Lechwe Trust Collection:
- Authors: Simbao, Ruth K
- Date: 2013
- Language: English
- Type: text , article
- Identifier: http://hdl.handle.net/10962/147547 , vital:38648 , https://doi.org/10.1162/afar.2005.38.3.78
- Description: The caustic humor of The Arts Delegate (2000), by the cartoonist popularly known in Zambia as" Yuss," captures a dynamic readily found in the Zambian art world.
- Full Text:
- Date Issued: 2013
- Authors: Simbao, Ruth K
- Date: 2013
- Language: English
- Type: text , article
- Identifier: http://hdl.handle.net/10962/147547 , vital:38648 , https://doi.org/10.1162/afar.2005.38.3.78
- Description: The caustic humor of The Arts Delegate (2000), by the cartoonist popularly known in Zambia as" Yuss," captures a dynamic readily found in the Zambian art world.
- Full Text:
- Date Issued: 2013
Like Katherine
- Authors: Morgan, Jane Mary Kathleen
- Date: 2013
- Subjects: Creative writing , Fiction , South Africa , Creative writing (Higher education) , Short stories, South African (English) -- 21st century , South African fiction (English) -- 21st century , English language -- Writing
- Language: English
- Type: text , Thesis , Masters , MA
- Identifier: vital:5964 , http://hdl.handle.net/10962/d1001814
- Description: Vicky, a thirty something English radio journalist, has moved to Cape Town to try and work out what it is that's missing from her life and to fill the gap. At first she thinks she's found what she's looking for, but a series of unsettling events makes her realise she has simply brought her problems with her. She goes back to England, ostensibly for work, where she is contacted by her stepbrother, Mark. They hardly know each other but he has a reason for wanting to find her. They meet and, for both of them, their encounters change the way they see themselves and their relationships. Vicky comes to understand more about her past and her family and, for the first time, to find a connection with her emotional life
- Full Text:
- Date Issued: 2013
- Authors: Morgan, Jane Mary Kathleen
- Date: 2013
- Subjects: Creative writing , Fiction , South Africa , Creative writing (Higher education) , Short stories, South African (English) -- 21st century , South African fiction (English) -- 21st century , English language -- Writing
- Language: English
- Type: text , Thesis , Masters , MA
- Identifier: vital:5964 , http://hdl.handle.net/10962/d1001814
- Description: Vicky, a thirty something English radio journalist, has moved to Cape Town to try and work out what it is that's missing from her life and to fill the gap. At first she thinks she's found what she's looking for, but a series of unsettling events makes her realise she has simply brought her problems with her. She goes back to England, ostensibly for work, where she is contacted by her stepbrother, Mark. They hardly know each other but he has a reason for wanting to find her. They meet and, for both of them, their encounters change the way they see themselves and their relationships. Vicky comes to understand more about her past and her family and, for the first time, to find a connection with her emotional life
- Full Text:
- Date Issued: 2013
Linguistic minorities in the South African context : the case of Tshivenda
- Authors: Luvhengo, Nkhangweleni
- Date: 2013
- Subjects: Indigenous African languages , Apartheid , Tshivenda , Minority languages , Development , Status , Multilingualism , Sesotho , isiZulu , Perceptions , Linguistic minorities -- Research -- South Africa , Venda language -- Research -- South Africa , Language policy -- Research -- South Africa , Multilingualism -- Research -- South Africa , Linguistic rights -- Research -- South Africa , Language and languages -- Political aspects
- Language: English
- Type: text , Thesis , Masters , MA
- Identifier: vital:3558 , http://hdl.handle.net/10962/d1001862
- Description: After many years of the oppressive apartheid government, the new democratic era came into being in 1994. Lot of policy changes came into being, including language policy. This new language policy of the post-apartheid era recognises eleven official languages which include the nine indigenous African languages which were previously recognised as regional languages in the different homelands. The present study investigates the progress of Tshivenda in terms of status and development since it was accorded the official status in South Africa. Literature investigating the status of Tshivenda is generally sparse. This study investigates the status of Tshivenda in South Africa to explore how minority languages which are also recognised as official languages are treated. In most multilingual countries, there are issues which affect the development of minority languages, but the South African situation is interesting in that some of the minority languages are recognised as official languages. This study is a comparative in nature. Firstly, the study compares the level of corpus planning and development in Tshivenda and other indigenous South African languages. Secondly, it compares how people use Tshivenda in a rural area of Lukalo Village where the language is not under pressure from other languages and in Cosmo City, an urban area in Gauteng where Tshivenda speakers come into contact with speakers of more dominant languages such as isiZulu and Sesotho. Language use in different domains like, media, education, government and the home is considered in order to establish how people use languages and the factors which influence their linguistic behaviours. The study also establishes the perceptions and attitudes of the speakers of Tshivenda as a minority and those of the speakers of other languages towards Tshivenda’s role in the different domains such as education and the media. This study was influenced by previous research (Alexander 1989, Webb 2002) which found out that during the apartheid period Tshivenda speakers used to disguise their identity by adopting dominant languages like isiZulu and Sesotho in Johannesburg. Accordingly, the present research wanted to establish how the language policy change in the democratic era has impacted on the confidence of Tshivenda speakers regarding themselves and their language. This study establishes that although Tshivenda is now an official language in post-apartheid South Africa, it still has features of underdevelopment and marginalization that are typically of unofficial minority languages. Translation, lexicographic and terminological work in this language still lags behind that of other indigenous South African languages and there is still a shortage of school textbooks and adult literature in this language. As a result, using the language in education, the media and other controlling domains is still quite challenging, although positive developments such as the teaching of the language at university level can be noted. The Tshivenda speakers generally have a positive attitude towards their language and seem prepared to learn and use it confidently as long its functional value is enhanced, which is currently not happening. As a result, some Tshivenda speakers still regard English as a more worthwhile language to learn at the expense of their language
- Full Text:
- Date Issued: 2013
- Authors: Luvhengo, Nkhangweleni
- Date: 2013
- Subjects: Indigenous African languages , Apartheid , Tshivenda , Minority languages , Development , Status , Multilingualism , Sesotho , isiZulu , Perceptions , Linguistic minorities -- Research -- South Africa , Venda language -- Research -- South Africa , Language policy -- Research -- South Africa , Multilingualism -- Research -- South Africa , Linguistic rights -- Research -- South Africa , Language and languages -- Political aspects
- Language: English
- Type: text , Thesis , Masters , MA
- Identifier: vital:3558 , http://hdl.handle.net/10962/d1001862
- Description: After many years of the oppressive apartheid government, the new democratic era came into being in 1994. Lot of policy changes came into being, including language policy. This new language policy of the post-apartheid era recognises eleven official languages which include the nine indigenous African languages which were previously recognised as regional languages in the different homelands. The present study investigates the progress of Tshivenda in terms of status and development since it was accorded the official status in South Africa. Literature investigating the status of Tshivenda is generally sparse. This study investigates the status of Tshivenda in South Africa to explore how minority languages which are also recognised as official languages are treated. In most multilingual countries, there are issues which affect the development of minority languages, but the South African situation is interesting in that some of the minority languages are recognised as official languages. This study is a comparative in nature. Firstly, the study compares the level of corpus planning and development in Tshivenda and other indigenous South African languages. Secondly, it compares how people use Tshivenda in a rural area of Lukalo Village where the language is not under pressure from other languages and in Cosmo City, an urban area in Gauteng where Tshivenda speakers come into contact with speakers of more dominant languages such as isiZulu and Sesotho. Language use in different domains like, media, education, government and the home is considered in order to establish how people use languages and the factors which influence their linguistic behaviours. The study also establishes the perceptions and attitudes of the speakers of Tshivenda as a minority and those of the speakers of other languages towards Tshivenda’s role in the different domains such as education and the media. This study was influenced by previous research (Alexander 1989, Webb 2002) which found out that during the apartheid period Tshivenda speakers used to disguise their identity by adopting dominant languages like isiZulu and Sesotho in Johannesburg. Accordingly, the present research wanted to establish how the language policy change in the democratic era has impacted on the confidence of Tshivenda speakers regarding themselves and their language. This study establishes that although Tshivenda is now an official language in post-apartheid South Africa, it still has features of underdevelopment and marginalization that are typically of unofficial minority languages. Translation, lexicographic and terminological work in this language still lags behind that of other indigenous South African languages and there is still a shortage of school textbooks and adult literature in this language. As a result, using the language in education, the media and other controlling domains is still quite challenging, although positive developments such as the teaching of the language at university level can be noted. The Tshivenda speakers generally have a positive attitude towards their language and seem prepared to learn and use it confidently as long its functional value is enhanced, which is currently not happening. As a result, some Tshivenda speakers still regard English as a more worthwhile language to learn at the expense of their language
- Full Text:
- Date Issued: 2013
Linking institutional and ecological provisions for wastewater treatment discharge in a rural municipality, Eastern Cape, South Africa
- Authors: Muller, Matthew Justin
- Date: 2013
- Subjects: Sewage disposal plants -- South Africa -- Sundays Estuary (Eastern Cape) , Sewage disposal -- Law and legislation -- South Africa , Sewage -- Environmental aspects -- South Africa , Water-supply -- South Africa -- Management , Sewage disposal in rivers, lakes, etc. -- South Africa -- Sundays Estuary (Eastern Cape) , Rivers -- Environmental aspects -- South Africa -- Sundays Estuary (Eastern Cape) , Rivers -- Regulation -- South Africa
- Language: English
- Type: Thesis , Masters , MSc
- Identifier: vital:6044 , http://hdl.handle.net/10962/d1013048
- Description: The Green Drop Certification Programme, launched in 2008 alongside the Blue Drop Certification Programme, aims to provide the Department of Water Affairs with a national overview of how municipalities and their individual wastewater treatment works (WWTW) are complying with licence conditions set by the National Water Act (NWA) (No. 36 of 1998; DWAF 1998) and the Water Services Act (No. 108 of 1997; DWAF 1998). By publishing the results of each municipality’s performance, the programme aims to ensure continuous improvement in the wastewater treatment sector through public pressure. The programme has been identified by this project as a necessary linking tool between the NWA and the Water Services Act to ensure protection and sustainable use of South Africa’s natural water resources. It does this through assisting municipalities to improve their wastewater treatment operations which in theory will lead to discharged effluent that is compliant with discharge licence conditions. These discharge licences form part of the NWA’s enforcement tool of Source Directed Controls (SDC) which help a water resource meet the ecological goals set for it as part of Resource Directed Measures (RDM). The link between meeting the required SDC and achieving the RDM goals has never been empirically tested. This project aimed to determine the present ecological condition of the Uie River, a tributary of the Sundays River which the Sundays River Valley Municipality (SRVM) discharges its domestic effluent into. It then determined whether the SRVM’s WWTW was complying with the General Standard licence conditions and what the impact of the effluent on the river was through the analysis of monthly biomonitoring, water chemistry and habitat data. Lastly, the project examined the effectiveness of the Green Drop Certification Programme in bringing about change in the SRVM’s wastewater treatment sector, which previously achieved a Green Drop score of 5.6 percent. It wanted to examine the underlying assumption that a WWTW which improves its Green Drop score will be discharging a better quality effluent that will help a water resource meets the RDM goals set for it. The Kirkwood WWTW did not have a discharge licence at the time of assessment and was thus assessed under the General Standard licence conditions. It was found that the Kirkwood WWTW was not complying with the General Standard discharge licence conditions in the Uie River. This was having a negative impact on the river health, mainly through high concentrations of Total Inorganic Nitrogen (TIN-N), orthophosphate and turbidity. The SRVM should see an improvement in its Green Drop score for the Kirkwood WWTW. However, the municipality showed no implementation of necessary programmes. Implementation of these programmes would help the SRVM meet the General Standard licence conditions (part of SDC) which would help the Uie River meet the RDM goals set for it.
