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Grieving forests

  • Authors: Bila, Freddy Vonani
  • Date: 2014
  • Subjects: Creative writing (Higher education) -- Research -- South Africa , Creative writing -- Poetry , South African poetry (English) -- Study and teaching (Higher) , South African poetry (English) -- 21st century , English language -- Writing
  • Language: English
  • Type: Thesis , Masters , MA
  • Identifier: vital:5997 , http://hdl.handle.net/10962/d1020880
  • Description: This is a collection of village narrative poems mainly set in rural Limpopo that searches into the complexity of the past and how historical events impact on the present. Although the poems are imagined along the Marxist dialectic, they’re fresh imaginative creations featuring a strong element of surprise, spiritual mysticism, experimenting with form, delving into unknown poetic avenues, creating new music, exploring new sounds and taking risks. The long and intense poem, Ancestral wealth, which is a tribute to the poet’s father, reflects on death and its impact through the effective application of various stylistic elements and poetic devices, thus immortalising the life of a rural South African. Overall the poems, including retrospective and experimental ones, condemn the free market economic system and all that it seems to necessitate: the degradation of ecology, indifference to human suffering and the alienation of vulnerable social groups.
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  • Date Issued: 2014

The interaction between the stock market and macroeconomic variables in South Africa

  • Authors: Ntshangase, Khanyisa
  • Date: 2014
  • Language: English
  • Type: Thesis , Masters , M Com
  • Identifier: vital:11491 , http://hdl.handle.net/10353/d1018271
  • Description: This study investigates the interaction between stock market and macroeconomic variables in South Africa. Apart from the stock market being a channel to raise capital, another important role of the stock market is to provide correct valuation of stocks and promote efficient allocation of capital. This is important given the great need of investment capital in a country such as South Africa. Utilising quarterly data for the period from 1994 to 2012, the study employs the Johansen cointegration test and the Vector Error Correction Model (VECM) to analyse the relationship between these important variables due to the simultaneous nature of the relationship between the variables. Empirical results indicate that all the variables have a significant relationship with the stock market. The findings in this study suggest that it is important to achieve macroeconomic equilibrium in South Africa because any disequilibrium in macroeconomics feeds into the stock market and it is likely to affect investor decision making and hence access to capital by companies listed on the stock exchange.
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  • Date Issued: 2014

A study of women's representation in relation to poverty: a case study of The Post March 2009

  • Authors: Gwanvalla, Delphine Ngehndab
  • Date: 2013
  • Subjects: Journalism, Commercial -- Social aspects -- Cameroon Women -- Cameroon -- Social conditions Poor women -- Cameroon Mass media and women -- Cameroon
  • Language: English
  • Type: Thesis , Masters , MA
  • Identifier: vital:3504 , http://hdl.handle.net/10962/d1007144
  • Description: The media, specifically tabloids, have the potential to portray poverty-related issues in a manner that informs the public and government about the experiences of people living in poverty so that it can be tackled with urgency. Poverty has blighted the lives of many, especially women, children and widows in Cameroon. The role of the media in reporting the plight and suffering of the ‘masses’ potentially shapes the way in which these issues are handled by those in authority. The study notes that the tabloid press has the potential to expose certain experiences of ordinary people thereby constituting that alternative sphere for the disadvantaged. The study investigates the manner women are represented in The Post which is an English tabloid published in Cameroon. The representation of women in this study looks at the institutional policies which drive the representation of women in news constructs, analyses the news values which shape news production, and uses Thompson’s modes of ideology to unravel the underlying meanings in the reported stories. The study is inspired by the claims that since women make up the majority of the world's poor, so too would media representations depict them as such. It utilises thematic analysis to understand the manner in which women are represented in The Post. It also uses interviews with the regional bureau editor of the North West region to probe what news values and institutional policies drive the stories on women’s poverty. Document analysis is used to better comprehend the institutional guidelines which govern the representation of women during the month of March 2009.
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  • Date Issued: 2013

The diversity and distribution patterns of intertidal fish in the Agulhas bioregion

  • Authors: Roux, Maryanne
  • Date: 2013
  • Subjects: Intertidal fishes , Marine fishes -- South Africa
  • Language: English
  • Type: Thesis , Masters , MSc
  • Identifier: vital:10723 , http://hdl.handle.net/10948/d1019712
  • Description: This study aimed to expand the existing knowledge on the diversity and distribution patterns of intertidal fishes in the Sardinia Bay MPA and adjacent open access areas. It focussed particularly on in intertidal fish communities along the Agulhas Bioregion coast which has been understudied, especially in recent years. Typical resident species belonging to the family Clinidae were the most abundant, conforming to previous studies. Species from the family Gobiidae were the second most abundant in this study but this family was not previously recorded as being abundant. Transient species were unimportant in the current study which is in contrast to previous studies in the region and suggests a change in species composition. Certain transient species utilised intertidal rockpools as part of their nursery areas in the Eastern Cape, as has previously been found around Algoa Bay. A decrease in species richness from east to west was recorded in this study which has been noted by previous authors and the diversity and distribution patterns of the intertidal fish in the current study conformed to patterns found previously. The position of the biogeographic boundary between the Agulhas and Natal Bioregions could not be confirmed but Wavecrest (along the Transkei coastline) appeared to be part of a transition zone rather than a fixed break. More sampling around this area is recommended to determine the location and understand the dynamic nature of this boundary. The fish species were found to be vertically distributed across the shore with most of the resident species being more abundant across the low shore while the transient species were more abundant in the middle to low shore pools. This vertical distribution has been found at many sites around the world. The volume of the pools proved to be the primary controlling factor while the effect of temperature on vertical distribution could not be demonstrated. The benefits of the Sardinia Bay Marine Protected Area on this unexploited community of fishes could not be demonstrated but the long term benefit of protection has yet to be shown. Results from this study suggest that despite the correspondence with general biogeographic trends, the intertidal fish community has changed in composition (at least in terms of transient species) during the last 30 years and the cause for these changes may in part be reduced recruitment from exploited linefish.
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  • Date Issued: 2013

