A poverty alleviation project of the Department of Social Development in Nelson Mandela Bay
- Authors: Veveza, Nonkosazana Sandra
- Date: 2013
- Subjects: Poverty -- Economic aspects -- South Africa -- Nelson Mandela Bay Municipality , Economic development projects -- South Africa -- Nelson Mandela Bay Municipality
- Language: English
- Type: Thesis , Masters , MA
- Identifier: vital:9200 , http://hdl.handle.net/10948/d1020401
- Description: Income-generating projects represent one strategy adopted by the Eastern Cape Department of Social Development (DoSD) to alleviate poverty. The purpose of this study was to evaluate the impact of an income-generating, or poverty alleviation, project funded by the DoSD in New Brighton, Port Elizabeth, in the Eastern Cape Province of South Africa. A sample of ten respondents was drawn from the project. The sampling method of this study was purposive sampling. Data was gathered through semi-structured questionnaires. Related literature focusing on income-generating projects for poverty alleviation was reviewed. Various recommendations have been made, based on the findings of the study. The findings of the study indicated the need for regular visits from Department officials to conduct monitoring and evaluation. Project members also need training in financial management as they cannot manage their finances. The research findings indicated clearly that strategies used by the Department were not effective enough to achieve the desired goals of an income-generating project.
- Full Text:
- Date Issued: 2013
- Authors: Veveza, Nonkosazana Sandra
- Date: 2013
- Subjects: Poverty -- Economic aspects -- South Africa -- Nelson Mandela Bay Municipality , Economic development projects -- South Africa -- Nelson Mandela Bay Municipality
- Language: English
- Type: Thesis , Masters , MA
- Identifier: vital:9200 , http://hdl.handle.net/10948/d1020401
- Description: Income-generating projects represent one strategy adopted by the Eastern Cape Department of Social Development (DoSD) to alleviate poverty. The purpose of this study was to evaluate the impact of an income-generating, or poverty alleviation, project funded by the DoSD in New Brighton, Port Elizabeth, in the Eastern Cape Province of South Africa. A sample of ten respondents was drawn from the project. The sampling method of this study was purposive sampling. Data was gathered through semi-structured questionnaires. Related literature focusing on income-generating projects for poverty alleviation was reviewed. Various recommendations have been made, based on the findings of the study. The findings of the study indicated the need for regular visits from Department officials to conduct monitoring and evaluation. Project members also need training in financial management as they cannot manage their finances. The research findings indicated clearly that strategies used by the Department were not effective enough to achieve the desired goals of an income-generating project.
- Full Text:
- Date Issued: 2013
A process assessment framework for rural ICT projects in developing countries: an exploration of the Siyakhula Living Lab, South Africa
- Authors: Osah, Umeoniso Joshua
- Date: 2013
- Subjects: Siyakhula Living Lab Information technology -- South Africa -- Eastern Cape Rural development projects -- South Africa -- Eastern Cape Rural development projects -- Evaluation -- South Africa -- Eastern Cape Communication in economic development -- South Africa -- Eastern Cape
- Language: English
- Type: Thesis , Masters , MSc
- Identifier: vital:1133 , http://hdl.handle.net/10962/d1001623
- Description: Rural development can be supported by information and knowledge which are key strategic resources for socio economic development. ICTs enable the facilitation and communication of information between remotely dispersed individuals or groups and more developed regions. While it has become common place that ICTs possess capabilities to potentially support rural development, the concept of ICT for development (ICT4D) is still fraught with challenges and barriers, which impede the success and sustainability of ICT4D projects. It is therefore essential to evaluate rural ICT projects, as such an analysis may aid in revealing information related to the need, effectiveness, impact, and sustainability of these projects. This research seeks to further the implementation and exploration of the Rural ICT Comprehensive Evaluation Framework (RICT-CEF), through the application of the Process Assessment domain in a real life rural ICT project environment. The RICT-CEF framework consisting of 7 evaluation domains has the primary objective of evaluating rural ICT projects from their inception stages to post implementation. A process assessment seeks to determine whether or not a rural ICT project is operating to implement its intended functions in the intended way specified in the projects plan. Such an assessment is invaluable to a comprehensive evaluation. Evaluation questions for a process assessment are centred around critical themes of project performance. Critical themes are aspects of a programme or projects implementation which must be enacted in order to achieve desired project outcomes. This research study is aimed at identifying critical themes of process assessment relevant to rural ICT4D projects. To identify critical themes, assessment approaches on social programme process assessments, evaluation of information systems in use, and rural ICT4D project evaluation case studies are comparatively analysed. Fourteen assessment approaches from these three categories are selected based on criteria. To analyse selected assessment approaches, a template is created based on the research questions, foundational literature on process assessment and identified challenges applicable to process assessments of rural ICT4D projects. Comparing and contrasting critical themes from these assessment approaches highlight critical themes essential to assess in the iterative implementation phase of rural ICT projects. Accentuated critical themes include, service utilization, organizational function and external project factors. These themes, along with suggested guiding principles from literature for conducting process assessments enable the creation of a framework for conducting process assessments of rural ICT projects. The framework is labelled "the Rural ICT Project Process Assessment Framework (RICTP-PAF)". The application of the RICTP-PAF in a real life rural ICT project through a design science case study provides lessons learned (suitability and shortcomings) from applying the framework. This essentially demonstrates the sensitivity of the RICTP-PAF to rural contexts in which it is implemented in. For instance, the implemented prototype of the RICTP-PAF reveals that the framework places a great deal of emphasis on rural beneficiary perspectives. A practice which has been lacking in such evaluation exercises. Furthermore, the guiding principles elucidated, bring to mind best practices to deal with issues such as stakeholder conflict, unreliable data elicitation and unethical assessment practices. The RICTP-PAF represents a fundamental tool for process assessments of rural ICT projects, and may be adopted and customized to various rural ICT project contexts in developing countries.
- Full Text:
- Date Issued: 2013
- Authors: Osah, Umeoniso Joshua
- Date: 2013
- Subjects: Siyakhula Living Lab Information technology -- South Africa -- Eastern Cape Rural development projects -- South Africa -- Eastern Cape Rural development projects -- Evaluation -- South Africa -- Eastern Cape Communication in economic development -- South Africa -- Eastern Cape
- Language: English
- Type: Thesis , Masters , MSc
- Identifier: vital:1133 , http://hdl.handle.net/10962/d1001623
- Description: Rural development can be supported by information and knowledge which are key strategic resources for socio economic development. ICTs enable the facilitation and communication of information between remotely dispersed individuals or groups and more developed regions. While it has become common place that ICTs possess capabilities to potentially support rural development, the concept of ICT for development (ICT4D) is still fraught with challenges and barriers, which impede the success and sustainability of ICT4D projects. It is therefore essential to evaluate rural ICT projects, as such an analysis may aid in revealing information related to the need, effectiveness, impact, and sustainability of these projects. This research seeks to further the implementation and exploration of the Rural ICT Comprehensive Evaluation Framework (RICT-CEF), through the application of the Process Assessment domain in a real life rural ICT project environment. The RICT-CEF framework consisting of 7 evaluation domains has the primary objective of evaluating rural ICT projects from their inception stages to post implementation. A process assessment seeks to determine whether or not a rural ICT project is operating to implement its intended functions in the intended way specified in the projects plan. Such an assessment is invaluable to a comprehensive evaluation. Evaluation questions for a process assessment are centred around critical themes of project performance. Critical themes are aspects of a programme or projects implementation which must be enacted in order to achieve desired project outcomes. This research study is aimed at identifying critical themes of process assessment relevant to rural ICT4D projects. To identify critical themes, assessment approaches on social programme process assessments, evaluation of information systems in use, and rural ICT4D project evaluation case studies are comparatively analysed. Fourteen assessment approaches from these three categories are selected based on criteria. To analyse selected assessment approaches, a template is created based on the research questions, foundational literature on process assessment and identified challenges applicable to process assessments of rural ICT4D projects. Comparing and contrasting critical themes from these assessment approaches highlight critical themes essential to assess in the iterative implementation phase of rural ICT projects. Accentuated critical themes include, service utilization, organizational function and external project factors. These themes, along with suggested guiding principles from literature for conducting process assessments enable the creation of a framework for conducting process assessments of rural ICT projects. The framework is labelled "the Rural ICT Project Process Assessment Framework (RICTP-PAF)". The application of the RICTP-PAF in a real life rural ICT project through a design science case study provides lessons learned (suitability and shortcomings) from applying the framework. This essentially demonstrates the sensitivity of the RICTP-PAF to rural contexts in which it is implemented in. For instance, the implemented prototype of the RICTP-PAF reveals that the framework places a great deal of emphasis on rural beneficiary perspectives. A practice which has been lacking in such evaluation exercises. Furthermore, the guiding principles elucidated, bring to mind best practices to deal with issues such as stakeholder conflict, unreliable data elicitation and unethical assessment practices. The RICTP-PAF represents a fundamental tool for process assessments of rural ICT projects, and may be adopted and customized to various rural ICT project contexts in developing countries.
- Full Text:
- Date Issued: 2013
A psychobiographical study of Ellen Kuzwayo
- Authors: Arosi, Ziyanda
- Date: 2013
- Subjects: Kuzwayo, Ellen , Psychology -- Biographical methods , Life cycle, Human , Women, Black -- South Africa -- Social conditions
- Language: English
- Type: Thesis , Masters , MA
- Identifier: vital:9894 , http://hdl.handle.net/10948/d1008658 , Kuzwayo, Ellen , Psychology -- Biographical methods , Life cycle, Human , Women, Black -- South Africa -- Social conditions
- Description: The current study is a psychobiography. The subject was chosen through purposive sampling based on the researcher’s personal interest and the remarkable impact this woman had within her society. Ellen Kuzwayo also meets the requirements of a psychobiography in that she is historically well known, inspirational, and her life has been completed. The study applies a qualitative research method in the form of a psychobiography, which aimed to describe Ellen Kuzwayo`s life accordingto Daniel Levinson`s Life Structure Theory of Adult Development. Levinson`s theory divides the lifespan into four developmental eras, each with its own biopsychosocial character. Each era in turn is divided into shorter periods of development. Levinson`s theory was chosenbecause it is specifically relevant to the development of women. The findings of the study indicate that Kuzwayo’s life was consistent with the pattern of development which Levinson (1996) identified. Kuzwayo was relatively successful in resolving the life tasks and transitional periods proposed by Levinson. This research study has given a positive demonstration of the value of development theory to investigate a particular human life. Furthermore, it emphasized the uniqueness of individuals in coping with the challenges of life. As a result it has opened up the possibility of perceiving people and their actions in a different way. Consequently, recommendations are offered in order to extend psychobiographical research on the life of Ellen Kuzwayo.