- Full Text:
- Date Issued: 2013
- Authors: Muller, Matthew Justin
- Date: 2013
- Subjects: Sewage disposal plants -- South Africa -- Sundays Estuary (Eastern Cape) , Sewage disposal -- Law and legislation -- South Africa , Sewage -- Environmental aspects -- South Africa , Water-supply -- South Africa -- Management , Sewage disposal in rivers, lakes, etc. -- South Africa -- Sundays Estuary (Eastern Cape) , Rivers -- Environmental aspects -- South Africa -- Sundays Estuary (Eastern Cape) , Rivers -- Regulation -- South Africa
- Language: English
- Type: Thesis , Masters , MSc
- Identifier: vital:6044 , http://hdl.handle.net/10962/d1013048
- Description: The Green Drop Certification Programme, launched in 2008 alongside the Blue Drop Certification Programme, aims to provide the Department of Water Affairs with a national overview of how municipalities and their individual wastewater treatment works (WWTW) are complying with licence conditions set by the National Water Act (NWA) (No. 36 of 1998; DWAF 1998) and the Water Services Act (No. 108 of 1997; DWAF 1998). By publishing the results of each municipality’s performance, the programme aims to ensure continuous improvement in the wastewater treatment sector through public pressure. The programme has been identified by this project as a necessary linking tool between the NWA and the Water Services Act to ensure protection and sustainable use of South Africa’s natural water resources. It does this through assisting municipalities to improve their wastewater treatment operations which in theory will lead to discharged effluent that is compliant with discharge licence conditions. These discharge licences form part of the NWA’s enforcement tool of Source Directed Controls (SDC) which help a water resource meet the ecological goals set for it as part of Resource Directed Measures (RDM). The link between meeting the required SDC and achieving the RDM goals has never been empirically tested. This project aimed to determine the present ecological condition of the Uie River, a tributary of the Sundays River which the Sundays River Valley Municipality (SRVM) discharges its domestic effluent into. It then determined whether the SRVM’s WWTW was complying with the General Standard licence conditions and what the impact of the effluent on the river was through the analysis of monthly biomonitoring, water chemistry and habitat data. Lastly, the project examined the effectiveness of the Green Drop Certification Programme in bringing about change in the SRVM’s wastewater treatment sector, which previously achieved a Green Drop score of 5.6 percent. It wanted to examine the underlying assumption that a WWTW which improves its Green Drop score will be discharging a better quality effluent that will help a water resource meets the RDM goals set for it. The Kirkwood WWTW did not have a discharge licence at the time of assessment and was thus assessed under the General Standard licence conditions. It was found that the Kirkwood WWTW was not complying with the General Standard discharge licence conditions in the Uie River. This was having a negative impact on the river health, mainly through high concentrations of Total Inorganic Nitrogen (TIN-N), orthophosphate and turbidity. The SRVM should see an improvement in its Green Drop score for the Kirkwood WWTW. However, the municipality showed no implementation of necessary programmes. Implementation of these programmes would help the SRVM meet the General Standard licence conditions (part of SDC) which would help the Uie River meet the RDM goals set for it.
- Full Text:
- Date Issued: 2013
Linking performance management to public perceptions of police effectiveness: a case of Queenstown cluster police stations, Eastern Cape (2009-2011)
- Authors: Mziwonke, Bazel Bibi
- Date: 2013
- Language: English
- Type: Thesis , Masters , MPA
- Identifier: vital:11702 , http://hdl.handle.net/10353/d1015148
- Description: This study investigated the relationship between SAPS performance management and measurement assessment patterns and public perceptions of the effectiveness of SAPS. The Performance Management System (PMS) and the Performance Measurement System (PMS1) of SAPS were investigated and it was looked at whether there is a correlation between them. The two internal measurement systems i.e. PMS and PMS1 were compared with the perception of the community about service delivery effectiveness of SAPS. Seven police stations in the Queenstown Cluster participated in the study. Semi-structured interviews were used to gather data from the Cluster Commander, Station Commanders, Production personnel and members of the community. The findings indicated that SAPS has challenges in implementing PMS. Matters of honesty and trust were seen as contributing factors to these challenges. The internal performance management tools do not take into consideration the needs of the community. This transpired on the results of internal performance management which indicated police stations and their members to be performing satisfactory while the community is not satisfied with the police station performance.
- Full Text:
- Date Issued: 2013
- Authors: Mziwonke, Bazel Bibi
- Date: 2013
- Language: English
- Type: Thesis , Masters , MPA
- Identifier: vital:11702 , http://hdl.handle.net/10353/d1015148
- Description: This study investigated the relationship between SAPS performance management and measurement assessment patterns and public perceptions of the effectiveness of SAPS. The Performance Management System (PMS) and the Performance Measurement System (PMS1) of SAPS were investigated and it was looked at whether there is a correlation between them. The two internal measurement systems i.e. PMS and PMS1 were compared with the perception of the community about service delivery effectiveness of SAPS. Seven police stations in the Queenstown Cluster participated in the study. Semi-structured interviews were used to gather data from the Cluster Commander, Station Commanders, Production personnel and members of the community. The findings indicated that SAPS has challenges in implementing PMS. Matters of honesty and trust were seen as contributing factors to these challenges. The internal performance management tools do not take into consideration the needs of the community. This transpired on the results of internal performance management which indicated police stations and their members to be performing satisfactory while the community is not satisfied with the police station performance.
- Full Text:
- Date Issued: 2013
Livelihood and coping strategy changes along rural-urban continua with an emphasis on natural resources
- Authors: Evans, Michelle Leigh
- Date: 2013
- Subjects: Natural resources -- South Africa -- Queenstown Natural resources -- South Africa -- Phalaborwa Rural-urban divide -- South Africa -- Queenstown Rural-urban divide -- South Africa -- Phalaborwa Income -- South Africa -- Queenstown Income -- South Africa -- Phalaborwa Women heads of households -- South Africa -- Queenstown Women heads of households -- South Africa -- Phalaborwa Adjustment (Psychology)
- Language: English
- Type: Thesis , Masters , MSc
- Identifier: vital:4731 , http://hdl.handle.net/10962/d1001958
- Description: Rapid urbanisation is one of the greatest challenges facing both developed and developing countries. Sub-Saharan Africa has historically been one of the least developed and least urbanised areas of the world. However, urbanisation is now occurring much more rapidly in countries that have lower levels of per capita income. Therefore, in the coming decades, urban population growth is expected to be more widespread in the developing countries of the world. Most research on the role of natural resources focuses on rural communities and little is known about the contribution these resources make along the rural-urban continuum in small and medium sized towns as well as the contribution to total livelihoods. This is because researchers and policy makers have often treated rural and urban areas and their residents as distinct entities that should be studied in isolation. This, however, is not a true reflection of household livelihoods which often include both rural and urban elements. This study therefore analysed the impact of urbanisation on livelihoods along a rural-urban continuum with an emphasis on natural resources in South Africa. The main characteristics as well as the livelihood portfolios of respondent households were investigated. Secondly, the coping strategies used by households along the rural-urban continuum were explored, and disaggregated according to the gender of the household head. Data were collected along the rural-urban continuum of two small towns, namely Queenstown, located in the Eastern Cape province and Phalaborwa, located in the Limpopo Province of South Africa. Sampling covered the town, peri-urban areas, townships and adjacent rural households. A standardised survey instrument was used to capture household details and livelihood activities and a total of 272 interviews were conducted. The rural areas near both towns were poorer than the township and urban areas with regards to assets, access to employment and annual household income across all cash and non-cash income streams. The engagement in land-based activities increased towards the rural areas. The use of natural resources, as well as the number of resources collected, increased along the continuum towards the rural areas, with 12.0% to 49.0% of urban households, 30.0% to 88.0% of township households and between 80.0% and 100.0% of rural households engaging in the use and collection of natural resources. While natural resource use and collection was lowest in the urban areas, a significant amount of resources were still collected by urban households. Income portfolios for all households were calculated to determine the direct-use value of wild natural capital to livelihoods as well as the contribution made from land (arable and livestock farming), welfare grants and employment. Employment, barring one exception in the rural areas of Phalaborwa, was the largest contributor in terms of mean annual income along the continuum in both towns, followed by grants and pensions in the township and rural areas. In Phalaborwa, however, wild natural capital was found to be the largest contributor to local livelihoods, contributing 48.0% of the mean annual income. Household portfolios become more diversified in the poorer, rural areas as well as in households headed by females. The main shocks reported along the continuum in both Queenstown and Phalaborwa were death in the family, followed by a loss of employment, which was concentrated in male-headed households. Coping strategies resulting in the attainment of cash income fast, such as borrowing money from friends/relatives and cashing in retirements savings were favoured over longer term strategies such as finding local wage employment. Female-headed households were found to rely significantly on social groups or clubs as a coping strategy, highlighting the importance of social capital and social relations in female-headed households
- Full Text:
- Date Issued: 2013
- Authors: Evans, Michelle Leigh
- Date: 2013
- Subjects: Natural resources -- South Africa -- Queenstown Natural resources -- South Africa -- Phalaborwa Rural-urban divide -- South Africa -- Queenstown Rural-urban divide -- South Africa -- Phalaborwa Income -- South Africa -- Queenstown Income -- South Africa -- Phalaborwa Women heads of households -- South Africa -- Queenstown Women heads of households -- South Africa -- Phalaborwa Adjustment (Psychology)
- Language: English
- Type: Thesis , Masters , MSc
- Identifier: vital:4731 , http://hdl.handle.net/10962/d1001958
