Teachers' experiences of teacher-led professional development programs :an exploratory study of two clusters in the Mthatha district
- Authors: Zide, Lulama
- Date: 2016
- Subjects: Teachers -- In-service training -- South Africa -- Eastern Cape
- Language: English
- Type: Thesis , Doctoral , PhD (Education)
- Identifier: http://hdl.handle.net/10353/10394 , vital:35444
- Description: Professional growth of teachers is not new, but in recent years, the way in which it is structured and delivered has been reconceptualised. As part of the education reform process, many nations are investing in teacher education as a major engine for driving the changes in the classrooms to ensure learners’ academic success. South Africa is no exclusion to this trend of education reforms, hence, the founding of many professional growth initiatives. Most of these initiatives are aimed at Science and Maths teachers. This was mostly because the majority of Science and Maths teachers in South Africa are considered either under-qualified or not qualified to teach the subject. Yet, despite the efforts and enthusiasm, very little seems to have shifted in the teachers’ practices. Much of the literature still shows that even clusters are not effective in changing the situation completely. Using a qualitative case study design, the researcher explored teachers’ views on their clustering experience, and the benefits such participation and experience brings to their classroom instruction. The major findings of the study show that teachers find clustering as a tool that enriches their teaching, thus, both the content knowledge as well as their pedagogical strategies. The findings also show a consensus of teachers who need the cluster programs done continuously. The researcher concludes that teachers are still not happy with the professional development that is offered to them, and therefore recommends that such programs be offered according to teacher’s need.
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- Date Issued: 2016
Teachers' perceptions on the effects of frequent change in curriculum on effective teaching in junior secondary schools at Libode Education District, Eastern Cape
- Authors: Ngibe, Nondwe Cynthia Phelokazi
- Date: 2016
- Subjects: Curriculum change -- South Africa -- Eastern Cape Educational change Education -- South Africa -- Eastern Cape
- Language: English
- Type: Thesis , Doctoral , Degree
- Identifier: http://hdl.handle.net/10353/5587 , vital:29349
- Description: Worldwide educational change has been a topic of discussion. South Africa is among the countries having issues with the implementation of a new curriculum and its impact on effective teaching and learning in junior secondary schools. The country (South Africa) experienced frequent changes in education curriculum. The new curriculum was seen as the means to address poor state of education. It is common knowledge that teachers were and are presently still confused and stressed being unsure on how to apply some techniques to meet the requirements of the new curriculum. That led to underperformance of learners in their work at school. Hence, this study was conducted to explore the perceptions of teachers in South Africa regarding the effects that frequent changes in curriculum has on the effective teaching and learning in junior secondary schools. The change in curriculum is frequent in the sense that, from 1997 to 2016, the curriculum in South Africa was revised four times: Curriculum 2005 (C2005) in 1997, Revised National Curriculum Statement (RNCS) in 2002, National Curriculum Statement (NCS) in 2007 as well as Curriculum and Assessment Policy Statement (CAPS) in 2012. The study does not leave behind some literatures on concept of education, teaching and learning in junior secondary schools, curriculum in South Africa, an overview of curriculum policy in South Africa, curriculum changes to mention a few. Qualitative research methodology was used by the researcher so as interview participants (teachers) in their workplace. The case study was chosen as the design, whereby two junior secondary schools from the population of schools in Libode district were purposely sampled. Data was collected from teachers in these schools, that is, six teachers from each school. Four teachers from each phase were targeted, that is, (four from foundation phase, four from intermediate phase and four from senior phase). Semi-structured interviews were used as the instrument to collect information from the participants. From the study, the researcher found confusion and frustration due to the frequent changes in curriculum; negative influence on effective teaching and learning, by the fact that teachers ultimately do not know what to do to meet the requirements of the curriculum; and not much continuity or links between phases in as far as content and subjects are concerned. The study recommended the appointment of professional facilitators, revisiting of the language policy in GET band (with focus in LOLT in foundation phase), encouraging continuity across phases, actively involvement of teachers in formulating or drafting of any policy that will affect curriculum since they are the implementers of curriculum. The study established that frequent change in curriculum had negative effects on teaching and in junior secondary schools. This is the perception of the majority of participants. As far as literature regarding teachers is concerned, changing curriculum without changing teachers’ understanding and attitude has negative impact on learning especially in South Africa, with special focus on rural schools such as those of Libode district in the Eastern Cape Province.