- Full Text:
- Date Issued: 2013
- Authors: Arosi, Ziyanda
- Date: 2013
- Subjects: Kuzwayo, Ellen , Psychology -- Biographical methods , Life cycle, Human , Women, Black -- South Africa -- Social conditions
- Language: English
- Type: Thesis , Masters , MA
- Identifier: vital:9894 , http://hdl.handle.net/10948/d1008658 , Kuzwayo, Ellen , Psychology -- Biographical methods , Life cycle, Human , Women, Black -- South Africa -- Social conditions
- Description: The current study is a psychobiography. The subject was chosen through purposive sampling based on the researcher’s personal interest and the remarkable impact this woman had within her society. Ellen Kuzwayo also meets the requirements of a psychobiography in that she is historically well known, inspirational, and her life has been completed. The study applies a qualitative research method in the form of a psychobiography, which aimed to describe Ellen Kuzwayo`s life accordingto Daniel Levinson`s Life Structure Theory of Adult Development. Levinson`s theory divides the lifespan into four developmental eras, each with its own biopsychosocial character. Each era in turn is divided into shorter periods of development. Levinson`s theory was chosenbecause it is specifically relevant to the development of women. The findings of the study indicate that Kuzwayo’s life was consistent with the pattern of development which Levinson (1996) identified. Kuzwayo was relatively successful in resolving the life tasks and transitional periods proposed by Levinson. This research study has given a positive demonstration of the value of development theory to investigate a particular human life. Furthermore, it emphasized the uniqueness of individuals in coping with the challenges of life. As a result it has opened up the possibility of perceiving people and their actions in a different way. Consequently, recommendations are offered in order to extend psychobiographical research on the life of Ellen Kuzwayo.
- Full Text:
- Date Issued: 2013
A psychobiographical study of Martin Luther King Junior: an Adlerian perspective
- Authors: Twaku, Unathi
- Date: 2013
- Subjects: King, Martin Luther , Adlerian psychology , Psychology -- Biographical methods , Developmental psychology
- Language: English
- Type: Thesis , Masters , MA
- Identifier: vital:9967 , http://hdl.handle.net/10948/d1020900
- Description: Martin Luther King Junior was an advocate of non-violent social change strategies; he was a pastor, an author, the first president of the southern Christian leadership conference, a speaker, a Nobel Prize winner, and a leader. Martin Luther King junior was transformed by his deep family roots in the African American Baptist church. His formative experiences in his hometown of Atlanta were his theological studies, his varied models of religious and political leadership and his extensive network of contacts in the peace and social justice movements of his time. Although only 39 at the time of his death, Martin Luther King juniors’ life was remarkable for the ways it reflected and inspired so many of the twentieth century’s major intellectual, cultural and political developments. The primary aim of this study was to explore and describe the psychological development across the lifespan of Martin Luther King junior, by applying Alfred Adler’s theory of individual psychology. Martin Luther King junior’s life was explored in this study through systematic collection, analysis and interpretation of the historic data on his life, which highlighted seven significant historical periods: (a) Childhood and adolescence (1929 – 1944), (b)The inevitable (1944 – 1948), (c) The Purpose in his Destiny (1948 – 1951), (d) Family and mission (1952 – 1959), (e) Movement against segregation (1960 – 1963), (f) History is made (1963 – 1967), and (g) Unfinished business (1968). Adler’s framework was used to recognize, convert and reconstruct his life into a coherent narrative of his psychological development throughout his life. Alexander’s guidelines for extracting salient data was utilised to ensure accurate description of Martin Luther King junior’s life. A conceptual framework that is the Adlerian Matrix was included in the study as guide in presenting the research discussion and findings in an illuminating and integrative manner. The research discussion and findings suggested that Adler’s theoretical framework considers the biopsychosocial, cultural and historic influences in Martin Luther King junior’s personality development. In taking the context into consideration, Adler’s individual psychology identified King junior with a social useful lifestyle because of his high social interest which influenced his striving for superiority. This lifestyle guided his fictional goal which was selfless and aimed at contributing to the wellbeing of others. The private logic about himself, others and the world, which is developed in early childhood, was a positive navigator for the development of his personality and lifestyle. Thus according to the Adlerian theory, King junior could positively balance the resolution of the life tasks of occupation, social and love & marriage. The study of King junior’s personality development has provided an affirmative demonstration of the value of Adler’s psychological theory to understand the process of personality development in an individual life. It has highlighted the value of studying an individual life taking his context, including early experiences, family environment and every action, into consideration to understand the uniqueness of responding to life tasks and his perceptions. Recommendations were made for future research undertakings using psychobiographical research design and methodology to reveal, illuminate and reconstruct the lives of historic personalities
- Full Text:
- Date Issued: 2013
- Authors: Twaku, Unathi
- Date: 2013
- Subjects: King, Martin Luther , Adlerian psychology , Psychology -- Biographical methods , Developmental psychology
- Language: English
- Type: Thesis , Masters , MA
- Identifier: vital:9967 , http://hdl.handle.net/10948/d1020900
- Description: Martin Luther King Junior was an advocate of non-violent social change strategies; he was a pastor, an author, the first president of the southern Christian leadership conference, a speaker, a Nobel Prize winner, and a leader. Martin Luther King junior was transformed by his deep family roots in the African American Baptist church. His formative experiences in his hometown of Atlanta were his theological studies, his varied models of religious and political leadership and his extensive network of contacts in the peace and social justice movements of his time. Although only 39 at the time of his death, Martin Luther King juniors’ life was remarkable for the ways it reflected and inspired so many of the twentieth century’s major intellectual, cultural and political developments. The primary aim of this study was to explore and describe the psychological development across the lifespan of Martin Luther King junior, by applying Alfred Adler’s theory of individual psychology. Martin Luther King junior’s life was explored in this study through systematic collection, analysis and interpretation of the historic data on his life, which highlighted seven significant historical periods: (a) Childhood and adolescence (1929 – 1944), (b)The inevitable (1944 – 1948), (c) The Purpose in his Destiny (1948 – 1951), (d) Family and mission (1952 – 1959), (e) Movement against segregation (1960 – 1963), (f) History is made (1963 – 1967), and (g) Unfinished business (1968). Adler’s framework was used to recognize, convert and reconstruct his life into a coherent narrative of his psychological development throughout his life. Alexander’s guidelines for extracting salient data was utilised to ensure accurate description of Martin Luther King junior’s life. A conceptual framework that is the Adlerian Matrix was included in the study as guide in presenting the research discussion and findings in an illuminating and integrative manner. The research discussion and findings suggested that Adler’s theoretical framework considers the biopsychosocial, cultural and historic influences in Martin Luther King junior’s personality development. In taking the context into consideration, Adler’s individual psychology identified King junior with a social useful lifestyle because of his high social interest which influenced his striving for superiority. This lifestyle guided his fictional goal which was selfless and aimed at contributing to the wellbeing of others. The private logic about himself, others and the world, which is developed in early childhood, was a positive navigator for the development of his personality and lifestyle. Thus according to the Adlerian theory, King junior could positively balance the resolution of the life tasks of occupation, social and love & marriage. The study of King junior’s personality development has provided an affirmative demonstration of the value of Adler’s psychological theory to understand the process of personality development in an individual life. It has highlighted the value of studying an individual life taking his context, including early experiences, family environment and every action, into consideration to understand the uniqueness of responding to life tasks and his perceptions. Recommendations were made for future research undertakings using psychobiographical research design and methodology to reveal, illuminate and reconstruct the lives of historic personalities
- Full Text:
- Date Issued: 2013
A psychobiographical study of William Wilberforce
- Authors: Daubermann, Bettina Pamela
- Date: 2013
- Subjects: Personality development
- Language: English
- Type: Thesis , Masters , MA
- Identifier: vital:9966 , http://hdl.handle.net/10948/d1020857 , http://hdl.handle.net/10948/d1021085
- Description: The proposed study is of a psychobiographical nature and employs a qualitative research approach. The individual that forms the subject of this study is William Wilberforce. A social activist most of his life, Wilberforce is best known for his voice and works behind the abolition of the slave trade in 1807 and the abolition of slavery in 1833. His ambitious nature, social eloquence and verbal intellect resulted in him being elected as a member of parliament in the House of Commons in England during the period 1780 to 1825. Transformed by the Christian faith in 1885, Wilberforce came to the realization he had received a calling from God to speak up for those who could not with a specific task set out before him which was to abolish slavery. It was the purpose of the present research to explore and describe Wilberforce’s psychological development across his life-span according to Carl Rogers’ (1961) personality theory of optimal development. Salient aspects of Wilberforce’s life were related and compared to components of the theory so as to explore and describe the degree of optimal development that Wilberforce reached at different points in his life and whether he could be described as a fully functioning person. According to Rogers’ theory William Wilberforce was chosen as the research subject for his historical contribution to mankind by his devotion to the moral enhancement of his country.
- Full Text:
- Date Issued: 2013
- Authors: Daubermann, Bettina Pamela
- Date: 2013
- Subjects: Personality development
- Language: English
- Type: Thesis , Masters , MA
- Identifier: vital:9966 , http://hdl.handle.net/10948/d1020857 , http://hdl.handle.net/10948/d1021085
- Description: The proposed study is of a psychobiographical nature and employs a qualitative research approach. The individual that forms the subject of this study is William Wilberforce. A social activist most of his life, Wilberforce is best known for his voice and works behind the abolition of the slave trade in 1807 and the abolition of slavery in 1833. His ambitious nature, social eloquence and verbal intellect resulted in him being elected as a member of parliament in the House of Commons in England during the period 1780 to 1825. Transformed by the Christian faith in 1885, Wilberforce came to the realization he had received a calling from God to speak up for those who could not with a specific task set out before him which was to abolish slavery. It was the purpose of the present research to explore and describe Wilberforce’s psychological development across his life-span according to Carl Rogers’ (1961) personality theory of optimal development. Salient aspects of Wilberforce’s life were related and compared to components of the theory so as to explore and describe the degree of optimal development that Wilberforce reached at different points in his life and whether he could be described as a fully functioning person. According to Rogers’ theory William Wilberforce was chosen as the research subject for his historical contribution to mankind by his devotion to the moral enhancement of his country.
- Full Text:
- Date Issued: 2013
A qualitative evaluation of social work field instruction offered by universities in the Eastern Cape, South Africa
- Authors: Schmidt, Kim
- Date: 2013
- Subjects: Fieldwork (Educational method) -- South Africa -- Eastern Cape , Social service -- Fieldwork -- Study and teaching -- South Africa -- Eastern Cape
- Language: English
- Type: Thesis , Masters , M SW
- Identifier: http://hdl.handle.net/10353/1272 , vital:26541 , Fieldwork (Educational method) -- South Africa -- Eastern Cape , Social service -- Fieldwork -- Study and teaching -- South Africa -- Eastern Cape
- Description: This research study describes an evaluation of social work field instruction offered by universities in the Eastern Cape, South Africa. Qualitative data was collected from agency field instructors, university fieldwork coordinators and social work students. This study’s findings indicated that field instruction needs a good foundation of experiential learning that is facilitated by report writing, journal writing and agency and university supervision. Findings also indicated a need for the screening, selection and training of agency field instructors. There was also an indication that universities should develop selection procedures to ensure that the best possible students are accepted into the Bachelor of Social Work (BSW) programme. All findings indicated that field instruction programmes are most effective when there is a strong university agency partnership. The study concludes by making recommendations for future development of standards relating to field instruction programmes in the Eastern Cape and South Africa. Key words: Social work, evaluative research, field instruction, experiential learning, reflection, agency field instructor, university supervisor, university fieldwork coordinator, social work student, social work education, social work training.