- Description: Rapid urbanisation is one of the greatest challenges facing both developed and developing countries. Sub-Saharan Africa has historically been one of the least developed and least urbanised areas of the world. However, urbanisation is now occurring much more rapidly in countries that have lower levels of per capita income. Therefore, in the coming decades, urban population growth is expected to be more widespread in the developing countries of the world. Most research on the role of natural resources focuses on rural communities and little is known about the contribution these resources make along the rural-urban continuum in small and medium sized towns as well as the contribution to total livelihoods. This is because researchers and policy makers have often treated rural and urban areas and their residents as distinct entities that should be studied in isolation. This, however, is not a true reflection of household livelihoods which often include both rural and urban elements. This study therefore analysed the impact of urbanisation on livelihoods along a rural-urban continuum with an emphasis on natural resources in South Africa. The main characteristics as well as the livelihood portfolios of respondent households were investigated. Secondly, the coping strategies used by households along the rural-urban continuum were explored, and disaggregated according to the gender of the household head. Data were collected along the rural-urban continuum of two small towns, namely Queenstown, located in the Eastern Cape province and Phalaborwa, located in the Limpopo Province of South Africa. Sampling covered the town, peri-urban areas, townships and adjacent rural households. A standardised survey instrument was used to capture household details and livelihood activities and a total of 272 interviews were conducted. The rural areas near both towns were poorer than the township and urban areas with regards to assets, access to employment and annual household income across all cash and non-cash income streams. The engagement in land-based activities increased towards the rural areas. The use of natural resources, as well as the number of resources collected, increased along the continuum towards the rural areas, with 12.0% to 49.0% of urban households, 30.0% to 88.0% of township households and between 80.0% and 100.0% of rural households engaging in the use and collection of natural resources. While natural resource use and collection was lowest in the urban areas, a significant amount of resources were still collected by urban households. Income portfolios for all households were calculated to determine the direct-use value of wild natural capital to livelihoods as well as the contribution made from land (arable and livestock farming), welfare grants and employment. Employment, barring one exception in the rural areas of Phalaborwa, was the largest contributor in terms of mean annual income along the continuum in both towns, followed by grants and pensions in the township and rural areas. In Phalaborwa, however, wild natural capital was found to be the largest contributor to local livelihoods, contributing 48.0% of the mean annual income. Household portfolios become more diversified in the poorer, rural areas as well as in households headed by females. The main shocks reported along the continuum in both Queenstown and Phalaborwa were death in the family, followed by a loss of employment, which was concentrated in male-headed households. Coping strategies resulting in the attainment of cash income fast, such as borrowing money from friends/relatives and cashing in retirements savings were favoured over longer term strategies such as finding local wage employment. Female-headed households were found to rely significantly on social groups or clubs as a coping strategy, highlighting the importance of social capital and social relations in female-headed households
- Full Text:
- Date Issued: 2013
Livelihood strategies of female headed households in Zimbabwe: the case of Magaso Village, Mutoko District in Zimbabwe
- Authors: Musekiwa, Pamela
- Date: 2013
- Subjects: Women heads of households -- Zimbabwe , Women in agriculture -- Zimbabwe , Sustainable development -- Zimbabwe , Household surveys -- Zimbabwe , Poverty -- Zimbabwe
- Language: English
- Type: Thesis , Masters , M SW
- Identifier: vital:11763 , http://hdl.handle.net/10353/d1005967 , Women heads of households -- Zimbabwe , Women in agriculture -- Zimbabwe , Sustainable development -- Zimbabwe , Household surveys -- Zimbabwe , Poverty -- Zimbabwe
- Description: This research study explored livelihood strategies that female headed households adopt in Magaso village of Mutoko district in Zimbabwe. The study intended to achieve the following objectives: (i) examine the existing livelihood strategies of female headed households (ii) explore the various challenges faced by female headed households and (iii) establish the support mechanisms in place for female headed households to cope with life challenges .The literature reviewed in the study was drawn from several researchers, and the study was shaped by the strengths perspectives and the liberal feminism perspective. The study was qualitative in nature and used interviews to collect data from fifteen (15) female headed households. The data collection process used an interview guide. The research employed a qualitative research design in the form of a case study cum a phenomenological study design. Data was analysed qualitatively using the content thematic data analysis which used interpretive approaches and presentation is textual rather than statistical. The study findings were the following: engaging in subsistence farming was found to be the main livelihood activity of the female heads; engaging in home gardens; exchanging labour for food; involvement in business; reliance on temporary employment from different agencies; reliance on handouts from government and other bodies; and household heads sanctioning child labour that compromises school attendance. Moreover, these female heads faced numerous difficulties ranging from emotional, social to financial problems that resulted in worsening the condition of women, and hence validating feminization of poverty among them. Several support mechanisms were discovered to be available for the female heads but they fail to produce to fruitful results to the lives of the female heads. The study made the following recommendations: mainstreaming gender education from childhood stage; efforts aimed at job creation; financial empowerment through setting up of micro schemes for rural women amongst; seeking the services of agricultural extension services to the female head farmers; improving the social services delivery in Zimbabwe equitably across genders and strengthening informal strategies to improve women‘s social capital. Lastly, the study concluded that little is being done in terms of policy formulation to make the support structures responsive to the female headed households especially in rural areas, hence the need for sustainable development through empowerment.
- Full Text:
- Date Issued: 2013
- Authors: Musekiwa, Pamela
- Date: 2013
- Subjects: Women heads of households -- Zimbabwe , Women in agriculture -- Zimbabwe , Sustainable development -- Zimbabwe , Household surveys -- Zimbabwe , Poverty -- Zimbabwe
- Language: English
- Type: Thesis , Masters , M SW
- Identifier: vital:11763 , http://hdl.handle.net/10353/d1005967 , Women heads of households -- Zimbabwe , Women in agriculture -- Zimbabwe , Sustainable development -- Zimbabwe , Household surveys -- Zimbabwe , Poverty -- Zimbabwe
- Description: This research study explored livelihood strategies that female headed households adopt in Magaso village of Mutoko district in Zimbabwe. The study intended to achieve the following objectives: (i) examine the existing livelihood strategies of female headed households (ii) explore the various challenges faced by female headed households and (iii) establish the support mechanisms in place for female headed households to cope with life challenges .The literature reviewed in the study was drawn from several researchers, and the study was shaped by the strengths perspectives and the liberal feminism perspective. The study was qualitative in nature and used interviews to collect data from fifteen (15) female headed households. The data collection process used an interview guide. The research employed a qualitative research design in the form of a case study cum a phenomenological study design. Data was analysed qualitatively using the content thematic data analysis which used interpretive approaches and presentation is textual rather than statistical. The study findings were the following: engaging in subsistence farming was found to be the main livelihood activity of the female heads; engaging in home gardens; exchanging labour for food; involvement in business; reliance on temporary employment from different agencies; reliance on handouts from government and other bodies; and household heads sanctioning child labour that compromises school attendance. Moreover, these female heads faced numerous difficulties ranging from emotional, social to financial problems that resulted in worsening the condition of women, and hence validating feminization of poverty among them. Several support mechanisms were discovered to be available for the female heads but they fail to produce to fruitful results to the lives of the female heads. The study made the following recommendations: mainstreaming gender education from childhood stage; efforts aimed at job creation; financial empowerment through setting up of micro schemes for rural women amongst; seeking the services of agricultural extension services to the female head farmers; improving the social services delivery in Zimbabwe equitably across genders and strengthening informal strategies to improve women‘s social capital. Lastly, the study concluded that little is being done in terms of policy formulation to make the support structures responsive to the female headed households especially in rural areas, hence the need for sustainable development through empowerment.
- Full Text:
- Date Issued: 2013
Livelihoods and natural resource use along the rural-urban continuum
- Authors: Ward, Catherine Dale
- Date: 2013
- Subjects: Natural resources -- South Africa , Human ecology -- South Africa , Cities and towns -- Growth -- South Africa , Natural resources -- Management -- South Africa , Rural poor -- South Africa , Urban poor -- South Africa , Sustainable development -- South Africa
- Language: English
- Type: Thesis , Masters , MSc
- Identifier: vital:4727 , http://hdl.handle.net/10962/d1001669 , Natural resources -- South Africa , Human ecology -- South Africa , Cities and towns -- Growth -- South Africa , Natural resources -- Management -- South Africa , Rural poor -- South Africa , Urban poor -- South Africa , Sustainable development -- South Africa
- Description: Over the last century, developing countries have undergone rapid urbanisation resulting in marked social, economic and environmental changes. Africa is the least urbanised continent in the world but trends indicate that it is also the most rapidly urbanising region, accompanied by rising urban poverty. Urbanisation processes are often most pronounced in smaller urban centres since they experience the most severe pressures of population growth. Little is known about the role natural resources play along the rural-urban continuum and even less is known about the contribution of these resources within an urban context, particularly in small urban centres. In many sub-Saharan African cities, urban agriculture (the informal production of food in urban areas) has been used as a strategy to cope with increasing poverty levels but its role remains widely debated and uncertain. This thesis seeks to analyse the impacts of urbanisation on livelihoods and natural resource use, including home gardening and the collection of wild resources, in two South African towns and data was collected along the rural-urban continuum in Queenstown (Eastern Cape province) and Phalaborwa (Limpopo Province). Practices and contributions associated with agriculture and wild resource use were found to be significantly higher in Phalaborwa and this could be attributed to favourable environmental conditions and accessibility to wild resources due to the surrounding Mopani Bushveld. Rural households in Queenstown and Phalaborwa were more reliant on natural resources than their urban counterparts, but still diverse and incorporated a number of land-based and cash income generating strategies. Urban households tended to rely on one primary cash income strategy such as wage employment or state grants. However, natural resources did appear to play a subtle role in urban settings and particularly in the townships, where exclusion of natural resource contributions saw poverty levels increase up to 5%. Home gardening was practised by a wide range of people and not restricted to any one income group and, not surprisingly, wealthy cultivators who had access to resources such as land, water and fertilizer enjoyed increased benefits such as high produce yields. The results obtained suggest that rural-urban dynamics are complex and natural resource use in local livelihoods is contextualised within environmental settings, social preferences and historical contexts. Increasing pressures from the influx of people into small urban centres calls for a better understanding to how these processes are affecting livelihoods and natural resources to ensure sustainable management in the future.