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- Date Issued: 2016
Teachers' perceptions whether school management teams contribute towards teacher leadership in primary schools
- Authors: Jacobs, Elfean Randall
- Date: 2016
- Subjects: School management teams , School management and organization -- South Africa , Educational leadership -- South Africa
- Language: English
- Type: Thesis , Masters , MEd
- Identifier: http://hdl.handle.net/10948/6823 , vital:21149
- Description: Teachers in South African schools are one of the most valuable role players in the execution and implementation of curricular and co-curricular activities. They perform almost every formal and informal task in their daily work to ensure the effectiveness of our schools. Teacher leadership, a relatively new leadership in South African education, which is embedded in a distributed leadership theory, places the emphasis of leadership not only on the principal and the school management team (SMT) but can be located to a wide range of people who work effectively to improve the organisation. The purpose of this study was to determine Post Level (PL) 1 teachers' perceptions of whether the SMT contributes towards teacher leadership in the school. In this case study, through purposive sampling, the researcher made use of one school in a case where a total of 19 teachers participated in the study. The researcher used one instrument to collect data on the PL 1 teachers' perceptions. A set of questionnaires was distributed to elicit responses from PL 1 teachers and the result was analysed by means of themes. Evidence revealed that teachers are not aware of the existence of the new model of teacher leadership. However, findings also revealed that some teachers are ready to perform as leaders. These findings can influence leadership practices, collaboration, improvements in the school, motivation, and job satisfaction, as well as learner performance.
- Full Text: false
- Date Issued: 2016
Teaching and Learning of ‘Water for Agriculture’in Primary Schools in Lesotho, South Africa and Zimbabwe
- Authors: Pesanayi, Tichaona V , Mashozhera, Farasten , Khitsane, Lintle
- Date: 2016
- Subjects: To be catalogued
- Language: English
- Type: text , article
- Identifier: http://hdl.handle.net/10962/387289 , vital:68222 , xlink:href="https://www.ajol.info/index.php/sajee/article/view/152741"
- Description: Teaching youths about the subject of water for agriculture is vital in southern Africa where climate adaptation is imperative. Fresh water is a critical natural resource experiencing dangerous scarcity globally, with climate change and variability being key drivers. Agriculture consumes most of the allocated water in most of the southern African countries, so this sector needs particular water harvesting and conservation education. The Food and Agriculture Organisation (FAO) reported that 93% of cultivated land in southern Africa was rain-fed at the beginning of the 21st century. Drought hinders effective agricultural practices in poor-rainfall areas and is a common feature in most southern African countries. Increasingly frequent drought events affect Lesotho, South Africa and Zimbabwe chronically due to climate variability and change. These three countries have school curricula that carry agricultural and sustainability learning to varying extents. Agriculture is taught as a science subject, and tends to be inclined towards normative technicist approaches at the expense of traditional and innovative sustainability practices. This omission in curriculum development and teaching may miss the opportunity to learn from lessons offered by these traditional and innovative systems that have demonstrated resilience to climate variability and change. This paper explores the opportunities and enablers of sustainability learning and relevance in the primary school agriculture curricula of these three countries. The paper argues for inclusion of sustainable agricultural water learning as an act of educational quality and relevance that reflects 21st century socio-ecological, agro-climate and socioeconomic challenges in southern Africa.
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- Date Issued: 2016
Teaching and learning with technology: reframing traditional understandings and practices
- Authors: Tshuma, Nompilo
- Date: 2016
- Language: English
- Type: Book , text
- Identifier: http://hdl.handle.net/10962/59569 , vital:27627
- Description: This publication is a collection of case studies outlining examples of how lecturers at Rhodes University have carefully considered and selected technologies to address a range of teaching and learning challenges. In each case, the selection of the learning technology has been driven by a particular learning challenge, with student engagement and enhancement of learning as the main goals. The lecturers have utilised technology as one of several tools in the learning process. Each case study emphasises that even with students’ technological abilities and the masses of information readily available online, the teacher is still indispensable (Laurillard, 2013) for planning, facilitating, guiding and scaffolding learning with technology. For the sake of clarity, some of the details in the case studies may have been omitted or slightly changed.