- Full Text:
- Date Issued: 2013
- Authors: Schmidt, Kim
- Date: 2013
- Subjects: Fieldwork (Educational method) -- South Africa -- Eastern Cape , Social service -- Fieldwork -- Study and teaching -- South Africa -- Eastern Cape
- Language: English
- Type: Thesis , Masters , M SW
- Identifier: http://hdl.handle.net/10353/1272 , vital:26541 , Fieldwork (Educational method) -- South Africa -- Eastern Cape , Social service -- Fieldwork -- Study and teaching -- South Africa -- Eastern Cape
- Description: This research study describes an evaluation of social work field instruction offered by universities in the Eastern Cape, South Africa. Qualitative data was collected from agency field instructors, university fieldwork coordinators and social work students. This study’s findings indicated that field instruction needs a good foundation of experiential learning that is facilitated by report writing, journal writing and agency and university supervision. Findings also indicated a need for the screening, selection and training of agency field instructors. There was also an indication that universities should develop selection procedures to ensure that the best possible students are accepted into the Bachelor of Social Work (BSW) programme. All findings indicated that field instruction programmes are most effective when there is a strong university agency partnership. The study concludes by making recommendations for future development of standards relating to field instruction programmes in the Eastern Cape and South Africa. Key words: Social work, evaluative research, field instruction, experiential learning, reflection, agency field instructor, university supervisor, university fieldwork coordinator, social work student, social work education, social work training.
- Full Text:
- Date Issued: 2013
A review of Tribal Armed Conflict Resolution in selected counties in Lakes State, South Sudan
- Authors: Zakaria, John Lat
- Date: 2013
- Language: English
- Type: Thesis , Masters , MPA
- Identifier: vital:11712 , http://hdl.handle.net/10353/d1015247
- Description: This mini-dissertation, aims to review tribal armed conflict resolution in selected Counties in Lakes State, South Sudan. The objectives of the study were to find out the consequences of the tribal armed conflicts on governance and service delivery and strategies to mitigate peace and tribal armed conflict resolution in order to enable development in the selected counties of Lakes state. Quantitative and qualitative data was collected from a sample of three hundred and ten (310) respondents who included the County Commissioners, Judges and Magistrates, Law enforcement officers, local government officers and traditional leaders through questionnaires and interviews. The study sought to review the effects of tribal armed conflicts on service delivery in the selected communities. It further examined conflict resolutions mechanisms and strategies that have been used by various actors and stakeholder to ameliorate tribal armed conflict in Lakes State, South Sudan. The results of the study showed that ethnicity in conflicts in South Sudan has played a significant role and has posed many challenges to scholars, political leaders, appointed public officials and communities alike. Some of the challenges include; tribalism, ethnic conflicts, and struggle over scarce resources. This has often led to rampant underdevelopment, under-representation in governance; unemployment and poverty, among administrative perils and dysfunctions that have subsequently been major drivers of tribal armed conflicts. Many youth who are unemployed are often involved in cattle raiding, hence revenge attacks often lead to frequent tribal armed conflicts. The study recommends that effective and sustainable peace building can be achieved through empowerment of the communities and use of traditional strategies in tribal armed conflict resolution in Lakes State. This is because external players often attempt to engage in peace building activities without seeking sustainable solutions at the grassroots level. Very often conflict resolution has been the preserve of NGOs and diplomats, who have no intimate acquaintance with local contexts. The study suggests that provision of services to the people through sustainable development of the rural areas and through the creation of alternative forms of livelihood, such as jobs, has to engage with and include the youth in economic development, so that tribal armed conflicts are ameliorated.
- Full Text:
- Date Issued: 2013
- Authors: Zakaria, John Lat
- Date: 2013
- Language: English
- Type: Thesis , Masters , MPA
- Identifier: vital:11712 , http://hdl.handle.net/10353/d1015247
- Description: This mini-dissertation, aims to review tribal armed conflict resolution in selected Counties in Lakes State, South Sudan. The objectives of the study were to find out the consequences of the tribal armed conflicts on governance and service delivery and strategies to mitigate peace and tribal armed conflict resolution in order to enable development in the selected counties of Lakes state. Quantitative and qualitative data was collected from a sample of three hundred and ten (310) respondents who included the County Commissioners, Judges and Magistrates, Law enforcement officers, local government officers and traditional leaders through questionnaires and interviews. The study sought to review the effects of tribal armed conflicts on service delivery in the selected communities. It further examined conflict resolutions mechanisms and strategies that have been used by various actors and stakeholder to ameliorate tribal armed conflict in Lakes State, South Sudan. The results of the study showed that ethnicity in conflicts in South Sudan has played a significant role and has posed many challenges to scholars, political leaders, appointed public officials and communities alike. Some of the challenges include; tribalism, ethnic conflicts, and struggle over scarce resources. This has often led to rampant underdevelopment, under-representation in governance; unemployment and poverty, among administrative perils and dysfunctions that have subsequently been major drivers of tribal armed conflicts. Many youth who are unemployed are often involved in cattle raiding, hence revenge attacks often lead to frequent tribal armed conflicts. The study recommends that effective and sustainable peace building can be achieved through empowerment of the communities and use of traditional strategies in tribal armed conflict resolution in Lakes State. This is because external players often attempt to engage in peace building activities without seeking sustainable solutions at the grassroots level. Very often conflict resolution has been the preserve of NGOs and diplomats, who have no intimate acquaintance with local contexts. The study suggests that provision of services to the people through sustainable development of the rural areas and through the creation of alternative forms of livelihood, such as jobs, has to engage with and include the youth in economic development, so that tribal armed conflicts are ameliorated.
- Full Text:
- Date Issued: 2013
A role for heat shock protein 90 (Hsp90) in fibronectin matrix dynamics
- Authors: O'Hagan, Kyle Leonard
- Date: 2013
- Subjects: Molecular chaperones , Heat shock proteins , Metastasis , Cancer -- Treatment
- Language: English
- Type: Thesis , Masters , MSc
- Identifier: vital:4157 , http://hdl.handle.net/10962/d1018260
- Description: To date, a significant portion of research has been devoted to understanding the biological role of the molecular chaperone, heat shock protein 90 (Hsp90), in cancer development and metastasis. Studies have alluded to over 300 clients for intracellular Hsp90, many of which are involved in oncogenic signaling pathways, making Hsp90 a bone fide drug target with several inhibitors already in clinical trials. In recent years, a limited number of extracellular Hsp90 clients have been elucidated with roles in cancer cell migration and invasion. Examples of such clients include matrix metalloproteinase-2 (MMP-2), LRP-1/CD91 and HER-2. Inhibition of extracellular Hsp90 using cellimpermeable inhibitors has been shown to reduce cancer cell migration and metastasis by a hitherto undefined mechanism. Using surface biotinylation and an enzyme linked immunosorbent assay, we provided evidence to support that Hsp90 was found extracellularly in cancers of different origin, cell type and malignancy. Next, we isolated extracellular Hsp90-containing complexes from MDA-MB-231 breast cancer cells using a cell impermeable crosslinker followed by immunoprecipitation and identified by mass spectrometry that the extracellular matrix protein, fibronectin, co-precipitated with Hsp90β. This interaction between Hsp90β and fibronectin was confirmed using pull down assays and surface plasmon resonance spectroscopy with the purified proteins. The ability of exogenous Hsp90β to increase the insoluble fibronectin matrix in Hs578T breast cancer cells indicated a role for Hsp90 in fibronectin matrix stability or fibrillogenesis. Hsp90 knockdown by RNA interference or inhibition with the small molecule inhibitor, novobiocin, resulted in a dose and time-dependent reduction of the extracellular fibronectin matrix. Furthermore, novobiocin was shown to cause the internalization of a fluorescently-labeled exogenous fibronectin matrix incorporated into the extracellular matrix by Hs578T cells. This suggested endocytosis as a possible mechanism for fibronectin turnover. This was supported by the colocalization of fibronectin with key vesicular trafficking markers (Rab-5 and LAMP-1) in small, intracellular vesicles. Furthermore, treatment with the vesicular trafficking inhibitor, methyl-β-cyclodextrin, resulted in a dose-dependent recovery in the extracellular fibronectin matrix following treatment with novobiocin. Taken together, these data provided the first evidence to suggest fibronectin as a new client of Hsp90 and that Hsp90 was involved in regulating extracellular fibronectin matrix dynamics.
- Full Text:
- Date Issued: 2013
- Authors: O'Hagan, Kyle Leonard
- Date: 2013
- Subjects: Molecular chaperones , Heat shock proteins , Metastasis , Cancer -- Treatment
- Language: English
- Type: Thesis , Masters , MSc
- Identifier: vital:4157 , http://hdl.handle.net/10962/d1018260
- Description: To date, a significant portion of research has been devoted to understanding the biological role of the molecular chaperone, heat shock protein 90 (Hsp90), in cancer development and metastasis. Studies have alluded to over 300 clients for intracellular Hsp90, many of which are involved in oncogenic signaling pathways, making Hsp90 a bone fide drug target with several inhibitors already in clinical trials. In recent years, a limited number of extracellular Hsp90 clients have been elucidated with roles in cancer cell migration and invasion. Examples of such clients include matrix metalloproteinase-2 (MMP-2), LRP-1/CD91 and HER-2. Inhibition of extracellular Hsp90 using cellimpermeable inhibitors has been shown to reduce cancer cell migration and metastasis by a hitherto undefined mechanism. Using surface biotinylation and an enzyme linked immunosorbent assay, we provided evidence to support that Hsp90 was found extracellularly in cancers of different origin, cell type and malignancy. Next, we isolated extracellular Hsp90-containing complexes from MDA-MB-231 breast cancer cells using a cell impermeable crosslinker followed by immunoprecipitation and identified by mass spectrometry that the extracellular matrix protein, fibronectin, co-precipitated with Hsp90β. This interaction between Hsp90β and fibronectin was confirmed using pull down assays and surface plasmon resonance spectroscopy with the purified proteins. The ability of exogenous Hsp90β to increase the insoluble fibronectin matrix in Hs578T breast cancer cells indicated a role for Hsp90 in fibronectin matrix stability or fibrillogenesis. Hsp90 knockdown by RNA interference or inhibition with the small molecule inhibitor, novobiocin, resulted in a dose and time-dependent reduction of the extracellular fibronectin matrix. Furthermore, novobiocin was shown to cause the internalization of a fluorescently-labeled exogenous fibronectin matrix incorporated into the extracellular matrix by Hs578T cells. This suggested endocytosis as a possible mechanism for fibronectin turnover. This was supported by the colocalization of fibronectin with key vesicular trafficking markers (Rab-5 and LAMP-1) in small, intracellular vesicles. Furthermore, treatment with the vesicular trafficking inhibitor, methyl-β-cyclodextrin, resulted in a dose-dependent recovery in the extracellular fibronectin matrix following treatment with novobiocin. Taken together, these data provided the first evidence to suggest fibronectin as a new client of Hsp90 and that Hsp90 was involved in regulating extracellular fibronectin matrix dynamics.