- Full Text:
- Date Issued: 2013
- Authors: Ward, Catherine Dale
- Date: 2013
- Subjects: Natural resources -- South Africa , Human ecology -- South Africa , Cities and towns -- Growth -- South Africa , Natural resources -- Management -- South Africa , Rural poor -- South Africa , Urban poor -- South Africa , Sustainable development -- South Africa
- Language: English
- Type: Thesis , Masters , MSc
- Identifier: vital:4727 , http://hdl.handle.net/10962/d1001669 , Natural resources -- South Africa , Human ecology -- South Africa , Cities and towns -- Growth -- South Africa , Natural resources -- Management -- South Africa , Rural poor -- South Africa , Urban poor -- South Africa , Sustainable development -- South Africa
- Description: Over the last century, developing countries have undergone rapid urbanisation resulting in marked social, economic and environmental changes. Africa is the least urbanised continent in the world but trends indicate that it is also the most rapidly urbanising region, accompanied by rising urban poverty. Urbanisation processes are often most pronounced in smaller urban centres since they experience the most severe pressures of population growth. Little is known about the role natural resources play along the rural-urban continuum and even less is known about the contribution of these resources within an urban context, particularly in small urban centres. In many sub-Saharan African cities, urban agriculture (the informal production of food in urban areas) has been used as a strategy to cope with increasing poverty levels but its role remains widely debated and uncertain. This thesis seeks to analyse the impacts of urbanisation on livelihoods and natural resource use, including home gardening and the collection of wild resources, in two South African towns and data was collected along the rural-urban continuum in Queenstown (Eastern Cape province) and Phalaborwa (Limpopo Province). Practices and contributions associated with agriculture and wild resource use were found to be significantly higher in Phalaborwa and this could be attributed to favourable environmental conditions and accessibility to wild resources due to the surrounding Mopani Bushveld. Rural households in Queenstown and Phalaborwa were more reliant on natural resources than their urban counterparts, but still diverse and incorporated a number of land-based and cash income generating strategies. Urban households tended to rely on one primary cash income strategy such as wage employment or state grants. However, natural resources did appear to play a subtle role in urban settings and particularly in the townships, where exclusion of natural resource contributions saw poverty levels increase up to 5%. Home gardening was practised by a wide range of people and not restricted to any one income group and, not surprisingly, wealthy cultivators who had access to resources such as land, water and fertilizer enjoyed increased benefits such as high produce yields. The results obtained suggest that rural-urban dynamics are complex and natural resource use in local livelihoods is contextualised within environmental settings, social preferences and historical contexts. Increasing pressures from the influx of people into small urban centres calls for a better understanding to how these processes are affecting livelihoods and natural resources to ensure sustainable management in the future.
- Full Text:
- Date Issued: 2013
Local setting influences the quantity of household food waste in mid-sized South African towns
- Chakona, Gamuchirai, Shackleton, Charlie M
- Authors: Chakona, Gamuchirai , Shackleton, Charlie M
- Date: 2013
- Language: English
- Type: text , article
- Identifier: http://hdl.handle.net/10962/67289 , vital:29067 , https://doi.org/10.1371/journal.pone.0189407
- Description: publisher version , From Introduction: The world faces a food security challenge with approximately 868 million people undernourished and about two billion people suffering from the negative health consequences of micronutrient deficiencies [1]. Yet, at least one-third of food produced for human consumption is lost or wasted along the food chain between farm and fork [2–7]. Food waste refers to wholesome edible material intended for human consumption, arising at any point in the food supply chain that is instead discarded, lost, degraded or consumed by pests [8]. Food loss is defined as the decrease in food quantity or quality which makes it unfit for human consumption [9]. According to the European Commission [10], food waste is composed of raw or cooked food materials such as vegetable peelings, meat trimmings and spoiled or excess ingredients or prepared food as well as bones, carcasses and organs. However, food waste can be measured only for edible products that are directed to human consumption [6]. Food losses take place at production, postharvest and processing stages in the food supply chain and the food losses that occur at the end of the food chain (retail and final consumption) are called “food waste” [11]. In our study food waste refers to food losses that occur at the end of the food chain (final consumption at household or consumer level) which include edible products that are directed to human consumption and are discarded when not consumed for various reasons. It is related to consumers’ behaviour [6,11] and it includes food loss before, during or after meal preparation in the household. , The research was funded by VW foundation under the Livelihoods Urbanisation and Natural Resources in Africa (LUNA) project through Freiburg University, Germany. The funders had no role in study design, data collection and analysis, decision to publish, or preparation of this manuscript
- Full Text:
- Date Issued: 2013
- Authors: Chakona, Gamuchirai , Shackleton, Charlie M
- Date: 2013
- Language: English
- Type: text , article
- Identifier: http://hdl.handle.net/10962/67289 , vital:29067 , https://doi.org/10.1371/journal.pone.0189407
- Description: publisher version , From Introduction: The world faces a food security challenge with approximately 868 million people undernourished and about two billion people suffering from the negative health consequences of micronutrient deficiencies [1]. Yet, at least one-third of food produced for human consumption is lost or wasted along the food chain between farm and fork [2–7]. Food waste refers to wholesome edible material intended for human consumption, arising at any point in the food supply chain that is instead discarded, lost, degraded or consumed by pests [8]. Food loss is defined as the decrease in food quantity or quality which makes it unfit for human consumption [9]. According to the European Commission [10], food waste is composed of raw or cooked food materials such as vegetable peelings, meat trimmings and spoiled or excess ingredients or prepared food as well as bones, carcasses and organs. However, food waste can be measured only for edible products that are directed to human consumption [6]. Food losses take place at production, postharvest and processing stages in the food supply chain and the food losses that occur at the end of the food chain (retail and final consumption) are called “food waste” [11]. In our study food waste refers to food losses that occur at the end of the food chain (final consumption at household or consumer level) which include edible products that are directed to human consumption and are discarded when not consumed for various reasons. It is related to consumers’ behaviour [6,11] and it includes food loss before, during or after meal preparation in the household. , The research was funded by VW foundation under the Livelihoods Urbanisation and Natural Resources in Africa (LUNA) project through Freiburg University, Germany. The funders had no role in study design, data collection and analysis, decision to publish, or preparation of this manuscript
- Full Text:
- Date Issued: 2013
Log analysis aided by latent semantic mapping
- Authors: Buys, Stephanus
- Date: 2013 , 2013-04-14
- Subjects: Latent semantic indexing , Data mining , Computer networks -- Security measures , Computer hackers , Computer security
- Language: English
- Type: Thesis , Masters , MSc
- Identifier: vital:4575 , http://hdl.handle.net/10962/d1002963 , Latent semantic indexing , Data mining , Computer networks -- Security measures , Computer hackers , Computer security
- Description: In an age of zero-day exploits and increased on-line attacks on computing infrastructure, operational security practitioners are becoming increasingly aware of the value of the information captured in log events. Analysis of these events is critical during incident response, forensic investigations related to network breaches, hacking attacks and data leaks. Such analysis has led to the discipline of Security Event Analysis, also known as Log Analysis. There are several challenges when dealing with events, foremost being the increased volumes at which events are often generated and stored. Furthermore, events are often captured as unstructured data, with very little consistency in the formats or contents of the events. In this environment, security analysts and implementers of Log Management (LM) or Security Information and Event Management (SIEM) systems face the daunting task of identifying, classifying and disambiguating massive volumes of events in order for security analysis and automation to proceed. Latent Semantic Mapping (LSM) is a proven paradigm shown to be an effective method of, among other things, enabling word clustering, document clustering, topic clustering and semantic inference. This research is an investigation into the practical application of LSM in the discipline of Security Event Analysis, showing the value of using LSM to assist practitioners in identifying types of events, classifying events as belonging to certain sources or technologies and disambiguating different events from each other. The culmination of this research presents adaptations to traditional natural language processing techniques that resulted in improved efficacy of LSM when dealing with Security Event Analysis. This research provides strong evidence supporting the wider adoption and use of LSM, as well as further investigation into Security Event Analysis assisted by LSM and other natural language or computer-learning processing techniques. , LaTeX with hyperref package , Adobe Acrobat 9.54 Paper Capture Plug-in
- Full Text:
- Date Issued: 2013
- Authors: Buys, Stephanus
- Date: 2013 , 2013-04-14
- Subjects: Latent semantic indexing , Data mining , Computer networks -- Security measures , Computer hackers , Computer security
- Language: English
- Type: Thesis , Masters , MSc
- Identifier: vital:4575 , http://hdl.handle.net/10962/d1002963 , Latent semantic indexing , Data mining , Computer networks -- Security measures , Computer hackers , Computer security
- Description: In an age of zero-day exploits and increased on-line attacks on computing infrastructure, operational security practitioners are becoming increasingly aware of the value of the information captured in log events. Analysis of these events is critical during incident response, forensic investigations related to network breaches, hacking attacks and data leaks. Such analysis has led to the discipline of Security Event Analysis, also known as Log Analysis. There are several challenges when dealing with events, foremost being the increased volumes at which events are often generated and stored. Furthermore, events are often captured as unstructured data, with very little consistency in the formats or contents of the events. In this environment, security analysts and implementers of Log Management (LM) or Security Information and Event Management (SIEM) systems face the daunting task of identifying, classifying and disambiguating massive volumes of events in order for security analysis and automation to proceed. Latent Semantic Mapping (LSM) is a proven paradigm shown to be an effective method of, among other things, enabling word clustering, document clustering, topic clustering and semantic inference. This research is an investigation into the practical application of LSM in the discipline of Security Event Analysis, showing the value of using LSM to assist practitioners in identifying types of events, classifying events as belonging to certain sources or technologies and disambiguating different events from each other. The culmination of this research presents adaptations to traditional natural language processing techniques that resulted in improved efficacy of LSM when dealing with Security Event Analysis. This research provides strong evidence supporting the wider adoption and use of LSM, as well as further investigation into Security Event Analysis assisted by LSM and other natural language or computer-learning processing techniques. , LaTeX with hyperref package , Adobe Acrobat 9.54 Paper Capture Plug-in