Managing an inclusive school: a case study of a pilot school in Swaziland

  • Authors: Zimba, Zondani
  • Date: 2012
  • Subjects: Inclusive education -- Swaziland -- Mbabane Special education -- Swaziland -- Mbabane Learning disabled children -- Education -- Swaziland -- Mbabane Students with disabilities -- Swaziland -- Mbabane School management and organization -- Swaziland -- Mbabane
  • Language: English
  • Type: Thesis , Masters , MEd
  • Identifier: vital:1669 , http://hdl.handle.net/10962/d1003552
  • Description: Inclusive Education (IE) reflects the values, ethos, and culture of an education system committed to excellence by promoting education opportunities for all learners. IE is about building a more just society and ensuring the right to education for all learners regardless of their individual characteristics or difficulties (UNESCO: 2007). The kingdom of Swaziland has committed itself to high quality basic education which provides equal opportunities for all children and youth. This is evident in the Swaziland National Constitution (2006). To promote Education for All (EFA) as stated in the constitution, an IE Policy has been developed and a draft policy is in place. The programme has been operational since 2006. There are nine pilot schools and four teachers from each school who have been trained on how to handle pupils with disabilities. The programme will be rolled out to 608 primary schools by 2015. In this research, the goal was to investigate how a School Management Board responds to the challenges of managing an Inclusive School. This research is a qualitative interpretive case study based in one of the pilot schools in Mbabane in Swaziland. The study used document analysis, semi‐structured interviews and focus groups to collect data. The study revealed that the school has done much in accommodating IE as there are changes in management structures and approaches, organizational culture and operating procedures. On the other hand, there are still significant challenges such as a lack of knowledge of inclusion and negativity on the part of learners and parents. Other challenges include inadequate training for educators and lack of suitable infrastructure. The study concludes by recommending improved staff development programmes, infrastructure upgrades, acquiring appropriate teaching and learning resources and employing multidisciplinary personnel.
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  • Date Issued: 2012

Microalgae biomass as fermentation feedstock

  • Authors: Tijjani-Oshungboye, Kubura
  • Date: 2012
  • Language: English
  • Type: Thesis , Masters , MSc
  • Identifier: vital:5956 , http://hdl.handle.net/10962/d1006168
  • Description: The search for alternative energy is as a result of pollution generated by the utilization of fossil fuel. Bearing in mind the increase in demand which exceeds supply, alternative energy must reduce the carbon foot print in order to relieve use of fossil fuels. Biogas generation from wastes is an old technology that has been in existence for decades. This same concept was behind the development of the integrated algae ponding system (IAPS), where the use of microalgae biomass is adopted for waste water treatment and, anaerobic digestion which is a component of the IAPS, simultaneously generates biogas. The biogas from the IAPS was quantified in order to evaluate efficiency of the system and the anaerobic fermentation pit was also simulated in the laboratory to optimize biogas production using microalgae as co-fermentation feedstock. Microalgae biomass was evaluated as potential feedstock for ethanol fermentation and the use of biogas was investigated as an alternative transportation fuel. In an IAPS substantial biomass is produced on an annual basis. For effective treatment of waste water and efficient nutrient removal continuous harvest of the biomass is required. In the present study, water treatment efficiency of the EBRU IAPS was determined by carrying out a series of tests to investigate the decline in nutrient content from port of influent entry to effluent discharge. There was more than a 60% reduction in nutrient content with a concomitant increase in biomass and growth rate of 0.25 g/L . Biogas generated from the IAPS was quantified using a flow meter and the composition determined by gas chromatography. Methane which is the principal constituent of biogas was 75% (±SD, n=IO) and 2.34 m³.d⁻¹ was measured as biogas yield from the EBRU IAPS. The study also investigated the use of the excess microalgae biomass as a fermentation feedstock for ethanol production and as a co-substrate in order to increase biogas yield from the system. Positive results were achieved for ethanol production from microalgae although yield was generally low. About 385 mg.⁻¹ of ethanol was recovered when glucose was used as substrate, where as only 115 mg.⁻¹ of ethanol was recovered with microalgae as substrate. Suitability of microalgae as feedstock for ethanol generation and biogas generation was determined by characterisation which involved estimation of the carbohydrate, protein and lipid content, and analysis of the C, H, 0, Nand S content. Laboratory fed batch reactors simulated the anaerobic digestion process in order to study the effect of microalgae biomass as co-substrate for biogas generation. The fermenters were inoculated with an active consortium obtained from the Makana municipal waste water works and microbial studies were carried to confirm the presence of the anaerobic consortium. Different pre-treatments (concentrated, rupturing and freeze-drying) were used to disrupt the microalgae prior to introduction into fermenters in a ratio of 3: I. COD, TC, TOC, SO₄⁻² and TN analyses were carried out to monitor nutrient depletion in the system, and biogas generated by the system was quantified by volumetric analysis and the gas composition determined. Statistical analysis (ANOVA) was used to test for significant difference pre and post addition of microalgae. In the most effective fermenter, biogas production was at an average of 394 ml.d·' and CH₄ ratio in the biogas increased by over a 100%. Theoretical methane potential of the IAPS and the Makana municipal waste water works treating 5 ML.d⁻¹ of domestic waste was determined using the empirical formula of waste water and shown to yield 1,037,342.40 m³/yr. The projected biogas yield from this system was used to evaluate its potential use as transportation fuel. In total, 198,673 .55 m³ of biogas was estimated to be required to fuel the Rhodes University's fleet of vehicles, with a residual biogas stream of 838,668.85 m³. It was also demonstrated in the present study that renewable energy sourced from biomass has the potential of supplanting the use of fossil fuel resulting in less pollution leading to a cleaner and healthier environment.
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  • Date Issued: 2012