- Full Text:
- Date Issued: 2013
A simulation study of the behaviour of the logrank test under different levels of stratification and sample sizes
- Authors: Jubane, Ido
- Date: 2013
- Subjects: Statistics , Survival analysis (Biometry)
- Language: English
- Type: Thesis , Masters , MSc (Biostatistics and Epidemiology)
- Identifier: vital:11784 , http://hdl.handle.net/10353/d1018558 , http://hdl.handle.net/10353/d1018559 , Statistics , Survival analysis (Biometry)
- Description: In clinical trials, patients are enrolled into two treatment arms. A researcher may be interested in studying the effectiveness of a new drug or the comparison of two drugs for the treatment of a disease. This survival data is later analysed using the logrank test or the Cox regression model to detect differences in survivor functions. However, the power function of the logrank test depends solely on the number of patients enrolled into the study. Because statisticians will always minimise type I and type II errors, a researcher carrying out a clinical trial must define beforehand, the number of patients to be enrolled into the clinical study. Without proper sample size and power estimation a clinical trial may fail to detect a false hypothesis of the equality of survivor functions. This study presents through simulation, a way of power and sample size estimation for clinical trials that use the logrank test for their data analysis and suggests an easy method to estimate power and sample size in such clinical studies. Findings on power analysis and sample size estimation on logrank test are applied to two real examples: one is the Veterans' Administration Lung Cancer study; and the other is the data from a placebo controlled trial of gamma interferon in chronic granulotomous disease.
- Full Text:
- Date Issued: 2013
- Authors: Jubane, Ido
- Date: 2013
- Subjects: Statistics , Survival analysis (Biometry)
- Language: English
- Type: Thesis , Masters , MSc (Biostatistics and Epidemiology)
- Identifier: vital:11784 , http://hdl.handle.net/10353/d1018558 , http://hdl.handle.net/10353/d1018559 , Statistics , Survival analysis (Biometry)
- Description: In clinical trials, patients are enrolled into two treatment arms. A researcher may be interested in studying the effectiveness of a new drug or the comparison of two drugs for the treatment of a disease. This survival data is later analysed using the logrank test or the Cox regression model to detect differences in survivor functions. However, the power function of the logrank test depends solely on the number of patients enrolled into the study. Because statisticians will always minimise type I and type II errors, a researcher carrying out a clinical trial must define beforehand, the number of patients to be enrolled into the clinical study. Without proper sample size and power estimation a clinical trial may fail to detect a false hypothesis of the equality of survivor functions. This study presents through simulation, a way of power and sample size estimation for clinical trials that use the logrank test for their data analysis and suggests an easy method to estimate power and sample size in such clinical studies. Findings on power analysis and sample size estimation on logrank test are applied to two real examples: one is the Veterans' Administration Lung Cancer study; and the other is the data from a placebo controlled trial of gamma interferon in chronic granulotomous disease.
- Full Text:
- Date Issued: 2013
A small town in the early apartheid era: A history of Grahamstown 1946-1960 focusing on "White English" perspectives.
- Lancaster, Rupert Giles Swinburne
- Authors: Lancaster, Rupert Giles Swinburne
- Date: 2013
- Subjects: Grahamstown (South Africa) -- History -- 20th Century , Grahamstown (South Africa) -- Politics and government -- 20th century , Grahamstown (South Africa) -- Social conditions -- 20th Century , Grahamstown (South Africa) -- Economic conditions -- 20th Century , Grahamstown (South Africa) -- Social life and customs -- 20th Century , Apartheid -- South Africa , Whites -- South Africa -- Grahamstown
- Language: English
- Type: Thesis , Masters , MA
- Identifier: vital:2612 , http://hdl.handle.net/10962/d1013161
- Description: This Thesis examines the socio-political perceptions of Grahamstown, a small South African City, during the period 1946 to 1960. The ‘White English’ population of Grahamstown is the specific focus, as it formed the dominant social group during the period and consequently provided the majority of information for this work. During this period the majority of Grahamstowns ‘White English’ population thought of their City as holding many attractive features and experiences despite the slum-conditions and poverty that were rife in the Locations. During the British Royal Familie’s tour of the Union of South Africa in 1947, Grahamstown was one of the Cities visited. The loyalty that Grahamstown’s ‘White English’ citizens felt towards the Royal Family and the United Kingdom is explored in connection with the regard that ‘White English’ Grahamstown held for the 1820 Settlers. To highlight the Grahamstown City Council’s activities during this period five events are analysed: The Grahamstown Financial Crisis, The Grahamstown Housing Crisis, The Beer Hall Debate, The establishment of a Tuberculosis Hospital and the granting of Full University Status to Rhodes University College. It is shown, with regard to the politics of the period, that ‘White English’ Grahamstown, unequivocally supported the United Party and were vocally anti-Nationalist. The implementation of Apartheid policies within Grahamstown is explored, with specific focus placed upon the Group Areas Act. Finally the anti-republican sentiment espoused by ‘White English’ Grahamstown is reviewed.
- Full Text:
- Date Issued: 2013
- Authors: Lancaster, Rupert Giles Swinburne
- Date: 2013
- Subjects: Grahamstown (South Africa) -- History -- 20th Century , Grahamstown (South Africa) -- Politics and government -- 20th century , Grahamstown (South Africa) -- Social conditions -- 20th Century , Grahamstown (South Africa) -- Economic conditions -- 20th Century , Grahamstown (South Africa) -- Social life and customs -- 20th Century , Apartheid -- South Africa , Whites -- South Africa -- Grahamstown
- Language: English
- Type: Thesis , Masters , MA
- Identifier: vital:2612 , http://hdl.handle.net/10962/d1013161
- Description: This Thesis examines the socio-political perceptions of Grahamstown, a small South African City, during the period 1946 to 1960. The ‘White English’ population of Grahamstown is the specific focus, as it formed the dominant social group during the period and consequently provided the majority of information for this work. During this period the majority of Grahamstowns ‘White English’ population thought of their City as holding many attractive features and experiences despite the slum-conditions and poverty that were rife in the Locations. During the British Royal Familie’s tour of the Union of South Africa in 1947, Grahamstown was one of the Cities visited. The loyalty that Grahamstown’s ‘White English’ citizens felt towards the Royal Family and the United Kingdom is explored in connection with the regard that ‘White English’ Grahamstown held for the 1820 Settlers. To highlight the Grahamstown City Council’s activities during this period five events are analysed: The Grahamstown Financial Crisis, The Grahamstown Housing Crisis, The Beer Hall Debate, The establishment of a Tuberculosis Hospital and the granting of Full University Status to Rhodes University College. It is shown, with regard to the politics of the period, that ‘White English’ Grahamstown, unequivocally supported the United Party and were vocally anti-Nationalist. The implementation of Apartheid policies within Grahamstown is explored, with specific focus placed upon the Group Areas Act. Finally the anti-republican sentiment espoused by ‘White English’ Grahamstown is reviewed.
- Full Text:
- Date Issued: 2013
A social realist account of the tutorial system at the University of Johannesburg
- Authors: Layton, Delia Melanie
- Date: 2013
- Subjects: University of Johannesburg Education, Higher -- South Africa Tutors and tutoring -- South Africa College teaching -- South Africa Archer, Margaret Scotford College student development programs -- South Africa Social realism , Tutorial system
- Language: English
- Type: Thesis , Doctoral , PhD
- Identifier: vital:1314 , http://hdl.handle.net/10962/d1001621
- Description: Using Margaret Archer’s social realist methodology, this study critically examines the construction of the tutorial system in several departments and faculties at the Auckland Park campus of the University of Johannesburg. The purpose of the study is to investigate the extent to which tutorials support the acquisition of programme and disciplinary epistemologies. Social realism calls for analytical dualism of ‘the people’ (agents) from ‘the parts’ (structure and culture). This requires the separate consideration of structures (social systems, rules, roles, practices, policies, institutions, and organisational structures like committees, units, departments, faculties), culture (ideologies, theories, beliefs and values as evidenced in discourses), and agency (people and their ability to act within and upon their own world in terms of their social roles and positions dependent on their ability to activate their emergent properties and powers). Through this investigation, an understanding was gained into how the emergent properties and powers contained within the material, ideational and agential elements helped to generate certain events and practices in the tutorial system. These generative mechanisms were examined to explore whether they enabled or constrained the construction of the tutorial system to provide epistemological access. The study shows that while many official policy documents construct the tutorial system as being an intervention to support academic success, particularly for first-years, there are some tensions within the document discourses, where, on the one hand, student success is constructed in terms of throughput numbers, or, on the other hand, as being about becoming a particular kind of person who is able to access and add to powerful knowledge. Furthermore, the study found that policies are not being consistently implemented. While certain key agents and actors, in the form of management, academics and tutors, were found to be able to overcome constraints and introduce innovative ways of enhancing access to target epistemologies, there is a need for consideration of structural and cultural constraints. For example, structures in the form of funding, venues and timetabling were found to constrain the tutorial system as did some of the discourses in the cultural domain: for example, in the form of certain dominant discourses around teaching and learning, beliefs about the purpose of the tutorial and the relationship between academics and the tutorial system. The study also found that the ontological aspects of ‘learning to be’ were not fore-grounded to any great extent in the ways in which the tutorial system was constructed. There needs to be more consideration of the ontological as well as the epistemological aspects of first-year study so as to take cognisance of the different learning needs of an increasingly diverse student body and to encourage the development of the student agency necessary for a deep engagement with the disciplinary epistemologies.
- Full Text:
- Date Issued: 2013
- Authors: Layton, Delia Melanie
- Date: 2013
- Subjects: University of Johannesburg Education, Higher -- South Africa Tutors and tutoring -- South Africa College teaching -- South Africa Archer, Margaret Scotford College student development programs -- South Africa Social realism , Tutorial system
- Language: English
- Type: Thesis , Doctoral , PhD
- Identifier: vital:1314 , http://hdl.handle.net/10962/d1001621
- Description: Using Margaret Archer’s social realist methodology, this study critically examines the construction of the tutorial system in several departments and faculties at the Auckland Park campus of the University of Johannesburg. The purpose of the study is to investigate the extent to which tutorials support the acquisition of programme and disciplinary epistemologies. Social realism calls for analytical dualism of ‘the people’ (agents) from ‘the parts’ (structure and culture). This requires the separate consideration of structures (social systems, rules, roles, practices, policies, institutions, and organisational structures like committees, units, departments, faculties), culture (ideologies, theories, beliefs and values as evidenced in discourses), and agency (people and their ability to act within and upon their own world in terms of their social roles and positions dependent on their ability to activate their emergent properties and powers). Through this investigation, an understanding was gained into how the emergent properties and powers contained within the material, ideational and agential elements helped to generate certain events and practices in the tutorial system. These generative mechanisms were examined to explore whether they enabled or constrained the construction of the tutorial system to provide epistemological access. The study shows that while many official policy documents construct the tutorial system as being an intervention to support academic success, particularly for first-years, there are some tensions within the document discourses, where, on the one hand, student success is constructed in terms of throughput numbers, or, on the other hand, as being about becoming a particular kind of person who is able to access and add to powerful knowledge. Furthermore, the study found that policies are not being consistently implemented. While certain key agents and actors, in the form of management, academics and tutors, were found to be able to overcome constraints and introduce innovative ways of enhancing access to target epistemologies, there is a need for consideration of structural and cultural constraints. For example, structures in the form of funding, venues and timetabling were found to constrain the tutorial system as did some of the discourses in the cultural domain: for example, in the form of certain dominant discourses around teaching and learning, beliefs about the purpose of the tutorial and the relationship between academics and the tutorial system. The study also found that the ontological aspects of ‘learning to be’ were not fore-grounded to any great extent in the ways in which the tutorial system was constructed. There needs to be more consideration of the ontological as well as the epistemological aspects of first-year study so as to take cognisance of the different learning needs of an increasingly diverse student body and to encourage the development of the student agency necessary for a deep engagement with the disciplinary epistemologies.