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- Date Issued: 2016
Teaching for criticality: an analysis of the current status at two teacher education colleges in Zimbabwe
- Authors: Manyumwa, Canisius
- Date: 2016
- Subjects: Critical pedagogy -- Zimbabwe , Teachers colleges -- Zimbabwe , Teachers -- Training of -- Zimbabwe
- Language: English
- Type: Thesis , Doctoral , PhD
- Identifier: http://hdl.handle.net/10948/8119 , vital:25016
- Description: The education system in Zimbabwe is an adoption and adaptation of former colonial education that ended in 1980 with the attainment of independence. However, much of the ethos and practices of colonial education appear to have defied the transition, resulting in a transmission-based education system that is averse to critical thinking and critical pedagogy. This research study sought to find out the level of criticality at selected Zimbabwe teacher education colleges and to suggest ways of improving the development of this criticality. The study was a critical social research, situated in the transformative paradigm of qualitative research. I adopted a multi-site case study approach where focus group discussion and document analysis techniques were used in data generation at two teacher education colleges. The sample for the study comprised six (6) and seven (7) members of the Theory of Education department teaching staff at the respective institutions who volunteered to take part in the focus group discussions. The study used Antonio Gramsci’s ‘cultural hegemony’ and Malewski and Jaramillo’s ‘epistemologies of ignorance’ as its theoretical framework. The main findings were that there were very low levels of criticality in the teacher education programme because critical thinking and critical pedagogy were generally viewed negatively in the institutions. The key operational documents in the programme, the syllabus and the examination question papers did not reflect any meaningful critical thinking or critical pedagogy concepts or demands. Research participants turned out to have a very inadequate understanding of critical thinking and critical pedagogy. In addition, they blamed the failure to teach critical thinking skills on shortage of time and the large numbers of students on the teacher education programme. From analysis, both of these reasons were not convincing. From the findings in the study, I recommended a nationwide campaign to raise teacher educators’ awareness of the nature and value of developing criticality. I also recommended some formal educational programmes for key players in the teacher education system that can help advance their understanding of critical thinking and critical pedagogy. Critical thinking and critical pedagogy should be substantively included on the teacher education syllabi and examinations. Teacher education, and all other sectors of education, should go beyond just teaching criticality skills to learners. Educators need to be able to use such skills themselves in their teaching and in their own lives. My suggested framework for the inclusion of criticality in education can be used as a way of ensuring that criticality is developed and catches appeal across the country.
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- Date Issued: 2016
Technauriture as an Educational Tool in South Africa: translating to read across Africa
- Authors: Kaschula, Russell H
- Date: 2016
- Language: English
- Type: text , article
- Identifier: http://hdl.handle.net/10962/174865 , vital:42516 , https://njas.fi/njas/article/view/109
- Description: This article seeks to situate the importance of orality in southern African communities within the paradigm of Technauriture, that being the intersection of technology, auriture and literature and how it relates to imparting educational messages within South Africa in particular. The process of orality as allowed for through, for example oral histories, music, poetry and story-telling, and how it interacts with the recording process facilitated through modern technology, as well as the return of the oral material via technology in educational and archival circles is further explored in this article. The question which this article seeks to understand is how technology can contribute in the educational milieu.
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- Date Issued: 2016
Technical and institutional constraints faced by vegetable co-operatives in the Buffalo City Metropolitan Municipality in Eastern Cape Province, South Africa
- Authors: Madlodlo, Sinazo
- Date: 2016
- Subjects: Agriculture, Cooperative -- South Africa -- Eastern Cape , Vegetable trade -- South Africa -- Eastern Cape , Cooperative marketing of farm produce -- South Africa -- Eastern Cape
- Language: English
- Type: Thesis , Masters , MSc
- Identifier: http://hdl.handle.net/10353/1497 , vital:27396
- Description: This study focused on the technical and institutional constraints faced by the vegetable co-operatives with regard to the impact on productivity. Vegetable co-operatives have no access to markets due to their poor performance on productivity and poor quality produce resulting to low prices for the produce such that they cannot compete in a market economy. In this study, the data was drawn from a sample of thirty vegetable co-operatives in the Buffalo City Metropolitan Municipality (BCMM) of the Eastern Cape; obtained through focus group discussions and interviews from each cooperative. The objectives of the study are to measure the productivity of vegetable co-operatives using Total factor productivity analysis (TFP) and profitability of vegetable co-operative using Gross Margin (GM). Followed by the descriptive statistics in identifying and assessing the socio-economic characteristics as well as coping strategies adopted by vegetable co-operatives in BCMM where percentages, means and tables are used looking at the highest frequency. The results show that the vegetable co-operatives in the BCMM are not productive and profitable due to major constraints experienced by co-operatives such as lack of market, information, trainings and business skills, capital, infrastructural facilities, effective extension services that all leads to poor produce quality. Co-operative is said to be profitable and viable if total revenue is greater than the total variable cost which makes the gross margin positive. In this case, the total gross margin is negative. The results showed that the production costs, maintenance (tractor hire, generator hire and servicing) and electricity costs were the major costs incurred in the production of vegetable by the co-operatives.