- Full Text:
- Date Issued: 2013
Long-term ecological effects of rangeland burning, grazing and browsing on vegetation and organic matter dynamics
- Authors: Ratsele, Clement Ratsele
- Date: 2013
- Subjects: Rangelands -- Fire management , Range ecology , Rangelands -- Monitoring , Animals -- Effect of fires on
- Language: English
- Type: Thesis , Doctoral , PhD (Pasture Science)
- Identifier: vital:11582 , http://hdl.handle.net/10353/d1006844 , Rangelands -- Fire management , Range ecology , Rangelands -- Monitoring , Animals -- Effect of fires on
- Description: To proffer a sustainable solution to ecological degradation in rangeland ecosystems as a consequence of fire, grazing and browsing, an understanding of rangeland ecological processes is vital. Due to the complexity of ecological processes and their interrelationships, it is usually difficult or expensive to directly measure status of ecological processes. Therefore, biological and physical characteristics are often used to indicate the functionality of ecological processes and site integrity. Long-term effects of fire, grazing and browsing on characteristics of the vegetation and organic matter and their subsequent effects on selected rangelands ecosystem ecological processes was conducted at Honeydale section of the University of Fort Hare farm in the Eastern Cape Province of South Africa and Matopos Research Station in Zimbabwe. In this study, attributes of biotic community integrity (species richness, composition and diversity), soil stability (basal cover, standing dead grass biomass, tuft to tuft distance, tufts diameter, canopy distance and stem to stem distance), productivity and plant vigour (grass yield, total canopy volume, plant height, canopy height, canopy diameter, main stem diameter, sprouts diameter and number of sprouts) and hydrologic function and nutrient cycling (grass litter biomass, soil organic carbon and microbial biomass carbon) were used to estimate long-term effects of burning, grazing and browsing by goats on the functionality of ecological processes in the rangeland ecosystem. Burning did not have differential effect on grass species richness (P>0.05), woody species diversity as well as compositional percentage for D.eriatha, C.plurinodis, S.fimbriatus, A.karro and E.rigida. Burning increased decreasers and increaser II species proportions and reduced (P ≤ 0.05) grass yield, total canopy volume, tree height, canopy height main stem diameter and sprouts diameter. Long-term burning, grazing, and goats browsing had differential effects on site stability. The effects on basal cover, tuft to tuft distance, tufts diameter, canopy distance and basal distance as a consequence of long-term burning, grazing, and goats browsing were not significantly different, whereas the effects on standing dead grass biomass as a result of long-term burning frequencies were significantly different. Long-term effects of burning followed by ten-year period of fire exclusion had significantly different effects on tuft-tuft distance but did not have statistically different effects on tufts diameter, canopy distance and basal distance. Long-term burning grazing and browsing had significantly different effects on attributes of hydrologic functions and nutrient cycling in the rangeland ecosystem (grass litter biomass, SOC and BMC). Long-term effects of burning followed by ten-year period of fire exclusion had significantly different effects on grass litter biomass, and SOC. Through their effect on vegetation and organic matter characteristics, burning, grazing and browsing could influence functionality of selected rangeland ecological processes such as biological community integrity, productivity and plant vigour, site stability, hydrologic function and nutrient cycling.
- Full Text:
- Date Issued: 2013
- Authors: Ratsele, Clement Ratsele
- Date: 2013
- Subjects: Rangelands -- Fire management , Range ecology , Rangelands -- Monitoring , Animals -- Effect of fires on
- Language: English
- Type: Thesis , Doctoral , PhD (Pasture Science)
- Identifier: vital:11582 , http://hdl.handle.net/10353/d1006844 , Rangelands -- Fire management , Range ecology , Rangelands -- Monitoring , Animals -- Effect of fires on
- Description: To proffer a sustainable solution to ecological degradation in rangeland ecosystems as a consequence of fire, grazing and browsing, an understanding of rangeland ecological processes is vital. Due to the complexity of ecological processes and their interrelationships, it is usually difficult or expensive to directly measure status of ecological processes. Therefore, biological and physical characteristics are often used to indicate the functionality of ecological processes and site integrity. Long-term effects of fire, grazing and browsing on characteristics of the vegetation and organic matter and their subsequent effects on selected rangelands ecosystem ecological processes was conducted at Honeydale section of the University of Fort Hare farm in the Eastern Cape Province of South Africa and Matopos Research Station in Zimbabwe. In this study, attributes of biotic community integrity (species richness, composition and diversity), soil stability (basal cover, standing dead grass biomass, tuft to tuft distance, tufts diameter, canopy distance and stem to stem distance), productivity and plant vigour (grass yield, total canopy volume, plant height, canopy height, canopy diameter, main stem diameter, sprouts diameter and number of sprouts) and hydrologic function and nutrient cycling (grass litter biomass, soil organic carbon and microbial biomass carbon) were used to estimate long-term effects of burning, grazing and browsing by goats on the functionality of ecological processes in the rangeland ecosystem. Burning did not have differential effect on grass species richness (P>0.05), woody species diversity as well as compositional percentage for D.eriatha, C.plurinodis, S.fimbriatus, A.karro and E.rigida. Burning increased decreasers and increaser II species proportions and reduced (P ≤ 0.05) grass yield, total canopy volume, tree height, canopy height main stem diameter and sprouts diameter. Long-term burning, grazing, and goats browsing had differential effects on site stability. The effects on basal cover, tuft to tuft distance, tufts diameter, canopy distance and basal distance as a consequence of long-term burning, grazing, and goats browsing were not significantly different, whereas the effects on standing dead grass biomass as a result of long-term burning frequencies were significantly different. Long-term effects of burning followed by ten-year period of fire exclusion had significantly different effects on tuft-tuft distance but did not have statistically different effects on tufts diameter, canopy distance and basal distance. Long-term burning grazing and browsing had significantly different effects on attributes of hydrologic functions and nutrient cycling in the rangeland ecosystem (grass litter biomass, SOC and BMC). Long-term effects of burning followed by ten-year period of fire exclusion had significantly different effects on grass litter biomass, and SOC. Through their effect on vegetation and organic matter characteristics, burning, grazing and browsing could influence functionality of selected rangeland ecological processes such as biological community integrity, productivity and plant vigour, site stability, hydrologic function and nutrient cycling.
- Full Text:
- Date Issued: 2013
Long-term marital relationships : a male perspective
- Authors: Kew, Wesley
- Date: 2013
- Subjects: Married people , Interpersonal relationships
- Language: English
- Type: Thesis , Masters , MA
- Identifier: vital:9960 , http://hdl.handle.net/10948/d1020066
- Description: Research indicates that determinants such as commitment, communication and attachment facilitate long-term marriages. The present study seeks to understand these and other possible determinants that facilitate enduring relationships. Furthermore, the research focuses exclusively on the determinants that males believe facilitate long-term relationships. Bader and Pearson's transposition of Mahler's Model of Separation Individuation onto adult relationships was used as a theoretical point of departure. Bader and Pearson posit that couples evolve through stages which resemble Mahler's Model of Childhood Development. A qualitative approach using semistructured interviews aided in creating a non-threatening environment whilst collecting data. Purposive non-random sampling was used to identify participants and thereafter participants were obtained via snowball sampling. Tesch's thematic analysis was used to analyse results. The research findings highlight the understanding of what determinants males deem essential to facilitate long-term relationships.
- Full Text:
- Date Issued: 2013
- Authors: Kew, Wesley
- Date: 2013
- Subjects: Married people , Interpersonal relationships
- Language: English
- Type: Thesis , Masters , MA
- Identifier: vital:9960 , http://hdl.handle.net/10948/d1020066
- Description: Research indicates that determinants such as commitment, communication and attachment facilitate long-term marriages. The present study seeks to understand these and other possible determinants that facilitate enduring relationships. Furthermore, the research focuses exclusively on the determinants that males believe facilitate long-term relationships. Bader and Pearson's transposition of Mahler's Model of Separation Individuation onto adult relationships was used as a theoretical point of departure. Bader and Pearson posit that couples evolve through stages which resemble Mahler's Model of Childhood Development. A qualitative approach using semistructured interviews aided in creating a non-threatening environment whilst collecting data. Purposive non-random sampling was used to identify participants and thereafter participants were obtained via snowball sampling. Tesch's thematic analysis was used to analyse results. The research findings highlight the understanding of what determinants males deem essential to facilitate long-term relationships.
- Full Text:
- Date Issued: 2013
Low symmetry metallophthalocyanines and their nanoparticle conjugates for photodynamic antimicrobial chemotherapy
- Authors: Masilela, Nkosiphile
- Date: 2013
- Subjects: Nanoparticles Anti-infective agents Chemotherapy Photochemotherapy Quantum dots Gold Silver , Phthalocyanines
- Language: English
- Type: Thesis , Doctoral , PhD
- Identifier: vital:4278 , http://hdl.handle.net/10962/d1001906
- Description: This thesis reports on the syntheses of novel low symmetrically substituted Zn, Sn, Ge and Ti MPc complexes containing a single carboxylic or cysteinyl group available for attachments to MNPs. The complexes were extensively characterized by various techniques to ensure their purity. Various metallic nanoparticles consisting of silver (AgNPs), gold (AuNPs) as well as quantum dots (QDs) were successfully prepared and conjugated to the low symmetry phthalocyanine complexes. The conjugates were successfully characterized using many techniques. The Q-band maxima of the MPcs were observed at completely different wavelength regions depending on the nature of the substituents and the central metal used. Blue shifting of the Q band in the absorption spectra was observed for the complexes in the presence of AuNPs, while aggregation was observed in the presence of quantum dots. The complexes were successfully electrospun into polymer fibers for the antimicrobial inhibition of bacteria. The photophysical and photochemical properties of these complexes were extensively investigated. Higher triplet and singlet oxygen quantum yields were achieved for the Ge Pc complexes, with all the complexes giving reasonable singlet oxygen quantum yields. An enhancement in triplet and singlet oxygen quantum yields was observed for all the complexes in the presence of metal nanoparticles. However, the singlet oxygen quantum yields decreased for all the complexes when incorporated into electrospun fibers. The antimicrobial behaviour of the complexes was investigated against Bacillus Subtilis and Staphylococcus Aureus in solution and in the fiber matrix. High antimicrobial inhibitions were observed for the Ge complexes followed by the ZnPc derivatives. All the low symmetry ZnPc derivatives were conjugated to AgNPs and their antimicrobial behaviour was compared to their symmetrical counterparts. The best antimicrobial inhibition behaviour was observed for the low symmetry Pcs when compared to their symmetrical counterparts. In the absence and in the presence of AgNPs, axially ligated SiPc also showed better antimicrobial activity when it was compared to the unsubstituted ZnPc complex.