- Full Text:
- Date Issued: 2013
A social realist analysis of learner agency and access to education : the case of Grade 11 learners in public secondary schools in the Makana District, Eastern Cape
- Authors: Namakula, Halima
- Date: 2013
- Subjects: Active learning -- Research -- South Africa -- Eastern Cape Educational equalization -- Research -- South Africa -- Eastern Cape Student-centered learning -- Research -- South Africa -- Eastern Cape Competency-based education -- South Africa -- Eastern Cape Education, Secondary -- Research -- South Africa -- Eastern Cape
- Language: English
- Type: Thesis , Masters , MEd
- Identifier: vital:1404 , http://hdl.handle.net/10962/d1001954
- Description: The South African government has shown enormous commitment to the achievement of “Education for All” (EFA) through its policies premised on the right to basic education for all which is enshrined in the constitution. Central to the South African constitution, is a fundamental right of all citizens to basic education, equity, redress, and the improvement of quality of schooling. Further, pro-poor funding policies such as school fee exemptions, social grants and, most recently, the designation of 60% of all schools as ‘no fee’ schools, have made it possible for even the poorest learners to attend school. This has affirmed South Africa’s commitment to the achievement of the Millennium Development Goals (MDGs) by 2015. In light of Notwithstanding the progress made in South Africa in universalising education, there are concerns regarding learner access to quality education, especially in poor provinces such as the Eastern Cape where this study is situated. Thus, the purpose of this study is to further understanding of the interface between learners’ agency and access to education in two township public high schools in Makana District in the Eastern Cape Province. In doing so, the research addresses the current under-representation in the literature of the voices of learners about their experiences of access to education. Drawing on Margaret Archer’s social realist approach to the relationship between structure and agency, the study explores learner agency with the aim of understanding how learners exercise their agency as they struggle to negotiate and overcome difficult and challenging circumstances in order to access education. The data collection was carried out during the academic year 2011, using a qualitative case study approach. Multiple methods of data collection were used. First, data was collected through questionnaires administered to learners. This questionnaire asked for basic information about the schools (for example, subjects, resources and teachers ), parents ( their education, employment, qualification etc.) and learners’ aspirations (their role model; where they see themselves in 5 years; which university they would like to attend; and what they would like to become in future). Secondly, observation method was used to collect data that would inform an assessment of the school’s structure and cultural practices and the impact these have on learners’ access to education. The focus here was also on classroom interaction between learners and teachers, as well as classroom participation, participation in extra-mural activities and voluntary activities, and interaction with peers and others in a variety of school settings. Thirdly, interviews with learners, educators, principals, and parents were used to provide insight about how participants construct their social worlds. In this study the primary data was collected through semi-structured individual and focus group interview. And finally, document analysis was used to analyse the attendance and performance of learners on attendance registers. Findings from this research have enabled new themes and areas for reflection about learner agency to emerge. These themes reflect current and ongoing constraints and enablements towards learners’ educational experiences. In particular, themes such as the following have surfaced: learners changing their lives; the desire to succeed; shaping the future; the value of education; family pride; aspirations and careers. This study addressed these developments by examining agency as temporally located reflexive deliberations of learners upon their future goals and present social environment. This allowed for the identification of individuals’ future goals in relation to access to education and the strategies that they intend to pursue to achieve them, in relation to their personal and social contexts. The findings show the choices and decisions learners are prepared to make and the strategies they use as they engage with socio-cultural environments. Archer’s nuanced approach to agency and structure offers tools to help make sense of learners’ equally nuanced way of engaging with various social structures and making considered decisions about their social environment. Key findings of this research suggest that despite the constraining social structures in their homes, communities and schools, learners make decisions and choices that enable them to navigate social contexts to their advantage. Put differently, for learners, social structures provided the impetus for the projects they created, and to this extent enabled rather than constrained their courses of action.
- Full Text:
- Date Issued: 2013
- Authors: Namakula, Halima
- Date: 2013
- Subjects: Active learning -- Research -- South Africa -- Eastern Cape Educational equalization -- Research -- South Africa -- Eastern Cape Student-centered learning -- Research -- South Africa -- Eastern Cape Competency-based education -- South Africa -- Eastern Cape Education, Secondary -- Research -- South Africa -- Eastern Cape
- Language: English
- Type: Thesis , Masters , MEd
- Identifier: vital:1404 , http://hdl.handle.net/10962/d1001954
- Description: The South African government has shown enormous commitment to the achievement of “Education for All” (EFA) through its policies premised on the right to basic education for all which is enshrined in the constitution. Central to the South African constitution, is a fundamental right of all citizens to basic education, equity, redress, and the improvement of quality of schooling. Further, pro-poor funding policies such as school fee exemptions, social grants and, most recently, the designation of 60% of all schools as ‘no fee’ schools, have made it possible for even the poorest learners to attend school. This has affirmed South Africa’s commitment to the achievement of the Millennium Development Goals (MDGs) by 2015. In light of Notwithstanding the progress made in South Africa in universalising education, there are concerns regarding learner access to quality education, especially in poor provinces such as the Eastern Cape where this study is situated. Thus, the purpose of this study is to further understanding of the interface between learners’ agency and access to education in two township public high schools in Makana District in the Eastern Cape Province. In doing so, the research addresses the current under-representation in the literature of the voices of learners about their experiences of access to education. Drawing on Margaret Archer’s social realist approach to the relationship between structure and agency, the study explores learner agency with the aim of understanding how learners exercise their agency as they struggle to negotiate and overcome difficult and challenging circumstances in order to access education. The data collection was carried out during the academic year 2011, using a qualitative case study approach. Multiple methods of data collection were used. First, data was collected through questionnaires administered to learners. This questionnaire asked for basic information about the schools (for example, subjects, resources and teachers ), parents ( their education, employment, qualification etc.) and learners’ aspirations (their role model; where they see themselves in 5 years; which university they would like to attend; and what they would like to become in future). Secondly, observation method was used to collect data that would inform an assessment of the school’s structure and cultural practices and the impact these have on learners’ access to education. The focus here was also on classroom interaction between learners and teachers, as well as classroom participation, participation in extra-mural activities and voluntary activities, and interaction with peers and others in a variety of school settings. Thirdly, interviews with learners, educators, principals, and parents were used to provide insight about how participants construct their social worlds. In this study the primary data was collected through semi-structured individual and focus group interview. And finally, document analysis was used to analyse the attendance and performance of learners on attendance registers. Findings from this research have enabled new themes and areas for reflection about learner agency to emerge. These themes reflect current and ongoing constraints and enablements towards learners’ educational experiences. In particular, themes such as the following have surfaced: learners changing their lives; the desire to succeed; shaping the future; the value of education; family pride; aspirations and careers. This study addressed these developments by examining agency as temporally located reflexive deliberations of learners upon their future goals and present social environment. This allowed for the identification of individuals’ future goals in relation to access to education and the strategies that they intend to pursue to achieve them, in relation to their personal and social contexts. The findings show the choices and decisions learners are prepared to make and the strategies they use as they engage with socio-cultural environments. Archer’s nuanced approach to agency and structure offers tools to help make sense of learners’ equally nuanced way of engaging with various social structures and making considered decisions about their social environment. Key findings of this research suggest that despite the constraining social structures in their homes, communities and schools, learners make decisions and choices that enable them to navigate social contexts to their advantage. Put differently, for learners, social structures provided the impetus for the projects they created, and to this extent enabled rather than constrained their courses of action.