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- Date Issued: 2016
TeleWeaver: an architectural overview of a customised application server for rurality
- Authors: Tsietsi, Mosiuoa , Terzoli, Alfredo , Gumbo, Sibukelo
- Date: 2016
- Subjects: To be catalogued
- Language: English
- Type: text , article
- Identifier: http://hdl.handle.net/10962/430624 , vital:72704 , 10.1109/ISTAFRICA.2016.7530616
- Description: The Siyakhula Living Lab in the rural Eastern Cape province of South Africa has been in existence for over a decade now. In this time, sever-al software artefacts have been developed by students and partners with the aim of providing contextually-relevant services to the rural community. However, reliance on different platforms and paradigms has meant that the deployment of such services would be difficult to implement and maintain reliably in actual practice. What is required is a single software platform that can act as a docking station for multiple applications, as well as a routing substrate for applications living inside and outside the platform. A candidate platform to enable this is currently being integrated under the codename Teleweaver and is built from a free, open source J2EE application server and integrates with other software components. This paper provides an architectural overview of the platform and demonstrates how it provides a sustainable context for application development going forward.
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- Date Issued: 2016
Temperature-dependent performance and potential distribution of Pareuchaetes insulata, a biological control agent of Chromolaena odorata in South Africa
- Authors: Uyi, Osariyekemwen O , Zachariades, Costas , Hill, Martin P , McConnachie, Andrew J
- Date: 2016
- Subjects: To be catalogued
- Language: English
- Type: text , article
- Identifier: http://hdl.handle.net/10962/418067 , vital:71505 , xlink:href="https://doi.org/10.1007/s10526-016-9760-1"
- Description: Despite the release of about 1.9 million individuals of Pareuchaetes insulata (Walker) (Lepidoptera: Erebidae) in KwaZulu-Natal for the biological control of Chromolaena odorata (L.) King and Robinson (Asteraceae) in South Africa, the moth probably only established at one of the 30 release sites and its population level is generally low in the field. To determine whether climate incompatibility in South Africa is responsible for the poor performance of P. insulata, the effects of temperature on life-history traits were investigated under several constant temperatures. Although a degree-day model estimated between 3.9 and 10.0 generations of the moth per year in the weed’s invaded range, survival and fecundity declined while development time was prolonged at constant temperatures below 25 °C, indicating that both direct and indirect negative impacts of low winter temperatures, such as increased mortality, slow development and reduced fecundity as well as exposure to natural enemies, may partly explain the poor performance of P. insulata in South Africa.
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- Date Issued: 2016
Terrorism as a contributory factor to state failure in Somalia: a case study of Al- Shabaab
- Authors: Ndlovu, Sitembiso Irene
- Date: 2016
- Subjects: Terrorism -- Somalia Terrorism -- Government policy -- Somalia
- Language: English
- Type: Thesis , Masters , M Soc Sci
- Identifier: http://hdl.handle.net/10353/2458 , vital:27843
- Description: This study is an investigation of terrorism as a contributory factor to state failure in Somalia with specific reference to Al-Shabaab, using Huntington‟s Clash of Civilizations theory. It utilises both primary and secondary sources of data. The study found out that Somalia had been a failed state even before the birth of Al-Shabaab. However, the activities of Al-Shabaab perpetuated state failure in Somalia. These activities included bombings, small arms attacks, executions, siege, kidnappings, hijackings and looting. The study also found out that Al-Shabaab regularly conducted incursions in neighbouring countries and all these activities destabilised Somalia politically and perpetuated state failure. However, the study also found out that there were other factors that contributed to Somalia‟s state failure some of which were clan rivalry, civil war, warlordism, piracy, poverty and religion. Despite all these, the study noted that there were various actors involved in containing the terrorist activities of Al-Shabaab. These actors included the Transitional Federal Government, Kenya, the African Union, the United Nations and the United States. The study recommends that dialogue between the TFG, the clan structures and Al-Shabaab is the most viable path to sustainable peace in Somalia.
