ environments in the observed lessons made it comfortable for learners to act as young scientists. The new knowledge in this research was presented by the use of the adapted analytical tool, which combined diverse components of theory and literature that aligned with each other. The reflection space for the participants did not only afford the participants to discuss about each other’s lessons or experiences in this research, it allowed the participants to engage with the research objectives. The reflection space strengthened the research ethics if this study. Hence, the concept that says, ‘Absenting the absences’. In conclusion, the study thus recommends further professional development spaces that promote community of practice in using an Inquiry-Based Approach in the Foundation Phase.
- Full Text:
- Date Issued: 2020
An exploration of organizational expectations of different generations of employees during change
- Authors: Kawana, Susan Mulemwa
- Date: 2020
- Subjects: Organizational change -- Psychological aspects , Organizational behavior -- Namibia -- Case studies , Employees -- Psychology -- Namibia , Organizational change -- Namibia -- Case studies , Intergenerational relations -- Namibia , Namibia. Inland Revenue Directorate , Namibia. Customs and Excise
- Language: English
- Type: text , Thesis , Masters , MBA
- Identifier: http://hdl.handle.net/10962/142398 , vital:38076
- Description: The aim of this study is to investigate the organizational expectations of different generations of employees at the Ministry of Finance’s Inland Revenue and Customs and Excise Departments of the Republic of Namibia, which are undergoing organizational change processes. The different generations that were included in this study are Baby Boomers, Generation X, and Generation Y. The study explores the different expectations that the generations have in relation to the changes, in terms of leadership style and communication preferences. This study followed a qualitative approach. Quota sampling was used to select twelve participants for the study. The case study was carried out within a postpositivism paradigm. Data was collected by administering semi-structured, face-to-face interviews. The findings of the study indicate that there are generational differences in respect of preferred leadership styles and communication methods during organizational change. Baby Boomers and Generation X preferred a relationshiporiented leadership style, while generation Y preferred a visionary leadership style. Task-oriented leadership style was not the preferred style of any generation. Rather, in the midst of change, it seems there is a preference for relational leadership across all the Generations. In respect of communication, Baby Boomers preferred face-toface methods, Generation X preferred face-to-face and e-mail methods as sources of change communication, while Generation Y preferred a combination of communication methods. In the midst of change, it seems there is a common preference for face-to-face communication across all the Generations. Furthermore, employees generally did not feel ready for the changes. In the light of these findings, recommendations were made to guide change initiatives amongst employees of various generations. The limitations of the study were its sample size and focus on the public sector. For future research, a larger sample could be selected from all regional offices. Similar research can also be done in the private sector. The findings of the study provide an understanding of the experiences and expectations of different generations of employees during organizational change, and contribute to the body of knowledge on generational differences, readiness for change and the management of different generations as different stakeholders.
- Full Text:
- Date Issued: 2020
- Authors: Kawana, Susan Mulemwa
- Date: 2020
- Subjects: Organizational change -- Psychological aspects , Organizational behavior -- Namibia -- Case studies , Employees -- Psychology -- Namibia , Organizational change -- Namibia -- Case studies , Intergenerational relations -- Namibia , Namibia. Inland Revenue Directorate , Namibia. Customs and Excise
- Language: English
- Type: text , Thesis , Masters , MBA
- Identifier: http://hdl.handle.net/10962/142398 , vital:38076
- Description: The aim of this study is to investigate the organizational expectations of different generations of employees at the Ministry of Finance’s Inland Revenue and Customs and Excise Departments of the Republic of Namibia, which are undergoing organizational change processes. The different generations that were included in this study are Baby Boomers, Generation X, and Generation Y. The study explores the different expectations that the generations have in relation to the changes, in terms of leadership style and communication preferences. This study followed a qualitative approach. Quota sampling was used to select twelve participants for the study. The case study was carried out within a postpositivism paradigm. Data was collected by administering semi-structured, face-to-face interviews. The findings of the study indicate that there are generational differences in respect of preferred leadership styles and communication methods during organizational change. Baby Boomers and Generation X preferred a relationshiporiented leadership style, while generation Y preferred a visionary leadership style. Task-oriented leadership style was not the preferred style of any generation. Rather, in the midst of change, it seems there is a preference for relational leadership across all the Generations. In respect of communication, Baby Boomers preferred face-toface methods, Generation X preferred face-to-face and e-mail methods as sources of change communication, while Generation Y preferred a combination of communication methods. In the midst of change, it seems there is a common preference for face-to-face communication across all the Generations. Furthermore, employees generally did not feel ready for the changes. In the light of these findings, recommendations were made to guide change initiatives amongst employees of various generations. The limitations of the study were its sample size and focus on the public sector. For future research, a larger sample could be selected from all regional offices. Similar research can also be done in the private sector. The findings of the study provide an understanding of the experiences and expectations of different generations of employees during organizational change, and contribute to the body of knowledge on generational differences, readiness for change and the management of different generations as different stakeholders.
- Full Text:
- Date Issued: 2020
An exploration of the overlap between open source threat intelligence and active internet background radiation
- Authors: Pearson, Deon Turner
- Date: 2020
- Subjects: Computer networks -- Security measures , Computer networks -- Monitoring , Malware (Computer software) , TCP/IP (Computer network protocol) , Open source intelligence
- Language: English
- Type: text , Thesis , Masters , MSc
- Identifier: http://hdl.handle.net/10962/103802 , vital:32299
- Description: Organisations and individuals are facing increasing persistent threats on the Internet from worms, port scanners, and malicious software (malware). These threats are constantly evolving as attack techniques are discovered. To aid in the detection and prevention of such threats, and to stay ahead of the adversaries conducting the attacks, security specialists are utilising Threat Intelligence (TI) data in their defense strategies. TI data can be obtained from a variety of different sources such as private routers, firewall logs, public archives, and public or private network telescopes. However, at the rate and ease at which TI is produced and published, specifically Open Source Threat Intelligence (OSINT), the quality is dropping, resulting in fragmented, context-less and variable data. This research utilised two sets of TI data, a collection of OSINT and active Internet Background Radiation (IBR). The data was collected over a period of 12 months, from 37 publicly available OSINT datasets and five IBR datasets. Through the identification and analysis of common data between the OSINT and IBR datasets, this research was able to gain insight into how effective OSINT is at detecting and potentially reducing ongoing malicious Internet traffic. As part of this research, a minimal framework for the collection, processing/analysis, and distribution of OSINT was developed and tested. The research focused on exploring areas in common between the two datasets, with the intention of creating an enriched, contextualised, and reduced set of malicious source IP addresses that could be published for consumers to use in their own environment. The findings of this research pointed towards a persistent group of IP addresses observed on both datasets, over the period under research. Using these persistent IP addresses, the research was able to identify specific services being targeted. Amongst these persistent IP addresses were significant packets from Mirai like IoT Malware on port 23/tcp and 2323/tcp as well as general scanning activity on port 445/TCP.