- Full Text:
- Date Issued: 2013
A standardised protocol for roadkill detection and the determinants of roadkill in the greater Mapungubwe Transfrontier Conservation Area, Limpopo Province, South Africa
- Authors: Collinson, Wendy Jane
- Date: 2013
- Subjects: Roadkill -- South Africa -- Mapungubwe Site , Traffic safety and wildlife -- South Africa -- Mapungubwe Site
- Language: English
- Type: Thesis , Masters , MSc
- Identifier: vital:5606 , http://hdl.handle.net/10962/d1002056 , Roadkill -- South Africa -- Mapungubwe Site , Traffic safety and wildlife -- South Africa -- Mapungubwe Site
- Description: Despite evidence suggesting that road traffic is a major threat to biodiversity loss, very little is known about its actual impact on wildlife populations in South Africa. Globally, road density and traffic volumes are increasing, and although huge budgets are devoted to the construction and upgrading of roads, there is little or no allocation to mitigation measures for protecting fauna in most countries, particularly Africa. Further, no global standardised protocol exists for the rapid assessment of roadkill or the most economical and efficient approach for assessing roadkill rates. Using vehicle field trials, the reliability of detecting artificially deployed roadkill was assessed. Roadkill detection rates decreased significantly at speeds >50 km/h and were also significantly influenced by light conditions (i.e. detection success was greater when the sun was high) and the position of the roadkill on the road (i.e. smaller roadkill on verges were often missed). These results suggest that roadkill sampling was most effective between 1.5 hours after dawn and 1.5 hours before dusk and that driving at slower speeds (<50 km.h⁻ₑ) was required to detect roadkill. This protocol was implemented across three ecological seasons on a 100 km paved road and a 20 km unpaved road in the Greater Mapungubwe Transfrontier Conservation Area, Limpopo Province, South Africa. Driven daily over a 120-day period (three periods consisting each of 40 days), a total of 1,027 roadkill were recorded. These comprised 162 species from all terrestrial vertebrate groups with birds being the most commonly encountered roadkill (50% of all incidents). The high numbers of vertebrates identified as roadkill suggests that road traffic could have potentially unsustainable impacts on wildlife populations and hence the biodiversity of the area. Seventeen variables were identified as possible determinants of roadkill occurrence with season, rainfall, minimum and maximum temperature, habitat type, grass height, grass density, fence type and vehicle type significantly influencing roadkill numbers. Significantly more roadkill were detected on the paved road (9.91/100km) than on the unpaved road (1.8/100km) probably because of greater traffic volumes and the increased speed that vehicles travelled on the paved road. Warmer temperatures and increased rainfall in the preceding 24 hours also increased road mortality numbers as animals tended to become more active during these times. Interestingly, more roadkill was detected in open roadside habitats compared to dense roadside habitats on both the paved and unpaved roads and when grass on the roadside verge was of intermediate height. Open habitat possibly may provide a natural corridor for wildlife which ultimately end up on the road. Roadkill numbers increased when certain other physical barriers, such as cattle fences, were present, probably because these barriers were more penetrable than electric fencing. A series of mitigation measures are proposed to reduce the impacts of roads on wildlife in South Africa. These mitigation measures highlight the need to address the balance between the development of a country’s transport infrastructure and the conservation of its fauna. It is important that research on the impacts of roads becomes standardised to enable robust statistical comparisons which will provide a greater understanding of the potential threats to vertebrate biodiversity
- Full Text:
- Date Issued: 2013
- Authors: Collinson, Wendy Jane
- Date: 2013
- Subjects: Roadkill -- South Africa -- Mapungubwe Site , Traffic safety and wildlife -- South Africa -- Mapungubwe Site
- Language: English
- Type: Thesis , Masters , MSc
- Identifier: vital:5606 , http://hdl.handle.net/10962/d1002056 , Roadkill -- South Africa -- Mapungubwe Site , Traffic safety and wildlife -- South Africa -- Mapungubwe Site
- Description: Despite evidence suggesting that road traffic is a major threat to biodiversity loss, very little is known about its actual impact on wildlife populations in South Africa. Globally, road density and traffic volumes are increasing, and although huge budgets are devoted to the construction and upgrading of roads, there is little or no allocation to mitigation measures for protecting fauna in most countries, particularly Africa. Further, no global standardised protocol exists for the rapid assessment of roadkill or the most economical and efficient approach for assessing roadkill rates. Using vehicle field trials, the reliability of detecting artificially deployed roadkill was assessed. Roadkill detection rates decreased significantly at speeds >50 km/h and were also significantly influenced by light conditions (i.e. detection success was greater when the sun was high) and the position of the roadkill on the road (i.e. smaller roadkill on verges were often missed). These results suggest that roadkill sampling was most effective between 1.5 hours after dawn and 1.5 hours before dusk and that driving at slower speeds (<50 km.h⁻ₑ) was required to detect roadkill. This protocol was implemented across three ecological seasons on a 100 km paved road and a 20 km unpaved road in the Greater Mapungubwe Transfrontier Conservation Area, Limpopo Province, South Africa. Driven daily over a 120-day period (three periods consisting each of 40 days), a total of 1,027 roadkill were recorded. These comprised 162 species from all terrestrial vertebrate groups with birds being the most commonly encountered roadkill (50% of all incidents). The high numbers of vertebrates identified as roadkill suggests that road traffic could have potentially unsustainable impacts on wildlife populations and hence the biodiversity of the area. Seventeen variables were identified as possible determinants of roadkill occurrence with season, rainfall, minimum and maximum temperature, habitat type, grass height, grass density, fence type and vehicle type significantly influencing roadkill numbers. Significantly more roadkill were detected on the paved road (9.91/100km) than on the unpaved road (1.8/100km) probably because of greater traffic volumes and the increased speed that vehicles travelled on the paved road. Warmer temperatures and increased rainfall in the preceding 24 hours also increased road mortality numbers as animals tended to become more active during these times. Interestingly, more roadkill was detected in open roadside habitats compared to dense roadside habitats on both the paved and unpaved roads and when grass on the roadside verge was of intermediate height. Open habitat possibly may provide a natural corridor for wildlife which ultimately end up on the road. Roadkill numbers increased when certain other physical barriers, such as cattle fences, were present, probably because these barriers were more penetrable than electric fencing. A series of mitigation measures are proposed to reduce the impacts of roads on wildlife in South Africa. These mitigation measures highlight the need to address the balance between the development of a country’s transport infrastructure and the conservation of its fauna. It is important that research on the impacts of roads becomes standardised to enable robust statistical comparisons which will provide a greater understanding of the potential threats to vertebrate biodiversity
- Full Text:
- Date Issued: 2013
A strategic analysis of Capitec Bank Limited within the South African banking industry
- Authors: De Lange, Michael Coenraad
- Date: 2013
- Subjects: Banks and banking -- South Africa , Creative ability in business -- South Africa
- Language: English
- Type: Thesis , Masters , MBA
- Identifier: vital:8835 , http://hdl.handle.net/10948/d1019932
- Description: The South African banking industry is well regulated and oligopolistic by nature. The financial sector in South Africa is of a world class standard, comparing favourably to that of developed countries i.e. United States of America and Great Britian, and developing economies such as the BRIC (Brazil, Russia, India and China) countries. The South African financial sector possesses the critical elements to exhibit good growth and sustainable profitabiblity. Capitec Bank Limited revolutionised the banking industry by providing a simplified and cost effective banking solution targeting the masses i.e. the "unbanked" population of South Africa. The company pursued a disruptive innovation strategy by targeting the lower income earning segment of the market i.e. individuals who are employed but do not have bank account. Capite's strategic approach and business model were designed around innovation and technology, exploiting a previously untapped market that no other competitor targeted. This approach has resulted in the bank's phenomenal growth over the past decade and most notably has seen Capitec's return on equity (ROE) increase from 12 percent to 26 percent and advances to costomers increase from R116 million to 16 billion. This has set precedent which the big four banks, namely ABSA, First National Bank, Standard Bank and Nedbank, could not match. Contributing to Capitec's success and the basis on which its business model is built are four pillars: accessibilty, simplicity, affordability and personalised service. These pillars have created a compatitive advantage resulting in the bid four banks playing catch up. A strategic analysis of Capitec bank was conducted in order to assess the feasibility of expansion by the bank into Africa. The conclusion of the study indicated that it was indeed a viable option for Capitec to expand its footprint across borders into Africa through mergers with banks exhibiting a similar business model, for example Equity Bank based in Kenya.
- Full Text:
- Date Issued: 2013
- Authors: De Lange, Michael Coenraad
- Date: 2013
- Subjects: Banks and banking -- South Africa , Creative ability in business -- South Africa
- Language: English
- Type: Thesis , Masters , MBA
- Identifier: vital:8835 , http://hdl.handle.net/10948/d1019932
- Description: The South African banking industry is well regulated and oligopolistic by nature. The financial sector in South Africa is of a world class standard, comparing favourably to that of developed countries i.e. United States of America and Great Britian, and developing economies such as the BRIC (Brazil, Russia, India and China) countries. The South African financial sector possesses the critical elements to exhibit good growth and sustainable profitabiblity. Capitec Bank Limited revolutionised the banking industry by providing a simplified and cost effective banking solution targeting the masses i.e. the "unbanked" population of South Africa. The company pursued a disruptive innovation strategy by targeting the lower income earning segment of the market i.e. individuals who are employed but do not have bank account. Capite's strategic approach and business model were designed around innovation and technology, exploiting a previously untapped market that no other competitor targeted. This approach has resulted in the bank's phenomenal growth over the past decade and most notably has seen Capitec's return on equity (ROE) increase from 12 percent to 26 percent and advances to costomers increase from R116 million to 16 billion. This has set precedent which the big four banks, namely ABSA, First National Bank, Standard Bank and Nedbank, could not match. Contributing to Capitec's success and the basis on which its business model is built are four pillars: accessibilty, simplicity, affordability and personalised service. These pillars have created a compatitive advantage resulting in the bid four banks playing catch up. A strategic analysis of Capitec bank was conducted in order to assess the feasibility of expansion by the bank into Africa. The conclusion of the study indicated that it was indeed a viable option for Capitec to expand its footprint across borders into Africa through mergers with banks exhibiting a similar business model, for example Equity Bank based in Kenya.
- Full Text:
- Date Issued: 2013
A strategy to facilitate renewed resilience to re-establish meaning for persons with spinal cord injuries
- Authors: Willemse, Hermanus Barend
- Date: 2013
- Subjects: Spinal cord -- Wounds and injuries , Spinal cord -- Wounds and injuries -- Rehabilitation
- Language: English
- Type: Thesis , Doctoral , DPhil
- Identifier: vital:10021 , http://hdl.handle.net/10948/d1008119 , Spinal cord -- Wounds and injuries , Spinal cord -- Wounds and injuries -- Rehabilitation
- Description: Census estimates in 2010 indicated that 6,3 percent South Africans aged 5 years and older are currently classified as disabled in five of the nine provinces in the country. The national figure for 2005 was 5 percent, with the figure for females (6,5 percent) slightly higher than that for males (6,1percent). Spinal cord injured persons and their significant others experience a range of emotions which affect their relationships with themselves, others and their environment. To deal with the life-changing consequences of the injury and regain control, these persons not only require a variety of coping strategies but rediscovery of resilience is inevitable if the experience of personal purpose and meaningful existence is ever to be regained. In the Nelson Mandela Bay Municipal area, Port Elizabeth, South Africa – the geographical area in which this research study was undertaken - persons with spinal cord injuries have many challenges to face due to the shortcomings the existing resource for health care delivery in the post-discharge phase. The research objectives identified for the study were, firstly, to explore and describe the lived experiences of persons with spinal cord injuries; secondly, to explore and describe the lived experiences of the significant others of persons with spinal cord injuries; and thirdly, to develop a strategy to guide the professional nurse and the health care team in facilitating the health care of persons with spinal cord injuries. The study was a qualitative, exploratory, descriptive, and contextual method of inquiry. The data obtained was used to formulate the strategy with its three sub-strategies to guide professional nurses and the health care team to facilitate renewed resilience and the re-establishment of meaning for persons with spinal cord injuries. Although the experiences of the significant others were explored in order to thicken the description of the experiences of persons with spinal cord injuries, the strategy developed was limited to the persons with spinal cord injuries. Although it is well documented that there are significant physical needs, the themes that emerged from the current research mostly related to psychological and social aspects. In acknowledging the human being as unitary multi-dimensional being, the researcher in his discussions and quest to address the issue of renewed resilience in spinal cord injured persons towards finding purpose and re-establishing meaning in their lives, focused on their psychological, spiritual and social health. The outcome of the study is a strategy constructed to facilitate renewed resilience, and three sub-strategies ‘addressing experienced emotions’, ‘facilitating meaningful relationships’ and ‘facilitating effective coping’. The strategy has as purpose the empowering of spinal injured persons in their efforts to re-establish meaning by serving as a tool to guide professional nurses and members of the health care team in their facilitating of renewed resilience in persons with spinal cord injury. It is envisaged that the co-ordination of the strategy will take place from the health care delivery facility nearest to the spinal cord injured individual concerned. In order for persons with spinal cord injuries to become accountable members of society, all levels and aspects of care aimed at physical, psychological, spiritual and social well-being need to be holistically addressed. The front-line role of the professional nurse is vital as the professional nurse acts as the co-ordinator for the health care team in ensuring that persons with spinal cord injuries receive quality and holistic care in order to deal meaningfully with the life-altering consequences of a spinal cord injury. Through this study, valuable insight was gained with regard to experiences of both persons with spinal cord injuries and that of their significant others. Recommendations were made for nursing practice, nursing education and nursing research.