- Full Text:
- Date Issued: 2016
Terrorism as a contributory factor to state failure in Somalia: A case study of Al-Shabaab
- Authors: Ndlovu, Sitembiso Irene
- Date: 2016
- Subjects: Terrorism -- Somalia
- Language: English
- Type: Thesis , Masters , Degree
- Identifier: http://hdl.handle.net/10353/2656 , vital:27979
- Description: This study is an investigation of terrorism as a contributory factor to state failure in Somalia with specific reference to Al-Shabaab, using Huntington‟s Clash of Civilizations theory. It utilises both primary and secondary sources of data. The study found out that Somalia had been a failed state even before the birth of Al-Shabaab. However, the activities of Al-Shabaab perpetuated state failure in Somalia. These activities included bombings, small arms attacks, executions, siege, kidnappings, hijackings and looting. The study also found out that Al-Shabaab regularly conducted incursions in neighbouring countries and all these activities destabilised Somalia politically and perpetuated state failure. However, the study also found out that there were other factors that contributed to Somalia‟s state failure some of which were clan rivalry, civil war, warlordism, piracy, poverty and religion. Despite all these, the study noted that there were various actors involved in containing the terrorist activities of Al-Shabaab. These actors included the Transitional Federal Government, Kenya, the African Union, the United Nations and the United States. The study recommends that dialogue between the TFG, the clan structures and Al-Shabaab is the most viable path to sustainable peace in Somalia.
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- Date Issued: 2016
Testing the effectiveness and cost-efficiency of livestock guarding dogs in Botswana
- Authors: Horgan, Jane Elizabeth
- Date: 2016
- Language: English
- Type: Thesis , Masters , MSc
- Identifier: vital:5951 , http://hdl.handle.net/10962/d1021300
- Description: Livestock guarding dogs (LSGDs) have been used for centuries to reduce depredation on livestock and more recently, to facilitate the conservation of threatened predator species. Conservation NGOs (non-government organisations) in southern Africa promote the use of Anatolian Shepherds as LSGDs. However, livestock farmers in Botswana have been using a variety of different breeds for this purpose, including the local mixed-breed “Tswana” dogs. Postal, telephonic and face-to-face interview questionnaires were administered to 108 livestock farmers in Botswana to gauge how their LSGDs were being used, in order to determine what factors contributed to the success and affordability of these dogs. Eighty-three percent of farmers had LSGDs which equaled or decreased livestock depredations on their farms, with an average reduction in livestock depredation of 75% per year. This equated to an average saving of US$2,017 annually per farm. The costs of purchasing (average US$27) and maintaining the 198 LSGDs in my study (average US$169/LSGD/year) were very low compared to other countries and helped contribute to the high profits obtained by farmers (average US$1,497/farm or US$789/LSGD). A unique investigation of different breeds was possible due to the diverse array of breeds in the sample (Anatolian Shepherds, Cross Breeds, Tswana dogs, Greyhounds and Pitbulls), with the crossbreed dogs (Crosses and Tswana LSGDs) performing the best. LSGDs that reduced depredation and had minimal behavioural problems were the most likely to incite positive changes in their owners in regards to attitudes towards predators. Sixtysix percent of farmers stated that they were more tolerant of predators since obtaining a LSGD, and 51% reported that they were less likely to kill predators since obtaining a LSGD. My results indicate that successful, well-behaved LSGDs are a cost-effective tool that has the ability to increase farm productivity and improve predator-farmer conflicts in Botswana. The methods recommended in my thesis, in particular the benefits of using local breeds of dog as LSGDs, can be implemented on farming practices the world over to assist farming productivity and to promote conservation efforts.