The impact of regional integration in Africa: the case of South Africa and Botswana

  • Authors: Letsatsi, Paseka C
  • Date: 2012
  • Subjects: Regional economics , Economic development , Trade blocs
  • Language: English
  • Type: Thesis , Masters , MPhil
  • Identifier: vital:8235 , http://hdl.handle.net/10948/d1010176 , Regional economics , Economic development , Trade blocs
  • Description: Regional integration can refer to the trade unification between different states by partial or full abolition of customs tariffs on trade taking place within the borders of each state. This is meant in turn to lead to lower prices for distributors and consumers (as no customs duties are paid within the integrated area) and the goal is to increase trade. (Economic integration,1950, p66) According to Mattli (1999, p.42), the analysis of the first problem takes the decision to adopt an integration treaty as a given, and is primarily concerned with identifying the condition under which the process of integration is likely to succeed or to fail. Implementation of an agreement by heads of states to tie the economies of their countries closer together entails a lengthy process of establishing common roles, regulations, and policies that are either based on specific treaty provisions or derived from general principles and objectives written into the integration agreement. Regional integration can be applied for varying forms of economic co-ordination or co-operation amongst different neighbouring states, there will however always be different political agendas in the process. If there is a treaty amongst member states, this treaty has to be enforced or it may result in the development of differences. “In order to address national priorities through regional action most member states had been allocated the responsibility of co-ordinating one or more sectors. This involved proposing sector policies, strategies and priorities, and processing projects for inclusion in the sectoral programme, monitoring progress and reporting to the council of Ministers”. (Department of International Relations & Co-operation, Republic of South Africa). Richard Baldwin, Daniel Cohen, Andre Sapir and Anthony Venables argue that, using the same basic model as Bond and Sypropoulos (1996a), they consider trigger strategies such that initially there is inter-bloc free trade supported by the threat of perpetual trade war if any party breaks the agreement. Regional integration can be understood as the process of providing common rules, regulation, and policies for a region. Regional integration is defined as a process that allows member states to have access to each other’s markets on a voluntary basis and at various degrees. Economic, political, social and cultural benefits are realised from this interaction. (Lee MC, 1999, p30) Regional integration can be seen as co-operation in a broader context but can also be an important framework, through programmes within each regional bloc. According to (Keet ,2005,p22) since the birth of democratic South Africa, regional co-operation is also seen – in addition to the broader African aims-to be an important framework, through programmes within the Southern African Development Community (SADC), within which to address the gross imbalances created both within and between the economies of the region. Regional integration has become a way of assisting the emerging economies to be able to use their proximity to align their economies with the core for economic development. According to (Hamdok, 1998, p34) the effective implementation of regional integration is founded on an enabling environment that promotes accountability, transparency and respect for the rule of law. Also a strong institutional framework at the regional and national levels is fundamental to streamline regional agreements into national policies. In addition, the establishment of effective transnational implementation tools provide opportunities to push reforms conducive to good governance at the regional level. A clear demonstration of this can be observed in effective? legal systems and the need for a regional framework and related judicial institutions to provide an improved regional environment for private development. Integration always provides space for member states to assist in the development of other member states and which have a common economic approach to development. This is done in order to ensure that there are incentives for all member states as compared to those who are outside the bloc. As evidenced in the case of Europe, economic integration helps create a homogenous space and, to some extent, equalises living conditions and if all other regional blocs follow this process the benefit becomes greater. These appear to be prerequisites for a dialogue on the harmonisation of political stands. Indeed, an economic space that is physically integrated; where goods and services move speedily and smoothly; where, besides, the mobility of factors (manpower, capital, energy and inputs) are not subjected to hindrances; where, finally, microeconomic policies are harmonised, is likely to offer equal opportunities to all. Such a high degree of economic integration is not sustainable without a policy dialogue on issues that, at first, may not fall squarely under the rubrics of economic field; peace and security, defense, diplomacy etc. (Blayo N, 1998, P.5) The process of regional co-operation within the Southern African Development Community (SADC) started in in 1980 through the formation of the Co-ordinating Conference which was later changed to SADC IN 1992. Even though it is clear that the South African government played a dominant role because of its apartheid policies, the basic condition was to start the process of integration and open the process of economic co-operation within the region. The Governments of the Republic of South Africa, the Republic of Botswana, the Kingdom of Lesotho and the Kingdom of Swaziland- being desirous of maintaining the free interchange of goods between their countries and of applying the same tariffs and trade regulations to goods imported from outside the common customs area as hereinafter defined; “Recognising that the Customs Agreement on 29 June 1910 as amended from time to time , requires modification to provide for the continuance of the customs union arrangements in the changed circumstances on a basis designed to ensure the continued economic development of the customs union area as a whole, and to ensure in particular that these arrangements encourage the development of the less advanced members of the customs union and the diversification of their economies, and afford to all parties equitable benefits arising from trade among themselves and other countries”.(Government Notice, R 3914,p1). Even though there’s an acknowledgement that under the difficult conditions during apartheid, there was a need for the region to develop a common approach towards development and sustainable growth in the Southern African region. All countries in the region had to co-operate for long term sustainable economic growth, peace and security. “In 1980, the Southern African Development Co-ordination Conference (SADCC) was established with the major objectives of decreasing economic dependence on the apartheid regime and fostering regional development. The strategy adopted for meeting these objectives was regional development and co-operation. In 1992 SADCC was reborn, as the Southern African Development Community (SADC). The member states decided the time had come to move the region towards the creation of one regional market”. (Lee MC, 1999, p1) “Through the establishment of the Southern African Customs Union (SACU) the Southern African region has managed under difficult conditions of economic inequalities to standardise the trade links amongst member states, although there is still more to be done in the region to achieve shared goals of development. The Southern African Customs Union (SACU) links the trade, regimes of Botswana, Lesotho, Namibia, South Africa and Swaziland.
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  • Date Issued: 2012