- Full Text:
- Date Issued: 2013
- Authors: Willemse, Hermanus Barend
- Date: 2013
- Subjects: Spinal cord -- Wounds and injuries , Spinal cord -- Wounds and injuries -- Rehabilitation
- Language: English
- Type: Thesis , Doctoral , DPhil
- Identifier: vital:10021 , http://hdl.handle.net/10948/d1008119 , Spinal cord -- Wounds and injuries , Spinal cord -- Wounds and injuries -- Rehabilitation
- Description: Census estimates in 2010 indicated that 6,3 percent South Africans aged 5 years and older are currently classified as disabled in five of the nine provinces in the country. The national figure for 2005 was 5 percent, with the figure for females (6,5 percent) slightly higher than that for males (6,1percent). Spinal cord injured persons and their significant others experience a range of emotions which affect their relationships with themselves, others and their environment. To deal with the life-changing consequences of the injury and regain control, these persons not only require a variety of coping strategies but rediscovery of resilience is inevitable if the experience of personal purpose and meaningful existence is ever to be regained. In the Nelson Mandela Bay Municipal area, Port Elizabeth, South Africa – the geographical area in which this research study was undertaken - persons with spinal cord injuries have many challenges to face due to the shortcomings the existing resource for health care delivery in the post-discharge phase. The research objectives identified for the study were, firstly, to explore and describe the lived experiences of persons with spinal cord injuries; secondly, to explore and describe the lived experiences of the significant others of persons with spinal cord injuries; and thirdly, to develop a strategy to guide the professional nurse and the health care team in facilitating the health care of persons with spinal cord injuries. The study was a qualitative, exploratory, descriptive, and contextual method of inquiry. The data obtained was used to formulate the strategy with its three sub-strategies to guide professional nurses and the health care team to facilitate renewed resilience and the re-establishment of meaning for persons with spinal cord injuries. Although the experiences of the significant others were explored in order to thicken the description of the experiences of persons with spinal cord injuries, the strategy developed was limited to the persons with spinal cord injuries. Although it is well documented that there are significant physical needs, the themes that emerged from the current research mostly related to psychological and social aspects. In acknowledging the human being as unitary multi-dimensional being, the researcher in his discussions and quest to address the issue of renewed resilience in spinal cord injured persons towards finding purpose and re-establishing meaning in their lives, focused on their psychological, spiritual and social health. The outcome of the study is a strategy constructed to facilitate renewed resilience, and three sub-strategies ‘addressing experienced emotions’, ‘facilitating meaningful relationships’ and ‘facilitating effective coping’. The strategy has as purpose the empowering of spinal injured persons in their efforts to re-establish meaning by serving as a tool to guide professional nurses and members of the health care team in their facilitating of renewed resilience in persons with spinal cord injury. It is envisaged that the co-ordination of the strategy will take place from the health care delivery facility nearest to the spinal cord injured individual concerned. In order for persons with spinal cord injuries to become accountable members of society, all levels and aspects of care aimed at physical, psychological, spiritual and social well-being need to be holistically addressed. The front-line role of the professional nurse is vital as the professional nurse acts as the co-ordinator for the health care team in ensuring that persons with spinal cord injuries receive quality and holistic care in order to deal meaningfully with the life-altering consequences of a spinal cord injury. Through this study, valuable insight was gained with regard to experiences of both persons with spinal cord injuries and that of their significant others. Recommendations were made for nursing practice, nursing education and nursing research.
- Full Text:
- Date Issued: 2013
A strategy to make ICT accessible in rural Zambia: a case study of Macha
- Authors: Van Stam, Gertjan
- Date: 2013
- Subjects: Communication in rural development -- Zambia , Communication and technology -- Zambia
- Language: English
- Type: Thesis , Masters , MTech
- Identifier: vital:9830
- Description: The problem discussed in this dissertation is to gather evidence of good practice and derive strategy for the development of ICT access in rural Zambia. Access to ICT services is important, also in rural areas of Africa. The challenges are many. There is a distinct void in tangible descriptions of the realities of ICT Access in rural areas or actionable guidelines for practitioners. This study involves a case study in the rural areas of Zambia. It does so through ethnography involving 10 years of observation of aspects of ICT access in rural Macha, Zambia. In this community, emerging from an articulated vision, ICT access in the form of the Internet arrived in 2004. Macha Works with its ICT unit LinkNet provides the basis for this interpretive approach from within the rural cultural setting. The purpose of the study is to benefit the local rural community, addressing the fundamentals of reality to add to the body of knowledge. The study involves cross cultural interaction and takes a trans-disciplinary view on science. It involves Participative Action Learning and Research aimed at recognising the complex adaptive systems while being aligned with the ethics of the rural African environment. Emphasis is on the needs of the community, rather than of the individual utilising empirical evidence. The good practices in Macha that inform strategy to make ICT accessible in rural areas are: engaging the community, building relationships; workforce development, unlocking productivity; thought leadership, establishing authority.
- Full Text:
- Date Issued: 2013
- Authors: Van Stam, Gertjan
- Date: 2013
- Subjects: Communication in rural development -- Zambia , Communication and technology -- Zambia
- Language: English
- Type: Thesis , Masters , MTech
- Identifier: vital:9830
- Description: The problem discussed in this dissertation is to gather evidence of good practice and derive strategy for the development of ICT access in rural Zambia. Access to ICT services is important, also in rural areas of Africa. The challenges are many. There is a distinct void in tangible descriptions of the realities of ICT Access in rural areas or actionable guidelines for practitioners. This study involves a case study in the rural areas of Zambia. It does so through ethnography involving 10 years of observation of aspects of ICT access in rural Macha, Zambia. In this community, emerging from an articulated vision, ICT access in the form of the Internet arrived in 2004. Macha Works with its ICT unit LinkNet provides the basis for this interpretive approach from within the rural cultural setting. The purpose of the study is to benefit the local rural community, addressing the fundamentals of reality to add to the body of knowledge. The study involves cross cultural interaction and takes a trans-disciplinary view on science. It involves Participative Action Learning and Research aimed at recognising the complex adaptive systems while being aligned with the ethics of the rural African environment. Emphasis is on the needs of the community, rather than of the individual utilising empirical evidence. The good practices in Macha that inform strategy to make ICT accessible in rural areas are: engaging the community, building relationships; workforce development, unlocking productivity; thought leadership, establishing authority.
- Full Text:
- Date Issued: 2013
A study assessing the functioning of local economic development units in local municipalities within the Chris Hani District
- Authors: Madyibi, Mongezi
- Date: 2013
- Subjects: Rural development -- South Africa -- Eastern Cape , Municipal government -- South Africa -- Eastern Cape , Poverty -- South Africa -- Eastern Cape
- Language: English
- Type: Thesis , Masters , MA
- Identifier: vital:9168 , http://hdl.handle.net/10948/d1020102
- Description: The state has a task to find solutions to alleviate poverty and LED has been identified as part of the solution. The municipalities are mandated with Local Economic Development and that function has been located within an LED Unit. Based on the above-mentioned issues it was regarded as fitting to conduct a study that would identify challenges contributing to the effective functioning of LED units with specific reference to Lukhanji and Intsika Yethu Local Municipalities in the Chris Hani District. Furthermore, the study will attempt to suggest recommendations to address the shortcomings. The sampling method used for this study was purposive sampling. Data was gathered through structured questionnaires administered to 15 LED officials from the Chris Hani District Municipality and the Lukhanji and Intsika Yethu Local Municipalities. Relevant literature that focuses on Local Economic Development has been reviewed. Various recommendations have been made on the findings of the study. It has emerged during the study that the municipalities within the CHDM perceive their role as that of being Implementer of LED policy instead of playing an enabling role as outlined in the LED Legislative Framework. There is a political will to support LED implementation at local municipalities within the CHDM. In the implementation of LED the LED units within the CHDM are faced with the following challenges: - Insufficient cooperation among stakeholders - Inadequate resources - Political dimensions - Poor LED planning, and - Inadequate LED training.
- Full Text:
- Date Issued: 2013
- Authors: Madyibi, Mongezi
- Date: 2013
- Subjects: Rural development -- South Africa -- Eastern Cape , Municipal government -- South Africa -- Eastern Cape , Poverty -- South Africa -- Eastern Cape
- Language: English
- Type: Thesis , Masters , MA
- Identifier: vital:9168 , http://hdl.handle.net/10948/d1020102
- Description: The state has a task to find solutions to alleviate poverty and LED has been identified as part of the solution. The municipalities are mandated with Local Economic Development and that function has been located within an LED Unit. Based on the above-mentioned issues it was regarded as fitting to conduct a study that would identify challenges contributing to the effective functioning of LED units with specific reference to Lukhanji and Intsika Yethu Local Municipalities in the Chris Hani District. Furthermore, the study will attempt to suggest recommendations to address the shortcomings. The sampling method used for this study was purposive sampling. Data was gathered through structured questionnaires administered to 15 LED officials from the Chris Hani District Municipality and the Lukhanji and Intsika Yethu Local Municipalities. Relevant literature that focuses on Local Economic Development has been reviewed. Various recommendations have been made on the findings of the study. It has emerged during the study that the municipalities within the CHDM perceive their role as that of being Implementer of LED policy instead of playing an enabling role as outlined in the LED Legislative Framework. There is a political will to support LED implementation at local municipalities within the CHDM. In the implementation of LED the LED units within the CHDM are faced with the following challenges: - Insufficient cooperation among stakeholders - Inadequate resources - Political dimensions - Poor LED planning, and - Inadequate LED training.
- Full Text:
- Date Issued: 2013
A study of electrospun nanofibers and diatomaceous earth materials for the extraction of alkaloids, flavonoids and aromatic amines in various matrices
- Mothibedi, Kediemetse (Kedimetse)
- Authors: Mothibedi, Kediemetse (Kedimetse)
- Date: 2013 , 2013-04-07
- Subjects: Nanofibers , Electrospinning , Sorbents , Extraction (Chemistry) , Alkaloids , Flavonoids , Amines , Matrices , Goldenseal , Ginkgo , Dyes and dyeing -- Chemistry
- Language: English
- Type: Thesis , Masters , MSc
- Identifier: vital:4288 , http://hdl.handle.net/10962/d1003052 , Nanofibers , Electrospinning , Sorbents , Extraction (Chemistry) , Alkaloids , Flavonoids , Amines , Matrices , Goldenseal , Ginkgo , Dyes and dyeing -- Chemistry
- Description: The thesis explored the use of different sorbent materials in solid phase extraction method development. The methods included the use of the polymeric Agilent Bond Elut Plexa solid phase extraction and electrospun polymer-silica composite sorbents for clean-up and preconcentration. Sample clean-up for alkaloids (hydrastine and berberine) in goldenseal, Hydrastis canadensis and flavonoids (quercetin, kaempferol and isorhamnetin) in Ginkgo biloba was achieved using Bond Elut Plexa SPE sorbent. Clean-up of flavonoids in Ginkgo biloba was also achieved using electrospun polymer-silica composite (polystyrene-silica, polyacrylonitrile-silica and nylon 6-silica) sorbents. All analysis of flavonoids and alkaloids was carried out using an Agilent 1200 Series HPLC coupled with a diode array detector. Good peak separation was achieved in less than 6 min employing an Agilent ZORBAX Eclipse Plus C18 column (4.6 x 75 mm, 3.5 μm) at 35⁰C. The mobile phases employed were 0.1% phosphoric acid/methanol gradient and 0.5% phosphoric acid/methanol (40:60) for alkaloids and flavonoids respectively. The calibration curves exhibited linearity up to 120 μg mL⁻¹ with correlation coefficients of more than 0.9980. The recoveries ranged from 73-109% with relative standard deviation of less than 5% for all analytes. Agilent Chem Elut supported liquid extraction was employed for the development of a sample preparation method for the determination of 24 banned aromatic amines from azo dyes in textile following the EU standard method EN 14362-1:2003 (E) and the Chinese standard method GB/T 17592-2006. The supported liquid extraction was effective in the extraction of the aromatic amines from textile (cotton, wool and polyester/cotton [80%:20%]). Most of the recoveries obtained were conforming to the minimum requirements set in the EN 14362-1:2003 (E) standard method and the relative standard deviations were less than 15%. Good peak separation was obtained within 70 min run time using the Agilent Zorbax SB-Phenyl column (4.6 mm x 250 mm, 5-micron) or the Agilent DB-35 MS (J & W) (30 m x 0.25 mm, 0.25 μm film thickness. It was demonstrated that the polymeric Agilent Bond Elut Plexa, electrospun nanofibers and diatomaceous earth were effective in extraction of alkaloids, flavonoids and aromatic amines in different matrices. The developed methods were simple, rapid and reproducible.