- Full Text:
- Date Issued: 2013
- Authors: Masilela, Nkosiphile
- Date: 2013
- Subjects: Nanoparticles Anti-infective agents Chemotherapy Photochemotherapy Quantum dots Gold Silver , Phthalocyanines
- Language: English
- Type: Thesis , Doctoral , PhD
- Identifier: vital:4278 , http://hdl.handle.net/10962/d1001906
- Description: This thesis reports on the syntheses of novel low symmetrically substituted Zn, Sn, Ge and Ti MPc complexes containing a single carboxylic or cysteinyl group available for attachments to MNPs. The complexes were extensively characterized by various techniques to ensure their purity. Various metallic nanoparticles consisting of silver (AgNPs), gold (AuNPs) as well as quantum dots (QDs) were successfully prepared and conjugated to the low symmetry phthalocyanine complexes. The conjugates were successfully characterized using many techniques. The Q-band maxima of the MPcs were observed at completely different wavelength regions depending on the nature of the substituents and the central metal used. Blue shifting of the Q band in the absorption spectra was observed for the complexes in the presence of AuNPs, while aggregation was observed in the presence of quantum dots. The complexes were successfully electrospun into polymer fibers for the antimicrobial inhibition of bacteria. The photophysical and photochemical properties of these complexes were extensively investigated. Higher triplet and singlet oxygen quantum yields were achieved for the Ge Pc complexes, with all the complexes giving reasonable singlet oxygen quantum yields. An enhancement in triplet and singlet oxygen quantum yields was observed for all the complexes in the presence of metal nanoparticles. However, the singlet oxygen quantum yields decreased for all the complexes when incorporated into electrospun fibers. The antimicrobial behaviour of the complexes was investigated against Bacillus Subtilis and Staphylococcus Aureus in solution and in the fiber matrix. High antimicrobial inhibitions were observed for the Ge complexes followed by the ZnPc derivatives. All the low symmetry ZnPc derivatives were conjugated to AgNPs and their antimicrobial behaviour was compared to their symmetrical counterparts. The best antimicrobial inhibition behaviour was observed for the low symmetry Pcs when compared to their symmetrical counterparts. In the absence and in the presence of AgNPs, axially ligated SiPc also showed better antimicrobial activity when it was compared to the unsubstituted ZnPc complex.
- Full Text:
- Date Issued: 2013
Lʹétude des thèmes du deuil et de la marginalité dans Le Royaume Aveugle et Reine Pokou, concerto pour un sacrifice de Véronique Tadjo
- Sachikonye, Tsitsi Shamiso Anne
- Authors: Sachikonye, Tsitsi Shamiso Anne
- Date: 2013
- Subjects: Tadjo, Véronique -- Criticism and interpretation , West African literature (French) -- History and criticism , African fiction (French) -- 20th century
- Language: French
- Type: Thesis , Masters , MSocSc
- Identifier: vital:3603 , http://hdl.handle.net/10962/d1002956 , Tadjo, Véronique -- Criticism and interpretation , West African literature (French) -- History and criticism , African fiction (French) -- 20th century
- Description: The field of our study is Francophone African Literature and this thesis explores the themes of marginality and grief both experienced by Princess Akissi in The Blind Kingdom and Princess Pokou in Queen Pokou (2004) during their rise to power in their respective kingdoms. The two novels written by Véronique Tadjo from Ivory Coast, are subjected to thematic analysis because they are both based on similar storylines - that of conflict and rivalry within kingdoms resulting in the exile of the two princesses. One of the novels is set in a pre-colonial period while the other is set in a postcolonial era. Queen Pokou, winner of the 2005 Grand Prix Littéraire d’Afrique Noire (which is the most distinguished prize in Francophone African literature), is a retelling of the founding myths of the Baoulé people of Ivory Coast. In her literary texts, Tadjo transgresses the original legend and her reconstruction of this legend is significant because it challenges the ritual sacrifice made by Princess Pokou in order to free her people and to become queen. In The Blind Kingdom (1990), Tadjo highlights the corruption and injustice of the ruling elite. Space is used to reinforce the King’s domination thus a revolution is necessary to overthrow the exploitative power structures in place. The revolution that takes place relies heavily on the participation of Karim and especially on Princess Akissi who chooses to rebel against her father, King Ato IV in order to stop injustice. This thematic analysis, supported by semiotic theory, aims to establish and demonstrate the relationship between marginality of the two princesses, in particular, and their subsequent grief. It sheds light on the reasons for their exclusion from power as well as the nature of the conflicts that occur as they rise to power. The study postulates that certain myths and images are evoked by the novelist to symbolise the exclusion of the two princesses from power.
- Full Text:
- Date Issued: 2013
- Authors: Sachikonye, Tsitsi Shamiso Anne
- Date: 2013
- Subjects: Tadjo, Véronique -- Criticism and interpretation , West African literature (French) -- History and criticism , African fiction (French) -- 20th century
- Language: French
- Type: Thesis , Masters , MSocSc
- Identifier: vital:3603 , http://hdl.handle.net/10962/d1002956 , Tadjo, Véronique -- Criticism and interpretation , West African literature (French) -- History and criticism , African fiction (French) -- 20th century
- Description: The field of our study is Francophone African Literature and this thesis explores the themes of marginality and grief both experienced by Princess Akissi in The Blind Kingdom and Princess Pokou in Queen Pokou (2004) during their rise to power in their respective kingdoms. The two novels written by Véronique Tadjo from Ivory Coast, are subjected to thematic analysis because they are both based on similar storylines - that of conflict and rivalry within kingdoms resulting in the exile of the two princesses. One of the novels is set in a pre-colonial period while the other is set in a postcolonial era. Queen Pokou, winner of the 2005 Grand Prix Littéraire d’Afrique Noire (which is the most distinguished prize in Francophone African literature), is a retelling of the founding myths of the Baoulé people of Ivory Coast. In her literary texts, Tadjo transgresses the original legend and her reconstruction of this legend is significant because it challenges the ritual sacrifice made by Princess Pokou in order to free her people and to become queen. In The Blind Kingdom (1990), Tadjo highlights the corruption and injustice of the ruling elite. Space is used to reinforce the King’s domination thus a revolution is necessary to overthrow the exploitative power structures in place. The revolution that takes place relies heavily on the participation of Karim and especially on Princess Akissi who chooses to rebel against her father, King Ato IV in order to stop injustice. This thematic analysis, supported by semiotic theory, aims to establish and demonstrate the relationship between marginality of the two princesses, in particular, and their subsequent grief. It sheds light on the reasons for their exclusion from power as well as the nature of the conflicts that occur as they rise to power. The study postulates that certain myths and images are evoked by the novelist to symbolise the exclusion of the two princesses from power.
- Full Text:
- Date Issued: 2013
M-health user experience framework for the public healthcare sector
- Authors: Ouma, Stella
- Date: 2013
- Subjects: Communication in public health , Public health -- South Africa , Wireless communication systems in medical care
- Language: English
- Type: Thesis , Doctoral , PhD
- Identifier: vital:9827 , http://hdl.handle.net/10948/d1020793
- Description: The public healthcare sectors within developing nations face a lot of challenges because of constrained resources available to them. The South African public healthcare sector is no different. Although it serves the majority of the South African population, most of the financial resources are directed towards the private sector, which serves very few individuals when compared to the public healthcare sector. Apart from that, other challenges that the National Department of Health has to deal with include the lack of sufficiently trained healthcare employees who can work on the different levels of the public healthcare sector, as well as the burden of diseases such as HIV and Aids, tuberculosis and other chronic diseases. In order to improve service delivery, the National Department of Health is introducing Information and Communications Technology interventions that can increase efficiency and reduce costs, thereby improving the quality of service delivery. This research delivers an m-health application user experience framework to be proposed to the National Department of Health in South Africa, in order to assist in scaling up of m-health applications. The m-health applications that can benefit the South African population if scaled up successfully include those that can be used in remote data collection, treatment and compliance, accessing patients records, remote monitoring, communication and training for healthcare workers and applications that can be used for education and awareness. The study focused on three domains: the Human-Computer Interaction domain, public healthcare domain and Health Informatics domain. The proposed framework was realized by investigating mobile user experience components, mobile health requirements and the South African public healthcare domain components that contribute to the m-health user experience framework. This research was conducted through the interpretivist philosophy. Due to the exploratory nature of the study, an application of qualitative methodology was used. The conceptual theoretical framework was validated through a single case study approach by m-health user experience experts, who reside in South Africa. Data were analysed inductively. An m-health user experience framework was provided at the end of the study. An m-health user experience framework can assist the National Department of Health to look into design issues, address m-health requirements and put the domain needs in place, thus enabling the Department to successfully scale up implementations of m-health applications nationwide.
- Full Text:
- Date Issued: 2013
- Authors: Ouma, Stella
- Date: 2013
- Subjects: Communication in public health , Public health -- South Africa , Wireless communication systems in medical care
- Language: English
- Type: Thesis , Doctoral , PhD
- Identifier: vital:9827 , http://hdl.handle.net/10948/d1020793
- Description: The public healthcare sectors within developing nations face a lot of challenges because of constrained resources available to them. The South African public healthcare sector is no different. Although it serves the majority of the South African population, most of the financial resources are directed towards the private sector, which serves very few individuals when compared to the public healthcare sector. Apart from that, other challenges that the National Department of Health has to deal with include the lack of sufficiently trained healthcare employees who can work on the different levels of the public healthcare sector, as well as the burden of diseases such as HIV and Aids, tuberculosis and other chronic diseases. In order to improve service delivery, the National Department of Health is introducing Information and Communications Technology interventions that can increase efficiency and reduce costs, thereby improving the quality of service delivery. This research delivers an m-health application user experience framework to be proposed to the National Department of Health in South Africa, in order to assist in scaling up of m-health applications. The m-health applications that can benefit the South African population if scaled up successfully include those that can be used in remote data collection, treatment and compliance, accessing patients records, remote monitoring, communication and training for healthcare workers and applications that can be used for education and awareness. The study focused on three domains: the Human-Computer Interaction domain, public healthcare domain and Health Informatics domain. The proposed framework was realized by investigating mobile user experience components, mobile health requirements and the South African public healthcare domain components that contribute to the m-health user experience framework. This research was conducted through the interpretivist philosophy. Due to the exploratory nature of the study, an application of qualitative methodology was used. The conceptual theoretical framework was validated through a single case study approach by m-health user experience experts, who reside in South Africa. Data were analysed inductively. An m-health user experience framework was provided at the end of the study. An m-health user experience framework can assist the National Department of Health to look into design issues, address m-health requirements and put the domain needs in place, thus enabling the Department to successfully scale up implementations of m-health applications nationwide.