'Technic' practices of the computer game Lanner: identity development through the LAN-gameplay experience

  • Authors: Khunyeli, Ramotsamai Itumeleng
  • Date: 2011
  • Subjects: Computer games -- Social aspects , Computer games -- Psychological aspects , Computer games -- Sex differences , Information technology -- Social aspects , Social interaction -- Computer network resources , Local area networks (Computer networks) -- Social aspects , Race discrimination -- Education (Higher) -- Computer network resources
  • Language: English
  • Type: Thesis , Masters , MA
  • Identifier: vital:3534 , http://hdl.handle.net/10962/d1013405
  • Description: This thesis is a reception analysis using qualitative interviews to investigate the formation of cultural groups around computer-game LANs present in Rhodes University. It also looks at how issues of social inequalities evident on the university's campus impact on the participation of students in these LANs. The findings of this study are that the participants have established a community around the practice of computer LAN-gameplay based on values developed through the combination of the material and gameworlds. It serves as a home-on-campus for them; where they can fully explore their passion for games thus reaffirming their identity as gamers on a campus where being a gamer is viewed negatively. In this light, computer-game playing is not just a practice these participants perform, but a culture they live out every day. This is a culture predominantly lived out by men. One of the reasons for this is because most women have been raised to believe to have negative predispositions about digital gaming e.g. that it is childish, addictive and anti-social, but also that computer are meant to be used by men - women use them only when it is absolutely necessary, for example, that it is childish, for academic-related purposes. As a result, not many of them will use computers for any otherreason for fear of being socially criticised. In addition, the gaming culture being dominated by whites is due to the fact that admittance in to this community is still unaffordable for the majority of black students on the Rhodes University campus as a result of their social backgrounds.
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  • Date Issued: 2011

Maintenance of university facilities in developing countries

  • Authors: Bowazi, Kenneth Mtunduwatha
  • Date: 2011
  • Subjects: College facilities -- Developing countries , Educational planning -- Developing countries
  • Language: English
  • Type: Thesis , Masters , MSc
  • Identifier: vital:9723 , http://hdl.handle.net/10948/d1008472 , College facilities -- Developing countries , Educational planning -- Developing countries
  • Description: Universities in developing countries are deteriorating physically due to lack of planned maintenance, lack of maintenance policies in the institutions, lack of up-to-date security system, and also lack of qualified personnel at decision-making level. Lack of planning leads to reactive maintenance. It also leads to unbudgeted expenditure and has an impact on the amount of money allocated to maintenance which results in unavailability of funds to carry out maintenance duties. Institutions which have no maintenance policy lack guidelines to follow when a maintenance problem arises. Most personnel in charge of maintenance are junior management or at supervisory level as a result they are not part of middle management that strategically directs the organisation. Most of the decisions made at supervisory scale are easily overruled at management level where the maintenance manager is not present during meetings to motivate maintenance cases. Lack of efficient security also allows vandalism to rise which contributes to the deterioration of facilities. Universities lack creativity and cost management skills to raise its own funds to supplement the maintenance budget, which is largely funded by the government. This study recommends employment of built environment professionals in decision-making positions. It also recommends that organizations should have a maintenance policy in place. Investment should be made in good security systems and management of the facilities should include income generating activities that could subsidise the maintenance budget.
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  • Date Issued: 2011

Building a semantic web-based e-health component for a multipurpose communication centre