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- Date Issued: 2016
The adequacy of traffic control measures during road works
- Authors: Norris, Shaun Peter
- Date: 2016
- Subjects: Roads -- Safety measures Roads -- Maintenance and repair Construction industry -- Employees -- Health and hygiene
- Language: English
- Type: Thesis , Masters , MSc
- Identifier: http://hdl.handle.net/10948/11520 , vital:26934
- Description: Workers have the right to a safe working environment. This right is encapsulated in the Bill of Rights (1996) wherein strong emphasis is placed on the right to a healthy and safe work environment. The construction industry has been labeled as dangerous owing to regular incidents, serious accidents, and fatalities. Road workers’ safety is at high risk in road construction areas, as they perform their work activities alongside moving vehicles that are often large and sometimes moving at high speed. It was determined that very few secondary sources provided information regarding the safety of South African road construction workers. Therefore, the knowledge obtained from this study contributes to the body of knowledge on the subject matter. To collect data, three descriptive surveys were conducted on two different road construction projects within the Eastern Cape. The survey participants included engineering consultants, contractors, traffic safety officers, general road construction workers, as well as random motorists driving through the work zone. Further data was collected from a speed measuring instrument placed in the work zone of the Port Elizabeth. The findings of this research report indicate that road users are not cognizant of the risk to workers in the work zone and that signage and advance warning signs alone are not sufficient to slow motorists’ speed. A further significant threat to road worker safety, is plant operator visibility. This study recommends that government and construction firms educate the public regarding the risks associated with speeding through a work zone. Construction firms should use electronic speed measuring devices prior to the work zone to make road users aware of their speed in relation to the speed limit. To limit plant related accidents, companies should install sensors or cameras on the rear and side panels of plant, so that plant operators have all round vision. Furthermore, road workers could be educated on the controlled use of their mobile phones to reduce the risks associated with the use of mobile phones inside work zones.
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- Date Issued: 2016
The Anti-hypertensive Properties of T. officinale on L-Name-induced Hypertensive Rats
- Authors: Aremu, Olukayode Olasunkanmi
- Date: 2016
- Subjects: Hypertension Anti-hypertensive
- Language: English
- Type: Thesis , Masters , M Sc
- Identifier: http://hdl.handle.net/11260/1045 , vital:30434
- Description: Medicinal plants have long been used in folkloric medicine in various parts of the world. Presence of phenolic compounds has been attributed to their medicinal properties. Despite various medicinal uses, scientific claims of anti-hypertensive activities are still deficient. Therefore, hydroethanolic (70% ethanol) extracts of the leaf and root parts of T. officinale (TOL and TOR respectively) were investigated for anti-hypertensive antioxidant, diuretic activities, and effects on lipid profile in L-Name-induced hypertensive Wistar rats. Phytochemical screening of TOL and TOR was assessed by known standardized method. Acute toxicity profile of the plant was also evaluated by Lorke’s method. Total phenolic and flavonoid contents were assessed using Folin Ciocalteau and Aluminium chloride colorimetric methods; while, 2, 2-diphenyl-1-picrylhydrazyl (DPPH), 2, 2’–azino-bis-3-ethylbenzthiazoline-6-sulphonic acid (ABTS)and ferric antioxidant reducing power (FRAP) protocols were used for their radical scavenging and total antioxidant capacities respectively. Spontaneously hypertensive rats were used for acute antihypertensive study while for the 21 days antihypertensive study, hypertension was induced by administering L-Name (40 mg/kg) for 4 weeks and, CODA 8 Non-invasive tail cuff machine was used to measure blood pressure. With the aid of a semi-auto chemistry analyzer, lipid profile of Taraxacum officinale (TO) was determined using Biosinol reagents. TOL and TOR also significantly reduced systolic, diastolic and mean arterial blood pressures up until 4 hours with the leaf part most active in single dose study using SHR model. TOL and TOR also significantly lowered systolic, diastolic and mean arterial blood pressures with the leaf part most active in 21 days study using and L-Name-induced HTN models. However, these plant extracts did not have a diuretic effect, but seems to exert its antihypertensive effects by modulating NO production and possibly bioavailability, by acting via an endothelium-dependent pathway. This study validates the traditional use of the leaf part of the plant as an antihypertensive agent.