- Full Text:
- Date Issued: 2013
Making meaning of citizenship: how ‘born frees’ use media in South Africa's democratic evolution
- Malila, Vanessa, Oeofsen, Marietjie, Garman, Anthea
- Authors: Malila, Vanessa , Oeofsen, Marietjie , Garman, Anthea
- Date: 2013
- Language: English
- Type: text , article
- Identifier: http://hdl.handle.net/10962/159790 , vital:40344 , DOI: 10.1080/02500167.2013.852598
- Description: By examining young people's habits of using the media in relation to citizenship, this article responds to calls that the starting point for research into citizenship and democracy should be the perspectives of citizens themselves. Drawing on both quantitative and qualitative research with young South Africans (the ‘born free’ generation), the study sought to gain insight into how young people use media to make sense of notions of citizenship and participatory democracy in ways that are relevant and reliable to their everyday lives.
- Full Text:
- Date Issued: 2013
- Authors: Malila, Vanessa , Oeofsen, Marietjie , Garman, Anthea
- Date: 2013
- Language: English
- Type: text , article
- Identifier: http://hdl.handle.net/10962/159790 , vital:40344 , DOI: 10.1080/02500167.2013.852598
- Description: By examining young people's habits of using the media in relation to citizenship, this article responds to calls that the starting point for research into citizenship and democracy should be the perspectives of citizens themselves. Drawing on both quantitative and qualitative research with young South Africans (the ‘born free’ generation), the study sought to gain insight into how young people use media to make sense of notions of citizenship and participatory democracy in ways that are relevant and reliable to their everyday lives.
- Full Text:
- Date Issued: 2013
Management of capital expenditure for infrastructure programmes in the North-West Province
- Authors: Norgbey, Wisdom Selorm
- Date: 2013
- Subjects: Construction industry -- Capital investments , Infrastructure (Economics) -- Management , Expenditures, Public
- Language: English
- Type: Thesis , Masters , MSc
- Identifier: vital:9718 , http://hdl.handle.net/10948/d1021075
- Description: The need for programme management to align, coordinate and manage a portfolio of construction projects to deliver benefits that would not be achievable if the projects were managed independently in a turbulent economic environment, limitations of project management, and increasing stakeholder expectations cannot be over emphasised. In the construction industry, the implementation of programme management has been bedevilled with major challenges of which the North West Department of Public Works (DPW) CAPEX programme is no exception. The CAPEX programme has been noted for delivering fewer infrastructure projects as planned in terms of budget, time, and other expectations. The research documented in this treatise thus examined the existing programme management approach of the North West DPW CAPEX programme with respect to generally accepted standards and practices. A mixed research approach was used to identify problems such as delays in payment of works, poor reporting standards, improper planning of works, procurement difficulties, and inadequate management structures. The results point to excessive bureaucratic processes, improper information management systems and lack of commitment and ownership towards government works as the major underlying causes of the programme predicaments. Dogmatic implementation of government’s black economic empowerment policies and inadequate in-house capacity were also contributing factors. The research findings imply that effective processes should be laid for prompt payment of works certificates and invoices. Improved reporting standards and proper planning of the programme as a whole and its constituent projects is necessary for the attainment of stipulated goals. In particular, it is crucial to ensure that adequate management considerations in terms of capacity, infrastructure, structures and expertise are put in place while the procurement processes should be continually reviewed for programme success purposes.
- Full Text:
- Date Issued: 2013
- Authors: Norgbey, Wisdom Selorm
- Date: 2013
- Subjects: Construction industry -- Capital investments , Infrastructure (Economics) -- Management , Expenditures, Public
- Language: English
- Type: Thesis , Masters , MSc
- Identifier: vital:9718 , http://hdl.handle.net/10948/d1021075
- Description: The need for programme management to align, coordinate and manage a portfolio of construction projects to deliver benefits that would not be achievable if the projects were managed independently in a turbulent economic environment, limitations of project management, and increasing stakeholder expectations cannot be over emphasised. In the construction industry, the implementation of programme management has been bedevilled with major challenges of which the North West Department of Public Works (DPW) CAPEX programme is no exception. The CAPEX programme has been noted for delivering fewer infrastructure projects as planned in terms of budget, time, and other expectations. The research documented in this treatise thus examined the existing programme management approach of the North West DPW CAPEX programme with respect to generally accepted standards and practices. A mixed research approach was used to identify problems such as delays in payment of works, poor reporting standards, improper planning of works, procurement difficulties, and inadequate management structures. The results point to excessive bureaucratic processes, improper information management systems and lack of commitment and ownership towards government works as the major underlying causes of the programme predicaments. Dogmatic implementation of government’s black economic empowerment policies and inadequate in-house capacity were also contributing factors. The research findings imply that effective processes should be laid for prompt payment of works certificates and invoices. Improved reporting standards and proper planning of the programme as a whole and its constituent projects is necessary for the attainment of stipulated goals. In particular, it is crucial to ensure that adequate management considerations in terms of capacity, infrastructure, structures and expertise are put in place while the procurement processes should be continually reviewed for programme success purposes.
- Full Text:
- Date Issued: 2013
Management of HIV/AIDS programmes at the workplace: a study of selected organisations in Chris Hani District, Eastern Cape Province
- Authors: Shava, Getrude
- Date: 2013
- Subjects: Social responsibility of business -- South Africa -- Eastern Cape , Industrial hygiene -- South Africa -- Eastern Cape , HIV infections -- South Africa -- Eastern Cape , HIV-positive persons -- Employment -- South Africa , AIDS (Disease) -- South Africa -- Eastern Cape
- Language: English
- Type: Thesis , Masters , M SW
- Identifier: vital:11764 , http://hdl.handle.net/10353/d1005992 , Social responsibility of business -- South Africa -- Eastern Cape , Industrial hygiene -- South Africa -- Eastern Cape , HIV infections -- South Africa -- Eastern Cape , HIV-positive persons -- Employment -- South Africa , AIDS (Disease) -- South Africa -- Eastern Cape
- Description: The aim of the study was to investigate the management of HIV /AIDS programmes at the workplace in four selected organisations in Chris Hani District, Eastern Cape Province of South Africa. Four organisations were studied, two public organisations and two private organisations. With the use of triangulation method, two hundred employees were administered a semi- structured questionnaire while for (four) managers, semi structured in-depth interviews were conducted. The major findings of this study outline that all the four organisations studied have HIV/AIDS programmes and policies for their employees. However, there were no budget allocations for these programmes to be fully implemented for effectiveness. From the data, it can be concluded that HIV/AIDS has a negative impact on organisations‟ production like high training costs, high labour turnover and high absenteeism from work. This has been as a result of managers who did not put their total commitment towards HIV/AIDS management at their workplaces in the same way they have done to other core areas of businesses of their organisations. The study therefore recommends the management of these organisations to demonstrate a clear commitment to the HIV/AIDS management strategies by fully implementing the HIV/AIDS management programmes in their workplaces. It is very crucial for employees to see this commitment in a concrete form through non-discrimination and support for the people living with HIV/AIDS. Clear unambiguous commitment will go far in developing mutual trust between employers and employees and facilitate an atmosphere where people are willing to undergo VCT and to possibly disclose their status. Furthermore, managers are recommended to hire quality service providers to carry out intensive de-stigmatisation processes. This will create a supportive environment and adequately address the fears of employees about HIV/AIDS issues at the workplace. All these recommendations will go a long way in assisting organisations achieve their strategic business objectives and reduce the negative impact of HIV/AIDS at their workplaces.
- Full Text:
- Date Issued: 2013
- Authors: Shava, Getrude
- Date: 2013
- Subjects: Social responsibility of business -- South Africa -- Eastern Cape , Industrial hygiene -- South Africa -- Eastern Cape , HIV infections -- South Africa -- Eastern Cape , HIV-positive persons -- Employment -- South Africa , AIDS (Disease) -- South Africa -- Eastern Cape
- Language: English
- Type: Thesis , Masters , M SW
- Identifier: vital:11764 , http://hdl.handle.net/10353/d1005992 , Social responsibility of business -- South Africa -- Eastern Cape , Industrial hygiene -- South Africa -- Eastern Cape , HIV infections -- South Africa -- Eastern Cape , HIV-positive persons -- Employment -- South Africa , AIDS (Disease) -- South Africa -- Eastern Cape
- Description: The aim of the study was to investigate the management of HIV /AIDS programmes at the workplace in four selected organisations in Chris Hani District, Eastern Cape Province of South Africa. Four organisations were studied, two public organisations and two private organisations. With the use of triangulation method, two hundred employees were administered a semi- structured questionnaire while for (four) managers, semi structured in-depth interviews were conducted. The major findings of this study outline that all the four organisations studied have HIV/AIDS programmes and policies for their employees. However, there were no budget allocations for these programmes to be fully implemented for effectiveness. From the data, it can be concluded that HIV/AIDS has a negative impact on organisations‟ production like high training costs, high labour turnover and high absenteeism from work. This has been as a result of managers who did not put their total commitment towards HIV/AIDS management at their workplaces in the same way they have done to other core areas of businesses of their organisations. The study therefore recommends the management of these organisations to demonstrate a clear commitment to the HIV/AIDS management strategies by fully implementing the HIV/AIDS management programmes in their workplaces. It is very crucial for employees to see this commitment in a concrete form through non-discrimination and support for the people living with HIV/AIDS. Clear unambiguous commitment will go far in developing mutual trust between employers and employees and facilitate an atmosphere where people are willing to undergo VCT and to possibly disclose their status. Furthermore, managers are recommended to hire quality service providers to carry out intensive de-stigmatisation processes. This will create a supportive environment and adequately address the fears of employees about HIV/AIDS issues at the workplace. All these recommendations will go a long way in assisting organisations achieve their strategic business objectives and reduce the negative impact of HIV/AIDS at their workplaces.