  • Authors: Hlungulu, Bulumko
  • Date: 2010
  • Subjects: Rural development -- South Africa -- Eastern Cape , Information technology -- South Africa -- Eastern Cape , Internet in medicine -- South Africa -- Eastern Cape , Telecommunication in medicine -- South Africa -- Eastern Cape , Health -- Computer network resources
  • Language: English
  • Type: Thesis , Masters , MSc (Computer Science)
  • Identifier: vital:11380 , http://hdl.handle.net/10353/374 , Rural development -- South Africa -- Eastern Cape , Information technology -- South Africa -- Eastern Cape , Internet in medicine -- South Africa -- Eastern Cape , Telecommunication in medicine -- South Africa -- Eastern Cape , Health -- Computer network resources
  • Description: Rural communities have limited access to health information which is made available on the internet. This is due to poor infrastructure (i.e., lack of clinics or Internet access) and that gives them problems in accessing information within the domain of health. The availability of Information and Communication Technologies (ICTs) in a rural community can provide the community with a number of beneficial solutions to their problems as they maximize the potential of knowledge sharing and delivery. This research seeks to make use of ICTs deployed in the community of Dwesa, in order to contribute to improving the health standards of the community. It seeks to accomplish this by carrying out an investigation and literature review with the aim of understanding health knowledge sharing dynamics in the context of marginalized communities. The knowledge acquired will then be used in the development and implementation of a semantic web-based e-Health portal as part of the Siyakhula Living Lab (SLL) project. This portal will share and deliver western medical knowledge, traditional knowledge and indigenous knowledge. This research seeks to make use of a combination of Free and/or Open Sources Software in developing the portal to make it affordable to the community.
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  • Date Issued: 2010

Investigating the effect of various film-forming polymers on the evaporation rate of a volatile component in a cosmetic formulation

  • Authors: Barnard, Carla
  • Date: 2010
  • Subjects: Cosmetic delivery systems , Controlled release preparations , Cosmetics , Polymers , Drugs -- Controlled release
  • Language: English
  • Type: Thesis , Masters , MSc
  • Identifier: vital:10377 , http://hdl.handle.net/10948/1498 , Cosmetic delivery systems , Controlled release preparations , Cosmetics , Polymers , Drugs -- Controlled release
  • Description: The topical application of many substances, including drugs, enzymes, moisturizers and fragrances, contributes largely to the cosmetic and pharmaceutical industries. These components are often volatile in nature and dissipate in a matter of hours. When considering the different types of slow release systems, an overwhelming variety of these systems is available. Each one of the systems is unique in a way, and is designed to perform a particular function, whether it facilitates the controlled release of an active into the body via the skin surface (transdermal delivery) or whether it reduces the rate of loss of an active from the skin surface to the surrounding environment. For the purpose of this study, a previously existing fixative formulation which is believed to reduce the rate of loss of an active component to the environment, through film formation on the skin surface, was investigated. Alternative ingredients or components were incorporated together with the original fixative formulation ingredients into an experimental design which investigates the effect of each group of the components present. 18 formulations with various concentrations of the components within the groups and specified upper and lower limits for each component were formulated. The fixative properties of the formulations were analysed through the incorporation of a fixed amount of a simple fragrance molecule, 4- methoxybenzaldehyde, into each formulation and evaporation studies were conducted in an environmental room at 28±1° C over a period of 5 hours followed by gas chromatography analysis and finally data analyses using statistical methods. The most efficient fixative formulation was established using regression analysis. The fragrance compound in this formulation was found to evaporate at a rate of 0.47 g/L per hour. The least efficient fixative formulation lead to the loss of 0.78 g/L of the fragrance component per hour. From the calculated fragrance concentrations, the rate constant for each individual fixative formulation could be calculated and response surface 8 modelling by backward regression was used in order to determine how each component contributes to the rate of loss of the fragrance compound. Since the sum of the original ingredient and its alternative was constant, each of the original ingredients was coupled directly to its alternative and no conclusion could be made about the contribution of individual components. By increasing the concentration of Hydroxypropylcellulose (HPC) 100K and its alternative HPC 140K, while keeping the effects of the other components constant, a decrease in the rate of fragrance loss was observed. The same conclusion could be made when increasing the concentrations of PEG-12 Dimethicone and its alternative cetyl dimethicone (decreases the evaporation rate). An interaction took place between HPC 100K and PEG-12 dimethicone and their alternatives. The negative effect was, however, not as strong as the combined positive effect on the rate of fragrance loss of the individual components HPC and PEG-12 dimethicone. Evidence suggested that the removal of the components polyvinylpyrrolidone and its alternative, polyurethane-32 (Baycusan® C1003), would improve the effectiveness of the fixative formulation in terms of its slow release properties. A confirmation experiment established that the exclusion of these components from the fixative formulation does improve the “slow release” properties thereof. A larger, more intricate design is required to investigate the effect of each one of the individual components and where the sum of the components (original and its alternative) is not constant.
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  • Date Issued: 2010