- Full Text:
- Date Issued: 2020
- Authors: Pearson, Deon Turner
- Date: 2020
- Subjects: Computer networks -- Security measures , Computer networks -- Monitoring , Malware (Computer software) , TCP/IP (Computer network protocol) , Open source intelligence
- Language: English
- Type: text , Thesis , Masters , MSc
- Identifier: http://hdl.handle.net/10962/103802 , vital:32299
- Description: Organisations and individuals are facing increasing persistent threats on the Internet from worms, port scanners, and malicious software (malware). These threats are constantly evolving as attack techniques are discovered. To aid in the detection and prevention of such threats, and to stay ahead of the adversaries conducting the attacks, security specialists are utilising Threat Intelligence (TI) data in their defense strategies. TI data can be obtained from a variety of different sources such as private routers, firewall logs, public archives, and public or private network telescopes. However, at the rate and ease at which TI is produced and published, specifically Open Source Threat Intelligence (OSINT), the quality is dropping, resulting in fragmented, context-less and variable data. This research utilised two sets of TI data, a collection of OSINT and active Internet Background Radiation (IBR). The data was collected over a period of 12 months, from 37 publicly available OSINT datasets and five IBR datasets. Through the identification and analysis of common data between the OSINT and IBR datasets, this research was able to gain insight into how effective OSINT is at detecting and potentially reducing ongoing malicious Internet traffic. As part of this research, a minimal framework for the collection, processing/analysis, and distribution of OSINT was developed and tested. The research focused on exploring areas in common between the two datasets, with the intention of creating an enriched, contextualised, and reduced set of malicious source IP addresses that could be published for consumers to use in their own environment. The findings of this research pointed towards a persistent group of IP addresses observed on both datasets, over the period under research. Using these persistent IP addresses, the research was able to identify specific services being targeted. Amongst these persistent IP addresses were significant packets from Mirai like IoT Malware on port 23/tcp and 2323/tcp as well as general scanning activity on port 445/TCP.
- Full Text:
- Date Issued: 2020
An explorative study of Makana local football association coaches characteristics, experiences and needs
- Authors: Callow, Gavin
- Date: 2020
- Subjects: Makana Local Football Association (South Africa) , Football -- Coaching -- South Africa , Football coaches -- South Africa
- Language: English
- Type: text , Thesis , Masters , MSc
- Identifier: http://hdl.handle.net/10962/138785 , vital:37672
- Description: Introduction: Sports participation has been associated with a number of benefits to young athletes, outside of purely physical health. One of the key components of a successful sports talent identification and development program is effective coaching. A foundation of effective coaching is the coach’s knowledge which can be developed through formal, non-formal and informal means of education. The majority of coach education literature has however focused on coaches from developed countries. Limited studies have looked at the educational experiences and needs of South African coaches, particularly football coaches. The purpose of the current investigation is to establish Local Football Association (LFA) coaches’ perceptions of their educational backgrounds and what knowledge they deem important to be effective coaches. Method: A mixed methods approach was used in which (n=25) Makana LFA coaches answered a questionnaire with the aim of identifying their educational histories and what their current educational needs were. A semi-structured interview was also implemented in which some of the respondents (n=4) were asked more in-depth questions around the same topics, to create a more complete coaching profile. Results: The questionnaire responses highlighted that only 8% of the coaches possess a formal coaching qualification and all of the coaches work on a volunteer basis. Previous experience as a player is the chief source of knowledge for Makana LFA coaches. Not having enough available time is the main perceived barrier for 56% of participants to seeking out further educational opportunities. Fundamentals of coaching was selected by 56% of the coaches as a key subject they want to learn more about. Findings from the interview demonstrate that participants coach multiple teams and often have to rely on senior players to take up assistant coach positions, as well as managing their time effectively to work with all their teams. Informal education is the main source of information for the coaches which includes asking for advice, reading coaching manuals or having a mentor. The coaches value all 3 forms of education, however non-formal workshops are favoured. This is due to all of the coaches already having some form of informal learning experience and formal learning opportunities being too costly to pursue. A combination of lectures, practical sessions and group discussions is desired as a delivery method of coaching knowledge. Discussion: The level of coaching qualifications in the LFA is low, this may have significant implications for talent identification and development in the Sarah Baartman region. All the coaches are volunteer coaches, who primarily rely on informal means of coaching education. ‘Time’ was indicated to be a major barrier, to coaches seeking out educational opportunities. Coaches indicated that they would benefit from a coaching program if it took into consideration their needs, such as wanting to learn more about interpersonal and intrapersonal awareness. Conclusion: If local coaching programs are to be effective, they must reflect the educational needs of their community.
- Full Text:
- Date Issued: 2020
- Authors: Callow, Gavin
- Date: 2020
- Subjects: Makana Local Football Association (South Africa) , Football -- Coaching -- South Africa , Football coaches -- South Africa
- Language: English
- Type: text , Thesis , Masters , MSc
- Identifier: http://hdl.handle.net/10962/138785 , vital:37672
- Description: Introduction: Sports participation has been associated with a number of benefits to young athletes, outside of purely physical health. One of the key components of a successful sports talent identification and development program is effective coaching. A foundation of effective coaching is the coach’s knowledge which can be developed through formal, non-formal and informal means of education. The majority of coach education literature has however focused on coaches from developed countries. Limited studies have looked at the educational experiences and needs of South African coaches, particularly football coaches. The purpose of the current investigation is to establish Local Football Association (LFA) coaches’ perceptions of their educational backgrounds and what knowledge they deem important to be effective coaches. Method: A mixed methods approach was used in which (n=25) Makana LFA coaches answered a questionnaire with the aim of identifying their educational histories and what their current educational needs were. A semi-structured interview was also implemented in which some of the respondents (n=4) were asked more in-depth questions around the same topics, to create a more complete coaching profile. Results: The questionnaire responses highlighted that only 8% of the coaches possess a formal coaching qualification and all of the coaches work on a volunteer basis. Previous experience as a player is the chief source of knowledge for Makana LFA coaches. Not having enough available time is the main perceived barrier for 56% of participants to seeking out further educational opportunities. Fundamentals of coaching was selected by 56% of the coaches as a key subject they want to learn more about. Findings from the interview demonstrate that participants coach multiple teams and often have to rely on senior players to take up assistant coach positions, as well as managing their time effectively to work with all their teams. Informal education is the main source of information for the coaches which includes asking for advice, reading coaching manuals or having a mentor. The coaches value all 3 forms of education, however non-formal workshops are favoured. This is due to all of the coaches already having some form of informal learning experience and formal learning opportunities being too costly to pursue. A combination of lectures, practical sessions and group discussions is desired as a delivery method of coaching knowledge. Discussion: The level of coaching qualifications in the LFA is low, this may have significant implications for talent identification and development in the Sarah Baartman region. All the coaches are volunteer coaches, who primarily rely on informal means of coaching education. ‘Time’ was indicated to be a major barrier, to coaches seeking out educational opportunities. Coaches indicated that they would benefit from a coaching program if it took into consideration their needs, such as wanting to learn more about interpersonal and intrapersonal awareness. Conclusion: If local coaching programs are to be effective, they must reflect the educational needs of their community.