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- Date Issued: 2016
The application of GIS and remote sensing to assess the effect of periodic flooding on communities along the Juskeiriver: A case study of Alexandria Township, Johannesburg, South Africa
- Authors: Mawasha, Tshepo Sylvester
- Date: 2016
- Subjects: Remote sensing Geographic information systems -- South Africa , Remote sensing
- Language: English
- Type: Thesis , Masters , MSc
- Identifier: http://hdl.handle.net/10948/45613 , vital:38918
- Description: Floods are water induced disasters that led to temporary induction of dry and cause serious damages in the affected location such as loss of valuable assets, lives and destruction of infrastructure. Flooding had become common in Alexandra Township during rainfall season and the recorded impact of periodic flooding on communities is increasing at an alarming rate. This study seeks to identify populations vulnerable to flooding and to map-out areas at high risk of flood disasters, using GIS and RS as a tool. For GIS application different types of maps were produced, namely, flood vulnerability, hazards, risk and risk index map highlighting areas at risk of being affected by flooding. Flood risk index maps identify three categories of risk zones; low and high risk zone. The household units within each of the risk zones was calculated and the total was estimated to be 762 for low-risk and 32 486 for high risk zone. The SRTM Digital Elevation Model (DEM) and multi-temporal Satellite Probatoire d’Observation de la Terra (SPOT) satellite images for 1997, 2006 and 2013 of the area was used for land-use and land-cover (LULC) change analyses using maximum-likelihood post-classification comparison. Results reveal that tremendous urban development had taken place in the study area along the Jukskei River area for the past sixteen years. It was observed that there was a sharp decrease in vegetation from 237ha (1997) to 134ha (2006) to 68ha (2013). This may had a negative impact on the environment around this area by decreasing surface runoff. The trend however, shows that bare surface and vegetation land-cover class has no potential to recover. Questionnaires aimed at all the residents in the study area were used to assess the effect of periodic flooding on communities. Community leader and City of Johannesburg Disaster Management Unit (CoJDMU) interviews were also conducted to get more insight about floods management in the study area. Finally, strategies for alleviating flood risk in the study area were discussed and some recommendations were made to help the government and municipal authorities to improve and development sustainable flood mitigation measures.
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- Date Issued: 2016
The application of section 17 of the Employment of Educators' Act
- Authors: Mnguni, Sihle
- Date: 2016
- Subjects: Educational law and legislation -- South Africa Labor laws and legislation -- South Africa Employees -- Dismissal of -- Law and legislation -- South Africa
- Language: English
- Type: Thesis , Masters , LLM
- Identifier: http://hdl.handle.net/10948/11865 , vital:26999
- Description: The purpose of this treatise is to discuss the implementation of section 17 of The Employment of Educators’ Act1 with a view to examining its shortcomings in fulfilling the requirements of fairness. Section 17 makes dismissal for transgressing any of the misconduct cases listed therein compulsory. This is so because of the use of the term “must” in its opening sentence. The Constitutional Court in Sidumo v Rustenburg Platinum Mines2 emphasizes the consideration of the totality of circumstances before the dismissal sanction is imposed by an employer. These include but not limited to the importance of the rule that has been breached to the employer; the basis of the employee’s challenge to the dismissal; the harm caused by the employee’s conduct; the effect of dismissal on the employee and the length of service. The treatise argues that in its current form section 17 of The Employment of Educators’ Act does not cater for the consideration of these circumstances set by the Constitutional Court. The study will also discuss the applicable dismissal legislation in education. The Constitution of the Republic of South Africa guarantees everyone a right to fair labour practices.3 This right is further qualified by the Labour Relations Act4 in section 185. The Labour Relations Act also has in it Schedule 8 which is a Code of Good Practice: Dismissal. The Code endorses the concept of corrective or progressive discipline5 and the need to give due consideration to certain circumstances before dismissing an employee.6 The consideration of the circumstances listed by the Constitutional Court in Sidumo v Rustenburg Platinum Mines7 and the provisions of items 3(2) and 3(6) cannot be said to be well catered for under section 17 of the Employment of Educators’ Act because of the use of the term “must”. For the principle of fair labour practices to be fully accommodated under section 17 of the Employment of Educators’ Act a need to amend it is necessary. This treatise will introduce amendments that will provide for pre-dismissal arbitration as a possible approach to ensuring full compliance for fairness in dismissals that are as a result of transgressing any of the misconduct cases listed in section 17. Other amendments suggested are aimed at realigning section 17 to other child specific legislation like the Children’s Amendment Act8 and the Sexual Offences and Related Matters Amendment Act.