Microalgal biomass and distribution in the Mngazi and Mngazana Estuaries

  • Authors: Ngesi, Hlekani Ntombizakithi
  • Date: 2010
  • Subjects: Microalgae -- South Africa -- Mngazi Estuary , Algae -- South Africa -- Mngazi Estuary , Algae -- South Africa -- Mngazana Estuary , Estuarine ecology -- South Africa
  • Language: English
  • Type: Thesis , Masters , MSc
  • Identifier: vital:10610 , http://hdl.handle.net/10948/1591 , Microalgae -- South Africa -- Mngazi Estuary , Algae -- South Africa -- Mngazi Estuary , Algae -- South Africa -- Mngazana Estuary , Estuarine ecology -- South Africa
  • Description: The present study was undertaken in the temporarily open/closed Mngazi and permanently open Mngazana estuaries, located on the subtropical east coast of South Africa. The results from this research will assist decision makers in the freshwater management of these systems. Intertidal and subtidal benthic chlorophyll a concentrations, water column chlorophyll a, nutrients and several physico-chemical parameters were measured between June 2002 and November 2003. The objective of this study was to determine if the presence of freshwater in the estuaries had an effect on the microalgae of both estuaries. Five sites were sampled in the Mngazi Estuary and 14 sites were sampled in the Mngazana Estuary. The average water column chlorophyll a was significantly higher (p<0.05) in the Mngazana Estuary (surface 7.8 ± 0.7 μg.l-1, bottom 6.4 ± 0.7 μg.l-1) compared to the Mngazi Estuary (surface 4.9 ± 1.2 μg.l-1, bottom 7.3 ± 1.5 μg.l-1). There was no evidence of an REI (river-estuary interface) zone in areas where the water column chlorophyll a concentrations were high even during open mouth conditions in the Mngazi Estuary. The REI is that area where salinity is less than 10 ppt and is characterized by high water column productivity. Even though both systems received some freshwater during the summer periods, this was not enough to stimulate phytoplankton growth and nutrient availability seems to be the major factor limiting phytoplankton in these systems. Flagellates and diatoms were the dominant phytoplankton groups in both estuaries during the entire sampling session. The relative abundance of the different phytoplankton groups did not show differences between sites. The relative abundance of flagellates was in most cases greater than 60% and diatoms made up the remainder. The average benthic chlorophyll a was higher in the Mngazana Estuary (intertidal 24 ± 6 μg.g-1 subtidal 15.2 ± 3 μg.g-1) compared to the Mngazi Estuary (intertidal 15.3 ± 4.3 μg.g-1 subtidal 5.4 ± 1.6 μg.g-1). Regions with high benthic chlorophyll a concentrations had high sediment organic content. Sediment organic content was higher in the Mngazana Estuary (1 percent - 8 percent) compared to the Mngazi Estuary (4 percent – 6.8 percent). The sites situated on the Main Channel had on average significantly higher (p<0.05) benthic chlorophyll a biomass compared to Creek 1 and Creek 2 in the Mngazana Estuary. Peaks in benthic chlorophyll a concentrations occurred in the intertidal sediments in Creek 1 (50.4 ± 13.4 μg.g-1) and Creek 2 (57.4 ± 1.4 μg.g-1) in the Mngazana Estuary, the peaks occurred in winter during a period of low freshwater inflow into the estuary. Microphytobenthic biomass measured in the Mngazi Estuary is among the lowest values reported in the literature for temporarily open/closed estuaries. Statistical 4 analysis showed no significant difference between benthic chlorophyll a during the different mouth conditions and sampling sessions in the Mngazi Estuary. Microalgal responses in the Mngazana Estuary were similar to those observed in other permanently open marine dominated estuaries. In the temporarily open/closed Mngazi Estuary microalgal characteristics were different to that of other temporarily open/closed estuaries probably because the estuary was only sampled in the open and semi-closed state.
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  • Date Issued: 2010

Coping strategies of African women middle managers in the manufacturing industry

  • Authors: Mayeko, Ncedisa
  • Date: 2009
  • Subjects: Women executives -- South Africa , Stress management
  • Language: English
  • Type: Thesis , Masters , MA
  • Identifier: vital:9901 , http://hdl.handle.net/10948/1071 , Women executives -- South Africa , Stress management
  • Description: African women in South Africa have for decades, if not centuries, been marginalized in the workplace. With the dawn of the new South Africa came Affirmative Action and subsequently, the Employment Equity Act. These policies offered African women opportunities to enter the workplace. The review of the literature shows that the psychological functioning of African women managers has received minimal research attention. In addition, the literature review on coping focused on the individual and communal coping strategies which indicated that individual and systemic strategies have been neglected in both the theories of coping and extant empirical literature. The current study addresses this through the conceptualisation of coping from a systemic perspective. The current study aimed to explore and describe the coping strategies of African women middle managers in the manufacturing industry in the Nelson Mandela Metropolitan area. The study was conducted within a qualitative research paradigm and took the form of exploratory research. Non-probability snowball sampling was utilized to identify participants for the study. The sample consisted of three African women managers who held middle management positions in the manufacturing industry in the Nelson Mandela metropolitan area. Semi-structured interviewing was utilised to collect the data. In order to analyse the data, Tesch’s (1990) qualitative analysis steps were utilised. The study showed that African women middle managers relied on individual strategies such as assertiveness, spirituality and, positive attitude to cope. These individual strategies were not used in isolation, as the participants relied on various subsystems within which they were embedded to cope with the demands they faced.
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  • Date Issued: 2009

Unearthed : personifications of widowhood and acts of memory : volume 1 and 2

An exploration of mathematical concepts embedded in Xhosa beadwork artifacts through an invention programme for Grade 9 learners