- Full Text:
- Date Issued: 2020
An exploratory study on UNAM’s opportunities of being an entrepreneurial university
- Authors: Shiimi, Victoria
- Date: 2020
- Subjects: Entrepreneurship -- Namibia , Academic-industrial collaboration -- Namibia , Education, Higher -- Aims and objectives -- Namibia , University of Namibia. Innoviation and Development Department , University of Namibia -- Finance , Education, Higher -- Economic aspects -- Namibia , Education, Higher -- Namibia -- Finance
- Language: English
- Type: text , Thesis , Masters , MBA
- Identifier: http://hdl.handle.net/10962/144912 , vital:38391
- Description: Universities, especially those publicly funded by the government are at the edge of the economic woes when budget allocation is cut to support their operations. University should not only focus on research and the traditional role of teaching but, to become innovative by creating third stream income generation projects and activities. This would enable them to bridge the gap in financing from the state. The main goal of the study is to explore whether the university has opportunities to become entrepreneurial. The researcher analyzed the study from the perspective of internal capabilities the institution owns and how these capabilities can be applied to create a competitive advantage and external opportunities for the institution. To achieve the objectives of this study, the researcher employed a case study research design approach. The study was embedded in the interprevists paradigm and, following an inductive approach. The study had a population of 14 Centres at UNAM where a sample of 4 Centres was purposively selected to represent the population because they were responsible for research and entrepreneurship activities. Documents review and semi-structured interviews were used to collect secondary and primary data respectively, which helped in the triangulation to avoid data error. These methods also allowed the researcher to ensure credibility, transferability, trustworthiness and external validity. To adhere to all ethical regulations and procedures, the researcher obtained the ethics approval from the Rhodes Ethics Committee, which, was then used to obtain Gatekeeper permission from UNAM. The study found that UNAM has the internal capabilities required that provides them an opportunity to become entrepreneurial. Through its Innovation and Development Department in collaboration with Inceptus, a UNAM commercial owned holding company. The study recommended that UNAM put structures in place, to begin with, all entrepreneurial projects towards securing third stream income as well as expanding research that focuses on leadership and governance.
- Full Text:
- Date Issued: 2020
- Authors: Shiimi, Victoria
- Date: 2020
- Subjects: Entrepreneurship -- Namibia , Academic-industrial collaboration -- Namibia , Education, Higher -- Aims and objectives -- Namibia , University of Namibia. Innoviation and Development Department , University of Namibia -- Finance , Education, Higher -- Economic aspects -- Namibia , Education, Higher -- Namibia -- Finance
- Language: English
- Type: text , Thesis , Masters , MBA
- Identifier: http://hdl.handle.net/10962/144912 , vital:38391
- Description: Universities, especially those publicly funded by the government are at the edge of the economic woes when budget allocation is cut to support their operations. University should not only focus on research and the traditional role of teaching but, to become innovative by creating third stream income generation projects and activities. This would enable them to bridge the gap in financing from the state. The main goal of the study is to explore whether the university has opportunities to become entrepreneurial. The researcher analyzed the study from the perspective of internal capabilities the institution owns and how these capabilities can be applied to create a competitive advantage and external opportunities for the institution. To achieve the objectives of this study, the researcher employed a case study research design approach. The study was embedded in the interprevists paradigm and, following an inductive approach. The study had a population of 14 Centres at UNAM where a sample of 4 Centres was purposively selected to represent the population because they were responsible for research and entrepreneurship activities. Documents review and semi-structured interviews were used to collect secondary and primary data respectively, which helped in the triangulation to avoid data error. These methods also allowed the researcher to ensure credibility, transferability, trustworthiness and external validity. To adhere to all ethical regulations and procedures, the researcher obtained the ethics approval from the Rhodes Ethics Committee, which, was then used to obtain Gatekeeper permission from UNAM. The study found that UNAM has the internal capabilities required that provides them an opportunity to become entrepreneurial. Through its Innovation and Development Department in collaboration with Inceptus, a UNAM commercial owned holding company. The study recommended that UNAM put structures in place, to begin with, all entrepreneurial projects towards securing third stream income as well as expanding research that focuses on leadership and governance.
- Full Text:
- Date Issued: 2020
An historical analysis of the development of a company as a single enterprise and the impact on group company taxation
- Authors: Els, Tania
- Date: 2020
- Subjects: Taxation -- South Africa , Taxation -- History , Taxation -- Law and legislation -- South Africa , Business enterprises -- South Africa , Business enterprises -- Taxation -- Law and legislation -- South Africa , Corporation law -- South Africa , South Africa. Income Tax Act, 1962 , South Africa. Companies Act, 2008 , Separate legal personality , Group taxation
- Language: English
- Type: text , Thesis , Masters , MCom
- Identifier: http://hdl.handle.net/10962/154241 , vital:39628
- Description: The company is considered a separate legal entity in both legislation and jurisprudence. The “veil” separating the company and its shareholders is a doctrine entrenched in company law that originated centuries ago. The doctrine is based on conditions that existed during a period that commenced with trading forms less complicated than the corporate groups found today. Trading forms known as guilds could be traced back to 1087, which gradually developed into regulated companies and, in the last century, into the joint-stock company form. The modern era has seen the development of groups of companies carrying on business as economic units. Company law, in regulating business forms, has failed to acknowledge the corporate group as a new business entity. The main purpose of this research was to analyse the origins of the separate legal personality of a company and its relevance for the present corporate group structures. The research aimed to understand company law and jurisprudence in South Africa in relation to the legal personality of a company and a corporate group. The final objective of this reform-orientated doctrinal research thesis was to provide clarity on the need to consider granting separate legal identity to corporate groups in recognition of their economic unity. A historically contextualised analysis was carried out on the development of trading through unregulated forms of businesses to the creation of the company as a regulated entity. The development of the legal persona of a company in legislation as well as jurisprudence was critically analysed in on the context of companies within a corporate group. A case study of a South African corporate group was used to highlight the different characteristics of the companies doing business in the form of a corporate group. The thesis concluded by recommending that legal personality should be extended to include a corporate group in order to facilitate the introduction of a group taxation regime.