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- Date Issued: 2016
The application of the “reasonable suspicion of bias” test in relation to the appointment of a tax Ombud in South Africa
- Authors: Tendayi, Tatenda Lovemore
- Date: 2016
- Language: English
- Type: Thesis , Masters , MCom
- Identifier: http://hdl.handle.net/10962/4190 , vital:20631
- Description: The South African Parliament established a tax Ombud to act as an oversight body which reviews administrative complaints against SARS. Concerns have, however, been raised by academics and experts that the tax Ombud is not adequately independent of SARS so as to be able to investigate the complaints effectively and without bias. The manner in which the appointment, funding and staffing of the tax Ombud have been provided for, have been cited as the major sources of the perception of impartiality. According to decisions of the highest courts in South Africa, the “reasonable suspicion of bias” test must be applied in cases where institutional bias is alleged. The test investigates whether or not the reasonable person would suspect that the particular decision maker will be biased, due to institutional factors. After applying the “reasonable suspicion of bias” test to the model of the South African tax Ombud, the conclusion reached is that the model of the tax Ombud gives rise to a reasonable suspicion of bias. Notwithstanding the fact that the model gives rise to a suspicion of bias, it is concluded that the model, in its current form, remains fair as safeguards have been put in place by the legislature to ensure that fairness prevails. There is, however, international precedent which suggests that the sources of institutional bias can be eliminated completely from the model of the tax Ombud. Specifically, if the funding and staffing of the tax Ombud’s office is removed from SARS, the model of the tax Ombud would move closer to the ideal standards of fairness.
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- Date Issued: 2016
The art of education reform: an analysis of the relationship between arts education and performance in mathematics and science
- Authors: Xulu, Senzo Siphesihle
- Date: 2016
- Subjects: Educational change -- South Africa Arts in education -- South Africa Science -- South Africa -- Mathematics
- Language: English
- Type: Thesis , Masters , MA
- Identifier: http://hdl.handle.net/10948/14124 , vital:27432
- Description: The role of the Arts Education in South African Education has long been a contentious and disputable topic. Despite this, a large amount of literature has been compiled advocating for the inclusion of the arts in schooling systems worldwide. Most of this literature speaks of the benefits of the arts, covering how they directly and indirectly affect 1) The learning environment 2) The learner and 3) The performance of the learner in other subjects. The basis of this study is to intently look at the third factor, the influence of the arts on a learner’s performance in other subjects, like Mathematics and Science. Though education reform programs are neither new nor few in number, those that have been implemented through the arts, and in low socio-economic areas, portray art education as a salient ingredient to holistic education reform. The study draws from such reform programs, from around the world, and categorically shows how they have successfully integrated arts education into their curricula. Through the investigation of the success and implementation of these programs, this paper shows that creativity - through the teaching of the arts - is a vital key to the education reform that South Africa is in need of, particularly in mathematics and science.
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- Date Issued: 2016
The beat
- Authors: Masheane, Napo
- Date: 2016
- Language: English
- Type: Thesis , Masters , MA
- Identifier: vital:6014 , http://hdl.handle.net/10962/d1021234
- Description: My play script is a docu-drama inspired by the 1950s Drum journalists: Can Themba, Bloke Modisane, Nat Nakasa, Henry Nxumalo, Lewis Nkosi, Peter Magubane, Casey Motsitsi and Todd Matshikiza. The setting is a Sophiatown shebeen through which the characters move in and out. The central dramatic exploration hinges on female characters’ experiences rather than the perspectives of the male journalists connected to them. I dramatise documented events such as Modisane’s wife leaving him and taking their daughter with her, or a woman who buried her lover’s body after he was beaten and stabbed to death. There are other twists and turns based on the Drum journalists writings. I play with the seriousness of politics, love affairs, and the comedy of their daily lives. My influences come from plays such as Nongogo (1959) and Sophiatown (1986). The Beat is dedicated to all the women who have been silenced and as a result became products of their consequences. Their voices remind me as a theatre maker that my poems and plays might arrive in me as pure SONGS (Dipina) or a CRY (Kodiyamalla). Sometimes their inspiration will spring from my traditional family rituals, as a PRAISE song/s (Dithoko/ Thoko), or from a simple memory of a childhood church song, a HYMN (Difela/ Sefela). At times these words will present themselves as a source of where one comes from, CLAN NAMES (Seboko/ Poko). These stories will find me in the dusty streets of my village and township HERSTORY… they will touch, move, provoke, push and force me to vomit on page words that are subjects of that which we are even when silence seems inevitable. , My poetry collection fuses Sesotho and English, often within the same poem, as a way of showing how I live within and between two cultures. I write to celebrate these two tongues without compromising either language and allow each poem, to express its own musical component, tone, rhythm, and pace as it moves between stage and page. My poems converse about difficult subjects from a feminine voice. They look at family structures and dynamics, using everyday household things as metaphors. They take on deep family narratives of generational curses, births, deaths and love. There are also some more political poems about community outrage, the exploitation caused by outmoded culture and tradition, and about the nightmare that constantly wants to come out of the township.
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- Date Issued: 2016