  • Authors: Myemane, Dumakazi Margaret
  • Date: 2008
  • Subjects: Mathematics -- Study and teaching -- Psychological aspects Mathematics -- Study and teaching -- Social aspects -- South Africa Mathematics -- Study and teaching (Secondary) -- South Africa Xhosa (African people) Ethnomathematics Beadwork -- South Africa -- Eastern Cape Beadwork, Xhosa
  • Language: English
  • Type: Thesis , Masters , MEd
  • Identifier: vital:1950 , http://hdl.handle.net/10962/d1008201
  • Description: Mathematics has become increasingly important, as it is a pre-requisite for careers like architecture, science, engineering and medicine. Therefore it becomes imperative for the learners to understand and love it. In other words a sound foundation of mathematical skills and knowledge in the early stages is required. Often we hear learners asking questions like "when and where are we going to use these symbols x and y in our lives? " These questions might indicate that learners cannot link mathematics with daily life occurrences or even their own background experiences. This study is an exploration through hands-on activities of mathematical concepts embedded in beadwork artifacts. Learners' background experiences on bead work artifacts are acknowledged and explored for mathematical understanding. It is a case study, consisting of 44 learners in Grade 9 in two schools in Grahamstown. An interpretive approach is used. In order for the learners to be able to explore beadwork artifacts, they visited the Albany Museum (AM) and Msithandane Women's Project (MWP) in the community. Learners gathered information from these two sources. Beadwork artifacts in this study were used as a mediation and integration tool between culture and mathematics. Beadwork artifacts are found in the learners' cultures serving different purposes. In this study the focus was on Xhosa bead work artifacts. The hands-on activities posed challenges to learners because of their different background experiences. Some were able to draw designs but were unable to thread what they designed, whereas others were able to thread beads but were unable to draw designs. In this study learners had to use both completed bead work artifacts and drawn up designs for the investigation of mathematical concepts. Learners were able to identify symmetries in dress and in South African flag designs. Number patterns discovered were linked to their prior number pattern knowledge. The economic value of beadwork artifacts linked mathematics to the economics learning area. This study ties up with the new curriculum (C2005) and RNCS, which advocate the inclusion and integration of learning areas. In this instance, art and culture were used in mathematical activities. The study also encouraged the inclusion of participants' cultural background as a starting point for motivating them towards utilizing mathematical resources existing in their real life situations. The purpose was to make them aware that mathematics is found everywhere around us.
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  • Date Issued: 2008

An investigation into the popularity of Nigerian movies in Zambia: a reception study of Lusaka viewers

  • Authors: Phiri, Diana
  • Date: 2007
  • Subjects: Motion pictures, Nigerian Motion picture audiences -- Zambia
  • Language: English
  • Type: Thesis , Masters , MA
  • Identifier: vital:3509 , http://hdl.handle.net/10962/d1007615
  • Description: Motivated by a concern as to why Zambians are attracted to foreign media in the form of Nigerian movies, this thesis is a qualitative audience study which investigates the popularity of Nigerian movies in Zambia with a focus on Lusaka viewers. Against the dominance of Western media and most especially Hollywood movies, this study explores the popularity of Nigerian movies in Zambia which highlights the circulation of media within and between non-Western countries. This is an aspect of trans-national cultural flows that has been ignored in theories of media imperialism. The thesis argues that the widespread popularity of Nigerian movies in Africa and in Zambia in particular necessitates a revision of the conceptions of global cultural flows that privilege the centrality of the West but ignore other centres engaged in contemporary cultural production.
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  • Date Issued: 2007

The trouble with culture : Plato's critique of poetry

  • Authors: Ansell, James D'Olier
  • Date: 2007 , 2013-07-25
  • Language: English
  • Type: Thesis , Masters , MA
  • Identifier: vital:2733 , http://hdl.handle.net/10962/d1004460
  • Description: In this thesis I argue that Plato's critique of poetry, taken in its proper context, is a serious and relevant critique of popular culture. In the first chapter I argue that the poetic reforms proposed in Books 2 and 3 and Book 10 of Republic stand at the front of a total reform of Greek culture. I argue for the consistency of Plato's whole argument and then I claim that if we get Plato's targets right, not fine art or literature, and focus on appropriate modern analogues then we can see why his critique is still important. If we share his claim that we are influenced by popular culture in important and often insidious ways and agree that culture can promote corrupt values, then we have accepted the core of Plato's challenge. If we find his solution distasteful, then the task is to come up with a democratic alternative. In the remaining two chapters I focus specifically on the challenge to the poets, putting the other reforms to the side. In the second chapter I consider a possible reply to the challenge focusing on the worth of the poetry that was expelled. I first look elsewhere in the Platonic oeuvre at the account of beauty in Symposium and Phaedrus but I argue that neither of them gives anything like aesthetic value that could be usefully applied to poetry. Next I look to some modern accounts of aesthetic value. I argue that while they might go some of the distance against Plato's challenge, they face a difficult task because it is not sufficient positing the value, an account is needed of their positive benefit. In the third chapter I turn to a more direct response to the challenge. Arguably Aristotle offers such a response in the Poetics, in terms of the notion of katharsis. I consider two interpretative candidates for katharsis. The first takes the benefit of poetry to be psychological - katharsis is a purgation of otherwise pathological emotions. I argue that this fails because it misunderstands precisely what Plato's concerns about poetry are, and, furthermore, this account could even be compatible with Plato's worries. The second interpretation takes the benefit of poetry to be ethical- katharsis is a type of ethical clarification which is beneficial in training our emotional responses. I claim that the clarification, and education, is worryingly conventionalist, and doesn't take seriously that Plato's target was popular culture and not great, educative literature. , KMBT_363 , Adobe Acrobat 9.54 Paper Capture Plug-in
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  • Date Issued: 2007