- Full Text:
- Date Issued: 2020
- Authors: Els, Tania
- Date: 2020
- Subjects: Taxation -- South Africa , Taxation -- History , Taxation -- Law and legislation -- South Africa , Business enterprises -- South Africa , Business enterprises -- Taxation -- Law and legislation -- South Africa , Corporation law -- South Africa , South Africa. Income Tax Act, 1962 , South Africa. Companies Act, 2008 , Separate legal personality , Group taxation
- Language: English
- Type: text , Thesis , Masters , MCom
- Identifier: http://hdl.handle.net/10962/154241 , vital:39628
- Description: The company is considered a separate legal entity in both legislation and jurisprudence. The “veil” separating the company and its shareholders is a doctrine entrenched in company law that originated centuries ago. The doctrine is based on conditions that existed during a period that commenced with trading forms less complicated than the corporate groups found today. Trading forms known as guilds could be traced back to 1087, which gradually developed into regulated companies and, in the last century, into the joint-stock company form. The modern era has seen the development of groups of companies carrying on business as economic units. Company law, in regulating business forms, has failed to acknowledge the corporate group as a new business entity. The main purpose of this research was to analyse the origins of the separate legal personality of a company and its relevance for the present corporate group structures. The research aimed to understand company law and jurisprudence in South Africa in relation to the legal personality of a company and a corporate group. The final objective of this reform-orientated doctrinal research thesis was to provide clarity on the need to consider granting separate legal identity to corporate groups in recognition of their economic unity. A historically contextualised analysis was carried out on the development of trading through unregulated forms of businesses to the creation of the company as a regulated entity. The development of the legal persona of a company in legislation as well as jurisprudence was critically analysed in on the context of companies within a corporate group. A case study of a South African corporate group was used to highlight the different characteristics of the companies doing business in the form of a corporate group. The thesis concluded by recommending that legal personality should be extended to include a corporate group in order to facilitate the introduction of a group taxation regime.
- Full Text:
- Date Issued: 2020
An ideological analysis of the construction of masculinity in the South African superhero comic book, Kwezi
- Authors: Reyneke, Brendon George
- Date: 2020
- Subjects: Mkize, Loyiso, 1987- -- Kwezi , Superheroes -- South Africa , Comic books, strips, etc. -- South Africa , Graphic novels -- South Africa , Masculinity in literature , Violence in literature , Superheroes, Black
- Language: English
- Type: Thesis , Masters , MA
- Identifier: http://hdl.handle.net/10962/144533 , vital:38354
- Description: In 2014, South African artist and comic book illustrator, Loyiso Mkize created Kwezi, South Africa’s first superhero comic book. His comic features the titular Kwezi as a young, black man living alone on the outskirts of Gold City who discovers he has superpowers. Along with Kwezi, the comic is populated by predominantly black African characters – both good and bad. The creation of Kwezi is an important step in the development of comic books in South Africa as it draws from the cultural and physical landscape of the country and speaks to young black people without them having to look outside of the country for superheroes to identify with. Stuart Hall (Hall, 1997, pp. 272-274) asserts that attempts to reclaim the black subject in popular culture tend to go through two phases. In the first phase blackness is liberated from negative representations and is replaced with more positive depictions. Thereafter though, the black subject is produced inside contemporary “regimes of representation”. In this thesis, I will show how Mkize’s representation of Kwezi follows Stuart Hall’s description of the reclamation of black subjectivity. Using narrative theory, visual social semiotics and Thompson’s modes of operational ideology I will show how in his attempt to represent African blackness positively, Mkize overlooks normative genre representations of masculinity and produces a story of a South African that remains unliberated from patriarchy and hegemonic masculinity. Mkize reproduces many of the hegemonic discourses concerning the masculine body, the power difference between male and female characters and subscribes to the justified, violent actions of the masculine superhero. Typically, in superhero comics there is an erasure of the ordinary man in favour of an excessive and powerful one-dimensional masculine ideal (Brown, 1999, pp. 31-32) At the end of my analysis I will show that Kwezi is constructed in this way as a physically strong and muscular, violent and emotionless, self-made man who is in control and overcomes all obstacles.
- Full Text:
- Date Issued: 2020
- Authors: Reyneke, Brendon George
- Date: 2020
- Subjects: Mkize, Loyiso, 1987- -- Kwezi , Superheroes -- South Africa , Comic books, strips, etc. -- South Africa , Graphic novels -- South Africa , Masculinity in literature , Violence in literature , Superheroes, Black
- Language: English
- Type: Thesis , Masters , MA
- Identifier: http://hdl.handle.net/10962/144533 , vital:38354
- Description: In 2014, South African artist and comic book illustrator, Loyiso Mkize created Kwezi, South Africa’s first superhero comic book. His comic features the titular Kwezi as a young, black man living alone on the outskirts of Gold City who discovers he has superpowers. Along with Kwezi, the comic is populated by predominantly black African characters – both good and bad. The creation of Kwezi is an important step in the development of comic books in South Africa as it draws from the cultural and physical landscape of the country and speaks to young black people without them having to look outside of the country for superheroes to identify with. Stuart Hall (Hall, 1997, pp. 272-274) asserts that attempts to reclaim the black subject in popular culture tend to go through two phases. In the first phase blackness is liberated from negative representations and is replaced with more positive depictions. Thereafter though, the black subject is produced inside contemporary “regimes of representation”. In this thesis, I will show how Mkize’s representation of Kwezi follows Stuart Hall’s description of the reclamation of black subjectivity. Using narrative theory, visual social semiotics and Thompson’s modes of operational ideology I will show how in his attempt to represent African blackness positively, Mkize overlooks normative genre representations of masculinity and produces a story of a South African that remains unliberated from patriarchy and hegemonic masculinity. Mkize reproduces many of the hegemonic discourses concerning the masculine body, the power difference between male and female characters and subscribes to the justified, violent actions of the masculine superhero. Typically, in superhero comics there is an erasure of the ordinary man in favour of an excessive and powerful one-dimensional masculine ideal (Brown, 1999, pp. 31-32) At the end of my analysis I will show that Kwezi is constructed in this way as a physically strong and muscular, violent and emotionless, self-made man who is in control and overcomes all obstacles.