- Full Text:
- Date Issued: 2013
Managing Information Confidentiality Using the Chinese Wall Model to Reduce Fraud in Government Tenders
- Authors: Rama, Sobhana
- Date: 2013
- Subjects: Chinese walls (Communication barriers) -- South Africa , Business logistics -- South Africa , Confidential communications -- South Africa , Conflict of interests -- South Africa , Fraud -- South Africa , Information services -- Government policy -- South Africa , Communication policy -- South Africa , Communication planning -- South Africa , Chinese Wall Model , Information confidentiality , Conflict of Interest , Government tender fraud
- Language: English
- Type: Thesis , Masters , MCom (Information Systems)
- Identifier: vital:11136 , http://hdl.handle.net/10353/d1006956 , Chinese walls (Communication barriers) -- South Africa , Business logistics -- South Africa , Confidential communications -- South Africa , Conflict of interests -- South Africa , Fraud -- South Africa , Information services -- Government policy -- South Africa , Communication policy -- South Africa , Communication planning -- South Africa , Chinese Wall Model , Information confidentiality , Conflict of Interest , Government tender fraud
- Description: Instances of fraudulent acts are often headline news in the popular press in South Africa. Increasingly, these press reports point to the government tender process as being the main enabler used by the perpetrators committing the fraud. The cause of the tender fraud problem is confidentiality breach of information. This is accomplished, in part, by compromising the tender information contained in the government information system. This results in the biased award of a tender. Typically, the information in the tender process should be used to make decisions about a tender’s specifications, solicitation, evaluation and adjudication. The sharing of said information to unauthorised persons can be used to manipulate and corrupt the process. This in turn corrupts the tender process by awarding a tender to an unworthy recipient. This research studies the generic steps in the tender process to understand how information is used to corrupt the tender process. It proposes that conflict of interest, together with a lack of information confidentiality in the information system, paves the way for possible tender fraud. Thereafter, a system of internal controls is examined within the South African government as well as in foreign countries to investigate measures taken to reduce the breach of confidential information in the tender process. By referring to the Common Criteria Security Model, various critical security areas within the tender process are identified. This measure is assisted with the ISO/IEC 27002 (2005) standard which has guiding principles for the management of confidential information. Thereafter, an information security policy,the Chinese Wall Model will be discussed as a means of reducing instances where conflict of interest may occur. Finally, an adapted Chinese Wall Model, which includes elements of the tender process, is presented as a way of reducing fraud in the government tender process. Finally, the research objective of this study is presented in the form of Critical Success Factors that aid in reducing the breach of confidential information in the tender process. As a consequence, tender fraud is reduced. These success factors have a direct and serious impact on the effectiveness of the Chinese Wall Model to secure the confidentiality of tender information. The proposed Critical Success Factors include: the Sanitisation Policy Document, an Electronic Document Management System, the Tender Evaluation Ethics Document, the Audit Trail Log and the Chinese Wall Model Prosecution Register.
- Full Text:
- Date Issued: 2013
- Authors: Rama, Sobhana
- Date: 2013
- Subjects: Chinese walls (Communication barriers) -- South Africa , Business logistics -- South Africa , Confidential communications -- South Africa , Conflict of interests -- South Africa , Fraud -- South Africa , Information services -- Government policy -- South Africa , Communication policy -- South Africa , Communication planning -- South Africa , Chinese Wall Model , Information confidentiality , Conflict of Interest , Government tender fraud
- Language: English
- Type: Thesis , Masters , MCom (Information Systems)
- Identifier: vital:11136 , http://hdl.handle.net/10353/d1006956 , Chinese walls (Communication barriers) -- South Africa , Business logistics -- South Africa , Confidential communications -- South Africa , Conflict of interests -- South Africa , Fraud -- South Africa , Information services -- Government policy -- South Africa , Communication policy -- South Africa , Communication planning -- South Africa , Chinese Wall Model , Information confidentiality , Conflict of Interest , Government tender fraud
- Description: Instances of fraudulent acts are often headline news in the popular press in South Africa. Increasingly, these press reports point to the government tender process as being the main enabler used by the perpetrators committing the fraud. The cause of the tender fraud problem is confidentiality breach of information. This is accomplished, in part, by compromising the tender information contained in the government information system. This results in the biased award of a tender. Typically, the information in the tender process should be used to make decisions about a tender’s specifications, solicitation, evaluation and adjudication. The sharing of said information to unauthorised persons can be used to manipulate and corrupt the process. This in turn corrupts the tender process by awarding a tender to an unworthy recipient. This research studies the generic steps in the tender process to understand how information is used to corrupt the tender process. It proposes that conflict of interest, together with a lack of information confidentiality in the information system, paves the way for possible tender fraud. Thereafter, a system of internal controls is examined within the South African government as well as in foreign countries to investigate measures taken to reduce the breach of confidential information in the tender process. By referring to the Common Criteria Security Model, various critical security areas within the tender process are identified. This measure is assisted with the ISO/IEC 27002 (2005) standard which has guiding principles for the management of confidential information. Thereafter, an information security policy,the Chinese Wall Model will be discussed as a means of reducing instances where conflict of interest may occur. Finally, an adapted Chinese Wall Model, which includes elements of the tender process, is presented as a way of reducing fraud in the government tender process. Finally, the research objective of this study is presented in the form of Critical Success Factors that aid in reducing the breach of confidential information in the tender process. As a consequence, tender fraud is reduced. These success factors have a direct and serious impact on the effectiveness of the Chinese Wall Model to secure the confidentiality of tender information. The proposed Critical Success Factors include: the Sanitisation Policy Document, an Electronic Document Management System, the Tender Evaluation Ethics Document, the Audit Trail Log and the Chinese Wall Model Prosecution Register.
- Full Text:
- Date Issued: 2013
Market triumphalism and the South Afican state: a case study of local government in the Eastern Cape
- Breakfast, Ntsikelelo Benjamin
- Authors: Breakfast, Ntsikelelo Benjamin
- Date: 2013
- Subjects: Local government -- South Africa -- East London -- Case studies , Local government -- South Africa -- Port Elizabeth -- Case studies , Development economics -- South Africa -- East London , Development economics -- South Africa -- Port Elizabeth
- Language: English
- Type: Thesis , Doctoral , DPhil
- Identifier: vital:8267 , http://hdl.handle.net/10948/d1014085
- Description: At a glance, this study is a critique of local development policies with specific reference to the Buffalo City and Nelson Mandela Metropolitan Municipalities in the Eastern Cape. The researcher enters the debate by posing a primary research question: Do the Public-Private Partnerships (PPP) and Broad-Based Black Economic Empowerment (BBBEE) ventures that constitute anti-poverty strategies succeed in addressing the issues of poverty, and achieving more equitable development at the municipal level in the Eastern Cape? This research proposes a problem statement: The local development policies of PPP and BBBEE that are being applied through Local Economic Development strategies are not in the interests of the majority of people living in the Eastern Cape. At a methodological level this research employs both quantitative and qualitative approaches to answer the central question and to verify the problem statement of this study. This triangulation approach is employed to utilize the strengths of both quantitative and qualitative methods. More specifically, the researcher uses a number of different research instruments to collect the data including four hundred questionnaires, four focus groups and elite interviews in both municipalities. The findings of this study indicate that local development policies in both municipalities do not improve the lives of the people. This line of thinking is indicated by both the empirical study conducted by the researcher and is supported by a number of scholarly materials. This study contributes to the body of knowledge in Political Economy and Development Studies including other disciplines in Social and Economic Sciences. The central argument of this thesis is that both BBBEE and PPPs are inspired by neo-liberalism (BBBEE is not neo-liberal per se though it may be heavily influenced by it) and neo-liberalism in practice is contradictory in nature as it involves the allocation of state resources to politically influential individuals, rather than promoting economic development for the majority. The evidence of this research further shows that the local business and political elites through the BBBEE, PPPs and outsourcing of services are using their strong networks (associated political, social and capital resources) in their efforts for personal accumulation. The researcher in this study examines the local development policies from a particular standpoint which is a political economy approach. The business and political elites according to political economic perspective use state resources to enrich themselves.
- Full Text:
- Date Issued: 2013
Market triumphalism and the South Afican state: a case study of local government in the Eastern Cape
- Authors: Breakfast, Ntsikelelo Benjamin
- Date: 2013
- Subjects: Local government -- South Africa -- East London -- Case studies , Local government -- South Africa -- Port Elizabeth -- Case studies , Development economics -- South Africa -- East London , Development economics -- South Africa -- Port Elizabeth
- Language: English
- Type: Thesis , Doctoral , DPhil
- Identifier: vital:8267 , http://hdl.handle.net/10948/d1014085
- Description: At a glance, this study is a critique of local development policies with specific reference to the Buffalo City and Nelson Mandela Metropolitan Municipalities in the Eastern Cape. The researcher enters the debate by posing a primary research question: Do the Public-Private Partnerships (PPP) and Broad-Based Black Economic Empowerment (BBBEE) ventures that constitute anti-poverty strategies succeed in addressing the issues of poverty, and achieving more equitable development at the municipal level in the Eastern Cape? This research proposes a problem statement: The local development policies of PPP and BBBEE that are being applied through Local Economic Development strategies are not in the interests of the majority of people living in the Eastern Cape. At a methodological level this research employs both quantitative and qualitative approaches to answer the central question and to verify the problem statement of this study. This triangulation approach is employed to utilize the strengths of both quantitative and qualitative methods. More specifically, the researcher uses a number of different research instruments to collect the data including four hundred questionnaires, four focus groups and elite interviews in both municipalities. The findings of this study indicate that local development policies in both municipalities do not improve the lives of the people. This line of thinking is indicated by both the empirical study conducted by the researcher and is supported by a number of scholarly materials. This study contributes to the body of knowledge in Political Economy and Development Studies including other disciplines in Social and Economic Sciences. The central argument of this thesis is that both BBBEE and PPPs are inspired by neo-liberalism (BBBEE is not neo-liberal per se though it may be heavily influenced by it) and neo-liberalism in practice is contradictory in nature as it involves the allocation of state resources to politically influential individuals, rather than promoting economic development for the majority. The evidence of this research further shows that the local business and political elites through the BBBEE, PPPs and outsourcing of services are using their strong networks (associated political, social and capital resources) in their efforts for personal accumulation. The researcher in this study examines the local development policies from a particular standpoint which is a political economy approach. The business and political elites according to political economic perspective use state resources to enrich themselves.
- Full Text:
- Date Issued: 2013