- Full Text:
- Date Issued: 2013
- Authors: Mothibedi, Kediemetse (Kedimetse)
- Date: 2013 , 2013-04-07
- Subjects: Nanofibers , Electrospinning , Sorbents , Extraction (Chemistry) , Alkaloids , Flavonoids , Amines , Matrices , Goldenseal , Ginkgo , Dyes and dyeing -- Chemistry
- Language: English
- Type: Thesis , Masters , MSc
- Identifier: vital:4288 , http://hdl.handle.net/10962/d1003052 , Nanofibers , Electrospinning , Sorbents , Extraction (Chemistry) , Alkaloids , Flavonoids , Amines , Matrices , Goldenseal , Ginkgo , Dyes and dyeing -- Chemistry
- Description: The thesis explored the use of different sorbent materials in solid phase extraction method development. The methods included the use of the polymeric Agilent Bond Elut Plexa solid phase extraction and electrospun polymer-silica composite sorbents for clean-up and preconcentration. Sample clean-up for alkaloids (hydrastine and berberine) in goldenseal, Hydrastis canadensis and flavonoids (quercetin, kaempferol and isorhamnetin) in Ginkgo biloba was achieved using Bond Elut Plexa SPE sorbent. Clean-up of flavonoids in Ginkgo biloba was also achieved using electrospun polymer-silica composite (polystyrene-silica, polyacrylonitrile-silica and nylon 6-silica) sorbents. All analysis of flavonoids and alkaloids was carried out using an Agilent 1200 Series HPLC coupled with a diode array detector. Good peak separation was achieved in less than 6 min employing an Agilent ZORBAX Eclipse Plus C18 column (4.6 x 75 mm, 3.5 μm) at 35⁰C. The mobile phases employed were 0.1% phosphoric acid/methanol gradient and 0.5% phosphoric acid/methanol (40:60) for alkaloids and flavonoids respectively. The calibration curves exhibited linearity up to 120 μg mL⁻¹ with correlation coefficients of more than 0.9980. The recoveries ranged from 73-109% with relative standard deviation of less than 5% for all analytes. Agilent Chem Elut supported liquid extraction was employed for the development of a sample preparation method for the determination of 24 banned aromatic amines from azo dyes in textile following the EU standard method EN 14362-1:2003 (E) and the Chinese standard method GB/T 17592-2006. The supported liquid extraction was effective in the extraction of the aromatic amines from textile (cotton, wool and polyester/cotton [80%:20%]). Most of the recoveries obtained were conforming to the minimum requirements set in the EN 14362-1:2003 (E) standard method and the relative standard deviations were less than 15%. Good peak separation was obtained within 70 min run time using the Agilent Zorbax SB-Phenyl column (4.6 mm x 250 mm, 5-micron) or the Agilent DB-35 MS (J & W) (30 m x 0.25 mm, 0.25 μm film thickness. It was demonstrated that the polymeric Agilent Bond Elut Plexa, electrospun nanofibers and diatomaceous earth were effective in extraction of alkaloids, flavonoids and aromatic amines in different matrices. The developed methods were simple, rapid and reproducible.
- Full Text:
- Date Issued: 2013
A study of maximum and minimum operators with applications to piecewise linear payoff functions
- Authors: Seedat, Ebrahim
- Date: 2013
- Subjects: Options (Finance) Piecewise linear topology Geometry, Affine Riesz spaces Lattice theory Algebra, Boolean Pricing , Max and min operators
- Language: English
- Type: Thesis , Doctoral , PhD
- Identifier: vital:931 , http://hdl.handle.net/10962/d1001457
- Description: The payoff functions of contingent claims (options) of one variable are prominent in Financial Economics and thus assume a fundamental role in option pricing theory. Some of these payoff functions are continuous, piecewise-defined and linear or affine. Such option payoff functions can be analysed in a useful way when they are represented in additive, Boolean normal, graphical and linear form. The issue of converting such payoff functions expressed in the additive, linear or graphical form into an equivalent Boolean normal form, has been considered by several authors for more than half-a-century to better-understand the role of such functions. One aspect of our study is to unify the foregoing different forms of representation, by creating algorithms that convert a payoff function expressed in graphical form into Boolean normal form and then into the additive form and vice versa. Applications of these algorithms are considered in a general theoretical sense and also in the context of specific option contracts wherever relevant. The use of these algorithms have yielded easy computation of the area enclosed by the graph of various functions using min and max operators in several ways, which, in our opinion, are important in option pricing. To summarise, this study effectively dealt with maximum and minimum operators from several perspectives
- Full Text:
- Date Issued: 2013
- Authors: Seedat, Ebrahim
- Date: 2013
- Subjects: Options (Finance) Piecewise linear topology Geometry, Affine Riesz spaces Lattice theory Algebra, Boolean Pricing , Max and min operators
- Language: English
- Type: Thesis , Doctoral , PhD
- Identifier: vital:931 , http://hdl.handle.net/10962/d1001457
- Description: The payoff functions of contingent claims (options) of one variable are prominent in Financial Economics and thus assume a fundamental role in option pricing theory. Some of these payoff functions are continuous, piecewise-defined and linear or affine. Such option payoff functions can be analysed in a useful way when they are represented in additive, Boolean normal, graphical and linear form. The issue of converting such payoff functions expressed in the additive, linear or graphical form into an equivalent Boolean normal form, has been considered by several authors for more than half-a-century to better-understand the role of such functions. One aspect of our study is to unify the foregoing different forms of representation, by creating algorithms that convert a payoff function expressed in graphical form into Boolean normal form and then into the additive form and vice versa. Applications of these algorithms are considered in a general theoretical sense and also in the context of specific option contracts wherever relevant. The use of these algorithms have yielded easy computation of the area enclosed by the graph of various functions using min and max operators in several ways, which, in our opinion, are important in option pricing. To summarise, this study effectively dealt with maximum and minimum operators from several perspectives
- Full Text:
- Date Issued: 2013
A study of psychological intervention strategies used by national soccer coaches for male teams in South Africa
- Authors: Xoxo, Thabo Daniel
- Date: 2013
- Subjects: Sports -- Psychological aspects , Soccer players -- South Africa , Soccer coaches -- South Africa , Goal setting in personnel management -- South Africa , Imagery (Psychology) , Soccer -- Coaching -- South Africa , Goal setting -- Mental imagery , Mental imagery -- Team cohesion , Relaxation training -- Psychological intervention strategies
- Language: English
- Type: Thesis , Masters , MSc (HMS)
- Identifier: vital:11543 , http://hdl.handle.net/10353/d1006883 , Sports -- Psychological aspects , Soccer players -- South Africa , Soccer coaches -- South Africa , Goal setting in personnel management -- South Africa , Imagery (Psychology) , Soccer -- Coaching -- South Africa , Goal setting -- Mental imagery , Mental imagery -- Team cohesion , Relaxation training -- Psychological intervention strategies
- Description: The purpose of the current study was to examine the Psychological Intervention Strategies (PIS) that are used by coaches for male soccer teams in South Africa to enhance the performance of the national soccer teams. National soccer coaches for male teams (n = 4) completed a questionnaire and attended in-depth interview. Results from both the questionnaire and in-depth interview revealed a lack of knowledge of PIS which was further supported by the data from the analysis. While some of the coaches did not utilise goal setting and relaxation in their coaching responsibilities, the current results further show that these soccer coaches do not utilise mental imagery as well. These results suggest that the SAFA soccer coaches could not integrate PIS in the coaching. Although the results cannot be generalised there is evidence that the SAFA trained soccer coaches demonstrate inadequacy in using PIS in their soccer coaching. The study finds that soccer coaches are psychologically under-prepared for their arduous task of soccer coaching. By implication the players are also mentally under-prepared that they cannot face their peers competitively. Current studies point to this psychological preparedness as the psychological momentum.
- Full Text:
- Date Issued: 2013
- Authors: Xoxo, Thabo Daniel
- Date: 2013
- Subjects: Sports -- Psychological aspects , Soccer players -- South Africa , Soccer coaches -- South Africa , Goal setting in personnel management -- South Africa , Imagery (Psychology) , Soccer -- Coaching -- South Africa , Goal setting -- Mental imagery , Mental imagery -- Team cohesion , Relaxation training -- Psychological intervention strategies
- Language: English
- Type: Thesis , Masters , MSc (HMS)
- Identifier: vital:11543 , http://hdl.handle.net/10353/d1006883 , Sports -- Psychological aspects , Soccer players -- South Africa , Soccer coaches -- South Africa , Goal setting in personnel management -- South Africa , Imagery (Psychology) , Soccer -- Coaching -- South Africa , Goal setting -- Mental imagery , Mental imagery -- Team cohesion , Relaxation training -- Psychological intervention strategies
- Description: The purpose of the current study was to examine the Psychological Intervention Strategies (PIS) that are used by coaches for male soccer teams in South Africa to enhance the performance of the national soccer teams. National soccer coaches for male teams (n = 4) completed a questionnaire and attended in-depth interview. Results from both the questionnaire and in-depth interview revealed a lack of knowledge of PIS which was further supported by the data from the analysis. While some of the coaches did not utilise goal setting and relaxation in their coaching responsibilities, the current results further show that these soccer coaches do not utilise mental imagery as well. These results suggest that the SAFA soccer coaches could not integrate PIS in the coaching. Although the results cannot be generalised there is evidence that the SAFA trained soccer coaches demonstrate inadequacy in using PIS in their soccer coaching. The study finds that soccer coaches are psychologically under-prepared for their arduous task of soccer coaching. By implication the players are also mentally under-prepared that they cannot face their peers competitively. Current studies point to this psychological preparedness as the psychological momentum.
- Full Text:
- Date Issued: 2013