- Full Text:
- Date Issued: 2020
An ideological analysis of the construction of the young female action hero as feminist hero in The Hunger Games film franchise
- Authors: Mathurine, Kim Elizabeth
- Date: 2020
- Subjects: Everdeen, Katniss (Fictitious character) , Women superheroes in motion pictures , Hunger Games films , Feminist film criticism , Feminism and motion pictures , Women in motion pictures
- Language: English
- Type: Thesis , Masters , MA
- Identifier: http://hdl.handle.net/10962/142900 , vital:38174
- Description: Young female action heroes have recently stepped into the limelight as commercial celebrations of Girl Power in Hollywood action-adventure films. Feminist films studies however have shown that these independent, tough female heroes claimed as feminist, are still constrained in various ways through stereotypical gender roles within the action-adventure genre. This thesis examines these claims through the ideological analysis of the young female action hero Katniss in The Hunger Games film franchise. Building on existing research on female action heroes, the research asks: ‘to what degree can the claim of Katniss as boundary-breaking, feminist hero be validated’? This question is addressed through a textual analysis of the four films of The Hunger Games film franchise, employing conventions of action-adventure genre, narrative analysis, mise-en-scène and cinematography to unmask the characterisation of the female hero. The discussion of the findings, utilising the themes of Love, Violence and Power, reveal both progressive and regressive elements present in the characterisation of Katniss. The findings indicate that while female action heroes can be celebrated for displaying progressive moments of liberated action, they remain constrained within dominant heteronormative gender roles in commercial Hollywood films, undergoing various acts of transformation and recuperation as a means of containing the threat of their transgressive behaviour.
- Full Text:
- Date Issued: 2020
- Authors: Mathurine, Kim Elizabeth
- Date: 2020
- Subjects: Everdeen, Katniss (Fictitious character) , Women superheroes in motion pictures , Hunger Games films , Feminist film criticism , Feminism and motion pictures , Women in motion pictures
- Language: English
- Type: Thesis , Masters , MA
- Identifier: http://hdl.handle.net/10962/142900 , vital:38174
- Description: Young female action heroes have recently stepped into the limelight as commercial celebrations of Girl Power in Hollywood action-adventure films. Feminist films studies however have shown that these independent, tough female heroes claimed as feminist, are still constrained in various ways through stereotypical gender roles within the action-adventure genre. This thesis examines these claims through the ideological analysis of the young female action hero Katniss in The Hunger Games film franchise. Building on existing research on female action heroes, the research asks: ‘to what degree can the claim of Katniss as boundary-breaking, feminist hero be validated’? This question is addressed through a textual analysis of the four films of The Hunger Games film franchise, employing conventions of action-adventure genre, narrative analysis, mise-en-scène and cinematography to unmask the characterisation of the female hero. The discussion of the findings, utilising the themes of Love, Violence and Power, reveal both progressive and regressive elements present in the characterisation of Katniss. The findings indicate that while female action heroes can be celebrated for displaying progressive moments of liberated action, they remain constrained within dominant heteronormative gender roles in commercial Hollywood films, undergoing various acts of transformation and recuperation as a means of containing the threat of their transgressive behaviour.
- Full Text:
- Date Issued: 2020
An initial investigation into biological control options for Schinus terebinthifolia in South Africa
- Magengelele, Nwabisa Laurencia
- Authors: Magengelele, Nwabisa Laurencia
- Date: 2020
- Subjects: Anacardiaceae -- Biological control -- South Africa , Plants, Ornamental -- South Africa , Invasive plants -- Biological control -- South Africa , Insects as biological pest control agents -- South Africa , Brazilian pepper tree -- Biological control -- South Africa
- Language: English
- Type: text , Thesis , Masters , MSc
- Identifier: http://hdl.handle.net/10962/103835 , vital:32306
- Description: Schinus terebinthifolia Raddi (Anacardiaceae) (Brazilian pepper tree) is a native tree to subtropical South America that was introduced into South Africa as an ornamental plant. Globally, it is regarded as one of the world’s worst invasive trees. In South Africa, this aggressive pioneer species is becoming increasingly problematic and is being considered as a target for biological control. In South Africa the tree has acquired a native seed-feeding wasp, Megastigmus transvaalensis Hussey (Hymenoptera: Torymidae). The wasp’s native hosts are indigenous Rhus species (Anacardiaceae), but it has expanded its host range to form a new association with both S. terebinthifolia and its close relative S. molle L. (Anacardiaceae). In order to quantify the seed predation by M. transvaalensis on S. terebinthifolia seeds, tree populations were surveyed across the Eastern Cape and KwaZulu-Natal provinces. The wasp was present at 99% of the S. terebinthifolia populations with an average of 22% of the seeds being destroyed. In the Eastern Cape Province, the highest seed damage occurred at the start of the winter months, when about 35% of seeds were damaged. This fell to less than 12% in spring and summer when the plants were flowering. Megastigmus transvaalensis may have slowed the rate of spread of the plant, but it is unlikely to reduce population sizes of S. terebinthifolia in South Africa in the long-term. Biological control efforts can be assisted by knowing the origin and invasion history of the target species. Genetic analyses are often the only way to elucidate the invasion history of invasive alien plants because it is rare to find detailed records of plant introductions. Both microsatellite and chloroplast DNA analysis were conducted on S. terebinthifolia trees from the plant’s introduced distribution in South Africa and both Florida and Hawaii, USA. These samples were compared to plants from the native distribution of South America. The analysis indicated that the S. terebinthifolia in South Africa was most likely sourced from the state of Rio de Janeiro in Brazil, which is the same source of the invasive populations in Florida and Hawaii. Importantly, the South African populations were all found to be “haplotype A”. Plants samples collected from Hawaii USA were the closest match to the South African plants. Biological control agents known to damage haplotype A which have been considered for use in Hawaii and Florida should therefore be prioritised for South Africa. Schinus terebinthifolia has a broad distribution in South Africa; however, the majority of the current distribution is limited to the coastal regions along the eastern coast in KwaZulu-Natal Province. This suggests that the species may be climatically limited. Species distribution models in MaxEnt were used to predict the suitable ecological niche of the species. Using occurrence localities from both the native and invaded range to calibrate the models resulted in 56% of the modelled areas being considered suitable for the growth of S. terebinthifolia in South Africa. This included areas in the Eastern Cape, Western Cape and Limpopo provinces. When the models were calibrated using just the native range data, or just the invaded range data, predicted distributions were more restricted and limited to the coastal areas of the Eastern Cape and KwaZulu-Natal provinces. The coastal areas between Florianopolis and Santos in Brazil were highlighted as the most climatically similar to the invasive populations of S. terebinthifolia in South Africa. These areas should be prioritised if native range surveys for potential biological control agents are conducted in South America. Although the native seed-feeding wasp is damaging to S. terebinthifolia in South Africa, the tree is still not under suitable levels of biological control and is likely to spread and increase in density. New biological control agents are therefore required. Genetic and climatic matching has determined where the most appropriate region to collect new potential biological control agents is. The genetic matching data has also indicated that biological control agents that have been released, or are being considered for release, in Hawaii and Florida, are likely to be suitable for the South African plants because they have been shown to be damaging to ‘haplotype A’. These agents should therefore be the first to be considered for release in South Africa.