Against supererogationism

  • Authors: Van Niekerk, Jason Bradley
  • Date: 2006
  • Subjects: Supererogation , Supererogation -- History , Values , Ethics -- History
  • Language: English
  • Type: Thesis , Masters , MA
  • Identifier: vital:2731 , http://hdl.handle.net/10962/d1004268 , Supererogation , Supererogation -- History , Values , Ethics -- History
  • Description: In this thesis, I argue that we have no reason to accept the existence of a category of supererogatory moral goods: that is, good acts that carry no pressure to bring them about. Despite the counterintuitive nature and suspicious provenance of the concept, Supererogationism is the orthodoxy in Ethics, and I examine promising but unsuccessful responses to it by Peter Singer and Kwame Gyekye. Responding in particular to David Heyd's Supererogationism - but also to J. O. Urmson, Susan Wolf, and Jonathan Dancy - I develop an account of the principle "Good implies Ought" that does not entail absurd over-obligation. I argue that this Anti-Supererogationist model stands up to the four strongest arguments against such a position, and that it embraces a more accurate account of the relation between values and oughts than Supererogationists are capable of supplying. Finally, I sketch a detailed eudaimonist account of the principle umuntu ngumuntu ngabantu - that our commitment to the good of others stems from our flourishing being caught up with theirs.
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  • Date Issued: 2006

The relationship between interest rates and inflation in South Africa : revisiting Fisher's hypothesis

  • Authors: Mitchell-Innes, Henry Alexander
  • Date: 2006
  • Subjects: Fisher effect (Economics) , Interest rates -- South Africa , Interest rates -- Effect of inflation -- South Africa , Inflation (Finance) -- South Africa , Monetary policy -- South Africa , Banks and banking, Central -- South Africa , South Africa -- Economic conditions
  • Language: English
  • Type: Thesis , Masters , MCom
  • Identifier: vital:991 , http://hdl.handle.net/10962/d1002726 , Fisher effect (Economics) , Interest rates -- South Africa , Interest rates -- Effect of inflation -- South Africa , Inflation (Finance) -- South Africa , Monetary policy -- South Africa , Banks and banking, Central -- South Africa , South Africa -- Economic conditions
  • Description: This thesis investigates the relationship between expected inflation and nominal interest rates in South Africa and the extent to which the Fisher effect hypothesis holds. The hypothesis, proposed by Fisher (1930), that the nominal rate of interest should reflect movements in the expected rate of inflation has been the subject of much empirical research in many industrialised countries. This wealth of literature can be attributed to various factors including the pivotal role that the nominal rate of interest and, perhaps more importantly, the real rate of interest plays in the economy. The validity of the Fisher effect also has important implications for monetary policy and needs to be considered by central banks. Few studies have been conducted in South Africa to validate this important hypothesis. The analysis uses the 3-month bankers’ acceptance rate and the 10-year government bond rate to proxy both short- and long-term interest rates. The existence of a long-run unit proportional relationship between nominal interest rates and expected inflation is tested using Johansen’s cointegration test. The data is analysed for the period April 2000 to July 2005 as the research aims to establish whether the Fisher relationship holds within an inflation targeting monetary policy framework. The short-run Fisher effect is not empirically verified. This is due to the effects of the monetary policy transmission mechanism and implies that short-term nominal interest rates are a good indication of the stance of monetary policy. A long-run cointegrating relationship is established between long-term interest rates and expected inflation. The long-run adjustment is less than unity, which can be attributed to the credibility of the inflation-targeting framework.
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  • Date Issued: 2006

Unstable ironies: narrative instability in Herman Charles Bosman's "Oom Schalk Lourens" series

  • Authors: Davis, Rebecca
  • Date: 2006
  • Subjects: Bosman, Herman Charles, 1905-1951 -- Criticism and interpretation , Irony in literature , Narration (Rhetoric)
  • Language: English
  • Type: Thesis , Masters , MA
  • Identifier: vital:2215 , http://hdl.handle.net/10962/d1002258 , Bosman, Herman Charles, 1905-1951 -- Criticism and interpretation , Irony in literature , Narration (Rhetoric)
  • Description: This thesis examines the narrative situation within Herman Charles Bosman’s “Oom Schalk Lourens” series of stories, focussing on the nature of the relationship between author and narrator. In particular, it seeks to trace the source of the multiple ironies at work in the texts. It has been customary for critics in the past to claim that the irony within the stories stems from Bosman, operating authorially ‘above’ Oom Schalk. In terms of this theory, Oom Schalk is read as being largely unaware of the inconsistencies and contradictions within his narrative. It is the claim of this thesis, however, that Oom Schalk is the self-aware creator of the texts’ ironies much of the time. Chapter 1 commences with an attempt at defining irony, and provides a brief overview of the history of its deployment within South African literature before discussing the literary genre which Bosman was to exploit as his ironic vehicle: the “oral-style” short story. Chapter 2 examines Wayne C. Booth’s notions of “stable” and “unstable” irony: the irony of the Oom Schalk stories has, in the past, been classified as belonging to the former category, but this thesis attempts to show that its inconsistent deployment within the stories consigns it more accurately to the latter. Chapter 3 offers an assessment of the extrinsic contexts relevant to the analysis: the context of the stories’ publication, and the likely composition of Bosman’s reading public. Chapter 4 begins to examine the distance between implied author and implied narrator in the stories. Chapters 5, 6 and 7 subject stories dealing with the themes of art, race and land to detailed analysis in order to examine the shifting – and progressively, though unevenly, diminishing – distance between Bosman and Oom Schalk. The thesis concludes that the degree to which the ironic distance between author and narrator fluctuates within, and between, the stories, results in a narrative situation which must be classified as fundamentally unstable.
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  • Date Issued: 2006
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