- Full Text:
- Date Issued: 2020
An initial investigation into biological control options for Schinus terebinthifolia in South Africa
- Authors: Magengelele, Nwabisa Laurencia
- Date: 2020
- Subjects: Anacardiaceae -- Biological control -- South Africa , Plants, Ornamental -- South Africa , Invasive plants -- Biological control -- South Africa , Insects as biological pest control agents -- South Africa , Brazilian pepper tree -- Biological control -- South Africa
- Language: English
- Type: text , Thesis , Masters , MSc
- Identifier: http://hdl.handle.net/10962/103835 , vital:32306
- Description: Schinus terebinthifolia Raddi (Anacardiaceae) (Brazilian pepper tree) is a native tree to subtropical South America that was introduced into South Africa as an ornamental plant. Globally, it is regarded as one of the world’s worst invasive trees. In South Africa, this aggressive pioneer species is becoming increasingly problematic and is being considered as a target for biological control. In South Africa the tree has acquired a native seed-feeding wasp, Megastigmus transvaalensis Hussey (Hymenoptera: Torymidae). The wasp’s native hosts are indigenous Rhus species (Anacardiaceae), but it has expanded its host range to form a new association with both S. terebinthifolia and its close relative S. molle L. (Anacardiaceae). In order to quantify the seed predation by M. transvaalensis on S. terebinthifolia seeds, tree populations were surveyed across the Eastern Cape and KwaZulu-Natal provinces. The wasp was present at 99% of the S. terebinthifolia populations with an average of 22% of the seeds being destroyed. In the Eastern Cape Province, the highest seed damage occurred at the start of the winter months, when about 35% of seeds were damaged. This fell to less than 12% in spring and summer when the plants were flowering. Megastigmus transvaalensis may have slowed the rate of spread of the plant, but it is unlikely to reduce population sizes of S. terebinthifolia in South Africa in the long-term. Biological control efforts can be assisted by knowing the origin and invasion history of the target species. Genetic analyses are often the only way to elucidate the invasion history of invasive alien plants because it is rare to find detailed records of plant introductions. Both microsatellite and chloroplast DNA analysis were conducted on S. terebinthifolia trees from the plant’s introduced distribution in South Africa and both Florida and Hawaii, USA. These samples were compared to plants from the native distribution of South America. The analysis indicated that the S. terebinthifolia in South Africa was most likely sourced from the state of Rio de Janeiro in Brazil, which is the same source of the invasive populations in Florida and Hawaii. Importantly, the South African populations were all found to be “haplotype A”. Plants samples collected from Hawaii USA were the closest match to the South African plants. Biological control agents known to damage haplotype A which have been considered for use in Hawaii and Florida should therefore be prioritised for South Africa. Schinus terebinthifolia has a broad distribution in South Africa; however, the majority of the current distribution is limited to the coastal regions along the eastern coast in KwaZulu-Natal Province. This suggests that the species may be climatically limited. Species distribution models in MaxEnt were used to predict the suitable ecological niche of the species. Using occurrence localities from both the native and invaded range to calibrate the models resulted in 56% of the modelled areas being considered suitable for the growth of S. terebinthifolia in South Africa. This included areas in the Eastern Cape, Western Cape and Limpopo provinces. When the models were calibrated using just the native range data, or just the invaded range data, predicted distributions were more restricted and limited to the coastal areas of the Eastern Cape and KwaZulu-Natal provinces. The coastal areas between Florianopolis and Santos in Brazil were highlighted as the most climatically similar to the invasive populations of S. terebinthifolia in South Africa. These areas should be prioritised if native range surveys for potential biological control agents are conducted in South America. Although the native seed-feeding wasp is damaging to S. terebinthifolia in South Africa, the tree is still not under suitable levels of biological control and is likely to spread and increase in density. New biological control agents are therefore required. Genetic and climatic matching has determined where the most appropriate region to collect new potential biological control agents is. The genetic matching data has also indicated that biological control agents that have been released, or are being considered for release, in Hawaii and Florida, are likely to be suitable for the South African plants because they have been shown to be damaging to ‘haplotype A’. These agents should therefore be the first to be considered for release in South Africa.
- Full Text:
- Date Issued: 2020
An integrative approach to understanding vulnerability of an alpine range-restricted bird to climate warming
- Authors: Oswald, Krista Natasha
- Date: 2020
- Subjects: Passeriformes -- South Africa -- Western Cape , Passeriformes -- Physiology -- South Africa -- Western Cape , Passeriformes -- Behavior -- Climatic factors -- South Africa -- Western Cape , Passeriformes -- Reproduction -- Climatic factors -- South Africa -- Western Cape , Passeriformes -- Dispersal -- South Africa -- Western Cape , Passeriformes -- Food -- South Africa -- Western Cape , Passeriformes -- Nests-- South Africa -- Western Cape , Blue Hill Nature Reserve , Cape Rockjumper -- Climatic factors , Chaetops frenatus
- Language: English
- Type: Thesis , Doctoral , PhD
- Identifier: http://hdl.handle.net/10962/148517 , vital:38746
- Description: Understanding species' vulnerability to climate change requires an integrative ecological approach involving, at minimum, physiology, behaviour, reproductive success, and limitations on dispersal. In this thesis I determined potential negative effects of increasing temperatures on behaviour, reproduction, and ability to disperse in an alpine-restricted bird, the Cape Rockjumper Chaetops frenatus ("Rockjumper"). Here I provide a comprehensive ecological set of data for understanding the link between Rockjumper population declines and warming habitats. I tested whether Rockjumper microsite-use at high temperatures resulted in decreased time spent on important behaviours, such as foraging. I found Rockjumpers made increased use of rock-shade as air temperature increased and so spent less time panting, but birds in rock-shade foraged less. Birds may be constrained to foraging in sun at high temperatures to sustain energy or water requirements, despite risks of high thermal load, or else face lost foraging opportunities by remaining in rock-shade. I determined if adult nest attendance and causes of nest failure were related to high temperatures. I filmed nests over two breeding seasons to examine temperature-effects on adult time in nests, provisioning rate, and resultant nestling daily mass gain. The only temperature effect I found was decreased percent daily change in body mass for older nestlings at hotter temperatures. I also examined causes of nest failure over three breeding seasons in relation to nest concealment and habitat openness by observing failure/success. Nests in more open territories (i.e. early post-fire habitat) had greater success, and the main cause of predation came from Boomslang Dispholydus typus. Importantly, the probability of Boomslang predation increased significantly at hotter temperatures. These findings show there may be direct negative effects of increasing temperatures on reproductive success and population recruitment, and so hotter temperature during the breeding season may be at least partly responsible for observed population declines. Lastly, I examined genetic structure of populations across mountain ranges separated from one another by lowland habitat unsuitable for Rockjumpers. I predicted I would find little evidence for dispersal between mountain ranges separated by unsuitable lowland habitat, but instead found Rockjumpers show little evidence for inbreeding. I also found evidence for a past bottleneck event or founder effect, and little overall genetic diversity (possibly as their specialized niche exerts selective pressure). Low diversity may limit Rockjumpers' ability to adapt to a changing environment. Adult physiological and behavioural thresholds to increasing temperatures are often used to create predictions of climate change effects. My past physiological research and current behavioural research suggest no particularly strong evidence that temperature-related population declines are driven by poor physiological capacity to tolerate heat or negative behaviour trade-offs. Instead, my current research shows that understanding negative effects of increasing temperatures may require a more in-depth approach involving investigation of fine-scale ecological interactions. No single one of my chapters provides the insight necessary for understanding Rockjumper population declines at warming temperatures. Instead, I show how an integrative approach may be necessary for assessing species' vulnerability to climate change by examining multiple ecological aspects of a single sentinel species, using an alpine species with a narrow thermal range and highly specialized habitat niche.
- Full Text:
- Date Issued: 2020
- Authors: Oswald, Krista Natasha
- Date: 2020
- Subjects: Passeriformes -- South Africa -- Western Cape , Passeriformes -- Physiology -- South Africa -- Western Cape , Passeriformes -- Behavior -- Climatic factors -- South Africa -- Western Cape , Passeriformes -- Reproduction -- Climatic factors -- South Africa -- Western Cape , Passeriformes -- Dispersal -- South Africa -- Western Cape , Passeriformes -- Food -- South Africa -- Western Cape , Passeriformes -- Nests-- South Africa -- Western Cape , Blue Hill Nature Reserve , Cape Rockjumper -- Climatic factors , Chaetops frenatus
- Language: English
- Type: Thesis , Doctoral , PhD
- Identifier: http://hdl.handle.net/10962/148517 , vital:38746
- Description: Understanding species' vulnerability to climate change requires an integrative ecological approach involving, at minimum, physiology, behaviour, reproductive success, and limitations on dispersal. In this thesis I determined potential negative effects of increasing temperatures on behaviour, reproduction, and ability to disperse in an alpine-restricted bird, the Cape Rockjumper Chaetops frenatus ("Rockjumper"). Here I provide a comprehensive ecological set of data for understanding the link between Rockjumper population declines and warming habitats. I tested whether Rockjumper microsite-use at high temperatures resulted in decreased time spent on important behaviours, such as foraging. I found Rockjumpers made increased use of rock-shade as air temperature increased and so spent less time panting, but birds in rock-shade foraged less. Birds may be constrained to foraging in sun at high temperatures to sustain energy or water requirements, despite risks of high thermal load, or else face lost foraging opportunities by remaining in rock-shade. I determined if adult nest attendance and causes of nest failure were related to high temperatures. I filmed nests over two breeding seasons to examine temperature-effects on adult time in nests, provisioning rate, and resultant nestling daily mass gain. The only temperature effect I found was decreased percent daily change in body mass for older nestlings at hotter temperatures. I also examined causes of nest failure over three breeding seasons in relation to nest concealment and habitat openness by observing failure/success. Nests in more open territories (i.e. early post-fire habitat) had greater success, and the main cause of predation came from Boomslang Dispholydus typus. Importantly, the probability of Boomslang predation increased significantly at hotter temperatures. These findings show there may be direct negative effects of increasing temperatures on reproductive success and population recruitment, and so hotter temperature during the breeding season may be at least partly responsible for observed population declines. Lastly, I examined genetic structure of populations across mountain ranges separated from one another by lowland habitat unsuitable for Rockjumpers. I predicted I would find little evidence for dispersal between mountain ranges separated by unsuitable lowland habitat, but instead found Rockjumpers show little evidence for inbreeding. I also found evidence for a past bottleneck event or founder effect, and little overall genetic diversity (possibly as their specialized niche exerts selective pressure). Low diversity may limit Rockjumpers' ability to adapt to a changing environment. Adult physiological and behavioural thresholds to increasing temperatures are often used to create predictions of climate change effects. My past physiological research and current behavioural research suggest no particularly strong evidence that temperature-related population declines are driven by poor physiological capacity to tolerate heat or negative behaviour trade-offs. Instead, my current research shows that understanding negative effects of increasing temperatures may require a more in-depth approach involving investigation of fine-scale ecological interactions. No single one of my chapters provides the insight necessary for understanding Rockjumper population declines at warming temperatures. Instead, I show how an integrative approach may be necessary for assessing species' vulnerability to climate change by examining multiple ecological aspects of a single sentinel species, using an alpine species with a narrow thermal range and highly specialized habitat niche.
- Full Text:
- Date Issued: 2020
An intervention on supporting teachers’ understanding of and mediation of learning of stoichiometry in selected schools in the Zambezi Region
- Authors: Denuga, Desalu Dedayo
- Date: 2020
- Subjects: Stoichiometry -- Study and teaching (Secondary) -- Namibia , Chemistry -- Study and teaching (Secondary) -- Namibia , Participant observation -- Namibia , Constructivism (Education) -- Namibia , Pedagogical content knowledge -- Namibia , Continuing education -- Namibia , Teachers -- In-service training -- Namibia
- Language: English
- Type: text , Thesis , Doctoral , PhD
- Identifier: http://hdl.handle.net/10962/103855 , vital:32315
- Description: This study has been triggered by the results on stoichiometry questions in the Directorate of Namibian Examination Assessment’s (DNEA) scripts. As highlighted in the examiners’ reports, stoichiometry is an ongoing annual problem for most students in Namibia. It is against this background that I decided to explore the possibility of an intervention in the form of continuing professional development (CPD) and collaboration workshops to improve the understanding and the mediation of learning of stoichiometry by Physical Science teachers in the Zambezi Region of Namibia. The study was underpinned by an interpretive paradigm and within this paradigm a qualitative case study approach was adopted. Since this study was in a form of an intervention, a participatory action research (PAR) approach was employed within the community of practice (CoP). I used document analysis, workshop discussions, observations and videotaped lessons, interviews (semi-structured and stimulated recall interviews) and reflections to gather data. The study was carried out at three senior secondary schools and six Physical Science teachers were involved. The study drew on the theory of constructivism as a theoretical framework, namely, Piaget’s cognitive constructivism and Vygotsky‘s social constructivism as well as Shulman’s pedagogical content knowledge (PCK). Within PCK, Mavhunga and Rollnick’s Topic Specific Pedagogical Content Knowledge (TSPCK) was used as an analytical lens (Appendix L) in this study. The findings reveal that the use of a diagnostic test on learners made the Physical Science teachers aware of the learners’ challenges and what was difficult for them to understand in stoichiometry. It also helped in their understanding of the use of prior knowledge, one of the tenets of TSPCK, to access what learners knew about stoichiometry. Further findings of the study illuminate that the Physical Science teachers’ subject matter knowledge, pedagogical content knowledge and skills had shifted as a result of their participation in the intervention workshops. The findings of this study indicate that the CoP members acquired the professional transformations which were important breakthroughs in their careers. The study thus recommends that teachers should develop effective teacher professional development activities such as study teams, exemplary lessons, cluster teaching, and peer coaching where teachers are expected to examine their assumptions and practices continuously. The implication of my study is that the developed exemplary lesson during the intervention workshops by CoP members could be useful to other Physical Science teachers in the teaching of stoichiometry in all the schools in the Zambezi Region.
- Full Text:
- Date Issued: 2020
- Authors: Denuga, Desalu Dedayo
- Date: 2020
- Subjects: Stoichiometry -- Study and teaching (Secondary) -- Namibia , Chemistry -- Study and teaching (Secondary) -- Namibia , Participant observation -- Namibia , Constructivism (Education) -- Namibia , Pedagogical content knowledge -- Namibia , Continuing education -- Namibia , Teachers -- In-service training -- Namibia
- Language: English
- Type: text , Thesis , Doctoral , PhD
- Identifier: http://hdl.handle.net/10962/103855 , vital:32315
- Description: This study has been triggered by the results on stoichiometry questions in the Directorate of Namibian Examination Assessment’s (DNEA) scripts. As highlighted in the examiners’ reports, stoichiometry is an ongoing annual problem for most students in Namibia. It is against this background that I decided to explore the possibility of an intervention in the form of continuing professional development (CPD) and collaboration workshops to improve the understanding and the mediation of learning of stoichiometry by Physical Science teachers in the Zambezi Region of Namibia. The study was underpinned by an interpretive paradigm and within this paradigm a qualitative case study approach was adopted. Since this study was in a form of an intervention, a participatory action research (PAR) approach was employed within the community of practice (CoP). I used document analysis, workshop discussions, observations and videotaped lessons, interviews (semi-structured and stimulated recall interviews) and reflections to gather data. The study was carried out at three senior secondary schools and six Physical Science teachers were involved. The study drew on the theory of constructivism as a theoretical framework, namely, Piaget’s cognitive constructivism and Vygotsky‘s social constructivism as well as Shulman’s pedagogical content knowledge (PCK). Within PCK, Mavhunga and Rollnick’s Topic Specific Pedagogical Content Knowledge (TSPCK) was used as an analytical lens (Appendix L) in this study. The findings reveal that the use of a diagnostic test on learners made the Physical Science teachers aware of the learners’ challenges and what was difficult for them to understand in stoichiometry. It also helped in their understanding of the use of prior knowledge, one of the tenets of TSPCK, to access what learners knew about stoichiometry. Further findings of the study illuminate that the Physical Science teachers’ subject matter knowledge, pedagogical content knowledge and skills had shifted as a result of their participation in the intervention workshops. The findings of this study indicate that the CoP members acquired the professional transformations which were important breakthroughs in their careers. The study thus recommends that teachers should develop effective teacher professional development activities such as study teams, exemplary lessons, cluster teaching, and peer coaching where teachers are expected to examine their assumptions and practices continuously. The implication of my study is that the developed exemplary lesson during the intervention workshops by CoP members could be useful to other Physical Science teachers in the teaching of stoichiometry in all the schools in the Zambezi Region.
- Full Text:
- Date Issued: 2020
An investigation into the application of Distributed Endpoint Processing to 3D Immersive Audio Rendering
- Authors: Devonport, Robin Sean
- Date: 2020
- Subjects: Uncatalogued
- Language: English
- Type: thesis , text , Masters , MSc
- Identifier: http://hdl.handle.net/10962/163258 , vital:41022
- Description: Thesis (MSc)--Rhodes University, Faculty of Science, Computer Science, 2020.
- Full Text:
- Date Issued: 2020
- Authors: Devonport, Robin Sean
- Date: 2020
- Subjects: Uncatalogued
- Language: English
- Type: thesis , text , Masters , MSc
- Identifier: http://hdl.handle.net/10962/163258 , vital:41022
- Description: Thesis (MSc)--Rhodes University, Faculty of Science, Computer Science, 2020.
- Full Text:
- Date Issued: 2020